Crave delivers exactly what its name promises: dishes so good you’ll crave them long after your plate’s empty. Located on Commercial Rd of the Quay, it is the perfect place to enjoy a picturesque view to watch the world go by over a glass of orange wine or a mocktail in hand. As we entered Crave, there was a buzz in the air, a mix of the locals and visitors soaking up the riverside scene. Before coming in, there was already a long queue, I would recommend getting a reservation if you’d like a guaranteed table.
The daily specials comprise fresh farm food from Dartmoor and seafood from the World Famous Brixham Fish Market, ensuring their local ties, serving up incredible flavours. Crave offers a main menu and a daily special menu, which changes regularly depending on the season and catches. So be warned you could keep craving something you can’t have again!
I went to Crave on a busy rainy Saturday with one mission – good food, drinks and trying out one dish from each section: small plates, tacos, sides, daily specials and of course, dessert and drinks from a mocktail to a wine.
To pair the plethora of dishes, I had a Bloodline mocktail and an orange wine, the bloodline was a sweet surprise, with a strong lychee taste, presented like an artwork in a wine glass. Next, I had one of their famous dish, Fried Chicken, with kimchi, chilli honey and chicken salt. A dish that I still think about one week later, the well-fermented kimchi balanced well with ginger and mayo sauce. Safe to say that there was a reason why Crave was awarded the Best Restaurant of Devon by Muddy Stitettos and voted Devon’s Best Independent Restaurant for good reason, merging local flavours with love and care.
Being incredibly fond of seafood, it was a delight having the Scallop small plate, which was paired with an unforgettable Thai red curry sauce and three fresh pan-fried scallops.
One of my favourite dishes was the Truffle Parmesan fries, packed with the punch of truffle but perfectly balanced with parmesan, acting as a great side with their daily special fish of the day. I had Monk fish shared with my plus one, paired with tomatoes, olives and asparagus spears. This was a meaty monkfish that struck the perfect balance between richness and freshness. It’s a dish that celebrates simplicity and quality ingredients, letting the natural flavours of the sea shine.
Perhaps not my favourite was the braised beef, pico de gallo, cheese, birria liquor, and pickles, which felt slightly dry at times even with lemon juice, this was disappointing considering it was one of the most expensive tacos. What made up for the beef taco was a melt-in-your-mouth dessert was the daily special. A Pavlova, chantilly, berry compote with mint, a light and airy treat to fill any sweet tooth craving. Presented beautifully like a small fruit tart and cloud-like, this was exactly what I needed to end my incredible dinner on a sweet note.
For our readers, we have an exclusive 10% off your meal if you use the code: EXEPOSE, so you too can enjoy the pleasures of life and stop craving Crave!
