Society Standard in Cardiff

I found this cafe/ restaurant quite expensive for the standard of food.....£18 for a cheese burger..£16 for a Hot Dog......but the fries were freshly cooked and tasty. Maybe it's me not being used to Cardiff venues and the prices they charge. I would recommend it but be aware it's not a cheap meal.😕

I'll start this off by saying I love society standard, great venue and always a good atmosphere, however its clear that the company has low standards of food or there's no one on site ensuring the food standards are being upheld because it is always so disappointing! The Sunday lunch is just awful for the price and the gravy was like brown water last time, tough beef and tiny portions for a premium price, really bad. Our most visit we ordered calamari and mozarella and garlic flatbread, followed by two steaks. None of the staff ever seem pleased to see you, so you're almost never welcomed as they have their backs turned to you pulling pints or chatting amongst themselves. What we were brought was really shoddy- the flatbread was sliced supermarket white bread with garlic spread and Cheddar not mozzarella (£6 I might add, but can't have cost more than 70p to produce) The calamari was soft, cold and rubbery quite the feat to be overcooked yet feel undercooked at the same time, we didn't finish it and no one checked back or even asked if everything was alright as they took the plates away because they just don't care. Our waiter said the kitchen hadn't done us enough chips so we're sending a separate bowl, fair enough it happens, but what they sent out to accompany our steak and real chips was a bowl of skinny fries bit no apology. I might add that our bill came to over £74 and we were asked to pay a tip as we paid at the bar before even getting anything so I felt ripped off from the get go. Once again, I love the venue but it's always so disappointing recently - please hire a GM or head chef that cares otherwise this venue will be over soon enough.

I am rare to write reviews, but I'm sorry the £19+ worth of food I ate here was abhorrently abysmal. I thought I'd try them out after my friends raved about their Mac n cheese – despite the negative reviews – but to my dismay the criticism as of late is very much valid. The chef here needs to go through training again ASAP. Overcooked macaroni with cheese sauce that tasted like a lump of corn starch and melted cheese (with what tastes like 3 spoons of salt) slapped on a piece of sourdough bread with little to no seasoning is just ridiculous. I had to go back home and eat half a bar of chocolate to get rid of the yucky aftertaste the food left in my mouth. This place needs to do some serious damage control. A very odd pungent odour that smelled like an old care home was about the place as well. I've given 2 stars owing solely to the fact that one, the ambience is indeed lovely with the light and candle setup and two, the two nice barmen seemed to be working very hard and their service was truly appreciable.

Roast dinner was one of the worst I’ve had in Cardiff. Chewy beef, roast potatoes weren’t crispy, bland cabbage, not enough gravy and chewy Yorkshire pud. Would not recommend. Maybe the usual menu is better.

Great coffee, acceptable cake. Staff bordering on indifferent on a quiet early evening visit.

Very satisfied with all aspects

The Sunday lunch, in my opinion, is outstanding! Great value for money as its huge. Really friendly staff, even when busy. Can often get a walk in, but definitely book in advance if you don't want to be disappointed. Delicious, thank you!

The food in this place is totally amazing!!!! Top chefs and really nice guys :-). Can’t wait to come back for some steak and the best ever Chimichurri !!!!!

First visit here and very impressed. Staff were so helpful and efficient. We had an issue as the half marathon was on and some of our party were struggling to get to the restaurant because of the road closures - this was no problem for the staff who were so understanding. When we eventually got together and had our food it was exceptional and such good value for money! Will definitely be back! Thanks guys xx

A lovely place for lunch. The mac’n’cheese was lovely, the herb crust was delicious. We also had the chicken burger which was lovely. We’ll be back again, this time to try breakfast.

Very, very good food. Fresh and tasty. Friendly service. Cool atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Extremely tasty Sunday lunch, large portion too! The food could have been warmer.

Very disappointed with standard of the food. Chicken was dry. Both my friends also commented that they found their meals disappointing. Service was also very slow.

Cool place with loads of nice beer and friendly staff! Will be back to try the food

Amazing food and cosy atmosphere

Great atmosphere & friendly staff. They tend to be fairly busy so I would recommend booking just in case. The food and drinks are nice, however you'll get more bang for your buck from other bars/restaurants down the road. Overall enjoyable experience but if you're going out for drinks there are better and cheaper options out there.

Ok food and drink but expensive for what it is. Would be better if their bar area was also dog friendly.

