Gorse

Featured reviews

• L

  Lauren Sourbutts-Hughes

  ·1 month ago

  “Always a warm welcome at Gorse. The menu was outstanding. Perfectly captures the ethos of food grounded in Wales and the land. The sommelier is exceptional. Between our group we had both the wine & soft pairings and loved every choice. The best non-alcoholic drinks menu I’ve seen. Playlists is always on-point. 5* for the music alone”

  Read more
• E

  Edward Wickham

  ·3 months ago

  “Absolutely incredible, I was blown away by the menu. There was not a single thing that I could complain about. One of the best if not best meal of my life. This was my stag do (unconventional I know) but they made everything amazing it even seemed like the playlist of songs was for us. Beautiful selection of drinks and honestly the best food. Can not rate this high enough.”

  Read more
• T

  Tash Shan

  ·3 months ago

  “We are on an extended road trip around the UK after having lived in London for 4 years, and I thought this was one of the best meals I have had in this country. I loved Tom Water's style of cooking - seasonal, pared back, layered, elegant. The scallops were generous, the fish perfectly cooked, the desserts delightful. At £95, I thought it was fairly priced for the quality of food and number of courses - 7 plus bonus snacks. It's glorious when a restaurant gets all the little things around the food right too. Here it's the understated simplicity of the dining room, chefs that bring dishes to the table and a lovely laid back atmosphere. A beautiful selection of small bites to start and finish, perfectly timed courses, beautiful handmade servingware. It's casual, unpretentious, elegant and technically perfect - even the madeleine petit four was the best version I've ever had, served warm. If I was being very nitpicky, the butter was too warm and the red wine needed to be slightly chilled - but to be fair these are minor annoyances in an otherwise perfect meal, and it was a very rare heat wave in Wales. I didn't love the table at the back of the restaurant, it feels a bit like being shoved in a corner but it was absolutely worth it to be able to eat here.”

  Read more
• C

  Carol Jones

  ·5 months ago

  “Every course a delight. More than deserves its Michelin star. Tom Waters will surely take it to a second in the near future - an extraordinarily talented chef. It was a complete joy from start to finish.”

• N

  Natasha

  ·6 months ago

  “Gorse had been on our hit-list for some time before eventually visiting at the start of March for the dinner tasting menu. Every dish felt carefully considered - balanced , creative and refined. Courses with elements substituted due to my dietary requirements (no fish/seafood) still had the detailed explanations and flair of the standard courses. For a menu with such a strong influence from the sea, I never once felt I was missing out. Staff were welcoming and attentive throughout, and the selection of cocktails and spirits had some brilliant standouts. Great to see plenty of local Welsh choices, including from Hive Mind Mead which is a huge personal favourite. Gorse is fully deserving of its Michelin star and I'll be dreaming of the rhubarb dessert for the foreseeable!”

  Read more

• J

  Jay Marie

  ·6 months ago

  “An absolutely exquisite meal and experience from start to finish so today I made my second visit in 4 weeks. I was made to feel very welcome as a solo diner which is very kind for a start as they are FULL. I had the 7 course tasting menu plus wine flight on a weekday lunchtime. The 'snacks' are such a lovely special touch and divine. All dishes were exquisite and the heavenly heavenly desserts. Service was so warm and attentive. I've had some amazing meals in some wonderful restaurants but I am inclined to think this was the best of all.”

  Read more
• C

  Craig

  ·6 months ago

  “The welcome is as warm as one could hope for. With the entrance set beside the charming, compact kitchen, guests are greeted not only by the front-of-house team but by the chefs themselves—an immediate and personal touch that sets the tone for the experience. This is a jewel of a restaurant, thoroughly deserving of its Michelin star. Every element has been considered with meticulous care, from the thoughtfully composed dishes to the ambience of the room itself—intimate, elegantly lit, and tastefully understated. It is clearly a labour of love from Tom and his team, and that passion resonates throughout. And the food—truly exceptional. This is the first Michelin-starred restaurant I have visited where every single course impressed without exception, each dish delivering both precision and creativity in equal measure. We look forward to returning soon to experience the new, more expansive tasting menu.”

  Read more
• C

  Cardiffgirl _

  ·7 months ago

  “Finally got to dine here for a special occasion & it certainly lived up to expectations. The restaurant itself is cozy & intimate, with an open kitchen. We had the seven course vegetarian tasting menu and every course was delicious, seasonal & creative. I also opted for the wine flight pairing which definitely elevated the dining experience, the sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and the service overall was impeccable. A wonderful experience and fantastic addition to the Cardiff dining scene. Glad to see they retained their star, its very well deserved.”

  Read more
• J

  Jayne Brown

  ·7 months ago

  “Thoughtful, clever cooking focused on Wales and its wonderful regional produce. Delivered more than I was expecting, and I was expecting a lot. Special shout out to the staff. They were professional but friendly and created a lovely relaxed atmosphere.”

• R

  Rhys Owen Edwards

  ·8 months ago

  “As a small boy from Llanishen, it felt very nostalgic walking the streets of Cardiff again. What filled me with joy though, was experiencing this little gem of a restaurant, tucked away as it is. The welcome was as warm as they get. The door adjacent to the quaint kitchen ensures you are greeted by not only the hosts, but the chefs too! A humble little room, perfectly lit and tastefully decorated. The restaurant is a labour of love from Tom and the team, and it is apparent. Service is immaculate, only pipped by L’enclume in my opinion. The staff were on par with the best of the Michelins we’ve experienced. Friendly, attentive and genuine. They were a delight. The food?! My goodness, what a treat. This is the first Michelin I’ve been to where EVERY SINGLE COURSE was exceptional. The Fallow deer? Perfection. The best piece of meat I’ve ever tasted. If I have just one critique of an otherwise perfect meal, both desserts are rich, creamy with a little tarte fruit. Just a little crunch to either of the desserts would allow better distinction between the two. Maybe a stem ginger or a biscuit. Albeit, I’m not a big dessert guy, but the smoked cherry? Chefs kiss. It is by far, the BEST dessert I’ve ever tasted. Including Moor Hall. Including L’enclume. THE BEST. the day before we visited another Michelin that shall remain anonymous (because it wasn’t the best experience) , but we had just the two courses and the cheese board. And the cost of the meal was equal to the absolute experience that Gorse put on. For the quality of service and food, this was fantastic value. Kudos. Tom and the team have built an absolutely delightful experience here in Cardiff. And I couldn’t be more proud to have such a great experience just a stones throw from where I was born.”

  Read more