On the outskirts of Padstow, in the centre of the lovely village of St Merryn, you can find The Olive Tree, a Mediterranean-themed restaurant run by husband and wife team Kevin and Flo Parsons which makes the most of the Cornish region’s abundant natural larder. The space is small and informal and there is only one dinnertime sitting each evening, so the table is yours for as long as you want it - perfect for date night or an evening catching up with old friends.
The Olive Tree takes its inspiration from The Meditteranean and the menu changes seasonally, although the core ingredients used are sourced much closer to home. Whether it's meat and vegetables from the Padstow Farm Shop, bread from the town's bakery or tea from Cornwall's only grower, the majority of the ingredients used here are sourced locally and all the better for it.
Not surprisingly, Cornish seafood has a big say on the ever evolving menu and the list of daily specials. On your visit, you might begin with the likes of pan-fried scallops with butternut squash puree and Parma ham, or a hearty Bouillabaisse-style fish stew (with hake, red mullet and mussels) that is served alongside croutons, Parmesan and homemade bread. Meat eaters might prefer dry-aged rib-eye steak with sauteed potatoes and mixed salad or slow-cooked shoulder of lamb served with rustic bean stew, cavolo nero and gremolata.
Sweet treats meanwhile have a homespun feel to them, taking the shape of Jamaican ginger cake with charred pineapple, rum syrup and cream, or vanilla panna cotta with poached rhubarb and crumble.
The Olive Tree is typically an adults only affair, but during the school holidays they do offer a dedicated children’s menu which features the likes of hake goujons or linguine with bolognese ragu, followed by ice cream for dessert.