Mesen in Cardiff

An absolutely fantastic experience! This restaurant has nailed the art of cooking over an open fire, and their vegan options are great, all you have to do is leave a note on the booking or ask if you’re a walk in. The smoky flavors infused in each dish took plant-based dining to another level. We had a mix of roasted veggies, charred hispy cabbage with marmite butter, and fire-grilled mushrooms,, all of which were rich in flavor and perfectly cooked. The ambiance was charmingly modern and friendly, with the glow of the fire adding a unique charm to the meal. The staff was knowledgeable about vegan options and went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect. This is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience vegan cuisine with a beautiful, open-fire twist! Can’t wait to go back!

Excellent food, even better drinks, great service and big portions.

Wow, my wife had been here before but it was my first visit, and I wasn't disappointed. We went on a Sunday so had the reduced menu, essentially a "Sunday Roast" - but it was so much more! Sharing starters were Sardines (5) or Partridge (2 legs, 2 breasts), both were absolutely lovely and very flavoursome, having been cooked over open flame. For mains the protein choices were Chicken, Pork or T-Bone Steak (for 2 to share), served with coal roasted potatoes, fire cooked cabbage and roasted carrots, all plates are served with a home made Yorkshire Puddings and jugs of Gravy. The portions were very generous and exceedingly good! There was a good selection of Desserts which also went down well in my party. Cocktails and wine were both also great. Don't be put off by the price tag, it's worth it; and for those who eat a little less, you'll have enough to take home to be able to enjoy it again another day!! Lastly there were vegetarian and vegan options, but we didn't try any of these.

Our first time in Mesen. The food was outstanding. The meat was cooked to perfection, the roasted carrots was seasoned beautifully, the cabbages medley was delicious. My husband had the pork chop and usually he is not a big meat eater. He polish it and really really loved it. I had the chicken lovely too. He had the chocolate ice cream and i had the fondant with olive oil and sea salt stunning. Our only complains were: our diner plate was a dessert plate. You could not put the vegs on it. For a meat restaurant there dont give steak knife!! Because of the way they cook the meat the fire alarm kept blazing off and the restaurant was quite drafty to evacuat the cooking smoke. Still a very nice lunch

We visited for the first time and found the restaurant very busy. The food was good, and the service also good although they did seem to be short-staffed. However, we did find it expensive for what you get. It's also a restaurant where everything ordered arrives at the same time, which is not ideal. It worked for us as we were all sharing what we had ordered, but otherwise some courses would have got cold. The music was far too loud, and we think completely unnecessary. It meant conversation was at times difficult. It is clearly very different to your usual restaurant, and a welcome addition to the food scene in north Cardiff, which sadly is a bit of a foodie desert. With some tweaks, it could be much better.

Very quickly, this has become one of the most distinctive dining experiences in Cardiff. Mesen never takes itself too seriously, yet is serious about its ever-changing menu of classics mixed with more innovative dishes. The welcome is lovely, the flavours unabashedly big, and the drinks a standout. Recommended.

The highlight for me wasn’t so much the food as I thought it was average but the margarita cocktail was really nice

Ate here with a friend last week. The music and background noise was too loud making conversation difficult. The food was lovely but for the high prices things could be so improved. If you going to pay almost £60 for a steak you’d think it would be served on a warm plate not a cold one and with steak knives. Also all the side dishes were served before the steak - can’t things arrive at the same time. The cheese was a cold block cut into halves and served with warm thin flatbread. All in all the experience could so much improved and for the price there are better alternatives.

Thank you so much for making my mum’s birthday so special! Can’t wait to be back in sept for the brunch. Thank you Mesen x

A lovely welcome , warm buzzy atmosphere even on a Wednesday night , lovely selection on the blackboard and we particularly savoured the Smokey prawns and marinated sardines with a delicious flatbread and oh so tasty mixed vegetables which all gelled perfectly . We would have loved a larger selection of wines by the glass or a nice vermut on tap and a couple of lighter puddings but it was a really taste bud tapping experience with some exciting combinations of flavours so a pat on the back to the enterprising and skilled chef . All the cocktails were very reasonable too , so a big thank you to Rhys for his kindness and attention to detail and the smashing helpful Barman and smiley waitress .

