The Terrace At The Headland

Had a light lunch at the Terrace restaurant. Great views but very slow service and food was rather uninspiring my Cornish rarebit lacked flavour. Nice surroundings and warm welcome at reception but it was very hot in the direct sun without any blinds or awnings.

We had a beautiful meal 2 years ago, we chose off the Christmas menu. Sadly this time was totally different apparently no Christmas menu (kitchen refurb, not sure that’s an excuse plus bad time over Christmas if true) menu limited so only fish and chips so we had that nearly £50 for fish and frozen chips and a drink each, really expensive for what we got. Feeling really disappointed

We had lunch in the Terrace restaurant and although our waitresses were wonderfully kind, it was a disappointment nonetheless. Compared to previous visits admittedly, although local, we hadn 't visited in some time), the food was just not of the same quality as in other years. We understand times are harder but it would 've been good to 've had access to some sort of pre-starter while we were waiting for a delayed person to arrive: some olives perhaps, or some bread and oil or a few nuts... these were readily available before; we missed them. What we did order was mostly substandard for the Terrace: 'venison lollipops ' £8 a shot for three mouthfuls of minced meat on a cocktail stick with a sugary red cabbage dipping sauce); a red cabbage salad £12), which would 've been okay if less salty; a Terrace Burger £16) and Crab Roll £19) both came with stale buns, which always spoils things, although the crab itself was fresh and sweet, as it should be. Having said that, the Sweetcorn Soup was delicious £9), although the rather small piece of cornbread that came with it was also stale. Slim, piping-hot French Fries a rather steep £6 each) were perfectly crisp and fluffy; a 'Caramelised Autumn Apple ' Eton Mess £7) combined well sweet meringue, tart apple and smooth, whipped cream. Black coffee was good and hot; the New Zealand Hawksdrift Sauvignon Blanc delicious although steep at £11.50 a glass; perhaps the Headland prefers guests to order whole bottles). The final bill, of over £100 for three of us with service charge included, felt just too high for what we got. We left a tip nonetheless, in gratitude to the waitresses. I remember wonderful lunch dishes at the Terrace: fish pies and other fish offerings appropriate to Cornwall and to its local fishing industry; hot, generous pans of mussels in season); rich, warming beef casseroles. It 's disappointing that the Terrace has yielded to the ubiquitous pub-style burgers and fish-and-chips or salads, with soup or sandwiches as backup, on a menu unchanged since October. We were surprised there was no Christmas offering: not even something with cranberry sauce, or hot mince pies! It shouldn 't be impossible to offer delicious, imaginatively cooked food, even on a budget. We won 't stop coming but because we usually come for a special reason, we live in hope things can be more varied and enterprising before too long. The Terrace should not be an average place to eat. The view is as splendid and soul-restoring as ever.

Part of the Headland Hotel where we've stayed for the last 8 visits to Cornwall. A fantastic hotel and the terrace is one of 3 restaurants they have there. A lovely lunch .

Spent an evening in the Terrace restaurant, Firstly the food was great we had crab linguine which was delicious, the views are stunning but most of all the service was outstanding My daughter has a severe nut allergy. As we made the booking we were asked in detail about this On arrival it was explained to us that all nuts had been removed from the bar area and all nut products removed from the menu. During the night the service led by Agatha continued to be of the highest calibre with all the waitresses going the extra mile being genuine friendly with it, without being fussy Highly highly recommend