Based on 94 opinions finded in 1 websites
Based on 94 opinions finded in 1 websites
Nº 308 in 923 in Carmarthenshire
Nº 5 of 15 Other european cuisines in Carmarthenshire
CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT DISHES WITH.. cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeround
Opinions
Called for a meal before going to see Al Murray at the Lyric,very attentive staff,very efficient service,had three courses, all absolutely delicious,the steaks we had were among the best we'd ever had, Highly reccomended,and we will definitely be going back.
john d . 2015-05-30
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Servicio amable alegre con comida fabulosa. & chorizo de gambas entrante de salchicha king era precioso. Todos teníamos filetes cocinado a la perfección y era tan sabrosa. El sticky toffee pudding era luz y con un montón de salsa. agradable velada con los amigos. Sin duda que sea nuestro Programa local.
Mumraeds . 2015-05-30
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El sábado por la noche cena para 4 . El servicio era muy amable, pero muy lento, entrantes de rape y chorizo fue muy agradable, aunque era un poco el rape recocido. Los platos principales fueron muy decepcionante, mi marido y yo teníamos sewin local (Gray? ), no la experiencia de sabor que esperábamos, un plato de acompañamiento fue ordenado y se sirve en una pequeña ramekin, que parecían significar. Mi amigo que no es exigente tenía un plato de pollo, que decía que estaba totalmente insípido y su esposo tenía una tomar solomillo, que deberían haber sido descrita como "parte de un tomar solomillo" era tan pequeña. Aparte del tamaño que hizo como el sabor. No nos alojamos por desierto y la etiqueta de precio de £ 140.00 (incluye dos copas de vino y unas cuantas cervezas ) caro .
Debra w . 2015-04-26
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Estuvimos allí en nuestro camino a la costa y nos paramos en la ciudad para ver lo que había allí. En un capricho mi hija quería probar comida italiana. Me fue después de la hora de comer pero no estaba muy concurrida. Para resumir, merece todas las excelentes críticas. Entre los cuatro de nosotros nos costillas de cordero, pasta, y dos tenían pescado local. Plating estaba excelente. El cordero era cocinado a la perfección, la pasta era genial, y los peces locales maravillosos. También tuvimos la oportunidad de pasar tiempo hablando con el dueño. No puedo decir mucho más de lo que éste será uno de los puntos destacados del viaje.
Joe S . 2015-04-18
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Fuimos a celebrar el 18 de mi hija.
dilwynj2014 . 2015-04-15
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Nos presentamos por casualidad temprano en la noche para nuestra segunda visita y nos dio la bienvenida y nos hizo sentir como en casa antes de que nos hubiéramos sido capaces de sentarse. Elegimos una de las mesas en el exterior Nott Plaza con sol brillando en una calle cercana. Nos disfrutar de buena comida y disfrutamos viendo la vida pasar, y nos atendieron muy bien. Los precios coincidió con la calidad de la comida, que es muy bueno.
wigit1 . 2015-04-11
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Hemos estado en este restaurante 3 veces en muchos años cuando visite familia cerca.
LynnCWindsor . 2015-03-18
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Esto ya es nuestro restaurante favorito en Carmarthen pero esta noche informal fue una nueva experiencia para nosotros.que probamos una variedad de canapés tanto salados y dulces que satisfizo nuestras expectativas.
Retiredtaff . 2015-03-07
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Went here for a birthday meal and it was lovely! Best restaurant and food in Carmarthen. I Will be visiting here again in the future.
Georgee111 . 2015-03-03
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un sitio al que no me habría elegido para ir yo solo, pero fue tratada con una comida de cumpleaños sorpresa en este restaurante y sin duda volveremos. La comida era deliciosa y el menú tenía mucha variedad y estaba bien explicada por el propietario. No puedo esperar a mis padres el mes siguiente. Sigan con el buen trabajo
Mari R . 2015-03-02
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Went out for a meal with seven other girlfriends to Con Passionate on a Saturday night. The restaurant had been highly recommended, and as we had to travel thirty miles in a mini bus, hoped this to be an evening to remember. The welcome we received was very warm,being assisted with our coats hats and scarves and then invited to sit down. All three courses were beautifully presented. The starter being a light fig and walnut salad followed by sirloing steak which was cooked to my "exact" request. I can't praise the sticky toffee pudding enough - proof is definitely in the pudding. We were not rushed, the table was ours for the night, finally retreiving our coats hats and scarves and venturing out into the cold night to take our 30 miles journey back home at gone 10.30pm.. Well worth a visit from wherever you live be it two miles thirty miles or even from across the border. M Wilson Boncath Pembrokeshire
Maggie W . 2015-02-28
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Would recommend a visit. Great food made with love and local ingredients. Cater well for large groups. Great atmosphere. Looking forward to visiting again soon.
LisaD9979 . 2015-02-28
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Food is reliably good here, atmosphere is nice, service is a bit slow when busy, but the food is worth the wait. Menu doesn't change much, but host is always welcoming
Rhiannon W . 2015-02-14
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Was invited for a meal at the restaurant for a beer and ale themed evening featuring the Pen Lon brewery's beer. The food was excellent, with an oompah band which really got everyone into the event. The cooking is excellent, and personally I had the mussels, the carbonnade and the sticky toffee pudding. The mussels were lovely, and the entire evening had a great atmosphere and wonderful camaraderie, with singing and music making for a very festive evening, despite the weather outside. A wonderful restaurant and one I'm sure I'll be visiting again soon.
lethimrun . 2015-02-10
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I found myself yet again in Carmarthen at the beginning of the New Year, whilst the weather was wet and windy and most of the people in the town and cafes were looking pretty sorry for themselves, I went into Con Passionate with a friend who was up until recently a restaurant owner himself.The place was very quiet but so were all the other places I had seen. We entered and were greetedby the owner mark with a big smile warm hand shake and a Happy New year.We chatted with him for a few moments and then he asked if we wanted a drink, I said we both would have a white wine. mark recommended a Chablis that he had just stated buying which turned out to be a very pleasing wine in deed. We both had onion soup to start I had already told Mark i did not want a large lunch, so I had pigeon breast with cress ad dressing. my friend had the lamb. we both thought the meal was a very good one and finished off with welsh cheeses.I have to say that this place yet again comes to the front of eating houses I have dined in and would recommend this place to all.Well worth a visit.
Acquerelli . 2015-01-13
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went for family party on a tues night the staff were very helpful food was stunning they made us all feel special went out there way to cater for all our needs first class service
647paul . 2014-12-21
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A friend hired the restaurant for the evening for her birthday. Food was served as canapés which were brought around for about an hour until people had had enough. Followed about an hour later with desserts. Towards the end of evening any canapés left were served. Friendly staff , owner and chef very attentive and keen to ensure guests were having a nice evening . Would certainly consider hiring for a party myself and look forward to booking a table for an evening meal! Kath jefferies ammanford
Jefferiesk . 2014-11-16
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Good food and good service. Probably need to book in advance I would think. Owner was maybe a little over friendly.
