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