Lake Road Kitchen

This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. At £80 per person, this sits at the lower end of the price range for a one-star Michelin restaurant, but it is still expensive for what was actually delivered. The food was overwhelmingly greasy and salty. What made the experience even more frustrating was the contrast with another one-star Michelin restaurant we’ve visited one day earlier Old Stamp House. There the chef’s passion for sourcing local ingredients was evident. He wrote a letter to each guest to talk about how he sourced all ingredients locally in Cumbrian area, and it translated directly onto the plate. At LRK, by comparison, there was a lot of performative pride without much substance. They made a big deal about their New Zealand salmon. In reality, it just tasted like… good salmon. Dessert did nothing to redeem the meal. It was a ny cheesecake, dense and heavy. If anything, it reinforced how uninspired the menu felt overall. A lighter, more refreshing dessert (an ice cream or something citrus-based) would have been far more appropriate. Two days before our reservation, we received a confirmation email informing us that prices had increased since we booked, but that they would “honour” the original price. Frankly, this didn’t come across as generous. It felt unnecessary and slightly unprofessional, as though we were meant to be grateful for not being charged more. In the end we paid £195 for a meal consisted of four small dishes plus one cheese cake for 2 person. That is simply poor value. Service was also well below Michelin-star expectations. Having to pour our own water might be acceptable in a casual bistro, but not at this level. The interior décor was similarly underwhelming. I genuinely struggle to understand how this holds a Michelin star when compared with other one-star restaurants in the UK. I would simply not recommend it.

We had the 8 course tasting menu in the wonderful Lake Road Kitchen. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and very professional. The food was exceptional. This is what a tasting menu is all about. Not everything scored top marks for us but we still recognised the skill and invention that had gone into the dish. The salmon was our favourite and the cheesecake was exquisite. A truly wonderful experience and we would thoroughly recommend.

Great Michelin restaurant, perfect for a date. The intimate setting with few tables makes it feel private and special. The food was delicious, though we expected a bit more “wow” from the menu. Service was superb.

This food is unforgettable. This is the first Michelin-starred restaurant my wife and I have been to. My wife is vegan and I ordered the vegetarian menu. They were so accommodating and recreated most of the dishes based on our restrictions, but the food tasted like it was meant to be that way to start. The staff was also great, they were super friendly. Overall I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. The only negative was that it ruined the rest of the food during my stay.

I arrived in Ambleside 30 minutes before my meal. It was completely pouring down and I really appreciated the welcoming from James and his staff allowing me into the restaurant 30 minutes before it opened. I loved the decoration of the restaurant and the open kitchen looked stunning. I was delighted to have an amazing view of the kitchen as it was right in front of me. Every single course that I had ordered was delicious and explained by the front of house staff with full detail. You can tell just by the way they both worked and also the many chefs in the kitchen that they really are passionate about what they are serving. I have been to The Samling and The Schelly so I know what michelin food should taste like. This was the best food I have ever eaten and it does not even come close. I want to also say thank you to Sally who I spoke to via email and was very helpful and friendly and made me feel welcomed and excited even before I had arrived. The whole experience felt like a massive educational experience that was fun and taught me a lot about the food they were serving and where it comes from. They even have an online shop where they do their own cookies and they are rich and delicious.

I was surprised with the 8 course tasting menu for my 25th birthday! James, chef patron, was a legend. You can tell he cares so much about his food. The bread was the BEST bread I've ever had. The butter that came with it was dry aged and it tasted meaty with the bread. My favourite dish, although it's hard to choose, was the salmon. I savoured every bite. I crave for pistachio gelato every time I visit a hot country in Europe. To have this at home in the Lakes, and not only this, but the best quality pistachios paired with British cherry jam. Incredible. Also, shout-out to Darren who was an exceptional server. Hats off, the experience really felt once-in-a-lifetime as I'll remember this meal for the rest of my life. They also made me feel very special on my birthday, which I didn't expect at all. Worth every single ££ spent and it was a privilege to be able to go there.

Did the 5 course meal to dip our toes into our first Michelin locally, definitely plan to do the 12 course. The flavors and dishes were well thought out and beautifully layered. The salmon dish and peas were PHENOMENAL. We even took home some fermented butter, which was insane! Definitely will make our way back and well worth the experience.

Lake Road Kitchen in Ambleside is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, the warm, inviting atmosphere and the attentive staff made us feel right at home. The menu is a delightful foodie journey, each dish expertly crafted and beautifully presented. There was no standout dish for me as they were all outstandingly good. The wine pairing was impeccable, enhancing the flavours of each course. The attention to detail and the passion for culinary excellence are evident in every bite. It's clear that the team at Lake Road Kitchen takes great pride in what they do. This was more than just a meal; it was an unforgettable dining experience. Highly recommend!

Started in June 2014, Lake Road Kitchen is an unassuming yet intimate restaurant in the stunningly picturesque 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.

Following a ridiculously positive review by Marina O'Lochlan in the Guardian (giving an outstanding 10/10 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!

We've eaten here twice now, most recently about 2 weeks ago (just discovered Yelp). Both occasions have been amongst the best meals I've ever eaten, every dish is pretty much a unique experience, the food is meticulously prepared. I'd put it up there with the likes of L'Enclume in Carmel. The service is spot on, friendly, informative and relaxed. The atmosphere is a sort of minimalist Icelandic feel. The "drapes" review "1" referred to are local Herdwick sheep fleeces. It's pricey by local standards (I'm local) but London types would regard it as an absolute bargain in comparison to the prices in the big smoke. I can see why the Grauniad gave it 10/10 - and you can generally trust Maria O Loughlan's reviews.