Where to eat on Dartmoor

Food Reviews by Jill Pendleton Foodies 3 great discount offers on our discount vouchers page .....take a look. Back to home page
Forest Inn, Hexworthy Centre of the Moor map ref:655 726 13th April Tel 01364 631211 website Click here to read the review
Oxenham Arms, South Zeal, between Whiddon Down and Okehampton 27th March Tel 01837 840244 Click here to read the review
Robertson's Organic Cafe and Pizzeria, Pepper Street, Tavistock 4th February Tel 01822 612117 website pending Click here to read the review
The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe-in-the-Moor 20th December Tel 01364 621327 When I suggested to two pals that they might like to join us for lunch at The Rugglestone Inn, our friend John said "Yes, we'll come, they've got some brilliant local farm brewed cider on offer " It turned out to be one of the best lunches so far this year.... Off the beaten track in Widecombe. Click to read more
Lewtrenchard Manor, 5th December Just off the A30 Near to Lewdown. Tel 01566 783222 I have to say that the weather was totally against us when we went along to sample the much longed for outing to Lewtrenchard Manor, and I think that this may have clouded my opinion of it. Apart from a couple of minutes when we parked the car, and I quickly snatched the chance to take a picture, the weather was grey and uninspiring..... Click to read on
22 Mill Street for Sunday Lunch, 11th November. Chagford. Tel 01647 432244 It's not easy taking over the reins of an already successful restaurant, but Phil Biggin and Helena King, the new owners at 22 Mill Street in Chagford have pulled it off with flair. It being our wedding anniversary on Remembrance Sunday, we booked a table for 4 for lunch there to give it the once over ....... Click to read the whole review
The Mulberry Tree revisited, 18th October Cheriton Bishop. Just off A30 Tel 01647 24227 website Sam the owner manager gave me a ring following the review that I wrote about The Mulberry at Cheriton Bishop in August (see 2 reviews down). Like any good patron he was keen that I see his restaurant in a more favourable light, and assuring me that the staff we had heard discussing their mouth ulcers had had a talking to, he suggested that I ring him on his mobile to arrange a meal on the house to 'have another try'. That was a nice gesture, but any food reviewer worth his or her salt, does not announce their arrival, giving the staff chance to put on a special show. So I asked my daughter to book us in under her name, and we treated them to an evening meal on a cool Wednesday evening in October. Click to read the whole review.
The White Horse, 15th August. Moretonhampstead. Tel 01647 440242 I almost don't want to tell you about the White Horse in Moretonhampstead, because they are often full and I don't want to spoil my chances any further, but this pub is currently on the top of my 'where to eat locally list'. Front of house from the road is not much to write home about. It just looks like a black and white pub in a main street. But step inside and you will see that it's a quaint old bar with real granite walls that have witnessed smoke and chatter down through the ages. The central bar offers some good real ale, there are locals having a chinwag with the girl behind the bar and busy staff are attending to happy diners. Step further back in the building and into a long narrow extra room overlooking an outer courtyard, with the kitchen beyond that. Joy of joys the menu changes often but the overall taste is Mediterranean and traditional English. This is the sort of place that you should try something out of your comfort zone, because take it from me it's all good. Ask me if I care for butter beans, the answer is 'No' but the lamb shank I had on this my fourth visit, sat on top of perfectly cooked savoy cabbage and butter beans in the most achingly good liquor. Ignore the chips in the picture, they were pinched from a friend's plate. He opted for the fillet steak and he's fussy, but everything on the plate disappeared. We went as a foursome to wish goodbye to friends from the Midlands. The bill for mains, and puddings came to £82.40 Worth every penny.
The Mulberry Tree, August 14th Cheriton Bishop. Just off A30 Tel 01647 24227 www.themulberryinn.co.uk	On our way into Exeter and hungry, we stopped off at the newly converted Mulberry at Cheriton Bishop. It used to be The Good Knight Inn pub, and the new owner has certainly made the best of the building. Quality workmanship, a tidy garden, airy and spacious indoors with a strong contemporary look to the furnishings. Nice range of things on the lunchtime menu. We opted for the homemade beef burger, but was told, sorry, we are waiting for supplies. So Rob plumped for ham, eggs and chips, I settled for freshly cooked cod and chips. It was all 'o.k.' and to be fair we need to go one evening to try something off the specials blackboard, because it's obvious there is some serious fish on offer. We will return to check it out WATCH THIS SPACE FOR THE UPDATE !! The bill for 2 apple drinks & 2 lunch mains was £18.85	Crispy batter on the fish. 7/10 for the rest