I came here for Sunday lunch with my husband and 2 young children (5 and 2). Found Mesen on Reddit on a thread about best roasts in Cardiff. 10/10. Great quality meat, loads of well cooked veg, crispy roasties which are soft on the inside. Honourable mentions to Forage Farm and Bar 44 in Penarth, but this is better.

Super restaurant with a great atmosphere. The team are all lovely and make you feel really welcome. Then for the food... really good menu which changes every week using local seasonal ingredients all cooked over charcoal. Its lovely to order a selection of dishes to share so you can taste everything. Oh and if you go, don't miss out on one of the best cocktails in Cardiff!

Came to Mesen for the first time this week and the food was out of this world. Definitely one of the best spots in Cardiff. Must try!

Mesen currently have a monthly bottomless brunch session going on. 12.30-2.30pm with multiple tasty dishes such as salted chicken, mackerel and crispy pork belly and copious amounts of Prosecco, beer or wine. It was pretty full when I visited and the atmosphere was great. Music going and staff really made it a good time. Can’t wait to return to try their Sunday lunch.

Thoroughly enjoyed and a strong recommend to eat at Mesen - outstanding flavours and exquisite ingredients. I really enjoyed the Burrata /burnt grape and also the Parmesan flatbread - delicious and more-ish. Turbot was tender and juicy. Service, warm, knowledgeable & welcoming. Hope to visit again soon.

Wow. One of the best meals we have had and we have eaten in many amazing restaurants across the world. Food was perfect and worth every penny. The owner was so lovely and along with all the fantastic staff made our evening one of the nicest in a long time. Expensive but the quality of food and service is worth every penny. We will definitely be back and will be recommending to everyone we know.

It was our first visit to eat at Mesen, despite trying on a number of previous weekends when they were fully booked. The atmosphere was very lively for a late midweek meal with my family and my visiting sister. The service was excellent and natural not fussy which is how I like it. The owner made us welcomed and got to know us personally. They even made a new cocktail for me with spiced rum just because I mentioned that I love rum. We named it Chris' Cwtch. Stunning! The food was absolutely amazing 😍. We picked 9 dishes to share between 4 of us. There was plenty to eat and we left very little. We all had our favorite dish, mine was the lamb but I enjoyed everything. The menu is never the same and constantly changes week to week. I wouldn't worry because the food won't make the menu unless it is great. We also ordered a bottle of wine, soft drinks for my daughter and a few cocktails for the not so grownups. The evening cost was £40-50 per person for everything including tips. You have to go and try the food. My only fear is that they will grow too quickly and they become too trendy. Because booking will be more difficult and they may move to bigger premises. I intend on enjoying Mesen for as long as I can in Rhiwbina. If you go, you have to try the 'Chris' Cwtch' perfect on a hot day but great anytime.🍹😍 My wife and sister took photos so I will add them at a later date.

Was looking for a sunday lunch establishment and found this one. Booked online for 3.30pm. When we arrived we were given drinks menu and showed sunday luch board. Pork, chicken steak £35 or T bone to share £45 each, we went with the steak (stunning) served with roast potatoes (divine) carrots (cold) green medley mix (very tast) yorkshires (non existence) and gravy. Asked about Yorkshires and was told they hadn't any, but then 4 people came approx 10 minutes after and were served food with YORKSHIRES. One glass of coke, a cocktail and 2 sunday lunches with no Yorkshires £86.