I was excited to try this place for breakfast/lunch and had to do a complete 180 back out the door. Upon entering, 2 staffs were by the bar, saw us and not bothered to welcome us so we saw an empty table and sat ourselves there. The lady came over and refilled our cutlery holder without saying a word to us. Looking around we wanted to see if there’s any menu around then I locked eyes with the lady and she said “order at the bar” I then replied “okay thanks”. I went over to the bar looked through the menu, the bar guy was doing something at the tills. I said “excuse me” he replied “2 secs” with his back turned. At that point we gave up and decided to head down to another cafe along the same road. So disappointed didn’t get to try the food though!

Disclaimer: didn’t get a chance to try the food so this review is purely based on the service. Walked in super excited to try this place but felt utterly uncomfortable in the (lack of) service I was given. It was our first time coming in and it was pretty obvious as we walked in, stood at the front waiting to be seen. The two members of staff were talking to eachother at the back and to make it easier for them, I mimed ‘should we just sit at any table’ to which they nodded. No menu was on the table so our heads were spinning trying to figure out how it works. It was pretty obvious we needed service. We got their attention and asked for a menu and got a dismissive ‘order at the bar’ response. At the bar, we were (un)welcomed by a staffs back. They must have noticed us at the corner of their eye and whilst they had their backs turned said ‘2secs’. Unprofessional and unwelcoming.

Nice food but very limited menu.

Lovely place, choice of food, and good cocktail deals!

A first negative review for me. Booked online for a family Sunday roast the afternoon before, only to receive an email just 2 hours prior to the sitting cancelling our reservation?? SS informing me they stopped offering the Sunday roast last week, but "instead of the roast we offer great specials and longer brunch on Sundays". Didn't anybody think to contact me to offer an alternative menu at the same time, instead of just cancelling? Shambles. If the powers that be are going to change the Sunday service menu, you need to update your web booking platform ahead of time.

Staff are friendly and very helpful, my Sunday lunch was huge and full of lots of vegetables, however the sirloin beef was tough, chewy and fatty. The lemon tart had a wonderful pastry and a lemony filling.

Great atmosphere. Very accommodating for our large group. Food was fab, with large tasty portions. Fairly priced. Will definitely be back 🍻

Went for a Sunday roast, tried the beef sirloin and homemade focaccia bread, service was good, food was ok, wouldn't go again for the roast.

Great atmosphere 👌 will definitely visit again. They have a different draft of Tiny rebel selections every 6 months, or so I'm told.

Good environment and drinks, the service is efficient as well, I enjoyed going there, can’t wait to visit them again

Very quiet on a very wet weekday. Almost empty. Waitresses decided at half nine to move furniture and tables around almost in a choreographed table and chair banging chorus. Could not hear ourselves speak. Bar maid was clueless about alcohol contents of beers on sale. Good points?...err we didn't get soaked in the rain. End of

Been for drinks/ dinner and also brunch. Food is good, nice atmosphere. Not amazing just nice 🙂

A great place for having a meal with family. Spacious enough for a pram, good food and drinks. Lovely and helpful staff. Reservation is recommended.

Place has a great vibe and a warm atmosphere. I enjoy Friday nights the most. The ales selection was also good. I always have the vegan burger.

Visited for some drinks. Not a huge selection of beers which I was a bit disappointed in.

Went here for cocktails and shared some small plates. The goat’s cheese dip slaps. They can be a little slow with cocktails so order them before you’re finished.

Great place. Friendly staff. Can get busy due to its popularity. Love taking the family there

Favourite place for a breakfast on a Saturday.lovely friendly staff.

My favorite place , Sunday lunch , Saturday breakfast. Friday steaks - all staff super friendly ,nothing too much trouble - only wish it was open in the day every day

Ordered soup hadn't come after 45 mims

Great establishment. Staff very attentive. Food is second to none. Warm and friendly welcome. Ambiance is great. Been coming here for 5 years. Long may it continue 👍👍

Went here for food with some friends and it was really nice, staff were super friendly and we really liked the open kitchen.

Great experience, highly recommend. The staff were delightful, all polite and helpful. Food was great and was lovely to see them preparing it in the open kitchen. Will definitely come again

