Labelled as the most romantic restaurant in Cardiff is the brand-new Maison de Boeuf. It’s the perfect time to make dinner plans. Leave the Welsh capital for the French capital for a few hours and enjoy mouth-watering French dishes. Don’t want to miss out; here’s what you can expect.
This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase or sign up for anything from this website, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
It’s easy to feel as if you’ve escaped Cardiff and been transported to Paris at Maison de Boeuf. The restaurant is the ideal setting for an intimate celebration or a memorable date with your special someone. Just remember you need to pay in Pounds, not Euros!
FREE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide
Get your FREE Visting Cardiff Checklist and Guide with over 25 pages full of travel tips, how to get around, places to visit, food and drink, shopping, parks and green spaces, some Welsh phrases and a travel itinerary.
Maison de Boeuf Review
Fancy a little getaway to Paris?
The latest venture by Cardiff alums, the Barker family, is now open. The husband and wife team Stephen Barker and Charlotte Barker are behind Gin and Juice, Rum and Fizz cocktail bars, and Coffee Barker and Barker Tearooms.
Maison de Boeuf officially opened its doors on Friday 12 May 2023, after hosting a few soft launch evenings. Found tucked away in the Castle Arcade at the former site of Madame Fromage. It’s one of the exciting places to eat in Cardiff city centre.
French Restaurants in Cardiff
The magical little place has a romantic Parisian atmosphere and aims to wow diners with its effortless style, great food, and an inspired wine list. The interior oozes French charm with dark wooden panels, red leather seating and bright white tablecloths. It feels so authentic, with French music playing in the background (although it was a little loud).
Maison de Boeuf Menu
In English, Maison de Boeuf means Beef House. And that’s what you’re going to get. The all-day French inspired bistro serves a Prix Fixe Menu, a set menu built around a single main course of a certified PGI Welsh beef steak, frites (French fries), a secret sauce and green salad. Vegetarians and vegans can take advantage of this, as there is a Maison de Boeuf plant based steak also.
The single main course is £20.95. However, for a bargain of £29.95 per person, you get a starter, the steak frites main and a dessert. The classic French starters included a smoked cheese soufflé and escargot (snails) with black garlic butter, but I had to go for my all-time favourite; French onion soup.
Just like in France, the desserts were a bit nut-heavy, including a pistachio crème brûlée and a hazelnut choux. So, I was limited in what I could have. My options were a giant profiterole with hot chocolate sauce, a trio of French cheeses (for a £4 supplement), or the French apple tart. This came with vanilla ice cream and flambé brandy.
What can you drink?
The wine list at Maison de Boeuf has been designed to cover every budget, from French table wine to classic fine wines. With a good selection of white, red, rose and sparkling Prosecco or Champagne. These are available by the glass, a carafe or a bottle.
The Gin & Juice mixologist team has created the cocktail menu to serve some of the finest Parisian-inspired cocktails. As a dark and spiced rum lover, I was disappointed that they weren’t included in the Cardiff menu but understandable. Of course, there’s French Martini’s and French Fizz. Also, flavours you often experience in France, such as rhubarb, vanilla, raspberries and mint. However, an extensive gin, rhum (rum), and mixer list too.
After dinner, coffee – or liquor coffee – is made with the family’s signature organic Coffee Barker roast. There are some gorgeous after-dinner cocktails too.
The drink prices are a tad on the expensive side, with most large glasses of wine around £9 and the cocktails between £10-12. I know it’s a French restaurant, but I would have preferred my large glass of wine to be in a large glass, not in a small one.
Maison de Beouf Cardiff Reviews
Starters | Entrée
The French onion soup met all my high expectations; the caramelised onions were sweet, working well with the beef-rich broth. I always have to devour the bread, as I’m not too fond of it when it is too soggy. So I enjoyed battling the generous amount of gruyère cheese melted on the top to get to it – even if this was un-lady-like at times. A little peppery for my taste, but it was the best thing I ate on the evening. It was beautiful! I wish I had another bowl!
My dinner date had the twice-baked smoked cheese soufflé. The flavours were there. However, it did not have the rise you’d expect of the dish. It was not light and fluffy but compact and condensed.
