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Fifteen Cornwall is a unique blend of exceptional food, a stunning location and an inspiring commitment to helping disadvantaged people.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: adrian
15th 2008f April 2008
I can hardly bear to start this. It is late and I have just returned from a clebratory meal very kindly paid for me by a generous man who deserved far more than me and my friends and family spending our four hours moaning about each and every thing in this vast disappointment of a seaside diner. Must be fab in the day when at least the view can distract. At night once you get over the sub arctic experience of being consigned to the icy outer reaches of the restauarant you have to begin to focus on the food.
Nice scallop came with glue ball. This is to get you going guys said the waitress at least five times - going where? maybe I am due for a swift exit to the khazi. Hope not my partner says there's no bog roll though the dyson hand dryer was a plus. Reminds me of Gordano services said our friend. Not really the 50 sovs a head style of culinary association.
anyway good wine. followed by flimsy v average salad then tiny primi and then strangely vinegary mains. Ruined turbot in red wine ( rotten idea) acidic pork, ...oh I could go on and on . Then the puds which were crap and then the cleaning began in earnest. Maybe this was a domestic cleansing agency masquerading as a restaurant. If only they set about the food with the same vigour they applied to the spray and polish. Is it just me or does the smell of ammonia put you off your choccy tartlet?
then the surly waitress and by now we realised we'd been moaning about the place since we arrived.
We left feeling guilty but only for not enjoying our friend's generosity. Please don't go there. Ever. Like if you get this sort of oliveresque whim to try it cos you like it and him and his books and stuff ....just resist. There are some really great places to eat all over cornwall. loads of folk doing their damndest to make a living. It's just that this place for all the charity and good heart is failing madly and badly and fifty quid a head is absolute ........cks
good night.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Mark Driver
12th 2008f January 2008
Was disappointed by the entire experience after so looking foward to it.
The portions were very small, we arrived at 7.30PM and didnt finish until 10.00, service was very slow especially wait for main.
Had to ask for the bill twice after waiting 40 minutes then 115.00 for two of us no wine and only 3 cocktails.
Food was excellent, however too pretentious, service too slow and way way too expensive!
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: keira
30th 2007f November 2007
great food, service a little slow especially long wait for main.
service a little irritating, the french waiter's attention was unwelcome at times.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: tammy
21st 2007f November 2007
Just had lunch 4 of us for my 40th. Food and service brilliant, Food fair pricing, wine list very expensive.
Atmosphere location and decor great
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Trudy and Martin
31st 2007f October 2007
We were so looking forward to visiting the restaurant but we were a little disappointed. The restaurant was busy so we were left seated on arrival for some time before a drinks order was taken. The starters were lovely and the desserts [even though the desserts were forgotten] unfortunatley we cannot say the same for the mains.Also there were items added to our bill that we never ordered or recieved.A lovely setting shame about the above.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Andi Millson
08th 2007f September 2007
I have now completed the trio, breakfast lunch and dinner at Fifteen Cornwall.
Let me start by setting at ease those of you who are unsure of whether to book or not. You will never, never eat in a better location with a better atmosphere. Watergate Bay is a magical place, even in mid winter when you can watch the storms rolling in. I have eaten and lived all around the world and still put Watergate at the top of my list.
The second best thing about 15 is the service. It is exceptional. In my experience, people like to make themselves feel big and important by putting down great restaurants. This snobbery can be the only reason people write bad reviews about 15. The staff are all impressively trained, curtious and very laid back as you would expect from a beach eatery. The overall impression is one of calm organised but buzzing restaurant.
I have read people complaining about the time it takes to get served. I say these people are idiots. In my opinion there are few places on the planet better to wait for outstanding cuisine. As long as there is a glass of wine in front of you, the experience should be enjoyed. Remember, the price you pay is not only for the food but also for the location and atmosphere, so enjoy it, soak it up and make the most of your time there. You may be a buzzy city body, but hell you are in Cornwall, chill out!
The food with no exception was outstanding.... med style Oliver inspired delivered to the best standard. Any discrepancies (although we have never had any) could be put down to the fact that this is a teaching restaurant, and underprivileged students have a large hand in the food that comes out to you even though each student has a professional chef working alongside them. Please do not forget that this is the whole reason behind the restaurant, and those dismally ripping the restaurant to pieces should think about this and note that not one English Penny goes to Jamie Oliver. Every Shilling goes back into the training of the students. The restaurant is a selfless organisation.
So, the price. This is usually the big sticking point and on face value the £90 dinner and wine price tag seems a bit hefty. However, five courses and wine that you could never normally afford is at your mercy as well as the aforementioned location. Add this to the fact that this is a charity and an event in itself often lasting over 4 hours and I think even David Dickinson would think that it was a bargain.
