High-quality, homecooked dishes are a real treat...
THE TASTE TEAM CHECKS OUT SNAILS DELI IN RHIWBINA
ALREADY a staple of the Rhiwbina culinary scene for more than a decade, Snails deli has carved out a reputation for exceedingly good coffee, cakes and lunches. It feels like a coffee shop but one homely enough that you could be sat in a friend’s living room.
But Snails, usually only open during the day, is now diversifying. Having already tried their simply brilliant and great value for money pizza night on a Wednesday, my husband and I were keen to sample the new grill night which now runs every Friday from 5.30pm.
Walking inside for our 7.30pm table, you realise Snails is appealing to a diverse range of customers. From families, groups of friends, couples and even canines, it’s obviously already proving to be a popular extra string to Snails’ bow.
Its website says it fits 50 people. The night we visited, the deli was packed but it didn’t feel compact at all. Staff were friendly and the deli decor gives an informal and relaxed ambience.
But what’s even more impressive is the food. Presented with a menu for grill night, we had a choice of three starters, six mains and four desserts.
As with the menu for pizza night – Snails has a proper pizza oven – Snails has devised perhaps a small menu compared to most other Cardiff restaurants but we didn’t feel hard done by and the pay-off is that you’re in a restaurant firmly in control as it focuses on just a few key dishes.
The service, attention to detail and friendliness of the staff at Snails shines through and they are able to keep wait times to a minimum with a menu that focuses on delivering good flavours rather than mass options.
The wine menu at Snails never fails to impress and as we considered our food options, I enjoyed a lovely glass of Barefoot Merlot (£5.50).
My husband and I decided to share starters, opting against the bread, humus and olives and instead selecting the grilled Mexican prawns (£6) and the nachos for one (£6).
We were both impressed with the nachos, which really ticked all boxes. The guacamole and thick and rich salsa were both clearly homemade and flavoursome and the portion size was more than enough.
The prawns, served on skewers with guacamole and a small salad, were well-cooked and nicely presented but the Mexican flavours were not as wow as we had hoped for.
On to the main courses and my husband opted for the 8oz steak (£19.95) served with chips and a rocket, Parmesan and mushroom salad, while I had the pork ribs (£16) which was a special item for the evening instead of the usual chargrilled chicken breast.
My plate was stacked with thick ribs garnished with crispy shredded onion. The meat fell off the bones and was covered in a sticky barbeque sauce that was light and did not overpower the meat. It was a delight. As were the crushed potatoes which accompanied them. Made with new potatoes, baby spinach, petit-pois and buttered leeks, I would have been happy if this was the only thing I ate all night. It was well-seasoned, creamy and made a really welcome change to the norm.
My husband’s rare steak arrived exactly as ordered and was cooked to perfection. The chips were crispy and the salad was fresh and light.
The quality of the meal itself could not be questioned but at £19.95, the 8oz steak, with chips and a small side salad, seemed a little pricey. The same could not be said for the ribs which were exquisite at £16.
For desserts my husband chose the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, while I had the homemade chocolate and hazelnut torte (both £4.95). The brownie was warm and rich and the large slice of torte was creamy with a light crumbly base. Both desserts were excellent.
Despite the price of a couple of dishes, there’s no doubt that grill night at Snails is a very welcome addition indeed. If you’re looking for high-quality meat and homecooked dishes, Snails is a must and comes highly recommended.
■ Snails is at 6-8 Beulah Road, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6LX. Visit www.snailsdeli.com for opening times or call 029 2062 0415.