My much-anticipated afternoon of fine dining in Cardiff has a rather unconventional start. Sidestepping through a gaggle of college students basking in the sunshine, I slip through a revolving door into a huge education hub. The welcoming thrum of student life reminds me fondly of my own university days, but for one panic-stricken moment, I wonder if I'm in the right place. Aware I'm already running late for my booking, I make a beeline to a security guard, who swiftly assuages my fears, directs me to a lift and instructs me to go all the way to the fifth floor.
It's a quiet ascent. Teachers and learners quickly disappear as I get closer to my destination, the cacophony of the campus reducing to a murmur. Then, the cheerful ding of the lift. I step out, looking around in vain for the entrance. I spot a sign that proudly reads The Classroom/Y Dosbarth , while a smaller sign above it proclaims a gold hospitality accreditation.
This is my pit-stop for what I hope will be a couple of hours teeming with gastronomic delights. After all, The Guardian 's Jay Rayner gave it his coveted seal of approval in his 2016 review. The venue sits majestically like a gem at the very top of Cardiff and Vale College's City Centre Campus on Dumballs Road in the capital. I later discover that even its sunshine-filled glassy interior, with huge angular beams criss-crossing the floor-to-ceiling windows, is a bit like sitting inside a jewel. You can read all our food and drink stories here.
