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4.5

Based on 1.775 opinions finded in 2 websites

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Nº 828 in 3395 in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

Nº 3 of 5 Fusion in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

CUSTOMERS TALK ABOUT DISHES WITH..chickenscallopsbeautifulchocolatemusselsducksaladporksteakfishcurryroastcrabsoupcookedsquid

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A fantastic experience! Lovely views of the harbour with a very modern and fresh interior. We had two small plates plus one main, which were all served nice and quick. The Kai Fried Chicken was delicious with lots of sauce, the Pork Belly Bao Bun had a tasty char-grilled flavour and finally the Crab Roll was fresh and full of flavour. The coffee was also well presented and of a high quality. Super friendly and accommodating staff rounded the experience off perfectly, highly recommended!

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Aaron Pascoe . 2024-10-26

MORE AT Google

Wow! Went to the Asian Night (Thai/Vietnamese) last night. The place was buzzing, excellent, helpful staff, wonderful food cooked by Jude Kareama and his amazing team, fantastic cocktails and great background music. The vegetarian red curry and the beef pho noodles were favourites (the whole meal was delicious!). Thank you.

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Shep1954 . 2024-10-25

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Just what a little bear needs (except for alcohol, that was for Nikos) for his fish fix. A few anchovies, followed by local oysters. Get in. Nice touch with the refreshing seaweed. By the way, their food that was going out to the tables looked amazing. Great views, happy vibes. Would love to return when back.

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Nikos Nikos . 2024-10-25

MORE AT Google

Went for lunch as we have a dog and they are allowed at lunchtimes. Could have drunk the curry sauce out of the bowl. Food was fantastic. Will try and go every time we are in the area.

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katiekguest . 2024-10-22

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Jude Kereama is a really good chef and has worked hard to raise his profile with appearances on Great British menu. I hear nothing but praise for his flagship restaurant Kota. It is a shame, therefore, that his nearby cafe should be letting the side down with fairly indifferent food and service. It was ok, but my mussel dish was bland and full of broken mussel shells (never ok), the waiting staff looked bored and there was no loo paper in the ladies! Sorry, but a bit disappointing.

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Nomadchef53 . 2024-10-04

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Had a lovely lunch outside today. We sat outside with our 3 dogs ( bob the dog on holiday with his 2 brothers) you can sit inside with dogs at lunchtime but the weather was good and it was lovely to sit outside and we’re also conscious that not everyone might be super keen to be seated inside next to us and our canine family. Service friendly and relaxed and food delicious. We went for the small plates, cauliflower something, the mushroom bao bun and the curried aubergine dish with some chips on the side. we went for 2 halves of offshore pilsner which went really well with the food. Shared a pud, miso chocolate something with green tea ice cream - who knew- historic - scraped the plate so hard the glaze nearly came off! Tap water came without being asked for and toilets super clean. Even though they were busy inside we felt well looked after, just the right balance. Food/drink/service/setting made for a very happy harmonious meal thank you

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Noel Flaherty . 2024-10-03

MORE AT Google

Lovely tasty food from a menu that was very difficult to choose from. Really friendly staff who were quick and efficient as well. We would definitely visit again to try something different from the lovely menu there.

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Lisa W . 2024-10-01

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Lovely cocktails, very helpful waitresses.

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saffron jones . 2024-09-27

MORE AT Google

We visited for lunch without a reservation on a blustery Thursday to celebrate our wedding anniversary, the staff were having a surprisingly busy service at the end of September. Despite being rushed off their feet with a full restaurant they went out of their way to accommodate us with a friendly smile. We decided to have a drink while we waited for a table and enjoyed the most delicious pineapple & chilli margarita, yum! We were seated in no time and had already decided on our food choices (very difficult as we wanted everything!) We feasted on a selection of small plates, main courses & desserts, all generous portions beautifully presented and absolutely delicious! Fabulous wine list and honestly the most lovely service from the staff who went above and beyond to make our visit special. We even got an anniversary dessert plate which was totally unexpected. Thank you to everyone and special thanks to Maz x

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Louise L . 2024-09-26

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Overpriced, overrated and disappointing for both food and wine. Stop ripping off visitors!

