If you have walked into Pillars, expecting a good experience and tasty food, simply turn back and leave quickly; you will not find it there. When you walk in, you feel like you enter a WW2 bomb shelter that is barely maintained, place looks like it hasnt been refurbed since the early 60s. Dont get me started on the food, in regards to the bomb shelter, people in real bomb shelters probably had better meals! The service is poor too, nothing is made clear and the staff are not too bothered. I had a breakfast that was simply disgusting. Sausages were like eating mushy sand, fried bread (wasnt even asked to chose between that and toast) tasted of oil, the rest was bearable at best; the lack of quality was made clear. The beans were probably the only nice thing on the plate! The drinks are poor, I had an orange juice and a pepsi and honestly, you can get better quality at the reduced section in the poundstore. The price is alright but definitely not worth enduring a holiday to the toilet over. Overall, avoid at all costs.

Hidden gem in queen Street cardiff tucked away under the main street . Perfect for small to big breakfasts and a reasonable price. Lots to choose from on the lunch menu too . Worth a visit 👍

I remember eating here as a child in the 80's with my parents. It hasn't changed much. It's still a nice meal with a fair amount of choice.

Visited today and spent almost £28 on 3 all day breakfasts with drinks for 3 people. It seemed disorganised from the moment we walked in, lots stood about not knowing ehat to do, you have to queue to order, then pay and they then bring the food to your table. The seating areas were not the cleanest with the seats full of greasy handprints which were self explanatory when the food arrived - firstly the order was wrong as the meals arrived with fried bread when we'd actually ordered toast and when taking the plates off the tray the bottom of the plates were caked in grease. The meals were awful, not exactly sure what the sausages were made of but they were manky, the beans came in little pots not much bigger than a thimble and the toast when it eventually arrived was cold and hard - the meals were really greasy and tasted like everything had been deep fat fried. Needless to say a lot of the food was wasted - a big amount of money for very greasy food - I've had better meals at greasy spoons. We didn't bother to complain as the staff are not the friendliest or very approachable.

Never been here before but was recommended to try and WOW what a great find, considering its a restaurant in the middle of a city the food was fantastic and very cheap, although I was there at breakfast time and they were only doing breakfast at the time I will definitely return at a lunch/evening time to try the main meals all which sounded fantastic and also very reasonably priced

Simple enough to understand. You either get your food immediately or you need to get a number and wait to be called. Not to complicated. Food is great value, sure it could taste better but I thought it was ok. Lasagna hit the spot. Peas were frozen though. It's busy and chaotic but not too troublesome.

Pillars is, nostalgic central for South Wales folk. Generation after generation goes here for good food that comes with a very reasonable price tag. Staff were all friendly and helpful. Just like your typical cafe, with plenty to choose from. It has toilets and plenty of space and it's right in the centre of the city. Opposite the Queens Arcade (St Davids shopping centre). However there's no lift that I noticed, there is steps down into the restaurant/cafe. I had lovely chicken curry, rice and chips. The child's meal was a good portion and the wife had bbq pulled pork with chips with one drink that came to £19. Overall if you like good food that's not fancy for a reasonable price then this is the best place in Cardiff.

Hardly busy at all, but must be served as quickly as humanly possible, to the point you’d think the guy was on speed. Didn’t even get a chance to ask what breakfast items there were, had no idea black pudding was an item. Quick quick quick next! Relax dude, it’s not busy!

How this place has gone downhill visited yesterday for lunch before we went to Bute park. The young man serving stood talking to another member of staff while we stood there. Ordering food was chaos, several attempts at taking down two kids meals. Told to go and get drinks before we had ordered the adults meals! After paying, went to pick up cutlery but first tray was empty and I noticed how grubby it was, the other side was full but had to search for cutlery that didn't have dried food on. If the children hadn't been hungry I would have asked for my money back. Anyway sat down and food came after a few minutes. My salad was fine, my husbands pie was lukewarm but ok, the children's food was shocking, the nuggets were a weird grey/pink colour inside and the sausages had a strange tang. Neither child would eat their food which meant that as soon as we left, I had to take them to Greggs as they were hungry. Overall, really think this place needs a good overall and a deep clean. Having been to Pillars almost monthly some years ago and always having a good experience, it was very disappointing and will never return.

My wife and I decided to have lunch here today - BIG MISTAKE - the food was absolutely apalling. Inexpensive food shouldn't be rubbish food! I ordered steak & kidney pie with chips which turned out to be kidney & gristle pie with doughy pastry and cool/cold chips. My wife ordered lasagne, peas & chips which turned out to be mashed potato, with soft doughy pasta with a minimal meat sauce and cool/cold chips. It must be 10 years since we last visited this restaurant, it will be longer than that next time.

Breakfast was smashing and excellent value. Coffee also first class. Nice to see the place busy on a weekday morning. The jewel in the crown was plum tomatoes on fried bread.

We went here for reasonably priced food, wished we hadn't bothered, the food was very over cooked, I asked for a cold chicken salad and the chicken was hot with a small side salad, the salad was probably the best thing out of everything we had, my grandson tried fish fingers and chips and beans, had one mouthful and refused to eat anymore of it. Overall very poor food although one member of staff was very helpful and nice. Not suitable for anyone with allergies or food intolerances. They catered a couple of vegetarian dishes, I couldn't see wheelchair access as stairs had to be climbed in and out. One good point was that the place was clean.

