Fifteen Cornwall Reviews
Average rating
Food: 7 | Service: 6.5 | Ambience: 6.5 | Value: 5.5 | Recommendation: 8-
kevincornwall
Mar 30th 2012
Fifteen Cornwall review
The food at fifteen Cornwall is always very good,we have eaten there a couple of times and been very happy better the first time was better than the last and it is not cheap but very good overall but the last time i asked for a glass of rioja and was told point blank that i could not have it,i was then lectured by the wine waiter (although i expect he would be offended by that title)that this was an Italian restaurant so no glass of Rioja, i pointed out that they had Chilean wines and others but i dont think he got the point or did not want to,needless to say we have not been back as i still believe that when a customer asks for something rather than lecture them and make them feel small you should try and accommodate.
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Steve
Feb 1st 2012
Fifteen Cornwall review
Everyone else has told you about the views and the ambience. The greasy spoon could not 'knock-up' the breakfast in 2 minutes . The tomatoes-slow roasted overnight are are sensational, the quality of produce used was excellent, with superb bacon and the feshest egg with cornish sunshine for a yolk...... and the coffee pot ( not cup) was good and hot! -
Stephanie
Jan 26th 2012
Fifteen Cornwall review
I've been to Fifteen for breakfast, lunch twice, and dinner twice over the past 4 years, and I have to say I've never been let down once. Hence, why I keep going back. The location is beautiful, and certainly added to the specialness of the evening, looking out as waves crashed in the moonlight.
The food has always been perfectly executed, and utterly delicious. Especially the evening taster menu that has wowed me on both occasions.
The service has always been good, although as with most things in Cornwall, a bit laid back, but I don't see this as a bad thing. I've never had to wait overly long for anything, and have always received attentive and helpful service on every occasion. I can see how some people might get agitated sometimes though, we're mostly used to everything being done yesterday, but I think it all adds to the relaxed atmosphere of this wonderful county.
I would always recommend this fantastic restaurant to people, but would always point out that just because I love this place, doesn't necessarily mean they will, and of course, everyone has a bad day! It's how they deal with any complaint that becomes just as important as everything else! -
Paddy casey
Jan 3rd 2012
Fifteen Cornwall review
What a way to start the day. Ever so slightly hung over after a penultimate night in Cornwall. A stroll along one of THE most beautiful beaches in this country followed by a stunning breakfast. This is the way breakfasts should be. No advanced booking required. Decent coffee served promptly. The waitress helped us with order even though I already knew the fryup was for me (wife is less decisive). The homemade muesli was memorable as was the full English. No rush. Relaxed. Took an hour over it and felt comfortable the whole time. Can't way to go back. -
Pete
Jan 3rd 2012
Food not great
I recently visited Fifteen with my wife for lunch. It's a comfortable retaurant with attractive views over the bay, especially if you are lucky enough to get a window table as we did. The service was excellent. The food arrived promptly and was well presented. However I thought the food was bland and lacked imagination. Cornwall is well known for quality seafood, so expectations are high, yet the "Seafood Stew" was a couple of slabs of tasteless white fish and a few muscles in a watery tomato sauce. The lamb tasted burnt; the soup didn't really taste of anything.Very poor.
Having nice views and an association with Jamie Oliver is not enough - the food needs to be better. -
paul
Jun 13th 2010
Fifteen Cornwall review
I was very excited about going for dinner at fifteen but changed my mind after trying it for breakfast. If they cant cope with such a simple task as breakfast then i wouldnt dream of dinner.
One hour after being seated a cold cup of coffee was plonked on the table followed a lifetime later by a breakfast that any greasy spoon could manage in two minutes. Whilst we sat at our table dying of thirst and hunger two chefs sat at the coffee bar sipping their cappocinos just watching the chaos around them.After parting with fifty pounds for the pleasure I went to the beach cafe below for a decent meal at half the price. Sort it out Jamie-such a waste of the most beutifull position in the country for a restaurant. -
Regular Watergate Bay Visitor
May 6th 2010
Service Needs to Match the Prices
My wife and I went to Fifteen for dinner last week. We had been three years ago for lunch (review below, 15 May 2007) but avoided it since due to the poor service we had received then. My wife persuaded me to go back.
We had the tasting menu, now £55 per head without wine. That's the only menu available in the evening, so you're not going to get out of there for much less than £150 for two if you have a couple of drinks.
The first and main thing I'll say is that the food was really superb. I have rarely had such obviously fresh food prepared and presented in such a way as to make the most of the natural flavours and textures. Eating it looking out at the evening sun over Watergate Bay is a very special treat. I recommend it for that.
The service was better than last time, in that we didn't have any inordinately long waits, but it was still a bit patchy and wasn't up to what I'd expect when paying high-end London prices. The food was as good as anywhere I've been in London, but for that sort of money I want top service too, which means more than "no-worries" waitressing: I want to *know* that there is someone who is looking out to make sure that my dining experience is as good as it can be.
I notice that a number of the recent reviews mark the service down. Fifteen really ought to look into that, because the food and the location are so good, it's a shame to spoil it. It's not that it's terrible, or a reason not to go - it's just not up to the same level as the food and the location, which is a shame.
