The Square At Porthleven in Cornwall, Isles of Scilly

Looking for somewhere different to meet up with some friends, were recommended The Square at Porthleven. Goodness we were not disappointed!! After a warm welcome we were shown to our table and presented with the menus. We were given a good amount of time to make our selections. Our starters included smoked salmon, mackerel pate, pickled cucumber and horseradish cream😋 also the leek and potato soup (with a yummy Welsh rarebit on the side), and the homemade bread with balsamic. Following these delectables were venison steak and amazing vegetables and sauce, and pork belly with crackling, hogs pudding and veg. It would’ve been rude not to have dessert so it was crème brûlée with shortbread biscuit, poached pear and apple and damson ice cream. All absolutely amazing, could not fault, and I hope to return next year!!

We love our annual trip to Porthleven and dinner at The Square is a must . What a treat this was again as the standards of welcome,service and of course the food are exceptional. Mains of plaice,silver mullet amazing pork belly and seafood risotto were devoured by us all. Leave space for dessert as the chocolate cremaux and brulee are wonderful. We're already looking forward to our next visit .

Lovely friendly welcome! Best vegan pasty ever!!! Did not disappoint Husband had the large premium steak pasty (shared with pooch!)

Me and my wife booked the square a few weeks ago and we arrived and very polite friendly staff. Food was absolutely amazing. The venison cooked to perfection as was the starter and what can I say? The desert had to be the best dessert I’ve had for a long time. Highly recommend this place everything about the place was just perfect food staff cleanliness.

We chose The Square having seen other favourable reviews. The food was absolutely stunning - the best belly pork we've been served. The staff were attentive and very friendly. An excellent night out and one to be repeated.

So glad we came accross this gem of a restaurant.. great food, great atmosphere and great service. Would highly recommend!

Really, really good, but perhaps not quite as good as Amillie's on the same harbour side. Edit, second visit even better and, on reflection, food just as good as Amilie's - if not better.

Went last night for dinner at 6pm, already 3 tables seated. We sharedgarl8cbread to start which was delicious. Hubby had the Hake and said it was delicious, I had the chicken breast which was divine. Only downside was the noise level.

Once again spot on food amazing lovely staff bottles of wine expensive but worth it every course fantastic worth a visit

Still outstanding. Been coming here for several years and despite trying lots of restaurants, the experience here is consistently excellent. Book in advance to avoid disappointment. The dishes have such a depth of flavour and everything is cooked faultlessly. Every course made us stop and savour each mouthful. Service has also sped up recently, and staff were friendly. Despite it getting a bit more expensive in recent months, it is still worth a trip. Have tried others eg Amelie. Not in the same league. Not even close actually. This attained a Bib Gourmand for a reason.

The place to visit if in the area. Beautiful food in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. We both had Whole Plaice which was cooked to perfection I had the poached pear for dessert which was absolutely delicious. Couldn't fault it.

Excellent food, excellent service and 5 stars well deserved 😊 Ate here twice in the week we stayed here and superb both times. Even sorted a special request for us and Charlotte really looked after us x Back in March and this will be the first place we book!

Excellent restaurant in a lovely location. Food very tasty and well presented on hot plates. Staff very friendly.

Incredible food, lovely views and fab customer service. Chefs are very accommodating and all food was presented with real care. Front of house staff were so friendly and attentive. Cannot recommend enough. Looking forward to visiting again! Thank you!

Went for coffee and cake and was met by an older woman with the words' we are only serving lunch but as its quiet we will do it'..very brusque and not at all welcoming..coffee came and it was barely warm so I sent mine back to be remade. A lovely young girl was very accommodating and remade my coffee..the older woman very shortly after came out where we were sitting and decided to make as much noise as possible crashing tables and chairs around right next to us..clearly I had upset her by asking for another coffee to be made! As we left I said thank-you and she completely ignored me so I said it again loudly to her to make her respond!! With manners and service like that you don't deserve any custom!! Just to add, the only good thing that came out of our visit today was the young girl who was very friendly, chatty and polite..perhaps the older woman could take some lessons from her!