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Susan White . 2024-09-26

MORE AT Google

Outstanding. We were a bit hesitant when we were shown to our table, opposite the kitchen. But you can see them working their socks off, one of the chefs looked no more than a boy. Fantastic food. My partner a vegetarian, and delighted with hers.

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Geoff p . 2024-09-18

MORE AT Google

My food was excellent the other was cold sent back and came back slightly warmer

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Andy Cross . 2024-09-17

MORE AT Google

They cut a few corners here, they could do with a visible manager. Having said that, the food is excellent, Thai influenced. The chef is half Māori and half Asian. Mussels Thai style, Laksa soup topped with Cornish shellfish. Highly recommended.

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John R . 2024-09-11

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Delicious vegetarian Katsu curry, side order of steamed greens. Lovely views of the harbour and great service. Thank you to the team at Kota Kai.

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Cath C . 2024-09-10

MORE AT TripAdvisor

I think I picked the wrong food. The pork belly was dry but fatty and served just warm enough, not hot. Salad with the pork belly was amazing though. The eton mess was more cream than strawberry and meringue, but for sure more style over taste. Price 70-80£ for 2 people not worth it.

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Kit Plumb . 2024-09-10

MORE AT Google

Two of us with a tiny dog came here on spec for lunch on a weekday in late summer. Outdoor seating is on picnic benches with a view over the harbour. Service was friendly. Food was exquisite, but portions very small and prices high.

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Mike Atkinson . 2024-09-08

MORE AT Google

We had a very enjoyable family meal. Our daughter in law suffers with acute allergies and the care and attention given to her was first class.They prepared a meal especially for our granddaughter which she was delighted with. The staff were attentive and nothing was too much trouble. We will definitely be returning, Thank you for a very satisfying experience.

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Traveler20910687208 . 2024-08-30

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Visited here last week and we were pleasantly surprised. The flat iron steak is delicious. Definitely worth a visit.

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Devon Rickus . 2024-08-30

MORE AT Google

My first time at kota Kai but attended with family who love visiting. The food was delicious but unfortunately the service wasn’t to the standard we were expecting. Staff were friendly but looked too busy to be attentive and check in on us. Couple of mix ups with our order. Food wait time was longer than expected even though we went early evening before the restaurant was full. Overall, really enjoyed my aubergine katsu curry and cocktail. My family had their usual seafood favourites. The view of porthleven is beautiful. However, definitely expected a more luxury experience for the price.

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Shauny Beasley . 2024-08-27

MORE AT Google

Food was really fresh and tasty. Great views overlooking the harbour. We had 3 small plates and a massaging curry all of which were really tasty. Would definitely make it a priority to return if we're in the area.

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david harris . 2024-08-26

MORE AT Google

My partner and I decided to go back to Kota Kai recently for a date night, as have had lovely drinks and tasty meals in the past. However, despite the service and drinks being fantastic as we remembered, the food in our opinion really let it down and put a bit of a damper on what was otherwise a nice meal out. The quality of the food was good, however, we have never been had such a disproportionate meal in any restaurant, especially when compared to our previous visits at Kota Kai. Unfortunately, as soon as our meals were served, the kitchen was shutdown and we were both slightly shocked at how small the portions were for the mains. So much so that our server did allow us to order some rice to go alongside our mains, which was free of charge. Of course, this was a lovely gesture (if not a slight admission), however, does not make up for what felt like two main courses which simply served with what was left. Unfortunately, not sure if we’d come back again for food like we have frequently done in the past after this, as has left a bit of a sour taste. Perhaps it’s time to change up our first choice when popping into Porthleven.

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Erin G . 2024-08-26

MORE AT TripAdvisor

A 100gr steak for £27, is very over priced. Food was nice but small portions meant poor value for money. A shame as we were looking forward to visiting this restaurant.

