I Giardini di Sorrento in Cardiff

Fantastic Italian restaurant. Food and service were great...thanks for having us

The bean soup was predominantly lentils. The crab linguine was too salty. The house wines, priced at £26, were mediocre.

An amazing restaurant. Just finished our Christmas meal here, very accommodating with our requests in the lead up to the booking and amazing service this night. Never could expect better.

I had the pleasure of visiting this cozy Italian restaurant last night, and it was nothing short of amazing! From the moment I stepped in, the warm and friendly atmosphere made me feel right at home. The staff were incredibly helpful and always greeted us with a smile, which added so much charm to the experience. One unique feature I loved was the open kitchen, where you could watch the chefs masterfully preparing the dishes. It felt like being part of the action, and it gave the place an authentic, lively vibe. The manager deserves a special shout-out! He was not only approachable but had a great sense of humor. I asked him about some of the classic "funny" stereotypes regarding pasta and ketchup, and he handled it with such wit and charm. He even brought out the chef who makes the pasta to share more insights! That level of interaction and openness is so rare and made the experience truly stand out. Now, the food: absolutely delicious! I had the seafood linguine, which was perfectly cooked, and my friend ordered the beef ravioli—equally incredible. The portions were generous, and we didn’t have to wait long. The staff were quick to clear our table after each course, and they brought the dessert menu right on time. We ended the meal with a delightful panna cotta, which was fresh and heavenly. Another thing I appreciated was the music. The playlist was upbeat and matched the restaurant’s lively vibe. I even caught the staff sneaking in some fun dance moves while working, which just added to the positive energy. All in all, this restaurant is a gem! Amazing food, excellent service, and a team that genuinely enjoys what they do. A big thank you to the manager and chef for making our visit so special. I’ll definitely be back soon and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic dining experience. Keep up the great work!

Amazing place, a must for every fan of Italian food

Never order takeaway from here. Food arrived cold and carbonara was so congealed the dog even turned her nose up at it. There was no taste on the lamb ragu and the pasta was over cooked. The garlic bread with mozzarella was completely stuck to the bag and inedible. Total waste of £45. I would have done a review on UberEats but no option to do so. Never will we order from here again.

Umpteenth visit ... always the best Italian in Cardiff. Excellent in every way.

Gluten-free (coeliac) heaven. Loved the food. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Delicious food. And we could bring our little dog. We had smoked salmon starter, pumpkin and porcine mushroom pasta (gluten-free) and gluten-free cheesecake. Fantastic.

Great food, but really dislike service charges automatically added to the bill. It smelt of old cooking oil, I guessed that why the front door was open most of the sitting on a late Oct evening.

Amazing food. Be aware that crab risotto made with brown meat

Cannot speak highly enough of this place! The atmosphere is so lovely, the staff were so friendly and the food was outstanding! Absolutely planning a return visit already

Great little restaurant. The food was amazing and staff were lovely. Even gave complementary shots to our party. Would highly recommend and will be visiting again in the future 👌🏻

Real italian vibes in the middle of Cardiff and incredibly nice staff! Recommend!

Great food for a decent price. Very good service.

Great friendly service, lovely selection of wines. We had the Crab Linguine, huge portion and tasty. 8/10.

Beautiful Italian Wonderful food, great service , so friendly & helpful. We did find the menu hard to understand but they were so helpful. The food was delicious ! Alcohol quite expensive But loved it & will definitely return

This restaurant has it all . Absolutely the best Italian restaurant by far . We were made to feel so welcome . We most definitely will be coming back . Thank you for such a great night , finished off dancing the night away . Sam and Shane xx

The food is too salty, overpriced, bland, service poor. Sorry but this place has gone downhill.

The best Italian food I've had outside of Italy and one of the best meals I've had in the last 20 years. Incredible dishes, served beautifully. Spectacular flavours. Vegetarian dishes available. A small number of beautifully flavoursome desserts. The staff were outstanding, kind, and hospitable. We were brilliantly looked after. If you haven't been, I can't recommend it enough. I already can't wait to go back. A wonderful little restaurant just outside the city centre. It's not cheap, but it's worth every penny. My wife and I just returned to celebrate our anniversary, and, once again, the food and service was incredible. This has become our favourite restaurant. 100% recommended.

