Elgano Italian Restaurant in Cardiff

The food was the best I have had in Cardiff so far! Incredible pizzas and desserts, amazing wine and such lovely, kind waiters and staff! I highly recommend going will definitely be back. Very good prices and portion sizes!

Worth travelling again to Cardiff just to visit. Superb!

Once again an absolute delight to eat dinner here. Staff are friendly and professional. Food fresh and delicious. Decor and atmosphere perfect. Absolute treasure in Cardiff

First time here. A M A Z I N G. Top3 Italian restaurant in Cardiff. Food from the south of Italy. Buenisimo!

Pre wedding supper. 16 of us. We had pre ordered and it worked like clockwork. The food was superb, but it was the service I will remember the most. All the waiters were hugely engaging, and at times a bit tongue in cheek cheeky, but it was all done in good taste and I think their judgement of personalities was spot on. Would highly recommend a visit if your in the city.

Italian restaurant run by Italian guys 100% from southern Italy, very nice, top service! Really good dishes... well done guys! Great work

Lovely food, lovely service, and fairly priced.

We couldn't have been more pleased with Elgano's. For our Diamond Wedding celebratory lunch, everything was perfect: the setting, the delicious food and the immaculate service - all at a reasonable price.

What a very special place. They are extremely welcoming and provide a fantastic service. The atmosphere is very comfortable with the ability to have a conversation without being over powered by the music. The food is outstanding, the best I have had the pleasure of eating in the UK.

What a find! Lovely little restaurant with excellent and friendly service. The food is spectacularly good. Will definitely be returning!

Me and my partner came on a casual Monday night and were surprised how busy it was! The starters came quickly, I had the calamari to start followed by a smoked salmon pasta. The calamari was good as a calamari gets nice and crispy, the ravioli was nice as were our waitress. Decent prices too very affordable, will be returning

It was our first visit to Elgano last night and WOW! Our meal was fantastic! We had the fillet steak (cooked to perfection) with caccaitora sauce and lovely veg. Great service & atmosphere, can't believe we've never been there before but we will definitely be back! Thank you!

Brilliant food, tried kicking me of my table before our allocated time even though i am staying at the hotel.

Great service and delicious food

Nice little restaurant, really good food and friendly service. I recommend.

Erittäin hyvä palvelu. Todella siisti paikka. Palvelu oli todella ystävällistä ja hyvää. Kiitos hyvästä ruuasta! 😍

Amazing restaurant. Very friendly, great service and just the best Italian food ever. Can't recommend highly enough.

We celebrated a special anniversary here with our Family. The food was superb as always. The service and staff were wonderful as always, coping smoothly with our large party.. So pleased to have the Elgano as our local Italian. It's always a treat.

The food at Elgano is fabulous. It was if we were in Italy. This restaurant is very popular, so we felt lucky to get a reservation. We enjoyed it so much that we made a reservation to come back the next night!

Went for dinner on a Saturday. Very nice atmosphere, the staff were very polite, and they were very attentive and discrete at the same time, which makes the experience feel high end. We tried a pizza and tagliatelle that tasted great, and we had pistachio profiteroles (special of the day) for desert which were also great. I will definitely go back as I had a great time and I would like to try more items from the menu. Great place for a date night.

Went for dinner on a Saturday. Very nice atmosphere, the staff were very polite, and they were very attentive and discrete at the same time, which makes the experience feel high end. We tried a pizza and tagliatelle that tasted great, and we had pistachio profiteroles (special of the day) for desert which were also great. I will definitely go back as I had a great time and I would like to try more items from the menu. Great place for a date night.

I visited this restaurant before going to see England v Australia cricket. My son and I came upon it purely by chance. The staff erred very welcome. The restaurant was comfortable with a good atmosphere. The food was excellent. Well worth a visit. I’m looking forward to going again with my wife

Warm greeting & friendly relaxed atmosphere, efficient staff and great food, we had a lovely evening

First time here (although seen on our many yearly visits to Cardiff) to this lovely family owned restaurant, not disappointed. Certainly recommend booking as was full and can see why. Lively atmosphere and tastefully decorated, loved the screen showing stunning views around Italy. Authentic Italian food, well portioned with a variety of dishes across all courses and excellent wine list. Gorgeous restaurant, excellent and very friendly staff. We will return for sure. Highly recommended.

