The Elephant in Torbay

We visited to celebrate my wife’s birthday with our close family. There was six of us. From the moment we walked in the door through to leaving the staff were very attentive and we really were looked after. We had the tasting menu with the accompanying flight of wine. The food was out of this world and we enjoyed our evening. Compliments to the chef and his team for an exceptional menu and selection which certainly set our taste buds alight in nothing but a good way. We will be back.

5 of us dined here for my big birthday, the tasting menu just wowed us all. We had the matched wine which was an education. A brilliant night, lovely atmosphere, lovely staff and amazing food and wine.

Truly amazing lunch and service. We have not had such a wonderful lunch in a long time. The flavour, presentation attention by staff is absolutely on point. Well done to you all. We will return for sure xx

Thoroughly enjoyed it. We went for our wedding anniversary last week. Lovely food and A1 service. We'll definitely go back again for a special treat!

Another great meal, never a let down.

We had an exceptional three course meal in a welcoming environment. The dishes served were all of a very high standard, and the service was smooth and professional. Our evening was memorable.

Four of us went to dinner for my Dad's 80th Birthday, I booked the wrong dates and the manager was great and amended for me. The food was fantastic as usual. The staff made it even more special communication and information was top, a special mention to Amy ( not sure if spelt right) who served us, a perfect host with humour, lovely personality and pride in her job. Thank you all. We will be back, I always recommend this restaurant. Paul

Outstanding experience, delicious food from start to finish, interesting combinations ,beautifully presented. Impeccable friendly service. Amazing value set lunch

Extremely nice greeting on arrival. Staff were very knowledgeable and attentive Spoke with the chef 🧑‍🍳 simon. The taster menus with the wine pairing was spot t on

A beautiful restaurant hidden in plain sight just off the SW coastal path. The decor is both superb and striking. The staff were excellent, attentive, knowledgeable, charming, friendly and helpful. The chef was busy sending out stunning plates for quite a lot of lunchers - many, like us, had gone for the very reasonable (£55 pp) 6 course taster menu. We treated ourselves to the wine pairings too (extra £40 pp) which was simply splendid with many very tasty and unusual matches. I couldn't fault the food - there was not a thing that was anything other than perfection.. I don't know why but the pork tenderloin with harissa croquette was my favourite. I would like to meet Simon Hulstone (chef) one day.

Taster menu - and it was lovely. The food was delicious and the service spot on, attentive, we were made to feel special, without being over the top. Definitely had enough to eat, and delighted with the cheese course - which was extra yes, but special and different (not just tiny pieces of cheese, which we can do at home, but a thoughtful interesting cooked dish), the halibut course was my favourite. The pricing was reasonable for what we had, but still puts it into 'very occasional treat', but we shall be back next time we have a special reason.

Service and reception is what you would expect from this class of restaurant, so no problems in this area. Hovever if you are talking about the food from a Michelin star chef then something is clearly missing. We had the taster menu and although the food was cooked well it lacked taste and variety. The starters were the best but I couldn't see the value, the mains quite simple but lacked flavour (more vegitable taste required) and the deserts very disappointing, no taste whatsoever ever except chocolate. I have eaten at many restaurants globally and having spent 2 weeks in Italy and a week in Sweden in the past month this restaurant is extremely disappointing. Pretentious as you walk though the door expecting exceptional food but it didn't deliver for us. If you want this type of food go to Orleston Manor, its exceptional quality and at half the price. Note to Elephant: fancy presentations dont necessarily make good tasting food. Europe is way ahead of the restaurant business in the UK, take a trip and taste the basics and then price your food accordingly. Extremely disappointed and won't be going again.

Disappointing that a restaurant of this quality in 2024 can't offer a single vegan option. I had been a few times before becoming vegan and it was always of an high standard. I hope they change their policy of "no vegans" in the future.

Very nice place eat, fresh and well balanced.

Family night out in, what has to be, the best restaurant in Torbay . The 5 star reviews on Tripadvisor are well deserved. The food was exceptional with service to match.

Had the most amazing lunch here. Exquisite food at a brilliant price, exceptional service & such a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We'll be back!

