Scallops, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay

CARDIFF Bay is awash with fine places to eat and the Scallops fish restaurant is among the very best.

I went there early one Saturday evening with my partner and our four-month-old daughter. Although it was relatively quiet when we arrived it was full within minutes.

For a starter we chose the excellent roasted scallops with a whisky and chive cream (£7.45); and seared king scallops with garlic roasted tomatoes and a basil pesto (£7.95).

Our usually impeccably behaved little girl chose this night to go through one of her more demanding stages and required our complete attention.

On spotting our predicament, with only one of us able to eat while the other looked after her, the owner of the restaurant Terry Jayne came over and asked if we wanted him to baby sit her.

This was, I hasten to add, without him knowing that I was there to write a review.

He was relieved of his caring duties by his daughter Nadia, whom our little girl adored.

This left us free to enjoy the superb baked lobster with garlic butter and parsley (£23.95) and equally wonderful roasted medallions of monkfish wrapped in bacon with creamy curried mussels (£15.95).

The main courses are served without vegetables so we ordered new potatoes with mint and rosemary butter and roasted garlic potatoes (£1.95 each).

The final bill (we couldnt face dessert because we were so full) with drinks came to £67.15.

The food was fantastic, the service first-class, and the atmosphere warm, welcoming and lively.