The lime kiln cafe in North Devon

A great contemporary cafe in a cracking location overlooking the harbour. Lovely food, friendly and attentive staff, good service. We went early evening, mid-week, nice and relaxing atmosphere, perfect after a day walking along the South West Coastal Path.

What a lovely restaurant. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. We visited the Lime Kiln Cafe on a Sunday afternoon. They were serving a Sunday roast menu with some other dishes. We opted for the other dishes but we also ordered starters from the Sunday lunch menu. Orders- Starters- Parsnip and carrot soup Prawn cocktail Tomato salad All were equally tasty and very well presented. Mains- Lime Kiln smash burger Fish and chips Bhaji Burger with sweet potato fries We didn't get our server's name but she was outstanding from start to finish. She expertly helped us navigate the options available to us with our dietary requirements and ensured that we had a great time. We recommend the Lime Kiln Cafe for food and drinks for everyone. What a lovely experience. Thank you!

We came for ‘Mussels Thursday’ with our two dogs, we were going to ask for a table that would keep the dogs out of the way but didn’t need to ask! Food was lovely, in fact we over ordered as we weren’t expecting such a huge plate of mussels. Drinks also very nice, good range to choose from. Service was excellent, very friendly and efficient without being in your face. Luckily we’re down here often so don’t need an excuse to come back!

The staff at the lime kiln are very friendly and attentive. They do the best coffee and food in town. Me and my friends were very pleased with our visit and will definitely be back!

Stopped off at this restaurant after a walk into Ilfracombe. Aim of the visit, a mussels lunch ! Very polite and friendly staff, a nice atmosphere with most tables outside occupied enjoying the stunning views. Our choice dish of mussels and chips arrived quickly and we were not disappointed. A generous helping of mussels all cooked perfectly. Without a doubt the best mussels dish my wife and I have ever had. Fresh, very tasty and all at a reasonable price. We will definitely be back if we visit the area again.

This restaurant has the best views, the staff were lovely and the food very well presented and tasty. Great service and atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

Lovely evening, excellent food, friendly staff, relaxed environment, great views. All the meals were spot on and very well presented.

We really enjoyed our food - very tasty and the setting is lovely with great decor/style. We were also grateful to take our dog. There is something about the service that is lacking - the staff do not look to be enjoying their jobs and certainly don’t make you feel like they are pleased to have you there. Our 13 year old son asked for sweet potato fries instead of standard fries but they were unable to accommodate this due to ‘stock’/meal alignments. Our deserts were delayed which was no problem. I’m not sure that we would rush back due to the unenthusiastic service in relation to the cost.

Stylish modern restaurant located a bit outside of the harbour area. Clear recommendation. Great variety of food, friendly staff and moderate pricing.

Stopped by for lunch and were greeted by an employee who was well trained and polite. He did specify in advance that the food order would take at least a half hour on which basis we were comfortable to take a seat based on an offer to sit inside or outside, we chose to sit outside to take in the views. A waitress took our drinks order and took our food order thereafter. True to their word our food arrived within half an hour by which time we had moved to the inside due to the weather turning a little. Food was very good - wife had a Heirloom Tomato Salad (lacking a little with amount of and type of tomatoes - hence very good and not excellent). She also had the Smoked Fish which was very good and I had the Fish & Chips which was also very good and ticked all the boxes presented as described on the menu and definitely covered in a light batter. Cocktails were very good and ended off with some cake & coffee. Excellent front of house, waiter and food - more tomatoes or selection of on the salad would have been perfect.

Such a wonderful location with a great opportunity to offer good food and good service. The food and cocktails we ordered were very good and no complaints there. However, a little more staff training wouldn’t go amiss. Whilst there were three or four servers in a moderately busy restaurant, they were not tuned into the progress or needs of the customers. After our meal we sat with empty plates and glasses for around 25 minutes with no one acknowledging us. If given the opportunity we would certainly have had more cocktails and a dessert. As it was after all that time feeling ‘invisible’ we decided to pay up and leave. We were about to pay at the desk when a party of nine arrived and were given priority. Not really how customer service works guys, a bit more training might help you anticipate the needs of each and every customer. Three stars only I’m afraid, it could have been so much better.

Beautiful views, indoor and outdoor seating and dog friendly. Service was average at best, went twice for drinks and once for dinner, struggled to get anyone's attention to order once seated and not because of a lack of staff. Felt like we were an interruption to their day. Food was average and therefore pricey for what was served.

We are locals and have had two evening meals there. The first was a family party in June when the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed, the service timely and the food excellent. Returned as a couple in August to find the atmosphere non-existent, the service both unaccomodating (not able to substitute new potatoes for chips with a steak) and slow (table at 6:30 - food served at 7:30). Food only good rather than excellent. Come on guys you can do better than this - cos you did in June!

