Courts — Restaurant in Wales

From the Courts Website: "We cater to all, whether it’s a relaxed family dinner, a drink after work, a business lunch or special occasion, we provide stunning interiors and exceptional service to create a memory that will last a lifetime."

Visually beautiful and based on the first impression was set to be a wonderful birthday and father's day celebration for 8 plus a toddler, however it turnned into more of a shouting match due to the live music, more on that in a bit. This was booked weeks in advance for a noon start on a Saturday, day before father's day.

Drinks were served relatively quickly but did need to ask for table water to be brought.

Orders were taken but trying to ask questions about the menu was starting to get difficult due to the raising level of the live music in the area from the next room.

Starters came out however one was missing, which was replaced eventually. The pork belly bites were not "crisped to perfection" as per the menu but in fact were chewy but did taste ok. The chicken tenders in Jack Daniels sauce were again ok but nothing special.

Mains came, all well presented, I can't talk for the other meals but the Cowboy burger was again ok but nothing to get excited about.

Normally during a meal our family like to talk and catch up and also find out how others are finding thier food but by this point the noise levels were over 90 Decibels (dB), anything over 85 dB is considered dangerous for long exposure. We had asked more than once for the music to be turned down but this level only increased. Other tables also complained

The music itself was great and the signers fantastic, but not at that level, and not for a relaxed family dinner.

We spoke to the manager who informed us he has spoken to the band 3 times but they did not turn down the music and that normally the band is outside to entertain the people that enjoy the bottomless drinks.

Last gripe, the itemised bill, there are various 2 or 3 course options for set amounts, as much as the bill seemed to be correct there is no way of seeing this as rather than showing the full price and then the discount it just shows prices on the bill that do not correspond to the prices in the menu. No service charge was added to the bill, which due to above would not have been paid.

Normally we would have stayed for a dessert and coffees but we all had had enough by the end of mains and just wanted to leave.

Overall, fantastic looking venue with alot of potential but was ruined by average food, music set at a volume which would have been better served in a nightclub and management that could not control a band in their establishment.

Either market yourself as a higher end restaurant or as a live music scene doing bottomless drinks, just not both at the same time.

Memories that will last a life time....Yes, but not in the...

Check your bill carefully—tip alert!

While the food was good, I was surprised by the high 12.5% service charge added to the bill, especially after staff casually asked if everything was okay without mentioning it. That level of charge is more typical of central London fine dining—not something you’d expect here. There really should be more transparency around it, particularly when it goes above the more standard 10% usually seen in Cardiff.

To add to that, I was also overcharged for a cocktail—listed at £10, but billed at £12 under “miscellaneous”. Drinks. Small details, but they add up.

The venue itself is nice: a large parking area, an outdoor champagne bar and terrace, plus indoor dining that’s split between a more upscale restaurant feel and a darker, pub-style section. That said, the dance music outside felt more like a club than a relaxing lunch spot—perhaps needed to mask the noise from the busy four-lane road nearby.

Food-wise, the lunch deal offered good value—sirloin and fillet available with a supplement.

The “Coconuts” frozen cocktail was visually fun, served in a mini coconut with green frozen liquid, but lacked any real punch—you could barely taste the alcohol.

Duck bon bons were tasty: crispy exterior, shredded duck filling, cheese shavings and a pea shoot garnish.

The lamb rump was also well cooked—crispy fat, pink inside, served with a massive portion of mash and three broccoli steaks. The sauce leaned slightly sweet, but overall the dish was enjoyable.

In summary: food was good, service was average, and while I might return, I wouldn’t say the experience justified a 12.5% service charge.

A standard 10% tip would have been more in line with the level of service and setting. Be sure to check your bill and question anything that...

If you’re looking for a masterclass in how to ruin a night out, look no further than Courts. From the moment we walked in, I knew we were in for something “special.”

The cocktails were the highlight — and by highlight, I mean they were a fascinating scientific experiment. The Pornstar Martini was so far from what it should be that I almost asked if they’d invented a new drink: The Tap Water Martini. A truly avant-garde take on mixology. I swapped it for wine, because I didn’t trust what other “creations” might come out of the bar.

Then came the food — a bold reimagining of “inedible.” The halloumi fries were straight out of Iceland (the supermarket, not the country). The nachos could have doubled as building materials. The beef? Served at a temperature that suggested the kitchen had confused “cooked” with “stored.” And the chilli cauliflower bites were so bland they could be prescribed as part of a hospital diet plan.

Of course, we barely ate anything — unless nibbling counts as eating. When we politely raised this with the manager, Salvo, we were treated to a live demonstration of Gaslighting 101. Apparently, the mere act of attempting to chew means we were “satisfied customers.” Generously, he offered 20% off. What a hero.

We paid £80 for the privilege of going home hungry and slightly depressed. So yes, if your dream night involves bad cocktails, overpriced frozen snacks, and a manager who makes you feel like you’re the problem, Courts is the place for you.

Otherwise, save yourself the trouble and head literally anywhere else in Penarth — even the chip shop would feel Michelin-starred...