I’m not going to embarrass myself by claiming to be a food expert. But our recent experience at this amazing restaurant blew both my wife and I away. I hope this review can do it justice. The restaurant itself is amazingly clean, warm and so incredibly inviting. They have managed to create a dining experience that’s both private and personal whilst at the same time welcoming and friendly. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable without being condescending and despite this being our first visit we were immediately put at ease and made to feel as though we were regulars. Now for the food! I’m sure Simon and his team receive compliments from people all the time. But I didn’t want to let this opportunity pass so personally thank him for the food he served to us both last night. Never before I have wanted to take my time and appreciate all the different flavours that every single mouthful bought. Not only was the food presented as though an artist had created a masterpiece, the tastes that followed were amazing. The subtlety of the different tastes left us both speechless. We personally both had the Mullet to start followed by mains of Lamb and the Duck. But I’m sure if we’d of chosen anything from the menu it would have been met by the same gasps of WOW !! 🤩 Thank you Simon and his excellent team for this incredible experience.

I’m not going to embarrass myself by claiming to be a food expert. But our recent experience at this amazing restaurant blew both my wife and I away. I hope this review can do it justice. The restaurant itself is amazingly clean, warm and so incredibly inviting. They have managed to create a dining experience that’s both private and personal whilst at the same time welcoming and friendly. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable without being condescending and despite this being our first visit we were immediately put at ease and made to feel as though we were regulars. Now for the food! I’m sure Simon and his team receive compliments from people all the time. But I didn’t want to let this opportunity pass so personally thank him for the food he served to us both last night. Never before I have wanted to take my time and appreciate all the different flavours that every single mouthful bought. Not only was the food presented as though an artist had created a masterpiece, the tastes that followed were amazing. The subtlety of the different tastes left us both speechless. We personally both had the Mullet to start followed by mains of Lamb and the Duck. But I’m sure if we’d of chosen anything from the menu it would have been met by the same gasps of WOW !! 🤩 Thank you Simon and his excellent team for this incredible experience.

We have an annual visit to this amazing restaurant. It never disappoints great food lovely atmosphere and good value. A special treat and would highly recommend.

Another fantastic eating experience at The Elephant. Every dish was delicious it is difficult to choose a favourite. So much thought has gone into every element to give such amazing flavours throughout and the presentation is art on a plate. Shoutout to the front of house staff too who do an amazing job, are friendly, welcoming and professional with a fantastic knowledge of the food and wine they are serving. We have eaten in Michelin starred restaurants in London and The Elephant is up there with the best and in many cases is better. We are so lucky to have this restaurant on our doorstep that we return again and again. For those complaining about the price, it is worth every penny and is cheap compared to London.

The perfect end to our perfect wedding day. The elephant NEVER disappoints. The food is simply out of this world, perfect in every way. The service and warm, professional and above all welcoming.

We have been fortunate enough to have eaten at the Elephant several times, the latest just yesterday, this has to be one of the best dining experiences you can have, Tom and all the staff always make you feel special and are all so attentive, the food is absolutely stunning and the beautiful wines just complement the food perfectly. If you love great food, this really is a not to be missed treat! We’ll be back soon!

Excellent food, staff & atmosphere. Try their Sake dessert wine, it’s like Christmas in a glass!! Such a treat to go out on a Friday lunch time 🥂

This is an outstanding restaurant. The food is imaginative and beautifully presented. Each dish is unique and the flavours astounding. It is remarkable value for money and not to be missed.

Amazing food and great staff. Felt welcomed and looked after. It felt quite loud, due to the size of the restaurant, but it didn't detract from the experience. Had a lovely surprise at the end of our meal as it was our anniversary as well.

Faultless - we had the tasting menu and wine pairing for two. Exceptional and wonderful. And an egg free menu just for my son - this is what attention to detail looks like. Thanks to you all at the Elephant. Rodric.

Faultless!!! Try his is hands down my favourite restaurant in the Southwest. With a dining room which whilst being stunning is unpretentious, staff who are professional yet really friendly, interested, keen and engaging. And the food, my goodness, the food!!!!!! Every single minute detail is made with care love and precision and has a very good reason to be on the plate. I visited three times in 2023, were it closer I would have doubled that. I could rate this little slice of heaven more highly

Very nice place to visit quality food and overlooks the harbour plenty of parking opposite

Never a disappointment and always an improvement on previous visit. Continues to be one of our favourite restaurants. Exceeding every expectation every time. Bravo!