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Guy Wynter . 2024-08-24

MORE AT Google

The food and front of house service was good...except.... when I ordered a medium glass of white wine ( I asked for a house wine, saying that I would like something like a sauvigon blanc/ pinot grigio or similar...which in the majority of licensed establishments, would be considered a 'bog standard', ' run of the mill' house plonk) ....I wasn't steered towards the wine list at any point, or to be told that the wine I was choosing, was ridiculously exhorbitant!! Certainly not a house wine! The fact that the wine was not properly chilled, tasted mediocre and not served in the finest of glass, only cemented my thoughts of it being an okayish house plonk! Needless to say, that when the bill arrived, I was aghast and completely shocked at the price of the glasses of wine...£13.50 per medium glass! If, as I subsequently learned from receiving the wine list, I may well have considered a rethink... (hindsight is a wonderful thing I know!)... and having a member of staff to steer me towards said wine list would have been more than beneficial to my mood and bank balance! Not impressed!! I have had the pleasure of eating fine meals in some great places near and far and I have to say, that £13.50 is by far and away the most I've ever paid for this size glass of wine. If nothing else, please train your staff to inform customers that they may well get a shock if they don't look at the wine list before innocently ordering.... it's certainly been an expensive lesson on my behalf and one I will never repeat!!

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Rebecca G . 2024-08-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Very good Asian-style cuisine, warm and friendly staff, fair prices for the quality of the cuisine, I highly recommend 👍

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Nicolas Trelet . 2024-08-17

MORE AT Google

Nice mussels outside at the harbour.

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Dirk-Jan Ruijter . 2024-08-14

MORE AT Google

Excellent food and service, lovely atmosphere, decent value, highly recommended.

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matt rayner . 2024-08-13

MORE AT Google

Very good food; very loud location; Service a bit inattentive

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Ralf Stepholt . 2024-08-12

MORE AT Google

We love Kota Kai! Everything about it is fantastic. Jude Kereama is a highly talented chef, owning this restaurant and Kota just down the road. Highly recommended.

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Helen Arnold . 2024-08-09

MORE AT Google

Been going here for 15 years now. We normally go twice during our annual weeks trip to Porthleven and Kota Kai has always been our favourite. This year it seems to have gone downhill. The Crispy Squid portions are absolutely tiny and a third the size of the harbour inn and no more tasty. The flat iron steak was very small and chewy. The Thai chicken thighs portion was also tiny, especially at £23.50 and felt like a rip off. The Pork Belly, and the Noodle soup were however very nice and decently sized. We never fed back at the time as we were never even asked how our meal was at any point. We just felt very underwhelmed and will not be going back any more which is a real shame.

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Justin T . 2024-08-06

MORE AT Google

Very good dishes that are out of the ordinary English. Staff very attentive to customers. Book in advance during busy periods.

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Franck MESLIN . 2024-08-04

MORE AT Google

Interesting and brilliant food, everything really put together nicely. Great service. Highly recommended.

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scot bradley . 2024-08-04

MORE AT Google

Really excellent service with a smile. Food superb! Great views of harbour 😀

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Jason Truscott . 2024-08-03

MORE AT Google

Great night, Lobster with garlic butter amazing!!

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Paul Pearson . 2024-08-03

MORE AT Google

Mussels with Thai sauce were amazing and good value

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Dan E . 2024-08-01

MORE AT Google

Amazing service, so attentive and sincere. We will come back on our next visit. Clearly passionate and professional in their work.

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T R D Rushworth . 2024-07-31

MORE AT Google

Just amazing. Never thought I'd go to an Asian fusion restaurant while.in Cornwall but we loved it so muchnwe went twice. Great food and drinks, friendly service, lovely atmosphere, amazing views!

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Pete Starr . 2024-07-29

MORE AT Google

If you are visiting the area, we would absolutely recommend you pop in to Kota Kai. The food is exceptional (everyone in our group loved their meals- clean dishes all round!) the menu is exciting and diverse and the food is not only beautifully presented, but balanced and exceptionally tasty! The service and ambience were also brilliant as well as the views of the harbour.

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Heather . 2024-07-24

MORE AT Google

Delicious Food!!!! Best noodle soup ever!

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Waltraud Karl . 2024-07-15

MORE AT Google

Fantastic spot for dinner- the food is amazing and the staff are incredibly lovely and helpful!

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Priya Sheth . 2024-07-13

MORE AT Google

Lovely food, great service and for those concerned who are Covid conscious and concerned about immunity and infection the air quality is excellent.

