C.A.T Cafe in Powys

I had to laugh when I read some of the reviews complaining about everything here being vegetarian/vegan and gluten free - that makes a change! Normally those who need such diets have at most two choices and more often than not the gluten free choice is a cake - i.e. not a choice at all. Well not here and thank goodness for it. Everything is suitable for everyone - yes, everyone can eat vegan and veggie food. For me this is more inclusive and by definition better for everyone. Now my rant is over on to the food itself. Tasty, wholesome, excellent value and organic - what could be better than that - for both our bodies and the planet. Service too is good with plenty of smiles and the price is not bad either. As for the location well, you're here to learn about the planet and the impact we have on it and how we can help, and eating food like this is part of that. Say no more.

Much improved from 20 years back. Not too vegan with cheese and coffee on the menu in addition to the vegan items. Good portions, fair price and plenty of seating. Lots of students around that gives the cafe a lively and active feel. They have a small library area on appropriate topics.

stopped for lunch but disappointed. only vegan options available. jacket potato was very nice with large amount of filling. although the coffee sponge looked nice it was rather dry and not much flavour. also no room to sit inside due to a party

Arrived at the cafe to be greeted with a vegan/vegetarian menu- no other meat options, which was very limiting! No sandwiches, so the only slightly appetising thing was a jacket potato. Take food for your children- unless they like a lunchbox that comprises of a vegan 'sausage' roll, sesame seed crackers and other vegan items- no crisps or sandwiches. Service very slow and relaxed, no one in a particular hurry to serve customers, and this isn't due to lack of staff as there was an abundance- more due to a lack of organisation or enthusiasm! All in all a very disappointing visit

Love the food at CAT, visited on many occasions & have never been disappointed with the Great Flavour of the food from their Soup to their VegetableTagine this cafe is number one on my list of favourites. Very reasonably priced too.

I visited CAT twice in August - with one friend who is an architect and with a friend who works in sustainable tourism. We were not the target audience - which is families with children - but still very much enjoyed our visit. The cafe at CAT manages that tricky thing of food that is healthy, sustainable and children and adults will all eat. There is a good range of vegetarian and vegan food without you really noticing it. All reasonably priced. There is plenty of outdoor seating and four outdoor benches under cover of the solar PV roof - good to keep out both strong sun and rain. These are popular, especially at lunch time. There is also indoor seating available. The cafe, like a lot of places at the moment was struggling for staffing with some time spent queueing. They can also run out of cakes quite early in the afternoon (well before the 16.30 cafe closing time). They could look at the arrangements and perhaps separate out people who are buying coffee from people ordering lunch....or have people go and sit down rather than standing around waiting (as happens at Corris Crafts).

Great vegetarian good quality food at an affordable price. Can purchase hot food, sandwiches, drinks and ice cream. Due to covid restrictions there is a pop up shop at the moment.

There was a wide range of food availavble,but surpriusingly no fish on menu,and only vegan cream-I find dairy cream just purfect

Lovely relaxed atmosphere with a family-kitchen feeling. Wonderful wholesome & tasty food. Completely unpretentious.

Busy here today, food nice and overworked staff remain pleasant and professional.

We enjoyed a great meal for a group of 10 of use, from retirees to 2 year with various dietary needs

We ate here twice and both times the meals were good. The enchiladas were particularly tasty. Its old style wholefood rather than the more modern take on veggie food but nothing wrong with that. The staff were friendly and the prices very reasonable.

Really good wholesome well prepared food, although taking a star just because in a cafe with literally only four other customers in by the time we were dished up and then able to pay, the one serving member of staff was also doing the till and the dreaded ten minutes-to-make specialist coffees, our food was pretty cold by the time we got to actually eat it. It's the usual curse of the coffee machine that's only fixed by having someone else do the coffee making whilst another member of staff covers the till. Bloody nice though, and our dog was welcome in the covered area outside :)

We happened upon CAT cafe and what a treat! After a week of unhealthy eating while on holiday, we loved the yummy and healthy food here. We liked it so much we got takeaway for our evening tea too.