This is the most incredible value restaurant we have ever been to. Took my mum as a Christmas treat and we had a fantastic time. The staff are incredible and the food is unbelievable value. If you are looking for somewhere to go for a treat then this is the premier venue in the South West. There is nowhere else to compare for quality and value. Thank you so much for a very special lunch.

I wanted a special place for dinner to celebrate my son's birthday, and The Elephant was perfect. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed and the staff delightful. The food was out of this world. The scallops, one of my favourite foods, were the best I have ever eaten, and the chocolate tartlet dessert was amazing. In fact the whole meal deserved more than one Michelin Star. They marked my son's birthday with a birthday card at his place setting to greet him, and an elegant Happy Birthday plate of sweet delicacies at the end of the meal. The service throughout was perfect, staff attentive with perfect timing, but never intruding with unnecessary 'is everything OK' inquiries. I have eaten in fine restaurants in the UK, and other parts of the world, and The Elephant is a match for any of them. Do not miss an opportunity to enjoy this fine restaurant.

The food was exquisite and the experience was relaxed and special at the same time. The service was very good. The passion and pride that was delivered throughout the entire experience started from entering the resturant to mug of latte to end the evening. Bravo! to the Elephant.

The food is really tasty, the service is great and the atmosphere is very nice. Everything you’d expect from an expensive restaurant really!

Fabulous bunch Service and attentive staff As always a special restaurant with superb food. Thank you

Expensive but delicious can't wait to go back..Had the taster menu was incredible. Such a lovely relaxed atmosphere too, no waiters hovering over you, but someone always appeared if you needed them. Best to book.

An excellent lunch, I would rate yesterday's meal at 2☆ if Michelin do ever offer me the job!

Highly recommend this restaurant, amazing food ,1st class service

The lunchtime set menu was great value for a Michelin star restaurant. The staff were very friendly and really looked after us. The food was very tasty and impeccably presented as you would expect.

Fantastic food and friendly staff. It was a lovely evening.

Excellent food and service. Only downside- it is very expensive and with so many good restaurants in The Bay- with a better price point- this isn't somewhere I'd regularly choose but this is just personal opinion and the reason I gave a 4* We will definitely come back occasionally as a treat.

We were given a voucher as a birthday present to have the taster menu plus wine flight. The food we had was very good, the service excellent and the wines mostly very good. We were not rushed, 3hrs to have the multiple courses, and we...

Wow what an amazing place... The staff were all superb and the food was truly outstanding cannot recommend enough. Thank you for making my birthday a very special one.

Went for supper with two friends. My second visit. We placed our orders including a bottle of wine. We had the amuse bouche which was lovely. Our starters arrived and we were still waiting for the wine we had ordered and I had to ask...

A lovely lunch time meal , we went for the set menu and at £35 each it is extremely great value I would like to add that the wine was also very good value in some places the wine is so overpriced but my glass...

My wife and I enjoyed a most memorable lunch at this wonderful restaurant. Everything was perfect and made it a most memorable occasion. Thank you

Hubby and I have been dining here since we came to live in S Devon in 2015. Not once, in all that time, have we been disappointed with either the fabulous and exciting food or friendly, efficient and knowledgeable service. Today’s lunch was no exception....

We had the tasting menu. The first course of Salcombe lobster was a perfect opener, the chicken custard was a delight with the hazelnut finish. The Lyme Bay brut NV was a suitable pairing. Second course of scollop was great but the revalation were the morel mushrooms, was taken by the accompanying Reisling. Next was the confit of chicken wings, delightful, probably would have preferred slightly more onion puree and less cheese but the raspbury vinegar brought the dish together, the Mas Fleurey instantly transported one to provance, excellent choice. This was then followed by our least favourite, unfortunately the red mullet was overwhelmed by the Mussels, but they were absolutely delicious and the lovage water was super with the sweet tomatoes. We prefer red wine and maybe by this point we would have preferred to move over to a red, so the Argentinian Mendoza was a disappointment and we weren't keen on the earthy finish. Luckily the next course was spot on, the teriyaki shin was so flavoursome and the wine red... Perfect We chose not to have the cheese and went straight to the sorbet, fabulous.... Perfect temperature and the flovours hit the spot with the otima 10 Yr tawny. Just one more course to fit in... What can you say about cherry and chocolate with ice cream, tried and tested combination, with a pink pepper twist. A coffee and petit fours made sure we didn't leave hungry :) Would recommend to anyone, but cooking and service like this doesn't come cheap, but it is value for money.

