Harden's survey result
Summary
“Out of this world!!” – “Paul Ainsworth’s flagship restaurant goes from strength to strength” and few restaurants in the UK achieve such a high level of esteem in our annual diners’ poll. “A culinary haven in the middle of, and yet a world apart from, the tourist crowds of Padstow”: it certainly eclipses its local rivals nowadays, with Nathan Outlaw a few miles down the coast its most serious nearby culinary competition. Set in a bijou Georgian townhouse, “the open kitchen shows off the enthusiastic team and it’s a case of selfies all round with the chefs after the meal”. “No, it isn’t cheap, but we found ourselves wondering how the team managed to set such high standards for the money”. “Special mention go to the dessert… and we don’t usually like desserts!” “All around an amazing gastronomic experience”!
Summary
“Face-slappingly good flavours” – “it often takes me by surprise with the amazing combinations of tastes” – have long established Paul Ainsworth’s bijou Georgian townhouse as a less commented on but higher rated alternative to Rick Stein’s nearby HQ. “It’s not cheap but has to be on the list to eat if you are in Cornwall.” Top Tip – you can book at a counter by the kitchen as well as in the dining room.
Summary
“Outstanding…”, “stunning all the way…”, “simply exceptional…” – Paul Ainsworth's much-commented-upon venture remains “the definition of what fine dining stands for”, with “informed, joyous and respectful” staff a part of the pleasure. One caveat this year: perhaps owing to the “adoring media stalkers”, they've felt confident enough to move to a set-menu-only formula (£110 for four courses) which strikes some as regrettably “OTT and eye-watering”.
Summary
“Outstanding… that is all!”. Paul Ainsworth’s intimate and illustrious eleven-year-old is nowadays the most-mentioned operation in town, far eclipsing Rick Stein’s nearby Seafood Restaurant in terms of the excitement it generates. “The kitchen can be seen from the tables, and is a dream to watch”, with “Paul himself almost invariably present”. The cuisine is as you might hope for – “technically accomplished, with quality materials, some inventiveness, and carefully prepared to preserve flavours”. “However, it’s the attention to detail, and the overwhelming passion for the place from its staff” that seals the experience for some diners: “nothing was too much trouble”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Paul Ainsworth at No6?
6 Middle St, Padstow, PL28 8AP
Restaurant details
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always | £160.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Pudding |
|---|
| £0.00 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £14.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
6 Middle St, Padstow, PL28 8AP
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 11:45 am‑2 pm, 5 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 11:45 am‑2 pm, 5 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Thursday | 11:45 am‑2 pm, 5 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Friday | 11:45 am‑2 pm, 5 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Saturday | 11:45 am‑2 pm, 5 pm‑8:45 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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