Orchid Restaurant in Ceredigion

Puzzlingly empty place that seemed to have a confused identity as a combined cafe/bar/restaurant. The food was actually very good; one of the best starters I've had in ages (Japanese tempura veg), and served promptly. Being a bar, it had my favourite drink, Crabbies, which you hardly ever find in restaurants, so that was a bonus. However the bored waitress seemed to think having no customers meant turning the radio up to 11 (some kind of horrific Saturday night jungle/drum n bass banging and shouting noise), which wasn't my idea of dining background music. With a bit of staff training and a marketing revamp, I'm sure the good food could bring some repeat business.

We tried here on our first night in Aberystwyth as we wanted something quick and easy with our young daughter. We were a bit surprised that the restaurant remained empty the whole time we were there, surely not a good sign we thought, but the restaurant was nicely decorated and we were pleasantly surprised by the food. My husband had the hanging beef which he really enjoyed and my moussaka was delicious. Portions were generous. The only downside were the toilets. I went before my meal and I'm afraid it did put me off my food a bit as they were very grim. They don't match the standard of decor in the restaurant or the quality of the food. Don't be put off by the restaurant being empty-the food is very tasty!

We went to Orchid last night for dinner and found the place the be completely empty, as were most of the other restaurants in town. We were seated at a nice table in this newly refurbished restaurant (note that this is now on Pier St). The waitress was very friendly and saw that we were sorted with a high chair. We ordered drinks, chicken musuman curry, a Filipino beef thing that I can’t remember the name of and chicken noodles for the kids. The food was excellent. Far and wide better than I was expecting. It was mentioned in a previous review that the toilets are a bit grim; this is true to a certain extent. The looks are outside, presumably because it’s an old building. To me this is not a problem. What I did struggle with was the broken toilet, the door being held open by an old drain rod and the strong urine smell in the gents. I had to take my 6 year old daughter to the toilet which I found a bit of a task when these things were considered. The toilets really do let this place down and it’s the only thing stopping me from giving it five stars. So, all in all, great place, lovely place to eat, excellent food, good service but the toilets need some serious attention.

After a 3.5 hour journey to start contract in Aberystwyth I walked the cold damp streets for a good half hour. I found the orchid restaurant. Lovely little find. I had a veggie Tom yam soup, perfect to balance the horrid weather outside, warming and a slight chilli heat. I also opted for a masseman curry. Unlike any masseman I tasted before but still delicious. Packed full of vegetables and not to over powering. The only downside was the rice, in a moment of madness I forgot vegetables fried rice would have egg in it. My fault so I won't mark down for my own silly error. I have eaten enough Asian food to know better. The staff were lovely, attentive but not over bearing. My total meal was around £19.

Had lunch here, very well-prepared food, and most helpful service. Pleasant ambience, quiet and relaxing

After a recommendation from the hotel we were staying in, we visited this restaurant (which is not on the sea front, and has moved - ensure you go to the right place). The food itself was tasty, fresh, with a good punch. Decent portions too. Sadly they had run out of most deserts, so we passed on this side of it. I can always forgive the small mistakes of an inexperienced waitress, and would have given the venue a higher score, but decided to go to the toilet before i left. Huge mistake. After thinking i had walked through the wrong door, (i hadn't) i was directed through a pitch black external courtyard in the heavy rain via the waitresses phone torch, to a pair of toilets which wouldn't have looked out of place on the side of your local park. Freezing cold, not clean, and damp. Go for the good food, but pray you don't need the loo, they are a disgrace for a decent restaurant.

A well presented and tasty food at a very reasonable price Food was tasteful and wholesome Could not believe the volume of food we received at a very reasonable cost Well worth a visit, could not believe that this place was empty with the exception of our party of 8 on a Sunday

Walked in past a very disinterested man leaning on the counter playing with his phone. The waitress took us to table in an entirely empty resteraurnt and brought us menus. The were very few veggie options and no vegan ones. The disinterested man let out a huge sneeze. Quite literally sneezed all over the glass counter, wiped his hand on his jeans, sniffed and went back to his phone. It was disgusting. Needless to say that we got up and left. Zero hygiene!!!

Last night of a family holiday. Staying in Brynowen (15-20 mins away) but wanted somewhere nice for our “last supper”! Settled on a Thai meal and TripAdvisor suggested this place. Last review indicated the Orchid had moved a couple of streets away so thankfully we went to Pier Street. Aberystwyth itself was dead. Friday night. Quite surprised but apparently the local university has finished for the summer, its only the beginning of peak holiday season and the weather today was shocking. But still expected the centre of the nearest decent sized town to be somewhat more bustling than dead! Orchid had only one other couple in when we arrived so no need to book. Shown to a table by a friendly waitress who remained so throughout. Had the mixed starter which was lovely. A variety of different starters - meat, vegetarian and fish - all delicious. Then I had the chicken Penang curry. Again, really really tasty and enjoyed it a lot. In fact my whole table really enjoyed their food and the chef came out at the end and was equally friendly. It’s a shame the chances of my girlfriend and I returning to this part of the world anytime soon are remote otherwise we’d include Orchid in our list of monthly eateries. Highly recommended. P.S. Pay in excess of £30 is accepted at this restaurant.

Just returned from a fantastic meal at Orchid. It has moved location to Pier Street but the food is just as good. So pleased to see this restaurant re-open, especially as it is open on a Sunday night (not many restaurants open on a Sunday night). Well done Ahmet.

Four of us had one of the best oriental meal ever. Good quality, great service and value. Food cooked fresh and staff kept us informed on the progress of our order

First time here glad to say won't be my last great food had the chilli and salt chicken mmm fantastic taste loved it cheers 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

We have dined here on many occasions and have never been let down. The menu is Pan Asian and very extensive. Good value for money

Other reviews have said the restaurant is quiet. It was when we visited but as 1 table left more people came in so they had a steady trade. Waiter very helpful regarding g.f.options. all our food was delicious. Wine good and all reasonably priced.would highly recommend.

I've tried Matsaman Chicken Curry at this restaurant which I never eaten somewhere else. I will definitely come back and have another one soon!. My girlfriend had Sweet and Sour Sizzling Chicken and was in love she managed to clear her plate. Great cheff and friendly waitresses. Amazing anniversary with my girlfriend watching the bright blue sea whilst enjoying our food.

