Àclèaf in Plymouth

We had an excellent meal at Acleaf - great food a great service. Often, tasting menus are fixed and everyone eats the same food, however the way they do it in Acleaf means you can pick your way through various options, supplements (and a brilliant cheese board). Would highly recommend and we will certainly be back.

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 were staying.

Àcleaf was a standout during our stay at Boringdon Hall, and it fully deserved its Michelin star. Atmosphere: We were greeted in the Great Hall and, despite being late, the host was composed and professional. The setting was stunning, with a beautiful view of the building’s architecture from the eaves as we dined. Service: Rhiannon, our host, was exceptional. She was passionate and knowledgeable about the menu, sharing interesting details about the local ingredients and wines, such as honey from the on-site hives and UK wines. Her dedication to the experience added a personal touch. Food: The meal was extraordinary, from start to finish. We indulged in the extras—caviar, Wagyu, cheese course, and wine pairing—all of which were excellent. However, we found the game course slightly underwhelming, even though we selected different options we ended up with the same pre-desert. Overall, Àcleaf delivered the 5-star experience we were hoping for, with exceptional service and a unique dining atmosphere. It was, without a doubt, the highlight of our stay.

Fantastic food in a lovely location. David provided outstanding service which needs to be recognised. I'll definitely be back.

We had dinner in the Brassiere restaurant. Service was impeccable. Food delicious.

A delight to eat there. Everything was fully explained which added to the evenings experience.

There are times in life when the paradisal and delightful treat of a Michelin-starred restaurant meal is possible; Our turn was on Valentine's evening at Àclèaf and the meal was exquisite. Savouring the flavours of every mouthful was so much of a joy, and we were waited on by the most kind and considerate team. Phenomenal courses that consumed me enough that I couldn't talk to my ever-loving husband at points because the flavours were divine and all my attention needed to be on them. If you can go and treat yourself I am 100% confident that you will have a dining experience you remember until you go there again.

My partner and I were absolutely amazed at every single dish we tried in Acleaf! Will certainly come back! Thank you to James, whose service was impeccable, and, obviously, to the chefs who made our meal memorable! Acleaf was the best part of the Boringdon Hall experience, by far!

Could not fault a thing, my friends had the paired wine menu and were completely blown away. Will go back, and soon!

We had the best seats in the restaurant overlooking the balcony overhanging the hall below. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable and the food was very delicious. Overall a great dining experience.

Imaginative tasting menu prepared and served to the highest standards. Michelin star well deserved for taste and presentation. The service was almost better than the food with staff who were impeccably trained and knew the food in detail. The explanations of the dishes were occasionally a little rushed and mumbled which meant I had to ask for them to be repeated. The website does not do the restaurant any favours with no photographs of the dining area and a confusing description of where you are to be seated. My only disappointment given the elegant food was the mediocre dining room. Whilst clean and smart enough, it had no thought given to decor or atmosphere, it just wasn’t interesting or special enough to match the food.

Absolutely divine food! For the starters I had the famed scallops, which was very fresh and complimented with the use of sour apple flavours. Then I had the crab which was absolutely the best! Such a unique yet magical blend of flavours. For the main I had the wagyu, which was melt in your mouth. For the pre dessert they made you play a paper game at the beginning and they use that to figure out what dessert you would prefer! Very creative, not the mention the dessert was amazing. For the bread I loved the goat butter with honey on top. Service was attentive. They noticed that my partner was left handed and moved the utensils to the left for his convenience. All in all it was a perfect dining experience which I would 100% recommend to anyone who plans to visit.

Access via the bar area. The restaurant is tastefully decorated, in keeping with the surroundings, with some separate areas. You order your 4 dishes, one from each group. You are started with bread and other nibbles made by the kitchen, followed by your dish selection, which is timed perfectly not to rush you, but not waiting too long either. You also get an extra pre-dessert dish. Excellent food and sevice, a great evening. The dishes are large and the meals are small, but pack a punch in taste and refinement.

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 in this area.

A bit of a delay between the cheese accompianates and the cheese , apart from that it was perfect

Lovely meal at Acleaf. Second time we've been here and the food was delicious. The service was really spot on too. The star of the show of was the crab with curry sauce and the lamb. Definately a must visit for a celebration😍. Hope they get 2nd Michelin star.

Fabulous food for vegetarians, very nice staff, and very accommodating to me with my assistance dog. I will definitely return if I'm in the area again.

deserves the Michelin Star, great food. well done

Fine dining at its finest. Superb front of house staff that endeavour to look after your every need. Wonderful chefs that have mastered their art and produce deceptively simple dishes that explode onto the plate with flavour and passion. Stunning grounds and a brilliant air of sophistication and tranquility. If you can afford it, it's a must try. One of very few true culinary experiences in Plymouth. And as of just yesterday, a michelin starred one.

Visited for a 3 course Sunday lunch. Food delicious and extremely generous portions.

We came here for my university graduation meal and it was fantastic. Certainly one of the best experiences I’ve had. The server which we had knew everything you could possibly want to know, and was extremely attentive. Everyone was very polite and gave off a very professional mannerism. The food was fantastic, with some undisclosed additions to the menu throughout the meal which was very interesting. Although the meal was expensive, it was very much worth it for the experience and I would definitely pay it again should I find myself in Plymouth again.

