Off Norway Lane, nestled between Porthmeor Beach and the Harbour, is the gem of a restaurant that is the Loft. Serving everything from afternoon tea, cocktails, Sunday lunch and spectacular dinners, it really is a great find for those of you discovering St Ives for the first time or looking to try somewhere different.
The restaurant boasts a generous number of covers for St Ives but in a change to most harbour front places, it is spacious with lovely ambience from the moment you arrive.
My friend, son and I dined in June and were greeted warmly by staff even though we arrived very early for our reservation. We drank cocktails at the bar chatting with staff before being shown to our table.
Despite being ‘inland’ the Loft still boasts a stunning sea view from its extensive windows and there’s a lovely terrace for those warm summer evenings, which is well covered with clear awnings during less inclement times, so it’s always worth checking if they can fit you in, even if you haven’t made a reservation.
The Loft is known for a range of seafood and new English cuisine with a twist, and also for a top of the range variety of steaks and grills including our favourite Chateaubriand.
We shared the Chateau between us all, choosing to add extra sides to our plates and there was more than enough for the three of us. We added Port and Stilton sauce to finish the dish. The Stilton was crumbled into the sauce before serving and provided a lovely texture to complement the gorgeous steak.
Cooked to perfection the tender meat melted in the mouth and left very little room for desert, although we did squeeze in some speciality Cornish cheeses and coffee.
We’ll be back again next time we visit, and plan to try some of the new dishes on the exciting menu.
Details: Early eater menu for orders between 6 and 7. Lovely children’s menu available. Cost per head from around £20 for two courses. Dogs permitted on the terrace. Reservations: 01736 794204.
