Time for a new challenge I thought. How about sampling some of the local cuisine on offer? You know me, I like to do things in order, not have too much choice. That way I don’t have to make a decision on where to go next. So I thought we would go to one of our local streets, Wellfield Road, start at one end and see how far we got.
Having enjoyed our trip up and down Wellfield Road we have now branched out to other Cardiff streets and even beyond. Read about our experiences at Seeking Sustenance. In the meantime here’s what we discovered on Wellfield Road:
Topps Pizza
A new addition to the Wellfield Road eateries. Tops Pizza opened in Dec 2024, moving into the old Lloyds Pharmacy which had been there for many years. Tops Pizza was established in 1988, it sayso n the shop-front. We had a Vegan Veggie Luxus (Tomato sauce base, vegan cheese, green peppers, fresh tomatoes, red onions, sweetcorn, black olives) and a Special (Tops mozzarella cheese, special tomato sauce, pepperoni, ham, ground beef, green peppers, mushrooms, sweetcorn & red onions. Plus then there’s the issue of choosing your base type and your crust type. All very tasty.
The Wellfield Social
There was a quick turnaround in summer 2024 when Waterloo Tea vacated 41 Wellfield Road and The Wellfield Social opened. There is a familiar look inside but the menu is updated. I had a tasty Mediterranean platter dish.
Jivey’s
Jivey’s which is regularly seen at the north end of Roath Park Lake has opened a second outlet in St Andrew’s Court. Visited twice as I forgot to take a pic of my coffee first time around so returned for a tasty mini chimichurri board.
Legacy
Legacy Indian restaurant opened up in Wellfield Road in April 2024 in a property that has seen a number of restaurants in recent years; Lushus and Jasmin and before that Tea & Cake. We had a chicken Royal Bengal and chana masala, dahl makhani and saffron rice. It all tasted very good indeed and the staff very welcoming.
Franco’s Apulian Street Food
Franco’s Apulian Street Food arrived at St Andrew’s in January 2024. He already has a stall at Cardiff Market and is seen at other venues around the city too. I was lucky enough to catch him here on his first day. What a day to start – on the coldest day of the year! I had a delicious Pepperoni Panzerotto. That, together with Franco’s infectious smile warmed me up a treat.
The Wellfield
The Wellfield Fish and Chip shop has been here since 2016 and moved into a shop previously occupied by the likes of @Fab, Manhattan Menswear and Exotic Glitter. It’s so popular they even built a zebra crossing outside so people could get to it. We had some of their fine fish and chips with a side of baked beans and very much enjoyed them.
Café du Chat Noir
Hidden away a bit in the Wellfield Court Arcade but well worth a visit. The Café du Chat Noir has been here since 2015 and opens in the daytime. Has the best ambiance on the street. We had the tomato and red pepper soup and a lovely French beef & onion soup with a cheesy garlic crouton, followed by a chocolate cheesecake and a chocolate lava pudding.
Silures
The fine dining experience arrived in Wellfield Road this year in the shape of Silures, a restaurant named after a powerful warlike iron-age tribe that occupied South-East Wales. Our taste buds were whetted with hot onion seed bread with burnt leek butter. We had the Game pie which was served with creamed potato, honey-glazed heritage carrots & game jus and a Wild Mushroom Risotto, tarragon, Spenwood cheese with a side order of creamed spinach & pinenuts. For desert we shared a rum baba with chantilly cream, blackcurrant compote and flambé rum. It all tasted very good and the service was excellent.
Luna’s
Luna’s Vegan Corner arrived in Wellfield Road in around 2019 moving into the former travel agent shop. We went for a light lunch although they are open both daytime and evening. The avocado sandwiches with spinach & sundried tomato pesto were most tasty as were the cakes and coffee.
Salkaara
Salkaara arrived onWellfield Road in around 2020, taking over the premises previously occupied by the Himalaya which had been there since the 1970s. Ahhh, the Himalaya, our regular post-pub diner – the onion bhajis used to be excellent. Tonight we had Nawabi Murgh (chicken breast marinated in yoghurt and spices; cooked in the tandoor served with smoked chicken salad and makhani sauce) and Nadan Chicken Curry (Kerala- style chicken curry with coconut milk, tomatoes and spices).
Cook
Cook has been in Wellfield Road since around 2010 and sells frozen cooked food. The chain started in Farnham, Surrey in 1997 and now has over 90 stores, mainly in the south-east. I always think the name Cook is a bit of a misnomer as the food is already cooked, but I guess calling it Reheat doesn’t have the same ring about it. We had the Thai meal for two which had some subtle flavours followed by a cheesecake.
Juno Lounge
Juno Lounge opened in September 2007 and is one of the ‘Lounges’ chain of café bars founded in 2002 in Bristol in 2002. There are now more than 100 locations with the name of each one ending with an ‘o’. We ate on the roof terrace and had a chicken, bacon & avocado burger together with a Mexican Superbowl (black bean & sweetcorn salsa, edamame guacamole, sweet potato with pomegranate molasses, spicy rice, rocket and chipotle tomato salsa). Pleasant and attentive service. The eclectic artwork is always something to ponder.
