8 Best Restaurants in The West Country, England

Seafood fans can indulge their passion at this unpretentious, convivial spot, where a location near the harbor, as well as wooden floors, colorful wall tiles, and maritime knickknacks, all set the mood. Fresh, locally caught fish is brought to your table for inspection before being simply but imaginatively prepared. The extensive menu offers dishes ranging from humble—but abundant and beautifully cooked—fish-and-chips to lobster and crab grilled with garlic and brandy. There's a wine bar upstairs for a pre- or postprandial drink.

Just steps from where boats unload their daily catches, Rick Stein's modern, airy flagship restaurant has built its reputation on the freshest fish and the highest culinary artistry in town, with everything from grilled Padstow lobster with herbs and stir-fried Singapore chili crab to meat and vegetarian dishes. Choose between sitting either formally at a table or on a stool at the Seafood Bar. In low season, you can order a three-course set-price lunch menu for £30. Guests at one of Stein's hotels can also book a table on the panoramic rooftop terrace—and a stay in one of the sunny, individually designed guest rooms overlooking the harbor is an enticing option if you don't feel like moving very far after your meal.

Tucked away at the bottom of Topsham's winding main street and near the placid River Exe, this seafood bistro attracts enthusiastic plaudits for its succulent culinary creations, its friendly service, and its cozy atmosphere. You might find deviled mackerel, Brixham crab, and scallops on the fixed-price menu (£33 and £39), though you might also be tempted to sample pan-roasted lamb rump or asparagus tart, as well as such impressive desserts as elderflower cheesecake. The brick walls of the main dining area are hung with local art, and there are tables upstairs, too.

Overlooking Swanpool Beach a mile south of Falmouth, this popular eatery has a lively buzz and a menu that showcases the best seafood to be found in Cornish waters. Plump and juicy scallops from Falmouth Bay, mussels served with baked focaccia, wild prawns in 'nduja sauce, lobster with garlic and herb butter, crab and lobster risotto, and plain old fish-and-chips are among the favorite items on the family-friendly menu, while cocktails and mocktails can be ordered at the table or in the adjoining alfresco bar. Staff are young and enthusiastic, and the ambience is relaxed. Book a table on the outdoor terrace for the best experience—Pendennis Castle is visible just across the bay. Swanpool Beach is a stop on the Falmouth Coaster bus route.

One of the country's foremost chefs, Nathan Outlaw, has established a base in Port Isaac, where he has two top-notch seafood restaurants. The Fish Kitchen, right on the quay, is the more casual of the two, occupying a 15th-century fisherman’s cottage with just eight tables. The three-course fixed-price sharing menu (£95 per person) features the freshest seafood available, all creatively prepared and sustainably sourced; at lunchtime you can also order à la carte. Your meal might include crispy fried monkfish with fennel and soused sea-bass with saffron and carrot, followed by a dessert of basil custard, oat, and strawberry. The smarter, roomier, and pricier Outlaw's New Road at the top of the village also serves a seafood tasting menu for lunch and dinner at £175 per person or à la carte at lunchtime (Tuesday through Saturday). No children under 10 are allowed in either restaurant.

Unbeatable for its location alone—on the broad, golden sands of Porthminster Beach—this sleek, modern eatery prepares imaginative lunches and evening meals that you can savor while you take in the marvelous vista across the bay. The accent is on Mediterranean and Asian seafood dishes, and typical choices include pan-fried skate wing with spider crab, samphire, and a caper and herb butter sauce; lobster tagliatelle with fennel and zucchini; and Indonesian vegetable curry. There's a beach bar and outdoor kitchen, too—a tempting stop in summer for breakfast, a snack lunch, an evening barbecue, or just a drink—and two sister restaurants (Porthminster Kitchen on the harborside and Porthgwidden Beach Café in the Downalong neighborhood) have smaller and cheaper menus that are equally strong on seafood.

In the heart of Plymouth's harbor, right next to the National Marine Aquarium, and with plenty of outdoor seating, this is the perfect spot to watch the boats go by and the antics of gulls while you refuel. It's part of a small local chain launched by Devon chef Mitch Tonks, and although fish and chips is the staple, there are plenty of variations on the theme, including chargrilled mackerel or sardines, as well as king scallops, fish tacos, fritto misto, and lobster. Almost everything on the menu can be made gluten-free, and there's a good selection of children's meals (as well as free fish and chips for under-11s). Takeout service is also available.

In a prime riverside location, this seafood restaurant epitomizes the region's ongoing food revolution. The knowledgeable staff guides you through the Italian-inspired menu, which primarily depends on the day's catch and might feature Dartmouth lobster salad, tagliatelle with spider crab and datterini tomatoes, or cod loin al cartoccio. Leave room for the delicious desserts, too, such as apricot sorbet. Three-course prix-fixe menus are a good deal at lunchtime (£30), and Joe's Bar, attached to the restaurant, offers a good range of wines, locally distilled gin, and cocktails. The owner, celebrity-chef Mitch Tonks, also runs a much more basic fish-and-chips restaurant a few doors along called Rockfish, open daily.