Very tasty food, staff were very friendly and service was good. Good wine list. We will be back as this is now our new favourite italian restaurant venue

Always a warm welcome, and another great evening at Elgano’s last night. Superb food and wine in a lovely atmosphere served by the very nicest people Without doubt the best Italian restaurant in Cardiff

Service was nice and felt “fine dining” but portion was small. Overall the atmosphere felt very laid back and I felt a bit over dressed. Food wasn’t that great in all honesty. Will stick to the Italian Way in Canton if I want to feel full and content

This was our 2nd visit to Elgano and what another superb experience! There had been a hiccup with our booking but it was not a problem and we were immediately seated in the immaculately prepared restaurant. The menu is typically Italian, unsurprisingly, and of fantastic quality. Everything we had tasted so fresh. The wine list was quite extensive but we settled on the house white which was spot on. The service was spot on too. For starters the 3 of us shared the Focaccia Pizza with a Bruschetta topping. Delicious. For mains, 2 of us had the Spaghetti Mare and 1 had the Ravioli with spinach and ricotta. Superb Dessert was Tiramisu all round which was light and ever so tasty. Elgano is in Pontcanna and just a 15 minute walk from Cardiff Castle. A lovely stroll through Bute Park is an added bonus. The walk, or even a taxi ride from Cardiff Bus/Train station is well worth the ride. You won’t be disappointed! Bravo Elgano 👏👏

Excellent food and service as always from an independent Italian estabishment

Had a family meal for my daughters 40th Food atmosphere place was perfect. Nothing was to much trouble I’m really grateful Simonea and the staff for a Great night with Great food and Great Service we all Enjoyed ourselves Thank you

I loved the food and service but found it a bit rushed between starters and main meal.not long after finishing our starters the main meal arrived

"I had the pleasure of dining at this Italian restaurant tonight and I must say, it was an absolutely unforgettable experience. The food was simply divine, with each dish bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. The service was impeccable, with attentive and friendly staff that catered to all my needs. Tank you so much Simona and Selim.The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, making it the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or a fun night out with friends. I cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough and will definitely be back for more! 5 stars all the way."

DONT RECOMMEND AT ALL. Extremely rude staff. Specially the lady with curly hair. Didn’t let us have dessert in the restaurant while others were sitting inside. We ordered take out but they didnt give us any disposable cutlery. When requested, the lady got so rude and told us to get the money back!!

probably the best ice cream in Cardiff

It's hard to find an Authentic Italian Restaurant in Cardiff, but the kindness of the staff made me feel at home

Gorgeous restaurant, brilliant service start to finish. Food was all lovely, and the staff were excellent, swift, and eager to help. A great atmosphere too, we sat outside under rain cover with heaters on with some fantastic cocktails. Will definitely be back

As a Italian family, we were looking to book a restaurant for our daughters graduation meal. We found Elgano on google and seeing that the owners were Silician we were excited to reserve a table in the courtyard. Upon arrival to the area it was obivous it was a very exclusive area of Cardiff. The area is full of beautiful town houses with well presented gardens and streets. Entering Elgano was like entering one of the many beautiful Italian restaurants in Italy. We were is was going to be great from how packed the restaurant was. The atomsphere was just right. All around was those little touches of Italy. Speaking to the staff who were all fluent in Italian made us feel right at home. I must admit there was plenty of conversation between us. Now the food and wine was without doubt outstanding. If you are looking to eat 100% Italian cusine there is not better place, not just in Wales, but also England. The calamari fritte were exceptional, just like we use to eat at the Seafood resturants on the coast of Sicily. The seafood pasta outstanding. I cook pizza the traditional way and without doubt the pizza is like you would get in Napoli. The tiramisù perfect. I couldnt fault anything. If you want a true taste of Italy it is a must go place. In fact although we are over 3 hours away we would go again just to have that experience again. Grazie mille a tutti.

My husband and I felt like we were transported to Italy for the night with the wonderful authentic food and amazing service! This is a great restaurant for vegetarians as well. Thanks to the whole team at Elgano for a special birthday dinner that we will always remember.

