Pitch Restaurant
Situated on Cardiff’s ever-busy Mill Lane, we arrived at ‘Pitch’ for lunch on a sunny Saturday in April. With the slightest sliver of sunshine this street becomes a Mecca for al-fresco diners, but this day the still-chilly breeze sent us indoors.
Owner Ben Browne attempts to source all his ingredients locally or from within Wales and his aim is to champion Wales and Welsh produce to all customers. Thankfully decor-wise they’ve left the leeks and sheep to the kitchen. White clean walls, exposed brick, rustic-timber tables and chairs and a sincere warm welcome all feel very genuine, wholesome and homely. This is a modern Wales that hasn’t forgotten its roots.
To start I chose the Caesar salad with poached egg – the egg nicely gooey, the leaves crisp and fresh and the dressing satisfyingly creamy and tangy – the anchovy providing a salty ‘hit’ and the cheese adding proper weight to it.
My dining partner J’s cod goujons were massive yet light – the batter delicate and fresh, the meat tender and flaky. This was a good omen for the mains. J chose the lamb burger with minted aioli. Cardiff is blessed with some really good ‘‘burger joints’’ at the moment – so choosing this as a main could leave you rueing your decision. Luckily for us it paid off. The patty itself was generously proportioned and thankfully looked less McDonalds – more Old Macdonald Had A Farm (if your Granny made burgers they would look like this). More importantly it tasted properly delicious. The lamb was moist and not overshadowed by the mint and reminded me more of childhood Sunday roasts than any fast-food style outlet’s offering. The homemade ‘slaw also deserves a mention – the horseradish kick being a welcome surprise.
I chose my main off the specials board, opting for mussels in white wine sauce and chunky bread. I usually suffer from raging food envy but this time I was happy with my choice. If this is ever on the specials again – go for it. The mussels (fresh from Pembrokeshire) were huge and the sauce so yummy I asked for a spoon to slurp it all up once my bread was gone. Dessert was a croissant bread and butter pudding...with two spoons. It sounded too tempting despite us being so full and didn’t disappoint – the croissant bread ensuring it sat lighter in the tummy than its traditional equivalent.
A thoroughly enjoyable way to while away an afternoon...though I was tempted to stay till the lunch menu turned evening menu and do it all again.
Pitch Restaurant
3 Mill Lane
Cardiff
CF10 1FL
029 2022 8882