Hidden food gem well worth a visit
HIDDEN among some of the biggest fast food names on Newport Road is one of Cardiff’s most interesting businesses.
Take the same turn-off as McDonald’s and continue down the road and you’ll arrive at Spit and Sawdust, a social enterprise that opened in 2014, which combines a skate park, cafebar, art space and studios.
A sister establishment to the recently-opened Bacareto, Spit & Sawdust has an equally cool vibe but more of a homespun family-friendly feel.
On the sunny Sunday lunchtime we visited, serious skaters were doing tricks on the mammoth vert ramp whilst families were enjoying lunch in the cafe after the weekly kids’ skate session.
We sat outside in the sun but there’s an inside dining area for when the Cardiff weather inevitably takes a turn for the worse.
Spit & Sawdust’s menu focuses on fast food made with locally-sourced produce. Organic beef and bacon is sourced from Penrhiw Farm in Treharris, bread comes from Allen’s bakery in Roath and pickles and preserves come from Inner City Pickle.
Alongside the meat options there’s a good range of vegan choices, including a breaded shroom bun, tofu’sh and chips and vegan shawarma.
And because Spit & Sawdust is run as a not-for-profit, their prices are really good; both a classic 1/4lb burger or a classic hot dog with chips will set you back £6. That’s hardly any more than the golden arches around the corner.
There’s a broad range of craft beer and wine to drink too. I guzzled a fruity Paulaner alcohol-free weissbier (£3) whilst Mrs G drank a couple of halves of crisp Paulaner Munchner Hell lager (£2.25).
Having placed our order at the counter, it must have got lost in the system because after a good half hour wait there was still no sign of our food. A quick follow-up inside at the counter and we had our meal in notime at all.
A smoke burger (£7) saw a soft toasted white bap filled with a coarse well-done juicy beef patty with a really good beefy depth of flavour. It was topped with an ooze of smoky cheese, sticky BBQ sauce and light and creamy red cabbage and carrot slaw.
Accompanying doublecooked chips were absolutely bang on. Super crisp with fluffy inners, they were scattered with flakes of sea salt. Fresh and crisp pickled cucumbers and red cabbage with a good zing provided some welcome lightness.
A Trealy Farm bratwurst was the focal point of a spit & slaw dog (£7.50). Dense and meaty, it was stuffed into a soft white roll with more of that excellent slaw, punchy jalapenos, and crisp shards of smoky bacon.
Onion rings (£3) ticked all the right
boxes. Crisp and airy batter cocooned the soft and sweet onion pieces.
We had a lovely lunch at Spit & Sawdust. It’s a fantastically unique place to enjoy some fast food compared to the cookie cutter chains of Newport Road and for the quality on offer you get a hell of a lot of bang for your buck.
The details:Where? Unit B, Rhymney River Bridge Rd, Cardiff CF23 9AF. When? Wednesday to Friday 6-9pm, Friday 12-7pm, Sunday 11am5pm.