Swansea in General

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Other ops about Swansea have covered the pubs, so I thought I would assist the more sedentary amongst us, by reviewing some of the many many eateries in this city, which really do cater for all budgets:

FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS
THE POTTERS WHEEL
Contact details: The Potters Wheel, 86 The Kingsway, Swansea, SA1 5JE
Telephone: (01792) 465113
2 meals for a Fiver - they have a variety of meals to chose ...
...details: Brynymor Hotel,The Brynymor Rd, Swansea
Telephone: (01792) 466650
2 meals for £5 - reasonable traditional offerings served with chips, rice or a jacket potato and a salad garnish.
Pool table and lots of video games - CHILDREN WELCOME

THE WIG AND PEN 10 mins walk from the town centre)- just down the road from the Westbourne:
St Helens Road (sorry no phone number)
2 meals for £5 - drinks ... more

UPDATE TOWARDS END- NEW ADDITION - BOMBAY SPICE: 12/08/01

Other ops about Swansea have covered the pubs, so I thought I would assist the more sedentary amongst us, by reviewing some of the many many eateries in this city, which really do cater for all budgets:

FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS
THE POTTERS WHEEL
Contact details: The Potters Wheel, 86 The Kingsway, Swansea, SA1 5JE
Telephone: (01792) 465113
2 meals for a Fiver - they have a variety of meals to chose from, and also offer traditional fayre such as Steak, Mixed grill and Homemade Steak and Kidney Pie, prices between £4.99 and £6.99. You will also be assured of a cheap pint, about £1.29 for a pint of bitter (nothing unusual from a Wetherspoons pub in my experience travelling around the country). They also have a non-smoking area. CHILDREN NOT WELCOME.

THE WESTBOURNE (10 mins walk from the town centre)
Contact details:Brynymor Rd, Swansea, Glamorgan
Telephone: (01792) 476637
8oz Rump Steak, ½ chicken and chips, fish and chips, £3.00
Ham roll and chips c£1.50 and many many more offers
CHILDREN WELCOME

THE BRYNYMOR(10 mins walk from the town centre)- just up the road from the Westbourne:
Contact details: Brynymor Hotel,The Brynymor Rd, Swansea
Telephone: (01792) 466650
2 meals for £5 - reasonable traditional offerings served with chips, rice or a jacket potato and a salad garnish.
Pool table and lots of video games - CHILDREN WELCOME

THE WIG AND PEN 10 mins walk from the town centre)- just down the road from the Westbourne:
St Helens Road (sorry no phone number)
2 meals for £5 - drinks are quite expensive so haven't sampled - but told it is very good value for money.

THE BUILDERS
The Builders Arms,The 36 Oxford St, Swansea (2 minutes from the town centre)
Telephone: (01792) 455462/516178
Used to very expensive (but good), but apparently the pub has changed hands and now offering two meals for £5, plus they have dropped their prices by about 30p a pint.

There are many many more, in and around the town centre that offer good value for money eats and cheap beer, including the Goose, The No Sign Wine Bar and the Bank Statement (also Wetherspoons in Wind Street)

We also have 2 McDonalds, Wimpy, Burger King and a Pizza Hut in the town centre for the traditionalists.

RESTAURANTS
As a 'Swansea Jack', and a big fan of eating out, I can genuinely say that it would be unfair to give one restaurant in Swansea a review, when there are so many good ones to chose from. Therefore below, you can find a brief description and price guide to some of my favourites, if you are ever in the area, check one out.

Nooks, St Helens Road - This is definitely one of my long term favourites. It offers a range of standard fayre including, steaks, burgers, salads, and chicken in various forms, plus a wide variety of desserts if you get that far, portions are generous. Nooks has not put its prices up in nearly 8 years, and represents really good value for money, at between £5 and £10 for a main course. Starters are around the £2.50 mark and my favourite is the deep fried mushrooms with Garlic Dip. Drinks are comparable in price with local pubs. The restaurant is not posh in the traditional sense of the word, but dress-wise, smart or casual will do. Service is fast and friendly: 01792 458635
Food - 5/5: Service - 5/5. Price - 5/5.

Rendezvous, Princess Way - A chinese restuarant that offers a wide range of chinese and international cuisine. About £8.00 for a main course without accompaniaments. Steak - £11.00 - drinks are not cheap, but there are free prawn crackers for everyone. Service can be a little slow, and it is wise to book in advance and it is always busy. There is pianist playing in the main area, and lighting is dim. 01792 467113
Food - 6/5 (can I do that?) Service: 4/5. - Price: 3/5. UNLESS YOU VISIT BEFORE 7.30pm, you are unlikely to get a table without booking.

