*Jamie's Italian Cardiff Super Lunch Menu Review

Gorgeous aroma; Italian-inspired, quirky interior decor and a buzzing, friendly atmosphere at first glance are just some of the makings of a great restaurant. Last week I received an email from the lovely people at Jamie's Italian asking if I would be interested in popping into my local Jamie's Italian to try out a few dishes on their Super Lunch Menu then review. Of course I jumped at the chance and my lovely boyfriend came along with me. This was my very first visit to the Jamie's Italian restaurant here in Cardiff and I had always wondered how it would compare to so many other popular restaurants. I've been so busy with my studies this year that I haven't had much opportunity to eat out as much as I'd like. Then again, I thoroughly enjoy cooking so no complaints there. Now that my studies are over for the summer; I'm delving back into blogging head first. 

When we walked in, we were greeted with a smile and seated at our table promptly. We had a nice table by the window and this was effective as I had lots of natural light for shooting my food photos. After being handed the menus, we schemed through & ordered our drinks. Our waitress (Megan) is probably one of the nicest people I've ever met; she was young and bubbly, extremely helpful & our conversation with her was free flowing which instantly made us feel comfortable. 

Perfectly situated in the city centre, Jamie's Italian offers delicious Italian food prepared with "fresh, carefully sourced, seasonal ingredients". Their super lunch menu offers gluten free, vegan and healthy options all at a very reasonable price. Jamie Oliver as we all know is a big brand and I'll be the first to admit that I was expecting their prices to be a lot higher than they actually are. Do I have your attention now? You know you want to read more ↓

Are you ready for this? Their super lunch menu is available Monday-Friday 12-6pm (Two courses for £11.95 or three courses for £13.95).

This is the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat after a spot of shopping maybe or just because you want to. Heck, we all deserve a treat. Watching your figure for the summer? No worries. All their dishes come with nutritional information and this can be found on their website. It's always good to know the number of calories you're taking in before hand.



Now let's discuss the real reason why you're here, the  F O O D.
STARTERS: As you're already aware, I suffer from IBS and so I have to watch my gluten intake. For my starter, I went for a Gluten Free option, Pea and Mint Soup (pictured below) served with freshly baked foccacia. The soup was served hot which is always a win for me. It was creamy and absolutely delicious and this is coming from a girl who rarely eats soup.  My boyfriend had Fritto Misto for his starter. He is a massive seafood fan and this crispy fried fish and squid tossed in fennel-spiced flour with garlic & lemon aioli "hit the spot". Those were his words. 

 Pea and Mint Soup served with freshly baked foccacia

Fritto Misto

MAINS: Typical Nokhuthula, always going for Steak! It wasn't like that this time I promise, this wasn't Sirloin *rolls eyes*. I had simple Steak and Fries with Orange juice (marinated skirt steak, flash grilled & served with garlic butter, aged Parmesan, slaw & fries) and my goodness Skirt Steak so good! Forget Rump, Sirloin or even T-bone, I'm a changed woman, skirt steak has officially won me over and I don't think I'll ever go back. My boyfriend had Jamie's Big Five Salad for his mains (refreshing bowl of quinoa, fennel, peas, crunchy red chicory, grapes, radish & plenty of herbs with a lemony extra virgin olive oil dressing). This dish is gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and a healthy option; I had to have a taste. It was rich in flavour, fresh, very well presented (I eat with my eyes) and well made; definitely going down as a favourite in my book. My boyfriend also had Jamie's Octopus Ravioli which he clearly enjoyed.

Steak & Fries

Jamie's Big Five Salad

Jamie's Octopus Ravioli

DESSERT: After devouring his octopus ravioli, my boyfriend couldn't take anymore in at this point but I had just enough space left to squeeze in this Mighty Mess Sundae (Vanilla ice cream, strawberry yogurt, smashed meringue, strawberry compote & baby basil). It's made up of ice-cream, every girl's best friend, so of course I took my time with this one. Joyous!

Mighty Mess Sundae

Before we left, the manager popped over for a quick chat which was nice. Ah, summer sure does make you appreciate Cardiff's beauty and Jamie's Italian is no exception. Their decor is outstanding; I'm still in awe.

Thank you to the team at Jamie's Italian for having me, your service was great; your food even better. 

Would I recommend it?  Yes.

Where is it?

Unit LG 69/70St David's 2 Shopping CentreCardiffCF10 1GATel: 02920 027792

Until next time.

Nokhuthula xo