Since graduation, the city of Exeter is fast fading from memory and while I’m re-acquainting myself with the ever-evolving food scene of Brighton, here are the top five lunch spots in and around lovely Exeter:
Sussex-born Bill’s is a wonderful catch-all for celebratory evening dinners, casual group meals and a lovely spot of lunch (or afternoon tea). With their set lunch menu, I’ve had several minute steaks with a herb garlic butter or chargrilled butterflied chicken with fries and rocket.
Bill’s rotates a seasonal all-day menu, so the starters and desserts especially change in favour of fresh seasonal produce. Here Mum and I went for the asian beef kebabs with tzatziki and toasted garlic ciabatta – a delicious starter (see my Cardiff entry too for the devilled chicken skewers!)
They’re particularly keen on dietary needs, including lacto-ovo veggies and vegans so there’s always something for everyone.
Mango’s was a new find for me, as late as final year of Uni. It’s one of of Exeter’s lovely independent cafes located along the beautiful Exeter Quay – and as much as chain restaurants can be wonderful, I always have a soft spot for independent foodie places.
The outdoor seating treats you with a stunning view of the River Exe and is always packed with people dining or having a coffee al fresco.
Inside, Mango’s elevates its smallish space with light and airy decor, making it the perfect lunch spot or place of refuge after a long walk around the quay.
When I went with my family, we all had an array from the menu: cookie monster milkshakes, mango juice and cider for drinks and sharing a Devon cream tea and the pulled pork flatbread for nibbles.
I would recommend this flatbread to everybody – a simple toasted flatbread with a spicy harissa paste, BBQ pulled pork, smashed avocado, fresh sliced tomatoes, crumbly feta and a crunchy slaw. A fresh and balanced lunch – reflective of their non-fryer based menu!
Cosy Club is the perfect lunch spot. Their menu has a wide range of lighter brunch bits, hearty burgers and 3-for-£13.95 tapas.
A little off Princesshay shopping centre and into Southernhay Gardens, Cosy Club is a large space (which used to be the Dean Clarke hospital wing) with an eclectic vibe.
Favourites are The Cosy Club sandwich (triple decker fried chicken and bacon sarnie) and the avocado brunch (lime, chilli and coriander avocado on sourdough with a poached egg).
I’m a self-confessed carnivore, so when Matt surprised me with a day trip to Topsham, I was undeniably happy with his restaurant choice.
If none of Exeter’s many restaurants and cafes are what you fancy, it’d be worth going a little further afield to Topsham for P&P’s barbequed grub.
Big on using local Devonshire meat, Pig and Pallet has a huge menu, with lighter bites and amazing vegetarian dishes on offer as well as platters, ribs, burgers and many sides.
Needless to say, this is a BBQ-lovers dream – so I went for the Mega Lush full rack of ribs (simple is best) and Matt went for the Devon Ruby Steak burger and pulled pork fries.
I’ve been here for lunch so many times and ordered the same thing every time – I cannot believe I never took a photo. Alas, you’ll have to make do with one from outside.
Turtle Bay was a relatively new addition to the Exeter food scene, joining The Stable, Comptoir Libanais, Kupp, Absurd Bird and GBK in the Queens Dining Quarter in 2017.
Possibly the most popular out of all these new restaurants, Turtle Bay offers Caribbean cuisine and 241 cocktails in a colourful and vibrant setting. Matt and I pretty much always go for the same lunch – the Kingston chicken toastie with spiced jerk fries and Carribean slaw. It’s changed a couple of times, but in essence, it’s curried chicken, red onion, rocket and cheese in garlic-rubbed sourdough. Slightly messy, but always amazing big flavours.
Even as long as we’ve visited, the menu is growing and so there’s plenty on offer!
Let it be known – Exeter is brimming with wonderful restaurants and cafes, both independent and larger chains – so this is really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to nice lunches out in the city. (Other wonderful contenders include Harry’s, Yo Sushi, Pret, Artigiano, Cafe Rouge…. but I could just go on forever!)
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