I really enjoyed the vegan food...they give quite large servings too, however, the cafe staff were not wearing hair nets!

Large portions of decent vegetarian and vegan grub, could do with a bit more taste but very filling.

Worth eating out here whilst you view the CATs centre...its nice to know that all veg and salad are produced on the site.

Amazing food. Probably one of the tastiest meals I have ever had. The pumpkin seed and lime cake was out of this world. Wow!

There was a good selection of meals available. All the food available was vegetarian which was a shock for a carnivore like myself.

Lovely clean café with a really good selection of delicious food. Its vegetarian food but as a non vegetarian...it was all delicious. Even my fussy eater son loved the soul and gluten free bread 😀

Pietanze rigorosamente vegetariane e vegane spesso insaporite con spezie all’indiana. Buona anche la colazione “full english” vegetariana. Secondo lo spirito sostenibile del luogo è self service e bisogna sparecchiare e buttare i residui in modo differenziato

Absolutely delicious food, lovely atmosphere, and very helpful staff. They were very understanding of food intolerances and allergies, and my gluten free roll was actually the nicest gluten free bread I've ever eaten.

Loved visiting CAT and were even more excited to eat in the resteraunt. We went for a coffee and cake in the morning and can honestly say the vegan lemon meringue cake was to die for!

Been here a few times now. Bit of a 'canteen' feel ablout the place but good food and decent prices.

Visited here for a student presentation, which went on until about 8pm. By then the cafe was closing, which may have been a blessing as the food didn't look appetising, so we went elsewhere.

I was really impressed by the standard of food in the lovely cafe. There was a large choice of vegetarian and vegan food. It was all very tasty, generously portioned and good value. If you're visiting CAT then you wil eat well here!

This restaurant is vegetarian but the food is excellent at a reasonable price. Among other things I had a flapjack which was delicious and was very large

Was here twice in the same day, Nice coffee with chick pea chocolate brownie in the am. Good selection for lunch: enchiladas, lasagne, burger... Friendly staff.

The main meal was jacket spuds and beans, a choice of salads or tomato and coconut soup. It was not as good as I'd remembered.

Good to have it but I felt disappointed. There was not much choice to eat (and in fact just two options). The point about it was that you can go out of the building and eat in peace outside.

A great selection of drinks, teas in particular very reasonably priced, and the hummus was amazing. Good value overall.

Visitamos el centro cat ya estábamos cerca y sólo me preguntaba qué era, así que llamé. Mientras estábamos allí, decidimos visitar la cafetería y no nos decepcionó. La comida estaba riquísima y a un precio razonable. Era casero y fresco con una fantástica selección de...

Pero la educación excelente sitio desabrida Servicial personal cursos para escuelas y estudios superiores, lejos de las principales rutas de los alrededores, así que los sabores básicos con connotaciones de su larga historia

La comida era vegetariano o vegano. Había muy poca variedad, pero todos nos realmente disfrutamos de nuestra comida picante - houmous deliciosa pasta, y la mejor de col que he probado jamás. Máquina de café rota pero buena selección de inusual bebidas frías. Un miembro del personal no era muy amable. Comimos fuera y los alrededores eran preciosas.

Back in the summer we visited CAT and had the delight of eating in the cafe (we have moved house since, and didn't get round to writting a review!). We found ourselves warmly welcomed into the cafe, and on hearing that we were vegan they talked in detail through all available options (and there were a lot!). The food was of great quality, and the head chef shared recipes and food samples with us. Our friend who isn't vegan or vegetarian was equally impressed by the quality of food and service. The cafe catered well for one of us who is intolerant of gluten as well as being vegan - a very inclusive place! We will be sure to visit next time we are in the area!

Went to CAT with nieces, we had a slice or pizza/cheese and onion pasty each and a drink so can't comment on the other foods. Was tasty but I do find the prices slightly high.

