Baba Ganoush in South Lakeland

If you're in Kendal on a snowy day, and just want a lovely mulled wine, then this isn't your place. If you want the warm taste of Middle Eastern sun, then you've hit the jackpot. Plates piled high with food so good you can't work out if it's unhealthy or not, lovely, knowledgeable staff, and a cracking sweet section, all making you forget about the baffling serving options of how many extra salads you can get with you mouth-watering quiche and calefacient hot chocolate.

Oh no! Been to the meat serving cafe on many a happy occasion when visiting Kendal, but why o why, have you gone for paper cups for the coffee and tea, with no holders so the cups are too hot to hold? Why serve the soup in a paper bowl and provide a card spoon to taste it? Why provide a wooden knife which could not possibly cut the ciabatta roll? Why provide wooden stirrers for the drinks and not spoons? And paper plates too? The whole experience reminded me of a British Rail takeaway meal before Prue Leith sorted it all out. If I'm paying the prices you charge, I expect to be provided with suitqble crockery and cutlery! So disappointed!!

Great location in Kendal near to a car park and just a short cut through into the shops of Kendal. We both had the soups which were delicious. There was a lot of choice for salads, mains and cake. Vegan and gluten-free options available. Not over priced either so we will definitely return on our way to our caravan in the Lakes.

Found this by chance yesterday, amazing place, great service and even better food. Situated down a side street so very easy to miss

Fantastic salads, felafels and cake. We stopped on the way to the Lakes and it was so delicious we made sure it was on our journey home! I wish we had a Baba Ganoush near us at home!

Fantastic food, friendly and professional staff. Veggie options a speciality but there are the usual meat dishes too Cakes are also superb. Will definitely return

Not only some of the best vegetarian food I’ve had but some of the best food. Very friendly staff and reasonably priced. A must try

I can hardly recommend a place more highly than this establishment with a great range of vegan and vegetarian food including sandwiches cakes and soups etc. Lovely friendly professional staff provide an excellent service and the food is value for money and the chefs know exactly what they are doing and doing it well.

Been in Baba Ganoush a lot of times with my partner and autistic son and it is one of the best places we have ever eaten the staff are amazing and then let’s get to the food Brilliant that’s all it can be described as the salads are just so tasty and the choice is immense for vegans and vegetarians it’s perfect and for the meat eaters there is the soup kitchen a few feet away that will do meat and fish And I have one final thing to add the chef must write a book of food he makes and give us all chance to make it at home

Visited for the first time. The food was delicious and wholesome. We had the choice of 3 salads with our meals and both picked one specifically because it said ‘with feta’. We enjoyed the food, but couldn’t see or taste feta. On paying we explained our disappointment with this and were told they had run out!! Surely you could have explained this to us beforehand and asked if we wanted an alternative? If we had got what we ordered and paid for, I would have given 5 stars.

Probably the ultimate veggie/vegan destination in Kendal (although I dont know about the sister soup cafe next door). I've been lots, there's a huge variety of foods, always specials, with loads of them you get to choose from a range of salads - all really yummy, fresh tasting and quite a few indulgent as well as healthy! They have delicious cakes and coffees too (although after a meal here I'm often too full to manage them!) Dog friendly also.

There are 2 Baba G’s. The one that serves meat and fish now has disposable plates which my partner hates so we only had a drink. I was gutted as I love the food. So we went to the veggie bit - still using crockery there. Had a superb lunch as always . Please reconsider the disposable stuff. Your food is too good to miss.

Can't say enough about how great this place is. We visit Kendal regularly and we're never disappointed. We're actually big meat eaters but the food is so good here we don't miss the meat! If I could recreate the food at home i'd happily be a veggie. Cakes and coffee are also amazing-mothwatering! Staff are lovely and attentive and it's dog friendly! What more could you want? I might move to Kendal so I can visit every day!

Food is just perfect, as is service but devastated to see the change to environmental policy now means the same waste as MacDonald’s

Absolutely fantastic place the food is so tasty and the salads are so fresh love it here But can’t get in very often as it’s always packed out but recommend you try it at least once

Stumbled across this place quite by accident and loved it! Good selection of food for quick lunch- tasty curried cauliflower soup and chilli veggie soup with seeded bread, served hot and without delay. Highly recommend and will be going back to taste the many other delights on offer. It filled up very quickly after we arrived at 12, and several people came in for takeaway food.

Baba Ganoush is a wonderful little café in the heart of Kendal which gives you a plethora of choice between many different vegetarian options and from the few which I tried: They were divine. All of the staff were really friendly and helpful which added to the already calming atmosphere. Furthermore, the service was, no exaggeration, the quickest I have ever experienced. In short if you are currently in or planning to go to Kendal in the near future, I highly recommend Baba Ganoush for lunch or even a snack and you will not regret it.

