The Idle Rocks

Modern European·
££££
·
Silver Award
·

SquareMeal Review of The Idle Rocks

Silver Award

Built in 1913 on the site of St Mawes bakery, this aptly named hotel and restaurant is perched on the rocks overlooking the harbour – a “perfect setting” for a spot of relaxation and some “just incredible” food founded on Cornish ingredients (especially seafood from the local boats).

There are Porthilly oysters to nibble, ahead of eclectic ideas such as teriyaki mackerel with radish, avocado and cucumber or gilthead bream partnered by smoked aubergine, olive, basil and shellfish bisque. Landlubbers, meanwhile, might prefer pork belly with black garlic, parsley and anchovy followed by sirloin of lamb accompanied by white sprouting broccoli, red onion and broad beans.

For dessert, perhaps plump for baked Alaska with rhubarb, a Cornish ‘fairing’ biscuit and gin. There’s “real attention to detail and seasonality here”, notes one reader who also loves the dramatically refurbished and beautifully appointed dining room with its spacious outlook and big windows. “A truly special experience”, sums it up.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
Modern European
Ambience
Cosy, Fine dining, Glamorous, Luxury, Quiet conversation, Romantic, Unique
Food Occasions
Dinner, Lunch
Alfresco And Views
Great views, Outside seating, Terrace, Waterside
Special Features
Vegan options, Vegetarian options
Perfect for
Birthdays, Celebrations, Dates, Romantic, Special occasions
Food Hygiene Rating

About

Home to a truly stunning dining room, Idle Rocks Restaurant (part of a hotel of the same name) is situated in St. Mawes, boasting a long and varied history, having first been built in 1913. The restaurant is hardly showing its age though - the dining room takes advantage of the coastal views with large floor to ceiling windows, while dark wood tables, vases full of fresh flowers and studded high back chairs upholstered in bold colours set a luxurious tone.

Idle Rocks Restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, while the kitchen here is overseen by executive head chef Dorian Janmaat, who aims for his menu to be a celebration of Cornwall, thanks to the regular use of fresh local produce and strong relationships with the area’s wealth of suppliers. During the spring and summer seasons, the restaurant’s outdoor terrace comes alive for alfresco lunches, when you might find the likes of wild garlic soup with pine nut crisps and parmesan emulsion, followed by hen’s egg and spinach ravioli, then rounded off with white chocolate cremeux, pear and apple sorbet for pudding.

Dinners meanwhile can be enjoyed inside the cosy dining room, with dedicated vegetarian and vegan menus available alongside the regular a la carte. Start with the likes of lightly cured sea bream with grapefruit and yuzu granite, before moving on to main courses such as Devonshire duck breast with plum ketchup or curried monkfish with coconut dahl and kaffir lime. To finish up, choose from Idle Rock’s tempting selection of puddings - think a slice of coconut cheesecake or a Cornish strawberry ice cream sandwich.

If you are looking to celebrate, you will find a list of Champagnes to choose from, while a selection of globally inspired wines is also available, one which champions small producers who use sustainable practises.


FAQs

Is Idle Rocks Restaurant dog-friendly?

No, dogs are not allowed in the main hotel or restaurant.

Helpful? 0

Is Idle Rocks Restaurant child-friendly?

While children are welcome at Idle Rocks, it is worth noting that there is no dedicated kids menu.

Helpful? 0

Does Idle Rocks Restaurant have parking?

Yes, there is plenty of parking available in the nearby public car park, although only a limited amount of this is free to use.

Helpful? 0

Location

Harbourside, St. Mawes, Cornwall, TR2 5AN

01326 270270 01326 270270

Website

Opening Times

Lunch
Mon 12:00-14:30
Tue 12:00-14:30
Wed 12:00-14:30
Thu 12:00-14:30
Fri 12:00-14:30
Sat 12:00-14:30
Sun 12:00-14:30
Dinner
Mon 18:00-22:00
Tue 18:00-22:00
Wed 18:00-22:00
Thu 18:00-22:00
Fri 18:00-22:00
Sat 18:00-22:00
Sun 18:00-22:00

Reviews

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1 Review 
Food/Drink
Service
Atmosphere
Value

Anon

06 June 2024  
Food & Drink 0.5
Service 0.5
Atmosphere 0.5
Value 0.5
very bad place I do not recommend

I booked this place at the beginning of May, my friend recommended it to me, he met the super Head Chef and his deputy, he was delighted with the food, the composition, the bouquet of flavors and the breakfast, he praised Brekfast Chef very much, he made an omelette for him – it was not on the menu, but it was at the beginning of May. On May 14, he warned me because a certain Georgina Hassanzadeh and a new manager Kearen McVey fired the Head chef and Zous Chef, Pestry chef and Brekfast chef for nothing - despite this I went for two days and honestly I will tell you I regret it, it was the worst experience in half a century. It was the worst food for such a valuable one, I ate better at MacDonald's, Manager Kearen McVey was drunk, he was mumbling something, he didn't know what he was serving, I waited a long time for dinner and there was cold food on the plate, served sloppily and to his aggression, vulgarity to me, persuading me that I ordered it, that this is how you serve fish, which was not fried, tasteless, and the vegetables were old, but it was nothing, because this Georgina Hassanzdeh is an ordinary lazy woman.

. I waited 45 minutes for breakfast, first she gave me lukewarm coffee, when I pointed it out to her and that Fruti salat is old and ham, salami, chorosi stink- It's not my problem but it was the beginning, scrambel egs salmon was cold, burnt and salmon doesn't fresh, and that's why I told her that I'm allergic to butter. She shouted to me why I didn't tell her earlier, and she didn't pay attention to me before, because I noticed that she paid more attention to the phone, she didn't. Georgina

bardzo zle mnie traktowala, tak dzgala i wtedy zwrócilam jej uwage, z e talerz, szklanki sa brudne – nie obchodzi mnie to, nie pracuje w kuchni, obwiniala tego kierownika, a on obwinial ja – najgorsze dos adowanie, to samo dotyczy recepcji, stracilem duz o energii, moje zdrowie, aby odzyskac czesc pieniedzy. Unikajcie tego miejsca, nic dobrego Was nie czeka, bedziecie rozczarowani, a Kearen i Georgina traktuja klientów jak smieci, licza sie tylko pieniadze – koszmarne doswiadczenie. P.S. Jak dowiedzialem sie, kto mi sluzyl, mój zawód mi na to pozwala i mam latwy dostep do takich informacji, prosze unikac tego miejsca

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01326 270270 01326 270270

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