So noisy you could not have a conversation with guests on our table. Everyone seemed to be speaking on raised voices because the acoustics were so bad Food was over described, my halibut was not hot and I could not taste any fish because it...

Relaxed and friendly, but also efficient. The fixed price lunch is probably the best value and quality for many miles. Always delicious.

Went for an anniversary lunch and the whole experience was wonderful, silver service, all the staff extremely attentive and polite, the food was served promptly and was honestly amazing!! A card wishing us a happy anniversary and a complementary mini pudding at the very end. Would highly recommend the seafood, everything we had of fish was absolutely divine!!

This is quite simply the best experience I have had eating. The staff are extremely knowledgeable & friendly.

Wow. What an amazing experience. Incredible food. Amazing staff. We went for our anniversary and were both blown away by the very skilled use of ingredients by an obviously brilliant kitchen team. It really was a fantastic team effort. Thank-you.

A must visit restaurant. The food is amazing. The staff are polite knowledge and very attentive. The tasting menu is not to be missed. Brilliant that each course was explained to you by the waiting staff and the chef on occasion.

Exceptional food, delicious and beautifully presented. Unique flavours. Lovely restaurant and friendly staff. We ate the tasting menu at lunch time - huge portions compared with other Michelin dining experiences! The only disappointment was that it wasn’t filled with lots other lucky diners. I would...

It's Devon's best restaurant and it certainly lived up to its reputation. Service was discreet and professional and the food sublime with some amazing flavour combinations and perfect execution, exceeding our expectations. The Wine list was also commendable for a Michelin star restaurant with bottles starting from as little as £26 which we thought was very reasonable. A dish of chicken wings with bath cheese and raspberry was complimented with an onion puree and worked really well, despite my doubts when I read it on the menu. Diver Scallops with a Thai coconut sauce was outstanding, as was the deconstructed black forest gateaux for dessert! The only slight disappointment came with a lobster starter that was over powered by a chicken custard that accompanied it. Had I been blind folded, I would have said it was only chicken, as the lobster was unfortunately lost. The sommelier was charming and knowledgeable and although we did not go for the wine flight, the couple next to us did and it sounded fantastic. The restaurant is bistro style casual dining and the tables are quite close together with hard wooden chairs, not so well suited for a multi course tasting menu. Music was played throughout the restaurant which created a nice atmosphere and it's a stones throw from the harbour wall with parking opposite. Elephant is well worth a visit or detour and was a very reasonably priced for the amazing food and service we received, easily upholding it's 1 star status.

We went to the Elephant for our anniversary meal, from the moment we got there we were made so welcome, we went for the taster menu & I had the wine pairing, the food blew us away, we are real foodies & have been to...

A hidden gem in South Devon, a Michelin star restaurant which does not rip you off, excellent staff and food to die for

One of the best meals my wife and I have had - and we have been to some good restaurants. We can see why it has a Michelin star.

Had lunch here whilst on holiday nearby. 2nd time for my husband and I but 1st time for our friends. 2 of us had the set lunch menu, 1 a la carte, and 1 a mixture of both. Everything superb - couldn't fault it. Lovely...

A special birthday treat. Amazing flavoured food....fab service...... Would have liked the other half of the birthday biscuit .....but a lovely touch.

A quick lunch with business colleague and found the food excellent and reasonably priced. to top of with great service from Amy. Thank you and see you again when back in the area.

Walking past The Elephant when walking around Torquay and noticing the menu we tried to make a booking for a couple of days (Friday) and we were super lucky to get a cancellation. We are really glad we did. The room is bright and open,...