Limited choice of meals so opted for the 'healthy choice' of salad bowl which amounted to two different types of coleslaw and some undercooked pasta, not a salad leaf or vegetable in sight (other than cabbage coated in mayo) really bad value for almost 5£!

We arrived very late on a Sunday lunch time, as they were recovering from a conference weekend. The last enchiladas did not look very appetising left on their own but they were absolutely delicious and served with really tasty and imaginative salads.We will return to explore the centre more fully and would really recommend the café. Thank you

The best daal and rice I had for a long time. To be honest I don't have daal and rice much as it's a bit dull but this was full of favour. Lovely surroundings and friendly staff.

Creamy veg pasties were very nice. But no cream and marshmallows on the hot chocolate was disappointing. And I'm afraid a dusting of cocoa in the shape of the CAT logo didn't make up for this.

We love this cafe! As a vegan family, you know you are going to get the best food, service and inexpensive prices. The food is creative, imaginative and healthy. The portions are very generous and it is very good value for money. The chief architect to this success over the years we have been going is Mikhael (chef). His passion, knowledge and sheer dedication has transformed C.A.T cafe into a top place to eat. It is a mystery as to why they have not become a 100% vegan all inclusive cafe and we can only assume that this is down to the new CEO (Adrian Ramsey) and board members who have prevented this from happening. Highly recommended you pay C.A.T cafe a visit soon! You won't be disappointed!

Inline with the vision for the centre they promote a low meat diet, full of healthy vey, pulses and more. Its a real treat to eat here and different from anywhere else around

Food delicious and kids have put the macaroni cheese at number one and they should know! I had gluten free carrot cake which was also lovely. All food is vegetarian.

Whilst at the Centre for Alternative Technology I sampled the curry and café latte in the café. Please note that they only serve veggie food. I knew this before we went, so not an issue. But don't go expecting meat pies! The veggie curry and rice was mild, tastefull, filling and probably one of the best veggie meals I've ever had the fortune to eat. The alternative coke they offered was surprising, and tasted different, but OK and worth a taste.Prices are slightly higher than average, but given the high standard of the food and friendly service - not an issue - as you get what you pay for.The café was clean, tidy and modern with clean toilets - surprising really as I expected them to be of the soil type!Seating can be either in the modern building, or outside in the gardens - i'd recommend outside on one of those rare summers days!The gardens and views outside are the worth a walk where the veggies are grown on-site.

On a recent visit to CAT we went to the cafe for lunch, what a great experience not only was the food amazing, great vegan choice but the chef was a delight a fellow vegan and passionate about the food he creates. Superb can't recommend highly enough .

I was amazed at the choice of vegan meals on offer here! Both the falafel and no egg-fritata were delicious, with a generous helping of four different side salads. My partner isn't even vegan but he loved his falafel :) I had hoped that being part of CAT would mean a decent vegan menu would be on offer, as so often vegans are not well catered for, and I wasn't disappointed.

Oh dear. Expensive and pretentious. We were told that the new chocolate machine had meant that we were given half-strength hot chocolate. Top marks for honesty - but really ....

My partner and I went as we were visiting CAT, and I was blown away. As a coeliac, it's always tricky to find gluten free options that aren't salad, but not only was I talked through what I could have, the Head Chef whipped me up an enchilada off the bat. The service was amazing: I mean, where else would a chef cook you something off menu?!The food was incredible: my custom enchilada was out of this world, and my normal (non-gluten-fearing) boyfriend's dhal was delicious.I'd eat here every day if we lived locally ❤️

I was looking forward to our visit as we had heard good reviews but our experience was far more than we could have expected. We initially went in the morning just for a cup of tea and possibly a snack. We were thrilled that there were several options for our vegan/gluten free party. The head chef spent a lot of time advising us about dishes and their ingredients, even though he was also busy getting ready for the lunch rush - it was really special of him to give us such a personal service. When we went back at lunch time he had created a vegan & gluten free special so there was an option that all of us could eat. Thanks to everyone for giving us such a memorable trip - definitely worth a visit!!

