Rick Stein’s Seafood restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall was a delight!

This month Steve and I enjoyed a splendid foodie winter break in Padstow, Cornwall. It’s a long drive from where we live in Cambridge, but we were blessed with unseasonably sunny weather for January so it was well worth the journey to the West Country. The main reason for our trip was to experience dining at Rick Stein’s flagship seafood restaurant in Padstow. We took advantage of a low season deal staying in accommodation above the restaurant which has picturesque views over the harbour and Camel estuary. This special offer included breakfast and a three-course dinner on both nights which made it excellent value. The Seafood Restaurant uses quality local produce and is internationally famous for imaginative cooking of the very freshest fish and shellfish often landed on their doorstep! We were particularly impressed with the staff who gave exemplary service, – being friendly, knowledgeable and totally professional.

The Seafood Restaurant is located at Riverside, Padstow, in Cornwall. This is Rick Stein’s flagship restaurant which opened in 1975.

We enjoyed home-made bread, butter, and olives while choosing from an extensive a la carte menu which featured simple seafood dishes with classic flavours using Rick’s recipes.

PAN FRIED PUNTILLITA AND CRISPY DEEP FRIED CAMARONES with Migas, parsley, and chillies. These small squid are fried with crisp breadcrumbs sprinkled with spicy pimentón.

CHARGRILLED FILLET OF WILD CORNISH SEA BASS with a tomato, butter, and vanilla vinaigrette.

GRILLED FILLET OF HAKE with spinach and beurre blanc.

CORNISH CRAB with a wakame, cucumber and dashi salad with wasabi mayonnaise.

SINGAPORE CHILLI CRAB Stir-fried whole crab with garlic, ginger, chilli, and coriander. Very much for those who love eating with their hands and getting gloriously messy like Steve!  

By not having a starter on my second evening I had room for this delicious dessert – HOT CHOCOLATE FONDANT with raspberry marshmallow, made with Felchlin chocolate.

CHARGRILLED FILLET OF WILD CORNISH SEA BASS With a tomato, butter and vanilla vinaigrette.

This is a selection of some of the dishes we enjoyed either as starters or main courses.

After dinner on both evenings, we were treated to a delectable selection of Petit fours.

It should be mentioned that breakfast served in the restaurant was wonderful too, with a choice of speciality dishes, including smoked haddock kedgeree, poached kippers, grilled fish of the day or a classic English breakfast, and much, much more from a wide-ranging menu.

An interior view of the Seafood Restaurant which is light and attractive with a very enjoyable atmosphere. We were especially interested in the eclectic collection of paintings displayed on the restaurant walls. It transpired that all the artwork had been acquired by Rick Stein on his travels.

We enjoyed a lovely coastal walk in Padstow, which is a very attractive fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall

Padstow located on the North coast of Cornwall was traditionally a fishing port and some of its fishing fleet still remains, but now it’s primarily a popular tourist destination, especially with foodies. Rick Stein’s presence has been a terrific influence on the town and he has several other food outlets and shops in addition to the Seafood Restaurant. Tourists travel long distances to eat at his restaurant and cafes, consequently, this has led to the town being dubbed “Padstein” by food writers in the British media. We were surprised by how busy the restaurant was both for lunch and dinner service at this usually quiet time of year, and many guests like us were staying overnight and taking advantage of the special offers. As a destination restaurant for a birthday or anniversary, the Seafood Restaurant is highly recommended and you are bound to have a memorable experience. We did!

THE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Riverside

Padstow

Cornwall

PL28 8BY

Reservations Tel:01841 532700

http://www.rickstein.com