We’re never short of places to eat in Cornwall, but we took a trip last week to The Shore at Penzance. Tucked on the corner of Alverton Street, it’s run by chef Bruce Rennie who’s worked in some of the UK’s top restaurants. All the food is ethically sourced, and being so close to Newlyn means Bruce gets top pics of the catch of the day so the fish is outstanding.
We did the tasting menu which was an exquisite eight courses – taking us from mushroom and seaweed tea with steamed buns and ink crackers, via Char Siu monkfish with shiso, to dark chocolate with hazelnut praline and passionfruit sorbet. Sometimes you have one of those meals where you think the next dish can’t top the one you’ve just eaten – that was exactly the way here. We argued all the way home whether the hake with dahl was better than the red mullet escabeche.
The staff were great, and for under £60 a head, it was an amazing experience. We even got to pop into the kitchen to see Bruce working away on his own – how he does it, we have no idea but we are certainly going to be buying his cookbook when it comes out this summer.
It’s a very special restaurant. You need to book in advance as they don’t take walk-in bookings, but if you’re looking something truly exceptional, look no further. We’ll be back!
www.theshorerestaurant.uk The Shore, 13/14 Alverton Street, Penzance.