79-81 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff. 029 2061 1556 / www.societystandard.co.uk
Whitchurch Road is fast becoming the foodie epicentre of Cardiff, with a melting pot of different cultural cuisines running up and down the street. The Society Standard is the newest bar/kitchen to appear, bringing a relaxed and stripped-back style along with a locally-sourced menu. The bar is stocked with local ales and ciders, as well as Double Standard, the Society Standard’s own IPA. The wide cocktail selection, too, is filled with classic cocktails given a modern twist.
Now to what everyone wants to know: how was the food? First of all we went for the Rack ‘Em Up Ribs, which are glazed with a sticky BBQ sauce and served with sautéed pickled cabbage and spiced skinny fries. The rib portions are big, which is always a plus, and the smoky BBQ flavour combined with the tender pork is mouthwatering. The second dish we tried was the vegetarian spinach dahl, which infuses courgette pakora, tomato chutney, chargrilled spring onions and coriander yogurt. The dahl was full of flavour and has a nice little kick at the end – to me, this was the real standout dish and definitely worth checking out.
Frankly, when it comes to the desserts you won’t be blown away. A coconut panna cotta, especially, was not great. Otherwise, though, the meal and experience you get at Society Standard will ensure you a great night filled with good food, drinks and hopefully laughter with friends.
words JAYDON MARTIN