Explosions of flavours, Meals are always creative, and make use of grown on site delicacies. The Home made breads and Foccaicas are a force to be reckoned with. Broths, Chilli blitzed Ketchup, Its all home made. Too good!

I love the food at CAT, head chef Michael knows what he's doing. The food is always fresh, tasty and excellent.

Used this place many times. Great veggie & vegan food in a fantastic setting with super-helpful, friendly staff. Try it !!

Staying on the CAT site one week a month means I've had plenty opportunity to try the tasty delights created by Michael and co.There are many delicious dishes on offer from vegetarian/vegan meals like Somerset stew and Sundried tomato pasta bake to cafe traditions such as jacket potatoes, soups and pasties (which to call cafe food would be an understatement).There's also a salad bar, numerous sweet toothed treats (vegan and non) as well as freshly ground coffee and teas.Interestingly a lot of the food served is farmed on site by volunteers. That's freshness and carbon footprint reduction for you!Anyhow you can tell I am an enthusiast so go try it for yourself. It's not the kind of food priced to break the bank and will fill you with goodness physically and philosophically.

I have had the pleasure of eating at the CAT cafe throughout the last year. Always great seasonal produce and innovative hearty dishes. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free food miles away from the usual small section at the bottom of a menu. A great find in a location place that is well worth the visit.

Excellent food all round, in a delightful setting. Delicious, filling, fresh and yummy. I eat here regularly as a student and can highly recommend a visit. They offer especially great vegan and gluten free options that you'll want to try whether you have dietary requirements or not. (I have to say they have served the best gluten free chiabatta sandwiches I've ever tasted too!)

I eat here regularly as a student at CAT and I can say I never felt disappointed or hungry afterwards. The food is amazing every time and the staff very friendly and dedicated to providing delicious food. The vegan dishes are particularly good and allow no excuse to eat meat again. I definitely recommend! <3 <3

Highly recommend, everything well done, form the appearance of the cafe to the standard of food and service. Wish it was closer to me.

I stayed at CAT last week, vegan week. The food was consistently fantastic, no joke. I had no idea vegan food could be so delicious. Highly recommended, and worth the trip.

We've eaten at the CAT Cafe twice now and both times have been great! We drive from north west wales to Pembrokeshire and back every few weeks, this is our go to spot for some lunch and a break from the car.There have always been a few vegan selections and it makes us so happy, it helps its always really tasty and the servings are on the bigger side, which keeps us going all day.We like to sit outside under the solar arrays when the weather is warm and it just makes for a great experience!We always look forward to stopping off here for some food.

I've eaten here many times and the food never disappoints. The food on offer is really good, with a number of vegan options available. I've had a range of food including soups, pizza, curries, lasagne, moussaka etc. The home made sundried tomatoe focaccia is the best I've ever had. The chefs are masters at creating interesting flavours, often mixing citrus, sweet and sour or toasted seeds and nuts.Michael one of the head chefs is a master of vegan cookery and creates vegan food you unlikely to have seen anywhere else, like vegan Meringue or vegan chocolate mouse, not to mention probably the best carrot cake I've ever had.For Coeliac there are always options available.If you live in the SY20 post code you don't have to pay the CAT entry fee. The one downside is that if you're not local or on a CAT course, you have to pay to enter as a visitor before you can get to the cafe.

I make extended visits to CAT regularly, and require a gluten free/dairy free/oat free diet. I love the fact that at the CAT Cafe it never seems like a bother to them to cater for my needs. They have sought out ingredients that allow for a safe, interesting and delicious range of meals to choose from. Massive thumbs up!

excellent creative vegan and vegetarian food, new additions to the menu all the time, lovely staff, doesn't get any better!

Every time I eat here the food is delicious, seasonal and inventive. The chefs really care about food and will always take the time to explain the ingredients, the recipe and how to take vegetarian cooking into my daily life. Its the perfect compliment to the centre itself as you can see the organic food growing, and trace the journey from soil to plate.I highly recommend eating here even if you are not vegetarian. I'm consistently surprised at the delicious options available and can't wait to go back and sample some more fantastic food. Thanks everyone!

