The Food Lab food hygiene rating
Takeaway/sandwich shop · Cardiff
The Food Lab holds a 2, which means some improvement is necessary. The inspector found problems at the takeaway that the business is required to fix.
The rating: 2 - Some improvement necessary
The rating dates from 5 December 2025, 7 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 36 Caroline Street, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 1FF
How it compares in Cardiff
A 2 is rare: only 45 of 3,031 rated places in Cardiff score this low, about one in 67. By contrast 70% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,116 | 70% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 560 | 18% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 254 | 8% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 45 | 1% | ← The Food Lab | |
| 1 out of 5 | 48 | 2% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 8 | <1% |
A further 416 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Improvement necessary
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Generally satisfactory
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Food Lab the inspector recorded concerns over how food is handled. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Food Lab, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ Xiang Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 16 yards away | 5 - Very good | 28 April 2026 |
| Alcotraz Other catering premises | 35 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 February 2024 |
| Bill's Restaurants Ltd Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 38 yards away | 5 - Very good | 2 April 2025 |
| Barbara's Bier Haus Pub/bar/nightclub | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 31 May 2022 |
| Beanfreaks Ltd Retailers - other | 88 yards away | 5 - Very good | 10 November 2021 |
| Be at One Other catering premises | 92 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 March 2024 |
| Benugo John Lewis Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 188 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 February 2026 |
| Blacksheep Coffee Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 190 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
Questions about The Food Lab
What is The Food Lab's food hygiene rating?
The Food Lab has a food hygiene rating of 2 out of 5 (some improvement necessary), given by Cardiff Council on 5 December 2025.
Is The Food Lab safe to eat at?
A 2 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The takeaway is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was The Food Lab last inspected?
The Food Lab was last inspected on 5 December 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Cardiff Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Food Lab?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "improvement necessary", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "generally satisfactory". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Food Lab compare to other places in Cardiff?
70% of the 3,031 rated food businesses in Cardiff hold the top rating of 5, while The Food Lab holds a 2. 45 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Cardiff Council inspects The Food Lab and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Food Lab and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 2 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Cardiff, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Cardiff
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Food Lab is one of 629 rated food businesses in Cathays. See every hygiene rating in Cathays →
Cardiff inspects and rates 3,447 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Cardiff →
The official record is held by the council: https://www.srs.wales/en/Environmental-Health/Food-Hygiene-Standards/Food.aspx
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →