Wards Bistro in North Devon

Outstanding food and a brilliantly hosted evening. The food was delicious - the best I have ever eaten. Sharon was a perfect host, engaging the guests in conversation and creating a lovely atmosphere. If you are going to Ilfracombe book ahead - it is worth planning for!

If you want good food, good people, and feel like you're in your own home, then go to Wards, we loved it.

Lovely place. The hostess was very helpful and friendly. Food was overall very good, with everything being cooked to order.

We had a lovely time - food was great and the service was excellent. Had a brilliant conversation with “Sharon” (the owner) and a good suggestion on the dessert.

What a find. Warm and welcoming, the food and service second to none. Would definitely recommend! Being dog friendly was a real bonus.

The food was OK rather than special. The upsetting part for me was listening to the owner slagging off previous customers. I wouldn't go back

Lovely food, lovely service we always have a fab evening at wards will definitely be back soon! X

Fantastic quality produce, hosts and overall experience. Would highly recommend this unique hidden gem, definitely the place to try if you are in the area. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

An absolute gem of a restaurant. Cosy, unpretentious, warm and inviting. Great service. The best of local produce cooked with skill. Delicious. A good wine list to go with the food. Thoroughly recommended. Thank you it was fabulous.

As soon as we entered, the hostess was so friendly, informative and inviting, I'm really indecisive and she was really happy to advise me on what to have. The Hake was to die for! We ended up having 3 courses and coffee! We will definitely be back next time we're in Ilfracombe and would 100% recommend going here. It's not flashy or obvious compared to some of the other restaurants but so happy we found it 😊 😍

Perfect meal and fantastic hosts. Made to feel super welcome. Lovely to meet you all (The Welsh mini mooners)

Went to the wards for a birthday meal and drinks what a pleasant surprise. Staff were 10 to none and the owners. Made a point of intraducing themselves and spending time with us. Do not walk past this place as you will miss out. We all had food we old dream about and we are no strangers to fine dining. THE WARD. what a place please people don't miss out experience of a lifetime. Thanks to you all

Fabulous little find only bottle beer but good choice staff are amazing helpful and friendly dog friendly food is limited but freshly well cooked coped with my food allergies really worth a visit

High quality food in a seaside town. From the off-menu garlic bread through creamy garlic mushrooms to whitebait starters to fresh hake, venison steak and amazing ribeye steak, the food was fantastic. Accompanied by a lovely Picpoul (2 bottles) what is not to like. And the welcome was first class. Book a table to enjoy the experience. First class.

Was on holiday with my husband and my two brother in law’s and was met with a very warm welcome by Sharon. The food was absolutely fabulous from starter’s to dessert, service was excellent to. When visiting again we will definitely eat here.

For superb food and congenial banter could not fault this splendid family run restaurant. Brilliant. Terry and Brenda

Just perfect in every way. The freshest seabass I've ever eaten. Friendly, efficient service from start to finish: it was like visiting old friends, they made us feel so at home. Can't recommend highly enough. Thank you xx

So we went to this restaurant on the reviews and was not disappointed. Food is a 5 star and the host Sharon was very accommodating. The spirit selection was the best I’ve seen. Thank you Sharon & john we had a great evening

A small intimate restaurant. Doesn’t look much from the street but absolutely worth a visit. Must be some of the best food in Ilfracombe. Only 22 seats inside plus a few more outside if the weather is good so certainly quiet small. It is family run with family members front of house, waiting on tables and in the kitchen. The food is fresh and all meals are individually prepared. The food is absolutely first class and the ambience is warm and friendly. I unreservedly recommend this restaurant. An added bonus for us was the fact that it is dog friendly.

Best food & service in Ilfracombe. Both fish dishes were fantastic & the waitress couldn't do enough for us. Dog friendly inside & outside. Highly recommend.

Two very fun evenings with our family from all over at Ward’s. John, Sharon, and Lily treated us with the best hospitality, delicious food from John the chef, and many laughs with Sharon. I highly recommend it!

Great place to eat and lovely people

We ate here twice in a week and were not disappointed. Lovely warm, friendly restaurant. Sharon made us feel so welcome and went out of her way to make sure we were enjoying ourselves, including making sure our autistic son’s fish was cooked very simply so he wouldn’t flip out at over anything green! Food was great, service excellent. Would definitely recommend

Cosy bistro style, great mine host and delicious Hake!

Great place to eat. Limited menu.

