Argoe is a seaside restaurant in the Cornish town of Newlyn, run by Newlyn fishmonger Richard Adams and former Rochelle Canteen chef Ben Coombs. The menu, unsurprisingly, focuses around incredibly fresh fish and seafood, cooked and served simply alongside aperitifs and wines on tap.
Newlyn remains a working port, and Argoe is the sort of restaurant where you know you are eating fish that has come straight from local fishermen and into the kitchen. The restaurant has a real connection with the town itself, and dishes are very simple in order to celebrate the fish itself. The menu starts with snacks like Marcona almonds, olives and quail’s eggs with celery salt, before diving into a host of smart, pared-back seafood cooking.
On the a la carte at the time of writing are dishes like pig's skin and smoked cod's roe, battered ray cheeks and tarragon mayo, and romanesco with butter beans, leeks and crumbs. You can also order grilled fish such as sardines, John Dory, and megrim sole with oregano. If fish isn’t exactly what you want to eat, there are other options too like pork chops with radicchio and anchovy. For pudding, think chocolate mousse with orange shortbread, or Bramley apple sorbet with vodka.
As for the decor, Argoe is pared back and minimal, letting the food do the talking. Inside the restaurant features simple wooden furniture, and there’s a large outside terrace available during the summer months also.
The drinks menu is short but sweet - there’s a selection of wines on top, including white, rose, orange, red and a sparkling, as well as unfiltered local cider. There are also a handful of soft drinks, canned beers and aperitifs such as local Caspyn gin and tonic, a quince spritz and a negroni.