From April 1st, Outpost on Llandaff Road, Cardiff will close its doors, and a bold transformation will take place. When it reopens, it will be known as SONDER—a new, neighbourhood bistro that seamlessly shifts from day to night, offering a laid-back yet refined dining experience, right on the border between Canton and Pontcanna.
The transformation is the result of a conversation between Nick Saunders (33), owner of Outpost (and best known as the founder of Depot Cardiff); and Jake Lewis (29), former Executive Chef at Pasture Restaurant – one of Cardiff’s most popular dining destinations, famed for exceptional steak and locally sourced produce, cooked over fire.
At SONDER, now Jake’s taking the reins on the first venture of his own design —one that reflects his passion for great food without pretension.
Nick said, “Some places take time to become what they were meant to be. Outpost was one of those places— it has become a well-loved spot for coffee, breakfast, and brunch, and we’re proud of what we built on a simple vision. But I knew it was always capable of more.
Now, with Jake at the helm of SONDER, that potential is about to be fully realised.”
Jake’s impressive culinary pedigree includes shaping the Pasture brand from the very start (2018); here he led on menu development, and opening multiple sites in Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham. Jake’s CV also includes the role of youngest Head Chef at Jamie’s Italian, and skills that were honed at the prestigious, three Michelin star Ledbury in London.
He explained, “At SONDER I want to create a restaurant where food is exciting, approachable – but most importantly delicious. A place where people can come for dinner without overthinking it. It will be about great ingredients, great atmosphere, and a sense of belonging – and as a Canton local myself, a space for the community to enjoy, from day to night.”
- SONDER by day: Mornings and afternoons at SONDERwill welcome guests in with a relaxed ambiance—perfect for a leisurely brunch or a long lunch and a couple of glasses of wine.
- SONDER by night: As the evening draws in, the space will transform, the energy will shift, and the menu will change; chef Jake hopes SONDER will become a destination where diners can settle in for long, relaxed evenings of dinner and drinks with friends, family and colleagues.
“This side of town is already spoiled for choice when it comes to great fine dining restaurants,” Jake explained. “I wanted to bring something that doesn’t exist to the area – somewhere more casual that could easily take people from day to night. That’s what we are creating with SONDER.”
The interior at the Llandaff road venue is now set to undergo a rapid transformation to bring Jake’s vision to life – colours and textures will become richer and deeper; banquette seating will replace low sofas and side chairs; pastry display cabinets will make way for a dry-ageing fridge; and high stools will turn the bar area into somewhere to sit with a cocktail and a bar snack before the night unfolds.
SONDER is set to open its doors on April 21st (Bank Holiday Monday) and the launch menus – currently under wraps – will be revealed soon.
