By Michael Moran

Copyright walesonline

A restaurant critic was blown away when he ate at one of celebrated chef Rick Stein’s most famous restaurants. After experiencing a somewhat “mixed” time at some of Rick’s other establishments in Padstow, Cornwall, restaurant critic Pete Green recently paid a visit to the Rick Stein’s Café to discover exactly what was on offer and was taken aback by the prices. The menu showcases locally sourced produce and the freshest seafood, combined to create simple dishes inspired by global cuisine – with a particular emphasis on the Far East. Despite the establishment’s name, Pete clarified on his GreenoEats channel, it’s not really a café in the traditional sense. And, like other reviews of celebrity chefs’ restaurants , he was stunned when he received the bill. “This is not a regular café,” he stated. “You’re not getting coffee and cake here. This is actually a proper restaurant, just with slightly more café-style dishes.” But these are some rather extraordinary café-style dishes. Pete was enthralled by the Pondicherry sardine fish fry starter: “This is a delight,” he expressed. “It’s light. It’s summery. It’s fresh.” He noted that the size of the portion, considering the £9.50 dish was a starter, was “generous,” highlighting the restaurant’s excellent value for money. However, the starter was eclipsed by the stunning main course, a sea bass dish with an Asian flair that included pak choi, cashew nuts, and a hot and sour sauce. “This is the star of the show,” Pete enthused. “We’ve got two fillets of sea bass here. We have got hot and sour sauce on the top, some pak choi, chilis, crispy basil…and let me tell you the aroma coming off this plate of food is next level.” He described it as a “very clever dish,” with an unexpected yet harmonious fusion of flavours. He continued: “I know Rick Stein has spent a lot of time in Southeast Asia, and I’m guessing that’s the inspiration for this recipe.” Pete acknowledged that the sea bass might seem a tad pricey compared to what one might order in any other café, but he emphasised that he was utterly taken aback by the incredible value: “It’s not a cheap dish. It cost me £30, that dish. “You could go to a very posh restaurant and if that was on the menu at maybe even double that price, people wouldn’t be complaining.” His total bill, including service, amounted to £43.87. “It’s worth every penny and more,” he declared, awarding Rick Stein’s Café a perfect score of five out of five. “It is my favourite experience at Rick Stein so far,” he said, gleefully, “It’s something really special.” Rick is eager to offer good value in his restaurants. Earlier this year, dishes at Rick Stein’s Padstow restaurant were temporarily reduced to their 1975 prices to celebrate their 50th anniversary. Options include shellfish soup for 50p, grilled lobster for £2.80, seafood thermidor for £2.20 and Cornish bouillabaisse for £2.60.