Restaurants in Padstow- Paul Ainsworth at No6 Review

There is so much to see and do in beautiful Cornwall for people of all ages. Sandy beaches, pretty towns and villages and the fabulous Gardens of Cornwall. Take a Cornish road trip and see them all!

As foodies, we love Padstow, a food lovers destination for years after Rick Stein put it well and truly on the map. There are plenty of great things to do in Padstow and it now has an array of restaurants, cafes and food producers.

Nestled in a quiet backstreet in the pretty harbour town, you will find Michelin Starred Paul Ainsworth at No. 6. The restaurant is a cosy and relaxed place to enjoy food of the highest standard.

A deep fried, crisp oyster, full of the flavours of the sea, arrives as we excitedly peruse the à la carte menu. Dip this into the roe mayo. Enjoy alongside, a warm cheese scone which is to be split open and slathered with a choice of butter- salted or caramelised.

Starters:

To start, I opt for the pigs head fritter- such deep meaty flavours. The smoked eel is an interesting addition and the fresh apple flavours cut through the richness.

After much deliberation (all of the options sound amazing!), Mel orders the ‘Smoked Haddock Quiche Lorraine‘. Nothing like a quiche Lorriane in appearance, but packed with all of the traditional flavours. Slow-cooked egg yolk and bacon jam fill a crisp, cheesy pastry base, which is then topped with a beautiful piece of smoked haddock. A standout dish for Mel that she hasn’t stopped talking about since!

Mains:

Mains are excellent. For me, flavoursome Cornish hogget served with a crisp sweetbread, accompanied by a brilliant suet pudding. Red garlic ketchup and a zingy side add even more flavour to the dish.

Mel went for the aged soy glazed duck which was expertly cooked. Delicious oriental flavours fill the meat and the accompanying ‘clear Peking tea’. A fresh, crunchy ‘PYO’ salad with radish adds texture and freshness.

THE Dessert:

The finale to this excellent meal is a three course sharing dessert. The Fairground Tale was made famous when Paul ‘took it to the banquet’ in 2011 on BBC’s Great British Menu –simply fantastic. Theatrical and super tasty, it takes you through a multitude of flavours, textures and temperatures. Here it is!

First up is a perfect chocolate and coconut soufflé. Extra coconut flavour is added in the form of a velvety koko kanu custard.

A dinky tart of fresh pineapple and shards of coconut just helps to bring a zesty edge to this wonderfully rich dessert.

Next, presented on a miniature fairground carousel, a peanut butter flavoured choc-ice and the most delightful aerated chocolate bar with tiny blobs of mandarin jelly.

A generously sized, warm muscavado doughnut ‘Monkey bread ‘ with a raspberry curd arrives to finish this experience. Scattered with salted peanuts- just wonderful !

A fabulous restaurant in Padstow:

We had a great evening at Paul Ainsworth at No6 with great friends. Excellent food and service in an informal and relaxed atmosphere. This all leaves you feeling extremely content and happy with the world. Highly recommended.

Check out our recommendation for restaurants for a special occasion here.