So, this isn’t my first visit to this pub while exploring Cornwall, but I just had to share my latest experience. Charlestown is a stunning little village and port, with roots as a fishing🎣 village dating back to the 18th century. Wandering around feels like you’ve stepped straight onto a pirate🏴☠️ film set, complete with the salty sea air and historic charm. If you’re lucky, you might even catch sight of one of the vintage ships that occasionally dock in this picturesque seaside village.
As for the restaurant/pub you also won’t be disappointed. Set up the hill from the port the pub isn’t hard to miss but it all adds to its charm. It’s quite a large restaurant with plenty of seating🪑 however I would still advise to book a table in advance as they have always been busy when we have dined there.
Being Sunday, of course, I opted for the Topside of Beef🥩 Roast. Right off the bat, they asked if anyone at the table had any allergies and were super supportive, explaining what I could and couldn’t have. Turns out, the only thing off-limits⛔️ was the Yorkshire pudding. No biggie. About 15 minutes later, our food arrived. My plate came out first, and there it was—a Yorkshire pudding sitting proudly on top. My wife instantly noticed and exclaimed, ‘Oh, you do get a Yorkshire pudding then.’ The server dashed back, apologized for the mix-up, and returned swiftly with the correct plate🍽️, no Yorkshire pudding this time.
This hearty meal came with roasted potatoes🥔 , carrots, red cabbage, parsnips, and cauliflower cheese—all gluten-free. This was finished off with several slices of beef in rich gravy. A feast which would have been fit for royalty👸!
I say ‘should have been’ because I was actually a bit disappointed with some parts of the plate. The potatoes🥔 , which are usually my favorite part of a roast, fell flat. They lacked crispness, had almost no fluff, and felt a bit rubbery. Whatever potatoes they used, they certainly weren’t fresh. However, the beef was lovely and tender, perfectly complemented by the rich gravy. The cauliflower cheese🧀 was a highlight—rich and creamy, I ended up finishing all of it. The carrots and red cabbage were also very nice, with the cabbage adding a delightful zing to the dish🍽️.
So, while the meal had its highlights, the disappointing potatoes cast a shadow over an otherwise tasty experience. The initial mix-up could have been a bit of a disaster, but thankfully it was swiftly corrected. This though wasn’t the first time I’ve eaten there, so I know they can do so much better. Here’s to hoping for a better experience next time!
3 out of 5 Stars
On another note, during our visit to Charlestown, we stumbled upon the town being transformed into a filming set for Series 2 of ‘The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin.’ It was pretty fascinating to see a TV production set.
Featured Photo by – Ben Haggerty -2024
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