Incidentally, if you can't get into Fifteen, don't let that stop you going to Watergate Bay. Try the Beach Hut downstairs. It's a very decent, relaxed brasserie-type place, much cheaper, and the views are pretty much the same. The food isn't at anything like the same level but is perfectly decent. I'd advise booking.
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Jeff
Apr 28th 2010
Fifteen Cornwall review
My dear old mum booked me into 15 for a birthday lunch with my wife, she requested a window seat and was told that as we were the first booking for the date chosen that would probably be fine.
15 rang us about 3 days before the date to confirm and we asked again about a window seat, again reply was that would be fine.
Arrived on time and on booked date and although window seats were free we were seated in the raised central area, not a problem for me, still a lovely view but I did wonder why a prebooking couldn't have their choice.
Waitress arrived and took order, well I think she was a waitress because she was wearing jeans, nice to be casual but it just didn't feel 'right'. I ordered pork wife ordered fish and ten minutes later waitress returned and said
"uh, you did order the veal didn't you sir?"
I replied no it was pork (don't eat veal) and she looked with some trepidation at the kitchen and said something like
"pork? oh, uh, yes, um pork, I'd better uh, right"
She'd obviously got the order wrong and now the kitchen would have their timings off.
Anyway deserts ordered, wife went for crumble I went for the Panacotta, 15 mins later along comes smiling waitress and presents us with 2 dishes and says
"here are your crumble's"
She'd got that order wrong too!
Anyway being a birthday treat and being a very laid back sort of chap and having something else extremely important going on I said nothing and ate up but felt I ought to record my experience which is a shame because the food was lovely! All the courses were excellent (even the one I didn't order!) and yes I would go back, I'll forgive the window table and the really poor service and give it another go some day.
As an aside that evening we went to our local brewer's fare (I know!) the welcome from the duty manager was nothing short of superb as was the service that followed, food wise well you know what your going to get but heck put the brewer's Fare front of house (who are probably on minimum wage) in 15 and what a combination! -
Caroline
Mar 8th 2010
Fifteen Cornwall review
Watergate Bay without a doubt is one of the best beaches in the UK. Placing 15 on top of the old Beach Hut is inspired as it makes the best use of the incredible views.
Going there for lunch was to be a real treat. It was memorable!
We arrived early on the first day of their 100% Cornish Menu. We were happy to sit and have a drink, but perhaps this threw them a bit.
Coming from a hotel background, I expect superb service. I am afraid it wasn't there from moment we walked in the door! There seem to be lots of staff, but the waiting and bar staff didn't seem that happy. Had something happened we didn't know about?
First impression is - great view, pleasant but a bit cafe like - and - why are the waitresses in such awful crumpled tops. I know Jamie is not the tidiest of dressers, Bar men can get away with a t shirt, but this is a restaurant and we expected better presentation from waitresses. Please look at the uniforms again!
Their 100% Cornish Menu started that day. We were offered a short and simple menu that really only allowed for 2 proper main courses within the special price. We sampled the sardine starter which had to be explained as it was not in English. It was good and we also sampled both main courses - The lamb was less than perfect, chewy (and we noted others were leaving it), but the Pollock was perfectly cooked.
However, the bread and butter pudding with real custard was so exemplary - we had another portion!
What I want to know is why it takes so long to serve a simple G&T, we had moved to our table from the bar area 5 minutes before they were delivered without any nibbles.. (I've noted on other reviews that wonderful olives were served with starter drinks - perhaps they don't offer them at lunchtime).
On the G&Ts; arrival - we then ordered (it now being the time we should have arrived) . 2 identical starters and one of each of the special menu main courses and a bottle of the suggested wine. A simple order, which "caught the manager out" as she hadn't got her pad on her. But she took it.
We had finished our starter drinks before the starter arrived.
and 5 minutes of waiting for the wine - led me to telling the waitress that we normally like to drink the wine we order with the food not after it.
She took the criticism badly and her service became "minimal", plonking the remaining plates down in such a manner that it became predicably amusing! Enquiries on collecting the clean plates were lip service, and she obviously wanted us to leave asap. as when we ordered the second helping of pudding - it was delivered the fastest I have ever been delivered anything. One wondered if someone else had to wait!
At the end of the meal we were given the bill presenter by yet another person.
Because I come from a hotel background and the food itself was good and I don't feel that the bridgade should suffer, because the service is bad - I left my usual 10% plus tip in cash as a £10 note... but it was taken without saying thank you.
And to top it all - on exit we had to wait to ask for the coat left in the cupboard.
Sorry 15 ,but service-wise you really do need to pull your socks up. Good service is often hardly noticed, but bad service like this is memorable. -
Wendy Woodward
Feb 22nd 2010
Fifteen Cornwall review
Visited Fifteen at Watergate Bay for lunch on Saturday 20 February 2010. Highlight, the excellent view looking across the bay. The food was appauling and needed to return the main course with a complaint, which wasn't taken too well by the staff. The presentation of the food didn't help either. Gave the appearance of being thrown together. Seriously guys, I wouldn't grace a homeless person with such poor fair. Staff pretentious and unhelpful. Travelled from Birmingham, my first visit to the restaurant, wouldn't recommend it nor visit again.
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