Desde aquí pedimos para llevar, dieron agridulce pollo, como suelo hacer en un nuevo lugar (no he probado en restaurante Aber hace este plato). Cuesta 7 libras, que es el más caro en la ciudad y fue increíblemente decepcionante! A pesar de que nos dieron una porción extra de medio gratis no vale la pena el dinero, uno de los platos más sosa que he comido nunca y se supone que es un plato rico. El miembro del personal haciendo frente de la casa era encantadora y amable, pero por desgracia, no es suficiente para una comida por debajo del nivel! Pad thai de mi novia era normal y hay mucho mejores a otro sitio.

Have had takeaway from Orchid twice now and both times have been great. Friendly staff and good value for money (portions are large). Will definitely buy from here again.

Restaurant to ourselves so slightly skeptical but greeted warmly, food fresh and tasty and worth the money. We were still talking about how tasty it was the next day! Did a cheers to my sister as it was her birthday and after the meal the waitress bought out a chocolate brownie with a candle in! Fantastic touch! Will definitely be back and will recommend! If more people went there the atmosphere would be better and it would be 5 stars. Give the place a chance and see for yourselves.

Once again I had a fabulous meal at The Orchid. The service was excellent; quick and friendly. The food arrived in good time, was totally delicious, generous portions and well presented. The decor is lovely; warm and welcoming. As a vegetarian, I love the variety of options on the menu.

Ended up eating here as the previous two places we were aiming for were totally booked out. This one wasn't and for the bulk of the evening it was virtually empty other than a few people popping in for takeaways. The location by the sea is nice but it seemed oddly lacking in atmosphere and almost tacked on to what appeared to be offices. Not sure it would make it on to the return visit list but might be better with more people in.

Daughter and I ate at Orchid on Friday, lovely, freshly cooked food. Very tasty! Great service! Lovely chatty waitress who gave a warm welcome. Will definitely call again. Nothing too much trouble....

Had an evening meal ar The Orchid today. Five of us had 5 different meals and all were well cooked and beautifully presented. Waitress was very pleasant and informative. Good view of the sea.

The choice on the Menu is varied and on the whole of excellent quality however it's not cheap, but you don't mind paying for quality do you?Decor is very nice and the view over Cardigan Bay is lovely!BUT....... there is always a but!Please be extra careful when you order particularly if it is a phoned order as there is a bit of a language barrier and unfortunately there seems to be no such thing as "the customer is always right" even though in this case the customer was right.Please be articulate when you order particularly over the phone if it is a foreign sounding accent get them to repeat your order.Thats the only reason why its a 3 from me!

During my holliday trip in West Wales, my boyfriend and I were looking for having nice Thai food. Seems like Orchid restaurant was the only chice we had in that area. The restaurant online info is confusing. Its written opening time 5 pm, but on the website menu says they do lunch special 12-3 pm. Late morning, we drove 30ish miles to the restaurant to check the opening time. The info in front of the restaurant stated its open lunch time. We then went for a walk around town and came back at 12ish, but found it was still close. Then we went to another city and drove an hour back to the restaurant for dinner. The restaurant looked lovely, but there were only two of us in the restaurant when we were there. We ordered 4 Thai dishes and a phillipino dish. I would say it was the most horrible Thai food that I have ever had. It had very odd taste as if the chef has never tried any Thai food before. I had to ask for seasoning to add by myself to make the food edible. At this point, I understood why there were no other customers. We were very dissapointed. For what we had, Tom yum with peas and cauliflower is very odd, but I would not complain if the it tasted like Tom Yum. Thai style salad and duck red curry were super bland, and chicken satay sauce was strange. Cooking Thai food this way not only disappoints customers but also ruins the reputation of Thai food. Eventhough the chef is not Thai, but he or she should learn to cook Thai food more properly or go to a nice Thai restaurant to see how Thai food taste like and what is supposed to put in particular Thai dishes.

We attended with 7 family members. We hadn't booked but were given a great table by the window as we were the only people in the restaurant. The waitress was a little nervous but really polite and sweet. The food we ordered, including the squid and sweet and sour was really nice, cooked brilliantly. The restaurant was very clean and tidy, although the toilets are through what appears to be a council building. Slightly odd but didn't ruin the experience. Would recommend.

Try not to be all things to all people, cut the menu in half at least, then the food served can be good. Staff are very nice, but don't seem to understand the reason they are there is to serve and take orders...".They are too busy talking to each other to notice customers would like to order ....and it does not take 3 members of staff to find a bottle of wine. The owner is lovely, but really needs to get a grip of the staff there - no matter how nice they are when you do eventually get their attention, it should not be customers having to walk up to the small serving area to try and get staff to notice they want to order, and then6 times or so I have been there, one of the party has had their meal forgotten - nice but incompetent staff - take a whip to the and explain what their job is ...

Sat in the orchid at the moment, nice decor, nice atmosphere and nice waiting staff. Food has arrived, really nice and quite reasonable in price. However, family of four 2 adults 2 children £24. Drinks bump the price up, considering there is a Starbucks up the street we came here to support local, but didn't expect to pay quite so much. The place is clean, the quality is to be noted. Recommend it for the food!!

This is my second visit for family birthdays and my second disappointingly similar experience. Even though the restaurant was empty, customer service was poor, queries remained unanswered, and stated offers were not honoured, including the £6 curry offer on the large sign outside the front of the restaurant and also student discount (the party was 5 students and one child). Half the dishes tasted quite nice whilst the other half were barely edible because of chillies and the dryness of the dish which did not reflect the menu description. Waitress/ customer service was non existent with only one barely visible "front of house" person all evening. A small reduction was made on the bill, but less than 10% of the meal value with no apology or offer to replace the inedible meals. After two visits I can't recommend this place at all.

Along with family we went to the orchid for a celebratory birthday meal for my daughter's birthday. 5 of us in total, had reasonably priced meals. Everything from starters to coffee was a very enjoyable experience. Staff were very friendly and a lovely sea view added to a very successful night. In fact , we enjoyed it so much , my husband and I ate there again 2 weeks ago. Recommend the veg curry all as before well worth a visit.

