Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Mote

    4.7 (7 reviews)
    PriceyChinese, Seafood, British

    The Mote Photos

    THE MOTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Mote

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Desserts at The Mote
    Christine C.

    Ahh...how disappointed I am to discover that I am not the first to praise The Mote on yelp! We spent a lovely evening at this restaurant in August of 2011. We meandered along the hilly roads stopping at each of the handful of restaurants to take a look at the menus. The Mote appeared to have the best choices and the warmest, and most inviting look to it. Service was excellent. It seemed that rather than having one server assigned to our table everyone who passed us checked to see how we were doing. It appeared to be a real team effort on the part of the staff to make sure that their guests were pleased. I had the lobster and my boyfriend had the haike. Both were delicious and fresh. Desert was equally good. After dinner there was some room on the patio (there's only two tables out there), so we were moved at our request to these tables to have our coffee and enjoy the sound of the gentle waves. The place was packed. I suggest you make reservations. It was a very romantic setting--great for couples. I'd agree with the previous reviewer that it is not a place that would be great for kids.

    In the nook...
    Kate M.

    We visited The Mote in May 2010. If you find yourself in Port Isaac, i'll assume you're familiar with the popular television show 'Doc Martin', and this is a defining factor in your decision to visit. Although Port Isaac has always been a popular tourist destination, the village has experienced huge growth, especially in the summer months, due to the success of the program. http://www.portwenn.com/ Another claim to fame is the home-grown band 'Fishermans Friends', who can be found singing on the platt on most Friday nights in the summer. They've released two albums through Amazon. http://www.fishermansfriendsportisaac.co.uk/ We didn't see Martin Clunes when we were there, but we did see the band filming scenes for a BBC documentary. Neat-O. On to The Mote... After arriving in P.I earlier that afternoon (Friday), we perused the shops, and watched the tide come in, while investigating a suitable spot to have dinner. The Mote had a group of extremely happy people lounging outside - I'm not sure if they actually were friends, or if they were forced to be cozy & comfortable because there's only two tables on the patio. Either way it was this welcome site that made up our minds - this local gem was our feasting ground for the evening. If I could paint a picture of this moment... Wow. The sun was just beginning to set, a pink & orange glow cast over the white-washed hillside of 18th century houses, stacked on top of each other like little lego blocks. Further along the coastal ridge where the sun is attempting to hide, little cotton ball sheep are roaming on the thick green grass. The whole village seems to be descending on the water, shop-keepers chattering, children running around excitedly, and the hearty laughs of happy fishermen, ring through the streets. There are crab boxes stacked along the slip-way, and the smell of fresh fish and salt water fills the air with surprising sweetness. Seagulls are singing to each other overhead, and the high tide produces a delicious sound of water slopping against the walls of the slip-way. I'd already been on vacation for nearly a week at this point - this moment is when I really felt myself wind down. Wow, again. The Mote is three-ish levels of perfect Cornish heaven. Wobbly white walls, and exposed beams, nooks in the stone walls that look like they're right out of a pirate movie(see picture), local art all over the walls, and my (now) favourite artist; Newton Faulkner, swooning through the speakers. I honestly can't even remember what we ate & drank... certainly not because the meal wasn't memorable. We all had the freshest seafood, and far too many real ales... The servers appeared to be local surfers & beach bums, relaxed, light-hearted, funny, and knowledgeable. Our meals weren't cheap, but nothing is in England these days! A few notes: 1) I'm not sure if children are allowed... 2) Definitely call ahead to make sure they're open//have room. Reservations highly recommended. 3) If you're in Port Isaac, you MUST visit The Mote :)) KLM

    See all

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Traci N.
    147
    50
    41

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kate M.
    223
    25
    28

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adam H.
    0
    41
    15

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Outlaw's Fish Kitchen

    Outlaw's Fish Kitchen

    4.8(4 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    My husband and I made an online reservation before arriving in Port Isaac, and I'm glad we did…read more Outlaws is truly a fine dining experience that every foodie must try! The set menu allows the diner to experience an array of flavors and textures, and the small plate portions make it possible to fully enjoy each course. The cozy, bright interior provides an intimate setting perfect for couples. A stone's throw from the Port provides a beautiful view that enhances the whole experience. Each course was artistically presented and introduced me to flavor combinations I'd never imagined. I was truly moved by the craftsmanship and attention to detail in every dish. Outlaws is hands down one of the best places I've ever been.

