With our background in food (I've had the privilege to work on several Rick Stein TV shows and The Great British Menu, while Tris just has a voracious appetite for great food!) we’re often asked about where we like to eat locally.
So here’s our guide to eating out in the South Hams…
Best for fine dining...The Seahorse, Dartmouth
Set up by seafood aficionado, Mitch, Tonks, The Seahorse is our first choice for special occasions. Start with an aperitif in the cosy and welcoming Joe’s Bar, before moving through to the restaurant to enjoy seafood cooked to perfection. The restaurant is passionate about using the freshest fish, and supporting our local sustainable fishing industry. Mitch is an ambassador for the MSC and his love for great quality seafood has been passed on, through the generations to Ben, Bronte and Jake, the team behind The Seahorse today.
The Seahorse have a love of Italian food, and you can taste that ethos of allowing the ingredients to shine in dishes like the Seahorse classic, roasted scallops in white port and garlic or the beautifully grilled turbot. Cooking over a charcoal fire has long been a specialty of the Seahorse as have pastas and stews in the style and flavour you would find in many coastal Mediterranean restaurants.
For a truly unforgettable dining experience, consider gathering together all your favourite people for a private dining event at ‘The Cantina.’ An intimate space just opposite Joe’s Bar where friends and family can gather to be wined and dined by your own chef.
Best takeaway...Salcombe Original, Salcombe
Run by sisters Helen and Steph, along with their cheerful team, Salcombe Original Pizzas are hard to beat. But that’s not surprising because when Helen set out to make pizzas, she decided nothing but the best would do – so she trained under a World Champion Italian pizza chef, who taught her the importance of long fermentation for the dough to create a light and crispy base, and the secret to a punchy, fragrant tomato sauce.
With locally sourced cheeses and charcuterie, the end result is a pizza that far surpasses anything you will have tasted before. Try the ‘Gamberi d’Aguo’ (Mozzarella, prawns, cherry tomatoes, fresh chili, garlic and rocket leaves) for something different. What’s more – they also have a fantastic fish and chip shop right next door – so there’s something for everyone! All the fish is sourced from Plymouth fish market with Cornish haddock and British cod being delivered daily. They also have impressive gluten free options prepared in a dedicated GF fryer. And we haven’t even started on the ice creams and slushy machine!
Best for family style feasting (and food that will blow your mind!)Wild Artichokes, Kingsbridge
Ottolenghi would like Jane Baxter to cook all of his meals. We could probably just stop there, as it tells you everything you need to know about the quality of Jane Baxter’s food – but let’s go on.
In an unassuming part of Kingsbridge, right in the middle of an little industrial estate, there’s a warm glow of fairy lights, the sound of clinking glasses and laughter, and aromas of earthy truffle and wild garlic. Inside there are long wooden tables adorned with sharing platters of anything from okonomiyaki to clams with sobrasada and white beans. Portions are generous and yet still diners still find themselves pretending to be polite as they eye up the leftovers and mop up their plates. The service is second to none too, friendly and attentive.
Jane’s creativity knows no bounds, so each feasting night is different – sometimes there’ll be a Middle Eastern vibe, often there’s nods to an Italian influence, but always, there’s exciting, inventive dishes that will leave you wanting more.
Best fish and chips outside of Salcombe...Britannia @ The Beach and The Cricket Inn, both in Beesands
OK, so we couldn’t choose between these two – both are located on the beach at Beesands, and both serve fabulous Fish and Chips.
The Cricket Inn is a great pub with gorgeous fresh seafood (along with brilliant fish and chips of course,) and their legendary seafood pancake is divine. They have tables outside where you can sit in the afternoon sun and watch the boats sailing by with a cold glass of something in hand.
Just down the road is Britannia, a beach shack style restaurant that serves fantastically fresh seafood with specialties such as Start Bay crab arancini and moules marinière. They also do take out which is a great option on busy summer evenings, just make sure you remember your YETI roadie or Hopper 12 for the cold beers and wine!
Best pub food...The Kings Arms and The Fort, both in Salcombe
Again, we’re torn here between our two favourite pubs in Salcombe. The KA, run by the Milton family has long been our favourite hang out for after-work drinks, gorgeous family meals, prosecco in the sun on the Whitestrand Bar, and the occasional raucous night with friends! But we keep coming back for the food – our son adores their sticky ribs and we love the Goan Fish Curry, they specialize in fresh fish but have the pub classics too – so there’s something for everyone, even our little fuss pot!
The Fort does brilliant pizzas, juicy steaks and gorgeous burgers – but for us it’s all about the Thai Red Monkfish and King Prawn Curry – it’s quite simply one of the best curries we have tasted.
Best breakfasts...Cafe Alf Resco, Dartmouth
Affectionately known as ‘Alfs,’ this buzzy little café serves up legendary breakfasts which include generously loaded baguettes and buttery cinnamon toast as well as the usual local sausages and eggs. They also offer freshly squeezed orange juice and home made smoothies. The vibe is relaxed and friendly and there’s often live music to accompany the brilliant food. Get there early on summer weekends to avoid the queues, and come hungry!