CAMEO CLUB | FOOD REVIEW
Wellfield Road, Roath, Cardiff. 029 2049 1520 / www.cameoclub.co.uk
The new Cameo on Roath’s Wellfield Road is already extremely popular, the reputation of the Pontcanna club having preceded it, and most nights the place is jam-packed. We went on a Monday night and it was still reasonably busy. Luckily we had a table next to the front window reserved.
After sitting down my partner and I eyed up the menu, and various specials, and chose our starters. I settled on the goat’s cheese and roasted red pepper crumpet, which came served with rocket and a balsamic dressing. They certainly weren’t stingy with the soft and tasty goat’s cheese, which matched the crumpet in size and thickness, and the sharp dressing cut through the sweetness perfectly.
My partner started with moules mariniere, which were creamy, subtle and soft. He stuck with seafood for his main – pan-fried sea bream, which was served in a beautifully buttery samphire chowder with cockles and sweetcorn. The crispy-skinned fish was raised out of the sauce on a bed of samphire, which stopped it from drowning in the chowder, and the addition of a few cherry tomatoes gave a delightful piercing sweetness.
I went for the Welsh lamb pappardelle which included enjoyably soft fresh pasta and deliciously large parmesan shavings. The hints of mint went well with the lamb and added an enjoyable bitter aftertaste.
On to desserts and I had the perfectly gooey dark chocolate fondant, served with raspberries and a well matched and white chocolate sorbet, while my partner opted for the tasty thyme honey and roasted fig panna cotta, which had a lovely subtle vanilla hint to it. Both were perfectly sized so we left well fed, but not waddling out rubbing our bellies.
Overall the new Cameo is a great place to sit back, have a drink and enjoy a well cooked meal. What made the place, however, were the attentive and genuinely friendly staff who were making sure everyone (not just us reviewers) were well looked after.
words HEATHER ARNOLD