We went to Orchid a few days ago for dinner at about 7pm. Upon our arrival we were greeted by a woman outside on the steps smoking in front of the entrance. No problem we thought, she's obviously just sitting down. Wrong - she was our waitress. Doesn't exactly look or smell good for a food establishment! The decor of Orchid is lovely, but this is a clear case of looks over substance! We felt underdressed but as there were only the two of us in the whole restaurant we thought we'd go for it when it wasn't busy. When we ordered we advised the waitress very clearly that we had allergies to egg and dairy products. She assured us that this wouldn't be a problem and showed us the vegetarian dishes on the menu that she claimed were dairy and egg free (however it was clear upon reading that they did contain egg). We ended up ordering tempura vegetables, vegetarian Spring rolls, vegetarian pad Thai, Singapore veggie noodles and vegetable matsaman curry. Again, we made it clear to have rice noodles and no egg, dairy or egg containing items. Whilst waiting for the food, I realised that my lap was damp. Looking down it became clear that this was due to the napkin having not been dried after washing. All the napkins on our table were the same. We ordered some table water, which arrived in a jug that had a chipped spout and as such I did not want to drink from it due to safety concerns. Additionally, the background music was a classical rendition of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", which at the end of May is hardly what you want to be listening to! We didn't wait too long for our food, and our starters came out quickly. The £4.10 spring roll plate had a total of three very small rolls on it, and were grey and overdone. The vegetable tempura was slightly more generous in portion size, but was about thirty seconds away from charcoal. We were starving so reluctantly ate these and the lacklustre garnish that came with them. Our mains were not far behind. The first dish that came out was the curry, and whilst this was to our dietary needs, it was very watery and served on a plate. The Singapore noodles arrived and had been made with egg noodles. When we advised the waitress she appeared very ignorant to this and tried to tell us that we were incorrect. After a few minutes of back and forth she reluctantly returned them to the kitchen to be replaced with rice noodles. The vegetarian pad Thai arrived whilst we were still waiting for the replacement noodles and it had egg very obviously running all the way through it. Once again we called over the waitress and she was trying to convince us otherwise despite the obvious smell and sight of egg. After a back and forth she returned this to the kitchen to be replaced. When the replacement Singapore noodles came out, the vegetables were burned and there were huge chunks of lemongrass throughout it which were inedible. The pad thai was eventually replaced with a dish that consisted of pink noodles and tasted like sugar syrup. There were little to no vegetables in them, and there were huge spring onions on the plate which were woody and inedible. This could have been a dessert it was so sweet! It was abandoned after just a few bites. My partner told the waitress the pad Thai wasn't good, and she didn't comment and merely offered us a doggy bag for them. The price wasn't unreasonable if it had been a decent meal, however for the service and quality the cost of our bill was not acceptable. When we asked for the bill it was clear the pad Thai was totally unacceptable and instead of discount or removing the dish, the waitress presented us with a 10% off loyalty card which we were told we could only use if we returned! Very unhelpful as we live six hours away, which I explained to the waitress. We also got given a customer feedback form to fill in which had no negative options on it. After some persuasion and being told that the waitress would be told off by her manager (who apparently was out back the entire time), she did let us use the 10% off voucher. If you are vegan, vegetarian, or have any food allergies of any kind, dislike Christmas songs in summer and tiny portions, I would highly recommend avoiding this...get chips on the beach instead. TL;DR - appalling service, appalling food, avoid at all costs.

Me and my partner had a very special night in the orchid lovely sea looking nice backraound music and very tasty food followed by lovely house wine .we did reAlly enjoyed our nights in. I had matsaman vegi curry, and my partner had chicken curry and noodle and rice. It was so oriental and tasty, as we found galangal and lemon gras and lime leaves which gives perfect flavour to the curries. Service was excellent waitress even poured our own glasses with a big smile We will be definately come back to taste different food

Unfortunately this place seems to be struggling somewhat. The waiting staff ignored us for ages and then tried to take our food order twice. The vegetarian dishes were rather tasteless and lacking in fresh ingredients. Although the décor is nice, our visit to Orchid was a disappointing experience overall.

I visited this restaurant on Saturday night and thoroughly enjoyed! I had a table by the window with a fantastic view of the sea! The menu has a lot to offer, so I would say there is a dish for everyone! I ordered the mixed sharing platter for two which was delicious and for my main the sizzling chicken balls which was even nicer. The portion size of the main was massive, but this is not a bad thing! The waitress running the restaurant was friendly, informative and welcoming. The service was fast and effective! This place offers great value for money food of a good quality and quantity. If in the area again, I will definitely be returning!

My wife and I enjoyed a very pleasant meal at the Orchid. We were lucky enough to have a window table with a view across the bay. The service was excellent as was the quality of the food. The ingredients were fresh and the meat tender. The Orchid offers a wide choice of eastern foods at reasonable prices and I would recommend that you try the Orchid and enjoy a similar experience.

We were disappointed with our visit here. I had been on a Thai cookery course and was looking forward to trying tom yum soup properly cooked. The soup I had lived up to expectations but the portion was huge. Sufficient for my whole meal. I did not eat all of it because I had ordered another course and rice. My main course was vegetable pad thai but I could not manage much of it because it did not taste very nice. The vegetable rice was fine but it was a large portion and even with three of us sharing it seemed a big challenge. Somewhere in amongst the food we found a brussel sprout. That is not a Thai vegetable and I was surprised to see it on my plate.The restaurant is on the sea front and is well presented. Service was fine. Maybe we were unlucky but we did not think enough of our experience to risk another visit.

Beautiful meal. Very good service. Very fresh ingredients used. None of your msg overly salty meals here. We really enjoyed and also an excellent location

we went here for a family meal in December and had a nice evening, some of my party are very fussy!!!!, and they even enjoyed as the chef was very accommodating.

Well to start with, we booked a round windows table so we could all talk to each other and got a long table in the middle of the restaurant where you got a draft every time the opened. I must say that there was only one waiter so it was not his fault. We all ordered a starter and all arrived except one. After asking he said it was on it's way, but it didn't arrive until after everyone else had finished there's. And then to go on top it all, two main meals arrived a while after the others because the waiter had to stop to sort out the bill for another table which took some time. Poor service throughout spoiled our New years eve

Without doubt the worst Thai food we have ever had. This was a takeaway on new years eve, the Thai fishcakes were dry and very over cooked , almost burned in fact.The Thai green curry was far too hot and the chicken was unrecognizable, the v e vegetables were cooked to mush.

