To be rated number one restaurant in the whole of Truro is no mean feat and so I was eager to discover what all the fuss was about.

Chorley's is a relatively new venture for, yes, the Chorley family, who originally started out just with the dad's own special sauce that soon became so popular with friends and family that suddenly it became a bulk production.

It's hard to live on sauce alone, however, and so the next obvious step was to open a restaurant, with the menu based around this famous sauce.

Found in Old Bridge Street for the last two years, it's a proper family run business with its menu boasting strong African influences.

This is reflected in the decor, which has African inspired artwork and objects - wooden giraffes, masks etc - without becoming kitsch or too 'themed'.

The menu is plentiful and a mix of crowd pleasers, such as a good range of burgers, along with some more authentic African dishes such as Bunny Chow curry served in half a loaf of bread.

We started with calamari to share: a generous portion of crispy, perfectly cooked squid rings accompanied by an addictive garlic and piri-piri mayonnaise - so addictive, in fact, that my partner asked for a second helping.

Falmouth Packet:

Calamari starter

Having fairly recently discovered an addiction to ribs - and these being one of the reasons for trying this place - there was only going to be one main course option for me, while my partner went for the intriguing Bee Sting Burger, which proved to be slightly a victim of its own successful description.

Promising a "chargrilled burger topped with cream cheese, honey and piri-piri," the patty was good and meaty, and the cream cheese plentiful but - perhaps because of this - any honey or piri-piri flavour was really lost. And for £7.99 having to add chips as a separate bolt-on for £3.75 (seasoned, or £2.75 plain) felt a little pricey. Coleslaw would have been a further £2.49.

Falmouth Packet:

The Bee Sting Burger with added chips

Falmouth Packet:

Half-rack of ribs with chips and coleslaw

The half rack of ribs, however, with their famous Chorley's signature sauce, were great - meaty, sticky, sweet and generously proportioned. These came with chips and coleslaw included in the £11.99 price tag.

Although already pretty full, we decided we could squeeze in a couple of puddings as they sounded so interesting. At first glance my traditional Malva Pudding cake looked a little...burnt on top? But in actual fact it was indeed moist and buttery as promised, and to be accompanied by both custard and ice cream was a treat.

Falmouth Packet:

Malva Pudding

My partner's Melktart - simply translated as 'milk tart' - was the star of the dessert course, however: creamy and dense (in a good way) with a delicate hint of cinnamon, it was a real hit with both of us.

One gripe was that service, while friendly, was almost a little too eager, with my plate being cleared before my partner had even finished their meal.

Overall, however, it was great to experience something a little different and I would happily go back to try other items off the menu, particularly some of the authentic sounding African dishes.

Falmouth Packet:

Melktart

Key information

Drinks selection: A range of five lagers, two ciders and six wines, along with a South African alcoholic milkshakes, normal milkshakes, soft drinks and hot drinks.

Our cost (two people, without drinks): £40

Contact: 5 Old Bridge Street, Truro; 01872 857010

Opening times: Tuesday-Friday 11.30am-2pm (last orders), 6pm-9pm (last orders); Saturday 11.30am-9pm (last orders)

Ratings

Atmosphere: 5/5

Décor: 5/5

Food: 3.5/5

Service: 3.5/5

Overall: 4/5

Food Standards Agency Food Hygiene Rating: 4/5

In order to ensure objective reviews, the Mystery Diner is carried out on an independent basis without the prior knowledge of the establishment.