Cardiff's Mecca for media and arty types. Great beer, moderate food, loads of buzz.

Should Cardiff's media population ever become a terrorist target, Chapter will be installing a missile defence system long before the BBC. Night after night the echoing chambers of this former school heave with bid ideas types, plus the occasional normal human looking for something a bit different.

The atmosphere's certainly unrivaled. Sit at a table for one at 7pm and you may well have met fifteen interesting people by closing time, plus a few unhinged types. You will also have had some great beer too. Five ales on tap is not uncommon, plus superb continental lagers and dozens of wacky bottles. Service is fantastic - probably the best bar staff in Cardiff. It can be pricey though, so watch out.

As for food, now there's a story to tell. Chapter is famed for sub-contracting its cafe to a succession of dismal caterers. Regulars will recall the halcyon days of the lip-smacking salad counter from a few years ago, only to lament the endless queues and total identity crisis that followed.

But hold it. Chapter now announces a new chef, and he's so keen to impress that he holds a free tasting night to show that a third way has finally been conceived.

And it's certainly an improvement. This week's burger was terrifically juicy and well-presented, and a vegetable bruschetta was both generous and stylish.

But an improvement from such a low benchmark is no great accolade, and things still aren't quite as they should be. For a cafe which caters for endless people going to see a film in 20 minutes the cooking times are chronic. Plus there's a tiny menu, which only seems to change once a week. But more developments are promised so don't give up - yet.