The Laguna Kitchen and Bar, although housed within the Park Plaza Hotel in the centre of Cardiff, is not a classic hotel eatery, instead it is a relaxing retreat from the bustle of the city. With its own separate entrance, this restaurant has an identity of its own and is very much a stand-alone entity. Exuding chilled out cool, Laguna manages to retain welcoming attention-to-detail and high standards but is also a refreshingly informal and laidback place to dine.

By night, Laguna is a welcoming sight with tea lights on tables and people enjoying an evening of great food and drink. Food is meticulously presented; the kitchen is in full view allowing you to watch as the chefs create your meal. My chargrilled fillet steak served with a juicy plum tomato, portabella mushroom and thick hand-cut chips, at £19 typified the reasonable prices here - especially when you consider the top quality ingredients and generous portion sizes. Of the specials on the night of our visit, the pan-fried salmon fillet with crushed new potatoes, sautéed spinach and a shellfish bisque (£12.50), caught my seafood-loving eye. Welsh lamb shank, roasted pheasant breast and Cumberland sausages are just a sample of the other treats there for the taking. Starters begin at £3, and range from bruschetta to foie gras, oak smoked salmon to traditional Welsh broth. Desserts alone are worth a visit; my companion announced that the raspberry sorbet trio was possibly the best
she'd tasted. I can't think of a better place to spend a lazy afternoon over a leisurely lunch. In the evening saunter into Laguna for a mojito, glass of wine or full three-course meal; whatever you want from your night out, let the staff here take care of you with an effortless charm that will see you returning very soon.