Had a lovely meal ...one of the few places veal is still available... their Saltinboca (hope spelling is correct) was delicious. Will be going there again very soon.

Just had a fabulous family meal at Elgano - and I think we were all thoroughly impressed. The menu was varied (pasta, pizzas, 2 different risottos and a host of other dishes too) All beautifully cooked, we were all delighted with what we'd ordered. The staff were friendly, accommodating and with good humour. The restaurant was busy with people arriving constantly on a Saturday evening, but everything seemed calm, controlled and well ordered. I understand why this place is so popular and I'm also sure we'll be back sometime soon!

Dieses von Italiener geführtes Restaurant bietet gute italienische Küche. Das Restaurant ist von aussen eher unscheinbar, aber schön eingerichtet.

we stayed in the coach house in the courtyard behind the restaurant , although we didn't use the restaurant it looked beautiful , clean , and the staff were delightful , we were greeted and given everything we needed and more . it was in a lovely location , quiet road and in easy walking distance to the town , cardiff castle and the stadium , very reasonable price and the room was spotless with everything you could need , next time we are in cardiff we will definitely be back !

Our first visit to Elgano, inspired by the wonderful Selim joining the staff. We have know him for a number of years and it was reassuring to see him in his new surroundings. The welcome we received from him was as per usual, wonderful, and we soon met the charming Guiseppe. Between them they looked after us as if we were royalty! The ambience of the restaurant is fabulous and the main event, the food and wine did not disappoint in any way. My wife and I shared a delicious mixed seafood platter as a starter, with lovely fresh focaccia bread on the side. For mains, my wife had Pasta Puttanesca which though not on the menu, was happily and expertly prepared by the chef. It’s one of her favourite Italian dishes, and she absolutely loved it. I had Spaghetti Mare which was scrumptious. The house white wine was a perfect accompaniment to both courses. We shared a superb summer fruit Panacotta for dessert and rounded off our meal with coffee and limoncello. A fabulous feast! Throughout, the service from Selim and Guiseppe was absolutely spot on. Attentive, informative and ever so friendly. We were joined at the end by Carlo, one of the owners, and enjoyed chatting with all three before leaving, well fed and catered for. A fabulous first visit, and it won’t be the last! Great food and great service. Bravo everyone at Elgano!

Well what a gorgeous little find. A gem of a resteraunt. Staff were lovely couldn't do enough but the food, wow ! Husband had the carbonara and I had the risotto both so tasty and piping hot which I love. The panacotta was the best I've ever had. My husband had the tiramisu which he said was amazing I didn't try it as he would have wanted to taste my panacotta and I didn't want to share 🙂.

This is a really delightful Italian restaurant situated in leafy Cathedral Road. Near to the City but elegantly placed outside the hustle and bustle. The restaurant interior is beautifully appointed. Clean, comfortable and such very lovely decor🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Glorious food, beautifully presented, . Tasted delicious and our every request was so courteously undertaken.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 We had Mussels, Beef Ribs Lamb Chops - to die for, and Pistachio Chow Buns for desert. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟All Fab U LOUS The staff are absolutely delightful, courteous, humorous and really a joy to meet. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Many will know the latest addition to the staff at Elgarno. Selim, formerly at Casanova. Selim is the most wonderful, honourable and thoughtfully kind gentle man you could possibly wish to meet❤️Wherever Selim goes we follow. Elgarno is very well blessed to have someone of the quality of Selim joining them at the restaurant. Selim sets a high standard of courtesy and is very knowledgeable about food and wine. What an absolute treat and a joy todays visit was - lovely location, beautiful restaurant, glorious staff and together with the delicious food all made for a 100% 5 STAR experience 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 We will most certainly be back. THANK YOU ELGARNO ,Selim, Giovanni and the kitchen staff for making our visit so very lovely. LOVED IT. Janet and Jeff Pearce

Absolutely superb food, service and atmosphere honestly wish I could give more than 5* very reasonably priced 💯% satisfaction will definitely return thank you so much. Sorry forgot to leave a tip but will double it next time so sorry 😔

Really great food and lovely service! I reccomend.

Great Italian restaurant. The staff were extremely friendly, charming and attentive. Our dinner was delicious and I would highly recommend this restaurant. Prices were very reasonable for high quality meals. We had gotten takeaway pizzas the previous day and these too were great. Proportion size of meals were perfect.