A Lovely little family business. 2 visits in a week, 1st time with a reservation the other we popped in thinking Monday evening would be quiet... Wrong! Very busy but, they still managed to fit us both in. Great food and staff were helpful in helping you make your choice, explaining in more detail the dishes. Fresh and quickly prepared food. Note the Cannoli is ideal for sharing should you have room. The Risotto was beautiful 😋

I visited this restaurant 7 years ago, it was lovely then but even better now. The food was incredibly tasty. As I have a gluten allergy the staff were very accommodating and you couldn’t tell the pasta was GF. All the staff went above and beyond. Wonderful customer service and wonderful food. We look forward to visiting again.

A little gem in Cardiff!! Authentic Italian food with homemade pasta! We went for husband's 50th and it did not disappoint. The cheesecake and tiramsu were delicious! Highly recommend!

The food was amazing we went to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary while in Cardiff

the food was okay. i booked for a big table and was down one seat, when i asked the waitress if they could add an extra chair, i was grunted at and then was proceeded to argue with my about the number of seats i had booked a week before. i appreciate that it was a smaller business and the restaurant was smaller (this was one of the reasons why i chose to go here), however, i found the atmosphere very hostile and unprofessional. when it came to pay for the food, we asked if we could pay separately as we did rack up a high bill, once again the waitress rolled her eyes at me, and rudely asked why we just all couldn’t pay for the bill using one card. i understand that it might have taken a bit more effort and time to have to take more smaller payments but it was just utterly rude and unprofessional to be spoken to in that manner after spending so much time (and money) at the restaurant. lastly, my friend and i both understand a little bit of italian, and were extremely disappointed when we heard the workers swearing at us in italian. fair to say - will definitely not be going here again.

This restaurant in my opinion is the best Italian restaurant in Cardiff. Love this place x

Great restaurant, went for my birthday meal, the food was quality.

Great place for a lunch meal while on your lunch break

Me and my wife just had dinner earlier and the food and serving was great. We don't know if it was a staff or the owner that's entertaining us but we felt like ordering at home he even sat with us while taking our order which felt cool and you cannot find and experience in other restaurants that you don't feel intimidated. From start to finish 10/10! My wife chose this restaurant to celebrate our first wedding anniversary because of the amazing reviews and they didn't disappoint us. Would definitely come back!

The waiter was friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. We were quite impressed with the flavor of the wild boar ravioli and the seafood linguini, not to mention the cannoli! We will repeat this place as long as we are visiting!

Lovely food, great service, relaxed atmosphere, Max the owner was a great host throughout, will not hesitate to return shortly A*

Without doubt, the most overpriced restaurant we've ever dined in. The food was completely tasteless. £11 for a starter of smoked salmon and a little rocket garnish. £9.50 for some Mozzarella, tomato and Basil.. although I found this a generous portion, it's not a particularly difficult starter to make but you managed to make it tasteless. Then a main course of Rissoto with mushrooms and tomatoes for myself. Again, zero flavour. Just a bitter taste from the tomatoes. You have a specials board according to your online menu. This is not true. Sure you have a specials board on the wall. But it's just a rearrangement of what's already on the menu! i.e pasta, steak, pasta and more ravioli.. So I asked if you had an actual piece of fish for my husband to which you accommodated and served a piece of seabass along with some veg and saute potatoes. Sounds nice doesn't it. The fish was cooked OK.. your idea of saute potatoes and some side vegetables needs reworking. I'll come and show you, if you like.. Incidentally, if your going to serve a little bread and butter, (nice gesture) at least provide a side plate to butter the bread on. I used the table. On your website, you detail to mention if its a birthday celebration. I didn't at the time of booking but messaged you to mention it was my husbands 70th birthday. This went unnoticed. One bottle of wine Two starters Two main £105 And after we left, my husband informed me you added a service charge of £10 Really ??? I wasn't going to let you spoil our evening but I'm actually cross with myself for paying this hideous amount of money. You live and learn I guess.

Very authentic restaurant, lovely food & brilliant host. Highly recommend a visit!

