Bakehouse Restaurant, The

The Bakehouse is situated in its own flower and palm filled courtyard just off Chapel Street, Penzance's most historic and beautiful street, which meanders from the centre of town down to the old harbour. It is one of a handful of Cornish restaurants leading Cornwall 's new renaissance in dining. Their menu combines the best aspects of modern British cuisine and seafood, which they are well located to exploit.

Being a family run restaurant the atmosphere is welcoming and friendly; they have two dining rooms (non-smoking downstairs) and a number of alfresco tables for the hardier diner. Upstairs there is also a very cool private bar where you can sample a classic or contemporary cocktail such as a cosmopolitan or a caiparinha, or just have a beer before your meal.

Lunch is a simpler affair with dishes on offer like: udon noodle soup with wakame and kombu seaweed; stir-fried prawns with fresh lime juice, coriander, basil, garlic, ginger, spring onion and chilli; newlyn crab Florentine; bajan prawn and mango wrap with salad; yakitori chicken with crispy noodle salad; sirloin sandwich, with caramalised red onions and rocket on ciabatta or deep-fried cornish goat's cheese with a bramble berry sauce. All at prices around the £6 mark.

In the evening it gets even more sophisticated, with mains of fresh roasted turbot on herb puree with mustard beurre blanc new potatoes and vegetables or pan-fried Barbary duck breast on bubble and squeak with Cornish mead gravy, crispy celeriac, new potatoes and vegetables; and wonderful puddings such as iced passion fruit soufflé or toasted oatmeal and hazel nut meringue with raspberries and cream.