We have just got back from another glorious week in Newport which involved a *lot* of eating and drinking. Whilst I don’t think our waistlines are thanking us, it was enormous fun and it gave us a good excuse to add to our growing library of Newport eatery reviews…
In the cross hairs today is Llys Meddyg, which you will see on the corner of the A487 and Feidr Pen-y-Bont, which is the road that will take you over the iron bridge and on to Peg-y-Don. If you have ever read anything in the press about Newport, there is a good chance that Llys Meddyg will get a mention as they are definitely hot on all things PR and good at promoting both the hotel / restaurant and Newport itself.
Along with Tides, the seafood restaurant on Market Street which we still haven’t actually been to, Llys Meddyg is definitely at the top end of most budgets. We actually went to Llys Meddyg for the first time to celebrate my 50th birthday, our wedding anniversary and the purchase of Peg-y-Don. We had an absolutely amazing meal and loved everything about it, but it is very much in the ‘special treat’ category of restaurants for us as it is extremely easy to end up spending a small fortune on the mouth-watering options that you can see from the sample menu at https://www.llysmeddyg.com/restaurant-bar/.
There is, however, another option – the ‘Supper Club’ that was announced last November and offers a 3-course set menu for only £25 per person. The menu changes from week to week and is inspired by the season’s finest ingredients, but you can see what is on the cards in any week by looking out for the announcements on Llys Meddyg’s Facebook page. The Supper Club is a brilliant way to enjoy all that Llys Meddyg has to offer without breaking the bank. Judging by how busy it was, it appears to be a fantastic winning formula and it was great to see the restaurant completely full and joyful. I would definitely recommend booking in advance.
The Cellar Bar
Llys Meddyg is a really interesting venue, including a wonderful ‘Secret Garden’ with very funky covered / heated pods that open up dog-friendly options for dining, but no visit is complete without a pre-dinner drink in the cellar bar if you are visiting in the winter months as it is lovely.
You have to try it to really appreciate the space, but it is really cosy (thanks to the wood burner, which is well stoked throughout the winter as far as we can tell) and a great way to kick off your evening.
The Restaurant
When you have polished off your drinks in the bar, you head upstairs and across a small courtyard to enter the restaurant, which is an extremely welcoming space that successfully combines a clean / modern feel with some lovely rustic furniture:
I actually took this photo on our previous visit, when it was quieter (and we were quite early) – it was completely full and bustling last Thursday, testament to the success of The Supper Club as a concept.
The normal a-la-carte menu was available, but we had chosen to go for the Supper Club menu. Ali went for the cured salmon with avocado and cucumber, whilst I went for the cauliflower velouté with curried cauliflower fritters and hazelnut. We both then opted for the braised ox cheek bourguignon for the main course (the other option being a crispy aubergine curry with couscous and pomegranate, so vegetarians are catered for) and then the cheese board (rather than the lemon posset and blueberry compote) for dessert:
Apologies for the less than stellar photography skills – the photos do not do the food justice but I can assure you that it was absolutely delicious. Seriously tasty!
The portions are not enormous, but definitely not stingy and more than enough to satiate. It is a great example of perfecting the simple formula of using incredible ingredients and applying superb cooking skills. We loved every mouthful and washed the delightful food down with a very nice bottle of red wine that was definitely not over-priced at £24.
I should also mention the service, which is excellent. Very relaxed and informal, which we love, but extremely attentive and great fun. The restaurant was buzzing and they had to work hard, but the atmosphere was great.
Should you go to Llys Meddyg?
The easy answer is – absolutely.
The longer answer is – absolutely, but go to The Supper Club if you are more budget conscious. It really is a fantastic experience and I think that £25 per person for the highest quality food in a brilliant atmosphere is actually incredible value – you will probably spend that amount in a dire service station on the way home…
I should also point out that I don’t actually think that the a-la-carte menu is over priced for the quality that you will enjoy. As I mentioned in our review of the Castle Inn, you have to pay for quality and it is unfair to blame Llys Meddyg for the inflation that affects all restaurants these days. It is definitely at the top end for Pembrokeshire, but it is amazing and it does feel like a treat to go there. I am not sure if The Supper Club will run through the summer high season, but there is not doubt that it represents a great way to treat yourself without worrying too much about the cost.
We absolutely loved our visit and will definitely be back. Newport is spoiled for choice when it comes to great places to eat, but Llys Meddyg definitely warrants its reputation and we would absolutely encourage anyone visiting Newport to try it for themselves.
