Appledore Restaurants

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OK Before I start just let me say that I work here, and in fact do the cooking, and so I do have a slight bias ;p Bias aside though, I do reckon that 9 The Quay is the best restaurant, not only in Appledore but in the area generally. It's not just the superb, exquisitely presented, fresh local produce which is cooked here that makes it so but also the excellent and professional service. As a bonus the view over the Torridge Estuary from the windows of the elegantly laid restaurant is simply stunning and another major plus is the diverse wine list carefully selected for both quality and price.

The menu offers six choices for each course and features pretty much nothing but local seasonal produce with a slight slant towards fish and seafood, much of which is landed on the quay right outside the restaurant's front door. The restaurant itself is simply but elegantly furnished with blond wood seating, decorated in cool blue and cream colours and hung with works by local artists. While it is set up as a formal dining area the service is not at all stuffy but rather is laid-back and friendly in the uniquely North Devon manner.

Favorite Dish: Well obviously ALL the dishes here are excellent from the tasty little canapies served on arrival to the freshly ground "Fair Trade" coffee served post-prandially. However if I were to eat here I would definitely go for the fish dishes. As a starter the local Taw mussels are sweet, juicy and plump and cooked in the "Mariniere" fashion with white wine, shallots, garlic and herbs. For a main course I would recommend the lobster when available, grilled classically with Thermidor sauce and Parmesan cheese. The lobsters actually arrive straight off the boat and I pop out and have first option on the catch. And of course I select the biggest and meatiest!

If you are not a fish person then try the Exmoor Rib of Beef, chargrilled and served "Pub-style" with chips, peas, tomato, mushrooms and onion rings. Of course this isn't a pub and so the presentation is just a little different - the chips being thick cut and stacked "Jenga"-style, the mushrooms are local wild ones, the tomatoes sun-touched, the peas are in fact sugar snaps and the onion rings cooked in my personal-recipe trademark beer batter (see pic).

For dessert you could do worse that go for the Warm Chocolate Brownie which comes with a tuille basket filled with our village's own Hockings' vanilla ice-cream and we also stock a selection of Westcountry cheeses.

OK 9 The Quay isn't the cheapest place in town but it is the best!