Pillars provides a no frills breakfast menu that has a choice of items and caters for vegetarians. Me and my partner chose the option to have nine items each which included eggs, vegetarian sausage, mushrooms and beans. We felt that the meal was ok, apart from the mushrooms which were cooked without seasoning. However, that aside the portions were decent and its a cost effective breakfast choice, as with a hot drink it came to approx £15 for both of us. We had to give our cutlery a once over as it appeared that they were not properly cleaned. However there was no problem with the crockery .

Central location, plenty of seating. Not the best breakfast I've had, buffet style so probably depends on timing as to how fresh. Staff friendly enough. Biggest complaint was that they advertised gluten free breakfast, but this was not really the case, eggs,beans bacon and boiled mushrooms.

Like a school food hall just absolutely chaos no access for prams or wheelchairs. Had to struggle to get the buggy down and back up the steps. Depending what u have for food wether it's nice or not suppose to have had a free drink with the child's meal never had it - very hit and miss

First visit, went in for a breakfast & decided on a large. Plenty of food, as per the picture... reasonably priced...quick & pleasant service...& overall, the food was ok. The only gripe I had was that the sausages were very salty, almost to the point that I couldn't eat them...I washed them down with some toast & tea, as I was starving. Saying that, I will definitely go there again & still have a big breakfast.

Great place to get a feel of Cardiff in days gone by. The moment I step in I feel like I am reliving a part of my childhood. Very little has changed over the years and I hope it never does. Love their breakfasts! Happy days. Good memories.

Brilliant, excellent value and quality, canteen type restaurant where you pick up your meals on trays and take them to your table. I loved the cottage pie and the cheesecake. Always somewhere to go when visiting Cardiff!

Really honest food for great prices. I had a corned beef pie with chips peas and gravy for £7.90. Great portion size. Decor may not be to everyones taste but service lovely and well worth a stop off

Hadn't been there for 30yrs.Deco the same.Needs major face-lift Staff friendly and efficient Food very basic and quite tasteless Jacket potato and coleslaw with a salad garnish.This consisted of a lettuce leaf and an anaemic and watery coleslaw with grated cheese Frozen chips,beef burger in a bun was tasteless and very disappointing. Pot of tea was hot and reasonable Toilets reasonably clean but loose toilet seats.Needs a revamp Wouldn't return

Good value, cellar restaurant that's been in Cardiff for years. There is a buffet style eatery or you can order off the menu. Good value for money, especially if you drink tea as it's only £1.71 a pot!

Probably the best value restaurant in Cardiff with good atmosphere.A wide variety of food on offer.british favourites like, pie and chips, curry and rice, fish and chips. Self service, orders taken and served quickly, plenty of room inside.

Used to go here years ago it was lovely. Returned there on the 29/11/2023 it was dirty looked like it hadn’t been deep cleaned for a while staff looked like they didn’t want to be there. toilets were disgusting with no toilet roll won’t be going back again.

Great place. Wonderful food great prices...

Like always lovely breakfast , veggie sausage and eggs are my favourite one. Place is is old dated but friendly atmosphere

A great place for breakfast if in Cardiff for a few days, choice of 5,7,9 or 12 items at a very good price. Will definitely be going back when next in Cardiff

Every member of staff said hi to me as I walked in. Breakfast of good standard and competitive price. If you’re hungry in Cardiff Town center, want to avoid a chain and after good value come here! Also serve loads of lunch/dinner options.

Lovely food good variety,reasonably priced they do a children's menu too.nice clean and spacious,staff pite and helpful.

Nice food great prices not our first visit and definitely not our last .

Great value, good food, friendly and helpful staff. The all day breakfast is very substantial

Great breakfast and great price, friendly staff and clean

Not great, the staff were very nice and helpful but the food was bad. Just warm enough not to be considered cold, the lasagna was just mush, it really was bad. when the guy was putting it on the plate the red flags were going. Even the kids meals weren't great. It's a shame as I did hear very good things and it's got decent reviews but based on what I ate its not somewhere I would return or recommend to anyone.

Visited today with my partner and son. I’ve lived in Cardiff for over 40 years and have never been in pillars, despite hearing so much about it over the years. This place is a true Cardiff institution. Sure, the decors is, like stepping back in time, but I think that’s part of the experience, nostalgia can be heart warming. The food was tasty, wholesome and good portion sizes. It was good value for money and the restaurant is spacious and comfortable with all the necessities for young children to dine. Long May Pillars stay a Cardiff institution

Great food great service meal arrived before I even sat down. Table cleared and cleaned by very pleasant staff. 😊

Really nice place to go and grab food. Mind blowingly secret gem of Cardiff. The breakfasts are impeccable. And the interior is that of a ww2 bunker. Very cool

Full belly for a good price nice selection. clean and friendly

Great place for a good food. Self service so quick and lots of seating. Prices are very reasonable, especially given its location.

I like to come for the steak and kidney pie because I can't get it anywhere else. This is a good place to eat. It lacks atmosphere but it offers reasonable food at a reasonable price, and the staff are always really helpful. I like it here and recommend it.

I gave this review 3 stars simply because the place is so out dated and run down and is in desperate need of renovation. However, the food is always AMAZING! The portion sizes are HUGE, there is such a wide variety of different meals and lovely desserts and the prices are amazing to for what you get. Been coming back here for years!

Good place for food, fairly priced too. Staff, friendly and helpful. Will definitely go there again. Try it for yourself 😊