British, Modern Restaurants in Grasmere
1. The Forest Side
British, Modern restaurant in Grasmere
Keswick Road - LA22
“A great stay-and-dine location” – Andrew Wildsmith’s hotel inhabits a fine Victorian-Gothic mansion near Grasmere and is one of Lakeland’s ‘premier’ destinations. Chef Paul Leonard “uses locally sourced ingredients to create stunning dishes” for an eight-course tasting menu at £140 per person (although, if you are a hotel resident, there is also a four-course alternative at £95 per person). The “enchanting setting” makes it a superbly “romantic” choice, although a growing number of reporters also consider it rather an “overpriced” one too. Overall, however, positive vibes prevail. (“We were lucky to arrive due to a large dump of snow on the Saturday but we managed to park in a snow drift and enter a world of gastronomy – wow, what a delight! The care and attention to the food preparation and presentation was beyond anything I’d seen before, the beetroot starter was a masterpiece almost too good to eat. A great venue for a romantic overnight stay or a great place to catch up with friends over a gourmet dinner. Superb!”)
2. Rothay Manor
British, Modern restaurant in Ambleside
Rothay Bridge - LA22
“The hospitality is second to none” according to fans of this well-known Lakeland hotel, whose tasteful dining room – with its wood floors, bare tables and Farrow & Ball good looks – has been elegantly updated over the years. Head chef Aaron Lawrence joined in late 2023 and presents a range of menus – from à la carte to tasting options. All who report are impressed, including one diner who “went with low expectations and came away pleasantly surprised”.
3. Old Stamp House
British, Modern restaurant in Ambleside
Church St - LA22
“The Lake District is not short of good places to eat at, but this stands out in an area of brilliant restaurants!” – so say fans of Ryan (chef) and Craig (manager) Blackburn’s well-established destination located in the former office of poet William Wordsworth from the days when he was the local stamp distributor. The main event in the evening is the ‘Journey around Cumbria’ tasting menu with eight courses for £95 per person: “superb food that thoroughly deserves its Michelin star” all delivered by “knowledgeable and warm” service. Top Tip – “priced at £55, it’s very good value for lunch: rabbit cannelloni is good, the steamed halibut superb, the hogget full of flavour and the rhubarb dessert delicious”.
4. Lake Road Kitchen
British, Modern restaurant in Ambleside
3 Sussex House, Lake Road - LA22
James Cross is celebrating his tenth year at the stoves of this well-established Lakeland foodie mecca, where he has won acclaim for his “unique” cuisine: “incredible dishes with different inspirations, but with a nod to both Nordic and Asian influences” (the result of past stints at Noma, Per Se et al). The stripped-down interior is of a piece with the cuisine and staff are “very welcoming and friendly” too. Top Menu Tip – “The freshly baked bread is out of this world (we were given the rest to take home); The A5 Wagyu was incredible and they made us feel so special as it was our tenth anniversary”; “exceptional vanilla ice cream to finish”.
5. Drunken Duck
British, Modern restaurant in Ambleside
Barngates - LA22
This rural gastropub-with-rooms in prime Lakeland tourist territory is “still good after very many years”. The concise menu has “a strong focus on vegetarian and fish dishes” (although one visitor’s husband “had a hankering for a few more meaty options”), but in any case it’s all “very tasty” and “the bar with the on-site brewery (Barngates) is excellent” too.
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