Port Isaac Restaurant Guide

“Nathan’s stunning mastery of all things fish-related shines through… and there are stunning views too overlooking the vast expanse of Atlantic Ocean” at the famous Cornish chef’s harbourside HQ, which “sets the standard for the cooking of fresh fish and seafood in England”. “The room is a bit sparse but everyone is looking at the water” and the ambience is further buoyed along by the “pretty damned brilliant” service too. “What’s not to like” is the tenor of all reports which suggest “you really couldn’t have a better dining experience” with “dishes that stay in the mind long after they’ve left the palate!” (although if you are the kind of oenophile who likes to celebrate with famous vintages, you may find the relatively curt wine selection “a little offbeat”). The centrepiece of the offering is an eleven-course meal for £195 per person, although a much more affordable visit is possible for the à la carte lunch or at dinner Tuesday-Friday, when a very reasonable three courses for £85 per person is served.

“Simple… but the best dining this year” – this “relaxed alternative to New Road” occupies “a quirky seafront building” right on the harbour and “never fails to deliver a fantastic experience”. “It’s a very small venue which means tables are rather on top of each other and there’s some feeling of being cramped, but that does not negate the kind service” and “stunning fish dishes” from a “reassuringly small menu” for £99 per person changing by the daily catch, plus a straightforward, short but well-priced array of wine.

2023 Review: “A quirky hotel and restaurant serving excellent local fish” – this whitewashed, seventeenth-century hotel in a coastal bay is “always outstanding”. Chef James Lean (appointed in 2015) oversees a menu that’s naturally fish-focused. “Friendly service and great Cornish ales” complete the picture.

This “atmospheric” 15th-century pub in a “lovely village setting”, with a sprawling garden flanked by the local church, is well known for its “dependable, honest cooking” – some of which is not the usual gastropub fare. Top Menu Tip – “mouthwateringly-great smoked sirloin steak”.

About to enter its 15th year of operation, Fred & Donna Beedles’s well-established venue is a favourite for some diners and “always delivers quality and exceptional value”. It’s a low-key place, in a parade of shops off the road down into the harbour.