Review: Lunch at the Pandora Inn, Cornwall

With its timeless creekside position near Mylor, Falmouth, and 13th Century features, stepping into Pandora Inn is almost like stepping back in time. You’d be hard pressed to find a more picturesque pub in a postcard perfect location; the thatched roof, beamed ceilings, flagstone floors and interesting historic artifacts all add to its quaint charm. 

You wouldn’t know it today, but in the spring of 2011 the Inn suffered a fire which destroyed much of the first floor. Fortunately nobody was hurt and once the owners got over the initial shock they decided to make the best of a bad situation and give the pub a respectful facelift. Thanks to the Grade II Listed status only traditional materials and building methods were used and the results are phenomenal.  

In the summer the beautiful pontoon is the perfect place to enjoy an alfresco lunch, but we visited in colder climes so it was into the cosy pub and down by the roaring log fire we went! We brought our dog, Monty, along and he settled down underneath our lovely wooden table and pew dining area. The pub is super dog friendly and a member of staff quickly brought over a bowl of water. 

Food starts here at 10.30am with a range of cakes and coffee available for the peckish. At noon the full menu kicks in and diners can choose from a range of locally sourced meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. After scanning the menu, we both opted for the Halloumi burgers with a side of onion rings and a pint of Korev. Given the location, seafood features heavily on the menu including The Pandora fish pie, steamed mussels and seared scallops. There is also a range of daily specials to choose from on the blackboard if you fancy something a bit different.  

Pandora Inn chefs cook to order, so you may have a slight wait - personally I prefer this as the food always tastes super fresh here. The pub was fairly busy, as it was a Saturday afternoon, yet we only waited around half an hour for our lunch which was pretty decent. The burgers were absolutely stuffed with halloumi and topped with lettuce and spicy salsa. The onion rings were perfectly fried and the chips were thick and rustic. Monty certainly agreed on the last point having snaffled a few under the table! 

If you were still hungry there is a great range of tasty puddings on offer, but we were too full on this trip (a good excuse to return)! The range of drinks here is exceptionally good too, with local ales, ciders and wines - even the coffee is from a Cornish supplier. 

So if you’re looking for a lovely spot for some delicious home cooked food this winter, head to Pandora Inn. Since our visit the decorations have gone up, the mulled wine is on and the festive party menu is out – what a wonderful start to the holiday season! Fuelled by chips, we finished up playing with Monty on the little ‘beach’ by the creek.