Cardiff’s fine dinning food scene has another reason to celebrate after Lofft in Pontcanna was officially added to the MICHELIN Guide, becoming one of its latest UK additions.
The intimate restaurant is the latest chapter from Welsh chef Tom Simmons, who has evolved his Pontcanna restaurant into two distinct but connected dining experiences, Lofft and Thomas by Tom Simmons.
While the brasserie offers the more relaxed side of the operation, Lofft takes things in a completely different direction with an intimate fine-dining experience centred around a ten-course tasting menu.
And when we say intimate, we mean it.
Just 12 Seats Around the Kitchen
Lofft is built around a small 12-seat counter, where diners sit around an open kitchen and watch the chefs prepare each course right in front of them.
Led by Executive Chef Tom Peters, the menu puts seasonal Welsh produce at the heart of the experience, taking some of the country’s best ingredients and turning them into carefully considered dishes.
Peters brings some serious experience to the Cardiff kitchen too, having previously worked at Roux at Parliament Square and three-MICHELIN-starred Maaemo in Oslo, as well as appearing on MasterChef: The Professionals.
The MICHELIN Guide currently lists Lofft as a new addition in Cardiff, categorising its cooking as Modern British and placing it in its highest ££££ price category.
The recognition comes after inspectors visited the restaurant and praised the cooking, ingredients and overall experience, including the use of Welsh produce such as Carmarthenshire lamb.
A Big Moment for the Cardiff Team
For Simmons, Peters and the small team behind Lofft, appearing in the MICHELIN Guide represents another major moment for a restaurant that’s doing something quite different in the city.
The pair said: “We’re incredibly proud to see Lofft recognised in the MICHELIN Guide. For our small, 12-seat counter in Pontcanna, this is a huge achievement for the whole team.
“It means a great deal to see the skill and care that goes into what we do, and the experience we create for our guests, recognised in this way.
“We couldn’t have reached this point without everyone who has joined us around the counter and supported Lofft along the way.”
They added: “We’re hugely grateful to the MICHELIN Guide and to everyone who has believed in us so far. It’s a really special moment for the team, and we’re only just getting started.”
Another Boost for Cardiff’s Food Scene
Being included in the MICHELIN Guide doesn’t automatically mean a restaurant has been awarded a MICHELIN Star, but selection itself means the restaurant has impressed the Guide’s inspectors enough to be recommended.
And for a restaurant with just 12 seats tucked away in Pontcanna, it’s a significant achievement.
With seasonal Welsh ingredients, an open kitchen and a tasting menu that puts diners right at the heart of the action, Lofft is bringing another ambitious dining experience to Cardiff.
Now, it officially has the attention of the MICHELIN Guide too.
