Merola's in Cardiff

Amazing pizza and the best garlic bread I'd ever had. Run by lovely people. Well worth a visit!

I had the garlic bread, lasagne, tiramisu wine and an amaretto

I expected more, given the reviews. The food took 1h. The waitress was rude and she didn’t take drink orders from one half of the table (the waiter was very kind though). I ordered tagliatelle Alfredo: very low quality, can mushrooms, low-end ham. My partner had pizza: dry, the chilli olive oil was appalling (just oil plus paprika!).

Great as always. Really busy so had to wait a while for my takeaway but well worth it. Always on my list of places to go eat or get a takeaway.

Brillante restaurante con un gran ambiente. Encantador anfitrión y he comido aquí muchas veces. Entrega uno de los mejores restaurantes de Cardiff. Italiano o no. ¡Me encantan los calamares!

Feels like home what an incredible experience 🤍

The food took forever to come, waited more than an hour and staff seemed unapologetic about it

This is my absolute favourite Italian restaurant in Cardiff! Service is amazing and more importantly for myself they cater for gluten free with pasta and pizza options and they also make their garlics bread gluten free as well. Thank you :) definitely worth more than 5*

Went to Merolas for a celebration meal , 2 birthdays, wedding anniversary, and retirement . Haven't been for a while as tend to hibernate during winter, so saved it all up. Always a very warm welcome from Sylvia and Spiro and Nick. Have been going to this restaurant for 29 years and it never disappoints !! Had 4 courses, prawn cocktail , king prawns in garlic and lemon sauce, hubby had T bone stake, chocolate fudge cake and liqueur coffees. Talk about good coma😋 Everything was absolutely delicious, thanks to all the staff. Fab

Friendly and worth the visit. M & J

Fantastic food, amazing service. Love it!

Top quality authentic Italian food, and they don't skimp on the portion sizes. Family run, friendly and attentive staff.

Fantastic restaurant, great staff. Delicious food

Such a friendly and homely atmosphere Exelent food and made my grandsons 18th birthday special 🥰

Been coming here for years, lovely homely atmosphere. Lovely food at reasonable prices.

Lovely food. Calzone is a monster, spaghetti sorrento was beyond tasty. Nice friendly service. Well worth seeking out.

We have been going there for many years and we have never been disappointed it is always a lovely experience and they always make us feel welcome.

Good Italian restaurant with friendly service.

Finally made it to merola's and what an amazing place, food was out of this world, from starters, main meal and dessert, staff were fantastic, and very good prices, would recomment to all, and will go there again soon 100%, And not to forget "THE CHEFS" working their socks off as the restraunt was totally choc-a-bloc. WELL DONE ALL.. ...................see you soon..............

A quiet Thurs evening and the standard of food is superb. Calzone is huge, packed with quality ingredients. The garlic bread is heavenly but the Italian cheesecake is to die for. Owners are so lovely they make you feel like family

Amazing food friendly staff great atmosphere 10/10

Warm, friendly atmosphere and service. Food was outstanding, with each of the 5 steaks in our group agreeing they were better than Miller & Carter. Carbonara was delicious even if I couldn’t finish it, and garlic bread was unreal. Will be returning!!!

Beautiful food lovely atmosphere staff very friendly💖💖💖

Spiro, Sylvia and all staff are always very friendly and welcoming. A great variety of meals available reasonably priced. Food is always of a very good quality. A lovely family run Italian.

Great place, lovely staff, loved how they served the house wine. Not too far from principality stadium. Food wise I had crab claws very nice, wife thought her garlic bread not very garlicky. As it was a house speciality I had Calzone, which was huge, I had mince meat and cheese I didn’t really get any great taste to be honest, however I usually have pasta so what do I know? My wife thought her pasta dish with mushrooms and ham,was okay, I really liked it.

1st class Italian Family restaurant . I think best in South Wales. Perfect for ‘date night’ ‘anniversaries’ love the food too

First class, Italian. Out of the whole of South Wales. This is where we come for special occasions, ‘date night’ ‘anniversaries’ atmosphere .Fantastic stuff / owners. A true Italian family restaurant. Six stars is more correct evaluation for the food.

Lovely atmosphere, first class service, great food, good value for money

Love love love Merolas! The fact that they have been open since 1986 says a lot. What an array of dishes to chose from and all great value. Service is amazing too!

