Is it in Cardiff? Is it in Caerphilly? You’re never quite sure, perched at the top of Caerphilly mountain it’s within easy access for whichever side you ascend from. It’s picture perfect exterior, thatched roof, small doorways, stone floors and fireplaces certainly make it feel like somewhere you can escape the elements and find refuge.
If you’re a Cardiff or Caerphilly native then you’ve probably been here at least once in your life, I used to come quite regularly but a 7 year gap meant I was keen to try and reaffirm it had become the pub I wanted it to be, unfortunately it hadn’t. My last few new dining experiences haven’t quite hit the mark, and this didn’t change that.
The Travellers Rest is owned by the pub chain Vintage Inns, first impressions when walking in are very cosy, big fireplaces with tables right next to them, however being led further in and seated it’s not quite the same. The bench seating is heavily soiled and the upholstery on one of our chairs was ripped and worn down to the foam.
For me this is something Vintage Inns need to replace/refurb immediately, it doesn’t give you the best first impression when you’re about to part with some of your hard earned. The lights in this area have all had one bulb removed, whether that’s to dim the light or to save energy that’s understandable, but come on, don’t leave the flex hanging down out of the fittings, tidy it away, even if it’s to stop someone sticking their finger in it.
The menu here is fairly small for a ‘pub menu’, which is usually a good thing, consisting of 10 starters and 8 mains as well as a chef’s special and 2 steak options.
I ordered Crispy Camembert Bites with an Apricot and Ginger chutney as a starter, these did have a lovely crispy panko coating and the Camembert was rich and oozed out with the satisfactory flow you would expect. However, at £5.95 for 2 pieces I felt this was pretty expensive, I mean they have literally given you the minimum amount in order to turn bite in to a plural. I think 3 would have been a fair deal and would have extended the 40 seconds it too me to eat them to a full minute.
For mains we ordered Beef Rib with Miso Butter at £16.95 and Vegetable Penang Curry with the option of Chicken added at £15.95.
The Beef Rib came with dauphinoise potatoes, roasted carrots, broccoli and a grilled spring onion, the beef had a lovely crispy edge and flaked away from the rib nicely. The miso butter really adding richness and a saltiness to the dish that complimented the beef. The carrots and broccoli were cooked well with just a slight bite and the grilled spring onion adding a hint of sweetness that the dish needed. My only gripe was the dauphinoise potatoes are served hidden under the beef rib and resemble somewhat of a mess when discovered, saying that they tasted great.
The Penang Curry was a bit of a mixed bag, flavourful, a nice hint of heat and a lovely sweetness from the peppers and the red onion, however the addition of chicken consisted of slices of dry, overcooked chicken breast placed on top, it certainly hadn’t been cooked fresh and detracted from the dish.
The service here is good, it did feel like courses took a little longer to come out than you’d expect given how quiet it was but certainly not anything to query. Mains plates were left for a while after finishing and we did eventually get up and go to the bar to pay, thus missing out on being offered desserts. Minor quibbles.
The Travellers Rest hasn’t unfortunately made me feel like rushing back, the price point here is at the higher end for chain pub food and although it was decent, for me it wasn’t great. It’s all about opinion though right? I’m sure many would disagree, however it’s back for a stint with the independants for me.
The Cardiff Menu 