Let’s get this clear my 2 star is not due to the quality of the food (although the t-bone was over to my liking), this is purely from a financial perspective. As the review from May put it - “this is Rhiwbina, not London”. In fact, I very much doubt I’d pay £138 (included 1 course each and a glass of wine) for a Sunday lunch outside of the Michelin arena in London!! The food was tasty but if I look at a 3 course Sunday lunch at the Kings Ams in Pentyrch (stunning) at £27 or £26 for the same in the now closed 1 star SY23 - Mesen DOES NOT represent value in any way shape or form. We had the t-bone at £45 per head (we were advised that they need to be a little clearer on the ‘per head’ bit of the menu on the chalkboard - not stated at all!), but when I saw chicken and pork at £35 I assumed this was also to share which at £17.50 per head for one course is about right for a decent Sunday lunch. Sadly, you got it, it was 35 quid each! For chicken?!? Anyway, been here in the evening a couple of times and it’s been tasty, and whilst still expensive, we expect to pay more of a premium for an evening meal. This is not the protocol for Sunday lunch and the fact that it was empty and two couples walked out tells the story I’m afraid. Look at your pricing and you’ll fill up and have much happier customers!

Very good neighbourhood restaurant, better than most that's for sure. Just go and try, perfectly cooked dishes and full of flavour. We look forward to the next time.

Wish there were more stars to give, absolutely stunning from service to food, if you go please have the cheese and biscuits for desert, sublime, the barman makes a mean old fashioned too, you have to go, I can't recommend enough

portions are supposed to be for two, and priced as such, not enough for even one person. food was burnt and blackened, fish was all bones and looked like a reject. payed restaurant prices for a tiny squashed seabass smothered in nasty sauce topped with four pieces of popcorn. friend payed restaurant price at the end for literal hobnobs and cheese with jar caremalised onions. mini diet cokes (mini being 200ml instead of 330ml, and not mentioned on the menu) for £3 each, and lack of vegetarian options for friends. flatbread wasnt that bad though.

Delicious food! Amazing selection of dishes, service was great and really lovely atmosphere! Will definitely go back!

Very ordinary expensive food, Whispering Angel Rose wine priced at some 300% of its retail value, £60 and a service charge is automatically added to the bill! This is Rhiwbina, not London!

I've been twice, once for a Saturday evening meal, and once for their Sunday lunch menu. The food was faultless on both occasions. The beef rib was to die for and cooked to perfection for me. One member of my party preferred their meat a little more well done, but the staff were happy to take a portion of the meat to cooked a little more. Thoroughly reccomend.

We went on Saturday evening and loved it. We tried a fair selection of the menu and everything was excellent, well cooked, well presented and with excellent ingredients. We particularly enjoyed the Burrata with Broad Beans, and the Sardines. The wine list was relatively short but well chosen. Also had a really good cocktail to start (a daiquiri with ginger). What more can you ask for?! We’ll be back soon.

Exceptional Sunday Lunch. Great service and fantastic food. Generous portion sizes with fair prices. As an ex-chef myself you can really taste the level of effort and care they have put into every component of each dish. Was recommended to come here and will recommend all to come too.

Love Mesen!! Great friendly service all round, really tasty seasonal menu, which often changes to suit the season (and it’s good to come back and taste all the new dishes). Definitely my go to for a meal out with friends, family, a special occasion or even popping in on a Wednesday for their Wednesday burger! A million out of 10.

We called in for a drink whilst waiting for our taxi so can’t comment on the food. Service was excellent. Drinks were really good although on the pricey side….£16 for a house Bellini and a bottle of Halletts cider. The place was full and everyone seemed to be having a good time…had a really good vibe about the place.

Haven’t left a review in a while but felt this deserved one. Went here for a birthday treat. As soon as I walked in, they acknowledged my partner put on the booking and wished my happy birthday. Nice touch! As soon as we sat down, service began. Not rushed, menu explained well, and recommendations given. Wasn’t a long wait for food. Such a chilled atmosphere, variety of dishes, and great service. It’s quite expensive and definitely an ‘occasion restaurant’ for us, but so happy we’ve finally tried it! Lovely addition to Rhiwbina village.

Thank you so much Mesen! We had a fab evening with such lovely, welcoming staff. The food was beautiful and worth the money, it’s a pleasure to eat locally in Cardiff at such a high standard, thank you & look forward to coming back!

