OSCARS *****
6-10 Romilly Crescent, Cardiff. 029 2034 1264
The demise of Le Gallois in Pontcanna left a hole for the locals and lovers of good food. However, shortly after the closure was announced, it emerged that the popular Cowbridge-based restaurant Oscars, was soon to have a little sister in the capital. Having heard nothing but great reviews since it’s opening in April I’d been waiting for an opportunity to head there and check it out.
Luckily for me, my husband is pretty much teetotal, so he tried one of the non-alcoholic cocktails whilst I tried one of their wines from their impressive list. It’s pretty clear that Oscars are proud of their wine menu, recommending a different wine with each dish listed on the menu. Some people may find this patronising; I personally see this as an opportunity to try different wines and be educated.
To start we had the wild fish potato cake which was topped with strips of smoked salmon (£7.50) and the sweet potato and feta bhaji with a mint salad and a mango and coconut chutney (£4.95). Both were absolutely delicious, packed with flavour, not at all dry and cooked to perfection.
For our mains we opted for the Monmouthshire lamb kofta (£16.25) and one of the specials: slow-roasted chicken, sausage and chorizo in a tomato sauce on a bed of pak choi and potatoes. The lamb was potentially the finest I’ve ever tasted; moist, slightly pink and worked incredibly well with the flatbread, tabbouleh, feta, tzatziki and guacamole it was served with. My husband’s meal of chicken and chorizo was incredible and definitely worth venturing off the menu for.
With main meals varying from £8.95 to £22.50, Oscars caters for every occasion and I see myself going back whenever possible – whether it’s with friends, family, to celebrate a birthday or even if it’s just to try one of the cocktails. An excellent addition to the Cardiff dining scene. ANGHARAD BROWN