Sir Cloudesley Shovell Restaurant in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

It’s important to say that the food is good quality, but it’s not cheap and the menu is limited for an establishment of this stature. When we dined, there were 3 fish dishes (2 with shellfish which alienates those who don’t eat it), 1 meat dish which was a ribeye steak (very strange choice for an inclusive menu) and a vegetarian pasta dish. I don’t remember anything else. There was no poultry or red meat cuts that would appeal to more delicate appetites. We were booked to dine in the hotel on 3 nights, but after our first meal, we cancelled the other 2 bookings and ate elsewhere, simply because we couldn’t actually find anything on the menu we wanted to eat. When we last stayed, the menu was much more accessible for all….with gourmet, bistro and gastro pub options. It feels like there’s a mismatch between what guests want to eat and what the hotel wants to serve. Even some Karma members agreed with this. Apparently last year, guests said there was not enough fish…but this year, there seems to be too much. There needs to be more variety and balance.

Don’t want to be too harsh but back when we visited in 2012, before it got taken over by Karma, this place was beautiful, classy and super well organised. We loved this hotel so much we came back two years in a row. Today, our visit for lunch cost +£100 for two sandwiches, some linguine, a salad and four simple drinks. My crab sandwich was made using bog-standard supermarket white bread and had a small ramekin of crisps and a few salad leaves: this cost £20 alone… I’ve had way better sandwiches from fishmonger trucks in Scarborough. They’ve also absolutely ruined the decor upstairs. The stunning dining room with the iconic triangular window; photographed countless times, is now a sad, empty lounge area that’s barely used. Think our experience of what used to be such an incredible venue may have tainted my view but christ, talk about overpriced low quality. I’ll make a better sandwich with fish fingers over the crab here. P.S. wtf has happened to the pool!? It was gorgeous!

The Sunday lunch was on the evening menu and was fabulous! The fish courses were virtually straight from the sea and were beautifully cooked and presented.

We visited this hotel for lunch. We love the islands and the hotel is set in a beautiful location with an incredible view. My comments, friendly staff although I did not expect to hear someone who works in the bar use the f word when speaking to a couple (he was going to buy a boat!) and the unisex toilets needed a good clean. We went at lunch time and they were not that fresh, toilet roll on the floor. A real shame.

We stayed in the hotel and ate here half the days. A good menu with daily specials. Service was good, food very good if over priced. Very limited choice of wines by the glass (delivery problems). However a very good choice of bottles of wine.

Very expensive and nowhere near good enough to justify it. The staff behind the bar weren't particularly friendly and were more interested in talking to each other or doing admin than serving customers. The food was ok but nothing special - the chips in particular were lacking any nice crunch. Everywhere else I've been on Scilly recently has had better service and better value food.

We have been staying on our boat on IOS for 5 weeks and decided to visit Karma Hotel for lunch as it’s such a pretty spot on St Martin’s. It started of badly when my husband ordered a Malbec from the bar for me, the chap said he’d check he had it, returned and affirmed that he did. When the drinks arrived at our outside table, no wine as the waiter said he didn’t have Malbec. A little strange. Re ordered and my drink never came. After 29 mins I asked the waiter again and he said ‘oops’. That was ok though. Then my husband went to order our lunch. We went for a Sunday roast, he ordered one beef, one lamb. The staff member looked at him and said ‘ is that on white bread or brown’ !! My husband looked at him bemused and repeated the order. Staff member then said ‘ two beef’ !! For the 3rd time he gave the order of one beef and one lamb. This duly came out after a long wait, both cold and the lamb and beef looked exactly the same. So much so that my husband went back in with my food, whilst his got even more cold!! The staff member then said to him ‘ it IS lamb, look….. it doesn’t have a Yorkshire pudding!!! ‘ Just dreadful and all around us orders were either being sent back because they were incorrect or because the food was stone cold. The couple on a table next to us had ordered a bottle of white wine and it arrived unopened in the wine bucket. As the waiter walked off, they shouted ‘ any chance you could open this for us!!!!!???’ I honestly was beginning to think someone was going to jump out of a hedge with a camera saying that we’d been recorded for some show!!!! I HONESTLY think that members of the general public had been pulled off the sandy paths and asked to work at The Karma for the day!! We will of course, NEVER return!! Appalling service. Shame on you Karma St Martin’s!!

The food was delicious, but sadly the hotel ‘Restaurant’ felt like a seaside café, with black lacquer tables that were sticky to touch, and nothing done to dress the room to make you feel warm, welcome or special. Service was slow, inattentive, and unfortunately the dinner was ruined by staff setting tables around us for breakfast despite the booking being for 7:30pm. The clattering of cutlery and crockery killed conversation and made you feel most unwelcome. Poor wine list. You should expect a lot more for £55 + per head.

Quality food views overlooking the bay towards tresco great staff

This place is fantastic if your on the island go there excellent.

Lovely garden for a light lunch

Good value, excellent food, lovely staff.

Brilliant place to eat and wonderful attentive staff.

Attentive and friendly service. Food excellent. Views amazing.

Well thought-out menu and great presentation. Modern-chic decor, quiet atmosphere and unobtrusive yet helpful staff. Views are pretty amazing too. Not really a place to just pop for dinner - it can be pricey so making it an evening out is recommended. You get what you pay for.