Andy Clarke (Bromsgrove) wrote on 21 August 2010

My girfriend and I ate here on 3 of our 4 nights in St Ives and I regret it wasn't 4 out of 4, having tried and being disappointed elsewhere. The food in Spinacio’s was absolutely sublime and worthy of the finest restaurants, veggie or otherwise, of any major city in the country, or Europe for that matter - no exageration! All the dishes we tried were beautifully presented, and often came with 3 or 4 things on the plate to compliment the tastes! A lot of the food is grown by the owner / chef on a veg patch that deserves an award in itself!
The restaurant is on the first floor of the Old Custom House and has fantastic views across the harbour and way out across Carbis Bay and the Godrevy Island lighthouse in the distance. I also picked up some good gardening tips from the pictures on the walls! The staff were all warm and friendly and if they weren’t too busy preparing and serving food, I’d have liked to have them sat round the table with us to enjoy it!
If it wasn’t for the 4 hour drive to St Ives from where we live we’d definitely be regulars. I’d highly recommend eating here if you’re anywhere near St Ives and have an appetite for fine food ;-)
Andy & Jane

julie stanton (Lancashire) wrote on 6 August 2010

We traveled from our holiday in Newquay for a meal as we had been 2 years previous it was worth the drive the grandmothers potatoes were superb as was the Nut Meringue , we had a window seat on a hot night and the meal was wonderful as was the waitress and chef, i wish they would branch out to Lancashire

Sheila Walsh (Lancashire) wrote on 27 July 2010

We recently ate twice here in the space of a week, amazing place, lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, I would love a recipe book but chef is too busy to write it. I'm not suprised, it was some of the best vegetarian food we've had, imaginative, full of flavour, really fresh, the hazelnut meringue with kirsch cream and raspberries was gorgeous. I wold happily recommend this to anyone,well worth the money.
Thanks very much for some great memories.
Steve and Sheila Walsh

Brenda Campbell (weston-s-mare) wrote on 25 July 2010

We enjoyed a wonderful meal with such fresh flavours.Well presented and served by friendly,helpful staff without being in your face. Wish we lived closer.Atmosphere was spoilt by noisy children on other table.

lindsay day (stratford-upon-avon) wrote on 31 May 2010

The food was delicious, fresh and well presented, We had a very enjoyable meal and evening. It is not often you find a good vegetarian restaurant especially when you're used to cooking your own well tried recipes.Staff were accommodating and the whole atmosphere of the restaurant was informal but client focused. Highly recommended. Compares more than favourably with other veggie restaurants and we will definitely return.

Phil Battle (London) wrote on 13 May 2010

My girlfriend & I have eaten at Spinacio when on holiday in Cornwall over the last couple of years. The service & food is always excellent (the best Chocolate brownie my girlfriend has ever eaten), the attitude of staff is great, always happy & helpful, this is a refreshing change to many of the restaurants we have visited in the UK.

Starters are approx £5 & Main courses £11-12, this is very good value as the plates are always full.

We last visted on the 27th April 2010 after driving over from Fowey, on the off chance that we would get a table. The food was wonderful & the service to the usual high standard. It was well worth the 2 hour round trip from Fowey & is the best vegetarian food that I have eaten at in a UK restaurant.

We are going back down to Cornwall in late summer & will be making sure that we are closer to St Ives. A restaurant & staff that has made our trips to Cornwall even more of a pleasure.

10/10

Lisa Thomson (Brighouse West Yorkshire) wrote on 4 May 2010

Excellent Food enjoyed both the two nights I visited the restaurant. Perfer this kind of food to some of the stuff you can get at St Ives. I am a healthy eatter even when away from home I don't like to slip into eatting unhealthy if I can help it. Would defentley come back if I am in St Ives again or recommend it to some one one. I would give you 10/10 excellent food, excellent place and excellent service spot on.

Fred_the_thread (Truro) wrote on 27 April 2010

The two chefs Sue and Paul compliment each other with differing skills.

The pastries are outstanding and the curries and sauces are divine!

Cost= Very good value
Staff = Welcoming and helpful
Marks out of ten = 9/10

They are so good I can see that an award is waiting in the wings.

The food is fresh and locally sourced. The flavours are creative and compliment each other. This is truly crafted and art for the palate.