The restaurant prides itself on its freshly prepared ingredients. This shone through the hot sour seafood soup followed by crushed pepper seafood platter with noodles and bean sprouts. The flavours were both extensive and delicious. "She who must be obeyed" had a veggie option equally brilliant. If you're in Aber. ... Just do it. Must ramble back to the midlands now for a balti at the Romna in Alcester ce soir.Au revoir. R

Simply fantastic food, fantastic view, and fantastic service. The restaurant is spotlessly clean, warm, comfortable and offers a great and varied menu. The tables are all laid with chop sticks as standard which is a must to try even if you have to give up.The restaraunt offers both Lunch time deals and evening deals, ask them before you order as these are really good value.

Absolutely recommendable. Top rate services. Foods just simply amazing & Delicious. Worth every penny and the atmosphere is totally enjoyable. Definitely will reckon to the other friends. Don't forget to try the home made desserts! Cheers!

Very impressed with The Orchid, lovely food and fantastic service. Will be returning ! It was very quiet, probably because of the weather. We had requested a window tabel, and it was ready for us. Unfortunately we had to ask to be moved to another table as it was blowing a gale through the window so it was cold. We were moved immediately. Many thanks

A wide range of delicious choices of food with reasonable prices. Plus , the amazing view and the friendly staff create a great vibe that will make you want to come back again.

This is my second visit I can tell lots of improvement has been changed in this place,more friendly staff and food is much tastier.lovely atmosphere and overlooking to the sea not to be missed.

Great restaurant, fab food, reasonable prices. The owner is so helpful and friendly. We held my son's birthday party there and it was a great evening. Can strongly recommend this restaurant.

We went in on a quiet night, only 2 tables including ours. Service was on the slow side but the waitress was very friendly.Food was the sort of thing you could cook at home, nothing special unfortunately.Huge menu with a massive variety, starters were nice, fish cakes were tasteless, prawn toast was nice.I had the Thai green curry, think it came in a jar, wasn't anything special. Restaurant is in a great location with a great view out over the coast.

Great food great staff great price a must go place too eat food cooked from fresh will go back agian the place is nice and clean the food was so nice thanks orchid for a great night out just the job

Went with friends as could not get into the fish restaurant that has just opened , I know they like Thai food as we have been to Thailand together and have also visited some good Thai restaurants in the UK I ordered Thai seafood salad followed by green chicken curry ! Bothe where inedible having no flavour whatsoever !! And it was the same for my friends food ! When I was asked how was the food I said bland and no spice waitress said sorry and deducted ten percent !I think we should have been paid for the waste of time and the terrible food I should have read other trip advisor reviews before I booked !Lesson learnt!

The Orchid is right opposite the pier in a large Victorian building, and is actually the room to the right of the entrance. In contrast to one of the other reviewers, I actually thought that it was much nicer inside than I'd expected from the outside; the place has evidently had a major refurbishment relatively recently, and they are clearly aiming at a more upmarket experience than the usual high-street Chinese restaurant. There was a wide choice of food, which was nicely presented and very flavoursome. Service was excellent. It was however Sunday evening, which is when most of Aber appears to be closed for business, so there wasn't much pressure on service, or atmosphere for that matter. I'm assuming that things can be very different on a Friday or Saturday evening.

Great food in a quiet Pan-Asian restaurant on the sea front, opposite the pier. Good range of vegetarian options; good wine list! Very helpful service in beautifully furnished surroundings. Good food with great sea views - what more could you ask for?

it was the last evening for our daughter in Aberystwyth after 3 years at the University so we were looking for a good restaurant for the special evening. The Orchid isn't good....it is great! A terrific selection of dishes from different countries, served quickly and politely. There should have been 3 waiting staff but one had phoned in sick so just 2girls were serving a full restaurant. Our main waitress was a lovely girl from Poland who was racing round but managing a smile and time for a quick chat, a real asset to the restaurant.All in all a lovely evening - really recommended

We have been to Orchid several times, but will never go back after last nights disaster. Firstly the waitress explained the menu incorrectly blaming someone else for not telling her properly. Then when the starters came 1 was burnt, one stank of fish so strongly I spat it out and they gave our soup to another table. After waiting for the replacement soup, the main course turned up before the starters were cleared with again 1 part of the order missing. This eventually turned up 10 minutes later. The food was either overcooked to the point of being inedible or undercooked. We could not face another course so asked for the food to go incase we were ill and needed evidence. It was supposed to be a special night out for us, but it was ruined. Such a shame because this was our favourite restaurant in Aberystwyth.

Special price lunch was very good. Plenty of choice in a beautiful restaurant. Thai curry and noodles was great.

been to the orchid a number of times, the food is quite nice, however it is always so quite and dead, making it a horrible atmosphere to dine in. It just so awkward. It is also very overpriced for what it is. The food is nice, however the atmosphere just kills it. They should really run more promotions to get people in and make the resturant more lively

My partner and I often choose the Orchid over all other places to eat in Aberystwyth- the food is always fantastic, the presentation faultless. We brought both our parents here for a family meal- the waitress was very welcoming, huge smile and happy to help. The food was superb, with plenty to eat and prices more than reasonable for such good quality. The restaurant is spotless, with a great atmosphere and plenty of space. Cannot recommend this place enough and will definitely be returning soon!

Spent a lovely evening with friends and family at this restaurant. I ate Indonesian - Nasi Goreng which was so delicious that I asked the owner about taking some back to my mum in Devon, he advised against it due to reheating the rice - appreciated his honesty :) The rest of the party enjoyed, with special recommendation for the duck. Both the owner and the waitress were extremely helpful with advise on dishes, happy disposition and couldn't do enough to make sure we enjoyed our evening. Am looking forward to my next visit.