Main Course | Plat Principal
As I expected, and because I have a big appetite, the main meal could have been bigger. I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t had the three courses. But only with the size and the amount of steak. The meat was beautifully tender and with a delicate taste.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try the secret sauce, as it has walnuts in it (I’m intolerant). I would have had fun testing my palette to decide what was in it. Instead, I had garlic butter, which did not have a strong flavour. My dinner date had a second helping of beef, but because I couldn’t have the sauce, I wasn’t even offered it. The chips were also frozen, not homemade – which would have made me think they take the menu seriously – and were incredibly salty. When I go again, I’ll ask them not to season them.
Dessert | Dessert
The end of the meal is surely the icing on the cake. The French are known for their incredible desserts. This course was going to blow our socks off. Wrong!
The apple tart was a massive disappointment. I wanted a crumbly, buttery crust oozing with cooked apples. I love the caramelised flavour when paired with sweet vanilla ice cream and flambeed booze. However, it wasn’t a traditional tarte tatin. It did not even look like the traditional pudding and was rather lacklustre on taste.
My dinner date wanted to rush the other courses to get to the dessert. She kept changing her mind on what she wanted to try, as they all sounded so good. The one she wanted had sold out, so went for the giant profiterole. I had to hear about her disappointment all the way home. The pastry was tough, and again it lacked any real flavour.
Despite the waitress saying they were made in-house, I’d highly dispute this. And if I am wrong, some time and consideration need to be put into this area.
(A few people DM’d on Instagram, saying when they visited, they had a traditional tart tatin – which makes me feel robbed! And more upset that I didn’t get to experience it. I would have preferred them to say they were sold out.)
Regardless of my criticisms of the dessert, I had an enjoyable evening. The decor in the restaurant is sophisticated, and it’s a beautiful spot for dinner. It is a restaurant I will return to, but just for two courses. Or two servings of that French onion soup! I really want the restaurant to succeed and be a firm favourite on the Cardiff restaurant map for years to come!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s everything you need to know before visiting Maison de Boeuf in Cardiff.
Maison de Beouf Opening Times
Maison de Boeuf will be open for lunch from 12 noon until 3pm, and will re-open for dinner from 5.30pm until 9.30pm Wednesday to Sunday. Tables are allocated a 2-hour time slot. The bar will remain open for drinks until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Book Maison de Boeuf
Pre-booking is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. A handful of walk-in tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Maison de Boeuf Address
Maison de Boeuf is found at 21 Castle Arcade, Cardiff CF10 1BU.
What Three Words: ///assets.intervals.bowls
How to get to Maison de Boeuf
The closest train station is Cardiff Central. It is about an 8–10-minute walk to the restaurant.
Transport for Wales now offers Multiflex, which gives you 12 journeys for the same price as 5 returns. There are stops in Taffs Well, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llandaff North, Cathays, Cardiff Bay, and two in the city centre. Plus, who doesn’t want to save money to spend on French cuisine?
Does Maison de Boeuf have parking?
There is no onsite parking. However, you can pre-book your parking and save!
NCP Park Pass is an easy way to save money on parking. Not only do you access special parking deals, but you also don’t need to remember where you put the ticket collected at the barrier – mine always gets lost in the handbag. As payment is contact-free and cashless, you do it on your phone.
You can always pre-book your parking online and save money if that’s not your thing. Find a car park, choose your date and time, enter your details and make your payment. Once you’ve booked your parking online, you will receive a confirmation email detailing your booking and how to enter and exit the car park.
Maison de Boeuf dress code
There’s no strict dress code. However, most patrons wear smart casual attire and a little more glam on the weekends and special occasions.
Cashless Venue
Maison de Boeuf Cardiff is a cashless venue. Only card payments are accepted, apart from American Express.
Beaujolais Day
The Beaujolais celebrations include live jazz in the arcade and a complimentary glass of wine after the meal in Gin and Juice or Rum N Fizz. The special menu is running all day on Thursday 16 November 2023 for £29.95 per person.
Maison de Boeuf Contact Number
The Maison de Boeuf phone number is 02922 804462
Reservations can also be made on the Maison de Boeuf website.
Social Media
Maison de Boeuf Facebook | Maison de Boeuf Instagram
Drinks in Cardiff
Whether looking for an after-work drink with colleagues, a boy’s or girls’ night out surrounded by cocktails, or a date night spot, you’re always close to the best bars in Cardiff city centre.
