Waterfront
Polzeath, Wadebridge, Cornwall, 01208 869655
Sitting on the veranda watching the evening surfers at one of north Cornwall's most beautiful beaches gives this bistro a definite holiday vibe. The grilled sea bass is fabulous and, like all the dishes, comes with a huge, crisp salad or a generous portion of veg. There's a good selection of reasonably priced wines, an interesting breakfast menu, local crab sandwiches for lunch and good beer.
Cathy Nickels
Exeter
The Folk House Cafe
40a Park Street, Bristol, 0117 908 5035
A lovely surprise in the city centre. Along an alley behind the shopfronts is a courtyard garden with tables and chairs amid beautiful planting and rose-hung pergolas. The cafe serves the best of everything: fresh, local food - some of it even grown in that very garden. Fresh coffees and cold drinks, plates of tapas, sandwiches and hot specials, including a homemade soup each day, and delicious cakes and puddings. A secret place to escape to for lunch or after work.
Anne Malindine
Hotwells, Bristol
The Beach Restaurant
Sennen Cove, Cornwall, 01736 871191
A long-established, family-built beach complex of which the jewel is this wonderful restaurant. Watch the basking sharks swim by as you treat yourself to crab soup (the recipe's a closely guarded secret) or a home-made Cornish cream tea. In the evening, enjoy spectacular sunsets with dishes made from local produce, my favourites being crayfish tails followed by melt-in-the-mouth megrim fillets stuffed with crab. If you're lucky visitors, there'll be freshly caught lobster and mackerel on the menu, landed by the restaurant's own boat.
Name and address supplied
The Salt Cellar
Gold Hill Parade, Shaftesbury, Dorset, 01747 851838
Given its situation at the top of the quintessential rural English view, it could be forgiven for churning out tea and cakes to the tourists clamouring for the outside tables. But the Dutch chef astounds locals and visitors alike with superb, value-for-money lunches. A regular is a three-fish dish with a subtlety that always impresses. Local lamb often features and always delights. Vegetables are plentiful, varied, flavourful and never a mere accompaniment. Big salads or ciabatta rolls make a summery alternative.
Tamara Essex
Shaftesbury, Dorset
The Lobster Pot
Sheps Hollow, Swanage, Dorset (no telephone)
Walk left along Swanage seafront, away from the crowds, and nestled between rows of painted beach huts is this gem. Organic delights are served on the terrace, such as Dorset ploughman's (with home-made pâté), locally smoked trout, crab salad, panini and all manner of home-made cakes.
Emma Fernandez
Swanage
The Hive Beach Cafe
Burton Bradstock, nr Bridport, Dorset, 01308 897070
Sit outdoors at tables on the grassy banks enjoying sea views while listening to the waves lap the shingle. Choose from a seafood soup or a multitude of fresh prawn, crab and fish dishes. BLTs, ham and sausages provide for the carnivores. At night the scene becomes one of calm sophistication as sea bass, monkfish, brill, bream and salmon vie with fresh lobster for attention. If you reach the pudding stage unscathed, linger on tangy raspberry crème brûlée and be lulled by the 'tush' of those waves.
Rene Wyndham
Lyme Regis, Dorset
· To browse and share more UK restaurant tips visit theguardian.com/beenthere