A cafe that feels vaguely underground but also vibrant that serves the most delicious food. Always busy but genuinely happy staff and changeable menus choices make this a must for getting food when in Kendal.

Stumbled over the restaurant whilst in Kendal. I had the Veggie curried soup for starter and Bharji Wrap, with couscous. My wife had the halloumi and falafel Wrap, and we ate in. All were delicious! We plan to stop in Kendal on the way home...

Vegetarian cafe which we found by accident. We were lucky to get a table - Tuesday lunchtime and before 12 noon it was heaving, with lots of people wating outside for takeaway too. Some-one left just as we arrived, so we managed to get a...

We live in Norfolk but go to Keswick twice a year, and always go here . It never disappoints. The food is brilliant, we usually have something and salads - even my salad dodger husband loves it! I wish we lived nearer!

Just had a very tasty lunch. Salads were so tasty and with varied choices. Chilli was also Lovely. We didn’t have the cakes but they looked so good all home made.

Especially the vegetarian kitchen. The soups are wonderful and the bread is to die for! Salads are amazing always lovely and fresh and tasty. Cakes are also yummy! we can't fault it and we both agree if we could get vegetarian food like this all...

Wonderful, a great find though late in my stay after scrabbling a bit for less processed vegan things (wasn’t in a self catering accommodation so couldn’t prepare my normal fare). Would have eaten in or taken away from Baba Ganoush every day if I’d found...

Went with friends this week and got 2 takeaway salads and a passionfruit meringue pie, absolutely amazing!! Staff explained perfectly how to order and there was a brilliant range of salads. Felt just like Kendal’s very own Ottolenghi deli but at a MUCH better price....

Stumbled across this fantastic vegetarian cafe in Kendal and found the food to be fresh and delicious. I had a Buddha Bowl with a vegetarian main and three side salads - absolutely mouth-watering. There was so much choice and it all looked fantastic. I would...

Lovely little cafe with amazing vegetarian food. Portion sizes are excellent. Staff are friendly. They should publish a cookbook with some of their recipes. Would love to make some of it at home

Stopped off for lunch and thought it was a great place. It was all delicious and made fresh. They have a great selection of veggie dishes/salads and also things including fish. Also had a cake and coffee to finish and it was yummy. Nice people...

I regularly visit here during my lunch half an hour & enjoy beautiful soups to take away. Last week I had an issue with the cashier stating that my payment had not gone through so she threw the receipt away & I paid with another...

We go often for a take out lunch. Fantastic array of healthy lunches, gorgeous salads, paninis and sandwiches. I always go for the halloumi and falafel wrap with red cabbage salad. So tasty!

Lovely tasty lunch with excellent range of options and with very friendly and helpful staff. Dog friendly. Very accessible with car park 20 metres away.

Just visited Baba for the first time and had an amazing lunch, one of us had salmon and prawn quiche and the other the Cuban sandwich, both with a mix of the most delicious salads. The staff were very helpful and friendly. Can’t wait to...

Such a good range of food & drinks. I'm vegan and good choices. Staff were lovely. Friendly & helpful. Food was delicious and so well presented

Had read reviews about here and luckily our car park was right next to it. I had a three salad bowl, the curries cauliflower was as good as someone had recommended. The other two were equally amazing. Certainly gave my taste buds a treat. Highly...

Still enjoying leftovers from generous portion of three salads from yesterday. Lots of vegan options and all delicious, pretty and nutritious. Others had the halloumi and falafel wrap which was substantial, spicy and delicious by all accounts. A huge slice of indulgent vegan carrot cake...

Totally love the Ploughman’s Box and the cakes are irresistible. Great quality and value. So glad you are open again.

My review is less about the food, as I didn't eat it, but the girl (with blond hair) that was so helpful! As a first time customer, I was completely overwhelmed by the choices and she was excellent, so THANK YOU!

As a family we have been visiting Baba since it opened. We have taken many family members and friends over the years. We have never had a bad meal. The only problem Is deciding what to have as every dish is so tasty and delicious....

Never disappoints , All 4 of us went for the soup and sandwich combo. All the soups were excellent, packed with flavour. The sandwiches were also really tasty with lots of filling . Would highly recommend

Great place for vegan and vegetarian food, nice to see a variety of salads on offer as a side accompaniment. Vegan myself so was pleased with the knowledge of the staff. Nice coffee but great to also be given table water straight away. Everywhere looked...

