Cafe Atlantic — Restaurant in Wales

Atlantic Café in Barry has a reputation as a classic greasy spoon – popular among locals for its hearty breakfasts, builders’ tea, and big plates that promise to keep you full for hours. Unfortunately, my experience there fell far short of the café’s reputation.

Right from the start, the service was disappointingly slow, with a 35-40 minute wait for food. During that time, other customers who arrived well after us were served first, which left us feeling overlooked and frustrated. The cutlery and teacup provided were noticeably dirty, which was off-putting. Adding to the discomfort, there was loud shouting and singing coming from the kitchen, which even led some customers to call out for the staff to tone it down. This atmosphere made the experience feel more about the staff than about the customers, and I felt out of place and uncomfortable throughout my visit.

Adding to the chaos, the server was audibly complaining about their early start and workload, creating an atmosphere that was anything but inviting. The walls, too, weren’t well maintained, with food splatters visibly marking them. I wasn’t expecting fine dining, but I did hope for a clean, calm environment with friendly service and good, honest food.

When my meal finally arrived, my jacket potato was missing its promised salad, which only added to the overall disappointment. I had hoped for a positive experience, but sadly, from start to finish, it...

This cafe is solidly average. The breakfast looked a bit insipid when it arrived but later I discovered I could have ordered tomato instead of beans. I wasn’t given the choice when ordering but it clearly states that on the menu that there is a choice. The tea is dreadful, far too weak but again I ought to have mentioned something on ordering? However I was there to review. The menu for other items was extensive and looked tempting. There’s no reason not to use this place but there’s no reason not to go somewhere slightly better either. I was entertained with the lovely little dog I could see inside the cafe who managed to sit on a seat with its...

Proper old-school café, a genuine Greasy Spoon. Situated near to a trading estate, it is a little out of the way. Inside, there's a fair bit of space. They can probably seat about 60 people. Which is odd as from the outside it does not look like a particularly large building. The menu has, as you would expect, a full English breakfast with various size options. There are other options on the menu as well. Portions are value for money, cooked fresh and filling. Large mugs of tea and other drinks can be purchased. The staff are great, warm and welcoming. It was a genuinely positive and unpretentious experience visiting...