Kota Restaurant with Rooms

Having brought the good people of Porthleven and their annual influx of visitors the Smokehouse, Jude and Jane Kereama have now switched their New Zealand charms and attention to Kota, a delightful harbour-front property, skilfully restored to retain its ancient charm.

Organic is the name of the game and their seafood, meat and game has survived the process without losing flavour. Vegetarians will rejoice in the trio dish that includes truffled cauliflower soup, roasted red peppers stuffed with tapenade and goat's cheese, and tempura of sweet potatoes.

The rest of us can expect to find Thai spiced local crab bisque with saffron aioli and Reggiano parmesan croutes, five peppered spiced venison carpaccio with summer berry salsa and truffle oil, or a simple bowl of local mussels and clams cooked with leeks, Cornish cider and saffron.

Main course offer pan fried skate wings with herb caper brown butter, a sensational duo of duck involving breast and spring roll, or the equally sensational Kota style seafood platter. A grilled local lobster comes with avocado salsa, dipping sauces, sautéed baby potatoes and salad. Amongst the specials look for seared swordfish steak with a strong supporting cast including chickpea salad, the cured wild salmon, or the simply mouthwatering sweet potato and smoked chilli soup.

Back this with a wine list comprising a striking selection of 60 or so internationally grown bins, plenty of them from New Zealand, and some Cornish, a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and you have a recipe for a night out that will take a lot of beating.

They also offer an amazing value £12 fixed price two course dinner with choice of two starters/mains/desserts, this is available between 6 - 7.30pm Monday to Thursday and pre 7 pm on Friday and Saturday, and every day for lunch, it might offer a choice of smoked haddock chowder or chicken liver and foie gras parfait with brioche, followed by Kota fish pie or puff pastry wrapped corn fed chicken breast with mushroom and thyme stuffing, swede mash and creamed leeks, finishing with sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and homemade hokey pokey ice cream or white chocolate and raspberry bavarois.

For those that might be looking to stay, they have two double ensuite rooms, the larger one one is family sized with a double and single bed and stunning harbour views. The charge for the larger is £70 (off season) to £80; while the regular double is £60 (off season) to £70.