The Pilot in The Vale of Glamorgan

Big portions but poor in flavour

Not been for a while as now living out of town. But the atmosphere is really good food is great, portions are amazing I went with the burger....didn't eat for rest of day. Owers are so friendly.

Has never disappointed in the 8+ years I've been coming here. The staff go above and beyond to treat every customer with respect and deliver the best customer service possible. The food is excellent and has only improved with the recent managerial change of hands. Couldn't recommend more, one of the best places to eat in Penarth by far.

Really enjoyed our visit to the Pilot. Great choice on the new menu and the staff were really friendly and welcoming. Our food was delicious and a really nice buzz in the dining room. Will definitely be visitng again soon!

Nice food but only limited Sunday Lunch menu available

Brilliant pub with a fantastic menu. If you want a snack with your pint I'd recommend the dirty frys. I have also been here for Sunday dinner as a family and my, wife and 2 boys loved it. The meat was perfect and the veg and dessert was amazing. A fantastic selection of beer and spirits.

Located in Penarth just off the town centre, probably a five minute walking distance. This is divided into two sections, a drinking pub section and the Dining section. The Dining section was rather busy with lots of people and nice level is rather high. Clientele in there The menu was pretty much as expecting for a pub with the wine, spirit and beer selection as well as food. We was rather odd as one waitress at the order for the drinks, but could not take the order for the food followed by another waitressing the order for the food. Order the sirloin 8 ounce cooked rare, which was pretty much to perfection,but the sides were rather poor with the hand cut chips were under done. The onion ring was oil logged and soggy, the salad non-existent and the mushroom was underdone. The wine selection that I had was poor almost undrinkable. The total came up to almost £40, which seemed quite steep for a pub. The steak which is highly recommended, although the rest of the accompaniment to the dish is a let down!

The food was excellent, burger eaters were very happy as was the vegan. Delicious! Really friendly staff, very welcoming and excellent service. Thank you.

What a warm, welcoming, vibrant place! For our regular lunchtime jaunt, this week we visited François and Serge at The Pilot, and we found all the things we’ve heard of this revamped old Brains pub were well founded. It’s come a very long way from once being built to give the dock workers a place to unwind after a hard days graft to it’s current position of being a well organised and comfortable gourmet repose for those who want excellent quality food coupled with friendly atmosphere and a buzzing staff who are clearly enjoying their work. May I suggest the slow braised brisket with bourgignon sauce which melts in the mouth as the flavours dance around your tongue. Yes, it’s really that good!! Fantastic value , brilliant service, a happy owner and a chef who knows his onions, what more could anyone ask for…. Ah yes, dessert ! For that I can only suggest you allow yourself ‘a look’ at the menu, if you manage to resist dessert, you are a better man than I…. A stunning meal deserves the luxury of dessert, right ?

Really good lunchtime menu and only £11 for a main meal. The food was absolutely delicious and promptly served.

This restaurant is a gem! The scotch eggs and beef brisket are absolutely delicious, and the prices are reasonable. Service is top-notch. A must-visit for foodies! Great for a large family gather or a cosy pub meal.

Two very happy customers last night at The New Pilot. My vegan meal was by far the best I’ve had in Penarth and the best I’ve had in any French restaurant. Chef understood the need for taste, balance and portion! It was roast carrot osso bucco, which is a tomato based stew with roast carrots - delicious and so nutritious! My partner’s rib eye steak was the best she’s had around here with an amazing peppercorn sauce. The staff were fabulous - attentive, fun and yet not in your face. The owner came and talked to us about France and food. A lovely evening all round!

Excellent experience in this well recommended pub in our local area. Francois the manager/owner made us feel welcome and was very attentive and gave his honest recommendations regarding menu choices. The restaurant had a good ambience and the quality of food was excellent!

Excellent experience in this well recommended pub in our local area. Francois the manager/owner made us feel welcome and was very attentive and gave his honest recommendations regarding menu choices. The restaurant had a good ambience and the quality of food was excellent!

