Àclèaf — Restaurant in Plymouth

A superb dining experience here for our anniversary dinner. Firstly, the service could not be faulted, the staff were attentive but not intrusive, very friendly and welcoming.

The only option for food is to have their four course dining experience but there are three options to choose from for each of the four courses. Before our official meal we had some starters including some cured meats, freshly baked bread, pork cheek arancini style balls with truffle powder and potato with Asian nashi tartlet. For the first course we had the scallop and cremet, second course we had the truffle risotto and squab, third course was highland wagyu and sole and finally fourth course dessert we had the chocolate miso and duck egg options. They gave us a complimentary pre-dessert based on a selection of shapes & colours we chose at the start of our meal, not to mention ice cream sandwiches as an anniversary treat and a take home gift of homemade chocolates. With every dish you could just tell the effort that the chefs went through to put the plate together both visually and taste wise each dish had a unique flavour, but not overpowering. Honestly, truly outstanding culinary delights in our opinion.

They also gave us complimentary glasses of their Gusbourne sparkling white wine to start, and my husband enjoyed a glass of Walt Riesling and Banyuls Rimage dessert wine during our meal which we're recommended by the staff as a pairing to the course options he chose and he absolutely loved them both.

We loved this dining experience, the atmosphere, the food, and the wine was just perfect. Even though it was fine dining it was not one of those uptight dining experiences, it was down to earth and very pleasant. The chefs came out at certain points in the meal as well to give us an introduction to the dishes which we enjoyed and the table staff really knew the details of the menu very well. We dined for about two hours in total and left feeling very satisfied. High praise to the wonderful chefs, table staff and everyone else behind the scenes for an excellent meal and dining experience that we'll always remember. Would highly recommend and would come back again if we're back...

Àclèaf had been on my radar for over a year when a friend mentioned it to me, so we booked in for Saturday evening. The meal, setting, atmosphere and level of service was on a par, if not better, than some of the restaurants that actually have a Michelin Star, rather than just a mention. I actually though that it was better than Tom Kerridge's Hand and Flowers.

We opted for the tasting menu with both the wine and non-alcoholic pairings (getting a taxi in Plymouth is a nightmare, so I drove).

I'm used to a taster menu having no choice, so I liked the concept of having a choice of 4 of the 7 courses. I opted for Dory, Crab, Wagyu and Honey, and my partner chose Rabbit, Monkfish, Iberico and Duck Egg. These courses were interspersed with an amuse bouche, bread, a pre dessert and chocolate. The cheese board was an optional extra which we took.

What can I say? It was perfect. The taste, textures and how they complemented each other was divine. Yes the portions are small, and I'm sure there are those who would say you don't get much for your money, but those are the people who don't understand the concept, and what you're paying for.

The wine pairing was spot on and perfectly complimented the food. My dinner partner is not a fan of red wine, but it turned out to be her favourite of the meal. I could not tell that the non-alcoholic pairing was alcohol free. The beef broth which was served with the wagyu was unlike anything I've tasted before.

Many places limit you to just a choice of 3 or 4 cheeses, but not here. I think there were 16 cheeses available and you could try all of them. Obviously the more you had the smaller the cut. I've not had cheese as good anywhere else.

As for the service, it was perfect. Our waitress Lauren was brilliant. The ambiance of the dining room was just right, and the whole setting within Boringdon Hall was very romantic.

We were the last guest in the dining room, but we did not feel rushed at all.

The experience was worth every penny.

It's Rachel's birthday soon and we will definitely be returning to...

Àclèaf is a fine-dining restaurant at a five-star country manor house. Boringdon Hall Hotel outside Plymouth,headed up by chef Scott Paton. Serves a four-course signature menu. While not exactly cheap,the prices at are lower than those at some other fine-dining restaurants. It is open to both hotel guests and non-residents. The reestaurant is located in the former minstrel gallery overlooking the great hall.

Once seated you are served a glass of Gusbourne and presented with a cryptic piece of paper showing different shapes and colours. What it was actually used for, was to decide which type of pre-dessert is served to you. The menu is a seasonal preset of four courses £120. Which is pretty much as per an a la carte. The meal started with canapes and home made breads and butters. Followed by our four choices of meal. Beetroot Chicken liver Crab Iberico Turbot Duck Egg Chocolate Service and hospitality here was impeccable. This restaurant, even though a long drive, is a testament to quality of food and overall an experience. Although we didn't drive as we...