All the Food was delicious and can’t wait to go back again - perfect Sunday afternoon 🙏

Absolutely wonderful food, wine and staff just gorgeous would highly recommend

WOW!! I have NEVER given 5* across the board in any review. This was a new experience and one everyone should experience. Whilst the carrot wasn't aesthetically pleasing (is that really a carrot) get past that and the taste is superb. If you have children who don't like cabbage take them here. They could serve the cabbage as a dish on its own. Many restaurants cook vegetables to death, this place gives them a new life. The lamb was cooked to perfection and melt in the mouth with exquisite flavour. The chicken, even though we didn't finish it was succulent and wonderfully flavoured. Everything was seasoned to perfection. If this place ever closes it will be a travesty!! Next time we will try and squeeze in a dessert. ***** Fabulous *****

We found the food to be good on our visit, however there were some issues. Firstly the music was too loud, as the waitress could not hear our order when we tried to speak to her. I am happy to pay £55 for sirloin steak which can be shared, but the vegetable prices are extortionate, £10 in most cases, you can easily spend £40 on vegetables alone. Lastly it would be good practice to make it clear that there is a service charge, and that this is a discressionary charge. We will not be visiting again, as this restaurant does not represent good value.

We had a table of 8 and ordered everything on the menu. Everything was delicious and had a unique and thought out twist. Staff were great, atmosphere 10/10

I had a wonderful birthday meal & celebration at Mesen last night. The ambiance, the food & the service were all 5 star. Thank you my friends & I loved it Thank you

Everything was top notch and made even better by an absolutely beautiful server too.

This was our 3rd visit to Mesen, this time as a group of 7 with 2 additional little ones.There is a warm welcome for everyone from the owner Rhys, very good and efficient service from the waiting staff with nothing too much trouble. Most importantly the food is consistently fantastic. The ingredients, all cooked over a wood fire are treated with respect , taste delicious and a served in very generous portions. We had a portion of everything on the menu and, humble carrot or 1kg rib of beef,it tasted fantastic !

These guys ain’t ‘Messen’ about! Had an unbelievable Sunday lunch unlike anything else I’ve ever had. The way everything is cooked over open flame adds a completely different dimension to the food. The perfect way to end the week. Stunning meal.

Whole turbot for the first time. Stunning. Friendly atmosphere, great food! Will be back often.

Went on a Saturday evening. Staff were spectacular and couldn’t do enough for you, catering to your needs as soon as your bottom hit the seat. The food was absolutely delightful and will 100% be going back. The ambience was great, fairly busy but not overly loud

Recommended by a friend for an anniversary meal and it did not disappoint. Really cool vibe as soon as you walk in. Knowledgeable and friendly staff, including the owner who went out his way to make it a memorable experience. Food was insanely good. Highly recommend and will definitely be coming back.

Fabulous food & cocktails, excellent service and great vibes ✌️👊

Best Sunday Lunch in South Wales

Absolutely phenomenal. Booked a table for my partner & I for Valentine's Day and had the most amazing experience. Everything we ate was spectacular, and I didn't feel pressured into ordering things I wasn't usually too fond of due to lack of options as a vegetarian. Special mention to the burrata & leek and the seasonal vegetable dishes. Service was friendly & attentive - I don't think my water glass was left empty for more than a second - and the staff seemed cool, personable and friendly. Restaurant has a romantic, cozy 'high-end' feel without pretense. Will definitely be returning and recommending to others! Thank you so much for a lovely date night. ♥️

