Canteen on Clifton Street

vegan4love

Dissappointed =S 6th November 2009

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Went to eat out with 3 friends. I'm vegan, and so is my best friend, and out other two friends are meativores. We decided to go to the Canteen, as it seemed promising and there was food to please everyone (or so it seemed on the menu on their website). We went there, and the problems started straight away. The girl who served us never had a smile or any more than two words to say to us. The service felt rushed and impersonal. Then the food came. My starter was impressive to the eye, but my tongue had a different opinion. I found that the taste was bland and definitely didn't live up to the promise. Then the main course came, a fairly sized portion: which I, like my meat eating friend, did not finish, as I found it rather unappetizing. The only thing to save the day was the desert, which was ok, nothing to write home about and at this point in time we're just wanting to pay the bill and get out of there more than trying to enjoy the food. Needless to say we're gonna have to find elsewhere to eat now, as we refuse to go back. My other 3 friends share of the opinion, so I'm not just imagining it.

SaliMali29

Fantastic Restaurant 7th September 2009

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I cannot fault this restaurant in any way. After years of relying on visits to other cities to experience high quality vegetarian food, two years ago a vegetarian retaurant finally opened in Cardiff, and right on my doorstep. The food is fantastic, and thanks to the willingness of the chefs to share their recipes, I have subsequently tried many of their recipes succesfully at home. I return time after time as every new menu is too tempting for me to not try it, the staff are always efficient, helpful and friendly and it is fantastic value. I know many of my friends, family and work colleagues share my opinion and do not understand why anyone would post a poor review for this fantastic gem of a restaurant.

veggiefreak

Rubbish 9th August 2009

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The Canteen is a disappointment. Sure their prices are ok, but no bargain, when it comes to the food. Both times I went there the food was rather revolting. The risottos are sickening, the wait is long, the service is poor and unprofessional. The chef is rude and arrogant. Their drink prices are riddiculous, and the whole place looks absolutely crap. The paint is peeling off the walls, the decoration is cheap and horrible, there's a funny smell lingering (maybe the bad food?). All in all, I do not recommend this place to any veggie or non veggie. Try elsewhere, you'll only find disappointment here, and you'll regret every penny spent there.

veggiefreak at 15/08/09

I doubt that you really are a regular eater at the Canteen. In your profile it says you're from London. You're probably family or a friend of the staff there, coming to their rescue because they've been crying that not everyone loves their food.
Reality is their restaurant is scummy, staff have a bad attitude and the food is less than mediocre. You can sing their praises all you want, but this is my experience. Of course I am upset with the restaurant: who wouldn't be, if they had gotten poor service? I posted reviews on many websites in order to alert people to not eat here, as they will be disappointed.

kaardiff_boy at 10/10/09

All I can say is that Veggiefreak must have visited on a bad day - it's certainly not my experience (and I've re-visited since my positive review below). Whilst the decor is simple it's by no means as poor as Veggiefreak suggests. I note that this is Veggiefreak's only review on this site. If the Guardian and The Western Mail liked the place, as well as amateur reviewers on this site, he/she must have exceedingly high standards, or possibly some other reason for being so excoriating.

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markturner

Great for veggies and meat eaters 20th February 2009

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Good value, great food and friendly service.

They change their menu every month (you can see the current offerings on their website: http://canteenoncliftonstreet.com/). It's ostensibly a vegetarian restaurant but they always have a couple of good meat choices on the menu too, so it's a good choice for groups that have to cater for fussy tastes of either persuasion!

We were greeted by the owner after our meal to offer us a free shot of cherry vodka (the by-product of one of the desserts), and his enthusiasm and passion for cooking good food show in the end product!

kaardiff_boy

Canteen on Clifton Street 12th September 2008

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Despite the somewhat out of the way location, The Canteen on Clifton Street is a real find. What you get is excellent, freshly cooked food at amazing prices. The dinner menu offers three courses for £13.50. The menu is admittedly limited in its scope, and thus it is more “canteen-like” than many restaurants. But there’s still a reasonable choice of three starters, three mains (two veggie and one meat) and three desserts. The menu changes frequently and the current "mains" are a Keralan mushroom, squash, sweet potato and cashew nut curry, Keralan lamb and pepper curry and Chakalaka, spinach balls, spiced polenta cake and yoghurt sauce. It is open at lunchtime, where the most expensive dish is about £5 – a risotto of the day is often a good choice, although I like the fajita. They have a good range of drinks and an eclectic variety of background music. Staff are friendly and Wayne (one of the proprietors) will be likely to say hello. Booking may be needed for busy evenings.