Restaurant Review: Robin Wylde, Lyme Regis

Robin Wylde is a small but perfectly formed restaurant in the coastal town of Lyme Regis. We were immediately attracted to its cool Scandi aesthetic, softened by candles on the tables, dried plant bouquets and the warmth of our welcome.

We were utterly blown away by the note perfect tasting menu we sampled at Robin Wylde. The chef Harriet Mansell makes wonderfully innovative use of the foraged and hyper local ingredients available to her. Each course was beautifully presented, and looked as good as it tasted!

The meal began with a seaweed infused martini accompanied by a brined sloe ‘olive’, and a light amuse bouche of kohlrabi slices wrapped around a kohlrabi and mint sorbet. We progressed onto a plate of beetroot cooked for hours over a fire and then sliced; it was served with homemade blackcurrant powder and blackberry leaf oil – an inspired pairing!

One of our favourite courses was a mackerel ceviche (caught from nearby Lyme Bay) paired with fire cooked carrots and smoked rapeseed oil; an utter taste sensation. We also enjoyed the hand-dived scallop with tempura sea purslane, golden beetroot puree, sea buckthorn and honey.

The desserts were equally delicious – we indulged in apple ice cream with a white chocolate and raspberry shard, drizzled in rhubarb and honey liquor. Next up was a plum cake with cream cheese ice cream and a cool, aromatic fig leaf granita.

Harriet’s inventiveness with and respect for her ingredients were remarkable – in fact, it was the best meal we’ve had all year!