Anarkali, St Helens Road - This is an Indian restaurant, offering a wonderful range of tasty dishes - definitely the best in Swansea, although if you can't get a table here there are many more good ones to chose from. Prices are fairly standard in the area with little to chose between them. On Sundays the restaurant offers an 'eat as much as you can' buffet, offering a selection of dishes including, Chicken Tikka Massala, Tangri Kebabs, Chicken Kurma, Prawn Dupiaze, Lamb Curry, Onion Bhajees, Rice, Chips, Salad, poppadoms and Naan bread, rounded off with Sliced oranges and After Eight Mints, all for the price of £7.00 adults £4.00 children under 10. Drinks again are comparable with local pubs - you can also just have a jug of ice water if on a budget. 01792 650549 Food: 5/5. Service 4/5. Price: 5/5

PACO's, St Helens Road. A Spanish restaurant offering a wide range of spanish foods, average price two courses c£20. Not cheap, and it doesn't serve pints, only bottles of spanish lager. Well worth a visit for a special occasion, although it may be wise to book in advance:01792 301522.
Food - 5/5: Service 5/5. Price: 3/5 (but worth it)

Miahs - a big church opposite Nooks, is the largest indian restuarant in the area, seating, I believe around 200 people. It is big, brightly lit and offers a wide range of indian dishes, with a small selection of british meals for those with blander taste buds. Ideal for big groups of people, not so appealing for a quiet romantic night out. The restaurant has recently opened and has quickly developed a cult following. I did not find the food the best, and have eaten better. The service is very slow. Chicken Tandoori Biriani - £7.50: Also offers a buffet on Sundays.
Food - 3/5. Service - 2½/5. Price: 5/5.

Kingsway Balti, Town Centre - a value for money, good quality Indian restaurant, that daily (5.30pm - 10pm) offers a buffet menu, where you select one item from each sector of the menu, including starter, main course, accompaniment and side dish for the princely sum of £6.50 (£3.50/child) per head. If you finish all this, you can re-order (not starters) at no extra cost. Drinks again are city centre pub prices. You shouldn't need to book, but be prepared to wait.
Food: - 5/5: Service - 5/5. Price: 6/5.

UPDATE: 12/08/01
My birthday meal - the best kept secret in Wales
Until a week ago, I thought I had tried every decent (& not so decent) Curry House in Swansea - until I met

THE BOMBAY SPICE
Well hidden and totally off the beaten track, the food is gorgeous, all the usual indian fayre in a gentle ambience consisting of a small bar area and water fountains, piped english orchestral music and a wonderful choice of very very tasty food that puts most of the other restaurants I have talked about in the shade. Meal for two with starters and drinks - £25. Sunday Buffet - £7 per adult, £3 for children under 10, under 5's free, choice of:

• Prawn curry (spicy)
• Chicken Tikka Massalla
• Chicken Korma
• Bombay potato
• Vegetable Curry
• Naan Bread
• Chickpeas
• Pilau Rice
• Chips
• Mixed Salad

Popadums and drinks are extra, but if you are on a tight budget then they do iced water.

Well worth a visit (if you can find it)
Bombay Spice Indian Restaurant, Mill Lane, Blackpill, Swansea
SA3 5BD
(01792) 402402

Driving out from Swansea towards Mumbles, turn second right after the Shell Garage, and then next right - if you reach the Woodman Pub you have gone too far - although I would advise you to book first, particularly at weekends, because this place is busy with a wealthy clientele, yet suits most budgets.

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The St Helens Road area of the city, about 2 minutes walk away from the city centre, offers an abundance of restaurants from all corners of the world, including Spanish, Indian (there are so many you will struggle to chose), Balti Houses, Cantonese, Italian, Libyan and lots of small bistros where you can take your own alcohol.

If you visit Swansea, you must try a meal here, your biggest problem will be staying long enough to try everything. if you travel out onto the Gower Peninsula, there are many many more eateries, although prices naturally will be a little steeper. Good recommendations are: The Gower Inn, Parkmill, - the West Cross Inn, West Cross, the Pilot, Mumbles, The Rock and Fountain, Newton, the Kingsbridge, Gorseinon - but trust me, you will need to book at many of them as places go fast (and they say there is no money around here) ENJOY!

PS: IF YOU WANT A NIGHT OUT - LOOK NO FURTHER - CHECK OUT SOME OF THE OTHER OPS IN THE CATEGORY

 

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