Perched just off the coast of Exmouth and only accessible by boat, the River Exe Café is a one-of-a-kind floating restaurant in the heart of Devon. Surrounded by sea views and salt air, we serve up fresh, seasonal dishes inspired by our coastal setting. Our menu champions local produce, low food miles, and bold flavours - and our roasted scallop starter is no exception.

Why Provenance Matters

Ask any West Country local what makes our food taste special and the answer is always the same: it starts with where it comes from.

Our scallops are hand-selected each morning from day-boats that work the in-shore waters between Exmouth and Salcombe. Small crews head out after dawn, dive – not dredge – for their catch, and are back tying up before lunch. The result?

* Ultra-fresh shellfish that’s never sat on ice for days.

* Minimal by-catch and seabed disturbance thanks to diver harvesting.

* A direct, fair price for the fishers who know these tidal sands better than anyone.

Put simply, you can trace every plump scallop on your plate to the very cove it was landed in - often less than 30 miles from our kitchen door. That’s provenance you can taste.

Low Food Miles, High Impact

Food miles aren’t just a marketing buzzword; they’re a real measure of the energy it takes to get dinner from sea to serving spoon. By buying straight from those day-boats we:

* Slash transport emissions - no long-haul lorries, airports or freight hubs.

* Support the local economy - wages stay in Devon; skills stay on the coast.

* Champion seasonality – our scallops are always available during our on-the-water season from April to October, sourced fresh and locally throughout.

It’s a virtuous circle: fresher product for you, lighter footprint for the planet, stronger coastal communities for everyone.

The Hidden Nutritional Goldmine in Each Bite

Scallops aren’t just delicious - they’re seriously good for you.

Per 100 g (about three large scallops)

• 17–20 g lean protein, which repairs muscle, keeps you feeling full without heaviness.
• Omega-3 fatty acids keeping you heart-healthy, is anti-inflammatory, supports brain function.
• Vitamin B12 (over 100 % RDA) which boosts energy, supports nerve health, essential for vegans/vegetarians who dabble in seafood.
• Iodine & Selenium, key for thyroid balance and immune support.
• Virtually zero saturated fat so all the flavour, none of the guilt.

Pair that nutrient profile with iron, magnesium, and a handful of antioxidants and you’ve got a starter that works as hard for your body as it does for your taste buds.

Letting the Scallops Speak

The twist: A spoon of gochujang-garlic butter melts over the scallops, lending a slow, warming kick of Korean chilli, fermented depth, and silky richness.

The finish: Toasted sesame-seaweed crumble, think shoreline umami with a cheeky crunch.

The result is a dish that’s equal parts surf and spice: sweet ocean notes, savoury heat, butter that begs to have the scallops dipped and dripping!

It’s only a few mouthfuls, but it sets the bar high and you know that every course to follow will be rooted in the same respect for ingredients and flavour.

Bringing It Home

Whether you’re with us overlooking the estuary or cooking along in your own kitchen, remember:

• Buy the best scallops you can - fresh and local whenever possible. In Exmouth we'd recommend dropping into Simon at Fish on The Quay.
• Treat them simply. High heat, short time, then let bold seasoning do the rest.
• Savour slowly. Great food shouldn’t be rushed.

From boat to plae, from nutrients to nostalgic seaside flavours, our roasted scallops prove that small plates can punch well above their weight. One bite in, and you’ll understand why we think the Devon coast tastes like nowhere else on earth.

Here’s to celebrating big flavour and tiny food miles on our menu this summer.

To book The River Exe Cafe for Summer 2026 head to https://www.riverexecafe.com/book