Plymouth
Dining And Drinking

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With so many centuries of maritime exploration behind the city of Plymouth, it's not surprising that its restaurants cover a wide spectrum of international cuisine. You'll find an Indian restaurant not looking out of place in a 16th century building and a Chinese restaurant hugging the waterfront. Tucked away in old cobbled streets or magnificently modern edifices you will also find Irish, Thai, Greek, Spanish, Mexican, French, Italian, Malaysian, American and more.

Top of the list of local favourites has to be those serving fresh fish and seafood. From pubs and cafes to elegant restaurants you will find seafood galore. Take your choice from lobster, shrimp, crab, prawns, mussels, sea bass, lemon sole, halibut, trout, salmon, monkfish, swordfish or John Dory; all available on local menus. In these days of mass produced food, a fresh, naturally fed fish remains the epitome of culinary delight.

At The Brasserie you can enjoy views of the marina as you eat; Piermasters will make you feel you are dining beside the Mediterranean, while Platters is as jolly and busy as any fishing boat. Even if your proud boast has always been that you 'hate fish,' don't leave Plymouth without trying a local crab sandwich at the very least. The Queen's Arms makes these sumptuous enough to change the habits of a lifetime.

Why not dine on the waterfront at the Wet Wok, admiring the boats on Plymouth Sound as you eat? Deep in the historic Barbican is the Crystal Dragon, while the Ocean Palace has wonderful Dim Sum at lunchtime. The Wah Tin Garden is one of the few places in Plymouth that specializes in Malaysian cuisine as well as Chinese, while the delights of the Hoe Cantonese restaurant are a healthy as well as a tasty choice.

Thai restaurants, like the Thai House, add an exotic touch to the local seafood, while the Thai curries there and at the Thai Palace have to be tried to be appreciated.

Indian cuisine is also alive and kicking in Plymouth - especially those vindaloos! The Indian mastery of combining spices to perfection cannot be surpassed, so be sure to sample it here. The Taj Mahal is the oldest Indian restaurant in the area and well worth a visit, while the Moghul, situated in New Street, does wonderful duck. The name Veggie Perrin's may not immediately conjure up the idea of Indian food, but the excellent vegetarian Gujarati cuisine is as authentic as you'll get anywhere.

Italian delicacies like pizza and pasta are now as common on tea tables as Yorkshire pudding and fish and chips. But nobody does them better than the Italians themselves, so it's well worth visiting a few Italian restaurants to try the authentic versions. The Positano is where local Italians go to eat, while Bella Napoli serves superb fish dishes. The Pasta and Pizza Bar will give you exactly that, but so much better than at home.

Elegant French cuisine can be had at the Café Rouge, which also has an excellent wine bar. Dining at Chez Nous is like being in rural France, while Chambers Restaurant serves classic French dishes. Several excellent restaurants also include French cuisine in their repertoire. Bistro Bene is one example that produces international dishes of high quality.

The Greeks have a superb way with fish too, and the Village offers a magnificent mixed fish grill if you cannot choose between all their specialties.

Fast food can be found at the youngsters' favorite sites of McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut, but there are hundreds of smaller restaurants and cafes that can rustle up a good meal in a short time. O'Brien's Irish Sandwich Bar also serves excellent Italian coffee while Cap'n Jaspers is a unique, al fresco establishment, much loved by Plymothians and visitors alike.

Traditional British and local food can be found in abundance in Plymouth as well. Combine sumptuous food with buildings steeped in history by dining at Tanners in Plymouth's oldest building, the Prysten House. Or try a 500-year-old waterfront fort, the Artillery Tower. You can even get an Elizabethan Banquet at the Tudor Rose Tea Rooms, complete with fire jugglers, mead and serving wenches.

There are many excellent restaurants not far from Plymouth, on Dartmoor or the South Hams. The Old Ship Inn is well worth a visit, and if you've never eaten in a thatched cottage, Old Mother Hubbard's is the real thing. If you want to combine the beauties of Devon with first-class food, board the Riviera Belle for steam propelled gourmet travel.

If you are intent on drinking rather than eating, or want to combine the two in a more informal manner, then you have masses of choice. Wine bars and pubs abound, with many varieties of Real Ale. In the city itself there is every type of drinking establishment possible, from the 'spit and sawdust' and lively Irish music to the sophistication of the Union Rooms. The Bank, Yate's Wine Lodge and the Significant Half all offer good drinking within the city centre. Barbican pubs like the China House and the Maritime are also popular with locals and tourists alike.

But if you'd rather see ghosts than pink elephants, head for the pubs of Dartmoor and the South Hams. Here all the spooks have taken up residence in the ancient hostelries. The Brentor Inn and Pilchard Inn both have resident phantoms, while the one at the Rock Inn is so life-like that one of Mrs. Thatcher's bodyguards is said to have shot at it!

If you look hard enough you'll be able to find something in Plymouth to please everyone, at a price you can afford. Don't hesitate to explore the streets away from the city centre. With a bit of luck you'll find a gem that the locals are trying to keep to themselves; a cosy, friendly pub or a breakfast café that serves enough to feed an Olympic athlete. Don't hesitate to go in and try it out for yourself.