I was dismayed that they add fish sauce to many of the options described as veggie, good job I asked. Rather than specialising, the restaurant offers Thai, Japanese and Malaysian. They need to concentrate on one cuisine, we had a Thai red curry which had peas and cauliflower, as well as other non Thai ingredients. Looked presentable, but not very tasty.The veg spring rolls were re-hated frozen, not fresh. Also being veggie,

Went on Saturday evening with husband and a friend. We were first customers so it was empty at first but a bit more people also came to dine there as the evening went on, however at no point it was full or even half full. I ordered red thai curry with rice, my husband went for green curry with egg fried rice. Food came on time and although it looked like a small portion at first, we were all completely full by the end of it. The food was OK, my husband who can't stand peas, was very disappointed to find peas in his rice, as there was no mention of it in the menu so he had to "eat carefully" around the green stuff. My meal, however, lacked certain ingredient which got promptly rectified when I mentioned it to the waiter. One thing we were slightly disappointed with was the small quantity of chicken in our curries. There were loads of other ingredients but very short on the meat. Over all, it was a nice meal but not terribly satisfying for the price. I'm afraid that one of Aberystwyth's Chinese takeaways makes nicer thai curries for the fraction of the price. Also, one thing that put us all off the place and completely destroyed the atmosphere was the smell of tobacco at one point during our visit, as if it was coming from the kitchen, although however unlikely it is also possible it could have come from outside. It was my second visit in Orchid, the first one being this time last year and it seems that little has changed : the restaurant's service is very friendly and the waitress was very attentive but the running of it let's it down a bit. However, the seafront view is fantastic, especially in the evening - it makes for ideal spot to observe the sunset.

Visited Orchid on a Sunday with my girlfriend in hope to get nice food and service. There's plenty of room inside, but only two tables were occupied, which should've been a hint. Whole place is nicely decorated, and gives nice impression during the night probably, but our visit was around 3pm, so it looked just... cold. An oh my, it was cold indeed, there was no radiators on walls or any other kind of heating, except of... movable little radiators, which waitress had to carry from one place to another in order to give guests some heat, which frankly did not do any good, as I was freezing anyway.We ordered Red beef curry for myself, and prawn noodles with some veg for my girlfriend + bottle of white wine. Now I want to say that I am not aguy who counts every penny, I'd expect nice experience for ~£40. Oh and I ordered rice as sidedish because was not sure what the curry was coming with, so that was my backup.We did not wait too long for food, noodles came first, and that was quite big portion, nothing to complain about, my red curry came after a minute or so. What can I say? That was not something I expected for £12 dish. What I got was small (like, really small) bowl with nothing impressive. Alright it was red, as I was expecting, but there was almost no beef innit, + there was no rice or anything with it. You know, when you order curry, you don't think that you'll get only meat with spicy sauce and some veggies, right? Good think that waitress told me that the rest is coming, so I was relieved, but not for long, as the only thing I got was the rice I ordered separately before, and I joke you not, the portion could be no more, than 3 or 4 spoons of rice. Clearly not what you expect for a £14 meal. But I assumed, that maybe this is really filling, and average person just would not eat more, and I was with my miss, so did not want to make big deal about it, so I started eating.I know that my opinion at this point might be a little biased, but frankly it was nothing impressive. I mean the tase was allright, but as a person who work in a kitchen, I can say, that that was average at most. Perhaps it's be better if cook had taken out the lemon grass bits which were left in my curry, and which serve just to give nice flavour and aroma, and are not supposed to be served with actual dish. But nevertheless I carried on, and company made this dinner tolerable. In the meantime other two tables left, and we were alone (with the waitress). Now that was weird, because before we did not even notice music playing in the background, just enjoying ourselves, but waitress had an idea that she should start singing 80-90's hits, while cleaning other tables, which I do not know if is a reason to laugh or to cry. I really like Lionel Richie, but you're not 'the one I'm looking for', miss, so cut it out.On the bright side, I can say that there's nice sea view if you choose a table by the window (but it may be also colder in winter times, as again, they have no heating).Also my miss said that her meal was 'okay', at least her portion was big enough for one to feel something in his stomach.Wine was nothing exceptional, though I am not a wine expert, so can't really say anything else.Overall I won't be back, there's loads of nicer restaurants in Aber we can go to to actually enjoy the food without any unpleasant surprises. I would not recommend Orchid to any of my friends, unless all the other restaurants in Aber are fully booked.

Great experience at this seafront restaurant. Nice choice of menu and looking forward to eating there again this week when back in Aberystwyth on business.

Well this is an interesting Asian/Thai restaurant with various choice of dishes from all over the world. We were a party of five adults. All had starters which were delicious. For mainsI had sizzling fish platter with noodles which had a good flavour, very light and so tasty. All our party will be returning. There is also a takeaway option which many local people had whilst we were there.

I've been here twice now and considering I'm not a lover of Asian food, it's really nice. I had three courses and the prices weren't too expensive. The service was good, our food was brought to us quite quickly and our waiter was very friendly. The only thing I can complain about is the atmosphere. It always seems to be very quiet so it can feel slightly uncomfortable at times.

Serves Thai, Canonese and Japanese food. I would have expected them to drop the ball a little considering the size and scope of the menu but no. Every dish was delicious. The place was not busy when we went there and the service by a lovely Latvian(?) girl was excellent. Superb value for money

Our hotel restaurant was closed for a private function and we chose the Orchid after a quick internet search and a walk along the Aberystwyth seafront. If we'd read the Tripadvisor reviews we may not have bothered and this perhaps explained why the place was empty when we arrived at about 8pm - rather worrying on a Friday night. Somewhat daunted we nevertheless decided to stay and choose from the varied pan Asian menu. We were very glad we did. The food was good with very generous portions. This was washed down with a very reasonably priced Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. The Polish waitress was fine and we were puzzled that the place wasn't busier although more diners did arrive while we were eating. Having subsequently read other reviews I was surprised by all the negative comments. I'd certainly go again, especially if looking for a good value meal.

Had lovely food here - such a pitty it's not busier.I don't understand why it is always quiet - the food is always great as is the service.Also very inexpensive. Not a great atmosphere as a result of it's quietness.If it was a busier place I'd go more often.

Food was good but atmosphere and service were only average. Decor has a mixture of styles which don't really go together. The orchid on the fireplace was without flowers, at least they should get a plastic one if the theme and name is to be orchid!

The food it just nothing special. We were crammed into chairs that we couldn't get out from under the table. The service was terrible, all I wanted was friendly staff but alas no. There is no atmosphere, it was kinda awkward

Stopped for lunch here on a wet day, had food off the set lunch menu which was delicious. I would recommend eating here if you like oriental food.

A restaurant with a convenient location on the sea front. The service from the one waitress on duty was friendly, efficient and helpful. Rather like a previous reviewer we were concerned at the wide range on the menu and what this could mean. However you can only eat one meal at a time. All we can say is that our meals; starters and main course were excellent. The Thai food we had was well cooked and tasty and reasonably priced. Although of secondary importance we found the décor attractive and were impressed by the effect the different sized lamp shades created.Not the greatest Thai restaurant we have visited but one to which we would return if we were ever in Aberystwyth again.

