Bar News

At least the Square is being used again. Wasn't there plans to turn it into a burlesque bar at one stage?

In exciting North Cardiff news the Pentre Gwilym on Thornhill Road is being converted into a Miller & Carter steakhouse. Hopefully the "Fun Factory" is also going.

The branch of Artigiano on Queen Street is being replaced with yet another pizza place. That didn't last long.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/cardiff-new-base-barley-pizza-10906506#ICID=FB-Wales-cardiff

'Base and Barley' is the same company as Artigiano.

In exciting North Cardiff news the Pentre Gwilym on Thornhill Road is being converted into a Miller & Carter steakhouse. Hopefully the "Fun Factory" is also going.

I saw the job advert for a manager back in December. Pentre Gwilym House is a terrible pub but I really loathe Miller & Carter. It's another Mitchell's & Butlers low quality, low on staff venue. They almost have a monopoly in north Cardiff.

I was at a friends birthday in the Miller & Carter in the bay a couple of years ago and we had to send our starters and mains back because they were cold and I noticed a few tables near us left dirty for the whole time we were there. Lovely staff but not enough of them which is a piss take with the money that M&B are raking in.

A lot of folk are fooled by them though as both the bay and the Hayes sites both seem to be constantly full. Must be why there's a 3rd on the way.

I think they are pretty pricey to boot. I think they do well because there is a surfeit of "steakhouses". Lots of places you can get a steak of course, but not many that specialise in it. And meat has come back in vogue the last couple of years. Everything from Burgers to Steak to "Buttermilk Fried Chicken" to BBQ and Smoked meats.

I guess the question is why aren't there more steak restaurants out there...

I've never been to Miller and Carter but I do know that it would be impossible to be worse than the Pentre Gwilym. I've been there a few times, lured by the two for one offers, and I can't imagine the food was prepared by a trained chef.

Although there are plenty of pubs serving food of varying quality there is a dearth of restaurants in north Cardiff. A Harvester in Llanishen, the Juboraj in Rhiwbina, a pizza joint and the Discovery in Cyncoed and an Indian in Birchgrove. I can't think of anything else. It's surprising given that it's the most affluent part of Cardiff.

Although there are plenty of pubs serving food of varying quality there is a dearth of restaurants in north Cardiff. A Harvester in Llanishen, the Juboraj in Rhiwbina, a pizza joint and the Discovery in Cyncoed and an Indian in Birchgrove. I can't think of anything else. It's surprising given that it's the most affluent part of Cardiff.

There are quite a few good places in Whitchurch village. I think that counts as north cardiff!

I deliberately left Whitchurch out. I can think of 5 restaurants there (Pizzeria Villagio, Thai Lounge, 2 Indians and Miss Jones) plus a few pubs with grub. Even with Whitchurch included it's still a pretty poor return of about 10/11 restaurants.

I suppose Roath/Whitchurch Road is not far plus north Cardiff is so suburban. There isn't a massive amount of passing trade either.

Could you add the various "Carveries" / Food-focused pubs? Mason's (Toby), The Hollybush, Three Elms in the Whitchurch area alone.. there must be a couple more of these things?

I think you're right that its the suburban nature that stops more traditional restaurants popping up. Apart from Whitchurch, there isn't really a proper 'high street' in north Cardiff. And restaurants tend to cluster, usually in old shopping streets, where there have been conversions. So the Roath/Cathays area and Canton.