Dewi's Secret Garden Restaurant in Powys

If you’re looking through previous reviews and think, ah we’ll give it a go… don’t! 😂 up there with the worst meal I’ve had in my life 😂

I can't express how disappointed I was, if I could give no stars, I would. I really looked forward to a new place to eat out in Brecon. We started with an apology when the pleasant and friendly young waiter only had 3 menus for our able of 4 diners. Plenty more apologies were given when we discovered a number of dishes were off the menu.... a promising sign I thought, if they have been that busy! This was followed with yet more apologies when my partner tried to buy beer only to discover a number of these out of stock too. Then they brought out an opened bottle of cider that we had cancelled. My gin and lemonade was filled to the brim, sadly no ice and lemon, they don’t do it. After our order was placed, we had an hour and a half to enjoy our drinks before any sign of food. The young waiter did return to apologise for the wait after an hour. We started with a garlic pizza bread to share, dripping butter but barely garlic and no plates. Food when it arrived was a great disappointment for my friends. My pizza was just fine. But the slow cooked buffalo was was tough and dry considering it was slow cooked, no creamy mash that was identified on the menu, the only accompaniment was 2 rounds of saute potato, half a parsnip and a single slice of carrot. The lamb shank was similarly served with a noticeable lack of vegetables. They ordered a side of potatoes just to make it sufficient to eat and were charged for them too! This for £20/head. When our table was later cleared, no pleasantries were proferred like "did you enjoy your meal?" We weren't even offered the dessert menu. You might think the staff young and poorly trained, yet there was a middle aged waitress behind the bar, that was seen to leave the safety of that haven from time to time. Her attention being occupied almost entirely by the man that propped up their bar for our entire 2 hour stay and her mobile phone. Needless to say we won't return. Honestly, for the whole meal we felt as if we were an inconvenience. We did set eyes on the chef, he had come out of the kitchen to complain to another table of diners. We should have been more observant, we only saw the low hygiene rating on our way out. We did notice the tired, scuffed, cheap and lack lustre decor.

5 of us visited here whilst on a trip to Brecon after it was recommended to us. The restaurant was not busy and we waited an hr and a half for our mains, which by then some were cold and 1 was the wrong order. We ordered 2 sharer platters to start and this would have maybe been enough for 2 people rather than 4! After an hr the waitress informed us there had been a problem with the oven but nothing else. I had a Welsh traditional dish which was literally a piece of Mackerel with some blasamic on it..no homemade bread it was meant to come with..£10 for the pleasure! Side of chips £4...maybe 10 cold wedges sent back...same chips came back out microwaved! Despite the wait and the disappointing service and communication we weren't offered any reduction or complimentary drinks etc. Coming from catering myself I expect more and for the prices this place charges it really wasn't worth it at all. Whetherspoons would have been much more enjoyable and much cheaper and that is coming from someone who doesn't eat in whetherspoons!

If a good meal is about not just the food but also the atmosphere and experience (and it is), then we lucked out last night. David and his young team looked after us brilliantly. The food was great and David guided us with vast enthusiasm on what we should try (and what would make us boring if we ordered it!). Finished off with a sing along with the wonderful guitarist who did his best to meet our eclectic list of requests (ask for Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode).

I went to the restaurant with a friend - I enjoyed the interior and the ambience, and the staff were very friendly but they did mess up our payment (charging us the wrong amount). I ordered the ostrich which seemed a little over cooked but the disappointing part was what came with it - for £20 it was a piece of meat, two tiny potatoes, one carrot and one piece of pepper. For an attempt at fine dining, the food was not nice enough for the price. My friend’s pizza was nice, but the desert we ordered was very small and the chocolate fondant did not have a nice flavour at all. I was excited to eat here and sadly disappointed because I love Italian. I would not go again for the price it is.

Very disappointing Young staff members try hard and are a credit. Food was below average for what it cost. Would not return.

We decided to visit recently despite the mixed reviews. Upon our arrival we were pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant located where Roberto’s Italian used to be located, which was an old favourite of ours. Owner nowhere to be seen, but the young staff very welcoming. Our reservation had not been written into their diary, but they were still able to accommodate a table for us early on a Saturday evening. Food and drinks were excellent. I can especially recommend the scallops starter. I also really enjoyed trying ostrich for the first time, which isn’t typically Italian, but the rich porcini sauce that accompanied it was. I didn’t get his name, but the young gentleman waiter was especially helpful and made me an espresso martini upon request, as I didn’t fancy a dessert as I was so full after the delicious food! I did miss the presence of the traditional Italian owner, which usually adds that little extra bit of pizazz to the Italian dining experience.

