Mussel in on Restaurants in Exmouth

Living by the sea, making the most of fresh seafood is what some local restaurants in Exmouth do best. Yet why are Breton chef Olivier Guyard-Mulkerrin’s mussels, steamed with butter, leeks, shallots and chardonnay, and served with cream and parsley, not on everyone’s hit list of restaurants in Exmouth?

Maybe it's because they don't know about them... and how many other foodie havens we have on our doorstep? Here are some of the best, as recommended by local Exmouth People.

Feel free to disagree if you think the list misses an obvious one, or just your favourite restaurant in Exmouth.

Les Saveurs seafood restaurant, on Tower Street, is a real treat. Mentioned this March in an article about Mussels in The Times online, it’s a Breton seafood restaurant that is serving food that’s reasonably priced but worthy of Michelin stars and has an AA rossette to its name. One, at least. It’s a pretty little ‘shabby chic’ restaurant and has a warm and friendly atmosphere. Expect seafood, steaks, Turbot, Scallop mousse, duck, moules… “It’s exquisite,” says Ros Porter. “We are hoping to be there for Christmas Day lunch, Valentine’s Night, our birthdays, and no doubt several others in between.” Paul Strange, a local Journalist, says: “I have eaten there with my partner three times now and each meal has been good. On the last Friday of every month they have a reduced menu, with slightly reduced prices. It’s head and shoulders above everything else in Exmouth."

Lemongrass Thai Restaurant, High Street

The only thing this restaurant lacks is diners – bums in seats! The food is just fantastic and a great place to get your fix of Thai cuisine, and the recent change of hands doesn’t seem to have affected the quality. Hannah, a new mum in Exmouth, rates it as much better than any local Chinese restaurants. She says: “Don’t be put off by it being a bit more pricey than other It’s all freshly cooked and you don’t get any monosodium glutamate.”

Donato’s Italian Restaurant at The Royal Beacon Hotel

Locals say Donato’s is the best place to go for Italian in Exmouth, with competitive prices and generous portions, and serving pasta and pizza.  Kate Bloom says: “The service is friendly and the atmosphere cosy. The menu is extensive, so there’s something for everyone and it’s often hard to pick a favourite! I recommend the garlic mushrooms starter”. What a lot of people comment on is that you never feel rushed to leave. Hannah recommends Fennels Restaurant at the hotel, though, for a nice sit-down meal. They have a good choice of Meat, Fish and Vegetarian dishes and though it’s pricier than Donato’s, it’s nice for a treat.

Number five has to be an Indian restaurant in Exmouth – but opinion is divided on whether The Ganges, Paradise Dreams (with its Sunday and Monday special nights with a starter and main for under £8) or Tandoori Nights is best. Suzie and Darren Quinton, from Exmouth, love Tandoori Nights so much that they nearly had their informal evening wedding party there, as they feel the owners make them feel so welcome. But Chris and Clive Carroll rate The Ganges as one of the best Indians they’ve been to, and coming from the Midlands, where they have a fantastic choice of Tandooris and Indians, they feel well qualified judges!

Which are your best five restaurants in Exmouth?