Review: The Customs Shed at Novotel Cardiff {Cardiff Food & Drink}
(Invited to dine in return for social content)
The Customs Shed is located in the Novotel Cardiff,
just a ten minute walk from central station. I think more people need to know about this place - it’s underrated and such a good choice if you want to get away
from the hustle and bustle of the city centre for some tasty food. My friend Sophie (and dining partner for this meal, along with Sabrina)
commented in her post recently
I liked the bright, airy setting
and the high ceilings. Tables are quite far apart from each other, so if you
work nearby you can have some space, bring your laptop and have a bite to eat
on one of the comfy armchairs and sofas. Also would work well for an informal
business lunch. Or, if you want a sit down meal there are tables on one side
with a funky, eclectic mix of chairs that fit with the industrial, quirky
decor. I sometimes come here and just chill for an hour when I want time to
myself on lunch.
Everything about this meal was delicious. If it
wasn't, I'd give a lukewarm review and get back to the restaurant with my
honest feedback on ways to improve (please always do this rather than just
bashing them online - how can a business move forward if you don't give them
that?). But I had zero complaints and it was one of my favourite meals this
year. Between the three of us, the only thing I can recall was that Sabrina's
dish could have done with more potatoes. Which is a compliment really, as the
potatoes were so good.
Grilled prawn skewers
with chorizo, sauteed baby leeks and garlic mayo
Up there with my favourite starters of the
year. We agreed that the starters are worth the price for sure, such high
quality.
Buttermilk marinated
chicken wings with hot pepper and tomato sauce
I got to try a whole one of these as my friend
was so generous! I thought it was sublime, I have had a huge craving for wings
ever since.
Minted ground lamb
koftas with hummus, toasted seeds and grilled pitta
Lamb kofta is something I'm not so keen on, but
my friend who ordered it loved it. I cannot believe this was on the 'nibbles'
section though - it was about the size of a small main! Could definitely
suffice as a light lunch.
Chargrilled lamb
cutlets, potato gratin, tenderstem broccoli and green beans
Again not a meal I'd ever go for, but my friend
was hugely impressed. Fresh, al dente vegetables and potato gratin that wasn't
overly saucy or rich, just soft and delicious with a bit of crispiness on top.
A wonderful choice if you like lamb, so balanced and feels quite healthy.
King prawn noodles,
stir fried vegetables, soy and ginger
A lovely flavour, not too acidic. They didn't
skimp on the amount of big, juicy prawns.
8oz rib eye steak,
portobello mushrooms, vine tomatoes and fries (I swapped for salad and opted
for garlic butter instead of a sauce)
A belter of a dish! Steak with garlic butter is
my number one meal right now. They didn't have it on the menu but they kindly
knocked it up for me. This plus the steak was unreal, had a huge smile as I ate
J
Baked blueberry
cheesecake with frozen blueberry yoghurt
I had wanted the cheeseboard since this was
booked in 6 weeks ago and so I ordered it instantly. But my savoury stomach was
so very full. I admitted defeat, I could no longer deny my stomach's true
feelings. I don't have much of a dessert stomach but something about the
cheesecake did appeal to me, so I changed my order last minute. That frozen
blueberry yoghurt was something else! Baked cheesecake was a very good flavour
and we agreed this was the best dessert
Double chocolate
brownie with honeycomb ice cream
Carrot cake with cream
cheese frosting and caramel sauce
Cocktails were a dream! They have a 5-7pm week
day happy hour here which we thought was really decent for a hotel restaurant. A
bottle of Prosecco is £15, glass is £3.50, large glass of wine £4, pint of
lager £3.50 and a few others were on there too. Cocktails are two for £10 at
Happy Hour and they’ve gone for quality over quantity with a handful of
choices. I particularly enjoyed the pear one Sabrina opted for, I don’t see the
flavour of pear in many drinks and it’s such a subtle fruity flavour that went
so well with the ginger ale. The other two pictured are ‘Slow Gin Fizz’ and
‘Jerry Loves Ginger’.
⠀
If I have to think of any constructive feedback, I
would say after another look at the menu, so many things appeal but it would be
good to get something a bit more inventive on there or maybe make use of the
specials board. They've played it quite safe but I do get it, being a hotel
restaurant you would want there to be something for everyone - and I think there
is.
⠀
This collaboration has lead to me developing a
real fondness for the Customs Shed! It’s somewhere I can go to get some peace
and quiet during the day and treat myself to a nicer bite to eat than a meal
deal on my lunch break. You can pay at the bar first, so you aren’t hanging
around for a bill and service is swift, they acknowledge that over lunch,
people don’t always have much time. I went back here twice in a week, once
for a glass of Prosecco and the other time for a tasty chicken wrap. I just
wholeheartedly recommend the food; we were really surprised with the quality -
not that we assumed it wouldn’t be good, but we didn’t expect it to feel as
special and memorable as it did for us!
 |
| Sophie, Sabrina and I |
Myself and two friends attended this review - if you want to follow our Instagram accounts
where we endeavour to let you know about the newest restaurants, events and
everything else in Cardiff, you can find us on:
If you have any enquires please contact me on thelittlecardiffblog@gmail.com !
Follow the restaurant here or call 029 2047 5000 for enquiries.
Follow the restaurant here or call 029 2047 5000 for enquiries.
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