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norma . 2024-07-09

MORE AT TripAdvisor

KK used to be our ‘go to’ restaurant in Porthleven, however since the refurb and menu change that’s not the case. Reduced choice - removal of the Massaman is a major crime! and higher prices for food and drink makes it less ‘go to’. It’s a shame as the service and views are still great…..

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valiantlad . 2024-07-09

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Very nice place. Food was delicious. Staff friendly and efficient. For the quality of the food the cost was very reasonable.

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clareellis83 . 2024-07-07

MORE AT TripAdvisor

We arrived a little early to sit & have a drink, not over enamoured with the wine list & no Prosecco! We ordered scallops, squid, croquettes, smoked mackerel pate & cauliflower pakora. The scallops were a little over done but everything else was delicious! Our main courses were pork belly but the fat was not rendered so not great, the hake, kare lomen curry noodle soup & Kai laksa soup were fabulous! The burger was just average! Whilst the staff were lovely they were a little lacking in training. We would go back though!

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Tracy B . 2024-06-30

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Thank you to the Kota Kai team! We were running a bit late, but a quick call to the restaurant left us assured that our table would be kept for us. A beautiful Saturday lunch menu, very welcoming staff who were friendly and attentive to the end. I had the special of the day, mackerel, which looked stunning when it arrived at the table and fell apart perfectly - as you can see from the picture, there was nothing left! If you're in that part of the world, like incredible food with a beautiful view, I'd absolutely recommend Kota Kai!

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Simon Clark . 2024-06-29

MORE AT Google

Excellent meal. Had to eat dinner outside as we had our dog with us (dogs are allowed inside at lunch time) but staff were really friendly, helpful and efficient. Every dish we had was delicious. The Gaspacho and crab, a stand out. Definitely recommend.

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CloudBath . 2024-06-21

MORE AT TripAdvisor

One of our very favourite restaurants. A really relaxing and fun atmosphere with the most delicious cocktails! The food is incredible and you have lots of choices. I would recommend visiting here as a regular, or if just on holiday

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tara trethowan . 2024-06-10

MORE AT Google

Amazing food and cocktails in a lovely setting.

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Heather Woods . 2024-06-06

MORE AT Google

Amazing food and drinks for both meat eaters and vegetarians - I even got a little birthday treat at the end! Super friendly and calm staff and the view is wonderful too!

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Lisa H . 2024-06-04

MORE AT Google

Wonderful , innovative, delicious food, great drinks selection. Excellent staff.

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Anne Culleton . 2024-05-15

MORE AT Google

Absolutely thrilled to have eaten at the delightful restaurant. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable and offered good advice. The decor was clean and nicely decorated. The food was,as it should be, the star of the show. Delicious flavour combinations beautifully presented. Cooked with love and care.

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Wendy Allen . 2024-05-09

MORE AT Google

Fake good food, real bad music, soulless place

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Thomas Dufour . 2024-05-06

MORE AT Google

First time at KK. Unaware of the significant changes to menu etc. Therefore, this review reflects my first and only experience. Offered seating outside, looked uninspiring, uncomfortable and very public; not part of the establishment? Service from more experienced waiting staff and senior staff welcoming throughout visit. Food: starters, small plates, sides. How do they differ? Price too high for amount, a family of four need to be catered for. Staff need to be forthcoming and explain and sell the menu. On reflection, this lack of communication could indicate staff are unhappy with what is being offered at present. Main course, under seasoned and burnt meat. Chips not robust enough to complement a steak. Puddings; Son was shocked at there being no brownie in the ice cream brownie. Is this hard to accomplish? No I don’t think so. If it were my business I would be upset to think £250.00 for 4 people (only two beers) had been spent on this expensive lack lustre of a meal.

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Emily1900 . 2024-05-05

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Lovely restaurant, and Jude and his staff made us feel so welcome. And the devil's on horseback starter was a revelation. And you must try the Korean fried cauliflower. Highly recommended and looking forward to going back soon 👌

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Piers Bravery . 2024-05-03

MORE AT Google

A visit during the Food Festival possibly not the best time to visit … but! It’s a lively restaurant made so much livelier (deafening) this weekend by the ‘music’ tent usually located in a (too wet) field nearby being relocated dead opposite. Tapas style for the weekend probably made the experience a bit random. Food ok, beer as flat as water. Apparently sometimes the IPA is delivered flat and sometimes the pint can have a fizz and a head on it! I don’t think so!

