Opened by Roger and Ann Harris over 30 years ago, Harris’s Restaurant is somewhat of a Penzance institution. Just a stone’s throw from the town’s charming harbour, the small eatery prides itself on serving dishes made from the finest local produce, with its fish coming from local fishing port Newlyn and its meat from local farms. The intimate nature of Harris’s Restaurant makes it a particularly good option if you’re looking for somewhere to come for a romantic dinner, while its central location means that it’s also popular with tourists on the search for a special meal.
Harris’s blends in with the buildings on either side of it with its white painted façade, while colourful flowers hang from the windows. The bright red interiors of the split-level restaurant give the place an old-school feel, while the plants dotted around and prints hanging on the wall add a sense of homeliness. A spiral staircase at the back of the room leads to the upper level.
The regularly changing menu at Harris’s showcases classical cookery and there’s a particular focus on seafood due to the restaurant’s proximity to the coast. Starters on offer range from smoked chalk stream trout with fresh white Newlyn crab meat to duck terrine served with green tomato chutney. You can expect main courses such as pheasant breast with mushroom and apple stuffing, wrapped in filo pastry served with a red wine sauce, and grilled dover sole with chive butter. Leave room for tempting desserts including an iced lemon soufflé in a dark chocolate case, and summer pudding.
Harris’s impressive wine list covers most regions from the old and new world, with some more unusual wines on the menu, including ones from Lebanon and England. These are available by the glass, half bottle, and bottle, while there is also a variety of other drinks on offer.