Etc Penarth has been featured several times in Vale Life. It’s been the location for fashion shoots and has also appeared on several occasions in our social life pages. For the most part it has been an elegant backdrop – never the bride, always the bridesmaid you could say until last year’s winter edition when it made a very elegant and glamorous splash on our cover featuring owner, Konsa, and friend, Jacqui Dymock of Blayze Fashions (also in Penarth).
This time, we were visiting Etc for what it does best in my opinion: a little food theatre. A family dinner was the reason – an opportunity for us to just kick back, catch up, and enjoy great food in a beautiful and intimate restaurant.
The first thing I’d say is the décor is simply gorgeous. Black and gold never gets old and the bling factor here is turned up to the max. To be fair, the stunning interior was inherited from the previous owner and the new owners have sensibly resisted changing it. It’s truly gorgeous (you should see the loos!).
The menu is still quirky and theatrical, but the quality and delivery is even better than it was under the previous owners. That’s no huge criticism of the offering previously – just that, in my humble opinion, the food is better now (so very often it goes the other way). Talking about quirky theatrics, we loved the bread basket – a mini shopping basket with an excellent selection of breads and three gorgeous butters.
This evening it was steaks across the board with Jennifer and I choosing rib-eye (generally our favourite cut), while our son had opted for fillet. Neither of us were disappointed. The last time we dined here several months ago, I commented that I believed I had just enjoyed the best steak ever. This time, our son made the same observation without any encouragement. They were cooked to perfection.
While we were there for the excellent steaks, our son chose to indulge in “All The Fun Of The Fair” – more an experience than a dessert. I opted for the Chocolate Orange which, in hindsight, I wish I’d asked for some cream as it was incredibly rich. Both desserts were, shall we say, an indulgence and were polished off with enthusiasm.
Obviously Etc isn’t a place you’d visit every week although I understand that there are a few customers who partake perhaps a little too often to the detriment of their belt lines. Hey, who can blame them? It’s quite gorgeous and thoroughly addictive.
As a destination for a special occasion, Etc Penarth is hard to beat. Whoever you take is going to feel very special indeed and the staff always go the extra mile to make you feel special. If you do need to book, make sure you do in plenty of time. It has a loyal and growing fan base, and this family is certainly among them.
Etc
1 Royal Buildings
Stanwell Road
Penarth CF64 3EB
029 2009 0060
www.etc-penarth.com
…
The owners of Etc. have moved on to pastures new…
The restaurant has now been replaced by Home by James Sommerin. James was our cover star for the 2021 Summer edition of Vale Life.
Click here to view.
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