We visited on Mother’s Day to watch the rugby and had a stunning roast dinner. Starters, main and dessert were all perfect. I often visit with friends too - one of my favourite restaurants in Penarth for food, atmosphere and a great selection of wines, beers and cocktails 👌

Very relaxed and welcoming feel. Staff very engaged. Proprietor charming and attentive. Sunday lunch excellent. Great wine list. Will be back very soon.

A great place for great ales and wonderful food and Always welcomed by francois and the happy staff. The ales are excellent and when I wrote this the bristol beer factory ales were well lush. Good ya? croeso (bless you)

Sunday lunch is brilliant. Very tasty. Staff are excellent from the owners down. Great value for money. I rate it as excellent. Taken the family there In the week also never let us down. Stewart

Un super endroit avec une ambiance très conviviale. J’y suis allez pendant le 6 nations et j’ai passé un super moment. Le personnel est au top et la plats travaillés. Un endroit que je recommande si vous passez à Cardiff

Great Sunday Lunch, food fantastic and great portions, service very friendly and quick and great choice of beer. Would definately recommend.

Very nice place with a very good atmosphere and excellent French cuisine run by French people

Excellent minute steak and ham and eggs with a twist for lunch, really enjoyed the fab service and food, thank you and see you again soon!!!

Very nice home. Very good cuisine.

Booked ahead for Mother’s Day during the Wales v France game and the atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect to watch the game and eat simultaneously. Considering the busy restaurant, the staff were flawless with food arriving promptly and to very high standard.

Fantastic pub! Fabulous service, really delicious food and a well thought out drinks selection. I will definitely come back here every time I visit Cardiff. I had cod with patatas bravas from the lunch menu. The fish was perfectly cooked and the bravas was super tasty, a bargain at eleven quid. Couldn't recommend this pub any higher.

Amazing food and setting. A dinner out with friends. Such a lovely pub and restaurant quality plus food. Great wine and beer selection too. Friendly welcome and service! Recommended!!

Arrived to be warmly welcomed by the staff. Remembered from a previous visit which immediately makes you feel special! Service was great and food delicious. I was even tempted to a dessert which never usually happens. We will definitely be back 😊

Nous étions trois familles à manger ensemble, avec enfants, et nous avons passé une très belle soirée. Le personnel est pro et aussi très sympathique. J’ai commandé l’agneau et je me suis régalée, la viande tendre et goûteuse, les légumes (surtout la betterave) rôtis, la sauce…tout était parfait. Le dessert ne m’a pas déçue, même s’il n’y avait plus de tarte tatin, je me suis consolée avec un gâteau au citron. J’ai goûté le burger de mes enfants et la viande était aussi très bonne. Tout le monde présent à cette grande tablée était satisfait de son repas, bravo! Personnellement, cela faisait longtemps que je n’avais pas aussi bien mangé, quel plaisir.

I really enjoy an evening at the pilot - particularly Conor’s Friday club which seems to be really popular

Many thanks to Francois and his team for a fantastic night last night. Dinner for 22 was a tall order but The Pilot delivered, quality food, and drinks with brilliant service throughout the evening, Thank you.

Super tasty Sunday roast. Excellent service, great atmosphere, I highly recommend for lunch, dinner, especially Sunday roast. Delicious, thank you team Pilot!

Had dinner on a busy Saturday night, Feb 24th. The food was good, but from the moment we arrived, the staff were welcoming and the service was excellent throughout. Had a nice time.

Many thanks to Francois and his team for a fantastic night last night. Dinner for 22 was a tall order but The Pilot delivered, quality food, and drinks with brilliant service throughout the evening, Thank you!

Excellent food, good service. Though it took a while to pay.

Always a pleasure going to The Pilot! Food was great as always and the staff are fantastic.

A lovely quiet and simple place. We had a good time, even a child with us had the opportunity to play with toys made available on the shelves, we appreciated it. I ate rice with scallops, not bad, but the rice was a little overcooked. For the rest everything ok the staff very kind and polite.