An excellent Italian restaurant very close to the cricket ground on the fringes of the city centre. Food and service outstanding. Cardiff is blessed with great Italian restaurants and this one is one of the very best, you'll need to book but definitely worth it.

Fabulous experience at Elgano. Lucky to get a table as we hadn't booked but we did get one and had a lovely pizza and pasta. Staff gave us great service and it was a really nice atmosphere. One of my favourite restaurants and will definitely be going again.

Kitchen closes 9:30 in Saturday night. I was a resident at the hotel. I checked in at 9:00 pm and asked the receptionist if I can order food from the restaurant and she said yes. I kept calling the restaurant till 9:30 they didn’t pick up. Then when they picked up they said kitchen is closed Mam, we are now cleaning. I slept hungry that night

One of the best Italian I have ever had

Magnificent! The food, the quality of the service and the atmosphere. A real find in Cardiff, in a quiet residential area. We tried several dishes, all tasty and authentically Italian.

Perfect is the only word I can use to perfectly describe our whole experience. The tablet we were seated, perfect. The service & attention to detail given by the staff, perfect. The menu was perfect. The meal(s) we had were perfect. We are planning our next visit in May & we are already so looking forward too our exquisite experience at Elgano..

It's ok nothing special ratings make this place sound exceptional which it's not.

What a find! Without doubt, for me, the best Italian restaurant I have been to. The staff are so friendly and even children are made to feel welcome. We were a party of 5 adults and a 6 year old and everyone, without exception, said how amazing their meals were. My grilled chicken breast with the Dragonella sauce was absolutely scummy, my daughter's salmon ravioli has become her number one meal and the lasagne and ravioli gorgeous. I probably would have liked more on the dessert menu but the tiramisu was lovely. We all agreed, we will be back!

Excellent all round. Great staff with excellent food. An authentic Italian restaurant. The food was cooked to perfection and reasonably priced.

The best Italian in Cardiff, and such lovely people. Always great food and service in a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. Thank you once again - until the next time

A very nice restaurant. Food, drink and the entire staff are highly recommended. Even though we didn't reserve, we got a table. This tip was very good from a friend and we can recommend Elgano to everyone. Mille grazie a tutti.

We celebrated our son’s 21st birthday on Saturday 9th March at Elgano. (We have ate here previously.) Everything was just absolutely perfect, from the amazing food, exemplary service and a great vibrant atmosphere! The staff very kindly decorated our table in advance with birthday decorations and sung happy birthday much to our son’s embarrassed ‘overload’ - but all great fun! The owner is so hands on as was the entire team. We really can’t thank you all enough for making this such a special occasion! Unequivocally the very BEST Italian in Cardiff ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fabulous place. Good in all respects, beautifully cooked food and excellent value.

Amazing food and amazing service. Really enjoyed my evening will definitely be returning.

Fantastic service and the food is exceptional. Many thanks

Absolutely brilliant, the level of service was excellent and the food amazing. Highly recommend

First time at the restaurant, food was lovely & the staff were very friendly & helpful. Will definitely be going back.

Excellent food and people. Highly recommend!

We came for dinner here on the 13th of February to celebrate an early valentine’s day. The service was remarkably good, as was the selection of wines. In particular, i’d recommend the Gavi. We had polpette and the calamari to start, both incredibly good. For mains, we opted to have a pasta dish each and to share a pizza, the carbonara was authentic and the house special was exquisite. The pistachio profiteroles finished the meal nicely and we left as very happy customers. I’d recommend Elgano’s to anybody looking for an Italian in Cardiff, it is certainly amongst the best that we have tried.

Enjoyed a delicious meal with friends here. Great service and wonderful atmosphere

Another amazing visit to this outstanding establishment! 4th time for us and a few months in between visits but the consistency for me is Food 10 star surroundings 10 star staff 10 star!! Me and my family luv this place! Great menu and the food is amazing and presented wonderfully I've had an issue with anything! I will be returning again a true Cardiff GEM!! Thank you x

Enjoyed a lovely meal here this week, we were throughly looked after by all the staff. Food was absolutely delicious. Gorgeous setting for the restaurant - would highly recommend, we look forward to our next meal here.

