Café du Chat Noir — Restaurant in Wales

I took myself here for Sunday lunch recently. I didn’t book ahead of time but I’d suggest you do - this is a very popular little French bistro with good reason; the food is wonderful! I chose the homemade vegetarian loaf - a lentil, red pepper, sagey slice of gorgeousness that came served with delicious French style roast potatoes, a healthy portion of roast parsnips, a Yorkshire pudding, lashings of homemade gravy and a side dish filled with an abundance of carrots, peas, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower cheese. It was almost overwhelming! I watched other diners getting their platefuls of beef and their plates were similarly piled high. Cafe du Chat Noir are serving up a weekly masterclass in what a Sunday roast should be. I left feeling happily defeated (I couldn’t eat everything), replete and didn’t need to eat again until the next day!. I think this is the best Sunday roast I’ve had in a very long time. The cafe was filled with the happy buzz of people (many seemed to be regulars) enjoying delicious food at truly reasonable prices. The atmosphere on the cafe is buzzy and filled with bonhomie- between the staff themselves and staff with customers. I felt welcome, and definitely satiated when I left. I have eaten here previously, typically lunch - quiche and salad, their vegetarian croque and again, good portion sizes and delicious grub! If you plan to go for Sunday lunch I advise you to book ahead of time; I saw a number of people having to be turned away. To top it all off they’re...

Disappointing, and I have to dissent from the majority of positive reviews.

I had offered to take my aunt to several excellent restaurants but she chose this small café for lunch, although she had only had coffee there previously.

First impressions weren’t great. Apart from the rather tired décor, the floor was quite dirty, with lots of crumbs, small pieces of litter and even a crust of bread. At the time we entered, only one table was occupied so a quick brush would have been possible. I noticed that the kitchen floor looked similar.

We later checked and there was no food hygiene rating on display outside. Even stranger, and also illegal, the business is not listed at all on the Cardiff Council section of the Food Hygiene Ratings web site – no rating and no ‘waiting inspection’ status. I searched by address, English name, French name and map.

We both chose the Poulet Basquaise and it was reasonable, but not outstanding. A few herbs would have helped lift it. The accompanying vegetables were poor. The broccoli sprigs were fine, though cool, but the rest was disappointing. The carrot sticks were mushy and tasted like frozen, or pre-processed and reheated. The potatoes were definitely reheated.

I developed stomach problems after lunch but I can't say that the lunch was definitely the cause.

On the positive side, I can say that the service was friendly and helpful, and the prices reasonable, but I won’t...

I cannot recommend this place highly enough.

I've been coming back for over a year now. The owner and his staff are incredibly welcoming, and the head waitress' French accent lends a lovely sense of authenticity to the place, along with the design and the music. It's also perfectly positioned to get a lot of natural light in the afternoons.

I've been back here many times, and the food has always been excellent. I usually go for the croque madame, which is a slight variant on the traditional French baked cheese sandwich - the croque monsieur (the madame comes complete with a poached egg). I think they use Gruyere cheese with a little ham and bechamel sauce. Everything about this dish, even the salad (with sliced red grapes) is delicious. The lamb shank I had for a Sunday roast was another highlight. Such a lovely atmosphere to enjoy a glass of wine with your roast, and close enough to enjoy a walk around the park afterwards.

They have their own blend of coffee made up exclusively - I can strongly recommend their latte. It won't set you back much at all, and believe me it tastes a lot better than any of the high street chain alternatives.

I've taken friends, family members and dates here, and they've all said (quite rightly) that it's a hidden gem.

Keep up the good work guys! I'm already looking forward to...