If you’ve not been, give your tastebuds a treat, and your body as the highlights are the amazing range of salads so I assume they’re at least a bit healthy too. I go here far too much (don’t buy all the coronation cauliflower, ruins my...

We found this place on the eat out to help out list and wow what a great find. The coffee was lovely and the food amazing. We all had a selection of the dishes but most came with their beautiful freshly made salads, great flavours...

Lovely food and great staff. We had the mezze plate and coffee, hot chocolate and amazing cauliflower cheese soup - really tasty. Finished off with a blondie - YUM. Highly recommend.

Food from Baba Ganoush is consistently excellent.My favourite place to eat in or takeaway. Great bakery too

As an owner of my own delicatessen’s I do find it hard to find really good quality food made with passion. Well I found it here, the soup was white onion and cider, the Thai noodle side dish with my sandwich was delicious and the...

The second time we have been and it won’t be the last, the food is really tasty, lots of choice, even my husband enjoyed the food being a meat eater, they have soups and salads even vegan cakes.

We were looking for somewhere nice for lunch after visiting the local hospital, some lovely staff there recommended Babaganoush, they even gave me very specific directions which was perfect. We were advise there were 2 sites, one on the corner and one half way down...

I have been to Baba Ganoush a few times when working in Kendal. Is one of my favourite places. The food selection is amazing, I think. The soups are always nice, always at least two to choose from, same with the bread that comes with. The customer service has always been on point.

I have been here several times and really enjoyed the food however the atmosphere runied it for me. I have over heard the owners 'having words' which have almost caused me to walk out because of how uncomfortable it made me. The price to eat in is often £2 more per meal which I feel is a bit of an extreme to the take away price. Eat out if you can.

Absolutely love this place. They offer an excellent selection of cakes, sandwiches, breakfast buns and soups - always delicious served by chilled, friendly staff. The boston bean soup and gooey lemon slice are both absolutely devine and my personal favourites, oh and the coronation cauliflower salad - mmmmm!! Coffees also pretty great too. If your ever visiting Kendal, this place is well worth a visit for brunch / lunch.

Wow what a lunch, they now do takeaway. The place was full plus a queue. I had a ploughmans with a choice of salads cheeses& bread plus ham . It was fab, my friends had quiche with choice of salads & a ham toastie with salad choice . A choice of teas & coffee & a drinks licence. Highly recommend.

A great place for lunch. Super healthy food. Lots of choice and great value for money. We have been several time and it has always been good.

This one of, if not the best cafe/restaurants in Kendal. The food is delicious served in generous portions, by friendly staff in a terrific environment. Highly recommended, particularly if you are a vegetarian. It is our 'goto' place to eat.

Called for the first time last year and been back a dozen times now. Really nice atmosphere and friendly helpful staff. Always a couple of warm choices to go with various salads and pastas. Cakes are great too.

We have visited both places for lunch recently after a recommendation from friends. Now this is our choice in future for lunch. Yesterday I had a large bowl of salmon chowder, a delicious meal in itself, full of fish and perfectly cooked vegetables. My wife had the quiche with 3 salad choices, spicy lentils with mushrooms, fruity red cabbage and Moroccan couscous. A brilliant and amazingly generous plateful. Unbelievably good value for around £12 for both without drinks this time as we just had the tap water.

We popped in for a last min lunch. Absolutely so delicious and healthy. Good portion sizes for your money unlike some more hipstery cafe's in Kendal. Always friendly staff and unusual new ideas to select from. Winner winner!

Great selection of foods to choose from,all freshly prepared on the premises.Lovely colourful display of different salad combinations and quiches.Hard to decide what to have.Great sweet choices too.Try for yourself,always busy which is a good sign.

Went for lunch here after reading all the positive reviews and we weren’t disappointed. Lovely place, really fresh tasty food and whilst it was really busy - we were able to share a table with another group which added to the atmosphere. Will look forward to going back :-)

Ambos restaurantes son muy limpios y acogedores. Solo tomamos un café y un trozo de tarta pero, sinceramente, ¡la pegajosa tarta de caramelo era increíble! Hay un fantástico bar de ensaladas en el restaurante vegetariano con quiches de aspecto atractivo, así como viejos favoritos como el queso macarrones. Nuestro pequeño Yorkie también fue bienvenido. Volveremos y la próxima vez probaremos su otro restaurante más abajo. Altamente recomendado.

Kept meaning to try here but was always packed each time but today we were lucky. What a great meal. I had the goats cheese and red onion quiche and then you chose 3 salads which were amazing. So tasty all of the food and friendly staff. Will definitely go again if we can get a table! Noticed that the soup kitchen further down is theirs too and offers meat options too and also appeared to allow dogs in which is a major point for us.