Spending a few days in Aberystwyth and went into this restaurant on the off chance. We had the Jasmine set meal and a bottle of red wine with some soft drinks. Most impressed with the great staff, especially Kasha. The food was just lovely, served without delay. Great atmosphere and the wine was very nice too. Total cost was below £70, which we were very pleased with. Would definitely recommend this restaurant. There were numerous diners, including children. This is a restaurant for all. Thank You.

Fantastic range of food: meals, light bites, sandwiches/paninis, breakfasts, cakes. Service was adeqaute not the friendliest bunch however they were busy. Average prices, nice place to suit a family with ranging fussiness/needs.

I knew from the moment that I looked at the pages and pages of menu that it was going to be a fairly forgettable meal. You can't offer that big a selection and do it well.The food was nice enough but by no means exciting or authentic. I had Thai red duck curry and there was hardly a hint of chilli, fish sauce, lime or lemongrass. It lacked the bold, fresh flavours of authentic Thai food and was basically a coconut stew. Same went for the pad thai which had little distinguishing flavour.The food was however well presented and the decor was modern, with a great view of the sea. The staff were friendly and attentive. I just wish they served better food.

Fab meal with friends. Service was excellent, the views are great and the decor very stylish. Food was delicious, hard to decide what to choose off the menu, will definitely be back to try some of the other options.

This restaurant has a good selection of food from different countries. Thai, cantonese etc. All five of us had a different meal and they were all delicious.Welcoming service, excellent food,great price and all with fantastic views.Wonderful.

Hubby and I have popped in the Orchid a few times for Saturday lunch as we're passing. The restaurant is contemporary, relaxing and welcoming and the staff are very friendly and helpful.Although the menu is not vast, what's on offer is very tasty, well-presented and excellent value or money - lunch is £7.95 for a main and side dish! In addition, they don't charge excessively for soft drinks, which is unusual. There is also a competitively-priced take-away menu.I understand that the restaurant can be quite busy in the evenings and for Sunday lunch, but to be honest, I don't know why it's not packed to the rafters on Saturdays! I recommend anyone out there to give it a try - you won't regret it.

In town for one night and anxious about where to grab a quick dinner. Walked along the front and saw Orchid, so decided to stop there. I like Asian food and the other offerings along the front looked pretty grim.Restaurant is very nicely finished, not overly flash, just nice. Service was absolutely fine and the food delicious. I ordered quickly, it arrived in good time and I enjoyed every mouthful. Price was also good.Sea view is stunning, the pier out of the other window less so, but I'd certainly eat there again.

After reading the harsh reviews I was expecting a rather average experience, however there was very little things one could fault. Great views, excellent atmosphere, very attentive and friendly staff, pleasing decor, clean and looked after restrooms. The food was spot on, we all enjoyed it. This place is a real gem - we will definitely be returning and I would strongly recommend to everyone reading to give this place a try and make their own mind.

We stopped off for lunch, first time here but loved the choices. The food was great. Would have been better if it was table service and not having to remember everyone's choices and having to queue to order and pay. Will definitely eat there again though

My husband was really looking forward to Thai meal at this restaurant. The restaurant looked good, nicely appointed. A few tables but not busy.We ordered, sat and waited and waited and waited. Eventually entree arrived, wasn't as ordered. After another wait we asked regarding our main course and was told that our order was still at least another 10 mins away. We felt we had been very patient,over 1 1/2 hrs . The young waitress was very apologetic and did say the kitchen had not heard her order on two occasions??? Surely a restaurant would have a better system than verbal orders?Paid for wine and left hungry and disappointed.

First impressions were good - the restaurant was a well-appointed, high-ceilinged room with a lovely view of the sun setting over the sea (and a not so lovely view of the pier in the other direction)! It wasn't full but there were enough diners for a pleasant atmosphere.We both very much enjoyed the food - a Thai curry and a sizzling sweet and sour dish. The service could be described as a little idiosyncratic - the waitress was polite but a little abrupt, seemed rather taken aback when we weren't ready to order drinks immediately on sitting down and when we did order a bottle of wine we had to ask for it again when it didn't arrive! It didn't spoil our enjoyment - it was rather endearing if anything, and we'd happily return.

we went here for a meal on sat night on arrival we were greeted to a empty restaurant and no customers this was quite surprising due to it being 7 o'clock on a Saturday night we were shown to our table by the waitress and i told her about the terrible drive we have had coming through the mountains and all the hold ups and asked for a beer please i was informed that as i was the driver i was not allowed a beer which did surprise me as i have never heard such a rule especially as i had parked at the hotel and walked to the restaurant i did not clarify this fact but got a beer anyway after the beers came with the menus we had a look the waitress just stood there and said can i take your order i said could you give me a few minutes she said yes and still stood there we gave her our starter order i think to make her go away but said we would like to order the main in just a little while before we had even made up our minds what to order for the main course the starter was there we finished the starter but still hadn't ordered the main this was done and was out again immediately considering there was 3 people eating the meal took only 25 mins starter and main for 3 people??? the cost was cheap £56.00 but what made me laugh was the waitress when taking the £60.00 asked us will you be requiring any change i always leave a tip but on this occasion i didn't and didn't feel guilty at all . on the food it was in my opinion not good either the portions were not big enough and quality was lacking i did try to order some chips and was told( they don't do chips ) i have had a slower MacDonald s experience than this we left the restaurant hungry and we all agreed this was one of the worst meals any of us have had after we went to the supermarket and bought snacks as we were all still hungry we will not be going back to this restaurant just another empty table on a Saturday night for them

Hit and miss here, been a few times and sometimes the service is great other times not so. Last time the food was very slow coming out but was lovely. Easy, relaxed atmosphere.

We have been here several times, and always enjoy the food. I notice that there is a bad review for Sunday lunch, however I think that this must be an old review. We always eat the food they specialise in - Asian. It is very good and reasonably priced.The staff vary. I think they employ foreign students, as we often have trouble getting them to understand us. But they always try to be helpful and accommodating.We keep going back anyway.