Fantastic chowder and yummy cheesecake. Just a bit crowded. Would prefer to return outside of the peak season. This place never disappoints and it has a good position in the town

What a fantastic little gem that we found whilst holidaying in Mullion Cove. We were celebrating our anniversary and wanted to go for a nice meal. Did some research and this place was recommended and thank goodness it was otherwise we would have never have come here! The service was brilliant, waitresses and waiters all so friendly and lovely, took the effort to ask about your day etc. The food was amazing, fabulous fresh fish dishes and extremely tasty food! Places like this need us to go and then write reviews so that they are able to survive. Thank you for a wonderful meal!

Waren Ende Juli hier zum Dinner in Porthleven. Es war sehr fein. Personal sehr freundlich. Essen und Trinken sehr gut. Parkplätze sind gleich um die Ecke. Zum Dinner muss man keine Parkplatzgebühren mehr zahlen. Das gilt nur bis 16 Uhr.

Porthleven has a plethora of restaurants to suit every taste. My friend and I had a bit of a wander about and finally decided that as neither of us had been to The Square for years we'd give it another go. Luckily it wasn't too busy and we were quickly shown to a really nice table near the window. Staff were pleasant and helpful and we quickly had drinks order taken and our menu choices ordered. We both had the "hot seafood" and a side of fries to share. The hot seafood was absolutely delicious and the aioli was full of garlicky goodness. The seafood included scallops, prawns, pieces of fish and some mussels in a spicy sauce. It was served with a big slice of granary bread and a slice of crusty white bloomer to mop up the spicy sauce. With a large bottle of mineral water, a medium glass of Chenin Blanc and two coffees the bill came to £46.50. A little more than we normally pay for a "girlie lunch", but worth it. We definitely shan't be leaving it as long to revisit the Square again.

Super quality food, for both vegetarian and meat eaters. Attentive and Friendly staff. .

One of myself and my wife's favourite restaurants,however we opted for alfresco dining and had to keep asking for various things during our visit,was finally asked if we would like dessert were given menu and saw no more of staff,visited bathroom before I left,door to loo was particularly dirty and sticky,food however was excellent overall experience was a let down.

So, the husband swept me off my feet and took me for lunch today, 27th July 2024. Fabulous service, friendly and attentive. I had the vegan version of a mushroom stew. Might sound a bit boring to you, but it was the best lunch I've had out in years and years. Absolutely delicious! I don't say these things lightly, let me tell you. Vegan dishes are usually so bland and depressing. Not this! Vibrant and the flavours were unbelievable. Husband had the duck leg, and for the first time in the 20 years I've known him, he was completely silent as he ate. Top-notch food, top-notch service, and a very pleasant afternoon 🥰

Been using The Square for many, many years and, no matter how many times we visit or the time of year, the food, service and harbour outlook are always spot on. If visiting Porthleven in the main season, always book in advance as it’s reputation is such that it’s very popular and often fully booked. The menu does not run into pages as in some establishments, but the seasonal food is freshly cooked and excellent - last time we had fresh hake and pork belly, superb. The staff are all very helpful and everything is done with a smile. Convenient location in centre of the village and, if booking in advance, ask for a window seat if available. There is also seating area on the front terrace, great in the summer. No doubt we will continue to use The Square.

Had the classic order of fish and chips. The fish was nicely battered and crispy - decently sized but not huge. I asked the chips to be modified to be truffle chips (as was offered as a side order) and this was kindly accommodated for. Unfortunately these chips were a bit underwhelming, both in terms of truffle flavour (which I couldn’t really taste) and in terms of chips themselves (which were a bit soft, not very crispy and not very remarkable). We also ordered the provincial seafood stew which was okay - notwithstanding they forgot to add the potatoes to the dish until we reminded them late into the meal and this was served a separate bowl of plain boiled potatoes.

Ate here this evening and it was awesome! The service was so good and a really relaxed atmosphere. I had the chicken which was amazing and had to order separate fries after my kids had them as they were so good. Best place we have eaten in down this neck of the woods while on holiday so would definitely recommend

We visited the square for a coffee in the morning. It took them 10 minutes to initially come over and take our order when we were the only people there. When the coffees arrived, some were barely warm, so we requested that they be remade. Unfortunately, this was met without an apology. It took 10 minutes for the new coffee to be prepared, and by this time, we asked if it could be served in a takeaway cup since everyone else had finished their coffees. The staff made us feel like an annoyance for making this request. When they finally brought it out, it was slammed on the table with the comment, "This should be warm enough." If you want returning customers, your staff need to improve their customer service skills. We certainly won't be back, and others around us also commented on how poor the service was.

