When it opened
earlier this year, Caffi BARICS seemed to have chosen a curious location: around
the back of St David Centre’s on the corner of quiet Barrack Lane Admiral Building
Last week
we went for lunch at Caffi BARICS to see what was on offer. There was plenty of
seating inside (and outside when the weather improves), while the café also does
take-away. Our fellow customers were construction workers and staff from nearby
shops. There were plenty of staff working in the café, and service was very
efficient and very friendly.
My partner
had the lunchtime meal deal; choosing the jacket potato with chilli con carne,
served with coleslaw and green salad, with a mug of tea or coffee included for
price of £3.95. The chilli was good, home-made rather than homogenous, with a
creeping hotness. Lunchtime meal deals start from £2.50, with a range of
sandwich, baguette and panini options. The carved roast beef bap with chunks of
roast potatoes looked tempting. Soup of the day when we visited was Tomato and
Basil.
I had one
of the freshly made all-day breakfasts, which are a feature of the café. The
Sizzling Seven comprises bacon, sausage, grilled tomato, beans, fried egg,
black pudding and toast; with tea or coffee included in the £4 cost. I had a
mug of coffee.
Nothing
fancy here, but good food and certainly good value. There’s a hint of nostalgia
in the décor, which is traditional British café. The Union Jack bunting is
still up from the Diamond Jubilee (maybe it’s permanent) and there was free
samples of Victorian sponge cake by the till.
You may be
fooled into thinking, given the competent branding, that Cafi BARICS is part of
a UK-wide chain. However, Cafi BARICS is a one-off (although success may spawn
others). It’s location on
Cafi BARICS
is therefore a Social Enterprise business. As they say on their website: “We
are a socially responsible business that reinvests any surplus (profit) back
into the café for the benefit of our customers rather than directors or
shareholders.” In addition: “Whenever possible we support the local economy by
sourcing products, goods and services from local businesses and suppliers in South Wales .”
Out of the
café window, the view of the Motorpoint Arena will soon be replaced by one of Admiral
HQ. Caffi BARICS will be a good place to watch the building go up and to
contemplate, over a coffee, the ongoing reinvention of Cardiff
Caffi
BARICS
Tel: (029)
2035 9059
Open
Mon-Sat. 8am-5pm.
Caffi
BARICS:
Twitter: @caffiBARICS
Linc-Cymru:
Barrack
Lane Retail Enterprise
Admiral HQ
plans (with a drawing of how the completed building will look):
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