Restaurant Spy - Devon

Sophie's Of Exmouth

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:22:30 +0000

Address:
22 Rolle St, Exmouth, EX8 1NJ

Review:

New Readers Start here

If you don't visit Spy's message board, the phrase "Sophie's of Exmouth" won't mean much to you. Unless you live in Exmouth of course. Even then, it may not, the nice woman in a shop 2 streets away said she'd definitely heard of it, but it was in Exeter. She kindly got her phone book out to check and said, wonderingly "No, you're right, it's here - 22 Rolle Street" So you can see the impact Sophie's has had on the town. In an attempt to drum up business, someone called Maureen posted the following on the Spy message board in early June:

Ocean Drive, Walnut Rd, Torquay. Devon. TQ2 5JY

Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:18:39 +0000

Address:
Walnut Rd, Torquay. Devon. TQ2 5JY

Review:

Looking for somewhere different to celebrate the parents wedding anniversary this year just after xmas. We booked for 12 adults for Dec 29th Fri Evening. We decided to visit with a couple of friends recently just to try it out never having been before. We booked a table for 4 people for 20.30hrs. We arrived at about 19.40hrs and were shown to the drinks area to await the food order being taken. Not until approx 21.00 (30mins late) did they take our food orders. At 21.30 (1 hr late) we were shown to our table which was cold and near a drafty pair of doors, just after sitting down the waitress arrived to ask one of the party how she wanted her steak cooked (this was cleary stated with the original food order).I asked the waitress to find out why we were 1 hour behind our booked time but got no response at all. We were moved across the room, when the food eventually arived at 21.50hrs( 1 hr 20 mins after our original booking time) it was no more than just ok with limited potatoes and vegetables for 4 people.
After the meal we went to the bar to pay and immediately cancel the anniversary booking for 12, to which the waitress showed no concern at all as to why we had cancelled I hope they can afford to turn away a booking for 12 adults.
Neil & Patricia Caunter

The Beach, On the beach, by the Princess Theatre, Torquay, Devon

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 11:13:58 +0000

Address:
On the beach, by the Princess Theatre Torquay Devon

Review:
I was delighted to discover this fantastic restaurant over looking Torquay Bay and straight out to Brixham. For my starter i had Garlic Mushrooms, that were cooked to perfection and really did 'melt in the mouth' My partner had BBQ ribs, and they were great too! A little spicy for my taste, but my patner assured me that they were just right! As for the main course, OH MY GOD! 1lb steak, for only £12.50! And the chef even came out to ask me how rare i wanted my steak! The sauce was perfect, not too overpowering, it came with a choice of potatoes and mixed vegetables!Wow! I really am fussy when it comes to steaks and this supassed all but my favourite restaurant, and they have been serving me for ages! Follow that with a great chocolate torte and cheap drinks! Even better.

Seasons, 9 Silver Street Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1DB

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 11:13:58 +0000

Address:
9 Silver Street Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1DB

Review:
Our daughter has just moved to Ottery St Mary with her family, so expect a surge of West Country reviews from me. Ottery is a nice little town, birthplace of S T Coleridge, and far less precious and touristy than you might expect. They do have two tea shops, Seasons and Poppys. We went to Poppy's once and it was fine, but E and her children have fallen in love with Seasons, so we went there three times in a week.

The Restaurant, 135, Babbacombe Rd Torquay Devon TQ1 3SR

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 11:13:58 +0000

Address:
135, Babbacombe Rd Torquay Devon TQ1 3SR

Review:

Its a surprisingly long road, Babbacombe Rd, and when I finally got there, the name was different (no, I can't remember what it was). To me, this is what I would call a local restaurant, although not being in Islington, it wouldn't be one to Time Out it seems*. The menu mentions using local produce where possible and the mushrooms I had to start certainly had more flavour than I'm used to in the plastic-packed variety. The venison was served with a very nice sauce but the meat would have benefitted from a bit more hanging. The rhubarb cheesecake was very, well, rhubarb-y and worked very well. If they too can get over the vegetable side-plate disease**, this would be a wonderful little restaurant. Approved. The 3rd Man

The Five Bells Inn, Clyst Hydon Nr. Cullompton Devon EX15 2NT