Michelin starred and that was apparent in the menu. We did the tasting menu with accompanying wine at the cost of roughly £300. Overall, it was nice to try but the pretentiousness of the menu retracted from the quality of the dishes. This resulted in...

A really special experience at this wonderful restaurant. We had the tasting menu which had been adapted for myself as a pescatarian. Service was impeccable, the food was a delight and the drinks pairings were excellent. A wonderful treat in Torquay.

We managed to get a table thanks to a cancellation and we’re so grateful as this was an excellent meal. It started with a beautiful tasty cream cheese and broad bean in jelly butter for our bread and travelled through the mushroom starter and Lamb...

Beautiful, relaxed atmosphere with amazing attentive staff. Couldn’t fault anything…… I’m that person that doesn’t like fish ….. I ordered the halibut, it was a treat for the senses, there are no words to describe what I ate so I’m not going to try. Thank...

Still one of the best. Went for an engagement meal years ago, it was the best-tasting menu experience I think we've ever had. We went back, standards are still as high as ever. we look forward to returning already. Well done everyone.

Fantastic food, good wines, lovely service. Our first visit, but booked for two more visits soon. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

4 of us for a birthday lunch - first class food - great menu choices and beautifully served and a lovely atmosphere - what more could you want!! Highlty recommended

We were in Torquay for the day and had booked The Elephant. What a great choice. We had the set lunch menu and all of it was delicious. The food is beautifully presented and full of flavour and we both really enjoyed our hake, in...

We’ve had the pleasure of visiting the Elephant today and must say it was exquisite. From lovely service to amazing food, every mouthful was a pleasure. We have a severe gluten allergy and the staff couldn’t be more helpful in accommodating for our dietary requirement which made the visit even more special. We’re very grateful and can’t wait to come back again.

I had an exceptional dining experience at The Elephant restaurant. The service was impeccable, and the food was truly amazing. I'm already eagerly anticipating my next visit to explore more of their delicious offerings.

Sublime cooking, wonderful ambience/vibe, & professional service. The set lunch at £29.50 for two courses offers exceptionally good value. The well-chosen wine list is sensibly priced. We are blessed to have this restaurant on our doorstep!

Sublime cooking, wonderful ambience/vibe, & professional service. The set lunch at £29.50 for two courses offers exceptionally good value. The well-chosen wine list is sensibly priced. We are blessed to have this restaurant on our doorstep!

This should be in a big city. Superb, imaginative food, locally sourced and brought to the table with excellent service. Thank you for a great lunch.

Couldn’t have been much more disappointed No welcome Warm drinks Slow service Average food Overpriced One rude member of staff

Fantastic very hard working waiting staff very professional food excellent a must when visiting torquay

So The Elephant review: On arrival greeted accordingly by a waitress. Shown our table with a generic Happy Anniversary card (surely could have been easily personalised) and immediately asked what we would like to drink. We asked for wine list. We agreed on two glasses of Prosecco. All fine. But began to notice the owner Katy was saying hello to others who were sat down or entering. Remember this is our first visit and they know this. I had told them. Ordered food, all good, but not a single smile from the wine waiter or the waitress. All very clinical. Food was fine. Had to ask twice for another bottle of sparkling water. Only when the meal was ended did Katy come to our table and asked if we would like tea or coffee. She smiled. But no attempt to enquire after us and our reason for being there. Now I have no doubt that in Torquay it outshines all other restaurants for food. But on the basis that it asks for reviews then the success of a return visit to a restaurant for a first time guest must also be reflected in the welcome they receive and ultimately how the staff react to you. It felt that the Michelin star also required aloofness and seriousness. So I/we?left the restaurant not feeling as if we had been treated special in any way. We know much lesser acclaimed local restaurants without Michelin stars who make you feel that you are important to them. Surely a Michelin star is not just based on the quality of the food? The delivery of the food and the way it is delivered must also play an equal role? All with the ultimate objective of wanting you to return when it’s not just a special occasion. Thank you to the staff member who chased after us with our missing cardigan. Much appreciated.

We opted for the 8 course tasting menu and what a great decision that proved to be. From start to finish we enjoyed wonderful food, great service and a really lovely ambience. Prices are fair and represent good value for what you get. The people...

