Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Cornwall
Hardens guides have spent 30 years compiling reviews of the best Cornwall restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 174 restaurants in Cornwall and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Cornwall restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Cornwall Restaurants
1. 2 Fore Street Restaurant
Fish & seafood restaurant in Mousehole
2 Fore St - TR19
With his “varied and interesting menu” of “delicious local produce”, Raymond Blanc-trained chef Joe Wardell knows how to “totally blow you away”, say fans of his long-established harbourside cottage. Given the setting, a short walk from the quay, it’s no surprise to find “really fresh fish, with inventive things done to it” – and the tarte tatin is pretty special, too.
2. Ben's Cornish Kitchen
British, Modern restaurant in Marazion
West End - TR17
“Always worth the trip to Marazion for such a treat”, Ben & Jayne Prior’s “relaxed and simple” seaside bistro serves absolutely “top-notch” food (especially fish) that’s “fantastic value”.
3. The Shore
Fish & seafood restaurant in Penzance
13-14 Alverton Street - TR18
“Bruce Rennie is a wizard with fish, which is fresh from day boats in nearby Newlyn” – the reason to discover this small, modern bistro. “He now only offers a set, taster-style menu, but the food is brilliant considering it is only him at the stoves. Well worth a visit, but booking is absolutely essential”.
4. The Old Mill Bistro
British, Modern restaurant in Little Petherick
The Old Mill House, - PL27
2018 Review: In a 16th century former corn mill (replete with waterwheel), a family-run B&B and bistro where chef “Adrian Oliver continues to cook really well” – “not in cheffy show-off style”, but “simply” and “based on good quality ingredients”.
5. The Q Restaurant, The Old Quay House
British, Modern restaurant in Fowey
28 Fore Street - PL23
2019 Review: Visit on a fine day, and you can sit on the terrace adjoining the dining room, which has gorgeous views of the estuary from this 13-bedroom modern hotel. Shortish two-course and three-course prix fixe menus are served at both lunch and dinner.
6. The Square at Porthleven
Mediterranean restaurant in Porthleven
7 Fore Street - TR13
Overlooking the harbour – and with an outside terrace for sunny days – this modern brasserie is well worth knowing about. “Its local reputation of this restaurant has not diminished at all over the last twelve months thanks to its excellent menu helpful staff and reasonable prices”.
7. Port Gaverne Hotel
International restaurant in Port Isaac
“Fish and seafood dishes are the ones to go for” at this privately run hotel and restaurant – a local “favourite” owing to the “consistent quality from the kitchen” (though service can be a tad “variable” at times).
8. Driftwood Hotel
International restaurant in Rosevine
This “beautiful restaurant” at a clifftop boutique hotel on the Roseland Peninsula has earned a fine reputation for “highly unusual presentations of local produce”. But it lost Chris Eden in June 2019, who left after 12 years for rival Gidleigh Park (and subsequently it also lost its Michelin star). Chris’s replacement, Oliver Pierrepoint, arrived from La Trompette in London, and has both Fera and Le Manoir on his CV. Ratings were very good all-round in the survey last year, but given all the change after its conclusion we’ve left the venue un-rated.
9. Victoria Inn
British, Modern restaurant in Perranuthnoe
Ancient, low-ceilinged coastal Cornish pub, not far from St Michael’s Mount, with a sunny beer garden. The food has been well-rated in recent times, but reports last year – which saw the departure of chef Nik Boyle to start his own (short-lived) venture in Falmouth – have been a little more up-and-down, so we’ve left a rating till next year.
10. Penrose Kitchen
British, Modern restaurant in Truro
Penrose Water Garden, Tregavethan - TR4
“Idyllically located” – in a timber building complete with log-burner and large outside terrace, and set “next to former water gardens, in a sheltered, quiet valley a little way out of Truro” – this four-year-old venue doesn’t generate huge feedback, but such as there is lavishes it with praise. Prices are reasonable, and chef Ben Harmer offers a choice of four dishes for each course, with “an extensive local cheese board” a great way to finish a meal.
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