I was on my way to Padstow thinking of lunch.
I was heading to Rick Stein’s Seafood restaurant.
The sun was shining, the traffic light, all was fine.
I parked and headed through the town on a jaunt.

The smell greeted me in advance, Dover Sole for sure.
We were not a walk-in, we’d booked ahead of course.
There was a wait, so they showed us to the bar.
Watching all those diners I was ready to eat a horse.

Rick was in that day and he apologised for our wait.
A drink of choice on the house was our recompense.
At last our table was ready and a waiter led us there.
We perused the menu and agreed to blow the expense.

Our starters were twice baked Padstow Crab Souffle,
And a lovely Ragout of Brill and Scallops in Basil.
They were undeniably delicious, as was the wine.
The presentation was splendid; a touch of razzle-dazzle.

For our main courses we both chose Whole Dover Sole,
Gently chargrilled with Cornish sea salt and a little lime.
This was accompanied by an exquisite bottle of rose,
A Chateau D’Esclans, 2021, Cote de Provence wine.

‘May we have the bill’, I asked with a little trepidation.
It was suitably delivered in an extra-large scallop shell.
We each had a guess at what the total cost might be
Tentatively I read it and then exclaimed ‘Bloody hell’.

£320 quid was the damage for that Rick Stein lunch.
But we were buying an experience we both agreed.
Once in a lifetime, we can live with that cost.
But our lunches now will remain low key indeed.