James Duckett
James Duckett's award winning restaurant in Barnstaple serves fine food and is amongst the top 5 diner rated restaurants in South West England, see Top Table, it was named 'Best Restaurant' in the 2009 North Devon Food and Drink Awards and received a Gold Award in the 2009 Taste of the West Awards for its use of local produce. It features in the current Michelin and Good Food Guides.
James is a chef of considerable talent and experience in the kitchens of Michelin starred restaurants in the UK and internationally. He serves modern European, French and British cuisine using finest local produce, including locally caught fish and shellfish and his menus always include a choice of vegetarian dishes.
Lunch is informal, relaxed and inexpensive with a choice of dishes from a set price 2 or 3 course menu. In the fine weather you may dine al fresco outside on the Strand or in the private courtyard. Dinner is best described as fine dining, but the atmosphere is still relaxed. At dinner James offers a set price 3 or 3 course menu midweek and at weekends you may select from James’s à la carte menu or indulge in his six course tasting menu. You may dine either in the downstairs, bistro style restaurant or in the upstairs, panelled dining room which projects a more sophisticated ambience. There is a comprehensive wine list from which some 20 wines including champagne are available by the glass.
Private parties and functions are catered for and James runs regular themed wine tasting dinners, as well as a members’ dining club and wine tasting courses. James also runs a cookery school and offers outside catering for that special occasion dinner party at home. James's menus change with the seasons and to reflect availability of fresh local produce. Special menus are offered for seasonal events during the Christmas season and for Christmas parties, for Christmas Day lunch, New Year's Eve dinner, Valentine's Day dinner, Mothers' Day lunch, Easter Sunday lunch and more.
