Dodds Restaurant in South Lakeland

We moved to Ambleside not too long ago and Dodds has become a firm favourite. My wife loves the lasagne and I enjoy trying all of the daily specials. Would highly recommend

Best italian food ive tried. Better than the food i ate in Italy 😍😍😍

Fantastic restaurant , great service & atmosphere. Staff are so accommodating too

Nice food and a different menu to other places in Ambleside. Always worth a visit

Service was good, waiters were polite. Food came quickly and hot The pizza was tasty but there was a lack of tomato sauce and a lot of cheese however the base was nice and crispy. My family's other orders were described as delicious and 5/5 the orders were spaghetti Bolognese, kids menu Mac and cheese and lamb Gnocci. I was also able to get a table on a Saturday night,and immediate service. There is also a wide variety of food choices.

Really nice food well prepared and presented at a very reasonable price.

Lovely atmosphere, nice staff and the food was very very nice. We will definitely be visiting again.

Lovely little Italian restaurant, very welcoming and friendly. Food was excellent, can recommend the gnocchi lamb ragu, minute steak and peppercorn sauce pizza and the Fico pizza (goats cheese & figs).

We have been here before, and thoroughly enjoyed our experience. On this visit, the restaurant was much quieter, and the staff seemed less welcoming. I was very much looking forward to trying the pasta from the specials board. Smoked Chicken, in a creamy sauce with mushrooms, truffle oil and crispy onions. But I was really disappointed. The sauce was really watery and lacked flavour. The main flavour from the whole dish was raw garlic. The sprinkling of tiny crispy onions was quickly soggy amongst the sauce. I didn't feel it was worth £18.25 I'm afraid. Maybe this was just a one off bad dish, I will happily come back and give other dishes a try.

Great little place. The special was worth the visit. Book in advance

Everything you want from an Italian restaurant - great food and atmosphere. Bottle of red, garlic bread, 2x pasta dishes. In/out 60mins max and bloody lovely!

Always excellent food and service at Dodds.

These two dishes are sooooo tasty! Super recommend! But one thing is if full house, the space between chairs is not very enough.

One of the nicest pizzas I've had, staff were friendly and welcoming. Very nice ambience, and was nice to have it as walk-in only! Catered and knowledgable with allergens too which was reassuring. Would definitely return if visit the area again.

Fantastic place. Pizza was absolutely sensational. Lovely vibe in here, highly recommend. Also LOVE that it’s walk in only as lots of places around here are always fully booked!

absolutely beautiful food, reasonably priced, food came within 10/15 minutes of ordering, staff were absolutely lovely and its a beautiful restaurant well and truly a hidden gem, came from blackpool on an evening away but will definitely be making the trip again purely with this restaurant in mind

Excellent meal. Really good food, lovely ambience and good service. Would recommend to anyone looking for a good meal in Ambleside.

Pizza and sandwich were delicious. Pizza base was perfecto, crispy and soft in the middle...the right levels :)

Attended Dodd’s on the 24/1 for my wifes birthday, lovely meal had the king prawn pasta, and a bottle of red wine 🍷 Staff were attentive, the atmosphere relaxed. Lovely, thankyou 🙏

This was our first visit to Dodd's restaurant and it was excellent. We were attended to quickly and service was friendly. We had sandwiches and chips with teas and coffees. The portions were generous and the food was delicious. It's not often we come away thinking we got food value and it was much appreciated. We will be back, and if we stay in Ambleside then we would come back in the evening for sure.

Really nice restaurant. Shared a fig & gorganzola & roasted almond pizza and some chunky chips. Unusual combo but quite delicious. It's not hard to see why this place is always buzy. Recommend.

Delicious Italian food in the centre of Ambleside. I had lamb flatbread and my companion had the meatball sandwich. Both were deliciously and clearly homemade. Not straight out of the freezer. Generous portions and reasonably priced. Comfortable interior, clean toilet. Definitely recommend.

Walked in about 15 minutes before closing and they welcomed us to sit and order (asap) which was a good thing. The sandwiches were excellent and the staff were all lovely. Will make a point of going earlier next time!

Whenever we are in Ambleside, we always go to Dodds. The food is lovey, and the staff are all so friendly .

Lovely Italian restaurant in the middle of Ambleside with plenty of choice and reasonable prices Would revisit out of season but put off going in the summer as they don’t take bookings. I don’t understand this. They could give customers a 10 min slot and if they haven’t arrived by then allocate the table to a walk in Well worth a visit and would recommend

Have been coming to Ambleside first week of Jan for the last 20 years and a visit to Dodds is one of the highlights. Thomas and his team run a wonderful restaurant, great food with attentive service at decent prices right in the centre of Ambleside. So good we visited twice during the week.

A lovely meal , tasty food and good service. The quality of the food was amazing, we really enjoyed our meal! We ate food that is traditionally Italian as well such as pizza and it was lovely. The pigs belly with mash was superb. We sat in the window and got a fabulous view of the town with its Christmas lights on. The weather was grim but inside the restaurant it was warm and cosy and the staff were very attentive. Thank you !

