Impressed
An Evening at Lusty Glaze
Climbing down the 133 steps from the car park at the top of the cliff, Jenny, David and I were treated to the spectacular vista of a brilliant sinking sun reflected on an almost calm sea. The three of us had booked a sundowner Friday dinner at Lusty Glaze Beach Bar and Restaurant. As an introduction to the dog-friendly, privately-owned cove in Newquay, we couldn’t have been more impressed.
Fresh flowers adorn the restaurant entrance and similar attention to sensory detail is evident everywhere you look. Our table was a delight affording, as it did, wonderful views of the beach and a surreally magnificent sunset. No wonder Lusty Glaze hosts around 50 weddings a year.
Would the incredible location be matched with equally sumptuous food? Our collective answer is a resounding, emphatic yes. To start, I had baked king scallops, flavoured with ginger, spring onion and sesame, with puff pastry imaginatively wrapped around the scallop shell and all sat on a bed of feta salad. The taste was mouth-wateringly good and definitely rated as one of the best shellfish dishes I’ve ever been served. David had seared tuna steak, pomegranate, feta, olives and salad whilst Jenny opted for ham hock terrine, with cider chutney, pickled mushrooms and toast – both, I’m told, were delicious.
For mains we all chose the monkfish tail wrapped in parma ham, tomato and chorizo risotto with parmesan crisps (a huge unanimous ‘yum’) followed by a sticky toffee pudding dessert for me (complete with butterscotch sauce and brandy fruit cake ice cream!) and Lorraine’s crunchie cheesecake for the others (gorgeous apparently). For drinks, Jenny and I had a gin, elderflower and prosecco cocktail each to begin with and a bottle of very palatable house red with the meal.
Whilst thoroughly enjoying the food (a genuine top marks to head chef and professional Masterchef contestant Nat Tallents and her team), South West-based musical duo Echo Town entertained with a selection of songs perfectly in tune with the surroundings. With just about every table taken, the atmosphere and buzz were remarkable.
Lusty Glaze beach is a very special place. Visit if you can.