Bigladlot . 2014-11-06
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I am not a Carmarthen person, but of late have found this town to be a great joy to visit on a saturday Whilst visiting last summer, We found this restaurant and sat outside for lunch, We met the owner mark and he talked us through the menu and advised me what to eat as I do not eat either shell fish or pork. The food was excellent as was both the service and general chat with the owner, since then we have been back many times and would recommend this place ago anyone who is visiting the town. I would suggest for those who find price to be a great thing, that they look at the menu outside the restaurant first, which gives prices and work out how much roughly they will have to pay, which I am sure will be far better than going in eating and the moaning after.Thank you mark nd staff for providing us with a good place to eat when we are your town.
max b . 2014-11-04
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Finally, after our third trip to Wales, we got a chance to have a table booked at this much sought after restaurant in Carmarthen. I have to say this was on of the best restaurant experiences I've ever had (and if I may say, with no intention of snubbing, I've been to many of those "Fat Duck type" restaurants in London and other countries). The food was soooo delicious, well presented, the staff were very polite (Marc Scaife, the owner, couldn't be more friendly, coming to our table, and even helping to serve the food). I'm million percent coming back to try the rest of the menu. Thanks to Con Passionata for providing us such an enjoyable evening last Saturday (25th Oct).
Fillipe05 . 2014-10-29
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Went for my mothers 80th, superb service from Marc and his team. Food was excellent, particularly recommend the venison.
Jamie H . 2014-10-12
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Based on reviews of previous diners we called in for an informal lunch. We had the choice of any table as the restuarant was empty and cold! The order was taken for bread/olive oil/balsanic x2. Scallops and figs as starters with herb crust lamb and fresh sea bass as mains. All courses were very slow being served and lacked any real flavour of note. A coffee and creme brulee for sweets followed. Not one dish stood out as excellent hence the very average summary of this lunching experience. The only item to memorise was the bill of £77 for two lunches which included three small bottles of Peroni beer at £3.75 each. Are my expectations too high?
maxavac . 2014-10-02
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A proper restaurant with a good menu. Service was good, and food excellent. We had the tomato soup followed by sea bass (x2), pork belly (x1) and lamb cutlets (x1) . Menu is bilingual and most ingredients sourced locally. Good classical background music. Only one of the 4 of us had any complaint and that was that he could have eaten more lamb cutlets!Will definitely go again.
hughie56 . 2014-08-13
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Visiting Carmarthen and found this bistro in Nott Square. Outside (non-smoking) tables set up and we were welcomed immediately by the welsh-speaking, friendly proprietor, Marc Scaife who was busily re-stocking the kitchen. Despite this he found time to make us feel valued and saw that a young helpful waitress attended our needs. Our light lunch of sea bass and charcuterie was excellent and the tables soon filled-up from 12 noon onwards -it was a lovely sunny day with relaxing shade provided by the outside awning and trees in the square. A very reasonable bill, including drinks, of £30 for 2 was happily settled with both in agreement that a return visit will definitely be on the cards. Give it a try.
INDIALIMA77 . 2014-08-07
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I only recently moved to Carmarthen and checked tripadvisor which restaurants are recommended - con passionata is a small restaurant in the heart of Carmarthen. I went here with my parents for lunch the first time and enjoyed the food so much that we returned for dinner another time!Reading through the previous reviews, we didn't have any problem with service whatsoever - poor man actually had to come leave and return to us several times as we weren't ready to order yet. Food was simply unbelievably flavourful and delicious!!
Julia F . 2014-08-03
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Had lunch here. Never expected to find this gem of a restaurant in such an out of the way and, on the whole, uninspiring town. The food is all local and is prepared to a high standard with thoughtful presentation. A real wow place. Do go if you're in the neighbourhood.
Dlt84 . 2014-07-21
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Had occasion to meet the head chef the night before we dined having a beer at the front of the restaurant and booked a table . Dined on Saturday 19th July 2014 , no starter and the main arrived approximately 50 mins after we were seated , in fairness it was tasty and well presented but what was seriously lacking at this establishment was front of house service ,3 young girls the oldest appearing to be 18 who were sadly lacking any customer service skills , the same staff drinking from bottles at the bar while customers were awaiting some attention , asked for the bill 3 times and finally walked to the bar to pay as we had yet again been forgotten in the apparent business of the evening. Gents toilet ceiling mouldy and somewhat lacking sophistication .My humble advice , food good but pricey , quality of dining surroundings and toilets not reflective of menu pricing and a serious need to invest in staff training , a cringing lack of basic customer skills , felt a bit like being served by children who had not been invested in , in terms of customer service training and basic manners .Would dine again for the food but you must invest in staff training ,did not feel reassured in any way or confident in the service , perhaps a mix of a more experienced staff member to mentor the kids -frustrating !!!! expected a competent , relaxed and sophisticated dining experience and got anything but :-(
JamesNeesam . 2014-07-19
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Went there this evening with friends and very disappointed. Overpriced for what you get. I chose the duck which was on the special menu expecting to get a duck breast in an establishment commanding such prices only to get a leg which was extremely dry accompanied by very little sauce and under seasoned potatoes. I left most of the duck and potatoes but no notice was made of the fact. Another of our diners had ordered the pork belly which we all know is a very cheap cut and got the tiniest slice on her plate for a grand total of £16.95. We actually chose to go for a dessert as we were all so hungry. The food took a very long time to be served even though the restaurant wasn't even a quarter full. Won't be recommending you as an establishment as I feel completely ripped off. Also didn't feel able to complain as it was a friends birthday and had been booked by her so didn't want to offend.
dlm97 . 2014-07-16
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Had a lovely two course meal at this restaurant. Was very happy with my fillet steak and creme brûlée with disarrano. Steak was £17.95 which I thought was good value for money for a Celtic pride steak. It was nice when the chef came downstairs and walked round the tables asking if everyone was happy with their meals and explaining where his food was sourced from. Nice atmosphere, had a candlelit romantic dinner and would highly recommend this place.
LeahWales1 . 2014-07-12
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A small restaurant, with some really interesting flavoured dishes. I particularly enjoyed the figs with toasted pine nuts starter. The service was great, the only thing I could fault was the steak was a little over cooked to what I asked for but not to the point of sending it back and waiting for a replacement. I would definitely return to this restaurant I'd just ask for red meat to be cooked less, maybe start blue and adjust as required :-)You have to work your way through all the courses as you'd be seriously missing out otherwise. Great place for a date, or with friends. I'm looking forward to the return visit.Hope this helps,Ollie
Ollie H . 2014-07-09
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Nice little restaurant that prides itself on the local origin of their ingredients. Smoked salmon gribiche was strangely tasteless. Duck breast was overcooked for my taste and potatoes were not particularly nice. The selection of cheese was excellent. Other guest enjoyed their food so perhaps I just was unlucky with my choices. Service was good.