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Gill K . 2024-04-29

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We recently had our wedding reception at Kota Kai. Considering it was also the Food Festival weekend, we felt very fortunate they said yes to accepting our booking. Jenna was great, tailoring the menu to what we needed and the array of small plates we had were all absolutely delicious and everyone went away happy, full and content. And I left with a determination of making my own chimmichurri at home!

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Mark Pollard . 2024-04-28

MORE AT Google

Have been to Kota but first visit to Kota Kai and thoroughly recommend. Glorious sunny day so lovely views over the Harbour. Staff were very friendly and informative, meal amazing. I had the mussels which were exceptional and my Husband had the pork belly which he really enjoyed. The pineapple carpaccio for dessert was incredible.

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Sue F . 2024-04-25

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Wasn't expecting the fresh and upmarket decor from the unassuming exterior and Cornish harbour location - this place wouldn't be out of place in a busy city centre downtown. Great selection of posh "snacks" and tapas sized small plates, all very well presented and exceptionally tasty. Cocktails also very adventurous - e.g. pineapple and chilli margaritas, lemongrass mojitos, etc. - and as tasty as they sound. Very enjoyable evening.

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Jeff_in_Sheff . 2024-04-25

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Love this place - really fresh food. Informal, relaxed and top food.

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mark arrowsmith . 2024-04-20

MORE AT Google

We’ve visited a few times over past years and it’s as good as ever. The food is excellent, but the service matches it. Welcoming, friendly and ‘on it’ with attention to detail but also informality. Mackerel pate, pakoras, mussels and scallops are stand out, but to be fair everything we had was excellent. Also great cocktails.

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SharonAJ . 2024-04-18

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Delicious food! We especially loved the mussels in coconut sauce.

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Emily Rowe . 2024-04-13

MORE AT Google

We visit Kota Kai every year when we holiday in Cornwall. It has a great spot overlooking the harbour. Our son (8yrs) asks to go back every year. It is family friendly with an amazing small team of staff who are very welcoming and cannot do enough for you. It’s great to be able to watch the food being cooked. The menu has something for everyone and is good quality, delicious and presented well. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough.

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Adventure538543 . 2024-04-11

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Something has happened here, is there a change of management? We have been coming here for over 10 years now and although the menu hadn't changed in all that time, the food has always been spectacular. Not today !! We were so excited to sample a new menu...finally ! However it's shocking how expensive has now become, all sides are extra, the steak a whopping £34 not including sides! We came to eat on a Monday night which was surprisingly busy. We sat directly in front of the kitchen and it was painful to watch the chaotic service and the clear tension in the kitchen. Starters came out quickly, ordinary, small portions. We waited over an hour for our mains, we all ordered the same, Indonesian marinated chicken thighs... When it arrives was basically a cold chicken salad with the meat having been shredded within the salad. Bland, tasteless and extremely unworthy of £22 , something my granddaughters could have put together. My 2 stars are for the waitress service alone. Sadly after 10 plus years will not be returning:((

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JaneS4537 . 2024-04-09

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I have been visiting Kota Kai now for five years or so and have always been satisfied with the food and service. Last night I visited Kota with my family for my son's birthday, I noticed the restaurant has had a facelift, new tables and decorations all very nice. Checking the menu I noticed a few new dishes and that the prices had gone up substantially. Starter's arrived, firstly, the portions were meagre and the food was not up to their usual standard. Batter on the squid was barely cooked and the peppers in our other starter were burnt. Onto the main event, my son and I had the burger my wife the Hake and my daughter had the katsu chicken from the kids menu. When the food arrived firstly the presentation was poor and again portions were very small. The burger was an absolute joke, I have honestly had better burgers from McDonald's ! Burger was ordered medium, the patty was burnt to a crisp the meat was disgusting and the fries were oven chips!!! I had one bite and sent the whole lot back. The contempt of Kota Kai towards its customers to serve up oven chips with their burger is quite frankly unbelievable. My wife's Hake was ok likewise with my daughter's chicken, my son and I went home to peanut butter on toast. I will never go back Kota Kai its finished, period.

