Noble House

Noble House must be one of the best-known Chinese restaurants in Cardiff. Loved by generations of enthusiasts it offers the customary range of Chinese dishes with some interesting additions.

The mixed hot hors d'oeuvres make an attractive starter and are effectively dim sum by another name. The hot and sour soup carries a good bite to it and is good value. Aromatic Peking duck, so much beloved by we Brits is invariably over-ordered, such is our enthusiasm for this tasty oriental dish. In fact a quarter duck is ample for one person and enough for two. At Noble House a whole duck is £19.60.

The Mongolian barbecued lamb is increasingly a favourite and in many places Mongolian cooking is now in a class of its own. Try the Sze-Chuen style duckling too, but leave some space for the quick-fried scallops, prawns and squid on a bed of seaweed. There is the usual array of 'feasts' of which I found The Peking Special Dinner at £13.30 a head the most attractive and best value.

A masterly range of beers and lagers provide the customary liquid back-up and service, if not polished, is competent.