When the turkey is dry and the sprouts have won, there is an Indian bistro three minutes from the Castle with the lanterns lit.
Christmas dinner in Cardiff city centre usually means a set menu of the same five things. Ours is different because the kitchen is different: a Christmas built on a thali, on spice, on the long table that Indian feasts were always about. The room is warm, the bar is open from twelve, and on Thursdays the jazz plays through dinner.
The two menus
The Festive Thali, £24.50
One plate, the whole feast. A brass thali of festive kari, dal, rice, bread, raita, pickle and a sweet, built around the season's dishes. It works for a table of two on a Tuesday and for a works lunch of twenty, because everyone gets everything and nobody waits for the slow course. Vegetarian and vegan versions are on the plate, not an afterthought.
The Long Table, £29.50
Three courses, for tables of six or more. Starters to share down the middle, a choice of mains from the festive list, and a sweet. This is the office party and the family reunion menu: ordered in advance, served together, finished with chai. The full festive list with dish-by-dish detail is on the Christmas flyer.
Dates and hours
Festive menus run from 24 November to 24 December. The full regular menu runs alongside them, so a table can mix. We are open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, both from twelve; Christmas Day tables are limited and go to the first bookings. Between Christmas and New Year we keep normal hours, from twelve every day.
Office parties and groups
Six or sixty. Tables of six to twelve book online through the Christmas experience page. Larger groups, whole-room bookings and anything with a presentation, a playlist or a secret Santa go through the manager: call 029 2039 9399 or email highstreet@chaistreet.com, and we will send a pre-order form for the Long Table. Thursdays come with live jazz at no extra cost, which solves the entertainment question. The private hire page covers the room, capacities and how it works.
Vegetarian, vegan, allergens
Both festive menus have full vegetarian and vegan routes, and the allergen and calorie guide covers every dish, festive dishes included. Tell us about allergies when you book and the kitchen will plate around them.
Christmas Day itself
Open from twelve. Festive menus, the full bar, chai after. No crackers unless you bring them. If you have always wanted to do Christmas Day without cooking and without turkey, this is the room.
How to book
Use the Christmas booking link for tables up to twelve. For anything larger, or for Christmas Day, call us. December Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays fill first; the week before Christmas is usually full by early December.