Called the restaurant to cancel a booking that was made due to my partners ACL being ruptured so was unable to make it and called with plenty time to spare and requested a refund but the lady on the phone refused without hearing us out and abruptly hung up the phone. It is interesting how they are so lovely when they want you to make reservations or dine there to get profit but as soon as they know you are no use to their sales they are rude

A fantastic, authentic, Italian dining experience. The salmon starter with ricotta and avocado was amazing and the carbonara was delicious - crispy pancetta done in the Italian style. Superb service. A delightful venue for a cozy date. We will definitely be back.

Stayed overnight and had evening meal in restaurant. Food, service and staff were first class. Lovely styled modern bedroom too. Highly recommended.

I booked me a table for4 which we had to make 5 @ 8pm on Saturday evening and it was sorted without any fuss or drama. We had a variety of starters, main courses and sweets and every course was delicious. We had white and red wine which was very good and reasonably priced. The service was exceptional and the ambiance was warm and inviting. We look forward to our next visit already. Keep up the good work 👍

Absolutely loved visit, well done to all the staff, looking forward to the next visit. Called in on the off chance and was happy to accommodate us.

Food was absolutely outstanding. Will definitely be coming again soon

It was spectacular.a real treat for my Birthday Girl. They made a proper fuss of her. I enjoyed it as well.

Delicious meal and drinks at Elgano Italian. The restaurant is cozy and comfortable, we were Sat in the Orangery which was quiet and romantic. Our meal was top notch, tasty, served in a timely manner by friendly staff. This is our 3rd time visiting Elgano, each experience was fabulous. We will definitely be back soon.

This restaurant was very busy when I walked in. Dinner was served upstairs. Starter was ok but I would have liked more salad. Bread crust was impossible to cut so had to eat with my hands. Main was alright, lamb was delicious, but unfortunately not many potatoes or veggies. Dessert was homemade panna cotta. Overall nice meal less quantity than expected but with quality.

Lovely place l very good food and staff

Fantastic food and service we were on a weekend break in Cardiff and stayed In one of there eight rooms above the restaurant really enjoyed it. I only wished we lived closer, we would certainly be regular diners.

Great food, excellent service. Looking forward to going back soon.

One of the best in Cardiff. Food, service and location all top shelf.

Lovely place. Thoroughly enjoyed xx

Excellent food combinations and service. It was a perfect venue to catch-up with friends.

Visited Elganos for a girls lunch on a Saturday a few weeks ago. There were 9 of us and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The service was excellent and the food was superb! We would definitely visit again!

Delicious Italian food! Cannot wait to go back!

Staff were warm and friendly, the venue was beautifully appointed, however the food was fairly average.

Pre-booked this for my birthday after hearing all the good reviews and seeing the awards won. Upon arrival we were greeted by a very confused woman who instructed a server to take us upstairs, then gave him food to take up (which was not for us) and then continued to stand in the very narrow pass/walk way instead of letting us past. We were directed upstairs in what used to be an old bedroom (despite there being a lot of free tables in the main restaurant area), our table was right in the entry way too. We were immediately asked if we wanted drinks and didn’t have much time to look at the menu before our order was being taken, however, this could just be because I couldn’t concentrate and look at the menu properly because we were placed next to a family of three that sounded like they’d be better suited on a farm - obviously, this is something the restaurant could not control, but i feel if we were placed in the main restaurant, this would have not been an issue. For starters we had Bruschetta Oregano & Calamari Fritti. The Brushetta was supposed to be in a tomato cream sauce, but it didn’t even taste of tomato and just tasted very bland. The Calamari Fritti, which was supposed to be “tender”, but tasted more like an elastic band. The waiter kindly took the first order back to the kitchen and got the chef to cook more, however it came back overcooked and rubbery again. Also, the homemade tartare sauce was mainly mayo. For mains we ordered Pollo Grigliato (grilled chicken breast) in a pepper sauce & Costalette Di Agnello Alla Griglia (lamb cutlets). The chicken breast had been butterflied, and seemed quite dry despite being covered in pepper sauce. The pepper sauce seemed so floury and was bland. It was also accompanied with green beans, carrots and sautéed potatoes (despite stating roast potatoes on the menu). The lamb was a good cut of meat and cooked well, however it was bland and lacked seasoning. Also the mint & rosemary sauce it came with was again floury and tasteless. I want to make it clear that our server was polite and friendly, but unfortunately the overall experience wasn’t enjoyable and I do not get the hype. To me I’ve had better tasting microwave meals.