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Jamie B . 2024-04-09

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Newly refurbished in decor and menu Kota Jai remains a firm favourite for our family. Always such a treat for the taste buds.

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joanna hudson . 2024-04-08

MORE AT Google

Nice relaxed restaurant with varied menu and good harbour views. The small plates and Vietnamese style soups were our favourite. In my view the cheeseburger was pretty average. Needed some sort of side on the plate, coleslaw or pickles or a spicy salad.

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Phil Coles . 2024-04-07

MORE AT Google

So here's a question? When did you last feel like you were at home? Kota Kai has made us welcome all through a bit of a rainy Easter week. Every visit has been amazing for three main reasons (in order) 1. The team - Will, Jerry, Jen, Mariann, Ash and everyone else. They do everything right, with a focus on fun and making you feel at home. 2. The atmosphere - super relaxed, super friendly and just a sense of calmness under pressure. 3. Food - always excellent. Very strong menu with a focus on seafood and fantastic staples. We had the roast on Sunday (the best), flat iron steak, crispy squid, oysters, burgers...amazing deserts. 3.5 - amazing cocktails (try the pineapple & chilli margarita). The most fun restaurant in Cornwall.

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AAGuide . 2024-04-05

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Fantastic meal out in lovely surroundings. Food was very good, service impeccable and surroundings lovely. Highly recommended!

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Alex Thorogood . 2024-04-04

MORE AT Google

Not sure what is happening to the restaurants in Porthleven. Visited this place a couple of times before and was happy with everything. Maybe we went at the start of the season but the wait for food was particularly bad. The actual food was mediocre; how can you get soggy French fries?

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Iain Gray . 2024-03-31

MORE AT Google

Faultless. Food is always exceptional, as is the service. I was unsure of the new menu at first as the old menu was so familiar, but it did not disappoint. In fact, I would say it was the best meal we have enjoyed there.

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Jamie Roach . 2024-03-29

MORE AT Google

A big thanks for a wonderful Sunday lunch, and for your incredible kindness to our daughter at this very difficult time. The refurb looks great and you are a wonderful team. Ingrid & Simon

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SimonGlobal . 2024-03-18

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Family dinner last night, we are not the easiest family to put up with...lots of kids, dietary requirements etc...the food was absolutely stunning and the service impeccable 👌 I will definitely return.

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174andreif . 2024-03-17

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A very lovely evening and delicious food. The place has had a little facelift and feels lovely inside. Staff were friendly and service very good. Food standards were excellent and we will return.

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N19_Traveller . 2024-02-28

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Wow what an amazing meal; our first time for a Bao bun 😋 😋 😋, I also had the Cauliflower Pakora and my wife had the Kai fried chicken nuggets both incredibly tasty. We sat around the corner from the bar which worked well for us to chat in peace, recommend with anyone or own your own. Great service throughout

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T8398QGsteveng . 2024-02-26

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We had booked a table for 12noon and when we arrived we were the only diners so plenty of attention from the waiting staff. We ordered five dishes from the small plates menu together with a scallop and an oyster. The food was prepared to order and after 20 minutes or so it arrived. Each dish was a delight to look at and delicious. A real plus is that iced water was served without a fuss and free of charge. The bill came to around £50 which seemed reasonable for such excellent food and service. By the time we left the restaurant had started to fill up although tables were still available for walk ins . Most definitely worth a return visit.

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Paul W . 2024-02-17

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Came here with My family ordered a steak and Fries the steak was Completely overcooked as I ordered medium rare and got well done/Medium well the fries were average and the service and atmosphere was good so I wouldn't come here again.

