We Review: Prawn On The Lawn’s New Private Chef Service

The acclaimed Padstow restaurant Prawn On The Lawn expands into at-home dining with new private chef service Prawn On Your Lawn for 2025, and our editor Rebecca Moore is chomping at the bit to find out more…

If you’re into seafood, you’ve probably set your sights on Prawn On The Lawn. 2025, marks ten years since opening its doors in pretty Padstow, just two years after culinary masterminds – and husband and wife – Rick and Katie Toogood opened their inaugural restaurant in north London.

The ever-changing small plates menu, with locally sourced seafood getting top billing, has been featured in the Michelin Guide every year since they opened, as well as scooping plenty of accolades for their fine food along the way. With no shortage of triumphs, not least securing a spot in our piece on best seafood restaurants in Cornwall, it’ll come as no surprise to learn that nabbing a reservation during the summer months can be an arduous task. So, learning that the popular eatery has launched an at-home chef service in Cornwall, is welcomed. More so, the Cornish Secrets team had the opportunity to see if it lived up to expectation.

The Review

You certainly wouldn’t know this was chef Eddie and restaurant manager Jade’s first at-home gig. Although needless to say they’re well versed when it comes to hospitality, with Eddie being the head chef at POTL for five years, followed by two years of service at sister site Barnaby’s alongside restaurant manager, Jade. The dynamic duo created a calming presence as the Cornish Secrets team caught up over welcome drinks. POTL’s aim is to recreate their restaurant style service in the comfort of your home, and that’s demonstrated through meticulous attention to detail from the signature ‘POTL’ table runner and provided tableware, to the option to upgrade to welcome drinks and luxury touches, such as frozen margaritas and Porthilly oysters.

When it comes to selecting the dishes for your party, they’ve made it pretty simple. There are two menu choices, both of which cater up to 20 guests and priced at £125 per person.  The small plates menu gives the opportunity to try a few more individual dishes, whereas the sharer menu has one main contender for the table. The menus don’t differ hugely, both championing local produce, and shining light on Cornwall’s splendid seafood. What also sets it apart is the fabulous wine on offer, while it’s not imperative you have the option to order off the wine list, showcasing some of the restaurant’s most-praised wines, including POTL’s own Rosé – Quinta da Boa Esperança – from Lisbon.

We took our seats and Eddie introduced the food that was to follow. First up award-winning Coombeshead sourdough with a seaweed butter quenelle, and Boquerones drizzled in olive oil, if it wasn’t a chilly January evening, we could have been in a Spanish taverna.

The small plates are what piqued my palate the most, as I love the tapas style of eating. We were served seared tuna, with soy, mirin and chilli, scallops in a Thai marinade with spring onion, and hake served with a cauliflower, porcini and truffle oil mousse. All delicious in their own right, but the seared tuna was a highlight for me, super fresh with Asian inspired spices hitting all the high notes.

This geared us all up for the main event, which was fish for the table. The wild bass roasted with lemon, garlic and rosemary. With a firm, but flaky texture the bass was devoured by all, as were the side accompaniments of ‘POTL’ potatoes, which deserve a special shout out and should not be overlooked, baby gem lettuce with truffle oil and Parmesan, and Kale with a glug of olive oil and agridulce, which is an Italian sweet and sour sauce. This style of sharing worked seamlessly for our group of seven. And although plenty of consumption had endured, we all left enough room for our final indulgence: dessert. And deluxe it was, a rich chocolate mousse with honeycomb – a true showstopper.

As Jade and Eddie tidied away our empty plates, and the evening came to a close, our bellies were pleasantly full and spirits high. The opportunity gave us chance to catch up as a team in a relaxing setting, and look forward to the year ahead, which no doubt will be hugely prosperous for the POTL team. This new venture adds another string to their bow, and for a private chef service for your holiday home, it’ll take some topping and we wish them every success.

For all private dining enquiries please email events@prawnonthelawn.com | prawnonthelawn.com