My wife and I have just eaten here and have to say it was fantastic! Wonderful wood, lovely staff and great value for money! Highly recommend 🤌

Had a lovely dinner at Giardini. It was very busy but service was spot on. Music loved by all 3 generations of our family. We had Brutta and ham, beef aranchini, pizzas,prawn linguini finished off with Cheese cake and Triamisu. All delicious. One of the best Italian restaurants in Cardiff.

Had a lovely lunch here. Service was fantastic as was the food would recommend if they have them as a special the white chocolate profiterols

amazing food and friendly staff!

Amazing food , very nice waitresses and service, the tiramisu and prawn linguine is a must have. The restaurant has a very nice and cozy mood with a “hint of Italy ”. highly recommended :)

Whole experience was absolutely a 12/10! The service was great, and pizza tasted incredible (and was huge!!). Even though it wasn't too busy due to being midweek, the lovely music and overall decor meant the atmosphere felt great throughout. Would definitely recommend a visit, well worth the quick walk over from the centre of Cardiff.

My daughter ordered the meat and cheese picnic hamper as a birthday treat for the two of us. It was amazing!! Would easily have fed four people and was beautifully fresh and delicious. The variety of items included was exceptional. Will definitely be ordering this again!

Amazing place! The food so tasty and the service also incredible! They guy was so friendly and polite and the food lovely!

Big claim I know... But here's why we spend lots of our hard earned money in this restaurant most weeks and will continue to do so into the future. (We're going again today) A) The Food (Obviously) B) The hospitality and warmth of the owners We've been coming here for over 18 months and every single time, I feel we've had an exceptional italian experience where we actually felt "cared" for. Most restaurants these days churn out average food and want you out the door as quick as you sit down with the waiter's and waitresses not really caring about your needs as a diner. (Just my opinion and personal experience as of late) At this restaurant, Max (the owner) makes you feel like you're part of the family and he serves at the highest level... something I feel has been lost in society these days. This alone ticks a big box for us. Ok, now there's the food! There's nothing worse than dropping £100+ on a meal that you could've made yourself at home... I absolutely could not make the food that this restaurant cooks for you. So when you walk in, are welcomed properly with a smile and a hand shake, have a bottle of wine and olives on the table in 5 minutes... AND leave feeling stuffed, slightly drunk and a load of tomato sauce slopped around your chops (and shirt)... I feel that I've spent my money on something that is truly worth it and that I've just walked out of a restaurant in Italy, not Cardiff City Road. So, it's safe to say... If you want GREAT food, GREAT service and want to feel cared for in an environment that makes you think you're in Italy... Go here. 🇮🇹 🍝 PS - Why you still here? Go NOW.

100% recommend. Wish the portions of the ravioli/pasta were just slightly bigger and the prices were slightly lower, but the fact that everything tasted authentically Italian made up for it. There was no compromise on food quality. Service was very quick! Staff were very friendly and happy to suggest the menu of the day. The chocolate cake portion was amazing! Decor could use a little revamp. They might want to consider getting a new card reader because it seemed to be malfunctioning when I visited and I had to pay in cash.

Outstanding food and probably the best Italian in Wales! We come here regularly as a couple. Each time we are welcomed with open arms and the service is amazing. We feel like we have been transported from the busy City Road to a peaceful Sorrento in Italy. Max makes each of our visits the highlight of our week. We have been to every restaurant in Cardiff (Pasture, Asador 44, you name it) and Giardini is just the best. Whatever we need is never an issue, from different Wine bottles, to extra mushrooms, you name it and they make it happen. Best Italian food, best service, romantic Italian music. We will be coming back frequently. Thank you from Natalia & Carl.

Just come out of the restaurant, been in there less than 35 minutes and had all the courses come and eaten in that time. £19… for a pasta dish, something that I could’ve cooked better at home. Great service and cocktails but the food was lifeless. To top it off we had the bins being brought through the restaurant whilst eating, fine if I was paying £10-15 but you can’t charge £20 for the quality of food and bins being carried through. Wouldn’t recommend, better off going to a chain like Zizzi than this… typical city road. Would've rather end a kebab

Average food , terrible service steak was tough and chewy price is too high for it would not recommend

Owner could not do enough for us very friendly lovely food dog friendly not a bad singer either

Food amazing! Service Amazing! Atmosphere Amazing! Grazie Mille!