I went here for a meal with one of my close friends, as we like to try different restaurants and it was next on our list. We had three courses each, a side of rice with our mains, and a drink, which came to a total of about £20 each, which I was very happy with,For the starter I had the Tempura Tiger Prawns, which were delicious, and my friend had the Bang Bang chicken, which was a little too spicy for her.For mains I had the Matsaman Lamb curry, which was amazing apart from the aniseed which wasn't mentioned on the menu and my friend had the Beef Steak Tagalog, which she enjoyed.The desserts were pretty standard, but as I don't generally expect much from Asian restaurants dessertwise I was pretty happyWould 100% go again.

We had our wedding breakfast at the Orchid, everything was done as we requested, staff were first class, we had 37 people there, people who owned business's and people who had travelled a long way to be there on the day, 100% of the people said ' it was some of the best food they had eaten and that the surroundings were lovely, ideal for small parties (up to 50 persons) . We cannot thank the owner and staff enough for making our day so special . Don Herron

We (a party of four) turned up in Aberystwyth by accident at lunchtime on a November Sunday. Parking near to the pier we decided to seek a Sunday roast for lunch. Walking past the Cambria we noticed a sandwich board outside the Orchid Restaurant advertising Sunday Roast for £6.95. We went in at 12.50pm and were the only persons in there. This, in hindsight, should have rung alarm bells. We sat down and a waitress, I guess of eastern European origin and devoid of any bedside manner, served us. My wife is a vegetarian but there was no option for a veggy roast! She therefore ordered noodles and the other three of us ordered roast beef. It was served after about 10 minutes and we were disappointed straight away by the quantity i.e. 1 x roast potato, 1 x new potato, 1 x slice of carrot, 2 x broccoli and 2 x cauliflower. My new potato was the size a a 10p piece. Nonetheless we started to eat. The meat was tough having the consistency of leather and tasted like no beef I have ever tasted before. The Yorkshire pudding was literally swimming in grease. It was nothing short of disgusting. One of the ladies in the group left 95% of her meal. I persevered and ate the vegetables but could not stomach the meat or Yorkshire Pudding. When the waitress came over she asked if everything was ok and we pointed out in some detail our dissatisfaction. She was, at best, indifferent. No one else came out to try and correct the situation but the cook appeared at the kitchen door and looked at us with distain. We did not have a dessert, unsurprisingly, and asked for the bill. When it arrived we were aghast as no money had been taken off and they were expecting us to pay the full amount. In hindsight we probably should have refused to pay but we settled up in full and left disgusted. These people do not deserve your trade, please avoid.

I have recently moved to Aberystwyth and came across Orchid for the first time when a 10% discount card was handed to me. I had no idea where the restaurant was but I had my phone Sat Nav for the directions. I decided to give orchid a go after reading the reviews on Tripadvisor (of course) and after having a peek at the menu online I was on my way. I was in need of a good meal! Orchid is located near the pier and is in an odd place if you are traveling by car. Luckily I was on foot and didn't have the issue of parking etc. From the outside Orchid does look like a decent restaurant. I walked into the restaurant and was greeted by a very attentive member of staff. I do believe she was the manageress of the place which was nice to know. I noted that the restaurant was empty. There was no atmosphere, the one thing I wanted as I was on my own. I won't hold that against the restaurant. It was a horrible gloomy day and the place is a tad pricey for the local population. I was given prawn crackers within minutes of arrival and handed the menu. The menu does have a nice wide range to offer, baffled by the selection I request advice on what to order. I ended up ordering the suggestion which was the chilli and salt chicken. At this point I noted the décor, its really nice and a lot of effort and thought has gone into it. I waited around 10 minutes for the food but the staff member kept me company, she was a student, just like me! So we did have plenty to talk about. The chicken itself was perfect. It hit the spot, the serving was very big also which I wasn't expecting. The jasmine rice I ordered was nice. All in a all a very good meal at a very good price. After my meal I was offered tea or coffee with the restaurants compliments! Nice touch :) I would definitely recommend this place.

It seems like most of the reviews for Aber are from parents visiting students – mine are no exception! Visited our daughter and her boyfriend last night with more provisions etc, didn’t get there until the evening so couldn’t go to the place we usually go as it’s only open midday, saw this place as we walked along the harbour and decided to give it a go. The place itself it very clean and tidy, the only member of staff we saw was the Polish student who served us, she was very friendly and efficient. Like other reviews I have to say it was not busy, there were three other tables occupied when we arrived but only one table of two were still there when we left - having said that it was a midweek evening on a very wet, miserable October day. Like most of these places as well as the usual menu they do set meals; here they do two, each for a minimum of two people. As there were four of us we had two of each, the reasoning being we could all try a bit of everything and as you usually get more than you can eat the left overs could be taken out for the two poor, undernourished students to have again! All in all the meal was really good and we all enjoyed it. The only criticisms I would make is the fried rice was not the best, although none of the others mentioned it. Also, although the quality of our meal was very good it was not that cheap - this could put it out of reach of most students, certainly on a regular basis, which might explain why reviews tend to indicate that it does not get very busy. The quantity of each dish was ample, there was at least enough left over for one meal for our daughter and boyfriend which the waitress packed up for them.

