Feast or brunch, pub supper or Sunday lunch – we all love eating out. It enriches a break from the everyday. Relaxing over something different, sharing good food. Fine dining, bistro brunches or ready-to-go picnics; we’ve rounded them up into a bucket-list of places to eat while at Tom’s Cottage…
On our doorstep
(Aka as near as it gets!)
- The Tipi Kitchen at Cornish Tipis is a 10-minute walk from Tom’s Cottage, and famed for its alternating supper nights in peak season (takeout usually available). Delightful brunches, delicious coffee plus local tipples. From Easter through to the end of September: Friday is pizza night, wood fired with homemade bases. Saturday evenings belong to be Surf n Turf, or some variant of; while peak season and Bank Holiday weekends welcome a variety of guest cuisines (our favourite being Thai night!) Eat alfresco or semi-fresco (in the polytunnel); children friendly. Thoroughly Mediterranean vibe.
- The Cornish Arms, Pendoggett - the hostelry in which some of us (many moons ago) cut our teeth between teenager and adulthood. And celebrated our wedding night with a party that’s still talked about 25 years later. An injection of life has come under new management with a fast growing reputation for speciality pizzas.
- For a really special occasion: go nowhere and let it come to Tom’s Cottage in the form of Kit Davis Chef. Totally obliging with just the right touch (friendly professionalism), Kit transforms whatever your brief may be into superb dining. Show him into the kitchen an hour or so before service and retire to the sitting room for drinks. He’ll call you through to the dining room at the appointed hour for a slap-up 3 course meal. We’d laid up the dining room table before Kit’s arrival, the only hint of a heavenly feast after his departure was the gentle hum of the dishwasher. A birthday gathering forever remembered, a true celebration.
Port Isaac
- For crab (or lobster) sandwiches visit Fresh From The Sea at the top of Port Isaac. Handy for takeaways if not visiting the harbour and as fresh as it comes – somehow all the tastier for being caught and dressed in-house. 01208 880849
- Fancy a fishfinger sandwich? Port Isaac’s Chapel Café is renowned locally for this speciality which has also won awards. Down in the heart of the village, at the bottom of Roscarrick Hill (Doc Martin’s house road). Dog friendly.
- Got a hankering for good pub grub? The Golden Lion is a jolly hub of locals and visitors alike, with various seating areas (some overlooking the harbour).
- The Mote restaurant is in the heart of things on The Platt. Specialising in fish and local produce, the building’s character adds an extra layer to the ambience.
- Nathan Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen faces the harbour, situated in a 15th century fisherman’s cottage. Charming (but not over-blessed with elbow room!) 1 Michelin star, as is Outlaw’s New Road restaurant at the top of the village (yes, 2 Outlaw restaurants in Port Isaac – both with a Michelin star!)
Sunday lunch
- The Pickwick Inn, St Issey (Sunday Roast 12 noon-early evening). Delicious – booking essential: 01841 540361
- St Tudy Inn (Sunday lunch midday-4pm). Country pub with attentive service, specialising in local produce. Highly recommended – booking advisable: 01208 850656
- The Old Inn, St Breward (Sunday carvery 12 noon-9pm) – award winning and popular with locals. The gateway to Bodmin Moor (from Tom’s Cottage) and the highest public house in Cornwall. 01208 850711
- Chef Pete at Tintagel Brewery (Sunday carvery 12-4pm), also serves lunch and supper Wednesday – Saturday in the café bistro. 01840 219026
- Bowood Golf Club, Camelford (Sunday carvery 12-2pm). Popular with locals, bookings: 01840 213017
Wadebridge
- Saltbox: street food hub, bar and Nordic Spa! Unique in a couple of ways: first up being the roof-top hot tub, sauna and cold-water plunge pool. But we’re talking food here, and the novelty of the Saltbox really lies with the range of gourmet styles under one roof. Choose your seating, browse various menus over a cock (or mock) tail and let a variety of different cuisines arrive. Mezze, Souvlaki, Syrian or Lebanese? – check out the Meditterranean menu. Japanese or Korean? – there’s an Asian menu. Tacos, loaded machos and smoky pork are all on the Hellfire Bar-b-q menu. Panini, burger and woodfired pizza: they’re all here; along with regular beers, milkshakes and puddings (we noticed the crepes but didn’t have room!) Let the pick-and-mix begin…
- Strong Adolfos, Hawksfield (out of town artisan village). Daytime café with a modern yet vintage vibe. Food is as good as it looks.
- Plonk’d imagine the bars of Northern Spain – wine and pintxos, tapas and cocktails; and hey-presto: Cornwall style.
- Backyard Burgers vaguely opposite the Saltbox, we’ve heard good reports of these burgers but not actually sampled them yet.
- Little Cocoa Play: coffee, cake and Littlies’ play area – we couldn’t overlook this one. Morning and afternoon sessions (walk-ins during high summer) for parent with baby/toddler. Potential chill time while bigger people have other things to do in town.
Boscastle
- The Rocket Store: run by a local lad with real foodie flair (don’t take our word for it – check out what people are saying on their website!) Great produce providence, delightful setting and mouth wateringly good.
Pasties
- We love daytime grazing at Farm Shops (or just picking up local produce) and are absolutely delighted that Trevathan, St Endellion now stocks Ann’s Pasties - the only place to do so this end of Cornwall! We thoroughly endorse these authentic pasties: a true taste of Cornwall.
The Tom’s Cottage Culinary Guide has a wealth of insider foodie knowledge, while our Eating Out section includes several more local Michelan rated restaurants; and the Tom's Festive Season guide includes where to eat-out on Christmas Day as well as the wraparound period.
Bon Appetit!