Lovely location, staff and menu. Food was really very good and prices were normal for an upmarket place. Even a nonalcoholic cocktail was delicious!😁

Just Wow! Regularly visitors to Porthleven my sister and I absolutely devoured every mouthful of our dinner last night and were made to feel really welcome by Anne and her team. Tempura prawns, smoked salmon and mackerel pate. Primrose pork and Cornish chicken breast. If we hadn't been in a public place I think we would have picked the plates up and licked them clean 😅😅 A delicious bottle of red and a bottle of crisp white (we love our wine too 🥂🍷) sealed a most fabulously tasty enjoyable experience which we already can't wait to repeat

Amazing food and friendly staff. Would definitely eat here again.

We have had some fabulous meals with you, as usual while staying in Porthleven. Many thanks to the Chef for accommodating my intolerance, much appreciated. 😊😊

Good food, very friendly service

Great food and exceptional service. Highly recommended.

Had an amazing lunch at The Square. We both had haddock and chips and it was absolutely delicious. The staff were very friendly and the view across the harbour topped off an amazing meal. Will definitely return before our holiday ends.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity and the staff looking at us several times we were finally offered drinks but was told another person would have to take our food order. When eventually we was approached by the waitress I asked if I had upset them she said sorry but I was "just a walk in". Surely their main business is walk ins and it wasn't packed. Menu looked enticing but attention to customers are paramount to returns and as we live local we will not be recommending them to others.

We enjoyed a delicious meal out last night at The Square. The best meal we have had out in a long time with great service and atmosphere, we will be back soon 🙂 Thank you 🙏

Gorgeous lFrench style resto on the harbour front. Lovely service and wholesome food - mainly seafood.

The food was well beyond our expectations, and the service was very attentive and friendly. We managed to get a table outside so we watched the world go by in the sunshine. The tempura was delicious. Very light batter and perfectly cooked prawns and vegetables. Whoever runs this place clearly takes pride in the menu and everything else - it's not just one of those places which makes money from tourists. They really care about good food.

Absolute awesomeness, I have allergies so the waitress and chef designed a new plate just for me. Sat outside in the sun twas bloody hansome

Excellent food. The best meal we have had and this is our 3rd week on Holiday.

This is our favourite restaurant in porthleven. We have visited many times in the last three years. The high standard of service and quality of food remains every visit. I’m reviewing now because we had a fabulous meal last night. I had the beef brisket main which was sooo amazing i had to go into the kitchen to tell the team how good it was. Everything on the menu is brilliant. Thanks team.

Fabulous food. Fabulous service & people.

The food was a bit expensive for us but worth it. The hake and chicken were excellent, the fish could have done with a few more potatoes. We would visit again.

Excellent good and lovely staff. A very enjoyable evening.

The service and food were amazing. I've honestly never experienced such a delightful meal with that kind of service. Everyone was so lovely and attentive, and the vibe of the place was super cute. Honestly, I would do a 6 hour drive again just to come to this place. I can't reccomend this place enough.

We had an enjoyable anniversary dinner. The food was very tasty, though some bits were a tad on the cold side (whether through design or accident I'm not sure). The service was complicated, we had a number of different people visit our table, but not the additional attention to detail that you'd expect when dining at £50 per person. I likely won't return.

I was here for my anniversary dinner on my own; the staff made me feel very welcome and took time to explain which dishes could be made gluten free from the menu. I opted for the house smoked salmon with smoked mackerel pate starter with a main of Cornish hake fillet with provencal tiger prawn and potato stew. Both absolutely delicious and beautifully cooked and presented - two clean plates from me which is unusual in itself. I really enjoyed the food, the service was great and having a window seat to look out over the harbour was pretty special. No apology for the partially eaten food in the photo's - I just couldn't wait to tuck in!