This is the best place we have eaten at in Ilfracombe! Sharon and her husband plus son and sons girlfriend, made our evening there last night so special! Not only was the food the best we gave eaten but their company, the location of the restaurant, the decor and the whole vibe / feel to the place was just prefect. It is an intimate dining experience which you could do as a couple on your own and have an intimate evening on your own or you could chat to everyone in there and get involved in all the discussions being held! I’ve not eaten anywhere like this before and we loved it. The menu is excellent. I had prawns in a sauce on a lovely fresh tastey bed of salad - a very generous serving. He had a Camembert cheese with chilli flakes and huge chunks of warm bread - a sharing dish but he managed it all 😅 For the main course he had one of the specials which was a 16oz pork chop which was MASSIVE and cooked to perfection along with exceptionally tastey vegetables of carrots, beans and red cabbage. I had the 28 day rib eye and it was again, cooked to perfection. The seating was so comfortable as well which always helps! The desert menu was all gluten free along with dairy free for some of the items and this made the night even better. The sticky toffee pudding was the best and that was from a person who doesn’t eat gluten free foods so wasn’t expecting it to taste the way it did. Sharon was the most entertaining owner we have ever had the honour to be able to sit and laugh and chat to after our meal. She went out of her way to come over and help us continue our night there. Her husband does all the cooking and he came out and also joined in. We were introduced to her son and his girlfriend and it just made the night the most involved and special one we have had ‘just going out for a meal’. We will definitely go back! Thankyou Sharon! X

I am disappointed that Wards only do their Steak and Kidney pudding night a few times a year. I would normal recommend it but please do not turn up as there will not be enough room for us, as we only managed to get a booking last time.

Superb! Amazing restaurant with perfect food, accompanied by fabulous service from all of the friendly team. Relaxed and informal atmosphere, lovely decorated restaurant. A good choice of freshly made dishes, with locally sourced ingredients and prepared with pride to create the perfect evening. Portion sizes were perfect, with plenty of fresh vegetables and potatoes to accompany the meal. During our visit to Ilfracombe this restaurant was fully booked each evening they opened, so advance booking is essential.

Superb! Amazing restaurant with perfect food, accompanied by fabulous service from all of the friendly team. Relaxed and informal atmosphere, lovely decorated restaurant. A good choice of freshly made dishes, with locally sourced ingredients and prepared with pride to create the perfect evening. Portion sizes were perfect, with plenty of fresh vegetables and potatoes to accompany the meal. During our visit to Ilfracombe this restaurant was fully booked each evening they opened, so advance booking is essential.

Wonderful food and great host. Brilliant.

Tried to book this restaurant the week before our arrival. Unfortunately they closed on the evenings we wanted but the communication was good via email. We happened to be in Ilfracombe on the Sunday and as the weather was nice thought we would chance a visit. We ordered a Sunday Lunch which was nice and at the time I explained that unfortunately we were unable to book prior to our visit. Sharon then asked if we wanted to book for our last night to which we agreed. We agreed on 7:00pm but she suggested we come at 6:45pm to ensure our order would be taken before another large party which was booked in at 7:00pm. We had walked in on Sunday from the Torrs so hadn't attempted to park in Ilfracombe and was surprised how full the car parks were on a Thursday evening. We arrived at Wards just BEFORE 7:00pm and The hosts face dropped. She explained that she had let the table to a walk in. She said we only keep tables open for 15 minutes after the booking. We explained it still wasn't 15 minutes after the booking but noticed the table already had drinks so clearly she would not have waited the 15 mins anyway. She also had our contact number and would have thought a simple call or message would have confirmed our attendance. We cannot express our disappointment after making the booking in person and after enjoying a meal how we were treated. It would appear a quick buck is more important here than repeat customers.

Outstanding food & hospitality second to none. Eating here & talking with Sharon was one of the highlights of our cycle trip along the north coast. Highly recommend!

Hosts fitted us in at short notice. Only a few indoor tables when we visited but everyone was having fun. Lovely atmosphere and great food and wine. We were made to feel welcome from the start. Felt like we’d been to a friend’s for dinner!...

This homely small restaurant was a great experience. Sharon made us feel like we had gone to her house for dinner. Our dogs were very welcome. Food was great, atmosphere even better. Definitely recommend this place.

Booked in advance as I read gets booked out in holiday season. So glad I did as their Sunday Roast simply cannot be matched. You get asked for your choice of meat/s, this is then all served on a ‘help yourself’ platter along with Yorkshire...

Very friendly people, had a great knowledge of Rum and a fantastic selection, well definitely come back.