SleepyNeil . 2014-06-26
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After visiting the opening of the art gallery exhibition in King Street we decided that we would go out for supper in Carmarthen. I'd heard about Con Passionata from friends and how they use only seasonal veg etc, freshly prepared. We were made welcome from the start and we felt we weren't rushed it was all at our pace. We weren't the easiest customers as we couldn't make up our minds and dithered over our choices. It all looks so good but in the end I went for the Sewin and it was fab. My partner had the pork and the crackling was to die for and my friend had the duck which was delicious.They looked after us very well and even when my sister joined us ages later they accommodated her without any fuss or bother. The restaurant was unusually quiet for a Friday night which just goes to show its always worth ringing your favourite restaurant just in case they are not sold out that night. Not often in Carmarthen but will certainly try to visit this restaurant again
Eironwy . 2014-06-08
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Sorry if this seems a bit gushing but this place really is good! Visited for dinner last night on recommendation from a local shopkeeper who advised us Raymond Blanc has dined there and been suitably impressed. The place itself is beautiful; a small, intimate venue with real individual character. The friendly, professional staff are fantastic as are the chef-owner and his wife who are superb hosts and all giving superb personal service that is so hard to do if you didn't genuinely enjoy your work. The food is sublime, we had an incredible meal toped off by one of the best sticky toffee puddings ever and they made a very nice french coffee, it can be rare to find a place that can do this nowadays! Also get there before they change the menu as the pork belly is an utter delight as are the moules marinere. They have a well thought out wine list so everyone should find something suitable. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone living or staying in Carmarthen and will be going back next time we're in town.
G_O_C479 . 2014-05-25
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Please don't let the title put you off, the food was delicious and the waiting staff friendly and helpful. As I say there was a bit of a wait for each course but in my opinion at least I knew it was freshly prepared!! Must try, great ambiance, decent value for money!
Naomi H . 2014-04-23
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I visited Con Passionata with a group of friends it was pre booked and there were 24 of us. It is a deligh,t the ambiance and relaxing atmosphere were obvious as you walked in. the food which is cooked using local products is cooked to perfection and is very attractively served. the staff were cheerful and friendly and nothing was to much trouble for them.this was a very memorable experience. my husband and I will be going here again and do highly recommend it. the whole party were very impressed. Thank you, Diolch yn fawr.
lindaTenby . 2014-04-13
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I visited Con Passionata with my family one weekend in February. There was a set menu as it was around Valentine's day, and the options were imaginative and made with very good quality local ingredients. The individual dishes were well proportioned as part of the set menu, and the 5 of us who visited enjoyed all our courses - I particularly enjoyed my Beef Fillet Tourneods Rossini. Service was also attentive but friendly. Overall a very enjoyable experience and very happy to see a fine restaurant like this succeeding in Carmarthen.Diolch yn fawr i'r criw yn Con Passionata am noson hyfryd. Bwyd da, gwin da ac awyrgylch braf. Mi'r oedd hi hefyd yn braf gallu siarad Cymraeg gyda'r merched oedd yn gweini. Pob hwyl i chi ac mi fyddwn ni nôl yn fuan.
GethL . 2014-04-11
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went here for the first time last night, for a birthday treat. Only 3 of us, and was very quiet in town on a Tuesday night, but had a lovely warm welcome from the waitress, who even went outside to 'find' our friend who got lost!!menu was explained to us, and went out of their way to change things about to fit exactly what we wanted.I 'don't like' Couscous, but my husband had this with his Sea Bass, and after I had a little taste...wow, he didn't get much more of a look in, it was like a little cloud of heaven, I'm hooked!!2 of us had the Welsh lamb rack, but didn't want what accompanied it on the menu, so was offered the accompaniment of another dish, which was absolutely delicious.meat was cooked to perfection, no pretentious 'extra' stuff, just an excellent dish.we hadn't had starters, so as to save room for pud, and wow, soooooooo glad we did, all 3 desserts were delicious, and extremely well presented.finished off with coffee's, and no rush with anything.we had the tastecard, which gives 50% off food, so was VERY reasonable.will definitely be going here again, and would recommend to anyone, a true little gem in Carmarthen, well done Mark & crew
Gretnadawn . 2014-04-09
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I've been meaning to write this review for a while. I went to Con Passionata in July 2013 as my family and I wanted to go to a 'nice' restaurant to celebrate my graduation. Com Passionately was the obvious choice. The staff are very friendly and nothing was too much trouble. Marc, the owner and chef put together a menu especially for the day of graduation, a 3 course meal for a very good value. The food was outstanding, fresh local produce and excellent service. It is a lovely place to go if you want a friendly atmosphere, excellent service, upmarket food and good wine. Would recommend to everyone!
welshtrumpeter . 2014-04-03
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Amazing food, great chefs & waiting staff, baby friendly (will accommodate your pram or if you can bring your own high chair) all round great experience. Looking forward to next visit!
Nathanseymour . 2014-03-30
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The food was amazing, the staff were fabulous and the chef also took the time to come and see us. Would definitely recommend going here for any special occasion
Sehanddish . 2014-03-29
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On a very rainy day shopping in Carmarthen came across this little gem. Lovely lunch for 2, limited choice but the food was better for it. Not so sure about the music but the waitress was happy to change it. Would recommend and am looking forward to returning again soon.
Felicity M . 2014-03-24
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Just back from an amazing menu,well worth the travel and weather conditions. Made our day.Amuse bouche.Oysters Rockefeller.paupiettes of salmon,scallopand haddock with carmarthen ham and beurre blanc sauce,need i go on.
Ivy B . 2014-02-14
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We had a set menu for a set price, good choice and presented well. The food was delicious, albeit a bit sparse on some dishes, but three courses was just right.All in all a lovely meal with a pleasant atmosphere. The staff seemed headless at times, but I would return.
Andy1666 . 2014-02-14
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We went along to Con Passionata because it is part of the Gourmet Society group. And how pleased we were - we were warmly welcomed and the food was excellent. Starters: fig salad and beetroot tarte tartin with blue cheese. Mains: we both had duck. Very lovely time and thoroughly recommended.
FRoxy . 2014-02-08
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Celebrated the Welsh version of St Valentine's (Santes Dwynwen) at Con Passionata. Great service from the first minute with a free glass of wine and bread starter as our table was not ready- table booked for 8.15 but ready by 8.30 which was acceptable. Full restaurant and a nice atmosphere. Once seated the Chef personally apologised for the delay. Good menu choice- my wife chose beetroot tart to start which was delicious and the fish of the day, sea bream, which was perfect. I had the trio of fish which was light and tasty to start but they'd run out of duck main so I opted for the venison- it was meant to be as it was fantastic. My wife had the flaming creme brulee while I had Carmarthenshire cheeses to finish- both were delicious. Service was attentive and courses came at reasonable intervals. Would recommend for any special occassion. Diolch Marc a'r tim!
Tangar1 . 2014-01-26
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We ate here on a Saturday night and once the restaurant is full 2 waiting staff struggle to give the service the food deserves, having said that it was an hour before our starter appeared and the restaurant was no where near full at the time. Food is great, about 6 starters and mains to choose from. if you exclude venison and duck the choice is limited. Food was enjoyable, but variable in it's VFM - the fish of the day ticks all the boxes, but the steak maybe a little over priced. Don't go in unless your happy to spend the whole evening there.
Adrian359 . 2014-01-26
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Stumbled across this restaurant on a rainy night in January. Warm welcome from the owner and despite the dining space lacking atmosphere - we were one of two tables occupied - he more than made up for it. Had mackerel with black pudding and horseradish sushi rice to start followed by one of the tastiest prices of venison I have ever had. The only negative comment being that I would have liked more black pudding with my starter. Short but excellent value wine list. We demolished a fine Argentinian Malbec which was a bargain at around the £20 mark.Highly recommended and unexpected in deepest Wales.