Coffi Lab
The new kid on the block is Coffi Lab, moving into where Shaws the Drapers was for many years. Coffi Lab opened its first store in July 2021 in Monmouth and has since grown to six stores across Wales and the West of England. Their emphasis is on being dog-friendly and fundraising for Guide Dogs UK. We had a pain au raisin and a carrot cake with a couple of flat whites made by the friendly staff.
Sushi Life
Sushi Life has been in the Globe Centre on Wellfield Road since 2017. Sushi doesn’t tend to feature in our regular diet but we were both very impressed with our visit to Sushi Life. A variety of tastes, well presented and good service.
We had a Tokyo Platter made up of: California maki (crabstick, cucumber and avocado), Cut the Crab maki (crabstick, cucumber and avocado topped with salmon and dots of Japanese mayo and green masago), Hell in the Kitchen maki (Crispy prawns, homemade wasabi mayo, cucumber and avocado topped with tuna and dots of Japanese mayo and Sriracha sauce), Prawn Tempura Maki (Crispy prawns, homemade wasabi mayo, cucumber and avocado topped with toasted sesame seeds), Green Dragon maki (Salmon, cucumber and avocado topped with avocado, Japanese mayo, crispy tempura and chives) and Red Dragon maki rolls (Salmon, cucumber and avocado topped with flame-torched salmon, Japanese mayo, black masago and chives). And a Japanese Sapporo beer (brewed interestingly in the Guinness brewery in Dublin)
Hotpot Spot
Hotpot Spot has been upstairs in the Globe Centre, Wellfield Road since around 2018. The idea is that you choose a couple of boiling broths into which you put your food that cooks in front of your eyes. We had the coconut broth and beef and ginger broth together with the veggie delight tray, rice noodles, sesame and sweet chilli sauce dips and an Asahi beer. Well presented and friendly service.
Roma’Eat
Roma’Eat is a recent arrival in Wellfield Road having spent a few years around the corner in Albany Road. Judging by their full restaurant the move has been a success. We shared a couple of delicious Roman style pizzas, a Giulio Cesare: with anchovies, tomatoes and olives and Castel Sant Angelo: with mushrooms, ham, olives and artichokes washed down with a bottle of Sardinian Birra Ichnusa.
Pear Tree
Built on the site of the old Globe Cinema. The pub used to be called the Billabong and then 42nd Street before being re-named the Pear Tree sometime around 2010. I remember going to see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at the Globe so in memory of that I ordered a Cowboy Burger and pint of Brains SA from the friendly barman. I must admit I had forgotten that cowboys prefer skinny fries to chips.
Pippins
There has been a fruit and veg stall here for many years, at least since 2008, keeping up the tradition of the road having a fruit and veg outlet in Wellfield Road. To complete our food crawl down one side of the road we purchased a selection of seasonal fruit and made a fruit salad. Looks very healthy (the ice-cream was added later).
Caffè Nero
Caffè Nero has been in the old Lloyds Bank building on the corner of Bangor Street since 2012. Before that Starbucks were there. Caffè Nero is seemingly named after the Roman Emperor Nero, but I always wonder of the wisdom of naming a cafe after someone who poisoned his brother. We had a Mozzarella & Tomato Panini plus a Brie & Vine Ripened Tomato Focaccia, together with a mocha and a flat white.
Coffi House
Arrived in Wellfield Road around 1993 making it one of the oldest eateries in the road and one closest resembling a traditional café. The Sarsaparilla Bar sign above the counter harks back to the traditional non-alcoholic root beer made from tree bark, purporting health benefits and popular in the times of the temperance movement. I had a traditional breakfast with some black pudding.
La Dolce Vita
The restaurant moved into number 5, half of the former Noa Noa female fashion shop, in around 2013. Was called La Vita before rebranding as La Dolce Vita (the Sweet Life) around 2018. A busy restaurant on a warm summer’s evening. We had a Pollo con Pesto Crema: Casareccia pasta with free range chicken and roasted peppers in a creamy pesto sauce together with a pizza from the ‘specials board’ which was topped with caramelised onion, ricotta cheese and nduja (a spreadable spicy pork sausage). We left replete.
Parsons Bakery
A West-country bakery established almost 100 years ago, now with 50 stores. Parson arrived in Wellfield Road around 2013. We popped out for some elevenses and we couldn’t resist having the custard slice and Danish pastry and a baguette in the meal deal for later on.
Blossom Café
Blossom Café moved into 11 Wellfield Road around 2019, into the shop previously occupied by Luxor Fashion before they relocated further up the road. A Turkish vegetarian café offering a variety of hot and cold food, cakes and drinks. As it was a hot day we chose the gouda and sundried tomato sandwich, a sharing dip platter with olives, feta cheese, humus, seasoned olive oil, cacik and ezme salad and some falafels. To drink we had a turmeric latte and iced Americano. And this afternoon I had a sleep!
Yamas
Yamas Greek restaurant is a recent arrival in Wellfield Road from a couple of years ago but now seemingly firmly established and was serving to a full house the evening we were there. A warm summer’s evening certainly helped convey a Greek atmosphere. We had the Saganaki Cheese (grilled cheese with honey and sesame) and a Yiasou (chicken and pork gyros, a chicken and a pork souvlaki, a Greek sausage and a stuffed bifteki with pita, salad and fries). Left very full!