First time back since visiting 7 months ago and did not disappoint. The location is fab with a direct view of Verity and the building is light, airy and modern. Fresh flowers in the tables. A buzz and an energy on my lunchtime visit with nearly all tables full. The staff were all excellent, friendly and welcoming. Even made a fuss of our dog. The menu is varied, seasonal and interesting. All the food and drinks we tried were delicious. We see they are building a new outdoor terrace which will only enhance the place further. We love the Lime a kiln and can see it is run by a team with soul and heart. A gem in Ilfracombe.

Had a lovely dinner over a bottle of red with the loveliest of views even on a wet and windy day. A bonus that dogs are welcomed and you never feel rushed out the door - go, kick back, relax and enjoy

Have been to the cafe twice in the daytime. For lunch. Cannot fault. As we were impressed we booked for dinner,the first night of the 24 summer season.. unfortunately we were given a table in front of the main front door. Given the stormy temps outside absolutely freezing. Asked to move but told fully booked. However the table we asked to move to was empty all night. All the food we had has been superb. I would give the tiny fishcake starter at 10pounds a wide birth as it's tiny. So take your coat. Just in case but enjoy the good food. With a few tweaks the place has potential

Have been here before and thought it would be great to take the family here for a Sunday lunch. The atmosphere was lovely, staff really friendly and the roasts were very good (beef was sensational). Will definitely be back.

Came here for a Mother’s Day roast with my family. We were welcomed with very friendly staff and my mum felt very well looked after as she got her free Mother’s Day Prosecco which was a nice treat and they catered very well for her being a celiac. The food was excellent (apart from my slightly squeaky green beans). We were stuffed but walked around Ilfracombe harbour and got an ice cream to end the lunch making it all a very lovely occasion. It was busy in the restaurant but the atmosphere was calm and the service was quick. Would recommend for a roast!

Decided to try having lunch here for a birthday treat but we were very disappointed! We were shown to a table in the corner where we couldn’t see the view, even though only 2 other tables were in use. We moved ourselves to another one with a view. The bottle of water we were given wasn’t cool, it was warm. We ordered our drinks (the cup of tea was a cup of hot water with a drowning tea bag!!) then, having chosen which meals we wanted we were not told that the lunch menu didn’t start till noon, breakfast menu finishes at 11.30, the time was 11.25. We feel this information should have been imparted when we were given the menus. The front of house staff seemed totally disinterested, we quite like receiving at least a smile and a bit chat from staff when we eat out, this in itself encourages a return visit! We can’t comment on the food as we decided to finish our drinks and find somewhere else to eat. Being retired, we enjoy eating out a lot and very rarely do we encounter such disinterested staff. We probably will try again and hope the staff have been either trained or changed. The music and the venue were excellent.

We visited on mothering sunday asa group of 6. Everything was perfect and the place was very busy We decided to visit the next day for breakfast also Great coffee and breakfast

Amazing venue, decent well presented food, absolutely disgusting shocking service and welcome. Having run restaurants in Salcombe , Plymouth and Falmouth I was shocked at the total lack of service and care. I am not sure if the two people who served us had just had a bereavement or were worried about the takings or just life in general but I was absolutely shocked at the service . The welcome was awful bordering rude , then the service continued in the same manner throughout. The girl delivering the drinks said something inaudible then before she received a response said “ oh I’ll just put them here “ and walked off leaving us to allocate the drinks to ourselves. I wasn’t terribly bothered by this as I have suffered using summertime inexperienced staff in the past, but to be fair this is march and a Monday with roughly 16-24 guests for the two hours we were there and two staff serving so they would be by no means stretched or short staffed. A smile costs nothing nor does politeness neither of which the two front of house staff could afford to give through out our time there . I have never written a review on here before but after today I was so disgusted by the two front of house here that I have taken the time out of my day to write this for their benefit. The food was decent , venue beautiful service was ignorant rude, if you want a business to work then you have to care about what you do . This was the kind of service I would expect by young inexperienced staff after a very long season at the very end of the day at an exceptionally busy eatery, sadly a Monday afternoon with 16-20ish customers doesn’t really come close to that kind of pressure. With that said the setting is fantastic and food decent and fairly priced . I will be returning based solely on this and hope and pray the two front of house find their mojo later in the season or find careers better suited to them . I did tip as I hope the tips are split with kitchen staff too who certainly deserved tipping as the food was delivered quickly snd well presented.

Read a local on-line newspaper review last summer 2023 been trying to get to the café ever since! I wanted to treat a friend to a birthday lunch. Driving her so she could have a drink. Found the drinks menu quite comprehensive without being overbearing. A rosé was chosen to accompany her fish finger sandwich. My choice was the smoked salmon with créme freîche and cucumber. Both accompanied with salad leaves and fries. Unfortunately the dessert menu is only available in the evenings, so, we finished with cake and coffee. A really pleasant lingering lunch with views over the harbour. Several large groups of family and friends were served during our visit. Also, friends / couples / dog walkers just stopping in, for a coffee or an alcoholic beverage. Completely relaxed atmosphere. Hot water bottles can be provided, IF needed, while sitting out on the deck. They also sell loaves of the sour dough bread used for their sandwiches. Great touch. Only wished we had been asked if we required any condiments rather than having to get a server's attention during a busy period. Still worth the visit and a tip. Will be returning.

