Summer 2020, the year of the Great British Staycation. A confirmed convert to the concept some ten years ago, I have been somewhat irked that many of my favourite eateries in the South Hams have been hijacked by those who normally holiday overseas.

Of course writing a blog which intends to persuade people to holiday in the UK, I see the irony of my complaint. Yet upon visiting Twenty Seven Kingsbridge on the 27th August, maybe I hadn’t scored an own goal after all.

With the Winking Prawn now operating as a BBQ, South Sands not being open to non-residents, Dick and Wills offering take-away only and everywhere else seemingly booked, we were scratching about for a new restaurant experience. And we certainly found one.

An Unexpected Winner

Twenty Seven is not an obvious restaurant for the tourist. There’s no sea view and it’s not a place to watch the sunset. The romantic in me likes to presume this is intentional and to ensure there is no distraction from the food. However I am presuming the back street location is possibly due to affordability. It’s not specifically on the tourist trail and therefore can attract a throng of regular and local customers.

I am not a self proclaimed food critic and don’t have any illusions of grandeur.. I am just a girl (woman,) standing in front of a restaurant, hoping that I am going to really enjoy what is served. And when I enjoyed it so much, I needed to write about it.

In conventional food reviews they usually describe the interior of the restaurant and maybe discuss the general ambience. I am going to refrain. You don’t head here thinking about the aesthetics. The visual enjoyment is presented on the plate. With style never outshining substance.

Why is Twenty Seven so good? Well for starters…

Start Bay Crab Tartlet -Sweet and Sour Apricot- Sauternes Ice Cream- Comte Brittle

The sweet tooth went into overdrive. A restaurant serving ice cream for starters is already winning with me. Jokes aside, the genius should not be underplayed. It’s a combination that sounds like it shouldn’t work, yet certainly does. Subtle flavours, refreshing and possibly a palate cleanser prepping for the next course.

Preparation of Loddiswell Lamb. -Potato Rosti - New Season Carrots - Mint - Pistachio

I’m a Lancashire girl, through and through. So when I think of a lamb dinner, I am thinking of all the trimmings! A parred down elegant version could have potentially been a hard sell. Yet somehow Jamie Rogers manages to successfully reinvent a British classic whilst staying true to the original ingredients. A serious food critic may try to convey the actual flavour to the reader,I find that rarely successful. Perhaps most telling was the silence as we ate, frequently punctuated with yummy type approval.

White Chocolate and Cherry Forest Gateaux

The perfect way to end a perfect meal. Even my 11 year old who measures all sweet food against the popular Bake House pancakes in Salcombe, agreed this was a close contender, which is praise indeed.

Thank you Twenty Seven Kingsbridge, you made a great holiday even better and we look forward to returning very soon.

**White Chocolate and Cherry Forest Gateaux**

Restaurant Twenty Seven, Kingsbridge, By Jamie Rogers

Fancy A Scandalous Staycation…?

Has lockdown finally got to you? Do you want to go to Another Place?