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d . 2024-02-14

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EDIT: THIS VISIT GAVE ME BAD FOOD POISONIN WHICH I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM! Where to begin. Me and my partner has eaten here before and the first time was absolutly amazing. Everything came quick and fresh and couldn't stop talking about this place. Yesturdays evening was the complete opposite. Service was quite slow, after you order your first drink it takes a while to try flag anyone down to order again, when we did the person said they would bring us a drinks menu then completely forgot about us. We ordered a bunch of starters and that alone took about 30+ mins to come to the table. When it finally arrived, the squid was very tough and stringy. The oysters were good so I will give them that, but it's hard to mess up something you don't have to cook! Our third starter was the ham croquettes. These were absolutely stone cold to the point I thought it was meant as a cold dish till my partner told me it wasn't. I can only assume things were sat at the pass for ages. Another worrying thing that happened was with their newly installed fireplace at the back. There was only one family of 3 sat at the back with us next to this fireplace and at one point it was bellowing out smoke into the back area causing all of us to cough. The smell of smoke was so strong and stayed for a long time, I felt very sorry for the family closest to the fire. The staff did not seem to know how the fire place worked and we're just hoping it fixed itself. Ok back to the review...We put the starters behind us and decided to look forward to the mains, they all sounded absolutely mouth watering! I went for the pork chop and my partner the Malaysian chicken thighs. Once again, from finishing the starters to getting our mains this took around 40mins or more to come out. Now I do not mind waiting if the kitchen is busy and wants to make everything perfect and fresh, however, there were not that many people in the restaurant at the time and what finally came to us was unacceptable at this price point. BOTH dishes again were very cold! My pork chop was quite underwhelming, I could taste the flavours and it went well with the side salad and apple sauce but I was expecting something a bit more special. The same goes for my partner, she liked the flavours in the chicken thigh dish, but it again was entirely cold. At this point we were so hungry we gave up and kept eating. Before we were asked how things were, the table of 3 next to the fire had called over the staff and were having a long discussion pointing to various plates on their table. In the end we managed to catch some of the conversation which turned out to be the same complaints as ours (food was nice but everything was cold and wished it was hot) when they took their plates away I could see quite a lot was left. When we finally managed to speak to somebody and gave them the exact same feedback we was told that "the dish came with side salad so you know, hot and cold together sometimes things get cold" I was a bit shocked by this as my chop was nowhere near my salad and neither was my partners chicken. It felt like she was giving excuses for the kitchen staff instead of acknowledging there was an issue or helping to find a solution (something again you wouldn't expect at the prices they are asking £30-40 a mains) We decided to leave it at that and both of us agreed we would never be returning. It wasn't until the end of our meal a lovely waitress came to clear things and asked again how we was doing and how our meal was. We explained our issues and she just stood and listened and apologised, she then thanked us for bringing it to her attention. After she came back with the bill she explained that she was not happy we had a bad experience and many items were cold so put on a 25% discount telling us that she remembered us from our first visit and didn't want this to be our last and hoped we would come back and give them another go. This was the only saving grace of the entire night for us and because of her we are willing to try Kota Kai again, hopefully when staff & food are up to standard.

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Hasan M . 2024-02-13

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Back in Porthleven and following our last review in April 2022 it was a pleasure to return on their reopening day after a winter refurbishment. Greeted by Mary Anne, it is encouraging to see the Maori/Malaysian chef and owner leading from the front in the open kitchen. As before, tap water offered at the outset. Very Aotearoa New Zealand. A range of three "small plates" for me. Two would have been sufficient! Absolutely delicious. A main course which was also of generous portion. Te reka a te kai! Ka kite ano. 🇬🇧🇳🇿

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Torbayaotearoa . 2024-02-09

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Never disappoints. The food, atmosphere and stuff are always lovely. We will keep coming back! We had rare seared tuna for starters followed by a delicately spiced fish mains. Wonderful.

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Marianne T . 2024-01-12

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Another fantastic meal at Kota Kai Jenna and her team are just fantastic. Always a warm welcome, we ordered satay chicken to start as they had run out of my favourite bao buns, which was delicious I went for the feather blade steak it’s always so good and my husband went for the same thing he always orders Seafood Laska which was lovely. The new wine was also a hit on our table. Can’t wait to see you all again soon.

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SarahelenS . 2024-01-08

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Great food and service.Good atmosphere and comfortable seating.Although a trifle expensive.