Booked this as a change to Kota, next door, for our Wedding Anniversary and as it was going to be a lovely day thought it would be nice to sit outside. However you have to call on the day to book an outside table, so my wife rang first thing, prob as early as possible and changed our table to outside, great we thought. We arrived and were placed outside but instead of being sat in the awning shade we were placed at a tiny corner table next to the road in blazing sunlight which wouldn't have been so bad but I forgot to bring a hat so had nowhere to hide. We asked the waitress, who turned out to be the manager, if we could be sat under the awning as there was only a couple sat at one of the tables leaving four tables free, but were told there were no tables free. My wife asked why when she had rung so early to reserve an outside table and we’re there, were we not able to be sat in the shade and were simply told the other tables had been reserved, my wife again tried to understand why when we had reserved a table and we’re there before others could we not be sat in the shade but were simply met with the same response, although this time the manager said we could come back later and see if there were any tables available. I have to admit this is fifth time we have been here in the twenty five years of visiting family and eventually moving here five years ago but unfortunately this is the third time we have found the service less than welcoming and although the food is meant to be good we didn’t get to sample it and instead of being slowly roasted and breathing in car fumes opted to have some fish and chips from Porthleven fish & chip shop round the corner and eat them overlooking the beach, which was beautiful. My wife did write to the owner but was simply met with a stern defence of their position with no effort to offer anything that might make us feel more welcome or indeed want to visit again.

Our second lunch in the last few weeks was just as enjoyable as the first .the food was excellent as was the friendly service. They do make a good Negroni !

What a wonderful evening. We could not have asked for more. The menu had a great choice and everything we chose was absolutely delicious. We were lucky enough to have a window table, I would imagine it’s even better in the summer with the doors open overlooking the harbour. The staff were friendly and efficient, the £1 donation to the fishermen is a fabulous idea and overall our visit will be a memorable one. I’m sad that we live so far away but will definitely return next time we visit Porthleven

A wonderful meal, vegan menu was amazing plenty of choices. We had a fantastic evening

Incredible meal - worth the journey if you’re coming from further afield.

We went for the winter special lunch a couple of times. The menu was excellent and varied. All the dishes were freshly prepared by the chefs using the finest ingredients . Service was excellent and service charge was optional which is nice with a donation to the fisherman’s mission. Obviously we left a generous tip as everything was so good on both occasions

First time at The Square and what a delight. The food was amazing from the starters , mains and dessert. Service was excellent too. Price reasonable. All round great. Will definitely be visiting again

Lovely and amazing food. Well worth the visit

I found the place to be severely over-hyped. Food was OK but lacking in any real depth. The service was hit and miss, but it was busy so I can forgive that. Standard menu prices were too high for the quality though fortunately I was dining on a January deal.

We had a lovely meal at The Square, the service was great, the food was beautiful and the atmosphere was nice and relaxed. They were very accomodating of my partner's gluten intolerance and It was also fantastic value! I would definitely go back again.

Delicious food as always. I always think there could be extra vegetables but not a criticism, just a suggestion.

Winter special offer of 2 courses for £20 was great and very popular. Delicious menu with choices to suit all tastes.

Couldn't wait to go back to what has always been my favourite restaurant. We came away feeling disappointed. The restaurant was cold with people coming in and out of both doors. We felt like we were sat outdoors! A tricky issue but a porch may be a good idea. The food was pleasant but not as tasty as it used to be. Portions were small and it felt like corners were being cut despite high prices. Service was lacking. We felt like we were eating in a cafe as opposed to a nice restaurant. The waiting staff were not unpleasant but seemed disinterested and no pleasantries. We probably won't hurry back which is a real shame.

Very rude waitress who would totally have spoilt the atmosphere for us. We were two friends who had not seen each other for some time and she took exception to the fact that we chose to sit next to each other instead of opposite each other (simply because the bench seat was softer and more comfortable). Food still good but not worth paying for to be treated so poorly.

We have not been to the Square for a very long time. We went on a cold, wet, winter's lunchtime and had a very good meal. The price is fair and the staff were very friendly, helpful and attentive. We won't wait so long next time.

Such a lovely experience! Food, atmosphere and staff were brilliant. Special mention to Giles who looked after us beautifully.

