Qype: Balti Cuisine in Cardiff

Cardiff - Eating & Drinking - Fastfood & Takeaway - Indian


Again, another hidden gem in Cardiff just waiting to be discovered.

Visited Balti Cuisine for the first time last night on the recommendation of a friend and was not disappointed. Opted for the King Prawn Saag (spinach dish) and steamed rice and it was delicious. My friend had the prawn corma and a garlic naan and both were very tasty (though she said that the korma seemed a little saltier than usual). We had a large bottle of Kingfisher each and the whole lot came to £28.50, which I consider to be very decent, considering the quality of the food (and comparing that with the price of drinks in Cardiff these days. Earlier in the evening, I paid £8.10 for two Vodka & Diet Cokes in the Park Plaza Laguna bar. I think going out is going to bankrupt me before long!).

But back to Balti Cuisine. The decor is fabulous: LOVING the blue water cubes inlaid in the walls (they made me feel all sunny and bright!) and the table decor is clean, simple and stylish. The staff were friendly and very polite; no one pushed us to order a starter or a side dish, which is a bug-bear of mine (has anyone else been to an Indian where you feel like a criminal if you don't order starter, couple of mains with loads of sides; a mountain of food you can't possibly eat? I hate that).

In the middle of our dinner, the staff also proved their mettle by dealing compassionately with a tricky situation involving an older couple who were very drunk and falling down. The staff showed genuine concern for their customers and called an ambulance while my friend picked the lady off the floor, sat her on a chair and talked to her until she calmed down. After the couple had left, every waiter came and genuinely thanked my friend for her assistance.

All-in-all, I was impressed and I'll definitely be going back. I want to try some more dishes!

Check out my review of Balti Cuisine - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Brecon Chicken & Pizza Land in Brecon

Brecon - Eating & Drinking - Fastfood & Takeaway - Chicken


It was late, it was drizzling, we hadn't eaten all evening because we'd been far too busy trying to whip some plonker at pool (but the sneaky devil kept cheating) and we were in Brecon. Where on earth were we going to find some food at 1am?
At Brecon Chicken & Pizza Land, that's where!
So it wasn't fine dining and yes, we had planned to go to the Indian and had got drunk instead, but there's something about walking home in the rain, munching on a chicken drumstick, that you just can't beat.
Now and again.
If you're in Brecon after hours and you're famished, head to Ship Street and the bright lights of Chicken & Pizza Land. It's fast, it's cheap, it's tasty. It's your only hope.

Check out my review of Brecon Chicken & Pizza Land - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: La Flamenca in Bath

Bath - Eating & Drinking - Restaurants - Spanish


Cosy little Tapas bar in bath. Popped in after visiting the Christmas Market and was immediately warmed by the welcome of the staff and the heating, which was cranked right up (is there anthing worse than being cold in a restaurant? i don't think so).

The food was delicious (can't remember everything that we sampled, but i do remember the grilled sardines, baked choritso, meatballs (particularly good), cheese & that thin salty ham & bread (great bread) and really good olives). I agree with Matstars in that the rioja is very good.

Also had a cognac and espresso to finish off. I think that it cost around £100 for three of us, but we were on a pre-Christmas day out and weren't holding back (hmm, i might have had two cognacs, come to think of it!).

It was a fabulous lunch and the perfect pit stop. I would go back anytime (and hope to see some Spanish dancing!).

Check out my review of La Flamenca - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: bangkok cafe in Cardiff

Cardiff


Eight of us ate at the new Bangkok Cafe one chilly winter's eve and it warmed us up a treat. The food here is sooooo good, but quite spicy, so choose wisely if you're not a 'hot' fan.

I had the roast duck with broccoli sprouts, big fat noodles and a rich sauce/broth. It was stunning. The duck was perfect; tender and tasty and not too fatty (but with a lovely crisp bit of skin on the top of each slice. mmmmmm). Tried using chopsticks, but the noodles kept slipping from my grasp (and splashing me and my pal with sauce when they landed back in the bowl!) so i reverted to cutlery (which is handily set out on all the tables, so you don't have to ask for a fork in front of all the chopstick experts!).

