Michael Cane

This review is for the Café, not the restaurant. Unilocal doesn’t really extend to Exeter, but the Café is so good, it’s worth the review.
We had lunch on a glorious day, in the Cathedral Yard, outside, admiring the Cathedral and, sadly, the temporary hoarding while they were working on part of the Cathedral Yard. No matter, sun and warmth in October in Exeter are rare and delightful.
The Café was running a fantastic value 2 course menu for two, with a bottle of wine for £26. Each course had a choice of 3 items — the waitress warned that the portions were not large, but as it turned out they were right-​sized and perfectly adequate. I had duck spring rolls and mullet on a bed of al dente vegetables. My son had smoked trout pâté and pork belly in a glaze with roasted autumn vegetables. The food was excellent — even without considering the bargain price point — fresh, light, very tasty and it left us with a healthy feeling. Even the wine, an Argentine Sauvignon/​Semillon blend was very drinkable — I was expecting something pretty rough at this price, but again I was favourably impressed.
The lunch would have been good value at twice the price and without the view. Highly recommended!

I don’t know how you searched out this place but it is a gem.
The formal Michael Caines restaurant is the craddle to culinary efforts which culminated in the two-​starred Gidleigh Park restaurant in Chagford.
Last time I ate at the Michael Caines’ was in 2009 and I still remember the pigeon and the lamb rack. The wine list is so good I almost wanted to cuddle the cellar door.
The restaurant shares its kitchen and ingredients with an adjacent café, serving simple yet delicious local dishes. The outstanding fish and chips are a highlight.
It has been known to me that after experiencing Michael Caines’, certain visitors opted to eat there again rather than drive to Gidleigh Park.
It has also been known to me that after experiencing Gidleigh Park, several visitors opted to eat there again rather than drive to the Michael Caines’.
You’ll face the real problem, however, if you experience both!