Almorcé aquí con un amigo (en la cafetería que también sirve para no vegetarianos).

A warm and inviting name. Great value plates of exciting looking healthiness and a variety of soups, salads, bakes and so on. A pleasant atmosphere and a glimpse of a well-loved local MP. Dog friendly.

La comida siempre es fresca y llena de sabor. Hemos visitado aquí por años. Desafortunadamente en nuestra reciente visita, los perros han estado en la cocina de alimentos, antihigiénicos donde se consumen los alimentos. Soy alérgico a los perros como a muchos otros, por lo que desafortunadamente permitir que los perros en los restaurantes inhibe a las personas como yo a comer fuera.

This is a great place to eat, the food is fab with a lovely selection and great variety of flavours, suitable for all the family.

I had a very nice vegan lunch here. The food was fresh and delicious. It was a real treat to stumble across this gem of a cafe, I can’t recommend it enough!

Do take a walk down the quant lane to this gem. Delicious, honest, healthy food with flavour plus. We had soups with breads. Apple cake with decent coffee welcomed. Keep up the good work.

We both really loved this place though my husband is not a fan of vegetarian restaurants but what delicious food! Would definitely recommend and go there again.

Friends of ours told us about this place and not being vegetarian, we were sceptical but promised to give it a try. Wow!!!! Totally converted and look forward to going back for their amazing quiches and salad boxes. Oh yes, their soups......amazing!!!! Curried Cauliflower with the onion bhaji is superb.

We had a delightful lunch here. Very tasty soup and an interesting selection of salads to accompany our mezze platter. Friendly service, good value, highly recommended.

I love the salads here but having eaten in the soup kitchen side I was disappointed. The food was ok but I have never noticed the vast price difference between eating in and out before - a can of Coke to have in was ridiculous. Already nearly £2 anyway. If I can make a suggestion it would be grab a salad to go and purchase your drinks etc. Elsewhere.

I really enjoy visiting here! The staff are always super friendly and the food is just fabulous! Everything is so fresh and super tasty! Definitely a cafe to visit if you are in Kendal!

Fantastic cafe restaurant with delicious food. It was a struggle to choose as everything looked delicious. We had cauliflower frittata & three salads all were tasty and moorish! We managed to find room to share a lemon shortbread which was amazing too. Highly recommend this place. Behind beales store, dog friendly too.

Planned all week to visit here and eventually did and was certainly not disappointed. Used the non vegetarian establishment but for no other reason but it was the first one we came to. Had a massive plate of all sorts of wonderfully flavoursome food and left feeling full to the brim, in-fact three full adults with food that cost less than £25 (paid more than that for coffee and cake this week in Windermere).

There are 2 branches near each other, one vegetarian the other a restaurant.

Vistied for the second time hoping it hadn`t changed,and it hasn`t only the décor and layout(for the better),it is a must visit for veggies and vegans the menu is extensive,so many different salads to choose from as well as everything else,my 2 favs the hummus and the curried cauliflower salad,our vegan daughter found it a breath of fresh air.

Decided to go to Kendal on a Saturday lunchtime and after a couple of hours in the charity shops dropped into this little restaurant. We jumped in around 2.30 which turned out to be a good time to go in as it was pretty quiet.

If you're looking for a relaxing yet upbeat experience then try Baba ganoush it's wonderful staff and excellent food make for a pleasurable experience. 5/5

Excellent little place hidden away. Thoughtful girls serving and fabulous food. Will come again! Food home made & fresh. Lovely ambience. Couldn’t be more helpful.

Lunch time Vegetarian cafe with lots of vegan options. Mezze was amazing, 3 salads, artisan bread, 3 falafel and hummus and olives all for £7.50. Lots of soup and quiches and a fritatta.

Visited on a Monday lunchtime restaurant was busy but not full. Welcome was warm and service efficient. After much deliberation we decided on the fritata with 3 delicious salad accompaniments and the mouth watering onion bhaji wrap with a side of bombay potato. Everything was delicious and at £16 with a drink we were satisfied with value for our money. Would we return... definitely ✅ as a couple of meat eaters we were not at all disappointed.

Tucked away down an alleyway in the town centre is the best vegetarian food we have tasted. Have been several times and food has always been top quality in clean, modern cafe (something to do with a fire in 2018!). Will go again next week...