If you don't have this kind of cash, then the out of season £18 for a 3 course lunch (pub prices) will leave you with a big smile.
The green ethos of Fifteen is also impressive. Recycling, using local produce and even a Biodiesel Taxi company that was very reasonably priced as well as having very smart vehicles with electric sliding doors. We booked them online at biotravel.co.uk. They are based next to 15 and therefore offer better rates to get people into and out of the restaurant from around Cornwall.
So in conclusion, go to 15......It kicks ass!
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: RAR
10th 2007f August 2007
Went to 15 Cornwall in July 2007 for evening tasting menu (with wine)the food was very good, not the best but very good, the portions were very small, the service was helpful and friendly but very, very slow.
There is only one way to describe the wine and that is - A complete Rip-off- £40 for 5, not even full glasses is expensive, a shame really because of that we will not be going back.
On the feed back I asked for a call to discuss the wine, instead I got an email trying to justify the cost, this didnt work, I still feel ripped-off.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Shelley
24th 2007f July 2007
4 of us came here whilst on holiday, myself being a vegetarian and also allergic to mushrooms! but i needn't have worried, the waitress went through the emnu with us explaining what was what, and the service was lovely. Food was 1st class, if i could have afforded to tip all the chef's i would of! Very unusual food that u probably would never get the chance to try any other time, but beautiful all the same. Top marks, and we didnt mind paying £50 a head for 6/7 courses and the beautiful view that came with it. Greta for a special occasion or one-off
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: margaret martin
12th 2007f July 2007
We were a party of four and had the winetaster menu. The food was fantastic,service amazing in general and the wine waiter was outstanding.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Jacqueline
26th 2007f June 2007
We went to Fifteen on Sunday 24th June and it was fabulous. We were a group of 7 as part of my Hen week-end celebrations and we all loved it. The setting is wonderful and the interior of the restaurant is light and spacious with lots of room. Our waiting staff were impeccable and gave us lots of information about everything that was going to arrive on our plate. One of the major bonuses was that they source as much as they can locally (i think our waitor said about 85 % is local). We loved it and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone. I actually think that if you picked the restaurant up and put it in London the prices would be even higher. We had such a lovely evening that we were more than happy to pay our £50.00 per head. If you are in the area then you should definately try to get over there.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Local Cornish Diner
10th 2007f June 2007
Went to Fifteen Cornwall for a double 40th celebration. As previously mentioned the service was terrible, the waitress just seemed to want to get home rather than serve us. The main courses arrived and were wrong so by the time I was served my three fellow diners had finished their dinners. The waitress just about mustered up an apology.
I used the feedback questionnaire on the Fifteen site and ticked the call me to discuss button but I have heard nothing.
It is a great cause but charging London prices you expect top quality food and service, not to be forgotten.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Steven jones
27th 2007f May 2007
We went for dinner expecting something special having been to Rick Steins Bistro last bank holiday and were extremely disappointed.
Having arrived 15 minutes early for our 21:45 sitting we seated in the waiting areas (for 40 minutes).
Finally presented with the menu which is set (a bit like a buffet only with out the choice) and not especially inspiring. I have to say, forcing you to have things is not exactly starting the concept of service off on the right foot.
Only the salad, which was classic Jamie (Prosciutto and mozzarella
) was any good, everything else had that 'just got out of the fridge' feel to it and the main courses were awful, we couldnt even finish them they were that bad.
The whole process was slow and painful with waitresses switching over shifts so we abandoned the rest of the food and left.
At least they trimmed the bill which was the very least they couldnt have done.
I dont mind paying for good food, but as someone else has already said, chips and gravy on the cliff top would have been much much better.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Anonymous
15th 2007f May 2007
We went for lunch in May 2007. At dinner you have to have the tasting menu at £50 per head (£90 with wine!). Lunch is off a regular menu. They had a £24.50 3-course special if you stuck to certain options. We didn't but the options they had looked fine.
Great location, with awesome views over lovely Watergate Bay and all the activities in the water. get a seat near the windows if you can.
Food was great. The antipasti starter was excellent value at £7.50, considering what you get. My "Wicked Fish Stew" was excellent, with good strong flavours. My wife's pasta was also vey good.
What spoiled the occasion for us was the slow service. Main course took absolutely ages to arrive. After we'd finished our main course we asked for the dessert menu. It took at least 10 minutes to arrive, by which time we decided we didn't want a dessert. We ordered two coffees, which again took 10 minutes to arrive and were the wrong ones. The right ones took another five minutes. So 15 minutes to get the right coffee - too long. We weren't in a hurry but a meal should have a rhythm, especially when you're paying these kind of prices, and this one didn't. We felt like we had been forgotten.
