Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

The bark of a cinnamon tree is remarkable for its intense flavour and is an indispensable spice in South Asian kitchens; likewise much attention is also lavished on this vital condiment at its namesake restaurants in Treforest and Pontcana, and a buffet and takeaway location in Bridgend. In fact it's more than just cinnamon; their time-tested recipes are built around an impressive blend of aromatic spices and ingredients.

Although customary Indian fare is prominently featured, it's interesting to notice dishes like aag utt pakheeza - flaming ostrich steaks marinated in fresh herbs and spices, grilled in a tandoor and served sizzling in brandy flame, bringing a whiff of novelty to proceedings. So do braised turkey fillets with spicy mushroom bhuna and sometimes its wise to pay heed to what the chef's have to say in the section devoted to their recommended dishes like the fairly hot Goa green chicken and peshawari king prawns.

Buffets certainly make for interesting eating especially at Cinnamon Tree with a spread of over 20 dishes capturing flavours of the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent.

Diners have come a long way from being quintessentially American, horse-drawn wagons serving hot food - today, they have become a part of urban culture, along with bars and nightclubs. Ed's Easy Diner founded in London's Soho in 1987, is one such place that recreates that classic 1950s diner experience.

If you're someone whose definition of indulgence includes a meaty burger, with a portion of cheesy fries and a milkshake, then go to Ed's and enjoy the food. The setting is casual and lively, the ambience bright and colourful. For those of you who love jukeboxes, a tabletop Seeburg 100 Wallomatic plays fifties rock and roll.
 
Once in, you cannot help but take notice of the quick service provided by the energetic and cheerful staff. Your desire to sink your teeth into a burger is met with immediate enthusiasm - load it with a filling of your choice, cheese, bacon, egg, guacamole or sautéed onion. The meat used is lean, ground steak and made from named cattle herds.

The original burger is served with lettuce, tomato, onion, dill pickle, mayonnaise and mild American mustard, the cheeseburger comes with everything the original has along with low fat cheddar, Emmental or American cheese. The heavier big bubba is stacked with smoked crispy bacon. You could beef it up with a double patty and upgrade to a king bubba for an extra charge. Don't fret if you're vegetarian, for the bean spice served with lettuce, tomato, onion, dill pickle, mayonnaise and mild American mustard will more than please you. The all day big breakfast with a burger, egg, bacon, cheese and steak sauce is substantial and keeps you going all day.

The atomic American fries with salsa, chilli, sour cream and guacamole or the onion rings can be had with the mains. Beef hotdogs and meat and vegetable salads are other options worth exploring. Shakes like the banana peanut butter and mint chocolate, as well as soft drinks and juices help wash down a meal. And if you're above sixteen, you could choose a beer. To make sure children have a good time, Ed's has a junior bites menu too - three-ounce burgers, pork frankfurters and crispy chicken fillets, served with fries. The small size milkshakes, baby sundaes and milk glasses are other thoughtful additions.

Finally, if you're wondering where the desserts are, the creamy cheesecake, pecan pie and the American malt waffle seem just perfect to end a memorable meal at Ed's.

Things seem to move fast at Wagamama - the Asian inspired, noodle restaurant chain that was started in 1992. As soon as you decide what you want to eat, your order is taken via a PDA, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so it can be made fresh and served right after. The restaurant chain does not believe in taking reservations, and all customers are seated on a first come, first serve basis. In fact, be aware that most of the tables are long ones and you will often be asked to share them.

The restaurants are modelled on traditional Japanese ramen bars that have been popular for hundreds of years - ramen are Japanese style noodles, served in a meat-based broth, topped with pork, dried seaweed or even corn. Chilli beef ramen, made of noodles in a spicy pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled sirloin steak and fresh vegetables, is hearty and satisfying.

Apart from ramen, you could opt for the coconut soup based kare noodles or teppan, cooked on a hot, flat griddle. They also offer many rice dishes like katsu curry, chicken fillet deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a lightly spiced curry sauce and sticky white rice. Vegetarians are definitely not ignored, as they can opt for saien soba, made using whole-wheat noodles in a soup topped with stir-fried vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and garnished with sliced spring onion.

Meat and vegetable dumplings, skewered chicken, deep-fried prawns and raw salads double as both sides and starters. Steamed green soya-beans, called edamame, go well with drinks - hold them up to your mouth and squeeze the succulent beans from the pod. If you've noticed, Wagamama is more about eating healthy food fast and less about the order. Don't be surprised if you're served the main course before the side dish - order isn't important, the aim is, don't wait - just tuck in and share.

Wash down your meal with sake, plum wine or even a Japanese beer. Wind up your meal with coconut reika - three scoops of dairy coconut ice cream topped with a fresh, tangy mango sauce and toasted coconut flakes or the tamarind and chilli Pavlova, with a crunchy meringue base served with a raspberry and tamarind sauce.