Pre-booked an evening meal for me, my wife and our adult son. The owner of as so friendly and helpful on the phone when booking. Come the night and we were made really welcome. The food? Utterly amazing! Such a great evening. Thank you to...

I had tried to book but they were full. Later the owner, Sharon, emailed to say they had had a cancellation and offered it to me. They were really busy and I was touched that she did this as I I only wanted a table...

We found Wards listed on trip advisor after a trip to the harbour. We were very fortunate that we were able to get a table when they opened for evening service (30 minute wait). The owner was so friendly and welcoming, the best service we...

Wonderful. One of the best meals we have had in ages. Friendly, welcoming atmosphere - we were lucky as it was meant to be closed on a Wednesday night! We had prawn cocktail, sea bass (glorious) and chicken Parma ham - succulent & tasty. Vegetables...

Me and the family called last minute for a table and was squeezed in. The host Sharon was amazing talking with us as a family and made us feel very welcome. The food and service was amazing, could not fault them.

Brilliant meal and atmosphere. Stayed for a few drinks after the meal and had a good chat with the husband/chef and wife/hostess. They really made it a great night for us. I will be going back if I'm ever in the area.

What an absolutely lovely restaurant, family run and a very special place that is a must to visit if you visit Ilfracombe. Advance booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Food is freshly prepared and cooked with excellence, I must say my steak was cooked to...

Always great food always good service would highly recommend

From the warm welcome to the farewell we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The mushrooms with garlic and cream were amazing. I would have been happy to have it again as a main course.

My husband, pup and I dined at Wards last night. It was one of the best dining experiences we had during our stay in Ilfracombe. Sharon and the staff were very pleasant attentive and accommodating (of our dog and my dietary needs). It really felt...

Been to Ilfracombe many times but this was our first visit to Ward's. It definitely won't be our last. Fabulous friendly welcome from Sharon and John, very relaxed atmosphere and delicious fresh food. We were a party of 9 and between us had most of...

Wards seems to only do a roast on Sundays,which suited us. There is a choice of meat and it arrives on a platter with Yorkshire pudding s,roast potatoes ,stuffing and lots of gravy.Vegetables came separately and offered a varied selection. Plates were hot but the...

Superb Sunday lunch couldn’t do enough for us thank you so much We had a fabulous time the dinner was superb absolutely first class Would highly recommend

Cosy, incredibly friendly bistro close to Ilfracombe’s harbour. We chose a tasty duck liver & pork pate & super-fresh whitebait to start, followed by the fish of the day: hake & seabass fillet, both of which were again really fresh & beautifully cooked. They were...

This was so nice, the service was amazing very chilled laid back dining, food was amazing. Well worth a visit, very reasonably priced too

Great food, friendly staff. We really enjoyed our meal. Prawn cocktail and duck liver & pork pate for starters, duck break and pork fillet for mains. All very nicely cooked and presented. Would recommend, although they are closing for a few months (I think until March 2022?)

Considering the good reviews ,very surprised how expensive it was,food was ok but vegetables were not cooked[modern day adanta] it was surposed to be a special meal but was let down

Great atmos..little pricey,but good food,attentive and fun hosts

We had 2 lovely evenings having a drink on patio , the owners were very friendly and accommodating . the food being cooked smelt superb . I would certainly recommend .

Everything about this restaurant is superb. Sharon the hostess is very welcoming. The food is of a very high standard & beautifully presented. We enjoyed it so much we made a repeat booking.

Arranged a booking for Sunday lunch by email with Sharon . When we arrived we revived a very friendly welcome & were sat at our table . The food arrived quickly & was was lovely ! The beef was very tender & a selection of vegetables were offered . The staff are all friendly, this restaurant is clearly a favourite of locals & it was lovely to see the family atmosphere. Would definitely recommend this restaurant as the meal we received was of a good quality & reasonable priced .

Fantastic place to eat!! The owners are fantastic. Very welcoming. The food was outstanding. Can't wait to revisit

What an amazing place food outstanding the couple running this family business are so welcoming the restaurant is so clean well organised and the atmosphere is so good The roast dinner was 10/10 Thanks Cameron and the gang

My wife and I visited on 21st August had some amazing food, I had the Lamb my wife had the fish, both were cooked to perfection by the owner chef, his wife was front of house and was so attentive and knowledgeable, all staff were first rate. Wine list and drinks were very reasonable and a good selection, we shall visit again very soon, thank you all so much.