Topper1976 . 2014-01-15
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Can thoroughly recommend the above restaurant. Myself and two friends went there for a meal last night and the food was excellent and so was the lady who served us. All in all a great experience and we will definitely go back at some time. Worth a visit. It was recommended to us.
813PatC . 2014-01-05
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I visited this Restaurant at the beginning of December with a group of friends and we chose our menu from the "set" Christmas menu available. I initially chose 2 courses from the 3 course menu but ended up having a dessert as it looked so inviting. Overall I enjoyed the meal but the portions were small and, although they were more than adequate for me, my Partner would not have found this satisfactory but fortunately was not with us as it was a "Girls Only Outing". I was a little disappointed that we were a party of 12 and could not be seated together. Also I did not feel particularly warm and it was quite a cold night. However, the Chef/Owner gave us a warm welcome and overall I enjoyed the experience and would possibly return in the future.
Paulene K . 2014-01-05
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Service is okay although the wait for the main course was unacceptably long. Food was satisfactory without being particularly good. It would speed things up if the chef was not 'mingling' with customers instead of attending to his task in the kitchenMy advice is only choose this place if you have several hours and extremely good company
Sue D . 2014-01-01
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The best way I can describe the food in "Con Passionata" is a fusion of Mediterranean style cooking with great Welsh produce. A very friendly atmosphere with efficient and attentive staff makes this a great place to spend an evening with friends you know and make new friends. For great food and a typical warm Welsh welcome this is a great little restaurant. The occasional themed evening adds to the interest, which sometimes comes with musical accompaniment.
Celticheart07 . 2013-12-28
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My friends and I had a truly delicious meal here last night-my parsnip soup with homemade bread was heaven in a bowl and my beef wellington was absolutely mouth-watering!! Service was very efficient and friendly. Would highly recommend con passionata. Cant wait to return.
Awsen123 . 2013-12-21
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20 doctors on a Cmas do.. I have to compliment the service on the evening. Several cancellations late and they were very amenable and flexible. Pleasant atmosphere. Very nice starter, good beef wellington. All seemed pleased with their food.Pleasant lemon lullaby. Reasonably priced.
Ruth W . 2013-12-13
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It was booked for a private party of 18 for Saturday lunch. The menu was a`la carte, not a set menu so we could all have whatever we wished. The service was efficient and friendly and we were not rushed out.
Linor . 2013-11-28
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We dined here this afternoon. There was a bustle of shoppers outside, Santa's grotto and some Christmas stalls. We were the only ones at the restaurant, such a pity because it was a real gem. There was gentle music in the background and the decor was tastefully chosen. Our waitress, Saffron, made us feel welcome and helped us to choose our dishes. We had the olives and home made bread with aioli. The bread was just right, having come out of the oven a few minutes earlier. My husband chose the rack of lamb and said that it was just right, tasty and tender. I had the chicken with spinach served on linguini and a ragu of chorizo and butter beans. Also delicious. The choice of deserts looked inviting, but we had had our fill with the mains. I would highly recommend this restaurant, even if just for a morning coffee or afternoon tea.
Dochim . 2013-11-23
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Four of us wanted an excellent night out in a restaurant that had disabled access. This is the place to go in Carmarthen and many a mile around. Our welcome by the Chef owner was warm and sincere. We were given a free drink as there was a large party, 20 women in a conference party that had over run their booking. The waitress explained the specials on the menu and she was attentive throughout the evening.Mark Scaife, the chef and owner, spent time talking to us about the choices and making recommendation despite the pressures on him and his staff due to having another 10 person booking immediately after the conference party.All courses were served freshly cooked. Each course was served to us at one go, no one was left waiting their meal. The bream and the vegetables was perfectly cooked, the pheasant was also to my daughters liking, not over ripe. My wife's risotto met her requirement exactly, though was a large portion. The cheese board is to die for. Coffee was very smooth and strong.The service was steady and we were not left wondering when the next course would arrive, yet at the same time we were not under pressure to "eat up and go".Cost wise it worked out at £27 per head which is very good for three courses and wine.Booking seems to be essential as that evening there were three party tables ranging from 10 to 20 persons on the table. We will be returning. Just what Carmarthen needs.
Robert H . 2013-11-15
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The staff are very lovely and happy to help when asked, but when you're paying this much, you expect a certain level of service.We were shown the wine list before the menu, so were unable to make our decision on what we might be eating.We'd ordered starters with some extra bread and oils for the table. Our starters were brought out (quite slowly) but the bread was forgotten and we had to ask for it. They then only brought out one portion and we had to ask, once we'd finished our starters, for the second portion. We were then told we wouldn't be charged for them, which is very good, and there was another portion on its way, this however never turned up. We were told there were only two portions of lamb left when we arrived (we'd booked over a week in advance as we were a big group, so you'd expect them to have been prepared), however, after ordering they came back to tell us there was actually only one left so we had to change one of our dishes, but we were still charged for the lamb not the second dish. However, the food is absolutely delicious, the wine was lovely and I will definitely be returning despite the poorer service than expected for such a nice restaurant.
R B . 2013-11-02
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Met up with three girlfriends at Con Passionata the beginning of October. Thank goodness we booked as every table was taken. Lovely atmosphere and the food was excellent - everything tastes so fresh. The staff, as always, were very attentive and helpful, and the service isn't rushed at all, so we had plenty of time for chats between the courses. Marc, the chef/owner, chats to every table to check that everything was ok with the meal. Can't wait for our next visit.
awen_richards . 2013-10-16
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I visited this restaurant last weekend with my partner and some friends for an evening meal. The waitress was friendly and attentive, but not overly so in the annoying way that staff in some places are. The service was a little slow (which did not bother us as it gave us an opportunity to enjoy some conversation and wine and the ambience) and we waited an hour for our main meal to be served (we did not order starters). We all enjoyed our meals, they were presented really nicely and tasted good. We also ordered deserts- I must recommend the sticky toffee pudding- it was really delicious, very sweet which I like. At the end of the meal the chef/owner of the establishment apologised to us for the delay in service (they were short staffed) and gave us a free round of drinks! (We had already been given a free drink earlier in the night because of the delay). He also spoke to us for a little while, asking if we were local etc which I thought was a nice touch.I will definitely be returning to this restaurant, I really liked the interior (candlelight) and ambiance in the restaurant, the food was lovely and it had a relaxed yet professional service. My only criticism is that the tables are a little too close together which makes it difficult to stand up to go to the bathroom etc, and also makes you feel a bit 'boxed in'. Maybe the tables could be rearranged in a way that could minimise this? It is a little on the expensive side, but I will return here to celebrate special occasions.
la_rossi . 2013-10-11
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A small menu, perfectly prepared and beautifully presented in an intimate setting with attentive staff. Having recently returned from a trip with a cruise line which promotes its cuisine as a feature, we believe the food at Con Passionata to be far superior.
