Where To Eat In Taunton Somerset

So you’ve found yourself in Taunton, Somerset—congratulations! It’s the county town with a castle, a river, and a surprisingly serious obsession with cider. But if you’re hungry, you need a game plan, because eating here is a glorious minefield of old-school pubs, trendy bakeries, and places that will judge you for ordering a latte after 2 p.m.

Let’s start with the pinch-point of any Taunton food quest: the hangover rescue. Head straight to Bridgwater & Taunton College’s Cannington Restaurant. Yes, a college. The students cook there, and they’re terrifyingly good. You’ll get a three-course lunch for less than the price of a dodgy kebab, and you’ll feel like a food critic. Just don’t ask them how to make the gravy—they’ll hand you a textbook.

For a proper “I deserve this” feast, book a table at The Castle Hotel’s Castle Bow. It’s inside an actual Norman castle—because why eat in a boring room when you can eat in a fortress? The menu is fancy, but the staff are so nice they’ll laugh at your terrible jokes. Try the steak; it’s so tender you could spread it on toast.

Now, let’s talk lunch like a local. The Willow Tree on Obridge Road is a tiny pub that looks like it was built by a drunk giant with a love for wobbly floors. Their fish and chips are actual gold standard—crispy, flaky, and served with mushy peas that taste like green joy. Warning: the portions are comically large. You will waddle out and possibly need a nap in the car park.

Taunton also has a secret weapon: Gurkha Kitchen. It’s a Nepalese curry house that’s so authentic, the menu includes a picture of a yak just to remind you this food is not for amateurs. Order the momos (pork dumplings), and you’ll understand why the locals whisper about it like a cult. Bring tissues—if you’re spice-sensitive, the lamb curry might make you cry happy tears.

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If you’re after the hottest table in town (literally, because the ovens are always on), try The Bakers Table in the old cattle market. They do sourdough so good, you’d swear the bakers are wizards with flour. Get the sausage roll—it’s the size of a baby’s arm and flaky enough to create a minor snowstorm of pastry crumbs.

For a quick, dirty fix that’s actually legit, hit Pittards Fish & Chips on East Reach. It’s been open since 1965, which means they’ve had decades to perfect the art of batter. The cod is so fresh, it probably swam up the River Tone yesterday and applied for a job. Don’t forget vinegar—they’ll look at you funny if you don’t.

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And finally, dessert. Sweet Tooth Taunton is a tiny shop on Bridge Street that sells brownies dense enough to use as doorstops. But the real weirdo delight is Wright’s Pies—a bakery that sells a “pie milk shake”. Yes, you read that right: a minced beef pie blended into a drink. It tastes better than it sounds, and I’m not sure if that’s genius or an act of culinary terrorism.

One last surprising fact: Taunton has more cider pubs per square mile than almost any other town in England. So after you eat, go to The Perkin Warbeck (yes, that’s its name) and order a glass of scrumpy. It’s 7% alcohol and tastes like apples that have been angry for centuries. You’ll wake up the next morning with a fuzzy memory and a renewed respect for Somerset’s food scene.

Go. Eat. Be merry. Your stomach will thank you—probably while it’s digesting a pie milkshake.