My wife and I ate here on Sunday 7th April. This was our 5th visit and we have never had a bad meal. Easily one of if not the best Italians in Cardiff. Always a great selection on the specials board as well as the regular menu. We both had the arancini balls from the specials board to start, my wife had the wild boar ravioli from the specials and I had the salami pizza from the menu for main and finally my wife had the cannoli and I had the tiramisu for dessert.

Really delicious! Crab linguine is our favorite! The best!

This Italian ran, Italian restaurant, with a cozy feel has a great atmosphere. The fact that it’s a small local business adds to the cozy feel. The food is great and portions are big with even enough to take away. Lots of alcohol options. They cater to gluten free, vegetarians and vegans. Would recommend.

Authentic, delicious food done the proper Italian way. We came for lunch and were looked after by Massimo who’s the patron chef who made us feel as if we were regulars despite the fact that this was our first visit. Looking forward to our next visit in Cardiff and this restaurant is not to be missed when you’re there! Grazie mille, Massimo!

Friendly local Italian restaurant run by Italians

Autistic couple with sensory difficulties. We were a bit worried about the lighting from the photo's which seemed very bright, bit actually it was much dimmer in reality. Excellent menu choice, beautifully cooked food and relaxing atmosphere. Music wasn't too loud, added to the atmosphere. Ate here last night for my birthday, will definately be going back.

Hardworking manager❤️ and all staff their dedications towards their duty awosome

Excellent food. Thanks to Max and Tanya for looking after us. Great service, great wine. The best Wild Boar Ravioli on the planet. We keep returning and are never disappointed 👌. Home made pasta to die for.

This was my second visit whilst visiting my family in Cardiff. It is a fabulous restaurant with fantastic food, staff and atmosphere. We had a deliciously fun Saturday lunch and it's one of my favourites in Cardiff. We will be back!

This is a gem of a restaurant. The atmosphere the food the service are fantastic. Nothing is ever too much trouble. I have eaten there lots and I or the rest of my party have never been disappointed.

Had a lunch with my daughter, granddaughter & friends as a further together to celebrate my birthday which was the week before! Food was delicious as always & we all had a lovely time the restaurant made it special by giving me a celebratory glass of Processco. Can't wait until we go again!!!

Really lovely time here. Great food, great service, even gave us a free dessert and lemon cello shots, will definitely come here again!

Nice fresh pasta with decent seafood sauce and very good service. However, the vegetarian options minimal - none on daily specials. Affumigato with cold light brown watery liquid that didn't pass for espresso at any standard. Not adequately compensated by two extra ice-cream scoops. Price is too high not to get this right, and when I mentioned my comments weren't acted on or taken seriously . Shame as I liked this place on previous visits for its authentic Italian style

Wow wow wow...... this place gets better every time I visit. Haven't been for a few months but treated ourselves on the weekend and I still think it is a fantastic place with amazing food and fabulous atmosphere. The Arancini was even better than I had in Sorrento itself, the lamb ragu was fabulous and the tiramisu was mouth watering. As always the staff were very friendly and couldn't do enough for you. Well done we had an amazing evening.

Really disappointed. Sent three plates of calamari back as very chewy and quite tasteless.

Our 3rd visit to Giardini Di Sorrento in 3 years, we love this place! The vibe of the restaurant is perfect, and the service is always welcoming and friendly. Food is absolutely delicious, we both went for choices from the specials board (Arancini to start, Seafood Linguine as a main and the ‘special’ cake as a desert). Unfortunately the linguine simply looked too good and I forgot to take a picture!! Can highly recommend this restaurant.

Enjoyable atmosphere and decent service. Food was ok.

