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THE GUARDIAN SEEM TO LIKE US AT THE MOMENT!

Cornish Guardian Editorial 4th March 2010

The Basement never ceases to amaze going from strength to strength each year.  It really does hold its own in Padstow’s very competitive culinary arena.

Owners David Flide and partner Emma-Kate Morey, both local to Padstow, aim to provide freshly prepared high quality food from local producers and suppliers at reasonable prices coupled with friendly yet unobtrusive service.

In the kitchen, head chef Matthew Sheldon pulled out all the stops at the end of last year producing a tasty Lunch Menu priced at all under £10 and the extremely popular 3 courses for £15 menu in the evenings.  Due to such a great response the offer of 3 courses for £15 and all lunches under £10 will be running again until March 24^th, as well as Roasts every Sunday.  See the website for menus, booking is highly recommended for Evenings and Sunday Roast.

If you have not been to The Basement before or not since November you will see that David, Emma-Kate and their staff worked tirelessly through November to give the place a refurbishment.  The soft blue tones and hints of all things nautical is a theme that will be added to and one that already makes this place a cosy and snug eatery in the evenings and a trendy place to have one of their award winning coffees by Musetti Café Italia during the day.

The outside area over looking the harbour now has side sheets on the large umbrellas which with the heat lights give some added protection from the elements during the inclement months and really comes alive into alfresco heaven when its gets a bit warmer.

This place really is a must when in Padstow whether it be for a coffee and cake, breakfast, lunch or evening meal. 

Holidays Over :(  12/02/2010

We are now back from our holidays and raring to go.  Dave and Em had a fantastic time skiing but then went to Australia to stay wth family only to find it rained for 2 weeks.  We had over 450mm of rain in 24hrs at one point!  Matt loved Egypt when he eventually got there after the snow closed gatwick the day he was due to go. 

All the new menus are done and we have a few new things planned for the year.  Loyalty cards, promotional keyrings to name but a few.  Keep checking back for all the latest. Hope to see you soon.

Refurbishment is complete 27/11/09

The basement over the last 2 and a half week has been ripped apart and is now re-open looking absolutly stunning.  You will all have to some and see us to appreciate it.  There will be some photos on the site soon after we have finished testing the photo upload function.

Cornish Guardian Review 28/10/09
Basement is a real bargain!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 09:47

DON'T you just love it when you're nicely surprised? The Basement Cafe in Padstow is one of those places I've walked past dozens of times, but never really noticed.  I won't be making that mistake again.
This cute little bistro with its open kitchen and ridiculously good deals is a real gem of a find. But don't just take my word for it.  One couple drove 40 miles two nights in a row to eat there, leaving a message on a customer feedback form saying they were so impressed with the standard of food presentation, service and price.

Owner David Flide, 31, a Padstow boy born and bred, was thrust into the business by his dad seven-and-a-half years ago.  It was David's birthday, and he was travelling in New Zealand when he got a phone call from his eager dad saying the lease was up on a little cafe in Padstow.  "I said 'no thanks'," remembers David. "But when I came back a few months later the lease was signed and it was ready to go.  "For the first couple of years we tried out different ideas and various menus. Every year we put back any profit we made and gradually, it's become what it is today."

Menus are a mix of classic French, modern British, Indian, Chinese – you name it, and David and chef Matt Sheldon have probably done it.  One thing they both agree on is that fresh, local produce is a must. "The quay is only 20 yards away, so we can't exactly get away from it," said David.

Inside, it's only got space for 22 people, making it a perfectly cosy, relaxed retreat on a blustery autumn night. We started with grilled tiger prawns, garlic butter and mixed leaves and a potted ham hock with piccalilli and toast. Both lovely, but nothing out of the ordinary. It was the next two courses where this restaurant showed its true colours. We had a monkfish pathia, served with rice and naan bread, which on paper, just doesn't work – but it was sublime. It was packed with fresh fish, and the sauce didn't overwhelm its delicate flavour.  Our second dish was a Cornish steak and mushroom pie with creamed potato, which was full of tender steak and without a doubt the best pie we'd ever tasted.  On to dessert, and The Basement delivered again. We went for a sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and clotted cream and a treacle tart with fresh raspberries, both of which were second to none.

Let's not forget, all this for the bargain price of £15-a-head.

The wine list is small – only five whites and five reds – but it's well chosen, and reasonably priced at between £13 and £22 a bottle. It also had tips for food and wine matching, which was a thoughtful touch.

Cornwall's food capital could have been a tough town to crack, but The Basement has found a niche market between the pubs and restaurants. Best of all, I'm pleased to be giving credit to a hard working local lad for making it such an obvious success.

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24/09/09
Autumn Menu
Is now operational and will be posted here in the next couple of days.
All lunches: under £10
Evening meals: 2 courses £15 3 courses £18.50

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24/09/09
Christmas menus are on there way they are at the printers and will be posted on this site as soon as they have been finalised.
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10/09/09
Side sheets arrive
The side sheets for the umbrellas have at last arrived so the outside area can be enjoyed in all weathers

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18/08/09
The toilet has at last been given permission for re-development after yet more planning issues.

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01/04/09
Emma-kate is now part of the business.  Daves other half has taken the step to take over the running of the front of house.