Bay, The

Looking for interesting, seasonal and light well-prepared food in a galleried setting with stunning views? The Bay, at Penzance helped establish the now well-tried tradition of combining culture, in the form of a serious art gallery, with cuisine and rooms - and succeeds. The setting is chic, unstuffy, with superb views above the rooftops of Penzance to Mount's Bay. An excellent place to kick back and relax.

Throughout the whole year look forward to eating the best of the local produce, in an imaginative and attractive form and calling on an impressive list of local suppliers from Cornwall, where the environment is naturally fresh.

During the day a fixed price excellent value lunch menu offers such dishes as asparagus spear and sunflower seed salad in a black olive dressing, excellent steamed black mussels with white wine, shallots, cream and parsley, or fillet of Cornish beef with baby vegetables and a ragout of braised oxtail and pickled wild mushroom. At The Bay it's always worth asking what the boats have brought in; fish does not come any fresher than this.

Or a tossed smoked chicken, bacon, mango and rocket salad with herb vinaigrette, or a warm duck leg confit with toasted brioche, apricot and lime chutney. For vegetarian tastes there could be gnocchi toasted in pan-fried cherry tomatoes and courgettes, Parmesan and basil pesto.

In the evenings the menu expands and starters could include stir-fried squid tossed in chorizo sausage, rocket and a sweet chilli dressing or peach and strawberry salad with Parma ham and micro cress or pan-fried South coast scallops, squid ink pasta in a salmon roe and cucumber cream sauce.

Main courses follow the same pattern with a seafood platter (the seasonal fruits de mer) with succulent local lobster, that much under-rated fish, the mackerel beautifully done as grilled fillets with a compote of beetroot, small brown shrimps and cucumber, spring lamb from the locality, grilled fillet of halibut, wilted baby spinach and little gem lettuce, asparagus velouté or a double Cornish beef fillet (for two to share) with peppercorn and juniper roasted wild mushrooms and globe artichokes, glazed with an Armagnac and black truffle sabayon

As you watch the sun subside into the light mists of a velvet Cornish sea evening my guess is you will find the desserts even more beguiling than usual, headed by the dark chocolate marquise mousse, wild morello cherries in kirsch, hazelnut meringue, and closely followed by the chilled water melon and vanilla soup or assortment of miniature desserts.

A well selected wine list of some depth with only occasional incursions above the £20 mark. Local wines, beers, ciders and an elite list offer further variety and choice, and, with at least a dozen wines by the glass or 1/4 bottle, you can change wines with each course. Dessert wines are encouraged, including a local specialty called Ninemaidens, a Cornish mead said to be a credible alternative to a Sauternes.

The Bay is quality eating amidst beautiful surroundings both in and out, at prices that will leave room for you to contemplate further indulgence amongst the many pictures tastefully displayed in the Gallery.

The past 6 years have firmly established the Bay, in the diners Awards of the Region, they were named West Country Restaurant of the Year in 2002, and Restaurant of the Year 2006-7, and again this year in the Cornwall Tourism Awards. Consistently awarded 2 AA rosettes annually, and listed in the Michelin Guide, The Good Hotel Guide and The Good Food Guide.

For those of you wanting further information about The Bay, a visit to their Website would be a sensible idea.