HAVELI
Success? We don’t like it here do we? We don’t like winners. Ambition is seen as vanity while success is just so…vulgar. It’s why this summer everyone went a bit nuts when massively successful rapper Jay Z had the temerity to want to entertain us with his massively successful music.

You may be forgiven for thinking just what in Hova’s name this has to do with Haveli, an Indian restaurant that opened recently on City Road, but I promise, this is going somewhere. You see, said rapper and Haveli have a lot in common. Not only did Jay Z decide that Haveli was the place to get his after show tucker when he recently played Cardiff, but like their most famous patron, Haveli wants to be much more than you’d expect. And it has the goods to back up the ambition: Tapas and cocktails for those who want to pop in for something light; secret nooks and crannies that can be roped off if you fancy your own VIP area – Haveli caters very much for the clued-up curry loving crowd.

Thankfully, you don’t have to be a millionaire to shout the bill. Offers such as £8.95 for a main, rice and side dish defy belief considering the quality of the food - all beautifully presented and prepared with choice ingredients and cuts of meat. This egalitarian streak runs into the menu itself, which is expected to develop to the taste of the core clientele, so you really have no excuses. Yeah, you. You see, Haveli deserves to be a success and they want you to be a part of it. Try it. You might like it.
Haveli
157 City Road
Cardiff
CF24 3BQ
Tel: 029 2048 2882

CAMEO CLUB & BISTRO
One of Cardiff’s premier boozeries for those in the know, Cameo had always been the type of place you’d walk past as you headed out to laugh at Pontcanna’s glitterati drinking coffee outside cafes while a 40mph gale whipped their latte into something resembling the bubble bath from Kylie’s I Should Be So Lucky video. At least that’s what I did. Nowadays however, Cameo would be the type of place I would pop into for some tapas; or a nice breakfast; perhaps even a Sunday lunch, because after some extensive refurbishment the Cameo Club now has the word Bistro in its name. Best thing is: it’s open to non-members.

Despite the full menu not being available until after the official launch on October 16, J and I were treated to a sample of what to expect. The homemade carrot soup was so cosy it would have made you long for the leaves to start falling and the winter nights to draw in if it weren’t for the other starters – caprese of mackerel with onions and sultanas on garlic toast – conjuring up late Mediterranean nights. I almost draped my jumper over my shoulders.

For mains, again, the choice was between the hearty and traditional or the fresh and sun-blushed. Rump steak with chunky chips and onion rings was great, while for non-carnivores, the linguine with pesto was stacked high and mighty.
Rounding off with a brioche bread pudding, and a chocolate and raspberry parfait, J and I will be taking up new membership at Cameo, especially with a special offer running at the moment. Who knows, one day you might be laughing at me sitting outside with a coffee.
Cameo Club & Bistro
3 Pontcanna Street
Cardiff
CF11 9HQ
Tel: 029 2022 0466
Web: www.cameoclub.co.uk

Matthew David Scott

OK folks, grub’s most definitely up!

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