First time I've been here and won't be the last . A hidden gem of a family orientated Italian restaurant in grangetown Cardiff. The food was stunning . Tried the tagitelle Alfredo 👍. One thing I'd advise you is to try their garlic bread, best I've ever tasted . The staff and management are so helpful and friendly . Deffinetly 10/10 from me . Try it you won't be disappointed 👍2nd visit on 19/3/2022 was just as good . Service was top notch. Food was amazing . Went for the meatballs with pasta in a arrabiatta sauce . With garlic bread and cauliflower in batter . Beautiful. If it's a small piece of Italy in Cardiff your after this is the place . Our 3rd visit on the 25-3-23 was just as memorable, went for the pollo alla crema . Huge breast of chicken in a white wine, cream and mushroom sauce with chipolata potatoes, onion rings, side salad and their award winning garlic bread 👍. Massive praise to the owners who are the chef and waiting staff . Put it on your to do list ❤️

Amazing food , love the family atmosphere! Can't wait to come back ☺️

Always go to merolas on Mother's Day every year ,also on birthdays ,lovely food , a clean place , and friendly and happy staff who always make people feel welcome .

Haven't visited here for a long while and it lived up to our happy memories!! A fabulous evening where the great personal hosting makes the evening even more special!! Thank you for a lovely evening!! 😊

We started going to Merolas when our children were small, along with my sister and brother -in-law and their daughter. We moved away and had not visited for several years. My husband had decided that he wanted to spend his 60th at the restaurant with his family, it was a trip down memory lane got all of us. The evening was wonderful, everyone enjoyed their meals, we had the next generation with us and they had a great time and some new comers who have said they will visit again. There were 18 of us in total, staff could not have been any more accommodating. I have to say the place has not changed, this is a traditional family run Italian Trattoria, so if you are looking for frills they are not there, just good food, great hospital and a very warm welcome. Thank you to all the staff for making our evening very special. Julie and Chris Rudry

Haven't been here for over 10 years food was delicious and freshly cooked, won't leave it so long to visit next time

Lovely local and traditional Italian Trattoria

Best resteraunt in Cardiff by a mile

I’ve always been consistent with my reviews and have been true to our experience for the good of the Tripadvisor community. With regards to Merola’s we could be deemed as biased because we live in the same suburb and have patronised this establishment for thirty years. However due to Covid and whatnot we haven’t eaten here for three plus years. OMG I can’t believe what we’ve been missing!!!! There was actually a feature on this establishment in WalesOnline on the 30th of December 2022 I read it and booked for that very night. Run by the head chef Nick, his wife Sylvia and her brother Spiro you will be hosted impeccably like extended members of their family. The food is absolutely outstanding and the value for money is amazing We had three starters as we couldn’t decide/mains/a large carafe of house red/four drinks and the total bill was a mere £91 If you’re undecided and not sure where to book then please look no further You really will love the whole dining experience xxx

once again I had a fabulous take away from Merola's. I have been having take away's from there for years. wish I could get there more often.

Went for a 90th birthday food and service was amazing

Old school quality and service. From the moment you open the side door and step in you know from the smell of delicious food it’s going to be good. They look after you like a long lost friend, the menu is vast and the kitchen works double time to get it all out as the place was full to bursting. Starters of garlic bread with cheese and a prawn cocktail. The tiger bread was toasted in garlic butter and a layer of cheese is added, how something so simple can taste so good. The prawn cocktail was tasty and plentiful. Mains of T bone steaks muscles and pasta were all amazing and so good. We were so full no chance to try desserts so we just settled for the bill and went home happy.

Tasty food and lots of it. Lovely family run business for the last 50 years

Nice little Italian, very friendly.

This place is perfect. The Spaghetti Sorrento is a piece of art. :)

Very good food and I dine in very good layout

Would definitely recommend this restaurant. Wonderful staff and great food, will return soon

Really authentic Italian food, one of the best ones in Cardiff. Can’t wait to be back!

What a gem of a restaurant! Portion sizes huge and the food was delicious Great value for money Owners are lovely too

Fantastic food! The host was amazing. We will definitely be coming back. It was a perfect ending to our weekend. Thank you for having us.