- NQ64 Cardiff
- Flight Club Cardiff
- Golf Fang Cardiff
- Roxy Lanes Cardiff
- Tonight Josephine Cardiff
- Rooftop Bars in Cardiff
- Cocktail Bars in Cardiff
- Best Bars in Cardiff
- Wetherspoons in Cardiff
- Quiz Nights in Cardiff
- Dog friendly pubs in Cardiff
Cardiff Restaurants
Cardiff is a foodie’s delight. From the quality of the produce to the level of cooking, at both the casual and cheap eats, Cardiff is staking a serious claim to being one of the most exciting places to eat in the UK.
- Afternoon tea in Cardiff
- Bottomless brunch in Cardiff
- Steak restaurants Cardiff
- Vegan restaurants in Cardiff
- Thai restaurants in Cardiff
- Japanese restaurants in Cardiff
- Caribbean restaurants in Cardiff
- Chinese restaurants in Cardiff
- Burger restaurants in Cardiff
- Street food in Cardiff
- Welsh food in Cardiff
- The Best Michelin Restaurants in Cardiff
Get 50% off food in Cardiff
We all need to refuel and rehydrate. If you love food and drink, do you have a Tastecard? You get 50% off the food bill or two meals for the price of one. There are over six thousand participating restaurants across the UK. Get a 90-day free trial here:
Stay the night
If you know when you’d like to travel, try to book in advance and as soon as possible. Prices tend to rise the closer you get to the travel date. However, there is a vast array to accommodate all budgets.
easyHotel Cardiff
The easyHotel Cardiff has double rooms (with or without a window), accessible bedrooms and twin rooms. Found a short walk behind Cardiff Queen Street train station, the budget hotel has en-suite bathrooms, heated rooms in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. WiFi is free; pay and display and multi-storey car parks are nearby.
Radisson Cardiff
The Radisson Blue Hotel Cardiff is in the city centre. The 4-star hotel has smart TVs in the bedrooms, private bathrooms with complimentary toiletries, laptop-compatible safes, and limited onsite parking.
Radisson Hotel Discount Code
Get 15% off 3 or 4-night stays, 20% off 5 or 6-night stays, or 25% off for 7 or more nights in luxury rooms and suites. When you use the Radisson Hotel Promo Code LONGER, you’ll also receive complimentary high-speed WiFi on unlimited devices. More information
Dog friendly hotels in Cardiff
Your perfect dog-friendly escape in Cardiff awaits! Before I had my rescue dog, Ivan, I didn’t think Cardiff was very dog friendly. How wrong was I? The dog friendly hotels in Cardiff include national chain hotels, budget brands, pubs and country houses.
The Copthorne
The Copthorne, part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, is a traditional 4-star hotel in Cardiff that is ideally located between the city centre and the coast of Barry Island. Ideal for business travellers, couples or families, it is a perfect base. You can expect free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool and modern in-room amenities. Book early and save up to 20% off:
The surrounding areas
Don’t be afraid of staying out of central Cardiff, either. Penarth, Barry, Caerphilly, Pontypridd, and Merthyr Tydfil are the surrounding areas connected by regular buses and trains. You can also plan with LastMinute.com. Stay at great hotels at a fraction of the price.
Cottages and Houses
The award-winning business, Sykes Cottages, has properties across the UK, and the ones near Cardiff are beautiful. From cosy lodges with traditional woodburning stoves to contemporary accommodation with a hot tub. With all the amenities you could need, including parking, WiFi and many dog-friendly places, check out Sykes Holiday Cottages.
FREE Visit Cardiff Checklist & Guide
Get your FREE Visting Cardiff Checklist and Guide with over 25 pages full of travel tips, how to get around, places to visit, food and drink, shopping, parks and green spaces, some Welsh phrases and a travel itinerary.
Do you want to be the first to read my latest blog posts? If you have enjoyed my Maison de Boeuf review, you can stay updated with my other news, the best of Cardiff, South Wales and travel features by signing up for my mailing list:
Follow me on social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Related Articles
Best places for a dinner date in Cardiff
Social dining at Hotpot Spot in Cardiff
Lezzet Turkish restaurant in Cardiff
The restaurant is the ideal setting for an intimate celebration or a memorable date