Take 5: Plymouth dining finds

Planning a gourmet getaway in Plymouth? The bustling coastal city is home to some fantastic Trencherman’s dining finds. We’ve picked five you ought to have on your restaurant radar

Àclèaf

Grade II-listed Boringdon Hall Hotel may be steeped in history, thanks to its Elizabethan architecture and inclusion in the Domesday Book, but it’s also the home of contemporary dining. Its restaurant Àclèaf is an intimate and romantic setting in which to sample seasonal four-course menus or six-course tasting experiences from talented head chef Scott Paton.

The focus is fully on ingredients and the chef expends serious energy sourcing the best produce to create this completely novel dining experience. Hero ingredients on the seasonal menus include Devon crab, Dartmoor lamb and locally dived scallops, while vegetarian and vegan diners get their own tasting menus crafted from flavour-forward local produce.

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Salumi Bar & Eatery

This creative and contemporary spot (and sister restaurant to Rock Salt Cafe) packs a modern vibe and features plenty of cosy nooks, armchairs and sunny spots over several floors in which to enjoy drinks and dinner.

Visit with friends for a long and lazy sharing-platter lunch of baked camembert, ham-hock scotch egg, salmon pastrami and homemade breads. Then return in the evening for creative Asian-inspired dishes such as Chiang Mai pork curry and a pudding of warm fairground-style doughnuts.

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Barbican Kitchen

Well established as one of Devon’s gourmet go-tos, Chris and James Tanner’s Barbican Kitchen continues to deliver the gastronomic goods, 16 years on.

Situated inside a historic building that’s also home to the Plymouth Gin Distillery (and where the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night before setting sail on the Mayflower), the location makes for an inspiring experience – even before you’ve sampled the cooking.

Dishes are built around locally sourced ingredients such as fresh Cornish fish landed by Looe dayboats and meat from Philip Warren Butchers in Launceston. This fine fare is expertly crafted into creative dishes such as slow-cooked pork belly with tiger prawns and masala-spiced cauliflower, among a plethora of modern British classics.

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Fletcher’s Restaurant

Since opening in 2018, Fletcher’s Restaurant has garnered a loyal following for its encore‑worthy cocktails and showstopping cuisine.

Head chef Fletcher Andrews showcases a passion for quality local ingredients and vibrant earthy flavours in dishes such as cocoa-marinated venison with colcannon mash, Barkham Blue cheese and fragrant quince. The chef is supported by a youthful and vibrant front-of-house cast – led by Fletcher’s fiancee Jessica Harkcom – who go out of their way to create a relaxed dining experience.

Fletcher’s Restaurant is also one to have in your little black book if you’re planning to catch a show at nearby entertainment venues (it’s in the heart of the city and just behind the Theatre Royal). Choose from pre-theatre menus, set meals and à la carte lunch and dinner menus. In summer, enjoy a long and lazy lunch in the light-flooded conservatory-style lounge.

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The Fig Tree @ 36

The daily menus at this neighbourhood bistro are a celebration of Devon’s fruitful land and sea, thanks to head chef Ryan Marsland’s hotline to the region’s finest suppliers. Visitors can expect to feast on the freshest produce of the season, from just-landed River Exe mussels and Plymouth monkfish to Copplestone chicken and Creedy Carver duck.

If the forecast is favourable, book one of the tables under the fig tree in the garden and kick off an alfresco feast with creative cocktails, plump olives and homemade bread. The restaurant is tucked away on a residential street a short walk from Royal William Yard, so it’s perfectly positioned for a post-lunch stroll along the harbour.

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