I would describe Giardini di Sorrento as a cosy down to earth Italian. ⁠ To start we ordered Pane Aglio e Mozzarella. Upon its arrival we were presented with a plate of four squares of soft lightly toasted ciabatta bread. This was generously doused in garlic, olive oil and mozzarella cheese. You will see from the picture this was served with no thrills. It was simply placed on a thin bed of rocket. It didn’t need anything else, it delivered what was expected in terms of flavour.⁠ ⁠ For mains we had: Paccheri pasta with creamy sauce mixed with pancetta and walnuts.⁠ This was definitely the star of the show. ⁠ Risotto with tomato sauce, n’duja, burrata topped with one leaf of basil.⁠ ⁠ This dish was certainly not for faint hearted. The n’duja added a right kick to the dish which the burrata struggled to temper. It was difficult to focus on any other flavours as they were disguised by the spicy meat. The dish would have benefited from more burrata and basil. That being said the risotto rice was cooked perfectly.⁠ ⁠ Our chosen bottle for this meal was a Colle Al Vento Primitivo di Manduria. This was a lush, dark berry fruity full-bodied red and was perfect with Italian food. A relaxed and pleasant evening, with lovely food.

Amazing tasting food- you get loads - the guy was very hospitable - good music - good vibe - authentic Italian food - pretty decorations

Amazing food, drinks and service! Food portions were large and so fresh. Staff were so friendly and drinks tasted amazing! Will definitely come again

A friendly warming authentic experience. Food was delicious and enjoyed by all, we will be back.

Tiny restaurant. The lady in charge?BIG personality. Great food, perfect service and a wonderful sense of fun. Definitely on our visit list next time we get to Cardiff.

Authentic Italian food, very good atmosphere and the staff were very polite and lovely

Lovely evening with family excellent food from special board wild boar ravioli simply the best friendly staff really enjoyed the whole experience

Visited NYE booked in advance with our 2 dogs arrived on time and had a lady shouting you’ve got 2 dogs! You did not book 2 dogs we did not know! She then shouted at someone whos taken this booking! And told us to go upstairs not very welcoming. Sat us on a table which we would be in the way of others so we asked to move the waiter was very good but then a manager started shouting aggressively at him in Italian for moving us at this point I wanted to leave. The waitress brought a dog bowl with water but that was it no treats as advertised and no offer to buy a pupichino. We was then given a menu which had hardly any food choice but pages full of drink options. The wine was good. The food choice poor the bolognese was salty the tiger prawn risotto has one king prawn for deco on top was bland no taste could not identify what the prawns was in it but they wasn’t very nice. The sea food linguine was nice. We love to take our dogs out with us but will definitely not be visiting here again did not feel welcome felt rushed to take our order for us to leave.

3 of us dined here this evening. I was introduced to this restaurant a few years ago with my Italian friends and thought to go back for a change for a Christmas meal with welsh friends. Our food was absolutely delicious! Plentiful and full of flavour. Service was great and the atmosphere was beautiful. Will 100% be returning soon and bringing along the family. Grazie 😊

Excellent, family run, Italian restaurant. Small and cosy, very friendly, amazing food and wine. My family and I really enjoyed our lunch and it wasn't too expensive either

Authentic Italian food at a reasonable price! Good service and nice vibes!

Ristorante molto bello, il servizio è ottimo, si sente il sapore italiano.

Absolutely super find only 5 minute walk from Cardiff main shopping areas. The welcome could not have been more friendly and the chefs recommendations on the Specials board were fabulous. Wild Boar Ravioli and the Venison Ragu were the highlights of our lunch. An authentic and passionately Italian restaurant - book it now!!

We called in last night Tuesday 18:00 we had booked a table for two.This was our first time here. We had both had a fantastic meal and the owner and staff were very helpful and we will definitely be back soon 2024😊❤️👍

Very generous portions, good atmosphere, very good attitude of staff towards the customer. Vittorio, done a good job. Added to my favourites 🙂 and that does not happen often. Good Italian music in the background- proper Italian place 👌

We had our anniversary dinner here, and we enjoyed every bit of it. The food is the best Italian food you can find in Cardiff, wine is delicious and people are so friendly. Their portions are quite big, so I would suggest ordering the starters carefully, otherwise it is so hard to finish everything 😋

We went here for our anniversary dinner after a recommendation from the owner’s friend in Sorrento. We loved the food in Sorrento so wanted to find something like it back home. This restaurant was exactly what we hoped, the same authentic dishes and flavors that we had in Italy. I had the seafood linguine and can’t wait to have it again and my wife had the best tiramisu in her life. The owner and his family were so friendly and polite. The ambience is very nice as well, charming and cozy, perfect for a date. This is now our family Italian restaurant and we can’t wait to get back!

