Following a ridiculously positive review by Marina O'Lochlan in the Guardian (giving an outstanding…read more10/10 for food) it was decided that our trip to the Lake District would HAVE to include a visit to Lake Road Kitchen. On the main stretch of Ambleside shops and bars, sits this Nordic-esque restaurant that is promised to delight. We were seated at a table for two, minimal decor and wooden tables with a fur shawl-type wrap draped over the back of one chair (which I should have asked about, but Neil and I came to the conclusion that maybe it was for the ladies who may get a little cold whilst dining?) We had the tasting menu and each dish was exceptionally presented and the flavours.. Oh god, the flavours. They were just spot on. Outstanding mentions go to the king Crab dish with white asparagus and Creme Fraiche with caviar and the venison main course with black truffle. Such a beautiful restaurant and very VERY talented chefs!!! I'm already planning my next trip back here in the summer!

Started in June 2014, Lake Road Kitchen is an unassuming yet intimate restaurant in the stunningly…read morepicturesque town of Ambleside just north of Lake Windermere in the Lake District. Centred around North European cuisine, and looking like the interior of a Nordic log cabin (in a good way), young chef James Cross (with spells at Noma, Copenhagen and Per Se, New York on his CV) has gradually built a reputation from his open kitchen, for beautifully executed food, constructed from locally sourced, and locally foraged ingredients. With exceptionally good reviews from Northern food bloggers such as Bacon on the Beach and Cumbria Foodie way back in 2014, and recently from national restaurant critic Marina O'Loughlin, I decided a trip up the M6 to LRK would be a good idea. After warming hands on the hot towels that we were presented upon being seated, I ordered the 8-course tasting menu sipped some wonderful English sparkling wine from the Wiston Estate winery in West Sussex, and waited for the food to arrive. Perfection is defined as: 'the action or process of improving something until it is faultless', and this is exactly what James and his team are producing at Lake Road Kitchen. From their intimate kitchen, the bread through to the cheesecake could not be subject to a single complaint, grievance, or criticism. Not a bum note, not a missed trick, from 8 courses. Highly improbable - yes, but not impossible it would seem. Therefore, I can only end by saying thank you to James, Sally, and the rest of the Lake Road Kitchen team for such an incredible evening.

I was only in Ambleside for a quick weekend, but The Fulling Mill right down from the tiny building…read moreon the river was the best meal I had in Cumbria. The space inside is 2 stories and dogs are allowed in the lower level area. The interior is slightly less "warm and cozy" than other pubs in the area, but it has a more posh feel. Prices were pretty much the same, but the menu has some fancier items like fresh pasta. There is an outdoor seating area, but it was much too cold to eat outside when I was there. I went with the crispy duck salad to start and it was delicious. The server recommended it and I'm glad we got it. The flavor profile was great with sesame oil dressing and bean sprouts. I got the fish pie as my main and it was also very good. Large portion and very hearty. It was £12.50. Good service and good food. Highly recommend. Especially over the way more packed, but much crappier food White Lion Pub.

What a totally outstanding café! With the Irish Sea at the end of the road and the walks in the…read morevicinity are easily on a par with the Lake District, the setting could hardly be more beautiful. The Wolfhouse café is part of small 'Wolfhouse' complex of converted outbuildings and wooden cabins also comprising a gift shop, a gallery, and a quirky garden with children's play area. The gallery was shut on our January visit, but everything that was open was in the best possible taste and oozing a relaxed charm. Although only going on one visit, the culinary firepower here seems to be beyond outstanding! Ignore the fact that their website lacks contact details or even an address - this is probably just them being arty! Instead, click through under 'Goods' to 'Savouries' http://wolfhousekitchen.co.uk/goods/savouries/ and 'Pâtisserie' http://wolfhousekitchen.co.uk/goods/patisserie-menu/patisserie-menu-2/ and feast your eyes. Both myself and my friend had different and interesting Pukka herbal tea blends, and a chalkboard advertised that their coffee beans were roasted by a local Lancaster business, with Valrhona hot chocolate, so I think they have the drinks covered. I had goat's cheese, pistachio and prune cake which I think may be this recipe http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cheese_pistachio_and_85849 from The Little Paris Kitchen series on BBC2. My friend had a salted caramel slice, which I also tried and it was good. But my cake worked for me on a whole lot of levels - the colours, sweet-savoury flavours, the textures - see photo. The cake display was very impressive, with other options spread along the sweet-savoury spectrum. I note that the pâtisserie list on The Wolfhouse website just goes on and on and on, with 20-30 items on the list advertised as being available each day. This quote from their 'Savouries' webpage sums up the cheerfully inventive spirit, "When we run out of one thing, we find something else to cook. Simple! It's just so much more fun that way!" With so much inventive spirit, plus everything so well-sourced and made from scratch, I think we can safely say that this 30-seater café is a better option for the serious foodie than a lot of fine dining places. Plus, it is totally relaxed with great staff, and priced at not much above your average country tearoom. Highly recommended.

