Y Cyfnod Cafe & Bistro — Restaurant in Wales

Service is non-existent and food is below average. We were staying in the pen-y-garth lodges nearby, and there is limited choices in the town centre for food, so went by the reviews. Wish we hadn't come here, it was a waste of money for the pizzas, the pasta was ok. The owner and his son's ignored us throughout except when it was time to pay the bill. The pasta was ok, and I asked for garlic bread, but was given a more dearer garlic bread with cheese - the cheese was cheap mozzarella / cheddar blend, so had a film of greasy oil on top. Same with the pizzas, they were made of cheap dough which was chewy and hard, very likely not fresh dough. Also the base of the pizza was soaking in oil, definitely not stone-baked like they advertise. The chicken on the pizzas was cheap small cubes of chicken, and the cheese again was cheap greasy cheese. We also ordered a tiramisu to take, home which was ok. We went across the road plas yn dre to order the rest of the desserts as there was limited choice at y cyfnod bistro. I overheard the owner saying to a customer who enquired about where they are from, and the owners are Turkish - he said that there is no profit in Turkish food, so they sell Italian. Hmmm, not very authentic, and kind of indicates to me where their loyalties lie. This all came to £80 for two pastas, two pizzas, a garlic bread, and 4 soft drinks, and a tiramisu. We left most of the pizza and garlic bread, and didn't bother taking it home. There were no thank you's or goodbyes on leaving. I think they rely on regulars and passing customers who come to visit Bala, so don't really care about...

I visited this restaurant over the Easter holiday and was pleasantly surprised by the overall experience. We ordered the penne arrabbiata and the beef lasagne—both were genuinely enjoyable, with the lasagne being the highlight. It was rich, comforting, and full of flavour. I would easily give it a 9 out of 10. The penne arrabbiata was also very good, slightly less remarkable but still satisfying, earning a solid 8 out of 10 from me.

One thing that really stood out was the portion size. Unlike many places where you’re left a bit hungry, the servings here were generous—so much so that I could not actually finish mine, which is saying something. It felt like good value, and the food was clearly made with care.

The only slight downside was the vegetables. They were not the freshest, but given that it was Easter and most shops had been closed for three days, it is completely understandable. It did not take away from the meal overall.

The staff were lovely—warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming without being overbearing. They created a relaxed atmosphere and made us feel well looked after from the moment we arrived. That kind of service really makes a difference.

All in all, it was a great experience. Tasty food, big portions, and excellent service. I would definitely recommend it and would be happy to...

What a lovely little Italian themed cafe and restaurant in Bala. We only chose this as the best out of what was on offer in the area, but was pleasantly surprised. It was clean, well lit, the staff were welcoming & polite, and the menu was inviting.

My partner ordered the Welsh Pate from the starter menu, and I an American Hot pizza, with a couple of additional toppings. Each of us also had a bottle of Snowdonia Craft lager (I had never had this lager before, but liked it so much that I bought six bottle to take home from the local supermarket).

The food was well presented and tasty. My partner told me that the pate was delicious. My pizza was very tasty, the base was thin and crispy, and very well presented. When my partner's bread ran out, she was very quickly provided with more upon request with no additional charge.

All in all, very nice, and would go again.

The only down side, and why I've given an overall 4 out of 5, the main door to the restaurant was opened wide for fresh air, even though no one was asked first if they wanted it opened. It wasn't exactly a warm evening, so we had cold air blowing into the...