Rod U.
Yelp
Arched, exposed brick ceilings and walls, a former bank vault turned restaurant. Contemporary touches make the space warm and inviting. Patrons are boisterous and jovial, all enjoying honest food and drink. Chicago's Avec in Cardiff Wales?
One of the few restaurants in the city to make the Michelin guide and for good reason. Fresh ingredients, well prepared, and paying homage to Wales. OK, I'll come clean, I chose it because they had Welsh Rarebit on the menu.
To start, the namesake potted pig, not as over the top as the US counterpart. This one with very little clarified butter but lots of pork, liquefied pork fat, with cinnamon, anise, and thyme overtones. Perfect on toast with the accompanying pickled veg. Braised beef cheek with caramelized onion and thinly sliced roasted beef cheek on toast, outstanding. Deep beefy flavor. Nuff said.
For mains, the roasted half rabbit, and rabbit sausage with fennel in a cider, mustard sauce is very good. Clean flavor of the rabbit (it doesn't taste like chicken), its moist but slightly chewy meat with a bite of the rabbit offal sausage is brightened by the acidic sauce. Fennel heightens the slight gamey edge.
The star, the whole, mustard and honey glazed ham hock with coleslaw, roasted cauliflower and new potatoes. Huge (easily feeds two). Fall off the bone tender, the fat, melting, the outer surface, sweet and tangy, the ham with the perfect salinity. The aroma, screams fall. This isn't your typical large production, ham hock in the States. Sorry to say but another food international travel has laid waste to.
Prices are very reasonable, with all starters £7, mains average £20.
Very nice selection of UK gin, local craft beer, and old world wines. Very reasonable prices.
Extremely friendly service but understand this is a pour it yourself kind of place. From water to wine, don't be a snob.
Advanced booking a month in advance for dinner recommended.
A worthy, contemporary dining experience less than 100 yards from the 1,000 year old Cardiff Castle.