Shael's Qype profile

Super icecream parlour positioned on a short pontoon in Cardiff Bay. Not a great deal of seats available, particularly if it is too cold or wet to sit outside. This is just the right position in the summer to sit on their narrow balcony, enjoying the sunshine and people watching. The downside to the sun shining is the long queues to buy this delicious icecream. When you eventually get to the front of the queue you are faced with an excellent selection of flavours. There is also a choice of cones and how much icecream you would like.
They also do some delicious deserts which combine fresh fruit and icecream. I have watched while 2 people share a huge bowlful of fruit and icecream.
When the sun isnt shining it is a good place to sit behind glass with a hot drink. I can recommend the hot chocolate. Lunchtime there is a small selection of snacky meals. This is a very popular stop when visiting the bay.

If you like the idea of french food and surroundings then you will not be disappointed. The first occasion we visited this restaurant we were a group of 6. Although their tables did not really accommodate 6 they put a couple of round tables together just inside for us. It was a beautiful sunny day but with a breeze so we sat with the large windows open but out of the breeze, perfect. Although the table arrangement wasn’t ideal the friendliness of the staff and the beautiful day and the occasion over came it.
Our initial impression of the menu was expensive and fairly small in choice. We decided just to have the one course as we had a dinner arranged for the evening. I had a delicious salad with a super dressing and we shared a bottle of wine. The waiters with their long white aprons and the black and white decor made us feel as if we could be in France.
The restaurant is on the upper floor and offers great views.

Gilbys is an inhouse restaurant with the the Wales Millenium Centre. Its main business is pre concert meals. So bookings can start as early as 5.30 p.m. to make sure the whole restaaurant is finished in time for the evenings performance. There is often a little bit of a panic towards the end of the dining time not so much with the late service of food but a delay in presenting the bill for payment. You have the option of booking and paying for your meal when you book your theatre tickets. If you do this you get the meal at a slightly reduced rate, I thin it is 2 courses for about £16. each. There is the option of a desert as well, for extra. Wine, of course bumps up the cost. The food is delicious and we have not been disappointed yet.
Of course the restaurant is open at other times but when there is no performance I think they may struggle. On one occasion we were a group of 4 and the only people in the restaurant. Best time is pre concert when it is full and buzzing. They use to offer weekend lunches with live music, not sure if they still do.

Bayside Brasserie offers modern cuisine that is freshly prepared. The restaurant is upstairs in Mermaid Quay. They also have an entrance on the ground floor between Nandos and Pizza Express. This downstairs entrance is only used in the summer, they even have 2 or 3 tables laid up for people to eat in the sun.
There are views all the way round on the second floor, probably the best restaurant for views in the bay. The restaurant is quite large and has a variety of seating combinations. Small tables for 2 up to large tables for groups.
The raw food is displayed in cold counters and the idea is that your table goes to the counter and orders what you fancy. There are blackboards letting you know the choices.
This seems to work very well and it adds another dimension to you experience. There is always garlic bread and a help yourself salad starter. Food is a touch on the expensive side but is always enjoyable. It is a popular choice in the evening - not so busy during the day.

This appears to be family run but I may be wrong. Nothing is too much trouble. They always go to alot of trouble when it is a special occasion. We have eaten there with our daughter and grandchildre on 2 occasions when it was Mothering sunday. The menu offered Sunday roast with a choice of meat. The children had their own menu or they could have a half portion of the adults meal. The food was delicious and the best part of the meal for my grandchildren was the chocolate fountain, we have some great photos of them covered in chocolate.
They decorated the restaurant in a colour theme with matching balloons. Their normal menu offers a mediterranean choice of food, They have a pizza oven - I recommend the pizzas. They have atables and chairs outside and operate a fresh orange and champagne bar in the warmer weather. Good value and very friendly service.

This restaurant is cheap and cheerful and offers Portuguese style dishes. I am always amazed to see a large queue waiting to be seated. The main customers seem to be young men with very large appetites. The menu does offer extremely good value for money. Some of the dishes are particularly spicy which seems to be enjoyed by the young men. The atmosphere is busy and noisy. Although it overlooks the bay their shop front is relatively small so does not give a large window. In the better weather there are a few tables outside.
The restaurant inside is long and narrow and it is better to sit either outside or near the front.
Staff always look a little overwhelmed but seem to get on with it and try and smile. Large portions at a fair price.

This is a very good restaurant offering Indian food. The surroundings are modern, comfortable and clean. There is a small bar area on entering and large windows provide great views of Cardiff Bay. The restaurant is on the first floor.
The staff are willing to explain the menu and will offer to adjust the spices so a dish will not be too hot. The food is very tasty. Check out the lunchtime offers they are good value. We have participated in several buffet meals and they have been particularly good value as you can help yourself to as much as you want. The Indian beers are good.

This is a fun American restaurant that always seems to be busy. The waiting staff are encouraged to be slightly excentric and over friendly - which is O.K.
It is particularly good if you are in a large group - such as a birthday celebration. Balloons are brought to the table for the person celebrating their birthday and a cake and candle brought with the waiting staff forming a choir to sing Happy Birthday.
Most of the time the whole experience is very enjoyable but occasionally it goes completely wrong.
Having visited many, many times over the years we have had great times and dreadful times. But in their support when we have had a bad experience they have accepted their responsibility and appear to take it seriously. They have always tried to offer us compensation in some way. From free deserts to vouchers to come again and have a completely free meal.

This was a disappointing experience as I had visited another one of theses restaurants in the chain and had a great experience.
My iniitial impression was that the staff would have preferred it if I had not come into the restaurant. The menus were left with us for a particularly long time and we were on the point of leaving when they came to take our order. The food actually arrived fairly quickly after ordering, which we should probably have been worried about. We wondered how much was already prepared and just reheated.
The food was O.K. but I did not think it was good value for money.
In the summer they have an area outside with lots of tables and chairs, which looks very pleasant in the sunshine.
I would not recommend this restaurant although it always seems to be very busy.

This lounge is part of a chain which is growing quickly. This is an indication of how popular and successful they are. They are bars/eateries which seem to manage to be all things to all people. Depending on the time of day it will be frequented by specific groups of people.
I can recommend the breakfast and if your lucky you will also be able to grab a quick read of a daily paper. The breakfast brigade is quickly followed by the coffee and cake army. Lunchtime there will be a mix of students and people during their lunchbreak. Students seem to make good use of the lounge throughout the day.
Afternoons are particularly busy with young mums and pushchairs. Its just great how it can draw so many.
The large menu is displayed on a board and food is freshly prepared and tasty. Prices are very reasonable and I can recommend the tapas. Seating is mainly on a varied collection of wooden chairs and tables with some church pews. They should be congratulated on recycling the furniture.