This is a brilliant, quaint little place that's serves fantastic food, cakes and drinks - all home…read moremade using fresh produce. Staff are generally welcoming of almost anyone, whether a small family, large family, group of hikers, dog walkers, children. Everyone. The sign at the entrance even reads "muddy boots welcome" It's absolutely the best on a bright sunny day, table seating inside makes it an all year place to go if you're in the area.

My favorite Hungarian restaurant so far in this area. Everything was so delicious and looks good…read more And they has traditional Hungarian poppyseed brandy call " mak palinka " it was also great especially after my dinner :)

We were warmly welcomed in this quiet restaurant, and it only got better from there. We enjoyed…read morevery tasty mains of Gypsy Steak and Chicken Cordon Bleu, both tasty and perfectly done. Very tasty apple strudel and a great cappucino topped off a perfect birthday dinner. The staff were just the right degree of attentive, a great complement to the fine meal. We're looking forward to another fine meal here on a future visit back to Blackpool.

First impressions are dangerously deceptive. The exterior…read moreof this restaurant - at home with the kitschy style of the Blackpool waterfront - disguises its cool, contemporary, minimalist interior. Winner of numerous publication awards over the past couple of years, this is a consistent achiever. Appealing menu, great place for tapas - you can be assured of receiving value for your hard earned money. In an area renowned for fast food, this restaurant rewards diners who prefer their dish to be cooked that little bit slower.

Fantastic food, a place not to be missed. The food is out of this world ! Service and atmosphere is…read moresuperb and a great find. A must go !

After driving past this place for 8 yrs on my way to and from work I finally managed to try it and…read moreI'm extremely glad we went. I always thought it would be hard to park at but it's not. If you can't get on the shop front then If you turn onto the street it's on the corner of there is a patron car park and plenty side streets for parking. If you use the patron car park as you enter Ginger Bistro you will need to enter you car reg into a pad this will give you 2hrs parking so you may need to nip out and move the car if you're there longer. The place is lovely and offers a nice cosy environment to relax and enjoy some amazing food, and staff who are passionate about making sure you have the best experience. Food: Starters: I had scallops from the specials menu and he had Queso Fundido A-La Cart. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the sauce they came with complimented the scallops beautifully. The Fundido was extremely tasty it was like a mini lasagna but without the pasta. Mains: Again off the specials menu I had the beef wellington which came with mash and seasonal veg. The other half had 8oz Fillet steak off the A-La Cart. Omg the pastry on the wellington was some of the nicest pastry I've ever had .. it just melted in the mouth. The beef cooked to perfection and the selection of seasonal veg was just amazing. The other half asked for steak rare/medium rare and it came with mushrooms, tomatoes, chunky chips and seasonal veg. There is a choice of sauces too .. he went for the chefs own peppercorn sauce. The steak came out cooked to perfection and he said the sauce was the best peppercorn he'd ever had. Desserts: We shared Apple Crumble and custard which finished off an amazing meal very nicely. The crumble had a good crunch to it and the custard was lovely and smooth. If I could give 10 stars on here I would .. can't say enough good things about this place. It's a must visit.