The lime kiln is a fantastic addition to Ilfracombe. One of the only places to stay open 7 days a week all year round. My favourite place to go after a dog walk on the coast path. Hopefully the locals keep supporting this great business so they can continue to open all year round! Ps the fish finger sandwiches are legendary!

One of the worst breakfasts I have ever had. I ordered smashed avocado on sour dough toast. The avocado was not smashed it was a disgusting browny green purée that looked like it had been hanging around a while. The toast was not sourdough and it was hardly toasted more like bread . My son ordered a veggie breakfast which was ok . He asked for some butter and the waitress brought out some horrible plant based spread - we asked for butter again and she brought out some rancid oil spread. Disgusting and unhealthy . We asked twice for tomato ketchup and it never came . Service was poor! No smoothies or real juices and the coffee was mediocre The reason I’ve left it so late to review is that I couldn’t find the cafe on here at the time. My sister recently visited and relived the horrible dining experience we had which reminded me to review. Things haven’t improved clearly. Definitely won’t visit again . Wish I had thought to warn my sister so she didn’t waste her money !

The food here is wonderful and it is a perfect setting, but that isn’t the focus of my review. During our visit I was foolish enough to leave a shopping bag behind. Through no fault of the current staff it turned into a bit of a saga. But a huge thank you to Sean for really going above and beyond to help us out. I don’t think I have ever experienced such exemplary customer service. Just wonderful, thank you so much.

Absolutely fabulous lunch at the Lime Kiln on New Years Day. The venue itself is set in the most beautiful spot. The staff were run off their feet but professional, friendly and attentive throughout. Limited menu due to it being New Years Day but both our meals were hot, fresh and delicious. Excellent choice of drinks. We will definitely be back.

Christmas party at the Lime Kiln. A fantastic night was had by all, the food was amazing. The atmosphere and venue beautiful. The service and helpfulness to organise the party for 15 of us was exceptional. A large thank you to Nikki the manager for everything.

Really enjoyed a delicious meal. Friendly staff, great decor in the restaurant. Unfortunately the fish of the day had sold out, understandable given recent weather.

Really beautiful spot to eat whilst watching a storm over Ilfracombe Harbour. Great value breakfast with local ingredients and friendly service.

We had a lovely meal here whilst staying at nearby Hele Bay. We were unsure how good it would be with only 8 Trip Advisor reviews but it was the best meal we had all week. The view was lovey - we booked early and went at 5.30 so we could make the most of the views. We were one of the only groups in at that time but it was filling up when we left around 7.30. The food was AMAZING and the staff were lovely. Would really recommend. It was a bit pricier than other places - we spent around £90 for 3 courses each plus wine which was really good value. Go there!

Family dinner out whilst staying near the harbour, A super evening out, staff were really friendly, menu is small but really well done. Would highly recommend and if we return would definitely come back. The view of harbour is beautiful and option to sit on balcony, hot bottles available if you feel chilly. The fish and chips had the crispiest batter, cocktails were good too. Thank you for a really enjoyable evening.

We had a fantastic meal in a lovely restaurant. Baked hake for me, fish and chips for my partner, followed by desserts. The cooking was confident and assured, and the service was excellent even on a wet and windy night with Storm Babette threatening outside.

Best restaurant in Ilfracombe by far. So glad it opened this summer and staying open all year round! Very good value considering the prime location and view.

A modern cafe at a great location overlooking the entrance to Ilfracombe harbour and Damien Hirst’s statue Verity. I ordered the poached eggs on toast and my husband the full English . He asked for scrambled eggs and we were astounded/ bewildered to be told that only poached or fried were on offer !! That said, the food was very good, however, teabags in cups of tea instead of a pot was also disappointing. Would still return nevertheless

Wonderful place. Great quality food, tremendous views, right on the seafront, great service, should be right up the list of places to eat in Ilfracombe.

Superb food superb service ! A gem in ilfracombe. Lovely setting , dog friendly and a meal worthy of a mitchelin star!! No exaggeration.

This is a newish cafe a short walk around the bay from the harbour at Illfracombe. It has a lovely view of the harbour and the Verity statue by Damien Hurst. The cafe has a lovely terrace overlooking a small beach which is popular with dog walkers. The food is imaginative, although we just kept to the fish and chips. Which was cooked perfectly and served with tartare sauce and crushed minty peas. The staff are friendly and the service was good. They also open at night and can imagine it looks lovely lit up and seeing the lights of Illfracombe.

What a lovely place. Right on the waterfront overlooking Verity and Illfracombe harbour. Modern restaurant with great staff. Fantastic food, all delicious. Daily, seasonal menu. Special mention for the buttermilk chicken burger which was excellent. Lovely coffee too.