Overall, we were rather disappointed with the Elephant. The food varied from quite unpleasant to really good with some in between and the portions (particularly the main course) rather sparse. For the a la carte menu, we found it particularly poor value - the lunch...

Visited here with a friend whilst in Torquay- quite simply the best meal I've had. It was expensive to have the taster menu and the wine pairings but it was delicious! And the service was excellent! I had the vegetarian taster menu - it was...

Fantastic food, brilliant service, lovely set up. Couldn't have asked for more, a wonderful evening thank you!

Simon Hulstone’s fabulous restaurant is, quite simply, a not to be missed gastro treat housed in an elegant building on Beacon Terrace, overlooking Torquay Harbour. It has been a favourite of ours for years and we are not alone, Michelin inspectors have awarded it a...

What. A. Night. I don’t often write reviews, but felt I wanted to share our fabulous experience of my husbands 40th birthday treat at The Elephant. Firstly, the level of service and the attention to detail was outstanding. Waiters and the manager were clearly trained...

We took advantage of their set lunch menu and it was excellent, from the moment we arrive everything was first class - the food was perfect as was the ambiance. We're already making plans to head back for their tasting menu - taking our good friends so that they can also enjoy this very fine restaurant.

Absolutely justified! Faultless quality, from a lunch I had this year (2023) to my first experience there in 2008, Absolutely immaculate every time and even though it’s fine dining it manages to feel relaxed and not stuffy. The elephant is truly an institution in Torquay and deserves to be spoken about as one of the best in the country for its incredible consistency if not anything else. How many restaurants can maintain a Michelin star for 17 years with no interruptions? Simon and Katy are a team to behold. World class chef and absolutely outstanding front of house service. Truly the best restaurant in Torquay and one of the 2/3 best in the south west. Bravo!

Oh my gosh. What can I say??! Nothing really puts this amazing experience into words. Because there are no words that express how special The Elephant is to us! The best food, with the best staff, enjoyed with special people. 💜💜 I have travelled all...

What a beautiful place to eat food was fantastic service and staff was lovely really enjoyed it thank you for making our evening 👏👏

We were a big group on a Saturday night and they couldn’t have been more accommodating. The food and service were both lovely and all 15 of us would absolutely recommend it. By far the best place / restaurant in Torquay. Shame I didn’t take any photos but the fillet steak with carrot miso purée was a winner, and also the crab towards the start of the tasting menu. Many thanks.

After twice in the past not being able to get a table on the day, this time I booked in advance. The décor is modern and stylish with most tables well spaced. Service was friendly and efficient. The food is worth the Michelin star which...

This was my second visit after many years absence and I just don't know why it took me so long to return! I had the set lunch menu and at £35, was fantastic value...of course by the time I spoilt myself with a couple glasses...

Amazing every time - absolutely delicious food (best in Torbay), wonderful service - just spectacular

Had a lovely set lunch meal.The food was delicious and beautifully presented.The atmosphere is very relaxed and it all made for a lovely experience .We were not disappointed and will definitely return.

Came here for my birthday last month and it was a fab dining experience. The food was amazing! Service was really good. Would definitely dine here again.

Went with my fiancé, we both had the set lunch menu. Good and service was simply incredible. Can’t recommend The Elephant enough. Also, one of us is vegetarian, this was not a problem at all. Michelin star dining at a very reasonable price. Such a great afternoon.

Fantastic tasting menu! Highly recommended. Amazing service too, beautifully presented food and drinks , I’d love to go back 😊

Wonderful. Just wonderful three course, set menu lunch. Attentive and friendly service but not overly fussy. We shall return!

Our daughter bought us a meal for our anniversary and have to say the food was amazing and the staff was more then amazing as they made our anniversary day so special . Thank you all for an amazing day and highly recommend the elephant...

Food delicious. What you would expect of Michelin starred place. Obviously you pay the price for the experience. Sommelier very good and interesting. Waiters mostly good variable one that doesn't smile and could lose the earrings. Busy through the evening. Too many tables in my opinion. Could be more intimate.

My husband and I had a wonderful experience eating at this amazing restaurant. We started off with a very well-made Kia Royale- a nod of respect to the maker of that! Sometimes it can come out too sweet but this was well balanced (as were...