A superb visitor centre café serving vegetarian and vegan food with an inviting atmosphere. Enjoyable whatever the weather with seating inside and out. The food compliments the Centre for Alternative Technology perfectly: low impact, low carbon eating without sacrificing flavour or fullness! Also had the privilege of eating the food every day for a week as part of a large group during a course and the aromas emanating from the kitchen in the evening always got us excited (including many meat eaters like me!) Super friendly staff round it off nicely.

Lovely tasty food prepared, looks more like a school canteen so could do with some relaxing areas. Good variety of drinks & snacks. Not really catering for children. Bit expensive but worth it. There's no alternative unless you bring your own. Catered for food allergies thankfully. Thick hot tasty soup on a cold wet day went down a treat.

Part of the reason we bring friends and family staying with us to CAT is so they can sample vegetarian cafeteria cooking at its best. We have eaten in all seasons, busy and almost empty, but we have always been made welcome here and the food has always been good. In off season the range is limited, as it was last week when we visited, but the soup, stew and dessert were delicious.

It was a wet, cold day and I found the café a little chilly but there was plenty of hot food and drinks to enjoy and fill you up. It was worth the visit to see my husband order and enjoy a vegetarian pizza with salad. I enjoyed a vegetarian mixed salad . Portions were generous and we were asked if we had any allergies which I had never been asked before and this was a good point. The salad varieties were large. The pasta bake and other dishes also looked very appetising as did the home-made rolls and vegan and other cakes and biscuits. If this food was offered at other outlets then more would have been charged and for this quality I would have paid more. Good facilities and friendly staff.

Can recommend the sweet potato soup and veggie sausage rolls! Seating was extensive, but as it was quiet when I visited, mostly empty. Good bean to cup coffee available, too.

I've always enjoyed going to CAT because of the Cafe. There is a large selection of healthy foods, drinks and snacks with plenty of seating indoor and outside as well as covered outdoors

Great Cafe/ rstaurant with super vegetarian food and a range of local beers & wines. Hot food served 1200 - 1400 but snacks all day. Well worth a visit, even if not visiting the centre itself.

Lovely vegetarian café with plenty of seating. I'm not vegetarian but still loved it, also great if you just want a coffee.

Good food, well prepared. Excellent selection of salads with our meals. Ordered extra food thinking that vegetarian meals in cafes can sometimes be small but these weren't. Nice cakes too.

The food here is very nice, lovely fresh and exciting salads, chunky homemade pizza and fritatata and lots of vegan food available too. The cakes are gorgeous too, especially their carrot cake! Yummy. I loved all the fresh flowers on the tables too. I'm in such awe of everything they do at CAT and have been coming since I was a little girl, now bringing my own children too. It's been great to see it evolve over the years and still be reinspired with each visit. Happy fortieth birthday CAT, we wish you great success in the next forty too!

visited during site visit, good choice of home cooked,self grown food , water provided for tables at entrance , nice touch, yummy

C.A.T. is an exciting concept, and its cafe has the sense of being part of its vision. Homemade, generous-sized cakes are available at very good prices. We brought sandwiches but the food looked and smelled excellent. From what I could see there is a well set-up and properly-run kitchen. The coffee was a teeny bit disappointing, as it was from a dispensing machine and not very strong, but we came back for a second day and enjoyed the place immensely.

About six hot choices. All looked great and the salads were what you would hope for - varied, tasty and straight out of their gardens. In CAT's beautiful buildings on a sunny day, you can't ask for much more

The meals looked basic but a good size. I was put off from having more than a cup of tea because of the notices on the door saying that any food could contain allergens.

We had a delicious lunch here, there is a wide range of choices from light bites to more substantial meals. The cake in particular went down very well, the slices were huge!

It was nice to find a cafe at the Centre. The staff were friendly. Hot Chocolate from a serve yourself machine was better than average, and it went down nicely with a piece of lemon cake.