Demelza (St Ives) wrote on 1 April 2010

We went down to this restaurant to try out, as the vegetarian options in other restaurants in St Ives can be limited, and were very pleased. Neither my mum or my boyfriend are vegetarians themselves, but both enjoyed their meals greatly, and we're actually off down there again tonight!

susan owens (Restaurant Connection) wrote on 2 December 2009

spinacios is not closed, just for the winter, opening in march 2010!
the staff already looking forward to make fabulous, fresh food, see you there........

Mike Eddowes (Arundel, England) wrote on 24 October 2009

we drove over from newquay and, sadly, Spinacio's seems to be no more.

The locals say it went bust a little while back. Shame. Tough out there for veggie restaurants apart from in big cities!

EMMA LEGAN (Southport) wrote on 15 October 2009

My partner and I visited Spinacio's in July 2009 and it was one of our best ever dining experiences. The haloumi cheese with ginger and lime starter was THE BEST starter I have ever eaten anywhere! All three courses were a real flavour sensation and the restaurant is a real jewel in the crown of St Ives. We've been holidaying there for years and will definitely be regular diners now! Such a refreshing change to have such a vibrant seasonal menu. I would recommend it to everybody!

Pat (North Devon) wrote on 14 September 2009

My partner, teenage daughter and I ate here, during the St Ives festival, in the evening. The food was wonderful ( dahl with cauliflower, tri-colour carrot tart, buckwheat pancake with cheesy leeks ). The service was cheerful and efficient despite the restaurant being busy. Our desserts were excellent ( blackberry and apple crumble with homemade custard, chocolate brownie and ice cream ). We were made to feel welcome and did not feel at all rushed even though other people were booked in later in the evening. We have eaten here before and enjoyed it thoroughly, but on reading one of the previous reviews wondered if the restaurant had changed - we were delighted to find everything (service, atmosphere and food ) all still brilliant !

HappyVeggie (Hertfordshire) wrote on 26 August 2009

I have eaten at this restaurant twice (once in June and once in July). I am a vegetarian (20 years +) but , the two friends I have visited with were not.

Both times I have visited the food has been inventive, delicious and fresh. My non-vegetarian friend prefered the curry at Spinacios to the seafood one she had at one of the more 'rated' St. Ives restauarnts. She is still raving about the brownie she had for dessert.

The staff have been lovley too. The chef is clearly passionate about her work and happy to chat to the customers. I have been lucky to be served by funny and happy waiting staff each time I have visited. We were made to feel very welcome.

I felt that meal was well priced. The quality is excellent and the location is exceptional.

I will most certainly go again. Just the thing to fill that gap after a day's surfing!

Angela (Hertfordshire) wrote on 12 August 2009

I have eaten at Spinacio's on the last week of July, and I have to say me and my husband enjoyed it very much, I think it is one of the best veggie places I have ever been.
I don't really understand the negative comment, especially because I had the same dish as Debbie and I found it was delicious, the rosti was tasty and crispy, and the greens on the bottom were not spinach but some wild greens (I forgot the name). The peas in the dish were fresh and not overcooked.
The lady serving us was very nice (we had 2 children with us and one had been ill the same afternoon) and after dinner we had a chat with the owner/chef who sounded really passionate of his food.
My husband had the curry (same as in Debbie's review!) and he loved it too, I tasted it and it was tasty and spicy without being bland.
For dessert he had the chocolate and orange macaroons, and he was in pudding heaven.
I myself am a committed vegetarian cook and have been a veggie chef for a year, the food I had at Spinacio's was fresh, inventive and cooked with love, I wish them very good luck, they deserve it.

Ken Leary (Redruth) wrote on 24 July 2009

I've visited a couple of time this year and have always encountered helpful staff and a good menu. The food has always been excellent. The chef has an affinity with the produce and puts real soul into the dishes. The flavours are subtly pleasing and good attention is paid to texture and also how it the food is presented on the plate. Looks good, smells good, tastes good, value is good. What's not to like?

Cat lover (St Ives) wrote on 19 July 2009

RUDE RUDE RUDE!!! Was really looking forward to going here...but really regret it now!! We waited by the door for a good 5 minutes before we were seated....the kitchen staff knew we were there but didnt bother acknowledging us at all. I believe the kitchen staff were actually the owners!! They were unbelieveably rude and we have never eaten in a place with bad atmosphere like this before. The menu offered only a few choices...and was expensive for what we got...small plates and portions. We could over hear the owners from the kitchen complaining that we didnt have starters or desserts....although our bill came to nearly £100!! I really think the owners are in the complete wrong job...no people skills at all and just plain rude. We are now sticking to the other restaurant St Ives has to offer and having the veggie option!!!