We booked for Sunday lunch here the day before the August Bank Holiday, we both ordered the roast beef and it was tasty and well presented with all the trimmings on a sharing platter, it was a nice meal but unfortunately parts of the meal were luke warm, we then shared a pudding (which was nice and hot)

I booked our visit back in March for the August Bank Holiday as I know, having visited two years previously, how busy it gets.A delightful restaurant perfectly located in Ilfracombe town centre 5 minutes from the sea front and harbour.Seating inside and outside for couples or families.Sunday is Sunday lunch day.There was a party of ten seated already but the hostess and waitress were welcoming and attentive taking our orders swiftly.I opted for the Beef. My hubby the Pork. There was also gammon on offer.Our order arrived within fifteen minutes and was piping hot. A platter of meat, more than enough! With roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. Plus Stuffing all in gravy. A separate dish of Carrots Swede Red Cabbage and Green beans. Plus a gravy boat.The meat was tender and delicious!! The vegetables perfectly cooked. Complements to the chef who was on his own! Piping hot and if you wanted more just ask !! Although stuffed we had to try the puddings. I had the waffle with honey and ice cream. My husband the blueberry crumble with ice cream. Again not disappointed just delicious.Very reasonably priced would highly recommend and definitely will be back next August Bank Holiday for year four!

Well what an amazing Sunday roast we had at Wards Bistro the food was outstanding we were recommended to eat here by some locals from Facebook and we weren't disappointed huge portions the beef was to die for and the roasties were divine We were outside for a while as we came early for a drink first the outside area had such a buzz about it a great mixture between locals and holiday makers such a great atmosphere The front of house lady Sharon was so good entertaining the customers & the waiting staff were super friendly staff and always smiling and it was such a nice touch that the Chef came out to say hi to everyone Highly recommended !!!

Fantastic setting right on Ilfracombe seafront. Great food, great price, great service and spotless. Will 100% be back

What a lovely restaurant! Friendly staff, and the owner - what a gem. Great menu, great food. Tables clean.

Fantastic, food excellent, proprietor very welcoming.

We’ve been visiting Ilfracombe for years with family and friends. This is Hands down the best Sunday roast in Ilfracombe, and John’s steak are alsoAmazing !!! Sharon and John the owners are amazing and work tirelessly to look after their customers. It’s a very homely restaurant, they always look after us attentively and nothing is too much trouble. The restaurant is always clean and wellPresented and the food is just amazing!!You will not be disappointed.

Stinky place. We barely been able to seat outside from the smell. Tables and chairs not clean after used. Menu options very poor and prices like in London. Will never go back.

Stinky place. Not happy with a service. Poor food options and dirty place. Below 0/5.

Visited in August with my husband and baby, staff were really friendly and helpful with our little one. The roast dinner was delicious, and the portions were very generous. Highly recommended.

We ate here while staying in Ilfracombe on the recommendation of the owner of our guesthouse and had a very enjoyable evening. The food was amazing, I had garlic mushrooms to start and the sauce was delicious. We both had the venison special as our main and again the taste was divine. Very friendly staff, would definitely recommend if you are visiting, but need to book

Food tonight was top notch. Quality home-cooked food including home-made stick toffee pudding - lovely. Try the boulangerie potatoes as they are superb. The woman in charge deserves a gold award in hospitality and clearly knows how to deal with people. Top place !!!!

A fabulous meal in a pleasant setting. Not too large so the service was attentive and very friendly. The food really was of an excellent standard and reasonably priced. Thank you for a lovely evening

What a gem this place is. Beautiful food perfectly cooked.

What a lovely evening in this family run establishment. The chef and his wife are so friendly and go out of their way to make you feel welcome. My Thai fishcake starter was a taste sensation. The cannelloni main course was easily one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. The sticky toffee pudding was to die for. If you are in Ilfracombe, be sure to try Wards. You will not regret it!!

Wonderful welcoming staff, top notch food, excellent location and a really comfortable atmosphere.

We came in for a roast dinner and are very glad we did. It was excellent and very generous portions indeed.They were so friendly, catered for a group including vegan and fussy kids, so friendly. Also great view of the church from the well kept garden. The beer was lovely too, chilled and well kept.

Fantastic meal Sharon, the owner, was very welcoming. The venison was superb, melt in the mouth, Boulanger potatoes were a great accompaniment. Highly recommended.

What a hidden gem! Great food, top marks to Sharon & Lily for the front of house service and the lovely pudding wine. Next visit already booked for our next stay in Ilfracombe. Top marks all round.

