Monday is my least favourite day of the week. I’m sure you’ll agree with me. As it’s Bank Holiday Monday today I’m not in work, but normally right now, I’d be sat at my desk ready for another five days in the office before I get to enjoy another two days off work. A great way of making the week seem that little less boring (and rewarding yourself for getting through your first day back at the office!) is to arrange to meet up with a friend after work on a Monday evening.
I did just this only a few Mondays ago, when I popped along to the Cardiff branch of Italian restaurant chain, Strada for a catch-up over dinner with my friend, Lisa. I’ve never been to Strada before, but they are running a deal where you can get any pizza you like for just £5 on a Monday!
Strada Cardiff is based overlooking the waterfront in Mermaid Quay, next door to Starbucks, with dining space both inside the restaurant and on the heated patio area outside. As it was a warm, sunny evening, we chose a sunny spot outside.
As we browsed the menu, I sipped on a San Pellegrino and Lisa went for an Appletiser (each priced at £2.50); despite it being a Monday evening, we were both on antibiotics so unfortunately couldn’t indulge in our usual glass of wine!
To start, we shared a selection of schiacciatella (flatbreads). The Aglio flatbread (£3.95) was topped with crushed garlic, rosemary and olive oil, while the Genovese flatbread (£4.25) was laden with passata sauce, fresh oregano and basil pesto.
Both torn between pizza, pasta and risotto, we decided to share two main courses. First up was the Pescatore pizza (usually £12.95) with tomato base, capers, anchovies, tiger prawns and pesto (it normally includes white crab too, but I’m not a fan so we requested for this to be left off). The base was soft and doughy, while the anchovies, prawns and pesto were a drool-inducing combination.
In addition, we ordered the Risotto Luganica (£11.95); a hearty risotto interspersed with herby meatballs, pancetta, chestnut mushrooms, pangrattato and Parmesan. This was well-seasoned, warming and full of flavour – perfect comfort food!
We enjoyed sharing our main courses as it meant we got to sample two different dishes. Plus, I don’t think I could eat a whole pizza to myself; I was so full after eating half of the pizza and the risotto, I decided to skip dessert.
Instead, I ordered a latte (£2.50) to wake me up for the journey home. This was served in a white Musetti-branded cup and saucer, and paired with an Italian amaretti biscuit.
Meanwhile, Lisa rounded off her meal with the chocolate fondant (£5.45); a rich, moist chocolate pudding with a liquid chocolate centre, dusted with icing sugar and served with creamy salted caramel icecream. Just one look at this was enough to make me wish I’d ordered dessert!
Strada Cardiff was the perfect place for a catch-up after work and I’d definitely go back there again. While it may not be my favourite pizzeria in Cardiff (Dusty Knuckle Co. holds a special place in my heart!), you can’t beat a freshly baked pizza for a fiver to liven up a miserable Monday!
Strada Cardiff
24 Mermaid Quay
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF10 5BZ
*Please note, this branch is now closed (as of January 2018).
I was invited to Strada Cardiff as a guest and our food and drink was provided complimentary; however, I was not obliged to write a positive review.
It looks like you had a fab meal there. I do go to Cardiff so have book marked this page.
Great to hear that you found this useful 🙂 Let me know how it goes if you end up visiting yourself!
I love risotto and this looks fab. I will have to see if there is a strada near me! 🙂
Definitely worth a visit, especially if they do #PizzaMondays!
Oh my goodness, that dessert looks heavenly, I resist anything with a bit of chocolate in it!
I was surprised I managed to resist ordering a dessert myself, but I was so full. Looked amazing though!
I love Strada. The flatbreads look yummy and such a good idea to order two mains to share x
The flatbreads were so tasty <3 and it was great to try two different mains 😀
It’s lovely going to Mermaid Quay in the summer to eat out by the water. I haven’t been to that Strada before, but the food looks delicious. That fondant….<3 ! x
I know what you mean, it’s the perfect spot when the sun’s shining in Cardiff.
This Strada looks amazing – I have only eaten at one, at Centerparcs. I love Cardiff too. Kaz x
I was quite impressed, considering it’s a chain 🙂 Cardiff is fab!
I love myself some flatbread before the main course! That pizza looks so delicious, I got very hungry now. Sounds like a wonderful place x
The pizza was really nice; I wouldn’t have ordered those toppings usually, but they went very well together 🙂
That Pescatore pizzza looks SO DELISH! I’d definitely have kept the crab on though – yummy! x
It was really good, I’m just not a crab lover lol.