Saturday 25th January 2025
Spanish bar food has long been an inspiration for Argoe. Local spots packed to an almost uncomfortable level, shouting to get served, paper napkins littering the floor, an irreplaceable energy. Swarming around a packed bar for simple seafood, fried, with a cold beer or vermouth.
Argoe is the product of many a trip around Spain, and even more visits to places like these. A particular favourite was the fried squid sandwich in Madrid. Bocadillo de calamar, a staple in the capital, and often as simple as rings of squid with just a wedge of lemon on the side.
Ours will be elaborated on slightly, but not much, just the addition of aioli, spread onto a freshly baked ciabatta style roll. The squid will be line caught - at its best during the winter months. On the side, wedges of tortilla, always seemingly far more than the sum of its parts, a classic made with just onion, potato and plenty of eggs from Treen farm. If the scallops are looking good next week we might throw a few on the grill too!
And to drink, a vermouth from Valencia, another institution in Spain and the perfect accompaniment for anything deep fried.
We’ve come to love our January events, scheduled for the second weekend back after the winter break. They’re a lovely way to bring life back to the restaurant and get everyone together at a time when there’s not a lot going on this far down in Cornwall! It’s always a special one when you all come out in support of our events, and we can’t wait to see you all. As always, no booking necessary, just turn up, order at the bar and wait for your food. It’s going to be a good one!
Friday 15th December
Join us on Friday 15th December from 5-9pm for an evening of mulled cider, deluxe fish finger sandwiches, and company, to celebrate this year’s Harbour lights switch on! (No bookings required, it’s a drop in affair.)
Last year was such an enjoyable evening here with regulars, families and children all enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and start to the festive season, keeping warm together as we threw the doors open to all. This year will be no different, so just turn up, warm up with a mulled cider, and order food at the bar from 5-8pm. Trust us when we say, there will be enough of our legendary fish finger sandwiches to go around! Ben is also busy devising a plan for a sweet finish to the evening, most likely a deep fried delight like his yum yums, or a Portuguese inspired custard doughnut… Not to be missed.
Our terrace was the perfect spot last year for watching the fireworks over Newlyn Harbour, and the Harbour Lights team have the same spectacle planned this time round, scheduled to kick off at 7pm. And don’t forget the other events around the harbour throughout the evening–have a wander, take in the lights and the sights, and then warm up at Argoe with some good food and drink. The Penzance Silver Band and Newlyn School Choir will be singing outside the harbour offices at 6pm, and the lifeboat will be accompanied by Pendeen Gig club and a special guest for the kids, at 6.30pm.
We’ll be donating £1 from each sandwich sale to the Harbour Lights to raise funds that will help this fantastic community event to continue in years to come. Help us support Marcia and her committed team of volunteers who make it happen every year!
Past Events
Saturday 27th January 2024
As is becoming tradition in the early weeks of the new year, to help warm us back up and welcome you in, we’re suspending normal service next Saturday for a special evening of grilled fish flatbreads and vocal treats from Boilerhouse. We all need a little something to bring us together and tempt us out during these cold January nights!
Evoking a bygone, rural Cornwall, of maritime tales and coastal life, their beautiful melodies, sung in a gentle local lilt, always make for a special occasion, and it’s been over a year since we had the pleasure of welcoming these wonderful gents to Argoe and hearing their captivating voices fill the restaurant.
And to keep you fed and warm we’re cooking up a one-off menu of Mackerel Gyros - our own fresh flatbreads off the grill, filled with mackerel kofte, chips, pickled red cabbage and hot sauce, alongside a bar of beers, wine and cider. This will be the only chance you’ll get to eat a kebab at Argoe, and what a kebab it will be, don’t miss out!
So next Saturday 27th, join us from 5pm, pack in like pilchards, keep warm, feast and enjoy the voices of Boilerhouse!
Thursday 20th April
Straight off the back of our collaboration with St Eia in St. Ives, we’re very excited to announce a special event this April at Argoe. On April 20th we’ll be hosting Alex Fitton from Pullo, in Exeter, for an evening of cider & perry - a celebration of the Westcountry tradition, rediscovered and redefined by a new wave of biodynamic producers. Alex is ‘passionate about sustainable farming and promoting soil health & biodiversity’ and the cider and wine makers he works with champion that ethos. A perfect match for what we do at Argoe, and why Alex’s bottles have lined our shelves since the day we opened.
Still sadly a little off most people’s radar, with even some of the more adventurous wine enthusiasts overlooking the pleasures of a bottle of fine perry or naturally fermented cider with a meal, we’re hoping that the evening will be a chance for many to discover what we think is a real gem of the South West countryside.
For our side of things, naturally Head Chef Ben has devised a four course menu that highlights our incredible suppliers as well as complementing Alex’s selection perfectly. Given its affinity with cider, we’ll be taking the opportunity to feature a few house cured pork cuts that came from a beautiful mangalitza pig from Cape and Cove last year, alongside St. Austell mussels, grilled Newlyn hake and the first of the season’s asparagus.
Tickets for the evening are £45 per person, including the four course menu and a welcome drink on arrival. We have a vegetarian menu available and non-alcoholic options of course too! Bookings can be made via the link below, for seatings at 5.30pm or 8pm.