I visited Mesen a few days ago with a good friend; both of us are chefs who've been eyeing this place up for a while. Small plates, cooked over fire in the middle of Rhiwbina, Cardiff. We were pleasantly surprised by just how good the food was here. We started with some sourdough and Marmite butter, followed by one of each of the canapés on offer. The standout was the scallop with burnt chili butter—delicious. We then ordered one of every main course on their menu and shared everything. Some dishes worth mentioning: lamb heart flatbread with dried tuna flakes (admittedly, I balked at the sound of this but was pleasantly surprised), charcoal-looking ox cheek with hummus and pickled red onion, and a marvelous pork chop. A much-needed radicchio and orange salad, a memorable barbecued mackerel and a basque cheesecake rounded out the meal. Light, airy and velvety in the mouth - all things I wouldn't usually describe a cheesecake as. Honestly, I would go back for the ox cheek dish alone. Overall, it's a great place to eat if you enjoy protein, like sharing the love, and are open to trying flavors you wouldn't usually consider. If I had one complaint, I would say that a good portion of the food we had was a little over seasoned. But that won't stop me from returning, so it wasn't really an issue. If you haven't tried Mesen yet, get to it.

Can't imagine a better Sunday lunch, amazing Yorkshire puddings

3 of us Had Sunday lunch today for first time. Staff gave excellent advice on ordering , food was fantastic exceeded expectations . Gravy is plentiful and delish , veg were excellent as were dressings . We had the beef between 3 of us .

I’ve eaten here a few times now, and each time the food has been excellent. The cocktails were also delicious. I love how the owners make you feel so welcome and the service is second to none, 100% our new favourite restaurant.

Wow Manager and staff really helpful advising on the menu which had a great varied selection We had 7 dishes to share, each exceptional quality, really could not pick a favourite. They were brought to us spaced out with no feeling of being rushed. What a fantastic experience, we will definitely be back very soon 🤩

Loved it! We’ve had Sunday lunch, bottomless brunch and evening meal and never had a bad experience. Great food, welcome and atmosphere. A great addition to Rhiwbina.

Well over priced and far from good food.

Fantastic local food. The pheasant in chip shop curry sauce is an inspired dish. The dining experience is like tapas but with a modern, welsh flavour. Amazing cocktails, the chocolate, espresso martini was especially great.

Simply stunning! Loved the food, the cocktails and the atmosphere. Truly excellent

Astonishing food. Warm, friendly service. Cosy atmosphere.

Party of seven all enjoyed the experience. The charcoal grill was not overwhelming but added to several of the dishes we had.

Excellent food, service and atmosphere!

Superb Sunday lunch - great food, wine and cocktails.

Such a lovely atmosphere and really special food- showcasing straight forwardly amazing ingredients. Rhiwbina is very lucky to have this place 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Another fantastic meal Tried Sunday lunch time and now a week day evening, both were wonderful experiences The food is beautifully cooked with amazing combinations Steak with Perl Las crème fraîche - gorgeous The roast chicken, in the Sunday menu, tasted like French rotisserie chicken - delicious A wonderful addition to Rhiwbina

Bottomless brunch was great. The food was delicious, service was excellent and the drinks were flowing!

We had the bottomless brunch here, great food, great people, great times! Highly recommend

First time at our new local restaurant, can't believe I haven't visited sooner. Creative tasty food, wine excellent and house cocktails right up my street ...will be introducing all my friends to Mesen shortly

Amazing Sunday lunch - small plates format works surprisingly well in this context and every element from the enormous crown-like Yorkshire pudding to the roasted carrots was delicious. Not cheap but great for a treat .

Been a couple of times and absolutely love the place! Incredibly friendly welcome, fantastic atmosphere and super tasty food. Staff and owner on hand to answer any questions, loved hearing about the seasonal produce that’s sourced locally. Sunday lunch is the best I’ve had - hands down! Cannot recommend this place enough…..a great addition to Rhiwbina!

What an amazing place! The best food experience I've had in Cardiff. Everything we ate was delicious and the service exceptional.

Dinner out at this new restaurant, friendly and helpful service and nice food chosen from the wall menu's. Limited choice of beers.

Sunday lunch was incredible. Service was attentive. Lovely venue. Will definitely be returning!

What a fantastic experience. The booking was easy and we were seated within minutes. Staff are very helpful and knowledgeable on the current menu, the food arrived quick, well presented and of exceptional taste and quality. Booking is advised as the restaurant is extremely popular. The menu is dynamic and offers new dishes to try, this keeps the code of food vibrant, fresh and always appealing. I highly recommend it here and will most definitely return on a more regular basis. No faults whatsoever, 10/10.