Bearslake Inn, Lunch July 10th Sourton, Nr. Okehampton 01837 861334	The young girl who waited on table when we lunched at The Bearslake Inn could easily walk off with the "Most pleasant waitress of the year" award. Nothing was too much trouble. This pretty thatched Inn with low ceilings and beams has a large roomy restaurant behind the bar and lounge. The menu sounds a bit flowery to be honest, I don't wish to be told that the layers of herb pancakes are 'entwined with mushrooms' or that West Country beef fillet is stuffed with Devon blue cheese 'surrounded by' a rich Marsala wine and cream reduction..... sounds like sixth form jargon to me...however, the food is good. My steak stayed at medium rare and was easy on the knife, Rob's pork tasty, and our 2 friends both rated theirs meals. Pretty puddings ...see pic., and a good time was had by one and all. So nice that because of the new non smoking laws, this very pleasant hostelry just got even better. Bill for 4 for 2 course lunch inc 1 bar drink each £82.40	Bearslake website ... to see a sample menu.
Riverford Organic Field Kitchen Cookery Demo. May 3rd Nr. to Buckfastleigh 01803 762074	True Foodies will love taking the treat that I had for my birthday. My neighbour Morag and I went along to one of the Riverford Organics' cookery demonstrations, held at their field kitchen down at Buckfastleigh. Friendly Sam greeted us with coffee and fresh biscuits before a short farm tour around the soft fruit field, then we were treated to Jane Baxter deftly making bread and a 3 course lunch for us in front of our very eyes.... Using the wonderfully fresh vegetables from this Aladdin's cave of a farm shop, we watched and learnt how she goes about preparing grilled lamb, chard and anchovy gratin, artichokes with broad beans and mint....new potatoes cooked in paper in the oven, yes in paper and it was so good..... We learned a new way to finish cauliflower off that even kids would like and she cooked the absolutely yummiest pear and almond tart that you could ever imagine.
	Demo over, we all got to sit at the table and dig into everything that she had shown us. There's lots to see at Riverford and it's hugely impressive. Many will be familiar with their veg box scheme. Jane is very friendly and full of confidence with what to some home cooks are still unfamiliar ingredients. We really enjoyed watching her bring it all together as she answered questions and made it all look easy. It's £50 per head for the demo which includes lots to eat... but well...it was my birthday... Check out the website and book yourself in.
Sandy Park Inn - April 2007 Nr. to Chagford 01647 433267 Click here for the website	Friends who know us might say that I am being unfair to add The Sandy Park Inn to this list, because this pub is on our doorstep, but hey why should that stop me ? When B&B guests ask me to recommend a pub I don't have any hesitation. It's a traditional pub that sells great ales. Occasionally there is a bit of a queue when they get busy at the weekend and in the Summer, so my advice is to ring and book a table in the small restaurant section. There is a pretty beer garden at the back, so families can make use of the space and the swing.. The menu boasts local meat and in season vegetables.. Lunchtime walkers can enjoy a quality bowl of soup. We enjoyed the fresh haddock main course, and the mustard mashed potatoes with the local sausage were very tasty indeed (see left). Check out the clever apple wheel on the cheese plate. Ample portions of good cheeses,Devon chutney, crackers All good stuff. Prices are shown on their website.
Moorwood Cottage Moretonhampstead April 1st 01647 277561 Click here for the website	Moorwood Cottage on the A382 between Moreton and Bovey offers Sunday lunch as well as a daily tearoom service. Our neighbours came along with us to give it a go.... Into a pretty little cottage on the side of the road, we sat in front of the fire in what is an old granite cottage sitting room and chose drinks from the handful on offer, before being invited to come to the table which was set at the other end of the room. Sarah served us with the beef and pork choices, both £9.95, happily letting us have some of each if we wished. The vegetables were good and more than enough to go round. Only a tiny portion of apple sauce, but plenty of tasty gravy, and the offer of more in the kitchen. Another couple of diners arrived. As you can see on their website, many more than this and it would be full. Lunch was fine, but the thing to write home about proved to be the puddings. The bread and butter pudding had just come out of the oven and was truly delicious. I love to see good old fashioned English puddings on sale. This one was cooked with just a dash of Grande Marnier. Rob chose the steamed chocolate sponge and it too was worthy of a 10/10 score. Both arrived, as you can see with lashings of cream and the offer of custard or ice-cream. With one bottle of house red between us and a pre-meal drink the bill for 4 came to about £60
