Sonder

Located just off Llandaff Road, Sonder immediately stands out with its modern façade—a black-painted lower level topped with exposed brickwork. There’s outdoor seating at the entrance, thoughtfully separated from the road by a planted flower feature, which softens the urban setting. Atmosphere & Layout On entering, you’re greeted by the maître d’ station, with a striking meat display fridge to the left showcasing hanging cuts. Straight ahead is the bar, finished with grey tiled walls, lending a clean, contemporary feel. The restaurant benefits from large windows on two sides, flooding the space with natural light. Seating is mainly banquette-style, arranged across two areas, with the flexibility to accommodate larger tables and groups. The overall vibe is modern, relaxed, and well suited to both casual dining and social sharing. Music unfortunately is too loud for talking ambience. Menu Concept The menu leans towards small plates and sharable dishes, with bites and starters designed for the table, followed by larger plates that could also be shared. There’s also a daily special displayed on a blackboard, adding a seasonal touch. Tuna Tacos (x3) – £3 each Exceptionally tasty, with fresh, well-seasoned tuna. However, they are extremely small—each about the size of a thumb—which makes them feel pricey for the portion, despite the excellent flavour. Cauliflower & Smoked Cheddar Rösti Recommended by the server, but ultimately underwhelming. The cauliflower was average, topped with grated smoked cheddar, and overall felt uninspired and lacking depth. Beetroot, Whipped Ricotta, Pear & Mixed Leaves A pleasant, refreshing dish. Four discs of beetroot formed the base, topped with thinly sliced pear and mixed salad leaves. Well balanced, though not particularly memorable. Crispy Pork Belly, Prawn Toast, Asian Slaw, Sweet & Sour A mixed but generally enjoyable plate. The prawn toast was excellent, and the Asian slaw fresh and vibrant. The pork belly itself was reasonably well cooked, but the skin was very fatty and quite tough, detracting from the dish. Crispy Stuffed Chicken Schnitzel, Cobble Lane ’Nduja, Scamorza & Garlic A large portion, more akin to a chicken Kyiv than a traditional schnitzel. The ’nduja filling brought heat and richness, topped with pea shoots and served with aioli on the side. Generous and satisfying, though not especially refined. Service throughout was attentive and friendly. A particularly nice touch is the complimentary sparkling water, which adds to the sense of hospitality. Sonder offers a stylish setting, good service, and a menu built around sharing. Some dishes—particularly the tuna tacos and prawn toast—stand out for flavour, but portion size and consistency are issues, with a few plates feeling overpriced or lacking imagination. A solid choice for a relaxed meal on Llandaff Road, though refinement and balance would elevate the experience further.