Excellent pub on the edge of Penarth town with great food and selection of beers and ciders

We popped in for a belated Valentine’s Day on Friday and despite it being busy, we thankfully managed to get a table (thanks Cat!). The staff were very friendly and attentive. We ordered drinks while browsing the menu. I ordered the Camembert Samosa while my partner ordered the Breakfast Scotch Egg for starters. The portions were great and the food was gorgeous! Now for the mains, I opted for the Slow Braised Brisket of Beef, while my partner ordered the Roasted Lamb Rump. Both were amazing and again the portion sizes were generous. I couldn’t fault a thing. The atmosphere in there was great and we’ll definitely be back! Thank you! I can’t wait to see what Francois and Serge do with the place!

Fabulous day out to watch the rugby and celebrate my birthday - amazing service Serge, Francois and the team were just brilliant !!

A fantastic place to spend time with friends or partner. Always a very welcoming atmosphere and fab French style food. Cannot wait to go back …. Perhaps for the next steak night :-)

Always good food and friendly staff. We really enjoy this pub for its atmosphere. Affordable prices considering the finesse of the dishes.

Impeccable service, great food and very welcoming atmosphere… The Pilot has been a frequent watering hole for many of my friends and I over the years… Wishing the new owners and staff all the best in the future, keep up the good work!

Lovely friendly pub and restaurant, we went with friends to eat and to watch the rugby. We were very impressed with the quality of the food and the service - at times good service and good food is hard to find, but we found the Pilot first class and nothing was too much trouble, we highly recommend and will be returning very soon.

Excellent Sunday fayre.. good quality generously sized. Staff friendly and service prompt. No complaints just compliments .

No list of ingredients on food. Wouldn't be a massive deal but I have some food sensitivity issues and it didn't list the sauce or toppings on the burger. Service and staff were brilliant though, super sweet staff.

Not the best Roast Dinner for the £27 cost as veg was a bit bland/small portion but service was good until Food served afterwards we had to go to the bar to ask for everything

We visited for Christmas meal and drinks. The food was absolutely spot on, the staff were busy but still made time to chat and deliver food service. I found the one Batman a bit annoying but that could be a 'me problem' because everyone else seemed not to mind his over the top style of service. It was a really nice, interested building with books on the shelf's and everything was clean and well presented. I'd say it's one of the posher pubs iv visited but as it's in penarth I suppose that's what all the retired teachers and dentists who live there would expect. I'd definitely visit again for food and a few drinks.

Had xmas day at the pilot. Meal was fantastic. Staff superb. Will definately start to go more often. Top class.

Thanks so much for going the extra mile . Innovative Xmas menu line large pigs in blanket main and brie and fig sandwich. Wow . Excellent service. Have I booked for next week. If I wee you make a booking now. Thanks again Francois and Serge

First visit French owners who provide great service Definitely worth visiting Thanks

Fab food, fab service. Excellent hospitality. Very welcoming.

Staff were brilliant and food was delicious!

Well we were certainly not disappointed by the Sunday lunch we ate at The Pilot,Penarth. Two courses £22 three course £25. We had one pork and one turkey, everything on the plates was executed well. A bit more thought was put into this Sunday lunch than a bog standard one. We both cleared our plates. Compliments to the kitchen team and waiting staff who were very attentive without being intrusive. We had puddings too which were sticky toffee pudding and chocolate brownie both excellent, good portion sizes and equally as tasty as the main courses. I think this is probably one of the best Sunday lunches we have every had and we've had a fair few!

Lovely venue just down the road from me. I was a little disappointed in the menu choice

Great food, great service, good selection of drinks.

Dining at a local spot in Cardiff was a delightful experience. The Fish and Chips were a local specialty, perfectly crispy and flavorful. Paired with a rich Dark Beer, it showcased the best of Welsh cuisine. The cozy atmosphere, coupled with the introduction by local work colleagues, made it feel like a genuine community find. The warmth of the place and the genuine flavors earned a solid 5 out of 5.

We were looking for a nice pub to have a meal and The Pilot did not disappoint. The restaurant is nice and comfy, food was yummy and the staff were really helpful. There was a small issue with my meal and as soon as I mentioned it, they were very apologetic and helpful. We were visiting the area but if we came back, we’d definitely pay a second visit. The Pilot is a little, unexpected gem.