Best meal in a long time. Italian food the way I expect it to be. Service, setting and quality absolutely top notch. The bruscetta, pizza, chicken and past we had was gorgeous!

We called for dinner tonight. The staff were lovely, so was our starter, main courses and sweets. The coffees finished off what was an outstanding meal.

I had the pleasure of dining at Elgano Italian restaurant in Cardiff, and I must say it was an exceptional experience. As an Italian, I have high expectations when it comes to Italian cuisine, and Elgano exceeded them in every way possible. The moment I stepped in, I was greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere that instantly reminded me of home. The staff, attentive and friendly, made me feel right at ease. Now, let's talk about the food - it was simply divine. The menu offered a delightful array of traditional Italian dishes, each prepared with utmost care and authenticity. I started with the bruschetta, which was fresh and bursting with flavors. For the main course, I had the homemade pasta, and it was cooked to perfection, just like Nonna used to make. The rich tomato sauce and perfectly al dente pasta took me back to my roots. And of course, I couldn't resist indulging in some tiramisu for dessert – it was heavenly. The wine selection was impressive, featuring a variety of Italian wines that complemented the meal wonderfully. The entire dining experience at Elgano was a culinary journey through Italy, and I savored every moment of it. I highly recommend Elgano Italian restaurant to anyone seeking an authentic taste of Italy right here in Cardiff. The combination of genuine Italian flavors, cozy ambiance, and impeccable service makes it a true gem in the heart of the city. Grazie mille, Elgano, for bringing a piece of Italy to Wales. I will definitely be returning soon!

Ótimo restaurante, comida saborosa, atendimento cortes, vinho delicioso, ambiente seguro.

Update 4.11.23. food superb this evening. Waiting staff could be friendlier. Busy Tuesday evening, almost full. Friendly service, albeit tad slow. Food nicely presented and good value.

Amazing! And the staff are so friendly!

What a gem! We hadn't booked but were given a table and enjoyed a wonderful meal with excellent service. The salmon ravioli was outstanding! So friendly and warm. Diolch yn fawr!

Son took me for food here as i wanted italian and he has been here previously .! We rang to see if any availability for straight away and was accomadated ! You ring a bell when you arrive they let you in .nice bright cosy room and a room out back which i prefer as i suffer anxiety its less intrusive i think. Quite busy ! Staff helpfull and attentive.seated quickly .drinks brought quickly .orederd food arrived quickly too ! Fab! Lasagne was exceptional the taste was to die for! And im quite a critical person !was so tasty and quality food! Garlic bread is also tasty good quality and the butter roasted roasties with onions were lovely ! We had pistaccio profiteroles and they too are too die for ..quality. although i do think deserts are just a little overpriced but portion size is good and beautifully presented ! Amazing taste .Deserts came out very quick also ! Food prices are justified ! Taste exceptional ! Reasonable prices! Very clean.nicely laid out .My positive critiscm is based solely on my personal experience ! No negatives regarding food ! Service is great but staff could relax a little .very busy almost stressed looking and non engaging ..i prefer out back seating but probably not next to toilet door / private room as lots of traffic and i do find it gives me social awkwardness ! But i do suffer anxiety .I would and will definatly return and recommend to anyone as one of the best italians i have eaten! Compliments to the chef also.thankyou.x

The service was so good and quick. The drinks tasted really good, the food was amazing and the chocolate cake was the tastiest cake I’ve ever tasted! Lovely restaurant and great vibe.

Absolutely superb food, service and atmosphere honestly wish I could give more than 5* very reasonably priced 💯% satisfaction will definitely return thank you so much. Sorry forgot to leave a tip but will double it next time so sorry 😔

Absolutely superb food, service and atmosphere honestly wish I could give more than 5* very reasonably priced 💯% satisfaction will definitely return thank you so much. Sorry forgot to leave a tip but will double it next time so sorry 😔