Shopping centre restaurant is one of UK’s ‘best hidden gems’

Located in the heart of St David’s shopping centre, Ciliegino, a family-run Italian restaurant, has been hailed as one of the UK’s top hidden culinary gems by TripAdvisor.

Situated on the first floor of the bustling shopping centre, Ciliegino, which opened its doors in 2017, offers a distinctive dining experience that sets it apart from its chain restaurant neighbours.

Since its launch, the restaurant has consistently impressed diners, boasting an average 5* rating across 1,065 reviews.

It proudly holds second place on TripAdvisor’s top five list for Cardiff, just behind The Empire Restaurant, and has now secured fifth place on the hidden gems list as part of the Travellers’ Choice Awards.

In a review by WalesOnline reporters in 2023, they wrote: “Three of us went to Ciliegino for lunch to try it out – and my main criticism lays with us; we didn’t sample enough of what the menu had to offer.

“Ciliegino’s location is slightly nondescript among all the big chain brands in St David’s centre, and I’d walked past it before without paying it much attention.

“The menu is pretty varied, with eight pasta and 13 pizza options – including the classics like carbonara and pepperoni pizza, more “British” dishes like spaghetti bolognese and Hawaiian pizza, and some more adventurous stuff like a curry pizza or a ‘Cardiff Sauce’ pasta (featuring double cream, egg yolk, parmesan, chicken, blue cheese, parsley, and pepper – we’re not sure what makes it ‘Cardiff’).

“It’s all relatively well-priced and clocks in at around the same price as most Italian restaurants, with most pizzas costing between £11.90 and £14.90, and generous helpings of pasta between £11.50 and £16.50 (the latter and more expensive containing several different types of seafood).”

The diners chose calamari for a starter, which at £8.90, “gently raised” their eyebrows cost-wise, but proved to be worth every penny.

Next, they selected chicken arrabbiata (£14.50) and two pizzas – one Margherita (£11.90) and one pepperoni without cheese (£12.90), about which they commented: “In hindsight, we’d gone a bit basic, missing the menu’s more adventurous-looking ‘Chef Recommendations’ but what we ordered did the job perfectly well.”

“The pasta was served in a garlicky tomato sauce that was rich but not overpowering, with the individual pieces of tomato helping it to feel more substantial and adding little punches of flavour. The portion size was deceptively big, and the chicken pieces – nothing special but with a nice smoky flavour – were generously heaped in.

“The highlight of the two pizzas was the dough, which Ciliegino’s website boasts is prepared over 48 hours which helps it to taste better and lighter. To be honest, I don’t pride myself as a judge of what is and isn’t authentic, so I couldn’t tell you what difference 48 hours makes, but whatever they’re doing is working.”

The feast ended on a high with an exquisite tiramisu (£6.50) and cannoli (£6.50), acclaimed as “top quality.”

The reviewer candidly expressed, “I’ll admit – and you’ll probably agree – we barely scratched the surface of the menu here. If I visited again, I’d push the boat out a little more, because the rest of the food looks fantastic.”

They added, “What I tried was at the more basic end of the spectrum, but there’s nothing wrong with the basics done well. Plus, I’m tempted to find out what ‘Cardiff Sauce’ actually tastes like.”