Food, glorious food
An ever-changing round up of good stuff that we have eaten, and where to find it. This will mostly be in list format, but food is important to us, so we'll occasionally post a blog when we've particularly enjoyed a meal or drink. And the areas around Waitby School have much more to offer, we just haven't managed to try them all!
The L'al Nook: Convivial, tiny pub in Kirkby Stephen; a superb micro pub. If you only go to one pub this is the one, although it is only open weekends in the winter. It has an excellent and varied selection of beer served by incredibly knowledgeable staff. Tell Dave we sent you.
Winton
The Bay Horse: A little more than normal pub grub but nicely done (017683 71451)
Appleby
The Sanford Arms: A charming old world pub providing well cooked food from this restaurant, between Kirkby Stephen and Appleby (01768351121)
Kirkby Thore
The Bridge: Modern bistro/café offering morning coffee, great lunches and dinners as well as homemade cakes and other treats. (01768 362766)
Kirkby Lonsdale
The Sun Inn: Creative and tasty dinner menu, simple lunches really well executed in an old coaching inn in the centre of Kirkby Lonsdale, great beer as well! (015242 71965)
Botanica: We always try to grab a meal here if we are in Kirkby Lonsdale, delicious food, creative tapas (see below).
Cod and scallops with a twist at Botanica in Kirkby Lonsdale
Ravenstonedale
The Fat Lamb Country Inn: Relaxed and simple restaurant serving dishes produced from local ingredients available. Open lunchtimes and evenings (015396 23242)
Black Swan Hotel: Nicely cooked classics prepared from local produce. One of the UK`s top 50 gastro pubs. Served in the bar, restaurant or garden (015396 23204)
Sedbergh
Three Hares: What happens when a local boy meets a Japanese girl who baked for many years in Dusseldorf? This bakery, café, bistro is worth the 25 minute journey for its really beautifully cooked offerings, lunch and the bakery everyday apart from Mondays. Booking essential as this place is cosy (015396 21058)
Black Bull: If not content running their bakery/café, the Three Hares crew have taken on the coaching inn opposite; think Cumbrian with a hint of Japanese fusion cuisine, it might sound a tad odd, but it works really well and there’s a great bar to have a drink in before dinner (015396 20264)
Tebay
Cross Keys Inn: A larger selection of real ales than most the pubs in the area and basic but very good pub food (01539 624240)
J38 Truck Stop: The original motorway services but with great breakfasts (if a full English is your thing) and very hearty dinners for the truckers, all are welcome, all the meat is from local farms, good value! This place has our undying loyalty, thanks to the staff in the fuel station who were so kind to us after our car had to be towed there by a recovery truck when we got a puncture on the motorway (015396 24505)
Michelin Starred/Exceptional Restaurants in Cumbria
For all these restaurants booking is essential and preferably way in advance as they are exceptionally popular
L'Enclume: Situated in Cartmel, a sleepy village about an hour’s drive from Waitby, the stylish interior blends rustic with contemporary and the set menus displays creative highly original dishes. Simon Rogan now has two Michelin stars and many critics cite this as the best restaurant in the UK. (01539 536362)
Rogan & Co: Only a single Michelin star for Simon Rogan`s very upmarket pub/restaurant also in Cartmel; the food and the atmosphere are more informal than L'Enclume but still exceptional. (01539 535917)
Forestside: After Kevin Tickle, who worked in Simon Rogan’s Cartmel kitchens, moved on, Paul Leonard has managed to retain the Michelin star; a contemporary menu is well presented at this Grasmere hotel. (01539435250)
Holbeck Ghyll: Yet another hotel with stunning lake views that once held a Michelin star but lost it; however the new management and the very experienced young chef Jake Jones have really turned this Windemere restaurant around. (01539 432375)
The Old Stamp House: Two brothers showcase the best Cumbrian produce with just a hint of fusion in this Ambleside eatery that quite rightly has won a Michelin star. (015394 32775)
Allium at Askham Hall: Chef Richard Swale, Cumbrian born and bred, went around the world to learn his trade including working at NOMA in Copenhagen, before returning and winning his Michelin star here, produce from the estate and local area are the highlight (01931 712350)
Cottage in the Woods: Kathy the owner has been lovingly serving dinner for years here at this picturesque location very near Keswick, finally being rewarded with a Michelin star, the onus is simplicity and impeccable service (017687 78409)
Clifton (just outside Penrith)
George and Dragon: The pub linked to the Lowther estate is probably at the pinnacle of serving up creative local produce, Michelin stared, booking essential (01768865381)