Disappointed, tables next to us offered specials , no mention to us of specials, tables next to us that arrived after us got their wine, starters and main before we got our main. We sat for over an hour after arriving to be srved our main which was at best average. Out of 3 front of house staff only the chap seemed to care. When we asked for the bill it was given with a charity donation added, when we questioned what that was we were told it says something about it on the menu and if we didn't care they'd remove it, he'll of a way to get donations !!!

I have been to The Square many times and never had a bad meal - the food is delicious and the staff are very friendly. I particularly recommend the arancini, fish and chips and one of their tasty flavours of ice cream from the deli counter.

Superb service, a menu to die for. The food really is something special. I thoroughly enjoy eating here. Try it, you will not be disappointed xx

Yet another amazing meal and service at the Square. We just had a two course November Deal evening meal. The attention to detail is superb, just delicious food and friendly efficient service. Thank you to the team for their consistency and deliverance of culinary excellence.

We arrived in Porthleven, staying two nights, we set about dining in the two best restaurants in town, one each evening. A quick glance at the awesome Tripadvisor and albeit rather late in the day, we chanced a call to The Square to see if they could fit us in. They were full, but with some jigging around they slotted us in. We arrived to a warm greeting and set about ordering our food and wine from the varied, delicious and intelligent menu. We were blown away with the food as well as the efficient and professional service from the small serving team. A busy and buzzing atmosphere (on a Tuesday!) The next night we went to find the other best restaurant in town...., there wasn't one, or at least there wasn't one that was open... so we went back to The Square for an equally enthralling and satisfying experience. Thank you team, next time we are back down south, we will be back for sure.

Perfect lunch experience at this lovely cosy restaurant. Service and food outstanding. We plan a return trip to Cornwall in the next few months and this place is a must. Just a note about a previous review we read, the optional charity donation added to the bill is £1.00, yes £1.00, not £5.00 not £10.00. This goes to homeless people in Cornwall during the months of November and December and the other 10 months of the year it goes to help Cornish fishermen, who for one reason or another are in need of assistance. The same fishermen who endure sometimes perilous conditions to bring food to our tables. This is outlined quite clearly on your menu. There is no devious plot to deprive you of your £1.00. Thankfully, staff told us it wasn’t an issue for most people for such a good cause. Well done The Square at Porthleven for giving us a great memory to take away from Cornwall.

It was late afternoon and we just called in for a latte, decaf for my friend and ordinary for me, before returning to our holiday let. The weather was pleasant so we sat outside, at a table overlooking the harbour. Our coffees were perfect and mine was extra hot, as requested. We also had a couple of tiny cakes, pistachio for my friend and salted caramel for me, both of which were extremely moreish (I can’t remember the price but seem to remember that they weren’t cheap though). Service was particularly good and we weren't hurried when customers started arriving for dinner.

Have been here several times and never disappointed. Took my in-laws and they loved it. Food was exceptional for the price and a really good menu.

Great food. I had the Arancini and the venison haunch. Will be back again!

Best meal I've had in a restaurant for years. Superb. Can't fault it. Blue cheese, pear, honeyed walnuts tartlet with red onion marmalade - divine tastes. Great cocktails too. Very highly recommended.

Great quality food. Fantastic service. It’s always a real treat to visit The Square.

Really didn’t understand the hype, sorry. Food was average, service was extremely slow (1.45 hour for 2 course lunch) yet very nice I won’t deny it, but overall doesn’t deserve 5 stars. I’m being nice with 4.

Such a great menu and chef, amazingly presented and all of the flavours complimenting each other perfectly. I was very happy paying the bill at the end because the quality of the food was so high.

Great food and a very enjoyable evening always well presented, never disappointed eating here. It is spoilt slightly by the restaurant adding a charity donation to your final bill, if I want to give I don’t need them to remind me or embarrass me when I have to ask for it to be removed. Take it out of your own profits. I give very well to charity as I wish not your choice.

