Miskin Arms — Restaurant in Wales

While I had just watched the Prime Minister's statement about self-isolation, I determined to keep my booking at the Miskin Arms. Even though this might be the last time I eat out for a very long time.

I was really glad I did, the atmosphere was delightful, busy and friendly, and the food was of excellent quality.

I started with the Home cured Gravadlux with sweet mustard and dill sauce. The salmon tasted of the salty, peppery, juniper rich curing, a subtle but delightful taste.

My partner had the Pan Fried Garlic Mushrooms, these were the most garlic rich mushrooms he has had for a very long time. The mushrooms were juicy and firm and the garlic butter oozed pleasantly across them.

We shared a portion of Garlic Bread, which was hot and toasty with the same rich garlic butter as the mushrooms - yummy.

For mains my partner has Confit Leg of Duck in peppercorn sauce with red cabbage and chips. His duck was cooked perfectly, enough pinkness to allow the flavour to come out, the duck was enhanced by the crispy pickled red cabbage.

I, as I'm likely to miss my usual merluza (hake) in Spain this year, had Grilled Hake with Jacket Potato. The grilling had seared the outside of the fish leaving a rich plumbness to the inner fish, with some black pepper this was a fish of stunning quality. I don't often comment on Google Reviews about potato, but the Jacket Potato here had a soft inside and a crispy skin which is just how I like my potato, there was a bone or two of the fish left on the plate at the end, but absolutely nothing of the potato. Gorgeous.

I have had too many bad cheese selections in pubs in my time - I love cheese, but I don't want extraneous fruit (cranberry, apricot etc) in it. So I made sure to ask what cheeses were in the selection, and was really glad to hear it was 'proper' cheese. A brie, a manchego, a strong cheddar and some perl las. These were all delightful with the brie being my favourite, as it smelt of old socks and tasted so rich and full that it had to be my last taste of the evening. I was so pleased, I've been to enough places where the cheese is brought straight from the fridge without a chance for its flavour to bloom - not here, here the cheese showed signs of love and care. Many thanks Miskin Arms.

My partner's dessert was Mango and Passionfruit Cheesecake with a raspberry couli, he said it was delicious and that he would make the effort to come back (when we are allowed back out!!) just for this.

All in all a lovely evening before the...

Saturday night booking party of 6, service poor, staff not co-ordinated plus unfriendly, even getting drinks & water was an ordeal. No menu as such select meal from boards & raw choices (meat & fish is laid on an ice bar, but some items don't appear to be fully in contact with the ice. Seemed like a lot to manage properly! Large queue of people jossling to order in front of the icebar, with our table of 6 orders fragmented, plus lots of individual choices that weren't clear until ordering. Atmosphere was very loud, had to shout, no place for quiet conversation. Garlic bread as a side came at least 15 mins before main dish was presented just wrapped in foil and dropped on table no plate (and was a meagre portion) ,one Salmon dish was undercooked had to be returned, serving staff appologised but no manager appeared. Overall (apart from salmon) food was well cooked and presented but lacking in something (perhaps side veg) & expensive as to what it was. As a regular business traveler would pay similar prices for meals in London or Paris get better meal & service, with a less confusing...

It's within very easy walking distance from home. The decor and atmosphere were excellent and the lunctime menu was of a very high standard and good value for money.

So much so that we also had a good, value for money bottle of wine. Definitely recommend and will come again.

If there is any criticism it was because there was a touch too much garlic in my main dish of pork loin. That said the neak was excellent and the portion size exactly right.

We were fortunate to have table No 1 which appears to be the prime spot as it affords a view of the entire restaurant and a splendid view outside.

Will definitely try the evening menu.

The weather wasn't particularly kind so it would have been nice to sit outside on the patio after the meal to perhaps have another very pleasant South African Chenin Blanc and soak in the atmosphere.

The staff were all very efficient and friendly which added to the occasion

We put off coming here for too long as we used to use it regularly as" our local" before the refurb and thought it perhaps too much. How wrong we were. It has the best...