The Promenade Restaurant at the Queens Hotel
Penzance Cornwall
RAC Award Winning Restaurant
I was truly and pleasantly surprised when I walked into the
Queens Hotel in Penzance. It is a beautifully elegant building that
really does reflect the grace and charm of a bygone age. Opened in 1862, this
hotel dominates the Promenade and has some magnificent views over the bay.
Today, the hotel is family owned and managed and exudes a warm welcome. We were
shown into the comfortable bar area and furnished with menus for the evening and
a very welcoming aperitif.
There was a good selection of choices on the menu and we finally opted for the
Hot Avocado Pear filled with Prawns and topped with melted Cheese and the Smoked
Salmon Timbale filled with Prawns and Crab with a Lemon & Dill Dressing.
The timbale was lovely and packed full of luscious prawns and crab meat. The
avocado pear was fresh and tangy and again, held an abundance of prawns.
For our main courses, I chose the pan-fried trio of local fish (sole, sea bass
and plaice) which also came with scallops - an added bonus - and was served in a
Peking Lemon Sauce. My partner tried the poached filled of Newlyn Sole coated in
a White Wine, Mushroom and Onion Sauce. Both dishes were accompanied by a
selection of fresh vegetables, which were perfectly cooked. My trio of fish was
lovely. Each fillet was generously sized and very fresh.
The Newlyn Sole was delicious and full of flavour.
The dessert menu was tempting in the extreme. Hot Apple & Blackberry Crumble
with Clotted Cream; Fresh Strawberries; Chocolate & Raspberry Trifle; Tiramisu
Gateau; Lemon & Mandarin Cheesecake and Chocolate Profiteroles with Chocolate
Sauce.
I opted for the Cheesecake. It was divine. Very light with a wonderful
citrus-freshness. My partner had the Profiteroles and he loved every last
mouthful.
We had our coffee and after-dinner mints in the Conservatory and relaxed in the
comfortable cane chairs while watching the comings and goings on the seafront.
It is not difficult to image why The Queens Hotel was such a firm favourite with
the Victorians nor how it has managed to retain its reputation for traditional
values to the present day.
With a two-course dinner costing just £19.95 or three courses for £22.95, this
had been an excellent value for-money meal and a thoroughly delicious one at
that.
The Cornish Diner
Quick links - Evening menu - Lunchtime Menu - children's menu