We've had a previous lovely experience for Sunday lunch. But tonight we were treated really poorly on arrival by the man behind the bar. Rudely ignored then forced to sit on a really uncomfortable table despite my boyfriend asking 3 times for an alternative table & my mother being 70 with a back condition & numerous other tables being available. My boyfriend had to get me an alternative chair as it was so uncomfortable. I'd never return after this experience, despite the food being very good.

Lovely warm fire and sofas to chill or tables & chairs for dining. Didn't have Brain's beer despite advertised as a Brains pub on Google so didn't stay. Shame the windows were the wrong height to see the lovely view

The staff, food and view are all exceptional. We just wanted a Sunday dinner before heading back home and it was utterly fabulous. Everytime we come to Cardiff I will eat here!

Great little pub for lunch out. Excellent food and service, we were served by Jo and Francois, lovely members of staff, very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. Will definitely be visiting again.

We were travelling an a trio, my husband and I, with our 4 year old daughter. The Pilot was recommended to us by another cafe owner, after we enquired for suggestions after a delicious breakfast (The Galley, Penarth, yum). We were delighted with the pub. The restaurant area of the pub is at the back and has a great ambience. Lovely peeks out of the window of the harbour. Food great. Kids menu has all you’d expect but they can also offer any of the mains as kids meals if you choose. Sausage and mash was great, as was burger with blue cheese extra. Service great, lovely staff. Thanks very much.

Food was nice but the quantity was incredibly stingy, I had pork came with 3 tiny potatoes and half a carrot. A main meal in a pub that costs £20 should not require a side dish to make it filling. I just remember seeing my meal and wondering where the rest of it was. Normally the average meal in a pub leaves me overfull after a main and a dessert I left unsatisfied.

Lovely place to eat. The food was good. We all had fish and chips lightly battered fish and nice wedge fries. Will definitely go again.

Nice food but it's overpriced. Good staff, imaginative and tasty starters but most mains are over £20 and don't quite justify the price.

We visited Penarth on a family vacation from Toronto, Canada. We very much enjoyed the food and atmosphere at the local pub around the corner! We were pleasantly surprised that it was pub food with a twist. We had for meals between us ranging from fish & chips to nicely plated sole. My husband really enjoyed the burger “best burger I’ve ever had!” and he’s had a lot to compare! We also ordered take away fish and chips another night and it was just as delicious. Nicely packaged. The staff were very friendly and accommodating with our whiny toddler. We likely won’t be back to Penarh any time soon but if we do come back we will definitely have this on the list!

Only had a few pints, but sister pub of the Conway can't be bad. Great location on a sunny day.

We live nearby and have always enjoyed the food here. Today, we brought our 2 1/2 year old for a bit of food, escaping the rain. The children's menu is the best we've experienced in a long while. Three courses, including versions of the main menu at a really good value price. The waiting staff were so attentive and checked in with us to time the courses perfectly. The bar staff were warm and welcoming throughout. Highly recommend this place and we will be back regularly

The waiters super fast in clearing glasses and the starters and main courses mainly very good, though sometimes simpler is better. However, a bowl of pasta ordered as main meal for small child arrived much later than the adults' meal and only after reminder. Not good. The frozen cheesecake arrived as a stone-hard block of white- and-pink, which did not taste of much even after waiting for it to defrost.

Very friendly staff and reasonable food.

We haven’t been to the pilot for a meal for ages but decided to go today for Sunday lunch at the last minute. Amazing food at a good price. Meat was cooked beautifully and an interesting range of veggies. Couldn’t fit in a pudding as well which was a shame as they sounded lovely. We will be back!

The T-bone steak was excellent!

Haven’t been for a while but received a lovely warm welcome by staff the food was very good hot and tasty which was needed on a very wet and windy day lovely catch up with lovely friends Definitely recommend going there

Very nice Sunday lunch and desert. Our first time to visit based on Google maps recommendation.

Fight broke out. Thought we’d give it try having heard great things about it on steak nights. Despite there being free tables we were seated on an uncomfortable tiny high table. Then a fight broke out behind us & the drunk fighters ended up on a nice window table to placate them. Manager didn’t seem to be able to control the area. Other people leaving all around us. Might just be a one incident, but the staff in a public house should be able handle drunk customers.