A little cold and noisy but great food

The food was incredibly disappointing. We had the truffle fries, garlic & mozzarella flatbread, leek & cheese croquettes and the Xmas mac 'n" cheese. The mac n cheese is by far the worst I've ever tasted, I didn't even make it through 10% of the dish and I am an absolute cheese and carb fiend. The entire dish tasted like old dish water. The croquettes were an embarrassment, I've had better from a freezer in aldi, although the panko coating was okay if you didn't get any of the filling on the underside of it. The flatbread I managed to finish, with the help of many mayonnaise sachets, but without them it just tasted like oil Bad texture, no flavour. The chips started out okay, with some slightly crispy ones on top, then rapidly became worse after 3 minutes of being served. They were way too cold coming out of the kitchen to survive any table time. A bowl of soggy chips was not what I fancied. The price of the food seemed okay, but then we tasted it. Bringing the value plummeting down. We left 70% of our food. A huge disappointment and a clear waste of time and money. With the food out of the way, I would like to mention that there was no greeting, even when I approached the bar and stood right in front of the waitress. I had to interrupt her doing nothing to ask how we go about ordering and seating. Then what brought the review from 2 to 1 star was listening to the kitchen staff swearing clearly in earshot of the guests. Overall, a pathetic place to eat. The only recommendation I can make is that you avoid this place. I cannot find a redeeming factor anywhere in my visit.

Great place for a Sunday Roast on Whitchurch Rd (Veggie Option -Seitan, cauliflower cheese, yorkshire pudding & mushroom gravy) cool vibe, nice staff. I’ll be back to try the brunch at some point!

Reasonable food but a bit pricey.

2nd visit and glad did. Had the dirty beans which is BBQ beans and brisket. Minor mistake forgot toast. Coffee still as good.

Second time I’ve tried to eat here and walked away with an empty stomach... Walked in for food this afternoon with my family and stood waiting to be seated (there’s a sign). The two women working studiously ignored us, walking past us multiple times, until we cracked and left. We were within food serving times. They could have told us they’d be with us soon or that the kitchen was closed. Instead they were incredibly rude. The first time (some months ago) we did get seats but found out 15mins in that they weren’t serving food, again within advertised kitchen hours.

Great place to meet friends or have a casual date night. Good value, simple but tasty menu (especially the Mac and Cheese!), and nice staff

This Place is fantastic ❤️❤️ Cool and Calming atmosphere for Drinks/Coffee 🍹☕ and Food is really great by all accounts. Sunday Lunch meant to be immense 🥔🥕🥬🥩 with a great Burger too 🍔 Staff are very welcoming indeed!!

This is a great place. Simple, affordable menu and food done well.

Great food, portions a wee bit small, be it then I am greedy

Bar and food. Some craft ales and continental lagers. Busy atmosphere. Pleasant staff.

Unprofessional service,rudeness,me and my wife ,and two kids, went today to have breakfast, spoke with the chef as my kids like scrambled egg instead fried eggs ,chef was happy with that,then went to the bar to order the food and to inform the guy,he said i have to check with a chef ,then he came and said its ok but need to charge you extra for extra labour to scrumbled the eggs instead of fried eggs!!.then when we finished ,i went to pay the extra service which it does not consider as an extra as he did not put extra stuff on,then i was shocked, he charged me £8 !!.

Lovely food - tapas type, great selection of beverages, friendly and attentive staff, relaxed atmosphere but their chairs made my back stiff

A fantastic vegan and vegetarian Sunday roast, decent portion and so tasty, served with a jug of gravy and assorted sauces.

Amazing food, great energy, lovely staff. Can't wait to go back.

Staff very nice. Food ok Main Beetroot Salad very good.

Popped in for a drink with the family, is was OK. Didn't stay for food so I can't comment on that. Served by friendly staff. Thanks.

Love this place. The atmosphere of this place reflects a good taste and the lovely nature of the owner. (eg. biodegradable straws, candle lighting in the evening) Delighted that I found this place.

Society Standard does a great brunch, lunch and dinner! Especially the Sunday roast, they have a good range of veggie options and a nice range of drinks. The venue is relaxed with a industrial vibe.

Great food and drink. Highly recommended.

Nice chilled out place for food and drinks. Staff are great. Highly recommend dirty mac & cheese.

Nice atmosphere, really good food a reasonable prices

Great food in a relaxed atmosphere - we had the sea bass, chicken skewers and steak

Food was lovely. The drinks are a bit overpriced in my opinion but enjoyed them all the same. We had the society burger and it was one of my favourite burgers I've ever had!!

Nice restaurant but i need tips on how to socialize, i've not been touching grass for 100 years now

One of my favourite places for a great roast - with cauliflower cheese and red cabbage as standard 🙌

Very slow serving, uncomfortable searing, acoustics poor, difficult to hold a good conversation. Food was ok, small serving size

Reviewed 20152016. Edited 2022. My fiancee and I went for lunch. I had a Cubanos made with Italian bread and wafer-thin ham 🤪 The cuban style sandwich was fine but not worth £8.50. My fiancee had a vegan salad priced at £9.90. She too considered the food too be fine but not worth the price. The atmosphere was ruined by toddlers running around. We decided that we wouldn't bother going back.