The wine we had was delicious (but I can't remember which one we picked, other than it was red!), but cider drinkers are out of luck as they don't stock any.

The manager and waiting staff were all smiley and happy and very attentive and the food came quickly. Prices are very decent too. Our bill came to £154 for eight people (around half had starters, all had mains and all had drinks).

The decor is modern and funky and this is a hidden gem of a place that i hope is here to stay. I would certainly recommend it and can't wait to go again and try something else off their wonderful menu.

Top tip: if you want a table on a Friday night, book well in advance. A couple of people were turned away (regretfully and with a smile) by the manager while we were there.

Check out my review of bangkok cafe - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Zerodegrees in Cardiff

Cardiff - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Sports Bars - Eating & Drinking - Pubs & Bars - Bars - Beer Garden


I was told that this place was cold, but it isn't; it's warm and noisy and all hustly bustly and fab. Alright, so there's a bit too much chrome in the room, but the food and beer sooooo make up for it. Went the first week of December on a Tuesday night and the place was buzzing. Can wholeheartedly reccommend the pots of mussels in cream and white wine sauce (seriously delicious) and the duck in hoysin sauce pizza was a revelation (and the pizza oven is magnificent; wish i had one at home). The beer is wonderfully original and brewed on the premesis (oh yeah, it's a microbrewery by the way). I tried some fruity stuff that was lush and a more traditional wheat beer that was even better! And best of all, you can buy kegs of the stuff to take home (check the giant fridges by the front door).
Writing about it makes me want to go back and try some more of their delectations. Mmmmmmm.

Check out my review of Zerodegrees - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Benedito's in Cardiff

Cardiff - Shopping - Food & Drink - Delicatessen


I absolutely love this treasure trove of gob-watering goodies. As a resident of Splott, finding this little deli-style shop was like a light being switched on in the sky! Floor to ceiling shelves laden with all kinds of food stuffs and drinks, a cheese and meat counter, freezers full of exotic seafood and meats and an interesting and varied collection of imported wines and beers, Beneditos is the type of shop you would expect to find in one of the arcades in the city centre, not a street in Splott. But thank goodness it is there.
The last time I visited, I had been wandering the area in a fruitless search for Parmesan. I popped in and asked the main man, 'any Parmesan?'. He looked at me and said, very slowly, 'Parmejjjjjjaaaaaann'. I nodded, 'yes, parmejjjjaaaaann - have you got any?'. He shrugged. 'How much you wan?'. We hit it off immediately.
He was great, actually. I told him I needed enough for my pea and pancetta risotto and a bottle of white wine also, but I only had £8 left to spend and he sorted me out with exactly what I needed.
I am going to make a conscious effort to shop there more often. I want to give Beneditos as much custom as I can to ensure it stays open (now obviously I don't eat and drink THAT much, so I'm writing this in a sly ploy to get others to pledge the same thing and support this wonderful local gem - hint hint!).
Full marks.

Check out my review of Benedito's - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype

Qype: Total Petrol Station in Cardiff

Cardiff


Now I don’t usually review garages, but this is a deserved exception. The Total garage at the bottom of Cathedral Road is run by a man for whom it is impossible to let an opportunity pass. He will try and sell his customers a whole range of stuff, even if they only want to buy a stamp or pay for their petrol. I’ve been asked if I want to also purchase a lottery ticket, ‘Euromillions this weekend madam – win big!’ a set of plastic BBQ tongs, ‘weather good this weekend, madam – sit outside, eat some food!’ a token for the carwash, ‘discount today madam, Gold wash for the price of Bronze,’ even though I was on foot. Meal deals, DVDs, marked down chocolates – the list goes on and on. One poor girl I know can’t go in there anymore. She has trouble with the word ‘no’ and often came away having spent £7 or £8 when she only popped in for a can of pop! If you’re going in, steel your nerves and don’t, for heaven’s sake, show any fear.

Check out my review of Total Petrol Station - I am Tommowinnie - on Qype