Oscar my dog can be a bit of a dick (well they do say dogs are like their owners) and can be somewhat intransigent as he gets older (I do somewhat indulge the little troublemaker and would happy transfer a few years of my life to enlongate his if that were ever possible, as he thinks I can do no wrong and in that he is very much in a minority of two – me and him).

One of Dick’s favourite walks is up behind the cathedral in Llandaff, by the Taff (I have to drive him up there as otherwise it would take an eon to get him up the hill to the village from my house, as he sniffs and pees on every pillar, post, tyre, blade of grass, etc., etc. – if you are making stuff with wild garlic in the Llandaf area my advice is wash it very well as I can almost categorically guarantee that Dick has pee’d on it)

He has a little run around, when oddly his tail often unwinds from its usual curly self, and a bark at any other dog that has the temerity to say hello (because he is a dick).

After the most miserable of start to spring, and the monsoon winter that preceded it (god I hate this dreary, miserable rain soaked weather – when is the Med climate I was promised 10 years back going to arrive?), the sun finally arrived, which certainly makes walking Dick more of a pleasure and a post walk sojourn to the newly opened Heathcock Bakery and Deli was a “Well it would be rude not to” option.

It is a big bonus to me that the kitchen opens at 08.00, as that fits in with Dick’s weekday morning walk quite well.

The menu looks interesting

as does the takeaway bakery goods and  deli offering,

both which I have availed myself of already (all top notch, with anchovies particularly 👌). They seem to be expanding the offering each time I visit.

My first sit down visit was early morning (just past 08.00) and, not being a huge sourdough fan (in terms of toast, it is too bloody holey to hold butter etc.) and generally associate porridge with gruel (punishment beatings will continue/porridge will be served until morale improves), my choice was between the bacon butty (sourdough though) and the sausage bab (both £7).

I opted for the sausage bab, which came with a fulsome amount of sausage

Good quality sausage, with a nice firm texture (indicating either nada or not much husk), that had a pleasing bronzed skin.

The grain mustard and homemade brown sauce (was a choice of that or homemade tomato ketchup, but red sauce with a sausage sarnie is just a “burn the witch” bit of hersey) added a good tang, but the honey was perhaps a tad heavy-handed (at least for my tastebuds), especially with the sweetness of the bioche bun. I would have preferred it if they had either held back a smidgen on the honey or used an alternative, less enriched, bun (or, I would say, ideally both).

A second visit was for lunch (Dick the dog not in tow having disgraced himself by being a barky twxt, between me trying to shut him up with treats, on the first visit), with a slightly different menu.

All sounded rather fine, with it being a toss up between the cold roast rump of beef sarnie (£12) and the Torgelly Farm (a stalwart supplier to this place’s big brother pub just up the road) spiced lamb meatball sub (£9).

With one of my, usually deeply buried, wisdom teeth making one of it periodic breaks for freedom (by razoring its way through my gum), a not too chewy option was my preferred choice, so meatball sub it was.

Really enjoyed this, with a good Moroccan spiced flavour (decent amount of cumin, but not overpowering, and coriander in the mix) and a pleasing texture to the lamb balls (yielding, whilst keeping their form, rather than being ice hockey pucks).

The melted hafod cheese added a creamy  tanginess to the proceedings, which worked well with the spice in the lamb and the pepperiness of the rocket. A robust tomato sauce, with a nice level of acidity, operated as a good counterpoint to the richness of the meat and cheese. Good bread too.

As I walked there and back to my house (all of a 10 min round trip san Dick, 3 days with Dick), I needed something to get the calories to steps count back in sync before I physically wasted away.  A takeaway brownie (£3.50) was, therefore, purchased to fill the void.

On the drinks front, coffee is king here

with Hardlines (I believe and judging by the deli coffee offering) being the supplier

A flat white (£3.2), met my needs of quenching the thirst on my first visit, whereas my preferred cortado (£2.8) was my drink of choice on my subsequent visit.

I did rather miss having a proper cup, with paper one used here both for eat in and take away. I do, however, like that water is available without having to ask (

If it looks busy, it is worth noting there is seating upstairs.

The verdict

I enjoyed both my sit in and takeaway visits to this place, with an interesting offering for both eat in and take away. The deli is a game changer for Llandaf in my view and overall it is a real boon to the High Street.

Some may view it as a bit pricey, but the quality ingredients they use don’t come cheap. Pays your money and takes your choice as the saying goes and I do think there is sometimes a bit of a lack of appreciation (with me being as guilty as anyone of this) as to the grim economics of the hospitality sector (with a huge amount of, ever increasing, overheads to account for and everyone is entitled to make a profit, why bother otherwise) at the moment.

My only real gripe is the bread on sale (and predominately used in the “eat in” food offering) is the ubiquitous sourdough. I am convinced that when we are finally contacted by another lifeform, they will say (just before they “Alderaan” us)  “Oh yes, we have sourdough in the Alpha Centuri system” (actually said lifeform will probably be a highly evolved form of sourdough starter – forget about AIs taking over, give it time and one of the world’s aged sourdough starters will become self aware and our overlord – I mean the bloody stuff is everywhere already, in what is an apparent soft, well chewy,  coup).

Sourdough has its place (it is far from my favourite bread), but a little bit of variety bread wise would be nice.

So, in summary, an easy decision for a post or pre walk visit.

The details

Address: 48 High Street, Llandaff, Cardiff, CF5 2DZ.

Website: can find one, but on Instagram at @heathcockbakery