Having said that I'd still go back.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Whole Foster Family
30th 2007f January 2007
We went to Fifteen in June 2006 and had a very enjoyable lunch with our two small children (son 13 mths and daughter 3 yrs). It was a true pleasure to not have to put up with mediocre food just because we have children.
The service was busy but good. I had to wait a little while for my main course to turn up when the others had already arrived which was disappointing. The waitress and waiter were great with the children and we felt very comfortable with them in the resturant. The children devoured the bread selection so we asked for a few bits more until the mains arrived whilst we adults had our starters and the request was eagerly fufilled. The waiter also amused my baby son with silly faces and smiles whenever he passed without once neglecting his duties. Both children were fascinated by the open kitchen and resturant generally and enjoyed the experience as much as us adults!
All the food was gorgeous and more than filling. We enjoyed local lamb, spring greens and potato which was enjoyable particularly because of the lack of sauces which often smother resturant food. The good quality of the produce used really shone through. The children loved the pork ragu. We all completely cleaned our plates and my children's faces were a picture when the desert of Boddington strawberries, clotted cream and shortbread arrived. Again not a crumb was left.
I was disappointed by the lack of tables with a proper view. We were seated in the middle of the resturant and couldn't enjoy the view. Although we could see out of the windows but it was obscured by heads, chairs, waiters, etc, constantly.
The location of the resturant is great with lots of space on a beautiful beach and you can spend a nice day there with lunch in the middle. We spent at least another 2-3 hours on the beach after our lunch. The only comment on the location is the confusing nature of the entrance. It is located in the corner of a car park with pink flags but we mistook these for being the car parking spaces at first and assumed that it would have a grander or at least more obvious entrance on or by the beach. Walking all the way down to the main shops and beach then had to race back up to the car park to get to the resturant on time.
Would really reccommend this resturant and families who appreciate good food will love it. Our bill was £101 for adult 3 courses and children 2 courses with 2 glasses of wine and 1 fruit juice. It was a little less than we were expecting and worth paying for the good quality.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Matthew Pollard
13th 2006f December 2006
We went for lunch one windy Sunday. We had a table by the window with spectacular views of the sea. The food was excellent and the service great. My girlfriend has a nut allergy and not only did they explain exactly what had nuts in it, but they offered to make her a desert not on the menu!
Overall it was great, and not as expensive as we thought it would be. If you are after a restaurant for a special occasion then this would be a great choice.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: laura and graham
27th 2006f September 2006
We lunched at "Fifteen" 20 Sept and were more than satisfied with the quality of cuisine as well as scrummy choices on offer (yellow fin tuna was a delight), size of portions (surprisingly generous), wonderful ambience as well as decor and of course sea views to die for across the Bay! Only sorry the experience didn't last longer! "15" / 10 !! Highly recommended!
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Lee Smith
05th 2006f September 2006
Went there for lunch recently as a bit of a mid-holiday treat.
All I can say is: very unimpressive!
The Starter was a very (painfully) acidic tomato soup.
Main followed with an exceptionally plain duck breast, which whilst well-cooked and tender was without any seasoning or sauce. The roast beetroot was quite nice but again completely plain. The potatoes were simple new potatoes with butter on.
The dessert was absolutely spectacular and exactly what we were expecting but the rest of the food was very dull, very uninspired and frankly the local beefeater could have cooked similar.
Very expensive for such plain food.
Not recommended!
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: John
05th 2006f September 2006
Went for lunch on 25/08/06. Lovely setting and great food. Took our kids aged 7 and 5. One had sea bass and the other paperdelle with veal ragu (told him it was spag bol). They both loved it and the waitress was superb with them. Driving so only a glass of wine each. Bill just under £100 and we all had puds.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Liza
25th 2006f August 2006
Went to Fifteen for lunch on a Sat and I have to say how impressed I was, we had a great table, the waitress was fantastic, she explained their produce, their bread making and any questions we had she was more than happy to help.. The food was great, the recommended local beer was tasty!! I would love to go back (might have to save the penny's first) I would recommend fifteen if nothing else just for the experience and to taste food how it should be. If Fiona reads this I want to say a massive thanks for taking us, wicked and a well done to all the chefs, the food not only tasted great but looked fantastic.
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: anonymous
06th 2006f August 2006
I ate at Fifteen the other evening and I have to say the food was (for the most part) very good. I think it's a real shame that you HAVE to have six dishes from the tasting menu because by the time you reach the third you're too full to enjoy the food properly. Could there not be the option to try three dishes for example? This would also make the meal cheaper - we are in Cornwall you know. I think going to Fifteen will defintely be a one off for me!