    My wife and I went for dinner on our last night in Cornwall (Aug 2013) when the restaurant had only…read morebeen open for a week. The restaurant is tiny and boasts what is possibly the smallest and most ingenious bathroom in the world! The menu changes daily and is full of Nathan's signature touches. Portions are small and designed to be shared like Tapas. Pick five or six between two of you and you get a great variety of top quality fish dishes. Be aware that it's quite a walk from any real parking, as it's tucked away down in the bottom of the village, right against the harbour and flanked on three sides by pubs and looks down the harbour slipway. Also, talk people should wear a helmet due to an extremely low ceiling with exposed beams. The food, though, is awesome!!! :) Definitely Michelin quality.

    Photos
    Outlaw's Fish Kitchen
    Outlaw's Fish Kitchen
    Outlaw's Fish Kitchen

    See all

    The Harbour Restaurant

    The Harbour Restaurant

    4.0(1 review)
    0.0 mi

    My partner and I dined at The Harbour one Friday evening in August and found the food to be truly…read moresuperb, although I did find the prices to be a bit outrageous for the area and the portion sizes. The restaurant is small but beautifully done, with artwork, coasters and other decor from a local shop and a seaside feel to it. The bathroom is extremely small (think of an aircraft lavatory), but I otherwise had no complaints. We sat at an intimate table in the window that offered a pleasant breeze from the open door and at the same time, a cozy nook that allowed us to speak rather than shout. I ordered a perfect caprese salad with fresh mozzarella di bufala, plenty of basil and ripe tomatoes, and a beautiful sprinkling of olive oil. The lemon sole was absolutely divine and accompanied by a delicious salsa verde. Though people rave about Fifteen in Watergate Bay, I found the quality of the food at The Harbour to be superior. It was fresh, well cooked, and truly delicious. That being said, I suppose you get what you pay for: the bill at The Harbour was also far more than the bill at Fifteen. Jason runs front of house at The Harbour, and I thought his service was excellent, although I did get the impression we might have rubbed him the wrong way when we complained about the parking situation (note: during the summer months, Port Isaac is home to Fisherman's Friends, an a cappela singing group. Thousands of people flock to the town to hear them perform Friday evenings on the beach, which means you'll probably be paying for parking a mile away from the restaurant). Nonetheless, I found him to be very attentive and polite.

    Prawn On The Lawn

    Prawn On The Lawn

    5.0(4 reviews)
    5.9 mi

    My friend and I visited right and lunch time and were lucky to get a table as almost all the other…read moreopen spots were reserved. We were so happy as we are both seafood lovers. It's a small restaurant right in Padstow that does small plates that focus on seafood. To start, their cocktails were great! I wish I could remember the one I got but I added a photo of it. I think it had passion fruit in it. It was so good! My friend's favorite dish was the scallops and mine were the prawns. :) They were giant and so tasty! The oysters were good too and I definitely would order more next time. Being from a landlocked area, it was so cool to hear how fresh this seafood is! Definitely recommend stopping in if you get the chance.

