The Abbey Restaurant, Balsalla, Isle of Man

Memories from my first visit to the Isle of Man include fluffy cats, rocky coves, towering castles, succulent white crabmeat, rolling countryside,  and huge home-made cakes!  At times I felt I was in Ireland, and other times in a mysterious, misty island peopled by the spirits of Vikings cohabiting  side by side with wealthy businessmen ensconced in luxurious private estates. Another interesting feature is the local currency – pound notes which carry the  Queen’s head, but are not accepted in the U.K.!

The Abbey Restaurant in Ballasalla sits in the grounds of an ancient 12th century Cistercian Monastery where the Manx Government is currently carrying out an archeological dig.  .  Set in an imposing house built in the 19th century with stones from the ruined monastery, it is welcoming and friendly restaurant.

The cuisine is international but with particular emphasis on food sourced from the Isle of Man, including scallops, lobsters, crab, lamb and pork.  As well as traditional dishes such as Lamb three ways or trio of Scottish salmon, there are more exotic dishes such as Japanese style lobster salad with wasabi dressing, Spinach and Goat’s cheese strudel, or Wellington of Manx pork loin glazed with ginger beer.  In fact there is something for everyone, with a quick lunch menu, a steak grill, afternoon tea with those delicious home-made cakes,  and the more sophisticated dinner menu.

Prices vary from £9.95 at lunch, to £17.95 for the main courses at dinner, and £19.50 for aged beef from the grill. Familes are welcome and I was impressed by the number of large tables with members of many generations enjoying the friendly atmosphere.

The Isle of Man, set in the middle of the Irish Sea, is in fact only a 30 minute flight from Manchester or Liverpool so quite accessible .  And there really are cats without any tails!