Fine dining at Boringdon Hall Michelin restaurant. The meal was exquisite. The experience was phenomenal. The service was impeccable. There were vegan and non alcoholic wine pairing options available for designated driver.

Dined here whilst staying at Boringdon Hall. The staff were extremely friendly and accommodating, and the menu was explained to us. Was offered to play a personality game during dining which correlated to a pre-dessert; this was a brilliant touch. This 5 course menu was very expensive however very well priced. The only problem was the restaurant was extremely hot and stuffy, the staff did open the windows but it was still very warm. Would love to visit again.

We had a pretty good meal at Àclèaf. The atmosphere is nice & cosy. The service was excellent. My wife selected the pescetarian dishes. I would suggest that Scott, the head chef, be a little bolder in his vision: set the menu, don't offer a choice through the courses. Picking between 2 dishes, across 3 courses, means too many variables in the experience. I had vegetarian. The only course that didn't really work was a kohlrabi with tofu wrapped in seaweed. It tried to match the turbot and unfortunately didn't. But there's was an amazing pea snack at the start, a wonderful Jerusalem artichoke dish towards the end, and a really excellent custard & apricot dessert. With a stronger (meat/fish) tasting menu vision there would be more consistency across the courses and a Michelin star would not be out of the question.

Unfortunately I cannot leave a review about the food or beverages or even the atmosphere due to staff not being able to deal with my enquiries. I called three time yesterday, three times I left my name and my contact details for someone to return my call . I even asked the member of staff what would be the best time to call to speak to a restaurant manager / chef. I was advised to call after 9pm . After 9pm nobody answers the phone and automated message states:-“ all team members are busy right now, please leave the message “ I called again today and I had no luck being connected to the restaurant or speaking to the manager on duty…

Lovely place. Great service and very delicious food. You get treated very well. This is what is classes as fine dining. Don't forget about the dress code. Definately would recommend to everyone. Worth visit at least once in a life.

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 celebrate here.

Food last night was exquisite, each course an art form on the plate and on the pallet. A huge well done to all the staff in and out of sight.

One of our favourite dining experiences to date. Just delightful food, wonderful staff, delicious drinks and one of the most beautiful buildings we've ever dined in. Katherine was an absolute gem, so lovely, attentive, and genuinely seemed like she loved her job. Every member of staff we dealt with were just perfect, and we couldn't have asked for more. We loved every second of tonight. Thanks everyone for making or first trip to Plymouth incredibly memorable! Perfection!

Blown away by the food and service. We had such a great evening and are already looking forward to coming again next time we visit Plymouth.

What a sensational night! Every course was a delightful surprise. This place is a must go for food lovers. Chef made the entire meal fun, fresh and exciting, I couldn't wait to see what was coming next. Service was excellent, Vlad and team were amazing and made our dinner a memorable one. Thank you! Ps: not posting photos of the food because it feels like a spoiler. So here's a photo of the view instead.

From the moment we were greeted at the door we knew we were in for a treat! The food, the service, the ambiance were all spectacular... we splurge on fine dining maybe once or twice a year, and obviously not at all during lockdown, and this was well worth the wait! The wait staff were charming and knowledgeable and each course was a delight. We went for the wine pairings and not only were they spot on, but we found a couple new favourites. We will definitely be returning in the near future, hopefully with a stay at the hotel.

Delicious food, with some added novelty extras. They nailed it with the palate quiz for both my wife and I. Staff were pretty attentive, my only complaint was that service was little slow, but we weren't in a rush.

We had a memorable evening at Acleaf. There were a few nice surprises. Food was well cooked, I liked the squab dish particularly, as it’s cooked pinked and yet the skin was crispy. The rhubarb crisp added an acidic balance to the dish. The waiter was engaging. But the service felt a little bit slow towards the end of the meal, and we had to ask for our drink twice.

Incredible as always was great to finally have a special meal after having to wait so long to go back to out favourite place thank you to all the staff and of course the chef's well done x

Happy to say this was the best meal I've ever had. Knowledgable and friendly FoH staff guided us through the menu and drinks. 4 courses was just right, all dishes were bursting with flavours and paired excellently with wines. Generous staff also spoilt us with birthday treats. A shame I live so far away, but we will make the effort of visiting again!

The best meal we’ve ever had. Didn’t know food could taste THIS good. Very friendly and efficient service, with interesting personal touches (including a surprise quiz). The food was incredible - the depth of flavour and the attention to detail especially. The balance in every dish was spot on and the quality of ingredients shone through. Couldn’t fault it, worth every penny.

Really tasty food. Had a tasting vegetarian meal. There were some lovely additional touches added which added to the whole experience

A fine dining experience that met my already high expectations. Great service from the various people I interacted with. The food is definitely of a high standard without being overly pretentious. I don't think this place has a Michelin star but I think it matched or even surpassed some Michelin star restaurants that I visited.

One of the best meals I have ever eaten, and I've eaten in 2 and 3 star restaurants. Do not miss it!! Crab, scallop and turbot dishes were standout, alongside all the extras which were sublime. Would come to Devon again just to visit this restaurant!

Delicious! Been to other Michelin star restaurants recently and this is definitely up with the rest of them!