What can I say about this little gem of a restaurant. The owner/chef Davide is so accommodating and so are his staff, special thanks to Sophie for excellent service. The food is excellent so thank you Dewis for a couple of great evenings. (Ps please keep the Lemoncello in the freezer for our next visit😀)

Having read the mix reviews we were dubious about the restaurant. There was no need to worry, we were greeted warmly and shown to an outside table. By the yellow lines you could tell this had been a car park but it has been revamped and decorated with flowers and pot plants all under awnings. It is a delightful place to eat. The service was attentive and efficient. There is a nice menu with a range of 'Welsh/Italian' fusion dishes. I loved the cockles, laver bread and welsh cheese starter, the mushrooms were said to be excellent as were the scallops. For main courses we selected the aubergine lasagne style dish whilst another person enjoyed the ravioli with laver bread. There is a a short but interesting wine list and a range of bottled drinks. I will certainly revisit the Secret Garden and I recommend it to others, nothing grand but friendly service and nice food.

My family and I booked a table for yesterday to celebrate my mums birthday. There were 10 of us in total, and we travelled from Crai (about 20 mins) to attend. The place was closed!!! We arrived 10 minutes before the booking and waited around to see if it would open. No sign of life. We then went to the Wellington and had a lovely meal, where staff were lovely and cared about customer service. I appreciate the chef and staff of Dewis may have something more important than opening the restaurant and honouring our booking, but a phone call to advise us should of informed us prior. Speaking to locals in the Wellington, it sounds like we dodged a bullet as well, as food is average at best and overpriced.

What a great restaurant. There were six of us, so sampled the menu quite well, all the food was amazing and really well presented. The young lads who served us were professional and engaging. The setting was fabulous, especially on such a hot evening, sat outside in a courtyard with big sails to protect us from the sun, then the church bells rang and it really felt like I could have been sat at restaurant in a little piazza in Italy. Can't wait to go back.

So after reading mixed reviews and knowing what Brecon can be like we decided to make our own opinions and book for dinner here. I have to say we were not disappointed, the dishes we ate were fantastic I in particular had the mussels to start and then the ricotta ravioli for my main and it was delicious if the chef came out covered in the sauce of the mussels …. Well I’d of had to lick it off it was that good! The seafood linguine which another of our party had was gorgeous, not stingy on the seafood and just the right amount of heat to the sauce. All of our dishes were good including mum’s who is a picky vegetarian so to win her over is a win all round to be honest. The wine list although small compliments all the dishes. The service too was very good they were personal yet unobtrusive which is exactly what you want so give those 2 young lads a thumbs up from us. All in all we’ll be back again and I look forward to trying the other dishes on the menu.

When your paying £20 for a meal you expect it to decent.Lamb shank tasteless.Parsnips I couldn't cut and were cold.Sitting in gravy with mixed herbs over the whole dish.2nd dish ox cheeks with beans.....whete do I start.Overcooked,no taste covered in fat.No flavour sat next to what looked like a tin of white beans.Another £20 dish.We were left to it.No table check done.Inside shabby.Wernt even asked when we left if everything was OK.Couldnt wait to leave!! I would never return here take your hard earned money elsewhere!!

Our experience was not good. The chef on duty did not know his own menu: we had to ask for missing/incorrect items. My carbonara was congealed and tasteless. The linguine (actually it was spaghetti) was bland. In other respects - good, cheery and prompt service and a nice house wine.

went for a meal at dewis secret garden a few nights ago what can i say, great service from the younge and hard working staff. i had the flower power pizza which was cooked perfectly. and my boyfriend had the lamb shank which was as he described as mouth watering. the meat was tender and melted into my mouth amazing combination with the sauce. all around amazing food and will definitely be coming back again. definitely recommend a visit if your in Brecon town.

Went to Dewi's with a large party. A bit on the quirky side, the chef/owner can be a bit of a character, but the food was excellent. They managed to serve 15 people with their main courses within just a few minutes. All dishes were...

Found two hairs in one main and the other was inedible as undercooked, I very politely complained to the waiter (in fairness was extremely apologetic and had been an excellent waiter) who went and got the chef to hear our feedback. Chef came out in...

David (Dewi) is such a friendly, welcoming and generous guy - typically Italian. He gave us a basket of filling nibbles twice even though we were just calling for drinks. Already gaining a great reputation for his food. Thanks also to young Ioan who is...

The food is excellent especially if you enjoy garlic. The ox cheek in particular is exceptional. However, the place is obviously stretched on serving staff which resulted in uncleared dishes everywhere. Not a great look for a restaurant.

I'm saddened to read negative comments about this little place but understand why they have been made and hope that they will be acted on. My own experience was good. I was only staying two nights in Brecon and enjoyed Dewi's so much on my...