G J . 2013-09-25
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This is not the place for "a quick bite". The service was attentive (often with the patron/chef greeting & talking with customers) but not hurried - which we enjoyed.The menu was not extensive but the food was of a high quality.This is the sort of establishment which I could visit on a regular basis (if I could afford it and it wasn't so far away).A real gem
Adrian_di_Bolton . 2013-09-15
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Unfortunately, at lunchtime, the venue is very quiet with the menu perhaps not conducive to a light inexpensive lunch. Nevertheless, on this particular occassion, there was a dish option that was just too tempting to refuse so I decided to give it a whirl. What a result. Beautiful ingredients, well cooked and presented. Relaxed decor, clean environment and excellent service. The menu is short, always a good sign, and the ingredients are locally sourced. My only suggestion for improvement would be to consider the lunchtime offering to make a serious impact during the day. Simple omelettes or even a top quality cawl would be very appealling without going down the ubiquitous pannini, jacket potato and fried food path!
Dee-Di-101 . 2013-09-06
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After my first, not very good, visit to this restaurant we thought that with so many good reviews maybe it was worth another try, because maybe something was just amiss in the kitchen on the day that I first tried Con Passionata.It just so happened that due to a late change in our plans we made a visit to Carmarthen town on a Tuesday night of all nights.We took in a couple of cocktail bars, the second bar being Diablos which is truly fatal, not for the food, we haven’t tried eating there yet, but for the drinks and amazing atmosphere. If you are ever in Carmarthen and you fancy a really great evening of drinking in a fun place you MUST try Diablos, we have heard the food is great there too and it was full on this night.Anyway, after several cocktails and being in a great mood we wandered across the Con Passionata. It was very quiet, we were not too surprised to be honest and fair to the place, it was Tuesday evening and the whole town was fairly quiet, except Diablos.We walked in and only a waitress was there. She offered us a choice of tables so we went for a window seat, to do a bit of people watching.The waitress introduced herself, Hannah, and told us that the chef was Diane. We ordered a bottle of fizz and had a look over the menu while we waited for the bottle to arrive.We placed our ordered and were told that the fish dish that we had both ordered was not available. Hannah apologised and explained that due to the bank holiday fish was off the menu. Now this may be to some a bad thing but to us it was a good sign. No restaurant should have fish available three days after the last fish market was open.We changed our orders accordingly, which was good really because it meant we both had something different. Nice to sample a selection of the menu.We had the meat platter, can’t remember exactly what it was called on the menu, and the quail eggs for first starter. Then we had the asparagus with poached egg and the soup of the day, I can’t quite remember but I think it was Cauliflower (?) . See, told you we like a selection from the menu.The cold meats were served with olives and bread, the quail eggs with three spices. (see photos). The meats were very tasty and the olives were lovely. The bread was just right. The quail eggs were full of flavour and went well with the selected spices.Next course, the soup and the asparagus. The asparagus was cooked with a slight snap and the egg was perfectly cooked, no runny white and perfect yolk.Main course. We ordered steak with thrice cooked chips and crispy coated lamb served with green veg. and mash potatoes.The steak, unlike last time, was cooked to medium rare, exactly as ordered and the lamb was melt in the mouth. The sauces for the lamb was lovely, full of taste and not over powering.Dessert. We ordered a triple selection of ice cream and the same as on our last visit, the amazing crème brulee.The ice cream was ok but nicely presented. The crème brulee was served lit and allowed to show off its amazing flame. Once the flame was out the eating of it began and not a bit was left. (see photos).Hannah came over to ask how everything was. We mentioned that maybe the ice cream could have been better and maybe recommend ice cream from Llanfaes in Brecon. Still local but with some amazing flavour.We asked several questions about the menu that we had chosen and Hannah was brilliant, full of information and knew everything about the ingredients and the menu. She also spoke about herself and we chatted for a while which was very relaxing and a nice thing to be able to do for a change.As we were about to finish off the owner / head chef arrived after a flight back from the Ukraine. He introduced himself and made time to talk to us about various things. A very happy interesting man with great plans for the restaurant.Now even though we had not mentioned who we were and the fact that we had had a bad experience the last time we were there. Everything and everyone was genuinely happy, friendly and chatty.We chose not to mention who we were because we wanted to view the restaurant from a totally unbiased view. We didn’t want them to change anything just to impress us on our second visit. We wanted ‘normal’.Well, I can now see why Con Passionata gets such great reviews. I can’t take back my earlier review because it did happen as we wrote and it would be unfair to remove the comments but boy did the place do itself justice this time around. Hannah was amazing, just a shame she is a student because she is definitely the sort of waitress you want to work for a great restaurant. Good luck with the studies Hannah and we hope one day to be at a musical of yours one day. With your attitude you will definitely make it.Unfortunately we did not get a chance to meet the chef of the night, Diane, but WOW. A fantastic serving of some really great food and so full of natural flavour. You worked really well that night, although only for two of us, but every plate was perfect, presented really beautifully and tasted fantastic. My hat off to you. You did brilliantly. You made our second visit one which we will remember and we will without doubt be back again. Well done.Finally. I understand that Con Passionata is now a single partner restaurant, and I understand that that sole owner is also the chef. This is how a restaurant should be run. Chef knows best and always does their best. Keep up the great standards, we will be recommending Con Passionata to everyone we know and best of luck for the future, may it be a long, happy and successful one for all involved at Con Passionata.Well done all.PS: Please please please sort the website. Its nice to get an idea of the menu for the evening.
Shelly H . 2013-09-01
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Food was very good in pleasant surroundings. The chef made time to speak to the guests & explain his menu.His staff were delightful.
naughtytortie . 2013-08-08
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This was a brilliant restaurant. The venue itself is very warming and friendly. The staff were all very welcoming and attentive and the Owner Marc, walked round every table to check everybody were enjoying their food and evening, such a genuinely nice guy and so nice to see that happen. The food was amazing, I would recommend the hot fig, ham and cheese starter and the steak main, never had better. We have an excellent red wine called La Forge Estate, again would recommend this to any red wine lovers. I will definitely visit this restaurant again even though I live way up North and recommend it highly to everybody. Thank you for a lovely evening.
blackburn8 . 2013-07-31
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a surprise visit to carmarthenshires best kept secret....as I didn't know it existed. A gorgeous intimate restaurant with attentive owner and down to earth, not over the top staff. my starter consisted of haddock wrapped in smoked salmon, scallop wrapped in carmarthenshire ham and salmon wrapped in leak all in a bed of creamed leaks.....go as far to say best starter in my life! has posh name but makes no difference to the taste....mains was lamb with potato and green beans and red jus....lamb locally sourced again was cooked to perfection. finally the creme brule with lemon shortbread and strawberries.....lit at the table and caramelised to perfection. this was a first time visit for me but won't be my last. you need go no further than this place for first class food cooked by people who clearly love cooking, keeping customers happy and support local produce......da iawn!!!!
teuluthomas11 . 2013-07-28
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Had an excellent evening at Con Passionata with friends to celebrate my husbands birthday. What a delightful restaurant. The owner and staff were friendly and most helpful and the food was delicious and very well presented. I would highly recommend this restaurant. We shall certainly be back. Diolch yn fawr.