Fabulous food, minestrone soup and the most delicious garlic bread to stay and then my favourite main course, chicken diavola, delicious!

My family and I have visited Merolas for years. The service is first class, the food always well prepared and presented. It's honest to goodness original Italian food, and it's always delish. The service is quick, there's no "hovering" waiting staff, and the prices are very reasonable. I've recommended the restaurant to loads of people over the years, and still do. As I said, probably the best Italian restaurant in Cardiff, for real Italian family food.

Super food, excellent service, definitely worth a visit and will return.

Excellent family run Italian restaurant, extensive menu and very attentive and friendly. Only open Thursdays, Friday's and Saturdays (at present April 22)

Excellent food. Lovely ambiance with fantastic friendly service. Highly reccommend. Definately eat there again.

My family and i have loved this restaurant for over 20 years we have become friends with the beautful staff and cannot praise them highly enough.the food is fantastic as is the wine always a lovely atmosphere sylvia is like part of our family simply the best .

Lovely meal, always homely in terms of the atmosphere and service. Well done as it was a busy Friday night!

Excellent service, amazing food and lovely people. The pasta is for 12£ but the quantity is huge. I had a really good time here. Well deserved 5 stars

Great family run restaurant serving excellent food

Brilliant food, brilliant staff, cannot fault either, brilliant night there, thoroughly recommend it.

Amazing food, lovely ambiance. Best place for Italian food

Food here is always beautiful can honestly say I have never had any meal here that is less than wonderful

Amazing customer service and food is quality homemade.

I booked a meal for myself and three friends at Merola,s restaurant. We all chose our meals but while the food was being prepared I became unwell. The manager I believe it was Sylvia offered to pack up all our meals including the wine and then drove me back to the place I was staying. She was so kind and went over and beyond what I expected. I have to say the food was really good. Such a shame we did not get to experience the restaurant. Amazing food outstanding service. Hopefully see you next time we visit Cardiff.

What can I say apart from a jewel of a restaurant with outstanding food. This puts all your fast restaurants to shame as food to die for and staff go the extra mile. Already booked another night out as so impressed.

Absolutely beautiful food, lovely staff, would definitely recommend!

What a find! Were up in Cardiff for the day (family of 5) and needed food before heading back and started looking in the area we were. Had to wait half hour for table but was worth it. Best service we've had for a long time - attentive, polite & friendly. And all our food was great quality - 2 different steaks, pizza, meatballs & spag carbonara - very authentic. Says it all that there was virtually nothing left. Same for 3 deserts ordered and coffee was lovely also. Will certainly be an option for us next time we're up in that part of Cardiff.

A wonderful welcome - an oasis of elegant trad normal in this area ❤️

What a lovely little family run restaurant. Very accommodating and friendly place to be. I definitely recommend if you have a family with children. Pizzas are amazing kids say and food is delicious 😋. Thank you Sylvia and to your husband the chef! Speero have not forgot to wave to Manchester United on our way back home! Thanks again.

I went to Merolas on a saturday evening for a family meal to celebrate a sister's birthday. I would honestly describe it as a gem of a place. It's a small, cosy and very welcoming restaurant offering great food at reasonable prices. The lady host (I think called Sylvia) was lovely and made us feel very welcome. My first visit but defintely not my last

We had been many times in the Merola’s resturant in cardiff. We can say it is one of the best Italian Resturant in the UK. The chef and staff are very friendly and welcoming. The cuisines are like homemade dishes with special ingredients. Also the resturant is very cosy and comfortable. Thanks, Shadi & Bef

Food amazing. Good selection. Nice homely surroundings Staff friendly and reasonable prices too

The food was outstanding! We were away for long weekend in Cardiff for a 30th birthday, we love an Italian and this was the one of the best Italian meals we have ever had. All the food was fresh and delicious. Staff were so friendly and accommodating. Would recommend to everyone! Thank-you so much for the lovely meal.

Lovely service and great food. Reasonably priced .

Best restaurant in Cardiff, amazing food, Sylvia and Spiro the best hosts that you could get, very welcoming and really friendly, havnt had a bad meal, food always hot and well presented, would recommend to anyone who wants a meal with reasonable prices and friendly loving warm environment. Leigh/Julie.