Absolutely fabulous food , great service , very friendly and recommended. Lucky we got a booking at this small family run bistro , had the sea bass special which was soooo fresh and well cooked. It’s also a must book venue to avoid disappointment

We went for Sunday roast with my sister and niece and cousin and my dad was in a wheelchair the food was amazing and you couldn’t ask for more great place good staff and will return when I go back to see the family as they live local great great great food and drinks best roast I’ve had out in a very very very long time keep it and can’t wait to return

We booked in and from the phone booking to everything the lady Sharon was so good her front of house and how she was with customers and her staff was AmazingThe food and presentation was outstanding best food we had all week in Ilfracombe The Steak was the best I've had and I've eaten is some of the best restaurants around Europe Make sure you book to avoid disappointment Thanks again see you soon Graham Miles

Excellent Great hosts food to die for they fit 17 of us in had the Sunday roast it was the best I have had in ages just hope we can get in again👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

A delicious meal. Superbly cooked and served with a smile. A must visit eatery but, book first to avoid disappointment.

Lovely evening at Wards Bistro. Very welcoming, the food was cooked to perfection and the produce was top notch. Nothing fancy, but delicious home cooking in a relaxed environment. Very happy we secured this last minute cancellation. Would recommend booking ahead when visiting Ilfracombe.

Lovely welcome, fantastic, hot, tasty food. Service excellent. Reasonable prices. My only criticism would be the size of the rack of lamb, definitely not enough but absolutely delicious.

Visited wards with friends whilst on holiday what a fantastic evening. The owner met us in a friendly manor and looked after our group all night joking and giving excellent service . The food was delicious ,mushrooms to start and rib eye steak to follow cooked to perfection followed by the biggest cheese board i have ever faced. The staff the food and the ambience made for as the title suggests a fantastic night . If your inIlfracombe try Wards you will not be disappointed .

Small place, with fairly small menu but everything seems freshly home cooked, everything we had was very nice and all the team were very friendly and helpful.

We recieved a Warm friendly welcome with good bistro food at a reasonable price. Can recommend the ribeye steak which was cooked exactly to my liking. Coice of chips, new potatoes or Boulanger potatoes and I chose the new potatoes which were delicious selection of vegetables was very good and came with the meal.Would recommend.

Booked in for Sunday lunch which was excellent, also booked two evening meals which were also excellent. The Venison is heavenly cooked to perfection. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Many thanks to Sharon for all the laughs.

Visited for Sunday lunch, excellent meal also booked two evening meals. Superb both times, staff extremely helpful and friendly.

Great service, great food and great selection of alcohol. The staff were really friendly and incredibly accommodating, they made us feel right at home! Highly recommend this place and we’ll definitely come back if we can!

We were in Ilfracombe to visit Lundy Island and came across this restaurant from the reviews on TripAdvisor. We were a table of 6, booked in for roast on Father's Day. We were very pleased and thoroughly enjoyed the roast dinner. The vegetables were very fresh, and the meat nice and moist.The service was friendly and made us feel at home. We would visit again if in the area.

We were really lucky to get a table here as booked the previous week, we wanted a special place to celebrate our honeymoon and this was it. From the moment we walked in we felt valued customers as the staff were very attentive to our needs. The food was excellent with a great piece of seabass and lovely prepared seasonal veg. We both had deserts which were gorgeous and the bill was very reasonable. Thanks for making it a great evening.

Good quality food, nice ambiance & lovely hosts, definitely recommended.

loved our meal here and would definately eat there again. nice outdoor seating area for a drink afterwards as well

Beautiful food, full of flavour. Wonderful service and very well priced. Will be visiting again on our next trip to Ilfracombe

Delicious food and friendly, professional service.

Fresh fish superbly cooked. Good welcoming hosts. Would strongly recommend. Very reasonably priced for high quality meal.

We've been here several times now and will continue to do so.Lovely varied menu with something for everyone.Fresh local produce cooked to perfection by chef John. I've had the fish of the day everytime I've been in and it's always really lovely, accompanied by fresh seasonal veg and new potatoes.My husband has tried most things on the menu and loved all of them!Lovely atmosphere in this family run restaurant, nothing is too much trouble for Sharon and her team. Made to feel so welcome and love the friendliness and banter, everyone in the restaurant always seems to have a really great evening due to the wonderful food, ambience and fabulous staff. Can't wait to visit again when we're next here.Thank you for several really great evenings. Keep doing what you do.