The epitome of relaxation is Watergate Bay, and at the heart of this sits Zacry’s, a stylish restaurant serving up impeccable grub.
Having not previously known of the place, I must admit that certain images conjured up in my mind of the ‘contemporary American cuisine’ on offer – was I looking at posh hot dogs and burgers? I happen to like both but how posh can a hot dog be? Zacry’s is no upmarket fast food joint, there isn’t a pretzel in sight – it is a classic brasserie, which uses international influence, local inspiration and quality cooking to serve up tasty dishes with a difference.
I turned up one Friday evening and was quite stunned at the setting – sitting among the coves and cliffs sits the grand Watergate Bay Hotel, and inside, Zacry’s sits proudly, ready to welcome you for an evening of relaxation and good food. Stylish tan leather seating, duck egg blue walls and gun metal table tops sit between black oversized light shades and monochrome chevron flooring. Mirrors line one wall and the kitchen is open so you can enjoy watching the chefs hard at work.
I took my seat and sipped on a glass of Prosecco while picking out my menu choices for the evening. I settled on a starter of ham hock terrine with sourdough bread and plum jam. Ham has never been a favourite of mine but I am always keen to keep trying food and drinks until I like them (it worked with red wine!) and I hit a turning point with this dish. The ham was perfectly seasoned and light, yet meaty, the lightly toasted sourdough added a nice crunchiness and the plum jam was beautifully sweet and well chosen for the dish – result!
My dining partner, Nick, greatly enjoyed his smoked haddock chowder, he said the haddock was flaky and tender, the creamy sauce rich and smoky in flavour and battered pieces of haddock gave the dish a nice added texture. Nick followed up with another fish dish of delicate halibut, new potatoes, long stem broccoli and squash, while I opted for another meaty plate, starring venison. The meat was of good quality and was served on a bed of mixed beans, chard and a beetroot salsa. The dish was colourful and the salsa the winning element for me, next to the venison itself.
Last up were our delicious desserts, which were both thoroughly enjoyed. Nick finished up with a Snickers inspired dessert, which encompassed all elements of the chocolate bar in a cheesecake and ice cream serving. My dessert was the dish of the day for me; I chose the vanilla panna cotta, which came with poached rhubarb, blackberries and honeycomb. The milky panna cotta was so light, smooth, delicate and delicious and had a great little wobble to it, the berries were sweet and tangy and the honeycomb chunks were light, crispy and crunchy and bought the dish together. The rhubarb was not to my liking but it by no means affected my appreciation for the dish – one I will be thinking about for a while yet!
In a nutshell – lovely setting and stylish restaurant offering tasty food served with a smile. The desserts were the definite highlight.
Address: Watergate Rd, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4AA