    This is one of the best dining experiences I've ever had…read more Prawn on the Farm is a delightful, casual-chic tent restaurant set on a farm lawn with a stellar vista over the Padstow area of Cornwall, out toward the coast where their fat, creamy oysters come from. It may sound strange to those with preconceived notions, but the place has the exact vibe of a well-done Burning Man camp, including the sense of being comfortably ensconced in the environment. The constant presence of the benign outdoors--beside the operation's hooped greenhouses--is absolutely perfect for a restaurant that prides itself on fresh, hyper-local produce, fish, and beverages. And what food! The menu is small plates...except for some larger whole-fish options. The strategy is to order 2-3 per person and share. This ensures that you are getting a cascade of delightful flavor combinations that remain surprisingly subtle despite deep character and a broad flavor palate that ranges from the mild creaminess of cannelloni beans and bacon sparkles under a small slab of baked hake, to a scallop grilled in a soup of Thai green curry. Flavors combine to gently surprise: tree ear mushrooms and fresh dill, candy-sweet cherry tomatoes and tarragon, kale with truffle oil. The combinations are so insightful and unexpected that it's often tricky to identify them, even though the dishes remain clean, simple, and pure. The extreme freshness and site-specificity of the ingredients means that quantities are limited and the dishes on offer are constantly cycling. If you see something that looks good, order quick before it changes to something new! The service is excellent, with a young, skilled and friendly staff both in the front of the house and in the open kitchen; a snafu with our order was quickly and easily resolved. Unsurprisingly, the bar offers local alcohol, including Padstow Brewery's excellent modern and traditional beers/ales, and Tarquin's interesting gins. The POTL team also has a taqueria in Padstow, and apparently the temporary tent will be replaced with a permanent structure next year. I hope they find a way to retain the current feeling of the place, because it's just perfect (even though the season is quite short). Be sure to reserve WELL in advance. Though you have no sense of packed busyness while there, this place books out during the summer season, and it would be a pity to miss out on food that tidily upends Britain traditional reputation for bad cooking.

    Photos
    Prawn On The Lawn - The lovely tent setting on the farm

    The lovely tent setting on the farm

    Prawn On The Lawn - Oysters (1 raw & 1 fried)

    Oysters (1 raw & 1 fried)

    Prawn On The Lawn - Bar seating

    See all

    Bar seating

    Life's A Beach

    Life's A Beach

    4.4(5 reviews)
    20.5 mi

    We didn't expect a beach restaurant with that view and location to be very special when it comes…read moreabout food. But it definitely was. Besides some fast food options they serve really well made seafood. We had the shrimp (with cheese fries) and a pot of mussels. Both cooked to perfection, fresh and nicely spiced (and not over-spiced). Staff was friendly, food arrived fast - despite the place being packed. Our English Bulldog was welcome in the outside area. Great food, fair prices. Fantastic location. What else you need. A really good place to grab a bit, a beer - before or after visiting the beach.

    We had been to Life's a Beach two summers previous. I had Halibut for the first time and I like it,…read morebut that was about as much as I could remember. This time round we were placed a table at the centre of the dining room and I had a fine view of the kitchen and the staff, as they dedicatedly went about their business. My partner had a view of the bay out front. For starters I went for the Beef Carpaccio with Watercress, White Truffle Oil & Reggiano Parmesan and my partner the Seared Fowey Scallops with Crispy Belly Pork, Celeriac Puree & Caper Sauce. The Carpaccio was very tasty and I got plenty of it. I cleared my plate of it all and its accompaniments. My partners enjoyed his Scallops with Pork Belly. For the mains I opted for the Risotto of Summer with Parmesan Crisps and my partner the L.A.B. Tiger Prawn & Spiced Monkfish Curry. I loved the risotto, it was full of crunchy green vegetables and the risotto was a lovely creamy consistency. I would recommend it. My partner really enjoyed his curry and thought it was top notch for a restaurant that wasn't a curry house. We ordered the San Antonio Pinot Grigio, which was a grand wine to go with our meal. It was £12.50 For dessert we both ordered the Chocolate Fondant. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and chocolate ganache truffle. The fondant was fine, nothing to write home about and we both have had much better. The ice cream went with it perfectly though. However the ganache was too much with the fondant. It was just too much chocolate and cocoa for one dessert. The staff amused me. They appeared to be all young hip surfer types working for the summer in the ideal location for their outdoor pursuits. Our waitress was very charming and helpful, as all the staff appeared to be. It was a pleasant night and we will be back, if we are in the area again.

    Photos
    Life's A Beach
    Life's A Beach
    Life's A Beach

    See all

    The Mote - chinese - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...