Bistro 10, Cardiff Bay

IT looked for a while as though we might be out of luck, so busy was this eatery on a Thursday evening.

But we weren't kept waiting long before being whisked to a quiet table at the back of the restaurant, and a look at the eclectic menu suggested why it was so popular.

Dishes are very varied - from crispy duck to chicken dinners - cosmopolitan, as well as metropolitan, and ideal for a party with varied tastes.

We each chose a favourite starter - Thai fishcakes for me, goat's cheese salad for my wife. As usual we swopped forkfuls and, as usual, each wished we'd chosen the other.

The fishcakes were just the right consistency and full of flavour, served with some leaves and chilli sauce. The goat's cheese was particularly good, fresh and light but intense on the palate.

Our main courses were Singapore noodles with prawns and roast guinea fowl with vegetables.

My guinea fowl was a larger portion than expected, skin cooked crispily and toothsome flesh coming easily off the bone. I was glad we had a side order of fresh bread to mop up the wonderful - and plentiful - light gravy.

The noodles arrived piled so high on the plate it should have had scaffolding. They were savoury and rich, and it didn't take my wife long to demolish them.

With a bottle of Merlot and mineral water the bill came to just over £50, which these days is good value for quality food, presented attractively, and served efficiently and with a smile.

All the best attributes of a bistro, in fact, helped by a laid-back, peaceful atmosphere.