A charming place to stay, relax, and explore all the beauty and rich history of Cornwall, The Old Quay House Hotel has earned a reputation for excellence. In addition, the onsite restaurant provides an exquisite dining experience, recognised as one of the top must-try food experiences in Cornwall, essential to any foodie’s guide to Cornwall culinary recommendations. Tucked away in the charming town of Fowey, with outdoor seating overlooking the estuary, this restaurant provides a gourmet dining experience you are not likely to forget.
The Head Chef Behind the Old Quay House Hotel Dishes
Blessed with an abundance of fresh seafood and local produce, Cornwall is rich in fine dining establishments, including many Michelin-starred restaurants. Even in the midst of this region’s remarkable culinary tradition, The Old Quay House Hotel has something special. It is a gourmet dining experience in the heart of Fowey, provided under the leadership of Head Chef Richard Massey.
Having begun his culinary journey in Scotland, working as a kitchen porter in a seafood restaurant in a small West Highlands village, he honed his skills over years and across many restaurants before earning 3AA rosettes status for his cooking while working on the Isle of Skye.
In 2016 he made his way to Fowey, and since then, he has worked to create an outstanding culinary experience in this coastal port town, making the most of fresh, locally sourced produce and the highest-quality ingredients. Using simple cooking techniques, his team prepares dishes that use only the freshest seafood and the highest quality West Country meat and Cornish cheeses. Putting the bounty of this part of the country to good use, they strive to provide guests with the best culinary experience possible. Because of the emphasis on fresh, local ingredients, the menu changes with the seasons, but the quality of Old Quay House Hotel dishes remains the same. Here, we offer three fine dining suggestions from The Old Quay House that you are sure to appreciate.
The Beauty of Local Food
At The Old Quay House restaurant, we strive to provide every guest with a unique, unforgettable, and extremely enjoyable dining experience. From the intimate, serene ambience of the restaurant, to the menu featuring creative modern British cuisine, every aspect is designed to make our guests feel comfortable, peaceful, and well-attended. Our commitment to culinary excellence is demonstrated in every dish that comes out of our kitchen, yet our food is unfussy and accessible. The delectable food we serve is simply prepared and is perfect for enjoying out on the terrace, one of the few waterside terraces in the area, with its breathtaking views of the Fowey Estuary. As you linger in this spectacular location, watching the world go by, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, make sure you experience these three must-try dishes:
- Wild Garlic Gnocchi with Mushroom and Spring Onion: One of the chef’s favourite menu items, this creative culinary triumph is made with wild garlic, locally foraged. Wild garlic is a beautifully fragrant plant that can be found growing throughout the Cornish countryside each spring, and when it is foraged locally and carried to The Old Quay House kitchen, the team uses it to produce this standout dish, which is a simple appetizer, wholesome and bursting with flavour.
- Cornish Crab with Burnt Apple: In this stunning dish, white crab meat is prepared with flavours of lime and coriander and offset by a burnt smoked apple purée. It is a sublime combination of flavours, a delicate interplay of sweet and savoury, smoky and tart, with delicate crab and rich exotic spice, that mingles all the different elements while simultaneously allowing each ingredient to shine.
- Cornish Strawberries with Basil: Finish your excellent meal at The Old Quay House by indulging in this unusual but scrumptious combination. In this dish, the sweetness of the strawberries is perfectly balanced by the floral notes of the basil, for a delightful merging of flavours. This dish is simple and fresh, and when completed with a strawberry sorbet, it is absolutely superb.
Food Tourism at Its Finest
When you are travelling to Cornwall and want to experience sophisticated and creative cuisine that is also fresh and simply prepared, The Old Quay House Hotel is the perfect Cornwall dining destination. When dinner is over and you need somewhere to relax and enjoy the beauty of Cornwall, you will also find the hotel to be a wonderful place to stay. Nestled in the heart of Fowey, this riverside boutique hotel offers a modern-day bolthole away from life’s stresses and chores.
Stay in one of our 13 luxurious bedrooms and you will enjoy not only big comfy beds and every amenity you need for a decadent stay, but also five-course meals and exquisite estuary views. Our location is perfect for exploring the quaint, bustling, seaside town of Fowey, enjoying its cafes, boutiques, and galleries, before heading out to discover the rest of the South Cornwall coast.
When you are hungry, you need not go far, as our restaurant is one of the most popular in the area. There, you will enjoy fine dining, with delectable menus for breakfast, lunch, afternoon high tea, and dinner, in a gorgeous setting, where you can watch life on the estuary unfold from your vantage point on the terrace. In a town set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we strive to provide each of our guests with a unique experience.
Once a refuge for sailors, The Old Quay House is deeply connected to the area’s history, and the character of each bedroom is meticulously crafted to tell its own story, in keeping with that rich tradition. In our Victorian building, you will find friendly staff ready to make your stay comfortable and memorable, and while we cannot accommodate children under the age of 8, we welcome well-behaved, friendly dogs (dependant on availability). For more information about our accommodation, special offers, or our spectacular restaurant, call +44 0172 683 3302, email info@theoldquayhouse.com, or contact us through our website.