Went here on a wet and windy evening. Had the most warmest of welcome and simply amazing food. The veggie options were a delight. Cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough

The food was excellent and the staff were friendly and helpful. We have eaten here before and everything is just as good, never a bad meal

OMG, what an amazing meal! From the waitor who articulately described the wine choices to us, to the fantastic food we ordered. Can’t recommend this restaurant highly enough. Truly brilliant

Had an amazing lunch and dinner here whilst staying in the harbour. Pork belly and chicken dishes were so delicious and there was so much to choose from in the menu. Pleased to see they had their signature ginger and pear dessert on as I could eat that dessert every night. Lovely setting with views to the sea.

The food was good quality. A small venue a bit packed in for my liking. Close to the Quay. I think when the weather is better, and the doors are open, it would probably have a better feel. There is outside seating.

Absolutely stunning as always. Beautiful food and fantastic friendly service. Every time we come to Cornwall for a week we book 2 nights here.

Fantastic special evening dinner. We arrived and were shown to our table. We also discovered later that even on a Tuesday they were busy and increased to full while we were there. The staff quickly took our order for drinks and answered questions on the food menu. He then returned again to take our food order. The starter arrived in a reasonable time beautifully presented and wonderfully textured and tasting. We had three different main courses, again all beautifully presented and the smell enhanced the dishes. They all tasted as good as they looked and we thoroughly enjoyed our meals. After this we were so full we were unable to eat any more so missed out on which looked like absolutely scrumptious. Next visit we will need to try to manage our eating so we can have sweets. Thanks to all the staff for making our evening so memorable

This restaurant ticks all the boxes - stunning food, excellent service and wonderful position/outlook. We were pleasantly surprised to find it open, despite various internet platforms saying it was closed on a Monday.

Average food hugely overpriced. Tempura Prawns, you expect more than 2 for £11.50. Goats cheese, a tiny amount of cheese crumbled around some veg and a biscuit. In short 2 starters, 2 mains and 2 coffees half of lager nearly £90. We live locally and won’t be using this restaurant again.

Another excellent meal at The Square. Food and service excellent. We have been going twice a year for the past 6 years to this restaurant and on every occasion we have had a lovely experience.

Nice restraurant in lovely setting overlooking the harbour. The food is beautiful. Staff were very attentive. I had venison which was delicious and a good portion. Well worth a visit.

Fantastic food, great service & lovely harbour views. Fully deserving of the Michelin bib gourmand. Will be back for 3rd visit next year.

Had a decent meal at the Square, particularly the Sardine starter and the hake. Venison was ok but not amazing. Nice atmosphere but waiting staff seemed a bit rushed. Not cheap but an enjoyable evening.

We were visiting Porthleven with a friend. We stopped for coffee which evolved into lunch. It was obviously busy with most tables already booked but despite this the service was friendly and attentive. Our choices were very pleasant. Personally the food just missed being classed...

Wondering if I am nit-picking, but prices had increased substantially from last visit. Service was OK. For a table of 4 with a couple of bottles of wine and drinks, the bill was over £260. Then paying at the till, we were asked (via the...

Always seem to miss this place on previous visits. Lunchtime eats today, stuck with traditional Cornish battered haddock & chips. I was not disappointed. Seldom have battered fish these days without it being greasy & oily to touch. Crunchy batter all the way and the...

Nice small restaurant with nice seasonal menu.

Lucky find great position to watch the sea boats and people watch from the terrace (some shade) Food and service excellent the fish and chips cooked to order fresh and delicious the goats cheese dish with heritage tomato’s pesto etc really good and well sized...

Lovely meal,nice atmosphere, scallops delicious

The food (lunch) was excellent and well presented. The staff were attentive and welcoming even though it was quite busy. Would go there again and highly recommend.

Another fantastic meal and great service 👏. Always extremely tasty and well presented. Has to be currently the top restaurant in Porthleven!

We had a lovely meal here last night. Heritage tomato dish for starters, which was so very tasty I would double it up as a main and a chicken dish for main which was absolutely delicious. Very friendly efficient staff and a lovely atmosphere. We’ll certainly be going back. Thank you.

Lovely food,friendly helpful staff and a great location. Well done to everyone involved

A lovely place with a great atmosphere. Me and my partner came here for dinner at the start of our holiday and we were not disappointed. We had two starters and two main each and all of them were incredible. The fish was very tasty...