As you will have read in previous blog posts, I live in Ivybridge in the beautiful South Hams area of Devon. Ivybridge is known as the “Gateway to South Dartmoor” and the actual village (locals refer to it as a village) has some super independent shops and also a lovely café/restaurant which is situated on the banks of the River Erme called the “Riverbank Bistro & Café”
There is plenty of room inside but also a super outside terrace where you look down over the river. The café was taken over by a French family a few years ago and turned this place around.
We have had enjoyed many cups of coffee with their morning special, and Steve my husband has fallen in love with their banoffee pie, which he says is the best he has ever tasted. We have also had a few lunches including a bottle of wine overlooking the river. Why travel miles when we have this lovely café/restaurant within walking distance. As it was a gorgeous day today (15th April 2015) my husband and I decided to down tools after a busy morning, walk down to the village and partake in a relaxing lunch.
For an April day it was very warm and what better setting to have a lovely lunch with the river cascading beneath you. I have to say that the last time I had lunch here I had a wonderful pasta dish (probably the best pasta dish I have ever have, so with the best banoffee and best pasta what could be better?), and was looking forward to having it again today, but unfortunately as they change their menu frequently this was not included. I decided to go for a Greek salad (even though this is a French café/restaurant) which was not heavy and ideal for a warm sunny day and was very tasty. My husband however is not a salad person so he chose a Moroccan spicy lamb burger in a bun with chips. The salad was very enjoyable and hubby enjoyed his burger which I have to say I had a little bite and it was very tasty. Now Steve being a pudding person naturally could not resist a slice of banoffee (says he will go to the gym tomorrow!!). With full stomachs we then walked home, which was a bit of a struggle as it is uphill all the way home.
I have to say that the 2 photographs I have uploaded are not the best and if we thought about it would have taken some better photographs that included the backdrop of the river, but didn’t think of it at the time.
It seems whatever time of day or time of year we pass this café it is usually very busy, which obviously says a lot, so if you are indeed local who have never been in here I would recommend that you do as you will not be disappointed. Also if you are on holiday in this lovely part of the Country then don’t miss it. On a beautiful day, sat on the outside terrace overlooking the river you could be in “France”.
One final note, as the Riverbank is situated in Glanvilles Mill Arcade and up until a couple of weeks ago there has always been tables actually in the Arcade just outside the entrance, which was absolutely ideal for dog walkers who did not want to walk through the restaurant and also for wheelchair users who could just pull up by the tables. However we noticed that all these tables had been removed and asked the waitress why? She told us that new owners had taken over the arcade would not allow these tables in the place they had been in for years and years. We could not believe it, and I am sure that other locals who have enjoyed having access to these particular tables are equally surprised. For owners of a shopping arcade to limit potential customers, is quite frankly crazy. Surely a brilliant café/restaurant bringing in customers to the village is far better than it being filled up with charity shops!!! If the new owner(s) of the arcade happen to find my blog then I can only ask them to rethink and allow these additional tables back!!!
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