Debbie (Worcs) wrote on 17 July 2009

My husband and I visited this restaurant, whilst on a short break in St Ives. We have both been vegetarian for over 20 years and have eaten in many places serving veggie food and I am a keen veggie cook.
For me to say that I could of cooked a meal 20 times better myself is an understatement. The food was awful, especially my husbands, which he could not eat and left 90% of it. We ordered a chickpea curry, which was average and a beetroot rosti with spinach and cheese - this was absolutely disguisting! It looked like a beetroot cowpat, with some awful tasting cheese on top, no potatoes with it ,on top of a pile of spinach! Nobody came over to check that we were happy with our meals, although the young man who served us was pleasent enough. When I had finished my meal, they came to collect or plates, I told them that my husbands meal was horrible and he could see that he had only eaten a couple of mouthfuls, he took the plate away and didn't even even apologise and we were still expected to pay 11 pounds each, which in our minds was an absolutely extortionate price to pay for a meal that wouldn't even of cost half that amount to produce. We wouldn't of minded paying that amount for food that was generous on portions, tasty, cooked well and imaginative, but the food here was none of these. A great shame, as we always support vegetarian restaurants that serve proper veggie food. We walked out feeing totally disappointed, cross that we had wasted our money and felt that the staff didn't give a stuff for their customers. Absolutely rubbish!

Rob Henderson (Winnersh Berkshire) wrote on 15 February 2009

Eaten there 4 times during summer/winter holidays. Food has always been amazing. A very home cooked feel to the menu and always carefully presented. Staff always very friendly and acommodating. On each occasion I have been able to choose something new and interesting prepared with good quality ingredients by people who really do cook as if they want to impress. The raspberry flapjacks were the best ever! Also the satay sauce on one of the dishes was the best I have ever tasted! Lovely views over the harbour and more than reasonbale prices have made for enjoyable dining on each occasion. I will always reccomend this place to friends and a trip to St Ives would not be the same without a visit to Spinacios.

jo finlay (st ives) wrote on 15 January 2009

Been to spinacios about twice, thought the food tasty and original.
my vegan friend had an excellent tofu curry, and is still raving about the bread! The views are wonderful of the harbour, and the staff friendly and helpfull. The prices are reasonable and we will be back.

Anne Watson (St Ives) wrote on 15 January 2009

I too was delighted to see that a veggie resteraunt had opened in St Ives and have eaten at Spinacio's on numerous occasions. I cannot understand the review by Kathryn from Penzance: the food is absolutely wonderful - bursting with flavour, created using the freshest in-season veg and always thoughfully presented; the staff have always been incredibly welcoming even to the point of rearranging tables to suit different group sizes and cooking off the menu when asked; the location is perfect for gazing out to sea or watching the hustle and bustle of the town on the street below; the prices are extremely reasonable and I take everyone who comes to visit me for either a lunch or an evening meal there and have yet to receive anything but the highest praise for my choice, even from ardent meat-eaters. Keep up the good work Spinacio's and remember... there's always one you can't please!

Kathryn Walters (Penzance) wrote on 14 January 2009

I was really excited to hear that a new vegetarian restaurant had opened in St Ives, so I decided to go with a group of friends. We were the only customers (now I know why!). I was facing the open-plan kitchen and spent most of the evening listening to the staff bickering. When they were not bickering, there was always at least one member of staff stood behind the counter staring at us whilst we ate and this made me feel very uncomfortable. The options on the menu were very dated and my vegan friend was told that they usually try to have a vegan option, but cannot guarantee that there will always be one. My meal of stuffed pancakes was disppointing as they were totally flavourless. Judging by their texture, they had been cooked hours earlier and re-heated. The prices were reasonable, but who wants to spend any money on badly cooked food? I would definitely advise other veggies to give this place a miss.

Keith Rose (Hampshire) wrote on 15 August 2008

We ate here twice while in St Ives. Delicious food much of which is grown locally, and a wide enough range to suit even our fussy family. Friendly staff. Good views over St Ives harbour. In the daytime they're more a cafe, with cakes and cream teas, but have three course meals in the evening, changing the menu daily. Main courses are about £9.