Cornwall Restaurant Guide

“Well worth the drive to Cornwall…” – the famous Cornish chef’s flagship occupies “a romantic clifftop setting, overlooking the sea” in a beautiful village “on the stunningly beautiful North Cornish coast”, and numerous reporters acclaim it for “the best fish and seafood in the UK”. “It really really does live up to the hype. The simplified, choice-free menu means you just need to sit back and let the chef’s brilliant creations work their magic”. Dishes are “so exquisitely prepared, with such clean and pure but striking flavours”. “Service led by Stephi Little is so friendly, yet it retains a level of easy expertise, and the wine flight, concocted by sommelier Damon Little, supplies perfect matches with sometimes unfamiliar labels”. (And it’s not just good for fish: “Nathan was cooking. I’m a veggie and the vegetarian menu was the best I’ve ever eaten!”)

“A delightful tiny restaurant with a tiny kitchen serving tiny plates of deliciousness” – Nathan Outlaw’s “casual”, more affordable spin-off provides “an exciting and appetising tasting menu” of “extremely good” fish and seafood “tapas”.

“Tucked away in the Cornish countryside” – an “all-round fabulous experience” awaits diners at the “stunning”, “tremendously friendly” country brainchild of NYC’s Spotted Pig’s April Bloomfield and Pitt Cue Co.’s Tom Adams – “as long as you like communal dining” (often with “industry professionals finding out how it’s done”). Seasonal 5-course set menus “come mostly from the working dairy farm” (e.g. “home cured charcuterie from their own rare breed pigs”) supplemented by “fine produce from local suppliers”. “Such care is taken in the food preparation and you can stand in the kitchen watching the cooking take place… but it’s worth going just for the bread”.

“We have been visiting this restaurant since Paul took over around ten years ago and it’s now difficult to find words for how wonderful the experience is” – such is the typical view we have published year in, year out on Paul Ainsworth’s “small”, “intimate” and “atmospheric” townhouse, which often beats more famous names locally in our diner survey. This year, however, it inspired an unusual amount of flak for “pushing it” with “sky high prices” and portion sizes that are “a joke” (although even some such critics acknowledge that the “set lunch is a bargain”).

Feedback is limited, but remains mega-enthusiastic for this small, tucked-away bistro serving excellent seafood from its open kitchen.

The “beautiful views overlooking the breaking waves” at Maenporth Beach are the USP of this well-established outfit, with a particularly atmospheric terrace, though the “charming” staff and “lovely” fish-centric food also win reporters’ approval.

“An intimate fine dining establishment a little out of the centre” that’s “head and shoulders above anything else in Truro” owing to its “brilliant” classical cuisine and “excellently chosen” wines. Top Tip: “Nigel’s monthly Sunday roasts are always special and allow him to show off more of his flair”.