RESTAURANTS
Recently branded as ‘uninspiring’ and ‘dull’ by one of the leading UK travel guides, affluent Surrey, including Guildford, scores poorly in the better-known eating out guides too; there are just 11entries in the 2011 version of the Good Food Guide. Not-so-affluent Cornwall has more than 30 entries! So perhaps all you wealthy Surrey folk have second homes in the far west or escape for long weekends. Guildford gastronauts are not at all well served unless you like Italian or Thai food in which case you appear to be rather spoiled for choice; anyway please tell us your favourite value-for-money places (these are hard times!) so that we may, space permitting, include them in future editions of The Directory. Owing to limitations on space we have included just two Surrey restaurants this year but a little more spin on Cornwall for you visiting emmets.
Surrey Restaurants Chinese / Thai
222 Kei’s Restaurant
01252 782587
Guildford Road, Rundfold, Farnham
info@keis.co.uk
http://www.keis.co.uk
This is a very smart place to eat; the staff are delightful and it’s very child-friendly. Open seven days a week, 12–2pm lunchtimes, 6–11pm evenings and then midday through to 11pm on Sundays. One of the best places around to hold a family get-together. Check out their website.
Surrey Restaurants Modern English / European
223 Kinghams
01483 202168
Gomshall Lane, Shere
http://www.kinghams-restaurant.co.uk
A consistently good, well rated restaurant located in a pretty 17th-century red-brick cottage in picturesque Shere. Bold, modern cooking using local farm produce wherever possible and fresh fish delivered daily. Good-value menu features daily specials. Heated gazebo in garden. Closed Sun dinner and Mon. Featured in all the food guides.
Cornwall Restaurants
We believe Cornwall is as good a region as anywhere on the planet for eating out, with excellent chefs combining the very best of local produce; where else is the fish this good? Padstow, Penzance and St Ives appear to be in the driving seat and are now major gastronomic destinations (French readers take note!) but here are a few other diverse ideas. The Georgian city of Truro is less than one-third the size of Guildford but here and in the surrounding area you are utterly spoiled for choice. Check out the following places; they are some of the publishers’ favourites:
224 Chantek
01872 225071
15 New Bridge Street, Truro
http://www.chantek.co.uk
Pacific-rim favourite where you can watch the chefs in action – Thai, Chinese, Japanese etc.
225 Falmouth Bay Seafood Café
01872 278884
10 Castle Lodge, Castle Street, Truro
http://www.falmouthbayseafoodcafe.com
Simple local produce with dishes dominated by fresh fish and seafood. Good vegetarian options.
226 Gravy
01872 222237
8 Edward Street, Truro http://www.gravy-boesti.co.uk
Stylish, contemporary and relaxed, Gravy is the latest star in the Truro firmament. Fantastic food.
227 Indaba Fish
01872 274700
Tabernacle Street, Truro
http://www.indabafish.co.uk
Quality Cornish seafood selection that’s sustainable and caught locally. Meat and vegetarian dishes too.
228 Saffron
01872 263771
5 Quay Street, Truro
http://www.saffronrestauranttruro.co.uk
Eclectic dishes using fresh, local (farms, hedgerows and seaside) produce. Very seasonal menu.
229 Scarlet
01637 861800
Tredragon Road, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall TR8 4DJ
http://www.scarlethotel.co.uk
Luxury boutique / eco hotel for adults. Locally sourced food from a creative kitchen. Inspirational spa with the most stunning views. Amazing – a place to play and dream. Star Cornish destination.
230 Smugglers’ Den Inn
01637 830209
Trebellan Farm, Cubert, Newquay
http://www.thesmugglersden.co.uk
Old and thatched, one to seek out tucked away in a beautiful valley. If only every area had a pub this good. No pretensions – just ticks all the boxes!
