It's somewhat surprising that while Cowbridge Road remains a lively local high street by day and stays busy and eatery-filled in the evening, past midnight it's not so easy to grab a bit to eat. One of the first takeaways you will come across if you're returning from town toward Canton after a night on the tiles is Mario's, right next door to - sexy landmark fans - famed gaudily-painted private shop Lovecraft. Pizza is its speciality, also catering for chicken, kebab and burger desires, and all those options are satisfying without truly wowing. Chips and cheese is the cheapest recommended mini-meal, though, a welcome nod to thrifty traditions of thrown together fish and chip shop standards. Earlier in the evening, you're probably better off venturing further away from town down the street in search of gems like Japanese restaurant Ichiban or quality chippie The Codfather. In the early hours, though, Mario's does the job just fine. read more