Pickled Walnut Okehampton 23rd March '07 01837 54242 Click here for the website	23rd March saw us booked into the subterranean bistro style eatery that is The Pickled Walnut in Okehampton. They had been only too happy to change our booking by a day on the phone, and the cheerful staff welcome was just as warm and friendly. Down steep steps into a low ceiling bar alongside the Okemont river, the room is colourfully decorated with giant pictures of birds (on sale) by local artist, a colourful and lively cellar with a well stocked bar. The menu is a joy.... it comes in 4 seasonal chunks and we came in time for the end of the Spring offerings...all freshly cooked on the day...'here's what we have, here's the choice there' something to please anyone. Nothing bland on offer, try this....' Cheerful staff. Pleasant surroundings...and the food was well cooked and tasty. We opted for a 'plateful of things' £8 in the starter section. Decided that 2 platefuls would be enough for 4 whilst we waited for the mains... There was enough on the giant lazy Susan for the whole meal. All sorts, from a king prawn to a couple of pig's trotters (not my favourite but Kenneth loved them) and we all agreed that next visit we would opt for this starter and indulge in the puddings, as by the time we had finished excellent mains - salmon, lamb steak with sherry, honey and rosemary £12, and delicious veggie option Aubergine Parmiggiana £10, we were stuffed. The house red was excellent. I'll ask Rob (in pic) what the bill came to. The recommend criteria that I work on is... would I go again? Yes we certainly will go back. The food was the best in Okehampton by far and .....it swings.
Gidleigh Park Hotel Chagford Dec'06 01647 432367 Click here for the website	Just before Christmas we were invited to join good pals for lunch at Gidleigh Park Hotel near to Chagford. Newly opened following extensive refurbishment, the hotel has always been at the top of the Dartmoor Eating Out Experience League....and now it's that with knobs on. From the greeting as you arrive at the door to the goodbyes you get as you leave, you are treated as a most welcome visitor throughout. Attention to the guest's comfort is paramount here. A short sojourn in the comfortable top class sitting room for a pre meal drink, a chat with the new Sommelier Leif Svendsen, .... time to unwind and drink in the atmosphere and shortly we are ushered into one of the dining rooms. Lovely white linen. Just the right level of fresh flowers in beautiful arrangements. Some diners don't care for lots of fuss as they are being served, but oh joy, just for a change and a chance to see how the other half live, I enjoyed each and every minute. The food was served by several at the table with the most attentive service. Small portions all the way through, but each course put together with the same care that a loving Mother would expend on an ailing infant. Plates of colour with just enough mouthfuls of the most tasty food, cooked to perfection. It being the run up to Christmas, we opted for seasonal choices. Divine food. The only slightest quibble from Jenny was that the Christmas Pudding was not as good as her Mother's and I must admit after all the wonderful preceding courses....it did only rank as very good, not fabulous... This really is the best treat of all on Dartmoor. The bill for lunch was £210 for 4 of us including 1 bottle of wine and drinks. Click here for lunch menus......

Good pubs

       Sandy Park Inn Nr. Chagford      Bullers Arms Chagford       Globe Inn, Chagford

The Elephant's Nest, Horndon                    The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe              The Kings Arms, South Zeal

Tearooms and Coffee Shops
   The Old Forge, Chagford Excellent tearooms with a wide range of delicious cakes cooked daily.  Try their Welsh Rarebit...it's wonderfully tasty !!

   The Terrace Cafe, Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey - has such goodies as Pan baked smoked haddock topped with stilton and poached
egg, served on mash with medley of vegetables for £10...or Leek and walnut crepes with mixed leaf salad for £6.95

Blacks Delicatessen Take a coffee plus -Everything you want from a bacon and egg baguette to a dinner for 2 to cook at home

      Primrose Cottage - Lustleigh             Brimpts Farm - Yelverton            Julie's Riverside Cafe, Ashburton - ideal for shoppers.

and.... not on Dartmoor, but not far away at Dartington Cider Press Centre...Cranks Fully vegetarian