Top 10 things to eat at Locke and Remedy in Cardiff

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Locke and Remedy opened last month in the Old Library building on Trinity Street, Cardiff and I’ve heard nothing but good feedback about the new bar/restaurant since.

Based within the former Old Library on Trinity Street, Locke and Remedy has undergone an extensive revamp under its pub chain owners, Marston’s Brewery. However, I’m pleased to say that you wouldn’t guess that this venue is part of a chain; it has exactly the kind of character and charm you’d expect from a Grade II-listed building. A colour palette of turquoises, teals, purpley-pinks and blue-grays runs throughout the restaurant, from the decor to the elaborate furniture, while the high ceilings are complemented by low hanging lighting.

The menu is just as classy as the decor, keeping it simple with two main options – gourmet burgers and wood-fired pizzas – alongside a range of sides, desserts, cocktails, craft ales and coffee.

Here are my top 10 things to eat at Locke at Remedy, based on the food I sampled at the launch night last month and on a recent visit to the restaurant (I can’t keep away!)

1.Buttermilk chicken burger (£8.50)
Wrapped in Locke and Remedy-branded greaseproof paper and served on a metal tray, this enormous chicken burger was fried in a crispy, light buttermilk batter and served with a home-made spiced coleslaw and little gem lettuce in a fresh sesame seed bun. I chose to add cheese as an extra, but it would have been just as tasty without; the chicken was tender and succulent, while the coleslaw was fragrant and spicy.

2. Mushroom and sticky red onion burger (£8)
Not just any old veggie burger, Locke and Remedy’s mushroom and red onion burger has built up quite a reputation amongst Cardiff’s food bloggers. Consisting of a crispy Portobello mushroom (we suspected this had been deep-fried), sticky red onion, blue cheese sauce, tarragon mayo and little gem lettuce wedged between a soft bun, this veggie burger was full of flavour and texture. It had a real ‘bite’ to it; even if you love your meat, you won’t feel like you’ve missed out by ordering this.

However, it was a little overpriced for a veggie burger. I still can’t quite figure out why it costs £8, when a cheese burger only costs £7.95 and an enormous chicken burger costs just £8.50. The mind boggles…

3. Black pudding burger (£9.95) 

I thought the black pudding burger might have been too rich and ‘heavy’ for my liking, but it was actually one of the best burgers I’ve tasted in Cardiff in a long time. A meaty 6oz, dry-aged beef patty was topped with quality black pudding and finished with double cheese, American mustard mayo and sliced beef tomato. I wouldn’t hesitate to order this again.

4. Garlic bread (£3)

Served on a slate board, Locke and Remedy’s garlic bread takes the form of pizza dough rolled out and coated in confit garlic butter and freshly chopped flat leaf parsley, before being baked in a pizza oven. The fresh garlic and herbs really made a difference to the taste, although the base had a tendency to harden as it cooled, so you need to eat it pretty quickly to enjoy it at its best.

5. Goat’s cheese, mozzarella, peppers, spinach and olives (£8.75)
You know Locke and Remedy mean business when it comes to pizza when you’re greeted by a wood-fired oven at the entrance to the restaurant. All of the pizzas are sourdough and cooked fresh to order, topped with a freshly prepared tomato sauce.

Pictured below is the goat’s cheese, marinated mozzarella, peppadew peppers, spinach and olive pizza. The base was thin and crispy, while the creamy, melted goat’s cheese and mozzarella complemented the tangy olives and sweet peppers perfectly.

6. Pizza topped with smoked mackerel, king prawn, mozzarella, mascarpone, rocket and soft boiled egg on a garlic butter base (£12.50)
Another pizza that caught my eye at the opening night was this smoked mackerel, king prawn, marinated mozzarella, mascarpone, rocket and soft boiled egg option, served on a confit garlic butter base.

I’m not the biggest fan of seafood and if I was to order a pizza, I wouldn’t even consider ordering anything with fish or seafood on it usually – especially not with egg on it. However, Locke and Remedy’s version was delicious. The smoked mackerel tasted surprisingly good paired with the egg, while the king prawns were juicy and succulent. Meanwhile, the garlic butter base was tasty yet not overpowering, helping to create a really unique combination of tastes as far as pizza goes.

7. Parmesan fries (£3.50)
When it comes to fries, Locke and Remedy has it covered with four different options: house, sweet potato, mixed and Parmesan fries.

We tried the Parmesan fries at the launch night and enjoyed them so much, we decided to order them again on our second visit to the restaurant. Golden brown and crispy, these fries were topped with a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan to match the fairly large size of each portion.

8. Sweet potato fries (£3.50)
The sweet potato fries were just as good as the Parmesan equivalent. Only too often, I order sweet potato fries in restaurants and they turn out to be slightly on the soggy side; lacking the crispy coating common to good fries.

Locke and Remedy’s offering didn’t fail to disappoint. Firm and crunchy with a soft, fluffy center, these sweet potato fries were so good, I just couldn’t stop eating them!

9. Chocolate brownie with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream (v) (£5)
Those of you with a sweet tooth will be pleased to know that Locke and Remedy serves several delectable dessert options, including this warm chocolate brownie with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. Served warm, the brownie consisted of a soft, chocolate base interspersed with gooey chunks of chocolate.

The vanilla ice cream was smooth and creamy, preventing the dish from tasting too rich or sickly, while the salted caramel sauce made for a pleasant finishing touch.

10. Georgia Mint Julep (£8.50)
Okay, so this last one is something to drink rather than to eat, but you’re going to need something to wash down all that food!

I was particularly impressed by this Georgia Mint Julep cocktail; a concoction of Courvoisier VSOP, Briottet apricot, and Monin sugar syrup, topped with mint leaves and an edible flower.

I really enjoyed both of my visits to Locke and Remedy and I will definitely be returning again. After taking a look at their breakfast menu, I’m very tempted to pop in one morning. Alongside the traditional Full English (£8.50), I love the sound of the short rib bubble and squeak with fried eggs (£8) or avocado, sauteed mushrooms, roasted vine tomatoes and poached egg on toast (£7).

Have you been to Locke and Remedy before? What’s your favourite dish on the menu? Leave a comment below 🙂

Locke and Remedy
18-19 Trinity Street
Cardiff
CF10 1BH
(029) 2167 6982

I was invited to Locke and Remedy’s launch night as a guest and I received complimentary vouchers towards the cost of a burger and fries on a separate occasion. However, I was not obliged to write a positive review of the restaurant.

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