Winners of the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2022 and those recognised as highly commended runners-up have been revealed and some of Wales' most-loved eateries made the cut - and quite rightly so - being nominated for best restaurant, best place to drink, best value restaurant and Sunday roast.
Taking place on Monday, October 17 at the Freemasons Hall in London, the Observer Food Monthly Awards - which was last held in 2019 - celebrate Britain's leading chefs, restauranteurs, food producers - among others - and is one of the biggest events in any foodie's calenders.
Nominated by Observer readers, Bar 44, The Warren, The Bab Haus, Purple Poppadom, The Stubborn Duckling and Tap & Tân were all voted for as having some of the best food and drink offerings in the UK. Adding to their already delicious reputation, The Warren, Bar 44 and The Stubborn Duckling were recognised in more than one category.
Read more: The father and son behind Cardiff's number one restaurant on TripAdvisor
Reacting to their recognition, Cardiff favourite Bar 44 wrote on Instagram: "RUNNER UP FOR BEST SUNDAY ROAST IN THE UK. Thank you so much @obsfood for the recognition. Well done to our team & thank you to our amazing customers for voting for us. It has been a very challenging few years for us & our industry so this means the world to us"
Read on to find out why these three restaurants are amongst some of the best...
The Warren, Carmarthen
Runners up in best restaurant, best place to drink and best Sunday roast.
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This restaurant is a sustainable and organic restaurant run by prestigious chef Deri Reed - who recently revealed a new community canteen project he was fronting. The Warren opened in 2016 with strong sustainable and ethical goals of opening a restaurant which serves simple, honest and wholesome food that uses local, seasonal and organic ingredients.
The Observer's reasons as to why they were included in the best Sunday roast nominees were: "Local, regenerative, sustainable and seasonal is the focus of the kitchen here, even on Sundays. Vegans are welcome (half the starter and pudding menus are suitable), as are those with gluten restrictions, locals, tourists – everyone."
Read our review of the Warren, here.
Where : 1 Mansel St, Carmarthen SA31 1PX
The Stubborn Duckling, Aberaeron
Runners up for best restaurant and best Sunday roast
This intimate, cosy and relaxed restaurant is located in the picturesque Georgian harbour town of Aberaeron and opened just two years ago during the pandemic. But that challenge hasn't stopped it from thriving and being recognised in this year's OFM awards.
The bistro was described in the awards round up as: "The name is cute but at dinner time cooking skills in the Duckling are serious. Perhaps you’ll start with Duck liver parfait with malt toast and crackling, then choose local lamb, green peppercorn bordelaise and truffle-cheddar mash. The only other question is, will you stop at two courses, or try the treacle tart?."
Where : 25 Sgwar Alban, SA46 0AJ
Bar 44, Cardiff
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Runners up in best place to drink and best Sunday roast
Run by siblings Owen Morgan, Natalie Isaac and Tom Morgan, Bar 44 is much-loved for its small Spanish-inspired tapas plates using local Welsh and seasonal Spanish ingredients, sherry and gin offerings. These delights don't just stop at Bar 44 too - they also run Asador 44 and new boutique hotel Parador 44.
"The walls are wood-panelled and the bar lined with Iberian tiles, so it seems fitting to order a sherry – the menu has many styles across a three-page list, not to mention vermut, Spanish wines and plenty of tapas.", The Observer said of the Welsh city centre favourite.
For our round up of some of Cardiff's other delectable Sunday roasts, alongside Bar 44, see here.
Where : 15-23 Westgate St, CF10 1DD
Tap & Tân, Tenby
Runners up in best place to drink.
Set within a bustling vibrant courtyard, Tap & Tân offers fire-cooked feasts and local craft beer from Tenby Brewing Co. With 10 draft taps, they celebrate the wide range Wales has to offer and they always have a "big fridge stacked full of crushable juice bombs to drink in or take away". In addition to fresh and crisp beer, they have selected independent and seasonally chosen spirits to make your evening of drinking the most delicious - if you order a smokey negroni, you won't go wrong.
The Observer Food Monthly Awards said: "A collaboration between Tenby Brewing Co and Feast Pembrokeshire to showcase the best of what each offers – interesting beers and live-fire cooking with a local focus."
Where : Food Quarter, The Mews, Upper Frog Street, SA70 7JD
Purple Poppadom, Cardiff
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Runners up in best restaurant
From renowned Cardiff chef Anand George, the award-winning Purple Poppadom is one of the city's most beloved Indian restaurants - and one listed in the Michelin guide. Tucked away in Canton, Anand serves coconut and curry leaf fragranced cooking from his home region of southern India alongside incredible high-end versions of dishes from across the country. Read our review here.
The Observer's awards noted: "Chef Anand George takes traditional recipes from across India and gives them a contemporary twist for Wales. Expect dishes that may be less familiar – Alleppey prawn curry with raw mango, ginger and coconut sauce, perhaps – alongside his tasting menu, which could include a Syrian-Christian take on duck."
Where : 185a Cowbridge Road East, upper floor, Cardiff
The Bab Haus, Caerphilly and Barry
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Runners up in best value eats
Running across two sites, this small independent family business based in South Wales specialises in modern BBQ, inspired by the flavours of Mexico "and beyond".
With one in Caerphilly - the Bab Haus HQ 'Smoke Shop' - and the other in Barry, Bab Haus Mex in Goodsheds, they serve up tacos, nachos, loaded fries, corn ribs, frozen margaritas and Mexican beers alongside Texas-inspired smoked BBQ meats and sides.
Announcing the news to its followers on Twitter, the Bab Haus wrote: "We’ve been voted runner up in the @obsfood awards for best value eats and I’m completely floored. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to everyone that voted for @thebabhaus this is huge for us, HUGE. Love my team x"
Where : Bedwas Industrial Estate, Caerphilly and Unit 3, Goodsheds, Hood Road, Barry
The OFM accolades for Welsh establishments came in the same week as four of Wales' pubs being included in The Guardian's Top 30 best roasts in the UK and three of Britain's best restaurants in the Good Food Guide Top 20 are Welsh.
For all the winners at the Observer Food Monthly Awards 2022, see here.
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