Troy
Troy Grill & Meze Bar moved into Wellfield Road in around 2019 into the old Home Zone curtain shop (where will we go next time for our curtains?). It is Kurdish cuisine made and served by friendly smiling faces. We started with some tasty Muska Boregi (pastry filled with feta cheese & parsley) before moving onto some freshly cooked shish served with rice and salad.
Wok to Walk
A world-wide franchise with around 15 outlets in UK. It arrived in Wellfield Road in 2012. You order the noodle, filling and sauce combination you want and it’s made there for you in front of your eyes. Their tag line is ‘cooked with lightning’. The scientist in me was tempted to ask how exactly. I had the chicken katsu, egg noodles and Hong Kong sweet and sour sauce, in a box filled to the brim. All very tasty.
Subway
Subway has been in Wellfield Road since round 2010, moving into that was the old travel agent (remember those?).
A friendly place and popular hang-out for local schoolchildren. I had the chicken teriyaki on toasted 9-grain multi-seeded bread with cheese, lettuce, tomato and olives and hickory smoked BBQ sauce plus a chocolate cookie and pepsi to send the calorie calculator into meltdown. I always find eating a Subway such a messy affair and end up needing a shower afterwards.
Tesco
Back in the 60’s and 70’s these premises used to be Cirel’s, the gentleman outfitters. Before Tesco arrived in about 2010, it used to be One Stop. My meal deal included crumbly Greek Feta salad made up of feta and semi-dried tomato and pasta and a mango, passion fruit and apple smoothie and some mild cheese and onion crisps. The labelling seemed keen to emphasise what I was missing which was 45% of the salt, all the sugar and all the mayonnaise.
Bentley’s
A café since the 1940s. Used to be the Penylan Café/bakery, then became Ferrari’s Café before becoming Bentley’s. It had a brief time as Chai Street Kitchen in 2017 before the current reincarnation of Bentley’s. Ever so popular, with customers queuing out the door the day we visited. We had the Set Breakfast which filled us up nicely for the rest of the day.
Greggs
I fought my way past security, cleverly disguised as four red bins and into this popular bakery chain outlet which arrived in Wellfield Road around 2010. No spare seats today so I took my coffee and vegan sausage roll to the nearby park and sat in the Spring sunshine.
Waterloo
This is one of five teahouses in the chain that began in nearby Waterloo Gardens. They have been here in Wellfield Road since 2019. They moved into, what was way back, Tilley’s shoe shop and for a while kept the H.A.Tilley shop-sign uncovered during the restoration. We shared a poached egg with hollandaise and spinach on sourdough toast plus poached avocado, miso ‘butter’, crispy onion, seeds, chilli oil, on sourdough washed down with Yunnan Gold black tea and genmaicha green tea.
Coffee #1
The ever popular Coffee #1 chain was started in Wood Street, Cardiff in 2001. In 2011 it was purchased by the brewery S.A.Brains. it now has 100 outlets and since last year it has been fully owned by Café Nero. It has been in Wellfield Road since ~2007.
Tŷ Melin
Tŷ Melin (Mill House) Bakery is a fairly recent and welcome addition to Wellfield Road, arriving in 2021. It’s their second shop, the first being in Cardiff Marina.
You are looking at a picture of a man defeated by a cake – a first for me. Their almond pain au chocolat are humongous. A doggy bag was needed.
Cameo
A lovely vegan board with sides of bread and skinny fries, sat in the sunshine with a beer and coffee – what’s not to like. Never been here before and never will again as we learnt it’s closing on Monday and re-opening in a month’s time as something else. I can see this is going to be a never ending project! I wonder if the Ruth Jones painting is going to stay. What’s occurring?
Saraztro
What better way to brighten up a grey day than to wander down Wellfield Road for a bit of lunch. Saraztro Greek Restaurant & Bar opened around 2019 and now seems well established and nicely busy at lunchtime. A chicken souvlaki wrap and a halloumi wrap went down a treat.
Green & Jenks
Green & Jenks deli have a long history in the area going back to a dairy business in the early 1900s in Mackintosh Place. They have had a deli in Monmouth for many years and about six years ago returned to Roath and opened up in Wellfield Road, fighting to establish themselves at one end of a crowded market. They have remodelled lately, doing away with their gelato and take-away coffee and replacing it with vegetables and a gift shop. I was about to give them a miss when I noticed their cake offering and grabbed some Gower coffee whilst I was there. Whoever would have thought that global warming has reached the extent that they can now grow coffee on the Gower.
Joe’s
It’s probably 45 years since I had my first Joe’s Ice Cream in Swansea. I used to walk past the shop in St Helens Road every day on the way to and from college. They have been in Wellfield Road now for many years but of us had ever been there, so today we put that right. I was sat there working out on my fingers how long ago I had my first Joe’s when a lady on the next table, of senior years, said she was 12 when she first had hers in Swansea. That beat me so I shut up from then on and enjoyed my chocolate sundae.
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