Since its opening in February 2020, Thomas Simmons' restaurant - named Thomas by Tom Simmons - has piqued the interest of foodies who aren't just residents in the surrounding areas of Pontcanna and Wales, but visitors from further afield exploring all the capital has to offer. Being one of Cardiff's top restaurants with mentions in guides like Hardens, Good Food Guide, the AA guide - to name just a few - it has even caught the eye and become a regular lunch and dinner spot for big stars of television shows like Doctor Who, This Morning and His Dark Materials.
With a menu that boasts Welsh produce complimented by French cooking techniques and has been described in the past as "unfussy comfort food which demands repeat visits", it's no surprise it has continued to thrive over the last three years - despite closing (temporarily) just one month after opening due to the pandemic.
After reopening in June of 2020, it received a rave review from The Times restaurant critic Giles Coren and when we went along soon after, our reviewer said that they had been served up "some of the most refined and beautiful dishes we've ever eaten in Cardiff" - read more on that here.
And it seems some pretty big names are in total agreement. Millie Gibson, who is the latest companion of new Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, has been spotted there recently - after becoming an honourary Cardiff resident (read more on that here). And Wales' own Carol Vorderman went for a roast some weeks ago as well as Sian Lloyd.
Thomas by Tom Simmons in Pontcanna has even attracted some stars from Hollywood such as Lin-Manuel Miranda and Luis Guzman, who visited the popular eatery in 2021 when they were filming separate projects. Posting to his Instagram Luis wrote: "Two Boricua’s just chillin in Cardiff… Lin Thank You for You gifted Talent and being Real as Real Hermano… #Lin -Manuel Miranda."
Of course, being spotted in Cardiff isn't unusual for Lin, who has been seen in and around the city on multiple occasions while he's been in the country filming for his hit show His Dark Materials.
We spoke to Tom, who on March 1 launched a Welsh inspired St David's Day menu that will be running Wednesday to Friday during the month of March, to hear what he thinks of all these celeb sightings at his successful restaurant - and his response is pretty refreshing.
He said: "It's great that they choose to eat with us. There's lots of other great restaurants. But to be honest, I certainly don't treat them any different to anyone else that would come through the door. It's great to get that recognition and they've obviously got a great social media presence so when they do post or tweet, it certainly helps.
"We've had people come to us because it's quite... you're able to escape. It's quite intimate. You don't get bothered by anyone. You can sit there and kind of do your own thing without being hassled."
He adds: "We're really pleased with how we're getting on and the attention that we've had from it." However, when they do come in, Tom doesn't tend to find out until the day after they've been - and even if he knew, he wouldn't treat them any differently to his other customers.
"I'm in the kitchen all the time," he says. "Half the time they're in, I wouldn't even know they were there! [When] they've been in I find out a day later from a post on Instagram or something. We've had a fair few celebs in in the last couple of years. We've had [the Doctor Who cast] in a few times. Have a lot of cast from His Dark Materials in as well. It's great 'cause I think they film just around the corner."
And while it's great publicity for his restaurant, Tom isn't too fussed on which celebrities walk through the doors. "As a businessman, I see every customer the same. As long as they're paying to sit down, without sounding too blasé, I don't mind who comes through the door!"
Tom - who runs Thomas with his partner Lois as well as co-owning another incredible popular Pontcanna haunt, Ground Bakery - launched his new lunch menu on St David's Day and wants to champion the best produce Wales has to offer and will also be providing a tasting menu.
Items on the menu include Welsh beef tartare with Laverbread mayonnaise and tarragon cracker, a white asparagus velouté with Rarebit toastie - for starters. For mains, line-caught Cornish cod with "leek & potato" and BBQ cauliflower with hazelnut romesco, Swiss chard, and onion jus are just some of what's on offer.
Speaking of this special, limited edition menu, he said: "We've got a set lunch menu that is champioing the best produce that we can get our hands on in Wales. That runs Wednesday to Friday for the whole of March lunchtime. And we're also introducing a tasting menu with a similar ethos. To be fair, our whole thing is about championing Welsh produce, but we're just putting special care, with St David's Day, into sourcing some really great produce.
"I think the tasting menu will be really popular," he adds. "It gives people a chance to taste a bit of everything we do and showcases what we do."
As for what's on the horizon for this hot spot in town, Tom's focused on "pushing the standard as much as we can" but reveals there are ideas in the future for a terrace menu - to enable guests to be able to sit on the terrace, "watch the world go by, have some really nice snacks and some lovely cockails" - and a private members club with a speakeasy bar and kitchen that'll serve small plates. How exciting - watch this space!
Thomas by Tom Simmons is found at 3 & 5 Pontcanna St, Pontcanna, Cardiff CF11 9HQ
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