Celtic Manor doesn’t do small. This is the host of Ryder Cups and world summits, a resort that can host presidents one week and wedding parties the next. But tucked inside its grand Manor House is The Pad – an Asian-inspired restaurant that proves big hotels can still deliver food with soul.
The arrival
Richard and Nadya arrived around 7pm, greeted with the kind of warm professionalism you expect from Celtic Manor. They were shown to the bar first – a civilised touch – to browse the menu over drinks before taking their seats in a dining room that manages to be both elegant and relaxed.
Starters worth slowing down for
The Pad Mixed Starters for two is a whistle-stop tour of Asian comfort food – spring rolls, prawn money bags, chicken gyoza – but it was the crispy beef that stopped them mid-conversation. Sticky, savoury, addictive. The kind of thing you immediately regret offering to share.
Side dishes were no afterthought here. The Korean Fried Chicken Bao Bun was so good they wished they’d ordered a second round, while egg fried rice and stir-fried noodles arrived perfectly cooked, each grain and strand pulling its weight.
Mains with personality
Richard stuck to his steak-loving guns – Welsh sirloin with black pepper sauce and asparagus – and found it everything a steak should be: cooked to perfection, pepper sauce rich and glossy, asparagus charred just enough to bring out its sweetness.
Nadya went for Sweet and Sour Chicken with dragon fruit, a dish that sounds risky on paper but pays off. Moist, sticky chicken, the freshness of the dragon fruit, the crunch of onion – three textures playing in harmony.
Sweet endings
Dessert was a two-course affair. A Mochi selection – coconut, passion fruit & mango, and strawberry & cream – so fresh and flavourful they debated the best one (passion fruit & mango won). Then, a masterclass in comfort: Asian Pear Sticky Toffee Pudding with malt ice cream. Richard, a self-declared sticky toffee expert, gave it five stars, praising the pear for cutting through the sweetness.
Drinks, atmosphere and service
A warm evening called for a Mojito for Richard and a mocktail Mojito for Nadya (copying, in the best way). Both were spot-on. Service was friendly and efficient without feeling rushed, with perfect timing between courses.
The atmosphere? Elegant without the stiff collar. The kind of place you could linger for hours without anyone shuffling you out.
Make a day of it
One of the perks of dining at Celtic Manor is the location. You’re minutes from the rolling Usk Valley, with its walking trails, historic castles, and postcard views. Spend the afternoon exploring nearby Caerleon – a Roman fortress town where you can wander an amphitheatre older than most countries – or browse the independent shops in Newport’s market quarter. By the time you return for dinner, you’ll have earned every bite of that bao bun.
The verdict
Richard and Nadya have eaten their way through plenty of Asian restaurants. This one has claimed the top spot. “Next time we crave Asian cuisine, this is where we’ll be,” they said. And given the quality, the service, and that bao bun, it’s hard to argue.
Pad by Larkin Cen
The Celtic Manor Resort
Coldra Wood
Chepstow Road
Caerleon
Newport NP18 1HQ
01633 413000
www.celtic-manor.com/restaurant/pad
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Love the Celtic Collection?
Check out Richard and Nadya’s review of Afternoon Tea at The Parkgate, Cardiff. Click here.