The personal service at Ginger Bistro is best in class. Thee the y have a deep menu with something…read morefor everyone - meat lover to vegetarian. They also provide an excellent dessert menu.

I asked a lady who dines out three times a week in Lancaster to choose a restaurant for our first…read moremeet-up. The Sun Café Restaurant was her choice, and this place is currently also ranked 3rd on Tripadvisor for restaurants in Lancaster. Although I hadn't said it in so many words, my wish was for a venue special enough to make her feel like a princess but still relaxed enough for us to get to know each other. The Sun Café Restaurant was the perfect venue. From a quick walk around in the rain, Lancaster looks to be a pretty little town with some narrow cobbled backstreet that reminded me of Edinburgh. The Sun is situated on one of these backstreet. The décor and ambience of speak of relaxed quality and of The Sun having put roots down a while ago. From the website, The Sun looks to be run by a very hands on chef-patron. From the outside, I found it very inviting, especially the detailing on the custom wrought metal. Inside, it is definitely a smart restaurant and I am guessing that the 'Café' in the name refers either to an earlier incarnation of this place or else serves to alert potential customers that The Sun also offers breakfast, lunch and coffee much more informally. Our evening played out beautifully - from 6.30pm, we enjoyed the peace of the place to ourselves for the first hour and after that it was just nicely busy for a weekday evening. With the food, I have to admit to not have been that hungry and also absorbed in my highly charismatic companion! We were both impressed by the presentation of her main which was pancake parcels filled with spinach and cheese, the parcels being bags tied at the neck with a chive or similar! I had a starter with a fancy name that was basically a small portion of ratatouille surrounded with a sweet and sour sauce based on pureed butternut squash. As sustenance, mine would have left something to be desired, but in terms of giving this keen cook taste sensations and a velvety texture that I couldn't imagine coming up with at home, I was pleased. My companion had some indulgent chocolate brownie dessert which seemed to hit the spot. The white wine was also pronounced satisfactory. Service was really good - our elegant blonde waitress made us feel at home but special. Rounding up with a tip, the bill came to £35 for one vegetarian main, one starter, one pudding and two glasses of wine. All in, The Sun is a great venue. Although not cheap, I felt our meal was really 'grandstanding' it for a special occasion, without breaking the bank. My companion tells me mains here are reasonably sized, although starters apparently can be on the small side. But whereas I might even grudge the cost of a Pizza Express meal, I didn't feel that at all here. If you live locally, the breakfast and lunch menus are totally different and priced much lower, so that is something The Sun can do for you on a budget! My home patch for dining out right now is Manchester. I've only tried a couple of Modern British/European restaurants that would compare to The Sun (Thomas in the Northern Quarter, Bistro West 156 in Didsbury, but for an all-round dining experience and imaginative vegetarian options, The Sun is definitely better IMO.

The food here is so delicious that I want to cry with every forkful. No joke!…read more Last time I was at the Sun Cafe, we'd had a NYE gathering with about 11 people. They were happy to reserve space for us and despite our group being pretty loud and even a little rowdy at times, the staff was all smiles and joking right alongside us. The owner, a delightfully smiley frenchman, came upstairs to personally serve some of the dishes. Each of us had ordered something different, plus a starter and a dessert, and there wasn't a single complaint out of anyone. They even brought us some party crackers, haha! I am pretty new in town but I hear from a lot of people that the brunch here is great and that the lunch specials are a good way to try out the menu without going broke. Saying that, I think the prices were really reasonable when we were there and I'd go back in a minute.

The Fox (no hounds) is an upmarket yet unpretentious pub in Menston that does what it should…read morewithout any fuss. The interior is lowly-lit and intimate with an understated modern design which gives the place a hushed atmosphere without detracting from its social qualities. I visited on a weekday evening for food (they serve until 10PM) rather than booze, but I was impressed by the eclectic range of beers I noticed (Black Sheep, Peroni, Staropramen etc). Even more impressive was the food I was served (rump steak with peppercorn) - it was uncomplicated, like the rest of the pub, but it was downright delicious. In short, it felt cooked, rather than microwaved, something you don't always find in pubs nowadays. They offer the pub classics you'd expect, but also more classier, expensive options, meaning that the Fox succeeds in being both a pub and a restaurant at the same time. And the beer garden is great.

