What do you do when you are hungry, not particularly flush and fancy a night out?
That’s the position we found ourselves in last week, on a cold Tuesday evening. Having seen a 2 for 1 burger offer online, we headed down to Bill’s Cardiff Bay to make the most of it and check it out in person – and it turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable midweek treat.
From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed, with friendly staff and attentive service that immediately made us feel at home. It was exactly the kind of place you want to escape to when the weather outside is less than inviting.
My husband opted for the Blockbuster Chicken Burger Tray (£19.50) — and “blockbuster” is no exaggeration. This is a dish clearly designed for heartier appetites, featuring a buttermilk chicken burger with cheese and pickles, rosemary salted fries, and a generous helping of wings. Diners can choose between honey mustard or buffalo & blue cheese dip — although, true to form, Mark went for one of each.
I chose the BBQ Bourbon Beef Burger (£16.95), topped with pulled BBQ beef brisket, cheddar, house pickles and a splash of Kentucky bourbon, served with rosemary salted fries. The portion size was impressive, and as part of the 2-for-1 offer, my meal came free — excellent value for money. That said, my appetite is somewhat more modest than most, so Mark ended up helping me finish it off.
Both dishes were well cooked, flavoursome and satisfying, reinforcing Bill’s reputation for generous portions and comforting, well-executed food. It wasn’t our first visit here, but it definitely won’t be our last either and while we were tempted by the offer and our need to recover from ‘broke January’, the quality and quantity of food was definitely well worth it even if we’d paid full price.
In fact, combined with the warm welcome and attentive service, it made for a really pleasant early evening out, we ate rather quickly due to the cold weather outside, ate until we were full and then went home early to cuddle back up in our PJs – but that’s down to the weather and no reflection on this comfy. cosy spot – and we will be back to enjoy their hospitality again soon.
For relaxed dining, friendly service and reliably good food in Cardiff Bay, in our opinion, Bills remains a strong choice.
—