Jolyon’s At No. 10, 10 Cathedral Road, Cardiff.
029 2009 1900 / www.jolyons10.com
Since opening just over a year ago, Cwtch Mawr has proved to be a popular destination for post-work drinks and a relaxed place to spend time on the weekend. Having already spent many an hour here with friends, I was yet to try out their culinary offerings.
Undecided on what to have, we tried a huge array of their dishes on offer. To start we tried the wild mushroom risotto (£7.45 as a main), homemade rosemary and olive bread and an asparagus and beetroot soup (£3.95). I’ve not been a fan of beetroot since the age of five when my father told me that it gave you a hairy chest, so after I tentatively tried the soup I was extremely pleased to find that not only was it delicious, but to this day I’ve still not had any hair appear in places it shouldn’t. The mushroom risotto was exceptionally good, perfectly balanced between the fine line of not too creamy and not too sticky.
For mains we sampled the fish and chips (£8.25), fish pie (£8.25) and the sirloin steak. I’d happily come back and eat of any the dishes again, especially the fish pie with its fluffy mashed potato topping and creamy filling. My dining partner was particularly fond of the steak, which was moist, succulent and very tender.
Despite being rather full, we soon found room for the baked New York cheesecake (£4.95), white chocolate and basil crème brulee (£4.95) and a scoop of their strawberry and coconut ice-cream – both homemade (£.4.95). All were ridiculously good, especially the cheesecake which is potentially the nicest I’ve eaten outside of NYC. ANGHARAD BROWN