Rockfish, Dartmouth, Devon
Mitch Tonks and Mat Prowse, both chefs, opened the first Rockfish in Dartmouth in 2009. The aim was to create a restaurant where people could gather and enjoy the very best seafood that was being caught right outside the door of the restaurant.
Rockfish, Mitch Tonks seafood restaurant in Dartmouth
If you can’t get a table at Mitch Tonks’ renowned restaurant The Seahorse in Dartmouth, go for dinner at Rockfish instead which has a relaxed seaside vibe. It’s very popular with locals and visitors alike. We spotted chef, Angela Hartnett, among the diners when we were last there. For a more budget option, pick up fish and chips from their take-away shop next to the Kingswear ferry and eat them on the quayside.
- Taste Mitch Tonks delicious seafood dishes
- Eat Devon crab
- Tuck in to a plate of fish & chips
Watch the Crab Being Landed Straight From the Boat
Dartmouth is one of the birthplaces of crab fishing. It has been going on in the area since the Domesday Book. The clean, deep waters, relatively warm for the British Isles, and the abundance of food, are why the crabs like it and grow to such decent sizes. During the summer months, local fisherman catch crab and lobsters in pots in the waters around Dartmouth and Salcombe. You’ll see the daily catch of crab being loaded from the boat straight into containers.
Taste Delicious Crab and Lobster Dishes at Rockfish
Not surprisingly, crab is a big thing at Rockfish. They’re cooked fresh every morning so you can enjoy them in a sandwich, salad, fully dressed or have a go at tackling a whole one yourself. Try the soft shell crab with lime, coriander and chilli jam. If you’re visiting Dartmouth during the winter months, snuggle up next to the log burner and tuck in to fish & chips accompanied by a bottle of Sea Cider made from a blend of 15 apple varieties.
Tips
- Visit Rockfish during the Dartmouth Food Festival in October when the town becomes a mecca for foodies. Try the amazing fish tacos served at their festival stall
- Visit in early August for the Dartmouth Crab Festival
- There are over 30 species of fish landed every day in British waters. To see them, visit the daily fish market in either Brixham or Plymouth. If you’re visiting London, take a tour of Billingsgate Fish Market
- There are more Rockfish restaurants in seaside towns where fishing is part of the daily life (Plymouth, Torquay and Brixton)
Cook’s Tip
Female crabs have a slightly sweeter flavour than male crabs. You can recognise a male crab by the narrow flap across the abdomen (a female has a wider one for carrying thousands of orange eggs when she’s breeding)
Where To Stay in Devon
Kaywana Hall
Dartmouth, Devon
Kaywana Hall offers modern rooms and a pool and is 15 minutes’ walk from the lower Kingswear ferry.
Rooms from £150 a night.
Dogs
Please check with Rockfish directly.
How To Find Rockfish in Dartmouth
Rockfish Restaurant, 8 South Embankment, Dartmouth TQ6 9BH
Website: www.therockfish.co.uk
Rockfish
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.