Eight of the best seafood places – recommended by Devon people.

Down in Devon, it’s seafood heaven!

•

1. Seafood House

A tiny place run by fisherman Rob Simmonds and his wife Amanda, they serve the best crab sandwich you’ll ever taste. They cook the crabs in the morning, pick them by hand and sell them through the day. A real gem in the back streets of Teignmouth, just by the slipway.
• New Quay Street, Teignmouth, Devon.
Tel 01626 778671
web: www.seafoodhouse.co.uk

2. Ode Restaurant

Great restaurant, run by a husband-and-wife team, Tim and Clare Bouget, who really understand the meaning of the word hospitality. Tim has cooked all over the world, and here, with some of the best fish and shellfish right on his doorstep, he knows that the way to make such great produce shine is to let it speak for itself.
• 21 Fore Street, Shaldon, Devon.
Tel 01626 873977
web: www.odetruefood.co.uk

3. Anchorstone Cafe

Sit outside on the lovely terrace overlooking the River Dart or sit inside the beach-like shed and feast on top local seafood, from crab, lobster and spider crab to mussels, squid and mackerel. Let the children loose out front – it’s probably the best crabbing spot in England.
• Manor Street, Dittisham, near Dartmouth, Devon.
Tel 01803 722365

4. Venus Café

The three Venus Cafés (the other two are in East Portlemouth and Bigbury) are run by Michael Smith and his family. Venus Café at Blackpool Sands is one of the most picturesque settings – sit on the terrace and gaze out to sea while enjoying some local crab, or buy some to take out, walk to the surf’s edge and sit with your feet in the water while you tuck in. In winter, sit indoors by the log fire and watch the waves whip up outside – magic!
• Blackpool Sands, Stoke Fleming, Devon.
Tel 01803 770209
web: www.venuscompany.co.uk

5. Britannia Shellfish

Run by Nick and Anita Hutchings, this longstanding family fishing business recently set up a cafe just yards from Beesands’ wonderful shingle beach on Start Bay. Nick pulls in crabs, lobsters and scallops from the bay just as his dad and granddad did before him. Besides great crab sandwiches, they also sell fresh whole crab, both live and cooked, plus lobster, scallops and some of the best wet fish in Devon.
• Beesands, near Kingsbridge, Devon.
Tel 0845 055 0711
web: www.britanniashellfish.co.uk

6. The Oyster Shack

The oysters here are particularly good, as is the setting on the banks of the estuary. Expect plenty of local crab, lobster and fish. On busy days, people have even been known to turn up with their own outdoor furniture to make sure they have a table. They’ll also do you a fab picnic or barbecue pack to take out.
• Milburn Orchard Farm, Stakes Hill, Bigbury, Devon.
Tel 01548 810876
web: www.oystershack.co.uk

7. The Millbrook Inn

A smashing little pub, way off the beaten track in a pretty little village at the end of a creek. Great crab sandwiches, spider crab and potted crab, plus a marvellous bouillabaisse that is testament to French chef Jean-Philippe Bidart’s roots. A lovely place, with a beautiful babbling brook out back.
• South Pool, near Kingsbridge, Devon.
Tel 01548 531581
web: www.millbrookinnsouthpool.co.uk

8. The Port Light Hotel, Restaurant & Inn

If you’re looking for a place to watch the sun go down, you’ll be hard pushed to find a better view than the one from here. Combine it with their speciality crab sandwich – they use really good fresh local crab and don’t mess about with it, which means the crab is the star of the show, as it should be. Wonderful homemade crabcakes on the bar and restaurant menu, too, as well as plenty of other local seafood.
• Bolberry Down, Hope Cove, Near Salcombe, Devon.
Tel 01548 561384
web: www.portlight.co.uk