Helen T . 2013-07-21
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We visited with friends (party of 4 in total), on many recommendations from friends and colleagues. Staff were very attentive and friendly which we enjoyed. The wine choice was great, the food menu choice was varied for starters but for main meals I did think was slightly limited; however we all managed to source something we liked. We also had a vegetarian in our party and the chef did adapt a dish to suit.We had a fantastic sharing plate followed by good robust starters, which were tasty and we were really looking forward to the main meal. I had ordered the dish of the day which was cod, and was advised that it was served with a salad. I was dissapointed as the cod arrived on a bed of a few leaves with lots of lemon underneath and a teaspoon or two of diced tomato and cucumber, it was ok but I was expecting salad with the cod. I wished i had chosen soemthing else it certainly didn't have any great flavour or wow factor. We also had the chicken which I was assured was very tasty, our only critiscm was there was no vegetables served with any meals which we did find rather odd. In my personal opinion it would really make the difference, the food was good but not brilliant and the main meals did really let down the quality of the starters. We choose not to have desserts opting for a cheeseboard, on the advice of our delightful waitress, she recommended one between us. I have too say this was more than sufficient for 4 of us, plently of choice and fantastic cheese. We did have a fun evening, it was a Saturday evening but the restaurant was not very busy. I was also surprised a couple came in and asked for a table but were told they couldn't be accommodated, perhaps this was due to staffing as the restuarant wasn't even half full and no other diners arrived later. We certainly were not rushed in anyway and it is a very relaxing and inviting environment to enjoy your meal at your pace. However do give this place a try, perhaps we did an off evening? I spoke to friends afterwards who visit routinely and love the place. Perhaps we will try again
SmudgeWestWales . 2013-07-16
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Had a late lunch on a quiet day in Carmarthen. We were the only diners. Attracted in by their 'special' on a board outside. Cockle and laverbread pasta was excellent. It was so attractive that we took a photo! (Can't remember doing that before), Th e waitress was characterful. Today's young chef (the sous) was introduced to us. A real enthusiast (and wrestling with offers from S. E England). Creme Brulee was delicious - arriving flambe which we hadn't experienced before.Good coffee and passable house white.
Pearboy . 2013-06-23
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We had a fabulous meal with friends last night and we'll definitely be going back. We enjoyed mussels, charcuterie and steaks with a couple of decentaand reasonable bottles of house wine before finishing with a specialty coffee and an excellent sticky toffee pudding. A great addition to Carmarthen!
Kate M . 2013-06-22
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Visited with a friend lunchtime. Jug of iced tap water with lemon was much appreciated on a hot day. Chose a glass house white which was very palatable - needless to say we both enjoyed the it. We both chose a starter of honeyed figs with cheese, rocket, Parma ham with pine nuts glazed in syrup. The flavours were amazing - an excellent start to the meal. This was followed by herb-crusted salmon on a bed of veg which included sugar snap peas - my favourite! The salmon was beautifully cooked - the best I have tasted and I have eaten a lot of salmon in various restaurants. Dessert consisted of a creme brûlée and sticky toffee pudding. To be honest we were very satisfied after the starter and mains as the portions were just right. However we managed the puddings which were very good, Marc the chef came over to ask how our meal went and he proved to be an interesting man who seems passionate about food and music! Yes we will return and can recommend you give his restaurant a try. Thanks for a lovely lunchtime experience.
UNITE15 . 2013-06-05
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We went here for a group meal, 6 of us, because we had heard good things about the place and hoped to find another great place to eat in Carmarthen town. High hopes that were soon dashed.It was busy enough for a good atmosphere and we were all up for a great time.We selected our wine and our starters and mains.I had gone for the smoked duck (starter) and Steak for the main.Starters turned up and mine was presented with a lid on it which when you lifted it released smoke for a bit of theatrics. Unfortunately that is where the 'theatrics' ended. The duck and side salad tasted so smokey it was how I would imagine a bomfire would taste. It was so bad that I didn't dare go in for another taste my mouth was like an ashtray. My friend saw that I was not eating my meal and before I could say anything had dived in to taste the duck. She very quickly expelled the duck from her mouth and agreed with me that it was just simply inedable.When the waitress eventually came to clear the table she did ask if everyone had enjoyed their starter. She could obviously tell from my plate still being pretty much intact that I had not, so I explained to her why I had not eaten it to which she just simply floated of without an apology or statement that she would pass my comments to the chef. Waste of time asking really then. So don't bother.I had ordered my steak rare, I prefer it medium rare but sometimes find if you ask for this you could end up with medium to well done and I like rare but just hate over cooked steak.The steak turned up and guess what, it was ' well done ', not something you would expect from a restaurant that claims good food and at over 22 quid for a steak you expect what you order.The two meals were a disgrace.The wine which we had had only two bottles of, 'rose', we had gone to order a third, not too many for a party of 6 and considering everyone else in the restaurant seemed to be drinking red or white, we were surprised to then be told that they had run out, seriously, only two bottles of rose on a Saturday night, I have more bottles than that at home.Dessert came, creme brulee, which I must say was a very nice dessert and full of taste, well done for this.Cheese board followed which, although had plenty of cheese on it, did lack in the pickle department. We asked if we could have a little more to which we were told they had run out. Again, pickle, run out, the stuff does not go off so get more jars in in advance.Aside from the dessert the meal was a complete waste of money. The service between plates was long, and I don't normally mind a little wait as we have so much talking going on, but this was way too long.The lack of rose wine there is no excuse for. Again wine does not go off that quick so get a few more bottles in, you are a restaurant after all and I don't think that we are the only people who drink rose wine.The meal averaged just over 50 pounds per head, a total waste of money.If you look on my reviews, and I have quite a few on Tripadvisor now, you will find that in the most we have written lots of good things. For this place that is way to hard to do.Without doubt we will not be visiting here again in the near future, we will continue our search for better places to eat around the area and be avoiding this one for sure.It is a real shame because this place has a prime location, a great little building and could be so much more, but I think from the lack of stock we may not see it for much longer. Just from experience.
Shelly H . 2013-05-27
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I have been to Con Passionata on three separate occasions now, once for lunch and two evening meals. Each time was absoulutely faultless. The Salmon on the first occasion was beautifully cooked. The second time I had the lamb which again was gorgeous, and the third time which was on 11th May I had the beef wellington which was stunning! On each occasion the meal came with a selection of vegetables which again are cooked and presented perfectly.Service is excellent, the decor is lovely and the staff very helpful and accomodating. Well recommended and am already planning another visit!
catrinsd . 2013-05-14
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We went here for dinner and had a wonderful meal and a great time. They have a special early bird menu that is extremely well priced and then a slightly more expensive regular menu. We ordered off the main menu but that item wasn't available in hindsight, so we made other choices and the very pleasant and apologetic waitress not only bought the food but gave it to us for the early bird price. We both had a delicious potato leek soup to start which was lovely and came with exceptionally nice rolls. My husband had beef Wellington which was excellent and I had the salmon which was cooked to perfection, moist and tender but not raw in the middle. Dessert was an amazing lemon concoction that tasted lovely and seemed nice and light. The meal was great and just what we needed after a long,long travel day. The service was extremely good and the friendly diners also present when we ate made it a wonderful evening.
HRHCaoimhe . 2013-05-08
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We recently celebrated our son's 18th birthday party here, we could not find fault with anything. The food was plentiful , hot and very tasty. Thank you very much. Already looking forward to the next visit.
Sharon M . 2013-05-05
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I dined here on a Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago. My friend had suggested it as a nicer place to eat in town in the day than a busy cafe. The welcome was lovely and the waitress was pleasant, but I would never expect a two course meal to take 2.15hours to serve. Although the food presented looked lovely and tasted good, for a lunch time menu it did lack in quantity, this may be something you would expect in such an establishment at night but I felt it needed adapting to suit a day time customer. Was pleased to have tried it but would only return for a special occasion, which I do feel is often the trouble with such a 'nice' establishment in such a small town.
