Review July 2018
The Jetty Restaurant, Salcombe Harbour Hotel

The Jetty Restaurant sits like a watercolour on the edge of the estuary in the beautiful Salcombe Harbour Hotel.

You don’t have to choose seafood from the tantalising menu of seasonal dishes here, but, for me, it was an opportunity not to be missed. Our waiter delivered freshly baked bread rolls to our table and helped us through an extensive wine list – we went for a splendid 2016 Sancerre (Domaine Du Nozay, Loire Valley) – before sharing in his impressive knowledge of each culinary combination on offer.

We weren’t expecting such an impressive infusion of flavours and tastes. My crispy duck salad starter was perfectly complemented with cubed watermelon, sweet, toasted cashews, coriander and pickled ginger. My partner’s South Coast crab on toast was a mini tower block of white and dark crab meat, with a delicate sweetness that sat well with the flavours of fennel seed, chilli and crème fraîche.

Our mains were the highlight. They say those who love seafood don’t just eat it, they celebrate it, and so we did! My whole grilled sea bass served with beurre blanc was velvety soft and moist. Perfectly cooked flesh fell from the bone – it was light and flavoursome. My partner’s lobster thermidor tasted sweet, yet was subtle in favour. It was creatively put together and artistically presented.

Our shared side dishes of skinny fries and steamed broccoli with toasted almonds were ample additions.

As the sun dipped below the waterline, we tucked into sticky toffee pudding and vanilla ice cream, and chocolate delice with a chocolate and hazelnut snap – not overly rich or sickly sweet, but a final indulgence to round off an evening of delicious dining.