It seems a little unfair to say we discovered the Tea Room in the Evening almost by accident as it has been open for a couple of years when we first dined, but that is exactly what happened.
Enjoying a lovely position on the Harbour towards Smeatons Pier, the Tea Room is regularly full during the day of people enjoying their range of platters, tarts, sandwiches, cream teas and the odd alcoholic beverage.
But during the summer evenings it transforms into a small but perfectly form restaurant with around 20 covers featuring a daily specials menu. Based on a much quieter side of the harbour – in the evening that is – the Tea Room is an ideal place to admire the harbour views across to Porthminster and savour the atmosphere while enjoying lovely dishes too.
The fantastic waiter – who runs a very smooth and professional front of house – came to the rescue of me and my friend one summer’s evening when, if I am honest, we were looking a little bedraggled after a day at the beach with our children who were still intent on jumping off the pier for the next hour or so.
We were actually staying out of town and couldn’t nip back and change, but we were there around 5.30pm just before the early evening sitting, Taking pity on us, our waiter seated us outside on a mild summer’s evening even though we didn’t have a booking. He needed the table back for an early evening reservation so offered us an hour’s respite from the pier from which to observe our older children splashing and playing with the seals while we ate a lovely chef cooked fish supper accompanied by a much appreciated glass of white wine!
He talked me and my friend through the menu and we chose our two fish dishes and sat eating the fabulous seafood overlooking the harbour, close enough to keep a watchful eye on our charges.
I chose the cod which was served with a crisp herbed topping, baby tomatoes, potato gnocchi and a crayfish and crab sauce. It was absolutely exquisite and perfect for our setting.
I’ve dined there since by candlelight with my husband and I hope to be back there again this summer. (Review from August 2015). For more information and bookings