Rowlands2009 . 2013-04-22
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The new addition of a pre theatre menu is a welcome innovation for the town of Carmarthen. We were pleasantly surprised by the ambience and music. The attentiveness of the chef/patron was superb and he was willing to listen to our comments on the food i.e food tolerances and taste. He was willing to listen to our opinions of the food without prejudice. We will definately return again because the food was good and recommend the restaurant to anyone pre theatr or main menu.
andrea e . 2013-04-17
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I have been to Con Passionata on two separate occasions now, and have been very pleased with the food, service and value for money twice.My first visit was with 3 other girl friends, and we all thoroughly enjoyed. The second visit was with my husband and 3 other couples. I rang the restaurant and asked if there was a set priced menu for us they there were very keen to oblige. We had a wonderful choice of 3 courses for £20 per head. The men had steak and chips (ofcourse !) and there was plenty of it. The staff are very polite and helpful, there is a good wine list which is not over-priced.All together a very pleasant place to have a meal. I will definately be going back for more and would recommend this restaurant to anyone.
LornaM778 . 2013-04-15
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We had lunch there on Saturday and it was fantastic. The food was great, the atmosphere lovely and the staff very attentive. We had several courses, wine and coffee for around£20/person - amazing value for the quality of food. Can't wait to go there again soon.
Rhian S . 2013-03-27
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Last minute decision to eat out, didn't want to drive anywhere, Carmarthen notoriously bad for good food what to do? First choice Diablos fully booked until late as was Cafe no.4, decided to give Con Passionata a go. Had to take 6.30 booking and arriving a couple of minutes early took the staff a little by surprise as they were not quite ready for us, however we received a very warm welcome from the owners (?) and all the staff, was offered a free aperitif for our inconvenience! My son had the honey glazed figs to start which was excellent and not too sweet, followed by the herb crusted cod which was totally fresh and perfectly cooked. I had the chicken supreme on wild rice, possibly the nicest tasting chicken I have eaten in a long while. Washed down by a lovely Sauvignon blanc, complimenting the food perfectly. Dessert was sticky toffee pudding for him and a perfectly executed chocolate fondant for me. Portions are not huge here which may disappoint a lot of folk, but if you like me, prefer taste and quality over quantity give this place a try, you won't be sorry. The decor is simple and understated, the music, last night anyway, was cool vintage, creating a great ambience. Service was very good and the owner/chef made a point of visiting every table personally, which was a lovely touch. My only negative comment would be that the door issue needs addressing as a cold draft breezes through every time the door opens , maybe a small hot air blower above the door could counter that small thing. Thank you for a lovely evening.
M4mgu . 2013-03-24
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Good food friendly service and nice setting, quite reasonably priced. The only downside was it being so quiet. If there were more people about it might have been a nicer atmosphere
CarmarthenDavid_C . 2013-03-18
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Good food but not stunning however price did leave us stunned this is not fine dining but rather nice food but at a rip off price.Freezing on the night we visited awful service in that we were kept constantly waiting for starters/main course/dessert and drinks orders.Staff would disappear for anything up to 5 - 10 minutes at at time upstairs where the cooking is conducted.Persons actually came in waited to be seated and advised by customers waiting for food to leave due to the delays!!!!
JOHNJINX . 2013-03-17
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We booked for a party of 6 to celebrate St David's Day. The staff were welcoming and courteous, were all Welsh speakers and were happy to answer questions about the menu. We were seated at a round table (which I always find much more better for chatting to everyone) and the Welsh harp background added to the sentiment of the occassion (although not so sure about the jazz playing at the end of the evening). There was a great selection of dishes to choose from albeit the choice was hard as they all sounded delicious. The most popular being the cockles and laverbread - understandably so, they were wonderful. There was a good selection of wines to accompany the meal, which seemed to flow much too easily! The starter was followed by a good choice of main courses all with a local/Welsh slant to them. The men, being men,opted for the steak and chips and the steak was cooked perfectly. I opted for the pork with crackling, which was just the right size portion to not make me feel too guilty about tucking into. The vegetables were al dente and couldn't be faulted. The meal was rounded off by a selection of naughty (but nice) deserts, the white chocolate panna cotta was amazing and a glass (or two) of Port and Dessert Wine.There was a lovely, relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant, with a nice gap between courses and we were left to chatter away without feeling the need to hurry up. It was nice that Marc, the Chef and Owner, came down at the end of the evening to chat to all of the guests and took the time to speak to everyone.We had a fantastic meal, in pleasant relaxed surroundings and can't wait for the next excuse to come out for a meal. Keep up the good work.
Linda T . 2013-03-16
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Lovely restaurant. Friendly staff. Excellent food. In a prime location in Carmarthen Town. We went here for a romantic meal and we were welcomed in straight away by the owner. I found the food very well presented and very much to my liking. We will most definitely be visiting again.
Betty8oops . 2013-02-25
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We visited Con Passionata on a Saturday lunch time recently - we were initially wary of going in, as there was only one table occupied, but we decided to persevere on the basis of the good reviews we had read on Trip Advisor ...... and thank godness we did as we had an absolutely fantastic lunch, at an unbelievably low price !! We were initially confused at what to order, as the lunch menu didn't follow the standard "Starters, Mains, Desserts" format. Luckily, the manager (owner?) was on hand to advise us, and we ordered several dishes in a kind of "tapas" style arrangement, and he took great lengths in making sure the dishes we ordered were tweaked in size and ingredients where there was an issue. I had the Figs with chesse and ham, whilst my wife had a rissotto cake - both utterly delicious. We then shared the "special" of the day - chicken in tarragon sauce on a bed of rice, then finished off sharing the local cheese platter. We were both full after this delicious meal, and the manager charged us each for the "two plates" price - an incredible £9.50 per person, which frankly I was embarrassed paying so little for such an amazing meal !!There were two other tables occupied whilst we were there, although the manager confirmed the restaurant was fully booked for the dinner that night - all I can say is that the good citizens of Carmarthen are certainly missing a trick as I can't remember the last time we had such a tasty but "value for money" lunch - next time we visit Carmarthen we'll certainly be back, possibiy trying out the dinner menu if we can get in ...
TOURISTTED . 2013-02-25
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We've eaten here a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed. It has a relaxed atmosphere - not too formal. Marc and his team are passionate about their locally sourced produce, and it shows.
awen_richards . 2013-02-16
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I've dinned at Con Passionata a couple times and have never been disappointed. On both occasions the chef came down to chat and see how we enjoyed our meals, which of course we did. He's passionate about his cooking, and more than happy to accommodate special requests. The last time we were there they had an issue with their liquor license, which meant we needed to buy our own wine, but the server was happy to run across to the Co-op to pick out a bottle for us, which in some ways was better! Both times I had the monk fish tart starter, which is small but delicious. The last time I had the salmon with burre blanc sauce, and I still drool when I think about it. I honestly can't recommend Con Passionata enough!
