FOR years I'd wanted to eat at Le Cassoulet, Romilly Crescent, Canton, Cardiff - one of Wales' premier restaurants.

So when I finally went along to Le Cassoulet I found that the food was everything I had expected it to be.

But I was given a bit of a shock when Bassaleg-based owner Tony Castaldo came to talk to me and said the restaurant was closing after 15 prestigious years.

However, I was relieved to be told that although Le Cassoulet was shutting its doors for the last time on Saturday, August 3, it was be relaunched on Tuesday, August 27, from the same premises - calling itself Da Castaldo.

Tony said much of the menu would remain the same but he is aiming to create "a classy Italian with reasonable prices" and was keen to attract a younger and wider audience - with the people of Gwent very much in mind.

A complete revamp is planned to get rid of, in Tony's words, the "stuffy atmosphere". He also told me that he will be joining his Newport-based chef Scott Morgan (ex-Celtic Manor) in the kitchen.

I took my partner and we ordered the zesty Tai prawns (£8) and the exceptional pheasant and foie gras terrine (£7.50) to start.

Beef medallions layered with goats cheese and drizzled with whisky and thyme sauce (£18.50) melted in the mouth and the grilled loin of Welsh wild boar topped with a poached sweet red pear and encircled in apple sauce (£17) was a delightful combination of flavours.

With a bottle of white wine (£16.50) tiramisu (£5) and drinks, the bill came to £75.50. Iwan Davies