Fantastic flavours, interesting menu that changes frequently, excellent bar, and superb service. The front of house staff were very attentive and extremely helpful.

Love this place! Have visited twice and most of the dishes are excellent - the Gloucester Old Spot chop deserves a particular mention. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere is pretty laid back but there is emphasis is on good sharing food and drink. Fantastic wine list and cocktails - highly recommend!

Visited Mesen for the first time yesterday evening and loved it. The food was excellent and the atmosphere good.

No pics as just ate the food. Very much enjoyed mackerel, fennel and orange with a beetroot side. Lovely bottle of Portuguese red, sensibly priced. Such a massive improvement on what was here before. Nice to have this kind of place nearby.

Incredible food so delicious and fantastic atmosphere. Great night

We've visited this new restaurant (5 times) so frequently that it's starting to feel like a stalker. Undoubtedly, it has secured the top spot as the best restaurant in Cardiff. The owner, impresses us every time with his profound knowledge and evident passion. We can't emphasise enough how much we adore this place. Our heartfelt thanks to the team!

We had a superb evening here, wonderful to have such a good restaurant in Rhiwbina, delicious food, lovely atmosphere, great service. The owner has created a very beautiful and unique place.

My friends and I had a great evening at Mesen. The quality of the ingredients and cooking were fantastic and the atmosphere was electric. The flatbread was perhaps the tastiest bread I’ve ever had and the steak was sensation. I’m going again for the Sunday lunch so looking forward to trying more dishes soon!

The best restaurant in North Cardiff. Really pleased.

Exactly what Cardiff has been lacking for a long time!! Incredible food and drink, buzzing atmosphere, super attentive and welcoming staff and all right out our doorstep without the need for taxis to the centre of town. We’ve been on 4 different occasions, sampled 3 different menus and yet to find any negative points! Hands down the best place to eat in Cardiff!

This is probably the worst place I’ve eaten out at in some years. The choice of food was so limited. The food we had was bland and tasteless. We paid £9 for a baked potato that was small and had been reheated with a dollop of crème fresh on it. Will not be going here again

The talk of Cardiff really lived up to the hype. The food was exceptional, the staff were welcoming and the atmosphere vivacious. There’s nothing else like this in Cardiff, we’re so lucky to have this on our door step. Diolch

It was such a pleasure to eat locally. Wonderful menu - which changes as seasonal produce becomes available. The food was amazing - wonderful flavours and something for everyone. Excellent service and a fab atmosphere- just the right amount of music to chat but not be drowned out.I’m afraid we were so eager to eat we missed photos before tucking in!!

I booked a table for two and we ended up sat at the bar. That was ok to start with, but as the night got busier the staff kept coming to the bar flustered and rushed which put a bit of a downer on the evening. The food is all cooked over charcoal, although there's no char or smokey flavour on anything which was disappointing and not what I was expecting. The Scallop was a real let down. It's a single scallop served with butter and a lime wedge for £8. I don't mind paying more for good food but I have never been served a single scallop as a dish before. Luckily the bartender recommended saving the butter for dipping the pork in, which was good because the pork is served on its own. Overall, it's ok and it's a nice enough experience but there are better places to visit in Cardiff.

Fantastic food , service, so lucky to have this as a local.

Rhys and the team, the food, service and atmosphere was nothing short of amazing. Diolch yn fawr iawn! Shareen and Rhys

Really enjoyed eating here on the opening night. We were welcomed warmly and offered a lovely glass of Prosecco on the house. Every plate including the olives with orange and garlic, aubergine with walnuts, scallop, flat bread, huge old spot chop and melt in the mouth steak was absolutely fabulous. The accompanying wine was superb. Staff were friendly and informative. Thank you all we will be returning soon.

Insanely good food, brilliant hospitality. Incredible new addition to Cardiff. Could sit and soak up the sun in that front window all evening long.