Real italian food cooked by an italian chef was excellent - the best risotto I’ve ever had. However, first impressions were dinted by teenage waitresses who weren’t fully conversed with the menu and not dressed appropriately but hopefully keen to learn.

Only went into this place as the couple we were meeting were already seated. The first thing you notice on arrival outside is the 3* Hygiene Rating on the door which has chipped paintwork and a scruffy appearance. The untidy look continues inside with a...

Me and a friend had dinner at Dewis tonight. The food was nice enough. My pizza came with only half the toppings advertised. The staff are not attentive (they didn’t clear our dinner plates for a long time and I had to go to the...

The food here was really excellent. Some of the best pizza and onion rings we have ever had. However the service could have been better, staff were not too attentive. Was a really nice atmosphere though and would happily go back.

What an odd experience. Firstly the music was so loud and the ‘waiting’ staff kept playing with it (clearly listening to their own Spotify play lists and fighting over who listened to what). We were largely ignored by the staff completely (there were only 2...

We hugely enjoyed our meal here excellent menu and most welcoming staff indeed the chef came out to chat with us about our meals

We really enjoyed our visit, so we returned the following evening and would eat here again if in the area. It is a quirky setting and the front of house staff are attentive and enthusiastic. The food was delicious, can recommend the ravioli, risotto and...

Stumbled across this little gem on a back street. Food was fantastic and the staff were very enthusiastic and friendly. Very interesting menu, wished we were closer, would love to go back to sample some of the other dishes.

Visited Brecon for the day with friends. Dewi’s was the perfect end to our day out. The service was incredible the whole time. Staff were attentive and charismatic conversing with us and giving us wonderful recommendations. Food was served quickly, the best carbonara I’ve had...

Fantastic evening. Enthusiastic staff who were knowledgeable about every item on the menu. The food was outstanding. Really reccomend the tiramisu cocktail.

Found this little place on our last evening in Brecon, pleasantly surprised. Great food, good portions and even better service (Enthusiastic young waiter, Engaging owner). All the meals delivered to the table were fantastic. The new "Tiramisu Martini' cocktail added to the menu that night...

The food was marvellous, with generous portions and amazing taste! We really liked the decorations around the restaurant, too. The drinks were really good, and we delighted in trying out a new drink. It was amazing, like everything else, and we really hope that it...

The experience was perfect. Great food, reasonably priced, decorated to perfection - awesome service too. A must-try experience for anyone passing through Brecon and certainly a place I will return to.

My husband and I ate here one evening midweek and it was a delight. They accommodate well behaved dogs so we took our two and they gave us a table with plenty of space. From the moment we entered we were given attention and all...

Wonderful authentic Italian food with a great choice for all four of us. We shared the pizza breads to start then I ordered the ravioli with a Welsh twist in a laverbread sauce - absolutely delicious! Our son had a pizza and our daughter &...

My partner and I ate at Dewi's secret garden restaurant on a Monday; Dewi opened the restaurant just for us. Dewi was so friendly and extremely passionate about his food. He recommended a number of dishes, all of which were delicious. We had the Mediterranean...

My husband and I ate here on Friday night, when you first walk in, the decor is quite basic BUT the service and food more than make up for this and that's what really matters. Dewi managed the whole restaurant himself, which was packed out...

I had a lovely pizza to takeout this evening, I will definitely be returning for a sit down meal and to try out some more of the menu!

A very friendly traditional Italian with dishes that Mama used to make. The proprietor is very friendly and knowledgeable. A small number of tables inside so making a reservation is essential! Live music in the attached garden on Saturday evenings.

Do not miss this wonderful place. We stumbled upon it while passing through Brecon on a family and friends trip. With no reservation, Dewi himself welcomed 9 of us in, and gave us a fabulous meal which would hold its own in any high profile...

We had not booked a restaurant for dinner tonight but I used good old Google and found this brilliant restaurant Yes it’s new, so doesn’t have lots of reviews yet (opened just after lock down in April 2021!) but I suspect if they carry on...

Lovely service with a happy young waiter, the owner is a passionate and excelled in this fusion of Italian and Welsh cuisine. A jewel here in Brecon where most of the hotels/restaurants were so disappointed . Thanks !

Very aptly named ‘Dewi’s secret’ this little restaurant certainly is a hidden Gem. We were passing through Brecon and had initially booked into the Wellington, however we stumbled across this place whilst looking for a place to park! We had our two toddlers with us...

First off; we hear great reviews about Dewis Secret Garden with an Italian twist and all the locals say it is fab, so well done, it’s not easy launching a new restaurant. I bet the experience is great for meat eaters….all around us diners were...

The food was delicious and the service was amazing! The restaurant was very sweet and the outdoor seating (where we had our dinner) was great. The chef is very friendly and any changes to the food that we made were delivered first try. A must...

