Sea-ing where your food comes from…

During September, I had an incredible dinner at Olive Brixham – a Mediterranean kitchen and wine bar, nestled right on the water’s edge in the beautiful harbour town of Brixham, South Devon.

It was an invite, ahead of the England’s Seafood Feast, a two week celebration of seafood along the English Riviera that happens annually in late September to early October – keep an eye out for next years dates and special events that are planned!

🌊 The Vibe: Sassy, Vibrant, Warm and On The Waters Edge

From the moment you step inside, Olive wraps you in warmth, bringing Mediterranean vibes to Devon. Earthy tones, ambient lighting, and upbeat tunes set the tone for a relaxed yet lively lunch or evening. The crockery is as thoughtfully chosen as the menu – showing off the produce laid upon it, each dish plated with care, inviting you to savour every bite slowly.

Whether you’re perched by the bifold doors, with half height glass balustrade, watching fishing boats bob in the reflections on the water or tucked inside with a glass of wine from the enomatic wine dispenser, the atmosphere is effortlessly chic with a splash of seaside sass.

The Seafood? Next level… and Local!

Olive’s menu is a love letter to Brixham’s bounty. The seafood is sourced just steps away from the renowned Brixham Fish Market, and you can taste the freshness in every bite. And the sauces… wow. Rich, balanced, and bursting with flavour – the kind that tells you the chef knows exactly what they’re doing. The crockery we spoke about – licked clean!

The also offer vivacious vegetarian dishes too, and mighty meat plates, all using local produce.

We dove into a tapas spread that celebrated the coast:

Brixham Scallops with Chorizo

Scallops in Champagne Cream with Chorizo Crumb & Oil

Prawn Saganaki – King Prawns with Tomatoes, Ouzo, Crumbled Feta & Chilli

Brixham Crab & Courgette Ribbons, Champagne Herb Velouté & Aioli

Crispy Tempura Brixham Monkfish with Romesco Sauce & Citrus Aioli

Hot Honey & Harissa Glazed Halloumi, Pistachio & Pine Nut Crumb

Homemade Italian Arancini

Main:

Catch of the Day (Hake) from Brixham Market with Samphire, Crushed New Potatoes, Garlic Prawns & Prawn Bisque

All the flavours and textures were honestly spot on – there was tang, calm, smooth, crunch. The halloumi was unctuous and sticky, the scallops (although dark to look at) were expertly crusted by cooking the top right to the edge, yet keeping the scallop tender and sweet as you’d expect.

The hake was melt in the mouth, with pillowy mash, and honestly the seasoning and ‘saucery’ on all dishes was second to none.

🍷 The Wine Experience: 265 Bottles, 16 on Tap

Olive’s wine offering is off the charts, with a large wine list of classic vino varieties to lesser known gems. What is exciting is the enomatic wine machine, which keeps open bottles fresh for up to 21 days, meaning they can offer a good variety by the glass without wasting stock. With 16 wines on tap, you can choose from a 50ml, 125ml or 175ml – so either commit to a favourite, or try the taster size and discover a new tipple. The food menu even has the suggested wine pairings listed to make choosing super easy!

The 50ml option was perfect for me on this occasion as I was driving, and I couldn’t resist a glass of the Sandridge Barton ‘Billy’ from their Don’t Feed the Ponies range. It was wonderful to see their further Sandridge Barton wine offering by the bottle for drinking in or takeaway, supporting a truly fantastic Devon vineyard.

The Verdict?

Utterly delicious! Lip smacking-ingly lush, fantastically fresh – if you haven’t been yet, then get them on your must visit list! The food and flavours are in my top 5 meals in the last couple of years, without hesitation.

Check out my Instagram reel here.

📍Olive, 3 King Street, On The Coastal Path, Brixham, TQ5 9TF

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