We were most hungry so it was with an eagerness bordering on zeal that we hurried toward The Orchid, buoyant with hope of satiating our growing pangs. Given the somewhat unconventional hour of our arrival it was unsurprising to find the restaurant devoid of diners. We were ushered to a table by a friendly waitress and settled into our plush chairs to admire the breathtaking seascape. We ordered a jug of tap water to start. It arrived promptly and was of tolerable quality though one of the lemon slices had sank while the other floated. A short perusal of the menu resulted in us choosing the 'Jasmine set menu' at £19.95 per person. As there were two of us this equates to 19.95 x 2 = 39.90.As is customary in restaurants of this milieu a dish of prawn crackers was provided as a prelude to the main event. These were served in a white dish atop a black dish and came with to small dishes of red. As I am not fond of prawn crackers I must at this point rely on the testimonial of my girlfriend. She stated that though 'they were good and solid they didn't really taste of prawn'.Our trio of starters arrived soon after and our previously buoyant hopes (see above) came crashing to earth in a manner reminiscent of Icarus. The spring rolls were diminutive and flavourless. The prawn toast was greasy and, in what was becoming a theme of the meal, lacking in 'prawniness'. The satay chicken was all right I suppose. The highlight of the starter was a single leaf of Thai basil whose flavour provided a conspicuous counterpoint to the prevailing blandness.It was with an all pervading sense of dread that we awaited the inevitable arrival of the main courses. Arrive they did and we began to eat them. The sweet & sour chicken was a sea of lustrous neon pink. My generally laconic girlfriend termed it 'thick', terse even by her standards. The beef tagalog was notably brown in colour. Slices of brown beef in a brown sauce with brown onions. 'Brown' my girlfriend said. A small lidded pot contained a red duck curry. The duck wasn't red but the sauce was reddish. As Thai red curries go it was overly aromatic while not really containing much in the way of favour beyond a slightly sickly sweetness. Side dishes of stir-fried noodles and egg-fried rice were present.Perhaps as a reward for our valiant battle with the main courses we were presented with hot drinks and dessert. I had a black coffee in a small cup that was wider at the bottom than at the top while my female companion had 'tea'. The tea was green and came in a pot accompanied by a cup the dimensions of which currently escape me. The coffee was nice and the tea was, I am told, also 'nice'. The highlight of the evening came in the form of a pot of mixed chocolate coated raisins and coffee beans. The beans enrobed in a darker shade of chocolate than the raisins to avoid unwanted mouth surprises. Dessert was ice cream in a glass with a stem and was unremarkable. It was during the unremarkable dessert that the titular calamity occurred. The sedate atmosphere was rent by a sudden crash and crumble as a large lump of moulding fell from the ceiling missing the only other diners by a hair's breath. The restaurant held its breath... As it turned out no one was harmed but things could so easily have been different. We left the restaurant feeling slightly sick; partly from the food and partly from the unexpected reminder of our own delicate mortality.

I've been to the Orchid several times during visits to Aberystwyth and have always enjoyed the food. The menu offers an interesting pan-Asian selection of Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine, without overwhelming you with a long list of dishes the way some Asian restaurants do. The staff are very nice and attentive, The restaurant is usually quiet, which is a welcome change from other places where you have to shout to be able to have a conversation. I'm surprised more people have not discovered this restaurant and I agree with all the positive comments other reviewers make.

This pan Asian restaurant has a wide variety of food and the menu highlights the country of origin of each dish - Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai etc. There is also a good range of main ingredients - meat, poultry, seafood and a good vegetarian selection. This was the 4th time I've eaten there this year and still working my way around the menu. There seems to be quite a variability in the heat - sometimes "Bang Bang Chicken" is covered with chilli but other times it is quite a mild dish - the "shredded potato" part of this dish looks remarkably like a curly fry but the flavour and quality of chicken is good. The curries are always a good bet. The wierdest part of the menu is the dessert section - why anyone would want rhubarb crumble and custard after Asian foood puzzles me! Opt for a coffee instead - they come with a small dish of chocolate coated coffee beans and this is a much nicer finish to the meal. Service is always attentive and there has never been a problem getting a table. If you can opt for a table by the window - you cannot beat this for sea views or just watching the prom joggers as you eat!

When ever i vacate to Aberystwyth a meal at Orchid is a MUST! simply delightful... cant say much more than that! you must stop by!

I'm a fan of the noodles they serve. The style of the restaurant is (more) modern compared to the other restaurants around Aber. The location is good, with sea-front view. I may be wrong but every time I go there it's very quiet, with no other customers there. Some may appreciate it but for me it lacks atmosphere in way. The place is somehow big and it feels too empty.

We've been here twice now and will definitely be returning over the next three years at least when our daughter goes to Uni in September.The surroundings are very pleasant, the tables smart with linen table napkins and the atmosphere relaxing. Our waitress was very attentive and the the food was excellent. The menu is extensive with a wide choice to suit many tastes. What more can I say other than we will be eating there regularly over the next few years.

I visited this lovely restaurant on Wednesday 15 th May after reading the great reviews on Trip Adviser. My husband and I were not disappointed. Although there were only a group of 3 in the restaurant when we arrived there was a lovely atmosphere. We were greeted by a Polish student studying at the university who made us feel very welcome. The place was spotless and decorated beautiful with lovely background music but not over bearing.The restaurant is situated on the sea front so a lovely location. The menu choice was amazing. We both had a starter, a main meal and shared a lovely bottle of red wine and it came to under £50 including a tip. The meal was delicious and well worth it. I would certainly recommend this restaurant.

My wife and I visited the Orchid on the 16th April for a birthday celebration. The decor and the layout of the tables was very smart and the staff were very friendly and attentive, the tables were well laid out and there was a choice of eating with chopsticks or cutlery and also linen table napkins were provided.. The menu had a wide choice of far eastern and oriental dishes which would appeal to a wide range of tastes. The biggest problem was how to make a choice of what dish to choose as we both felt that we liked the range of dishes on the menu. Finally a decision was made and we both chose mixed sizzling seafood on a bed of noodles. We were not disappointed as the helping was generous and very appetizing. The wine list offered a good range of wines from different countries and they were reasonably priced. The dessert menu was very short for a person who likes their sweets but what was offered was good. we will certainly revisit as there are many more dishes on the menu which we want to try

we went there for our anniversary, it was early evening and very quiet. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive, the food and service were unbeatable, the decor was very smart and modern. It was our first visit but will certainly be back. It was nice to see linen napkins for a change.

This was by far the most fancy restaurant we visited while in Aberystwyth.Proper cutlery, cloth napkins, chopsticks, beautiful location and decor and great food.The menu has a huge selection, dishes from all different parts of Asia. My boyfriend and friend both got sweet and sour meals, one chicken, one prawn, and neither could finish them as they were so filling. I got salt and chilli chicken, which was delicious and also incredibly filling.Rice is not included with the meals, you must pay separately for it, but it is hardly needed.Our waitress appeared a little stand-offish at first, but she was very good at her job. The owner of the restaurant also came to our table, which was nice.A little more expensive than a lot of places in Aber, and they play awful 1980s ballads in the restaurant. But overall, a very nice place.

I was quite taken aback by the décor of the Orchid, with its smartly presented modern look being unusual for Aberystwyth. The food was good and reasonably priced, and although the waitress was very pleasant the service felt a little slow at times - especially considering there were only two other tables in at the time. We all really enjoyed the restaurant though and would go back again, perhaps to try the lunchtime menu this time.