Jack's Cafe, Barry, transforms into fine dining restaurant

Jack’s Café opened on Holton Road in September 2023 aiming to provide quality breakfasts at affordable prices.

In its short time in operation, Jacks’ owner Martin Irwin has learnt – and quickly we may add – to adapt to the trials and tribulations of running a high street business, constantly reinventing the menu and coming up with new foodie delights to try like the ‘messy muffin’.

Now, Mr Irwin has propelled Jack’s to the ‘next, next’ level, offering a fine dining experience.

Mr Irwin described to us how Jacks’ has ‘in essence’ completely changed, pushing Mr Irwin’s entire career experience (helping launch The Deck in Penarth and re-booting the famous Cricketers near Sapphire Gardens) into giving the people of Barry delicate, well-presented food.

We went and tried the new ‘experience’ on offer and one thing about Barry is it always surprises.

Jack's Cafe has been on Holton Road for over a year (Image: Newsquest) The cafe has been reinvented for fine dining (Image: Newsquest) The new quality fare (Image: Newsquest) Take the ambiance of ‘Jack’s the restaurant’ for example – small dining area, cosy tables, low lighting, small menu (always a confident sign the food ain’t going to be “binged” back to life) and simple décor – you could imagine Jacks’ similar to some quaint Parisian restaurant just round the corner from the Eiffel Tower and as old and established as Notre Dame (the original one that is…)

Delicious quality cusine (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking of French (the culinary capital of the world to many) even the most Parisian Parisian wouldn’t turn their nose up to what Jack’s had to offer: pan fried red mullet in prawn bisque, pork fillet served with chorizo croquette and caramelized peach and bourbon sauce, and mulled-wine poached pear with a white chocolate mousse (to die for!)

The white chocolate mousse was to die for! (Image: Newsquest)

One of life’s most famous sayings is of course; ‘never judge a book by its cover’, and no matter where I have been in my life, I can still find nowhere more innately interlaced with that saying than Barry.

The seaside resort town with a proud docks and industry heritage that offers award winning pubs (Craft Republic), superb tapas (Cozy Tapas and Grill), ground-breaking pizzas (Front Room) and now fine dining excellence.

If anywhere epitomises aspiration its Barry, and Jack’s is following in the town's footsteps, reinventing itself, but more than that, bringing to the people’s doorstep in Barry something that towns up and down the land just don’t have – a quality place to go for dinner.

I just hope the people of Barry appreciate it.

Jack’s is open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm to 9pm.

Booking is highly recommended.

Go to Jack’s Facebook page, here, or call 07903 341163 to find out more. Give it a try!