Base + Barley, Queen St, Cardiff

How good has pizza got in Cardiff recently? Well, now it's something we go out for. 

Quite apart from traditional Italian restaurants, there are interesting things happening all over the area- from popup kings (and newly pemanent) Dusty Knuckle via streetfood specialists Pizza Pronto to city centre favourite Locke & Remedy, all firm favourites of this blog. 

Newest arrival Base + Barley, a rebranded Artigiano, ticks all the usual new opening boxes: bare wood, exposed brickwork, hanging lights. A framed print of Stone Roses lyrics is a welcome touch for nostalgia fans. A well-chosen beer list includes a strong showing from US favourites- Brooklyn, Flying Dog, Goose Island- as well as the UK and further afield- Einstok, Innis & Gunn, BrewDog and more.

A bottle of Flying Dog's heftily hoppy Snake Dog IPA and an Innis & Gunn Original were just the thing on a balmy Spring evening.

A first portion of fries wasn't crisp enough and needed an extra half-minute in oil. A portion of chorizo got things quickly back on track. It was excellent- roasted in Rioja and sweetened by the addition of tiny shallots. Served with strips of toasted flatbread for mopping up that thick jus, it was a lovely, lovely thing: I could have done with a lot more of it. It was one of those starters which make you wish you had asked for six of them and not bothered with anything else.

The 'Fully Loaded' burger, slathered with oozing Emmenthal and thick-cut bacon, was thick and flecked with roquito peppers bringing a background hint of sweet heat. The time the fries were absolutely spot on, in contrast to the earlier portion.

The pizzas here are named with the minimum of flannel: 'No.1', 'No.2' etc. Mine, topped with torn prosciutto and portobello mushrooms, doted with mozzarella, had just the right amount of 'chew' in the sourdough base. All in all, rather an impressive effort.

On to desserts and a fondant delivered a big hit of dark chocolate, but was slightly uneven in temperature and could have done with an extra minute or two in the oven to make it the fully indulgent treat it should be.

A couple of tart little sorbets- orange sorbet and blackcurrant, just the thing after all that meat and cheese, and a hefty jet-fuel double espresso, and we were done. 

These little niggles should be easy to iron out and we gained the firm impression that they care about getting it right here. Base + Barley is already becoming a favourite post-work relaxation spot for many (although there's also an impressively full breakfast selection too) and a prime place to wind down after another yet day as a wage slave, somewhere to eat and get a little early-evening buzz on. 

'I hear my needle hit the groove' indeed. 

We were invited to Base + Barley for review purposes, and as such all food and drink was complimentary.

Base + Barley site- menus/contact details/etc

Base + Barley 
115 Queen Street, 
Cardiff 
CF10 2BH

Open Mon - Thur 8am-10pm, Fri - Sat 8am-12am, Sunday 10am-9pm