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Fifteen Cornwall
review by: emma
03rd 2006f August 2006
Me and five friends went to fifteen a week ago and absolutely loved it!The staff were lovely, the food was excellent and i couldnt complain about one thing!!! We had a lovely waitress called ria who was a star she really went that extra to make us feel special. After a really special night, we booked the private garage the day after! I highly reecommend fifteen!
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Fifteen Cornwall review
review by: Sarah
28th 2006f July 2006
I have already posted a review on another other restaurant review site - it seems I am in the minority in that my experience was good compared to other reviews I have since read.
Anyway, this was my experience of Fifteen Cornwall:-
I had the pleasure of going there for lunch with a friend back in June and we were seated at one of the tables that overlooks the beach. The food is Italian inspired and the menu seems to alter slightly from day to day (the menu is printed for that day and so we were able to keep a copy), On arrival we were given a copy of the menu along with a wine and drinks list. Our waitress then came over with a wooden board with various breads on it. We were told to "take a couple of pieces" which I thought was a bit mean as there were more than two kinds of bread on the board and I would have liked to have tried all of them plus the pieces were not that big. Along with the bread we were given four olives in a dish and some peppery olive oil for dipping.
The wine is quite expensive as is the normal for restaurants and so my friend and I not being big drinkers opted to have a non alcoholic cocktail. I had a Watgergate Cooler and my friend had a Gentle sea breeze. Both were very nice and cost £4.00 each. We also had a bottle of Cornish Mineral water which cost about £2.50.
You can choose to go for a set three course meal which costs £24.50 or if nothing grabs you from the set menu then other dishes were available at a cost of £9/13 for starters, £14 for pasta or £19/20 for mains and £8 for desserts. My friend and I chose to opt for choices from the set menu. For starters we had Spring salad - lovely fresh vegetables: asparagus, radish, carrot and peas served with rocket leaves and a sprinkling of cheese. For main I had a Spaghetti, fresh pea carbonara (the only non meat/fish dish on the menu) which on arrival looked quite small but was so rich that you couldn't have really eaten any more. I was particularly pleased that it was well seasoned with cracked black pepper (big fan) as there are no condiments on any of the tables in the restaurant.
My friend chose Bolton Free range chicken which came on a bed of spring greens with a porcini mushroom and asparagus cream.
For desert I chose Chocolate cake, fresh cherries and mascapone while my friend had grilled apricots with praline ice cream. I thought the desserts were very small especially as mine came on such a huge plate compared to the size of the cake. The cake was very rich - like a brownie and was served with a dolop of mascarpone and four fresh cherries. My friend's apricots came on a more appropriate sized plate but again was small in that it consisted of two apricots halved and grilled and a scoop of ice cream on top. To finish we had a coffee each - double expresso and an americano.
In total our bill came to about £69.00 (excluding service). My overall view is that yes it is more expensive than your average restaurant but it does have a "celeb" status so you are paying for that. That the food at first glance looks small for the price but I found that actually I was very full although I still believe the waitress should have left the bread board!
At the end of the day it is in a fantastic location and we found the waiters and waitresses to be very helpful and for the place as a whole to have a lovely atmosphere (the restaurant was practically full when we went) and even if you only go for a special occasion the atmosphere and location make up for the fact that you will probably have to spend a bit more than normal.
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Fifteen Cornwall
review by: sheridan norrey
20th 2006f July 2006
I seem to be in the majority by saying the food lacks any body or soul. Dined there on 14th July expecting similar standard to London's 15 but was sorely dissapointed. The nibbles to start lacked any taste what so ever. I had slow roast pork which I assumed would be anything but dry. Big mistake. Huge lump of dried out meat. Very tough to finish. All of the party agreed they can do better themselves. A restaurant charging what Fifteen does can not survive serving such poor food. The ethos is admirable but when it comes to top restaurants they are not charity causes. Yes they are unemployed and learning but if they do not improve I think they will be again. Sorry. View was great but I could of sat on cliff woth bag of chips and enjoyed it more.
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Fifteen Cornwall
review by: anonymous
20th 2006f July 2006
What a total disappointment. I've eaten in very nice restaurants in Cornwall that were half the price and twice as tasty.
The service was slow and the waitresses did not understand dietary requirements.
The portions were extremely small and tasteless, and we left hungry.
The decor was much like other restaurants and the view was limited to a few tables unlike Fistral Blue where the windows are so high everyone can see the sea.
It was cold and the toilets were dirty!
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Fifteen Cornwall
review by: anonymous
17th 2006f June 2006
Having heard the hype about the restaurant I was looking forward to a top notch meal with service to match, unfortunately this was not to be. The food is good but there are other restaurants in Cornwall to match it, the service was the main let down here. Perhaps they are still finding their feet; let’s hope it doesn't take them much longer. The best thing about this restaurant is the selection of wines and the surroundings. Apart from that I don't believe it others any value for money.
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