Kota Restaurant with Rooms

Harbour Head, PORTHLEVEN, TR13 9JA

This easygoing bistro in an 18th-century corn mill on Porthleven harbour has a rustic beamed interior kitted out with sunny lemon walls, pale wooden tables, bright artwork and candles. Kota is Maori for shellfish, which gives a hint of the kitchen's leanings, although diligently-sourced local meat, often organic, also gets a fair crack of the whip in a repertoire that shows an exciting streak of vibrant creativity. If you detect a whiff of pacific rim fusion in dishes such as seared Falmouth bay scallops with pork belly, soy ginger, cider apple purée and coriander cress, that is a reflection of chef-proprietor Jude Kereama's Maori, Chinese and Malaysian roots. Dishes can be as simple as baked hake with crab and saffron risotto and bisque sauce, or more involved combinations serving meat in various ways, as in a duo of duck that sees Asian-marinated duck breast with pak choi and parsnip mash sharing a plate with hoi sin duck spring roll and umeboshi plum sauce.

(2 user reviews)

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My friends and I spend a lot of time at Kota and it has never failed us. As a vegetarian, I have always found the chef's vegetarian 'trio' outstanding. There aren't many restaurants that can produce vegetarian food both interesting and varied. There are also plenty of starters options to choose from too. Food is always fresh and light and the atmosphere is excellent. I would recommend Kota to anyone.

Reviewer: Kathy, Falmouth
Visited: 21 December 2008

202 of 388 people found this review helpful.
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We were staying in Porthleven and, having read the reviews about this restaurant, were looking forward to eating there. Everything was fine until we realised that our vegetarian trio meal for the main course included a 'vegetarian' pancake roll which had prawns in. We complained and had the money taken off the bill but the damage had already been done. Imagine if one of us had a seafood allergy. Not impressed.

Reviewer: Purplesquig, Southampton
Visited: 30 October 2008

204 of 408 people found this review helpful.
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