Surprised to see some negative reviews here. We have visited The Pilot many times (at least monthly) over the last ten years or so. We have been consistently pleased with both food and service as have friends we have visited with. Staff have always acted professionally and efficiently in our view, in large part due to the leadership of the team by the manager Francois. Quality and variety of food and well kept drinks has always been excellent even through recent difficult times (Covid, etc). Long may it continue.

Had an amazing Sunday lunch. Roast chicken, with lovely vegetable trimmings. Service was professional.

Beautiful food, very tasty snickers tart for pudding.

Excellent food! Came. For Sunday lunch with friends and the dog (in bar area). Really good!

Nice friendly local pub, nice views over bay too. Recommend for a quiet drink and drinking times are extended.

Gorgeous, well cooked food, lovely atmosphere with outstanding service. My favourite place for lunch.

Incredible food and super attentive staff, not easy to find for visitors / more of a local gem

Fantastic food in a lovely environment. Staff helpful. Great service. Fabulous views over the bay too.

Excellent visit. Everything was faultless. Wonderful food, service and value. Highly recommended.

The Pilot has a good reputation as a gastro pub and we booked for 4 of us to have supper on 24 May 23. It was Steak night which is apparently popular. While we waited for our food we were entertained by young kids scooting around the floor - not quite what I had expected - while another was eating in a high chair. Our steaks were good - the chips were not really chips as I know them but rather baked not fried. They were not crisp. The waitress was good and helpful. During our meal the noise level from men at other tables was very loud - why can't they just talk rather than raise their voices? Frankly, the noise level was high and not much fun for us. But I guess this is a pub, not a restaurant so I should probably not be critical. The wait for our simple puddings was long - very long. The bill was £50 for 2 which was reasonable but there was little wine drunk. Would I go again - yes only if very hungry.

Modern interior, very clean and tidy, views over tiger bay, VOG real ale was also top notch. Highly recomended

Went with friends dressed up as was a stag do. Lady behind the bar (possibly the landlady) didn't like us being there from the minute we walked through the door. She was unfriendly and discriminating. We sat in the lounge away from eating customers. We were chatting nicely with other people in there. The atmosphere was very friendly and relaxed until the lady came and asked us to keep the noise down as we were disturbing the customers. We were chatting with the customers and they were lovely. We used to play pool for the pilot many years ago and have very fond memories of it but unfortunately last night was uncalled for and disgusting behaviour from her. Every other pub we went to were friendly and welcoming it's a shame this lady couldn't of been. Won't be recommending or returning.

Love the pilot - best pub in Penarth🍺

Nice food, good service, enjoyed it

A warm welcome from Francois as always. Very nice meal (Sunday dinner) so tasty. Good staff. Deal meals are available on Wednesdays. I nice experience overall today. Thank you team.

Great atmosphere great service and great food .

Had lovely food here with my grand daughter on 22nd March. The staff were very pleasant. I would definitely recommend it

Outstanding A1 food and host amazing took my wife and friends all happy not one negative well done 👌 All the best Dave & Co

Lovely place to eat overlooking the bay, the staff were friendly But we waited a long time for our food considering it wasn’t busy. we ordered lamb with rainbow vegetables but the veg was near non existent but the lamb and potatoes were very nice.

Sacred Francis😁. Superb evening. Go Paris 😁. If you see this message we send you hello from France.

Amazing pork Belly, so tender and with all the trimmings .. and my boyfriend loves the steaks 🥩

We had the best steaks at the pilot last night that I've had for a long time. The staff are amazing and really happy to see customers which you don't see in a lot of places as they just want your money. 100% will be going again 😋

Friendly staff and wonderful food . Would recommend a visit.

Great cosy pub with an excellent view of the city. Good selection of local beer. Fantastic value lunch menu available too. I had roast duck and it was delicious, super crispy skin! The sauce was so tasty we had order extra which was no problem. Can’t wait to take my family.

Always a lovely warm welcome at The Pilot, and Wednesday Steak Night can’t be beaten. It’s hugely popular on Wednesdays, so book ahead. We went on spec, and were grateful that the team rejigged things a little so we had a nice table. Food is always good and the vibe is cosy and fun. Francois is a fantastic host, always on great form. A perfect place for a casual bite anytime.