Graig Road, Lisvane, Cardiff. 029 2075 4456 / www.tymawrcardiff.com
Tucked away on a country road just beyond Lisvane, Ty Mawr is a welcome retreat away from the bustle of the city centre. With an expansive garden and excellent views across Cardiff, Ty Mawr sits in a fantastic location only a short distance from both Caerphilly and Cardiff’s suburbs.
Having undergone a refurbishment around six months ago, the surprisingly large Ty Mawr is sympathetically designed with a rustic pub atmosphere, original features, large dining areas and crackling open fires adding to the traditional atmosphere. With such a tempting menu, it was tricky to decide what to order first, but after some tips from our friendly and accommodating waitress, I opted for the scallops to start and the hake from the specials board for the main. My dining partner opted for the homemade pâté with ale chutney, and the lamb with red wine jus for the main.
With their own vegetable garden, many of the ingredients in our meal couldn’t have been any fresher, and the quality could be tasted in every mouthful. To start, the scallops were fantastic: simply prepared and very well executed with a deliciously fishy flavour. For the mains, the succulent lamb rump was pink and perfectly cooked alongside some buttery herb mash and courgettes (from Ty Mawr’s own garden of course), and having come highly recommended, the hake was fantastically flaky and flavoursome with its herby breadcrumb crust. Prepared alongside new potatoes and spinach in a creamy sauce, it was hard to fault either main course, and with well-judged portion sizes, there was plenty of room for desert. Plumping for the homemade tart au citron, the quality of the meal was maintained with a beautifully made pastry base, sharp tart and complementary vanilla pod ice cream. Overall, Ty Mawr is a fantastic restaurant with a delicious menu and a welcoming ambience. An excellent new discovery. GARETH LUDKIN