The best Italian I had outside of Italy. Everything was fantastic, I can't wait to return. The owners made me feel welcomed and I felt really looked after.

Thank you Massimo and all for having us tonight! You really have a way of making us feel like family, so welcoming and kind. We had the ravioli chingiale and crab linguine, both absolutely delicious and great portion sizes! Can't wait to visit you again soon - love from Emma and Flo!

Amazing food! I adored the Wild Boar ravioli and would like to give an extra special shout out to our wonderful server- Christina! Her service wad impeccable and she was a lovely young lady. Thank you for a wonderful dinner

We enjoyed a fabulous lunch, with great food a service. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes food quality authentic Italian food.

Best pizza I have had since living in naples long ago. Wonderful service and authentic atmosphere. I can't wait to return

We booked a table for family with dogs and there was a bit of a ‘nose up’ moment regarding the dog. Food was good and service attentive

Great vibe, super friendly staff, v generous portion with fresh ingredients. Amazing

I've said it before about this restaurant and I'll say it again, the best Italian in Cardiff. My daughter had the wild boar ravioli and I had seafood linguini. Both were excellent (I had to finish hers as she is 10 and portions are generous, and I'm a greedy so and So). We also had calamari for starters which was also perfectly cooked. We came in on the off chance of a table for 2 without booking amd were helped by a lovely lady.Grazzi!!

Great authentic Italian food by far! Their daily specials are always a delightful surprise and always gets me coming back for more every time I’m in Cardiff. It’s a must visit!

Cibo ottimo e bell'atmosfera. Consigliato!

Wonderful atmosphere, beautiful food. We were in Sorrento for a few hours

Another outstanding meal had at this gorgeous place last night! We have visited Giardini di Sorrento a number of times since first discovering this little spot 18 months ago, it’s our go to and will always be our first place of choice. The atmosphere, hospitality and service remain unmatched. Even on particularly busy evenings, staff are always so attentive and welcoming, including the chefs! You’re treated like family rather than guests. In Giardini, the cocktail menu is extensive and the limoncello spritz’ and sgorpinos are personal favourites (to die for!). We’ve consistently had so many gorgeous meals here and last night was no exception. From our starters to our desserts, everything tasted fresh, homemade, flavoursome and authentically Italian. The food menu is full of Sorrentine favourites and we love trying new dishes, staff are always so passionate, attentive and prepared to give recommendations. Last night we tried some dishes from the specials board which is regularly updated - the gnocchi alla Sorrentina, incredible! I highly recommend a visit to Giardini you certainly won’t be disappointed. Grazie Mille Massimo and staff, we’ll see you soon. Emily and Joel xxx

Lovely and charming family run restaurant offering authentic Italian, fresh food. Large portions so visit hungry! Highly recommend

Authentic Italian food, amazing service, especially seafood linquine , the ingredients are fresh and tasty.

Yet again another fantastic visit to what must be the best Italian restaurant in Cardiff! We love it here…..food and atmosphere unbeatable! The crab linguine was absolutely amazing…and the calamari superb! Thank you Massimo….look forward to visiting again soon!

Exceptional food and great atmosphere. Highly recommended.

What a welcome.. Fantastic food and friendly service. Seafood linguine was soooo tasty and generous with mussels, prawns and cockles. The desserts were equally delicious. Superb Italian food all round.

Evening meal for myself and my hubby. We had a pepperoni pizza and a mushroom onion pizza. Delicious hand-stretched base and fresh ingredients. Amazing sized portion. Desert was the biggest and richest profiterole I've ever had! Delicious wines to accompany our meal. Looking forward to the next time and hoping the wild boar ravioli is still available!

This resturant is a hidden gem that brings the heart and soul of Italy to our neighborhood. The seafood linguini was amazing and the cheesecake was to die for. Cant wait to come back!!