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Roger Thorne . 2024-01-03

MORE AT Google

We visited on the 2nd January and had a wonderful meal. The service was equally as good plus we were sat opposite the open kitchen, it was fantastic to witness how calm and organised everyone was but at the same time efficient especially a very young man on prep, he seemed to be very young but completely focused on his job I thought it was a joy to see that. Maybe a budding chef for the future. We will return.

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andreatX5684OS . 2024-01-03

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Delicious food with some great vegetarian options. The Katsu aubergine was delicious, and the staff were friendly and attentive - thanks!

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Maddie Taylor . 2023-12-16

MORE AT Google

Superb restaurant. Friendly staff and great ambience. Hubby had a duck bao bun starter followed by seafood laksa and I had moules mariner's with excellent chips. Really tasty. Been here before and it didn't disappoint.

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Judy Walker . 2023-12-15

MORE AT Google

Wow, fantastic place, great atmosphere, fabulous food & helpful staff. Very busy for a Wednesday night in December, would suggest booking. Stunning views of the harbour. Looking forward to going again

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Mandy F . 2023-12-14

MORE AT Google

Bit overpriced for what you get.

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Philip Slade . 2023-12-04

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Wonderful food, wonderful service. A wonderful evening ✨️ 😊

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Gilly Clark . 2023-12-01

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We loved this place, lovely atmosphere, made to feel very welcome by all the staff we met. The food is outstanding, we even complimented the chefs as we left, as its a open kitchen. Really can't think of a down side?? Reasonable pricing on food & drinks.

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Gamo Mozza . 2023-11-28

MORE AT Google

Third time here, reliably good quality food and proper grown up service - decent array of cocktails and draft ales too.

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Jenny Martineau . 2023-11-23

MORE AT Google

A lovely evening meal here, the service was a bit slow to start with and took a while to get water and order drinks, but after that all was well and was a lovely evening. The food was really good and couldn't fault anything. A really good fusion of different cuisines that gives plenty of options to diners.

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Shaun Maloney . 2023-11-22

MORE AT Google

Excellent lunch. Great food and very friendly staff. Menu was very varied and quality ingredients.

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Jeff Barnes . 2023-11-11

MORE AT Google

Outstanding as always. Service perfect and everything I have eaten here has been amazing. Tonight had the laksa again!) - delicious.

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D4264PWlisag . 2023-11-04

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Great food, great service. Highly recommended

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Andy Gemmell . 2023-10-29

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Came here two years ago and was disaapointed so gave it a miss last year. Decided to try it again this year and it was much much better. My review two years ago said to avoid the small plates and stick with the mains so that we did. We shared a fish and chips main for a starter and I had the laksa and the wife the chicken massaman. all the food was excellent and we were too full for puds. with three pints and one large wine tyhe bill was £88 including 10% service so great value.

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lentheman . 2023-10-23

MORE AT TripAdvisor

Lovely food and great atmosphere

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Jo Pettitt . 2023-10-19

MORE AT Google

Amazing menu. Staff very friendly and service top notch 👌

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Mark Fulton . 2023-10-19

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Great Sunday lunch cooked to perfection.

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Roger Thorne . 2023-10-15

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To say the food was salty is an understatement! I could not and would not recommend this to anyone! After having some amazing food in Porthleven during our stay, there are many better places to go.

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Julie R . 2023-10-07

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I have reviewed Kota Kai before. All I want to say now is that the Mussels currently being served are monsters. Plump and sweet. If you’re a mussel fan don’t delay. My one negative is that they served with focaccia . A fresh chunk or three of baguette would be a better choice ( in my humble opinion). But the mussels were superb!

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Elgeen . 2023-10-06

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The best view of Porthleven is from the window in this upstairs restaurant. A really interesting and different menu offering huge flavours from great ingredients. I had scallops followed by featherblade steak while my partner had the fish and chips (hake). Both excellent. They have a range of non alcoholic cocktails that are refreshing and not too sweet. The service is exactly right, friendly and knowledgeable.

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Nich W . 2023-10-03

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Great sea view, even better food. Got to be worth a try. Had several dishes which we shared.

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Dean Hugill . 2023-09-30

MORE AT Google

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