Crazy impressed with this tucked away place on my first visit to Kendal. Food was absolutely delicious. Super imaginative and tasty and very reasonably priced. I had the veggie laksa and a salad bowl and a drink which is essentially two lunches for tenner. The man who helped me order was lovely. It’s a 10/10 from me

Excellent food is served here and very reasonable prices- would recommend this place to anyone. The staff are very friendly too

Me encanta la comida aquí. Tiene un sabor increíble, hay una gran selección y es diferente de cualquier otra cafetería / delicatessen en Kendal. El personal es encantador. Puedes comer o quitarte la comida que es fabulosa. La comida es para morirse. No soy vegetariano, pero me encantan algunas de las opciones vegetarianas aquí.

Noté esta cafetería vegetariana mientras deambulaba por Kendal, apareció para revisar el menú, y la comida en el mostrador se veía tan fantástica que tuvimos el almuerzo temprano más delicioso allí mismo. Raciones generosas de quiche, frittata y ensaladas recién hechas muy sabrosas y de buena calidad, seguidas de un delicioso pastel. Todo servido por un personal encantador, amable y servicial en una elegante y moderna cafetería.

One of the very few excellent authentic places to visit in Kendal , lovely food & venue , the sharing platters are 2nd to none & the prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food

very varied. water readily available. good portions. not always easy to get a table . hidden away in a quiet area

My fiancée and I popped in for lunch and enjoyed the Mezze sharer. We loved every mouthful and loved the variety of interesting salads and foods. I thought it was a very reasonable price and had a fantastic 'feel'. Thank you.

Called in starving after a gym session and was absolutely won over. I had a halloumi and falafel wrap which was wonderful. A salad comes with it and this too-I chose taboulleh-was excellent. My wife had the beetroot and sweet potato quiche with three salads. Everything we ate was top notch and at £13 for the two of us we really could not grumble at all. In fact, rather than grumble we have been raving about it ever since. We are not vegetarians but like good food and this ticked every box. We will definitely be back.

Descubrí este encantador café por casualidad. Está escondido en una calle pintoresca justo al lado de una bulliciosa zona comercial, pero merece la pena buscarlo. No necesitarás ser vegetariano para disfrutar de la excelente comida aquí. Decoración relajada pero elegante, con muebles eclécticos. El servicio es amable sin ser efusivo, y es muy eficiente. Desde el pedido hasta que se sirva en menos de 5 minutos, ¡así que puedes comer aquí si tienes prisa!

Realmente no tienes que ser vegetariano para apreciar la comida aquí. Los sabores en todos los platos que tuvimos fueron fabulosos. Tuvimos el mezzo para compartir, que era más que suficiente para 2 personas. Los precios son muy razonables, el personal es educado, amable y alegre. Tiene un ambiente cálido y volveremos pronto. No tengo ningún problema en recomendar a nadie.

Visited for a second time after discovering the place last summer. Went with our son and his partner on this occasion, both vegetarians who absolutely love their food. They felt totally spoilt for choice, wanting to try it all. They chose meals from the menu, whilst my wife and I settled for the wonderful soup. All expectations fulfilled and exceeded. All beautifully prepared, delicious, and well served by friendly and helpful staff. We all can't wait for our next visit to Kendal to sample more of Baba Ganoush's delights. A gem of a place!

This is one of our favourites - seriously yummy food, but always busy, because the reputation is great - so either get there early for lunch, or be prepared to wait. We have never once been disappointed - always excellent!

Great simple lunch, 7 soups on offer, 3 gluten free. Good size bowl at great pricing. My french onion with cheese and croutons was lovely and my wife’s spiced sweet potato was equally good. So why only 3 stars? No gluten free bread - such a simple thing that changes the enjoyment factor massively

Good food at a reasonable price. Very pleasant staff. All 3 non vegetarians enjoyed the food. Overall a very enjoyable experience

Wonderful food change from usual menus plenty of choice and fresh food, choice of salads plus welcoming staff. No rush to clear table time to chat in pleasant surroundings

Found this little gem with my wife and two dogs, staff and service are great and the food was very good will definitely be back thank you to all the staff.

I was sick of eating chips and salad in Dent so drove to Kendal and found this place. Wonderful food and very friendly staff. YAY!!! Finally, no more chips!!! Highly recommended superb vegan food.

I have had the opportunity to visit Baba Ganoush on a few occasions. It is so clean, fresh looking and welcoming. The presentation of food is superb, you just don't know what to choose.

Frequent visitor to Bab Ganoush for take out lunch. The soup is hearty and the sourdough bread is tasty. Try the carrot and lentil soup and even better than that is the apple, parsnip, kale and cheddar soup. The salads are varied and filling, try three salads and a very generous slice of quiche. If you are already struggling with a New Year resolution to eating healthy food don't give up go, to Baba Ganoush.