At Wagamama, you can also shop for cookbooks, sauces, ramen bowls and t-shirts. The restaurant is all about enjoying genuine, reasonably priced, Pan-Asian cuisine in a sleek but informal setting.

The first Fat Cat Café Bar opened in Bangor, North Wales in 1992 and since then the group has been steadily expanding to meet the demands of the increasingly discerning customer. They run ten café bars in London, the Midlands, Wales and the North West, and are known to maintain high standards in food and service.

In order to remain at the forefront of café bar culture, a number of their sites have been refurbished during the past year. All outlets offer just the right environment to relax - with comfortable leather sofas and private booths. Large projection screens show live sporting events and wi-fi is available free of charge.

Food is served all day, seven days a week and menus change monthly with each outlet playing host to events and offers like ladies nights and set menus. Music policy depends on the time of day, ranging from classic background to uplifting dance at weekend nights.

The breakfast menu offers, among other choices, the typical English Fat Cat breakfast. The all day menu is extensive and has good choices, and is best known for sandwiches that include crispy chicken focaccia, smoked haddock rarebit and lamb tandoori naan.

Amongst the starters, expect to find grilled chorizo salad, potato skins and homemade fishcakes. If you like to keep it simple, the rustic chilli con carne is a good option - you could also add a bowl of nachos to it. Mains could offer beer battered haddock and chips, and favourites like bangers and mash, char-grilled salmon fillet or spinach and black olive gnocchi.

There are popular desserts like chocolate and apricot torte and Italian lemon cake for those wanting to give their meal a sweet end.

A large selection of wines, spirits, bottled products, cocktails and cask conditioned ales makes up their wine menu. The list also mentions liqueur coffees and non-alcoholic beverages.

Mulberry Street is not the name of any Cardiff road but a friendly Llandaff High Street restaurant that's named after the popular street in Manhattan. The ambience is straightforward and laidback in a contemporary way. The focus clearly is on creating delicious food, be it Mediterranean tapas or good value lunch specials. After all the best things often come to us small and simple and this establishment epitomises that spirit.

A choice of two menus are on offer - a traditional three-course and another 'little dishes' menu, which offers tapas from around the world - all created from produce that is locally sourced whenever possible. Spend time catching up over plates of sauté tiger prawns with chorizo, grilled sardines with lemon and herb butter, smoked salmon with horseradish and whole baked camembert with homemade chutney.

For the main course choose between Welsh black 10oz rib-eye with Cajun chips and bourbon sauce, fillet of cod with olive oil and white wine salsify, roasted chicken supreme with smoked bacon and penne pasta with roasted courgettes and rocket pesto. Mulberry Street's lunch specials include bruschetta with broad beans and pecorino, grilled fennel with orange and feta salad, grilled fillet of mackerel with braised Puy lentils and marinated pork fillet with smoked paprika.
 
End the meal delightfully with vanilla crème brûlée and raspberries or sip an Italian dessert wine, if you wish. A range of whites and reds including such classics as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Rioja Crianza and Zifandel complements the food well.

Zerodegrees has embarked on a drinking and dining concept that pioneers the emerging trend in fresh, hand crafted beers brewed by microbreweries. Diners are guaranteed a theatrical experience with the sight, sound and smell from the working brewery and a busy kitchen with its traditional stone-fired pizza oven dishing out favourites such as mango tandoori chicken and Peking duck.

The menu encompasses a selection of gourmet pizzas, delicious salads, speciality sausages, pastas and kilo pots of mussels served with a variety of sauces. International wines and freshly brewed beers seek out the tastiest and most exotic flavours from across the world, while adding their own seasonal and speciality numbers. The range extends from black lager to pale ale, with some delicious fruit beer in between.

Incorporating the mechanics of the working brewery into the building's architecture has resulted in a functional and futuristic place and the industrial feel whilst unavoidable is an added attraction.

For the lucky residents of Cardiff, Punitha's represents not just any Indian restaurant but an exclusive gourmet experience which is considered by many to be the epitome of fine South Indian dining in South Wales. The decor does away with the reds and oranges you can typically spot in curry houses and instead sports a refreshing combination of white and deep blue which is restful as well as sophisticated. Spices as well as chefs are imported directly from South India, so authenticity is never in question.

Amongst starters, you could try the chicken lollipops, wings marinated in garam masala and yoghurt and fried with corn flour before moving on to a main course of hot and spicy Chettinadu mutton curry with freshly ground chillies, coriander, fennel and coconut.  Finish the meal with payasam, a warm South Indian dessert made from sago, cashew nuts and milk. Wines on Punitha's list complement the food perfectly while the range of cocktails is exciting.