On a perfect weekend to go exploring ont moors lass, I headed like an intrepid explorer to the…read morequite lush village of Menston. The ducks wear wellies here you know, good job with the rain we get. As a stop off, and a regular one too, it's the turn of the Fox. This is a great pub. Simple as that. It's an impressive stone building and equally beautiful inside. With the feel of a big roaming farm house or even small stately home (at a push), it's got a big fire and lots of wood. I'm a fan of lots of wood, it screams importance to me. Maybe I've watched Anchorman too many times though. You'll also get real ales, just the way you like them. You'll also get some excellent wines too and it's a real all rounder. As for the food, excellent. This is better than your usual pub affair. We're talking high end, good quality meats, fish and vegetarian dishes. It's not cheap but it's a class act and worth the extra. If you're looking to impress, the Fox will deliver.

L'Enclume - Cartmel, Cumbria, England Visited Spring 2025…read more There are places in the world that don't just serve food -- they tell stories. L'Enclume is one of them. Tucked into the sleepy stone village of Cartmel, this restaurant doesn't announce itself with grandeur or flash. No need to. The experience unfolds slowly and deliberately, like the first warm day of spring back home in Georgia -- quiet, confident, full of promise. I came with my daughter and my father, a three-generation table on a grey and rainy English afternoon. What we found inside was something close to sacred. Every ingredient -- and I do mean every leaf, sprig, blossom, and shaving -- is grown just up the road on their farm. It's not farm-to-table because that phrase gets thrown around too easily. This is farm-as-table. Soil to plate, with nothing lost in between. Frankly I'd eat the dirt! The food isn't flashy. It's not even trying to impress you. What it's doing is whispering to you, reminding you how a carrot should really taste, how a beet can surprise you, how even the garnish -- a single flower petal, a delicate frond of dill -- has a place, a purpose, and a story of its own. Every element on the plate has been handled with the kind of care I've only ever seen in kitchens where respect runs deeper than ego. It's the same kind of care you see in a chef who's shelling peas from their grandmother's garden, barefoot and sun-warmed. Do yourself a favor and get the cheese trolley. I don't care how full you are. This isn't a board. It's a full rolling altar of British dairy. We ate our way through it like pilgrims. The wine pairing? Thoughtful and subtle. Not a single pour felt showy or out of place. Just another thread in a tapestry that had already been so patiently woven. And if you have favourites, as my father does, they will expertly deliver what your palet craves. And let me say this plainly: the service is beyond reproach. It's the best I've encountered anywhere. Period. There's grace in the way they move, in the way they speak, in the way they listen. You're not being served. You're being cared for. And there's a difference. They knew the dishes, yes, but they also seemed to know us -- when to engage, when to leave space, when to laugh, when to refill. It's a rhythm, and they've mastered it. Chef Simon... you have done well! I won't attempt to describe each dish. That would be like trying to summarize a novel by reading off the chapter titles. You'll have your own experience -- as you should. I've eaten all over the world. Some places show off, some feed your belly, and a few, like this one, feed your soul. L'Enclume is England's high temple of ultra-seasonal cooking. It's a restaurant that respects the land, the hands that work it, and the guests lucky enough to sit at the table. And if I'm ever blessed enough to return, I won't hesitate. I'll go in hungry, and I'll leave humbled and happy.

First of all the restaurant is amazing great food the food just melted in her mouth so flavorful…read more And whenever you got up to go to the restroom, they fold your napkin again and make it look brand new. Glorious variety of wines. The staff was amazing being so nice and presented dishes expertly. Also with the fancy food you can add an additional cheeseboard at the end and it's the best restaurant I've ever been to. If I could. /10!

Unassuming. Great service. Wonderful people. The food was so satisfying. Unpretentious and so…read moredelicious! Loved it!!!