Nice atmosphere, menu limited but. Flavoursome

Delicious roast dinner and lively atmosphere.

Small menu but the fish pie I had was delicious. Excellent service

Great place staff friendly food good the only thing I can say which I think is a bit bad is that the takeaway food is the same price as eating in

Lovely place and food, but the roast needed to be served a bit hotter!

Food lovely, atmosphere very festive, staff very friendly and attentive.

Good Food and good customer service

Great atmosphere and good selection of beers on tap. However the food doesn't match the same standard which stops me from coming back regularly.

Great food & service. Loveky atmosphere to eat & catch up with friends

Great spot for breakfast, rustic well designed place.

A truly extraordinary experience, from the reception, waitressing and food quality. Just a wonderful gastronomic pleasure.

Lovely food. Great food and service.

Very pleasant after work pint and fries here. Mellow ambience, friendly staff

Had a few beers here then came back next morning for breakfast. All great quality and great friendly service 👍🏼

Cool and quirky. Nice outdoor seating space. The roast was good, and we had a curry on the staffs recommendation, but it lacked the flavour we were expecting. A nice venue overall.

I’ve visited SS several time over the last few years. At times, I have tired of the menu as it’s not the healthiest but I have to say, I always have a good meal here. Highly recommend for a casual evening out with friends.

Came for Sunday lunch, food was enjoyable. Felt that we were forgotten about slightly being placed at the back of restaurant and had to flag the staff down a little too much.

Came here on Sunday afternoon and ordered the beef roast. Everything tasted flavoursome and delicious, the only downsize it was lukewarm and we were hoping for a larger portion of cauliflower cheese (we both only had only one small piece on our plate, prehaps offer this as an extra side dish?). Service was great and nothing was too much trouble, and the lady read our minds by bringing us a jug of extra gravy. For dessert we ordered the pudding sundae (loved it) and the lemon posset (refreshing). Will definitely return to try there weekday menu!

The roast dinner was pretty good overall ! The cauliflower cheese was the only let down 1 florette of cauliflower no cheese 😭

We had a lovely evening at Society Standard. Staff are really welcoming, chatty and helpful. The 3am Fries are amazing and hoping that Wild Beer's Bibble will be back on tap soon!

Sunday lunch not the best very bland jus or flavoured water?.

Excellent food and friendly atmosphere

Great atmosphere. Great food (I had the ribs). Great staff. Absolutely outstanding sundae (it's a big one so sharing could be a good shout) Would definitely recommend and would be a regular if I lived in Cardiff.

Great place to go for a drink and chill with friends. Good selection of drinks. Can't comment on food as didn't eat, but menu looked good and food being served did look pretty good.

Society burger with pulled pork was so damn good i got emotional.

We loved it here. Amazing food and amazing service. If we lived in Cardiff we’d be here all the time! You need to have a Sundae - best i’ve had. Thank you 😀😀

The breakfast was rubbish, the eggs were way over done, the yolks had gone completely solid. £10 for the breakfast and you only get one sausage and you're not allowed to swap out anything, absolute rip off.

Delicious food! Brought a Sunday lunch to a whole new level. Service was a little slow but other than that I would fully recommend

Always have a great time in here. Love the place. Make sure you book a table as they are always busy

Quick service and very clean. Had one issue with a hair in my drink and they were quick to apologise and make a new one.

Would highly recommend it for Sunday lunch Food was well presented tasty an was hot Great service nothing was to much trouble Will be back again soon

First impressions were underwhelming. We were waiting for several minutes when we came in — the greeter was on the phone but no other staff around the bar acknowledged us either. The decor is very bare, which is evidently a design choice, but the furniture was uncomfortable and there was a hole in the concrete floor next to our table. Our table was also sticky and had a few crumbs on it, so obviously hadn’t been cleaned well. Our order was taken promptly but our drinks took 15 minutes to arrive and actually arrived after our food. The hot chocolate was great though! The roast itself was unfortunately the most disappointing part. It was only lukewarm on arrival. The beef was fatty and anaemic-looking, the potatoes looked more as though they’d been boiled (not crunchy at all), the carrots/parsnips were similarly textureless and the gravy was very runny and there was definitely not enough of it. I did enjoy the pickled cabbage but my partner thought it overwhelmed the rest of the meal. We also didn’t have any salt in the container of condiments provided to us and had to request more. We’d planned on getting dessert but bailed lest we were further disappointed. Definitely won’t be visiting this chain again.