Simply the best risotto I have ever eaten x. I chose to sit outside in the sunshine, truly a secret garden. Staff were lovely, just the right amount of attention. Thank you for a lovely evening

Excellent food and excellent service. A good selection of Italian options (pizza, pasta, risotto), as well as traditional grub. Very cute interior decorations and a calming atmosphere.

I have now been to this place 6 times, the last being on the 16th July. I had a group of 5 people with me and we sat outside in the glorious sunshine. The food was, as each other time I have been a joy....

Had a wonderful night. Food was amazing. Very attentive staff especially as the place was really busy. Could not fault anything about it. Will definitely be visiting again as local to this place. I know it has had some negative reviews but I speak as...

Latest official hygiene rating was only 1 out of 5 (dated 15.06.2021) Food overpriced and not cooked to the standard expected for the cost. Drinks overpriced and a lot of the advertised beverages are unavailable eg. Cocktails. Proprietor abusive; shouts and swears at any customer...

I’ve been twice and really liked it the first time but the second was not a good experience. The first time the carbonara and pizza were delicious and staff were friendly. The second time was with my mum who has coeliac disease and therefore needs...

We loved our meal at Dewi’s. It has a rustic nature which is right up my wife and I’s street, we sat outside and it felt like an ‘off the beaten track’ restaurant in Italy or Croatia. The service was prompt, knowledgable and really friendly...

Have eaten here three times since Dewi’s Secret Garden opened on this premises, twice with my husband and once with ten friends, on each occasion my experience has been very very favourable. The staff, particularly Ewen, have been extremely helpful and obliging. The menu which...

This is a really lovely restaurant with attentive staff and excellent service. It has an great menu which makes it difficult to choose what to order. We really enjoyed our meal here and we will definitely be returning when we’re next in Brecon.

We had a great dinner, the arancini and caprese starter were tasty, well seasoned and very generous in size. We had pizza as a main course and it was delicious, the ingredients were very good quality and perfectly cooked. Reading the negative reviews below I...

We found this place by accident but wow how glad we were to find it! Food is amazing! Best risotto I’ve ever had (and my in-laws are Italian!) The outside area is like a real secret garden. The dogs were spoiled too with some chicken...

Visited one Friday evening in June 21. Table for 2 was a bit small for the large plates/bowls they use. Ordere 2 starters and a pizza, all adequate, but not really worth going out of your way for, there are some much better places to...

Young server was very polite and helpful. However, the food is not like any Italian meal I've ever had. Intrigued by "deep fried gnocchi" - but don't recommend - tough, chewy and covered in salt. Caprese Salad - shredded ice berg lettuce, unsliced mozzarella and...

Went here with high hopes after seeing the menu but was very disappointed. There were 4 of us 2 starters mushrooms were good but the two bruschetta were very bland no flavour asked for balsamic vinegar and was bought such a small amount it wasn’t...

Avoid at all costs. Family had a meal here and the bar was not even stocked with the basic essentials. The food was undercooked and we got off lucky as the owner often shouts and is abusive to any customer or even staff member that...

Visited today with friends. Starters were pretty decent so had high hopes for main. Took a long while to come out even though there was only us and a few others in the venue. When food did arrive our sides took a further 10 minutes...

Lovely accommodating host and staff, made space for us early on in the evening, even though they were fully booked for the night! We had the Calamari and Prawn starter, the lobster ravioli and broccoli ravioli for mains, and profiteroles and Tiramisu for pudding -...

Great choice of dishes on the menu, staff knowledgeable about the dishes. Wine menu a little limited. Tasty food with generous portions. Will definitely return when in the area

Found this gem by accident, so pleased we did. Asked if we could have a table in the courtyard as we had our dog with us. Nothing was too much trouble, water for the dog without asking and a tub of doggy ice cream. We...

I had a risotto and my companion had a pasta dish and they were both absolutely delicious. We followed with tiramisu and ice cream. I would definitely recommend.

Our party of 4 fancied something light. Popped in here and had some delicious deserts. I had the fantastic profiteroles and others had cannoli which were also very good. Very friendly and helpful staff. There is a small courtyard area under cover so a nice...

Well, it's been many years since the old Roberto's finally closed its doors leaving a gap in the food business of Brecon. But Now Dewi's secret garden has arrived and is starting to pack them in. I have now been there three times, as I...

I am local to this restaurant and I was so excited that “at last a great new place to eat” but I was so disappointed. We went here for our wedding anniversary, and we have been to the “building” before when it was owned previously....

This is a little gem of a restaurant. Booked a table for two in the window. The staff were wonderful and very attentive. We ordered Caprese tomato and mozzarella for starter and the portion was huge. Plenty for two. For main we had seafood risotto...