by Helen K Smith

Created on: September 21, 2008

It was a case of pure fate that brought my partner and I to the New Harbour restaurant. Conjuring up images of drunk Aussie surfers and groups of girls in bunny outfits, I can't say I was over-enamoured with the idea of going to Newquay for an early September mini-break. However, whilst I would happily give the fun and frolics of the town centre a miss, the beaches, the views of the coastline, and most importantly the food, more than made up for it.

With no set plans for our first day we headed down to the Harbour, some two miles from where we were staying in Porth, to investigate rumours of a Fish Festival taking place. It was there, unable to find anywhere else to get a cup of coffee, we stumbled upon the New Harbour Restaurant. One look at the menu and I knew we had to try and get a table. It was a seafood lover's dream.

There was just one snag. Our very nice, and incredibly helpful, hotel receptionist had already booked us in to a restaurant in town for that evening. But one look at the place she'd recommended, in amongst the gentleman's clubs and the loud bars touting hen-night drinks specials, suggested it somehow didn't have the romantic air we were looking for. Plus there was a distinct lack of seafood on the menu, one of the main reasons for our Cornish getaway. Something had to be done.

Therefore, it was with a pleading look in my eye that I asked the waitress if there was any possibility of a table for two that night. She was away for some time. It wasn't until we had finished our coffee and I asked again, with even more fluttering of eyelids and a manic grin, that she finally said they could fit us in.

Right down in the harbour, next to the anchored boats and the crab pots, the setting of this restaurant couldnt have been more perfect. I can only describe the place as being a large and very well appointed beach hut, albeit with an extensive terrace area and cocktail list, which oozed rustic charm. The inside is decorated in a vaguely beach style, with small tea-lights on each table, and local artwork on the walls. Its easily the sort of place you could rock up in a pair of jeans, not the least bit stuffy or pretentious. There are no table-cloths and formal manners to negotiate - it's all about the food. Which is how it should be.

The staff are friendly, in a very genuine way, and do not fuss over you. In fact, it seems some are employed purely to keep the owners dogs from getting into the restaurant - much to the amusement of all the diners. They wait

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