Word on the street says this is foodie heaven

DARTMOUTH'S South Embankment is officially foodie heaven as far as internet power house Google is concerned.

The riverside street in the heart of Dartmouth has been named as a front runner in the international web search engine giant's Street View Awards.

The 150-yard long section of town centre road includes celebrity chef John Burton Race's New Angel restaurant along with chef Mitch Tonks' Seahorse restaurant.

It also includes the popular Station Café, Birssey's Bar, the Waterfront Coffee House, the Dartmouth Yacht Club and the Sails restaurant above.

The stretch has now been nominated for Google's award section for Britain's Best Foodie Street in the South West — along with Whiteladies Road in Bristol.

In all seven streets in the West Country have been nominated in the various sections which include Britain's Most Picturesque Street and Britain's Best Fashion Street.

Mitch Tonks said: "It's fantastic news that South Devon and Dartmouth in particular has been recognised in this award. This has to be the destination for great seafood eating in the UK, with the freshest fish and the biggest catch in the UK being landed locally every day.

"There are two great restaurants, cafes and a new family seafood restaurant about to open, coupled with the amazing view across the Dart, makes this in my mind food heaven."

Malcolm and Karen Whybrow have run Sails restaurant for the last four years.

They are both delighted that they are in the top foodie street in Dartmouth.

"It's fantastic," said Malcolm who reckons the publicity spin-off will be great for Dartmouth.

Meanwhile Christine Kelly who works at the Waterfront Coffee House pointed out that while the business did not attempt to compete with TV chefs it was still a draw for both locals and visitors alike with its lunches and coffees.

She said of the award shortlisting: "I think it's absolutely wonderful."

The seven streets within the South West will now battle it out against 43 other streets in a nationwide public vote. Voting opens from today, and closes on Sunday, February 28. The winners will be announced in March. To vote, go to www.maps.google.co.uk/beststreets

The Dartmouth road was nominated by Chloe Scott-Moncrieff, food and drink editor of Metro, who said: "Near our English Riviera at Dartmouth, lies Mitch Tonks' The Seahorse Restaurant, one of the best fish restaurants in Blighty. Next to it is the AA rosetted New Angel run by John Burton Race. Then you've got the local hand caught scallops and marina grub to devour."