Steve and I hadn’t been to Harry’s for dinner since last summer and it felt a visit was long overdue. Firstly, the front door of Harry’s is less than a five minute walk from our front door. Secondly, our visit for breakfast a couple of weeks ago reminded us how good it is in there. Thirdly, the service is just so darn good that you are almost certain to have a fun night with some yummy food.

Our waitress for the night was Amy. An absolute joy and full of personality. She welcomed us with her warm smile and showed us to our table. We had booked for 8.30pm purely because we couldn’t get in beforehand. It was too busy which is always a good sign. The atmosphere was buzzing and it reminded me how much I love going to Harry’s. I have been visiting the restaurant on and off for about 18 years. Maybe even longer! God… that makes me sound old! When I first moved to Exeter, all those years ago, I had a housemate called Ollie who used to work in the kitchen there. It was funny seeing his picture up on the walls. So many memories came flooding back.. (Sorry for going slightly of piste!)

We ordered our drinks. I had a glass of the Provence rosé and Steve went for a pint of Tarka. A lager made by Otter Brewery brewed 30mins up the road in Otterton. I hadn’t had a glass of rosé for a long while and because Steve wasn’t sharing wine with me it was an ideal opportunity to try something new. The wine was fruity and peachy in colour. Absolutely delicious and I thought it was a very good choice for the evening.

I had been in the mood for avocado all day so we ordered the guacamole to share. It came with a generous bowl of tortilla chips. The guacamole itself had a nice flavour balance and was beautifully creamy. Great with the saltiness of the chips. Starters are priced between £2.50 and £8.50.

I decided on the chilli roasted butternut squash and buffalo mozzarella salad with pomegranate accompanied by a side of Sweet Potato Fries. Steve had the sirloin steak cooked rare. It came with an option of prawns. Beef and Reef! I love that. The steak came with some french fries and a grilled tomato.

My salad was massive! I didn’t think in a million years that I would get through it but I had a pretty good go! The flavours were good. The buffalo mozzarella was creamy and mild which worked well with the chilli bite from the butternut squash. The sweet Potato Fries were superb. I asked for some soured cream to dip them in and Amy obliged. I recommend that if you have the sweet potato fries ask for soured cream. It’s a winning combo. Main dishes are priced between £10.00 and £25.00. Side dishes are between £2.50 and £5.00.

Steve’s steak was cooked well although maybe not as rare as he had hoped. The shell-on prawns were sweet and succulent. I tried a little of both obviously so I could give my verdict. I don’t choose to eat meat but if someone says try a little if they think it is good then I will. I thought it was beautiful and the fact that it was cooked on the chargrill added to the flavour of the meat. The french-fries crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle. Perfect.

Amy asked if we would like dessert. I was a definate no! I was so full that the thought of consuming anything else at that point was just too much. I opted for a refreshing peppermint tea to aid digestion instead. Steve wanted the cheese board. A generous selection of local cheeses. A cheddar, a blue cheese and a creamy brie all served with a selection of crackers and the most delicious quince jelly. I know I said I was full to the brim but I needed to try the cheeses just so I could give my review. All the cheeses were full of flavour. I particularly liked the cheddar. Strong enough to give enough bite and it went beautifully with the sweetness of the quince jelly. So good! Desserts are priced £5.00 and £10.00 for a Harry’s Heart Attack which is for two people really! Its massive. Coffees and teas are around £1.50-£2.00.

As always we had a great time at Harry’s. You can’t help but feel welcome when you arrive and this continues until you leave. The staff are always so friendly and eager to please without being over the top. I would highly recommend a visit. I certainly won’t be leaving it for another 6 months until my next visit. There are just too many other things on the menu that I want to try!

Photo credit: Steve Kitch

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