Arthbach . 2013-01-23
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My wife and I stopped in Carmarthen today on our way back from a friend's funeral and luckily found Con Passionata. We had a really delicious lunch and would highly recommend this restaurant. Marc could not have been more welcoming and friendly and the food was exceptionally good. We both love our food and are very critical when it isn't right but believe me, this was VERY GOOD indeed! Furthermore, lunch of this standard at £12 for 2-courses is beyond good value. A very happy ending to an otherwise sad day. Marc and the Con Passionate team really deserves to do well and we wish them every success.
simon_rosie . 2013-01-22
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We were just passing through Carmarthen and hungry - after a quick walk round we decided to try Con Passionata and were not disappointed! The food was wonderful, the service friendly and efficient, and the setting lovely. We would certainly go back if near there again!
DerekandSarah . 2012-12-02
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I'm not sure whether the chef here was trained by Raymond Blanc (I'm sure I saw a picture in the window), but he might as well have been. The food was stunning and well worth the wait. If you want pre-made/fast food, this is not the place for you. The chef is clearly talented and knows his stuff. EVERYTHING, and I mean everything was perfect. The food and presentation was what you would expect from a michelin star restaurant. Service was relaxed, which was fine as we didn't want to rush the evening, helped by the beautiful decor and lovely ambiance.All in all a very, very pleasant evening. Definately the best in the area (and actually very well-priced for the quality). We've been to Y Polyn a few times, now we're spoilt for choice and on balance, would pick Con Passionata.Thank you. Diolch yn fawr!
FlyingPigPorksville . 2012-11-27
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We planned this quiet evening on the basis that I would be able to return from London while the other two would be just down the road and ready for our 7.30 booking. The weather confounded us but the restaurant took our difficulties in their stride, amended their timings at least twice as I struggled with the flooding difficulties on the railway. Wonderful flavours in the Beef Wellington while my daughters rainbow trout she said was as equally excellent. Puddings and the cheeseboard completed the evening. Had a great conversation with the chef as well as we were the last ones there because of our late start. Suggest you give them a go; not the cheapest restaurant in Carmarthen but we went back here for our second visit on the basis of the quality we knew from our first visit and were not disappointed by this second.I am however somewhat disappointed by some of the recent negative review and wonder what had prompted the apparent difficulties described. Ours was a quiet mid-week visit. I frankly rather like the fact that the kitchen is upstairs and you get to see the food coming down on trays; it adds to the suspense. My double espresso could not have been better and the small glass of house red that I had was smooth and delightful.
Mike S . 2012-11-22
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We tried this out for the first time and were a bit disappointed. Prices are well beyond its capabilities. Carpaccio with horseradish got the meal off to a good start but it was downhill from there. The main of lamb chops was ok but certainly not worth the 22gbp charged, and the coffee was terrible - leaving me disappointed. A lack of wines by the glass too. The place was busy, and I hope improves and keeps open - we'll probably try again in a year or so but it's not going to be a regular haunt until then.
MWSwansea . 2012-10-04
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I had my second visit to Con Passionata on Saturday evening - I was very lucky as I had called at mid-day and managed to get a cancelation.Once again the food was superb - the service is laid back and not too quick but I don't mind that as it was a hot date and it gave us loads of time to talk... The owner came over to speak to us and to find out what we thought of the food. This is West Wales hospitality at its very best.All I could say was the food was simply delicious and Carmarthen is long over due such a rare find.....Thank you very very much I shall certainly be back soon.....
X11RAJ . 2012-09-24
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A group of four of us tried out the Con Passionata for the first time a couple of weeks ago. We had a warm welcome and the serving staff were very pleasant. The menu was full of interesting dishes, and we chose some starters, main course and desserts. We were all very impressed with the taste, and quality of the food, and my husband and our friends were glad that I'd suggested this restaurant. The chef himself came to check that everything was to our liking and explained how he had cooked a certain dish when asked. One of the desserts was dissapointing, but they changed it to another without fuss and I had a delicious sticky toffee pudding presented in a sea of sauce and adorned with a pretty sugar cage instead of it. It is nice to see Carmarthen having another nice individualized high quality eating place, instead of a 'chain' retaurant. I would definately recommend this restaurant. Note that it is open in the evening only, 6-8.30pm. Roedd y staff yn siarad Cymraeg. Luckily I am returning with work colleagues this weekend.
Olwen T . 2012-09-04
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We stumbled upon Con Passionata after a series of disasters in Carmarthen. The restaurant was not full but we were given a warm welcome by Gareth the young and charming duty waiter. To cut to the chase, the food was excellent, a decent and reasonable wine list- the starters we chose were truly high quality featuring Swansea smoked salmon and fabulous scallops, then plain but beautifully presented Welsh beef and lamb.Chef Scaife regaled us with tales of the musical background of the founders, it was a really lovely evening, we hope many will follow us to the really excellent new restaurant. Con Passionata deserves to succeed.
sandflopper j . 2012-08-13
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The staff at Con Passionata could not have been more helpful during an evening with visitors, the misuc, food and hospitality was second to none! A great place to relax and enjoy some of what the talented people of carmarthen have to offer!
escape_the_norm . 2012-06-29
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13 Opinions
Had a fabulous weekend at the diplomat hotel for a hen party. Excellent service and attention all round but particularly from the lovely lady Julie, who looked after us so well all weekend. Thanks all
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeround80 Opinions
I can only say the whole experience was fantastic, the food first class, the service very good and attentive and all this at a very acceptable price. Our weekend with family to celebrate my wife's birthday was perfect, the whole ambience and Christmas spirit was great. We travelled over 100 miles for the experience it was worth every mile. Thank you all.
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeroundI can only say the whole experience was fantastic, the food first class, the service very good and attentive and all this at a very acceptable price. Our weekend with family to celebrate my wife's birthday was perfect, the whole ambience and Christmas spirit was great. We travelled over 100 miles for the experience it was worth every mile. Thank you all.
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeround193 Opinions
We were last at the Belle 8 years ago. We visited again yesterday whilst visiting friends. The food continues to be fabulous. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant has had a makeover since we were last there, and it looks great. Thank you for another lovely evening.
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeroundWe were last at the Belle 8 years ago. We visited again yesterday whilst visiting friends. The food continues to be fabulous. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant has had a makeover since we were last there, and it looks great. Thank you for another lovely evening.
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeround11 Opinions
I have wanted to visit this little cafe for some times as the food pictures looked great. My partner and I visited and he had a toasted brie, cranberry and bacon sandwich and I had a tuna mayo toasted sandwich; both came with a side salad. For 2 toasted sandwiches and 1 cup of black coffee the cost was over £11.00. I feel that is too much for these types of lunch time foods. Yes the food was nice, but not at that cost. I will be going elsewhere for the same price or less. The cakes looked nice and the area was clean.
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeroundI have wanted to visit this little cafe for some times as the food pictures looked great. My partner and I visited and he had a toasted brie, cranberry and bacon sandwich and I had a tuna mayo toasted sandwich; both came with a side salad. For 2 toasted sandwiches and 1 cup of black coffee the cost was over £11.00. I feel that is too much for these types of lunch time foods. Yes the food was nice, but not at that cost. I will be going elsewhere for the same price or less. The cakes looked nice and the area was clean.
cookedduckpuddingsalmonfishsteaklambsoupcoffeeround