The Orangery - Aberystwyth

The Orangery bar and restaurant has recently reopened under the management of Chiara Agnelli, a fantastic barista and manager. There are several separate rooms within the restaurant each possessing a different ambience, ranging from a comfortable bar-room with leather sofas to a small but attractive function room. I visited after the opening week and was pleasantly surprised both by the quality of food and the warm atmosphere. We ate in the main restaurant, a spacious and high-ceilinged room with beautiful traditionalist decor, the warmth of which was marred only by the frequency of staff circulation and new customers.Although the restaurant was fairly busy but my friends and I were served in good time and enjoyed a delicious three-course meal. Among other dishes we sampled the duck and the roast pork, which were both very well cooked and presented. Not only was the food prepared to a high standard but the chef was happy to substitute different (and in fact superior) accompaniments to suit our preferences. There were very few problems to report throughout the evening. One of the servers was obviously new to their position but any loss of efficiency was more than made up for by the other friendly and helpful serving staff. All of the a la carte dishes were available, as were several daily specials and a wide variety of interesting wines and cocktails. Although I have been asked not to reveal the name I can state that cooking at the Orangery is a talented and experienced professional chef to rival any other in the town. After the recent restyling of Harry's into an Irish pub the Orangery may well be the best traditional restaurant in Aberystwyth, and certainly places among the top three. I intend to return again on my birthday, and hope for a similar dining experience when I do.