This restaurant is situated in the heart of grangetown. Forgot to take any photos of my food,but the photos already here are accurate. Good selection of food. Authentically prepared and cooked. Tasted wonderful and I'd highly recommend

Family run restaurant with a, traditional cuisine and service. Great value. Owners are lovely too.

I don't recall enjoying a meal in a restaurant so much. Tonight, (Saturday 31/7/2021) the service was excellent, owners and staff lovely, and the food wonderful. I eat out regularly and rarely have I enjoyed an evening so much. I recommend you wholeheartedly. Congratulations. Neville & Christiana. York North Yorkshire.

I ordered the different dishes of starters, the portion was great value for money. Everything so testy and a good service. I enjoyed it very much. Will definitely be back again soon.

Wonderful restaurant I felt part of the family

Service was terrible, quality of food also bad, 2 hour wait for mains Arrived at 19:30 Ordered by 19:40 -Instructed the elderly waitress to bring out the mains as soon as they're ready so that we don't wait too long for them as we only ordered 1 starter between 4 Starter of prawns came 20 minutes later Mains came at 21:22, almost 2 hours later -they said it was busy -we arrived before a majority of people yet the tables around us had gotten their starters and mains well before us -they had simply forgotten about us and didn't want to admit it -they charged us for the garlic bread which we asked for as we needed something to eat in the meantime as a member of the party is diabetic and we were all starving and patience wearing thin When the main came -the pasta was raw, not cooked properly -had to be sent back and was taken off the bill -i wanted my steak medium rare -my steak was blue on one side and well done on the other (not sure how they managed that but the middle was okay, more rare than medium rare)

Very friendly staff and welcoming. Service impeccable. Food freshly cooked, hot and very tasty. Very good value for money. The garlic bread was awesome.

Been a customer for over 35 years. Always a lovely welcome, customer service 1st class with every customer. Never had one issue. Food superb. Garlic bread is legendary. Try this place once and am sure you will return. Quality food, lovely people and very reasonably...

Lovely restaurant, extremely friendly staff, been coming here for many years, decor hasn't changed in over 30 years and still standing strong, would highly recommend to anyone, 10 out of 10, lovely friendly place lovely food !

Stunning as always! I've been going here since I was 8 and no other Italian has ever compared, service and food are both amazing!

Without a doubt the best place that I have eaten in for a while. The staff are welcoming and friendly, and the food is amazing. Good quality food for a reasonable price

Amazing as always. So good to be back. Always a warm welcome from Spiro and Maria xxx

Table for two, booked on the day. Authentic Italian family restaurant. Lovely fresh and tasty food. Large portions. Attentive and friendly service. Fairly priced.

I had 2 takeout pizzas and they were so good! I also found out that you can get anything off the menu to takeout, so l will definitely be going back to try some different things. 👍🏼

First time in a long time that I have had a take away from Merola's. Always very good standard of meals. The only "problem" being the portions were just too much. Recommended.

Lovely old fashioned family kitchen restaurant. Long established, family run Proper Italian.

Have been coming here over 25 yesrs now and never had a bad meal! Food always lovely, cooked freshly and good quality. Staff always friendly with nothing too much trouble. Very fair prices, very highly recommended by this family!

Amazing food and friendly service.

Fantastic food as always - thank you all - loved the takeaways thru lockdown! xx

Booked a table for 8pm, had drinks and food on table by 8.20, first class service, lovely friendly staff, lovely restaurant probably the best in cardiff, would highly recommend merolas to anyone who hasn't been there, absolutely lovely fresh food cooked to your liking, will definitely be going back there very soon.

I’ve not been to merolas for years so decided to give it a go as it was good on my last visit well nothing has changed the food was first class so was the service atmosphere was good too even though we’re going through COVID...

Great atmosphere, fabulous service. Food was very authentic and piping hot . Would return..

Love Merolas food amazing and service the best.

If you haven’t eaten here yet you are missing out! Fantastic food every time, great value for money and great portion sizes. The food is great - authentic Italian food with calzones as big as your head!! Efficient service always, we will see you again...

Fabulous food ! brilliant hosts! great atmosphere highly recommend...always a great experience..which is why we return again and again.

I love this place, been grabbing takeaway here for years, pizzas are amazing cooked right in front of you in pizza oven, tiramisu is the best I’ve ever eaten in my life. Very small inside perfect for a romantic night.