I had heard great things about Dodds so had to visit, definitely lived up to expectations! the food was so fresh and came out quickly, and the staff were so friendly with quick service. will definitely be back :)

Small quaint place with amazing food, watch the chef's working while sat at your table. Excellent waiter service, with a very nice selection of local ingredients. Well worth a visit..

It was literally one of the best waiters I ever had. Kind, accomodating, discreet, well informed about the menu and able to make recommendations. Even initiated to move us to a bigger table when we realised the two person table was quite small. Enjoyed that we can see the chefs in the kitchen like an old style restairant.. The seafood linguini was just the way I like it without cream but more of a seafood base sauce/bisque/wine garlic butter sauce..The hot chillis gave it a kick Prawns and squid a good size and tender, though I feel they could, if possible to the area,..source bigger juicier fresher mussels? They were rather small and shrivelled.. but for me as a whole, a huge win! The Primitivo the waiter recommended was the also best I ever tasted and will be sourcing it online! My boyfriend had the seafood soup, although he felt the sauce was too much of a tomato marscapone for his tastes, but the seafood was fresh and garlic ciabatta delish.. We also shared the njda pizza. Loved loved. Service included in bill.

Tried to book a table but online by emailing but was told by return email, it's not possible. So last Saturday called in, and was shown to a table. No problem . The service, the meal and although I think if they put table clothes on it would look more like a restaurant was good This place is open for breakfast to evening meal. The only thing which you have to be aware of is the 10% service charge. I'm not saying I wouldn't have left a tip, but we are in the UK, not aboard. Of course you can say no but would you ?? The portion were excellent, my wife having a chicken dish and i have a beef one

really good food & service, definitely recommend - really enjoyed the goulash

Helpful and friendly staff. Wonderfully great food. Well worth a visit.

Superb food. Dodd’s is a regular when we visit. You can’t book but the food is always well prepared, great choice; good atmosphere and friendly staff. You will always enjoy your meals here. It gets busy so you may have to wait for a table particularly at the weekends

Food was great but expensive that’s why I gave 4/5 stars. Staff were so nice and accommodating. Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5

Visited for our evening meal on Saturday. Firstly the food was excellent. We both went for Pizza and they were delicious. Drink options were also spot on, and the staff couldn't do enough for us. Would definitely visit again

Lovely little restaurant and staff

we went for lunch and the waitress was unhelpful and miserable didnt smile once. we ordered soup and a sandwich, the soup was cold, and the sandwiches had hardly any filling in at all. i ordered ham and cheese and there wasnt any cheese in it at all. my friend ordered salmon with capers, olives and cream cheese, there was no olices or capers and very little cream cheese with a tiny amount of salmon. i would never eat there again. terrible

It's been 5 years coming to the Lakes and evey time we enjoy a nice food at this place.

Busy tables, so we left our number and were called back, as promised. Served huge olives , and delicious bacon pasta and lasagne. So tasty, quickly served mostly with a smile. Will definitely come back.

Delicious food and great service 😋

Called in when out visiting Ambleside, with no idea what this place really was. What it is, is amazing. We had two sandwiches with sausage, black pudding and fried egg, accompanied by tomato and roasted pepper soup and two pizzas (Margerita and Romana). Firstly, the sandwiches were up there with the best I have ever tasted and the pizzas were just as good. Service was quick and friendly, couldn't fault it. If you are just passing by, as we were, make sure you go, you won't be disappointed.

The food was well priced and of an excellent standard. I had the Cumberland sausage sandwich and it was incredible. Very good and friendly staff to.

Amazing food and great staff. What a find! You can't book a table because it's so busy, which I thought was fair enough. We got a lovely table in the bay window immediately, they really tried to look after us.

Loved the tasty food Bbq tray for 2 was excellent in taste. Super friendly service

An absolute gem. Baked camembert with blueberry and crusty bread to share as starter were great. The crispy pork belly and black pudding were magnificent, bacon mash and celeriac puree fabulous. Fast friendly service. We will definitely be back!

Right in the heart of Ambleside. Beautiful food and staff were very friendly and attentive. Would heartily recommend.

The food here is excellent. The pizzas are outstanding! Friendly, efficient service, a good atmosphere and reasonable prices. Highly recommended.

Excellent Italian restaurant was very catering for 11 people after a long day walking on the mountains

We found this restaurant on Google reviews and it certainly lived up to its high rating. First class service, high quality food and reasonably priced.

Amazing food...catered for two gluten free customers... best GF pasta! Will definitely return!

Decent steak and super friendly staff. Managed to accommodate 7 of us. Brilliant all round!

On a Tuesday night we waited just under an hour for a table as they don’t accept reservations. Yes, this is a long time to wait but it’s worth it. Really nice staff and a relatively short menu served quickly but they absolutely don’t rush you. There’s loads of home made choices too, it’s all really good. Portions are pretty big too, we couldn’t finish a starter and main. All in all, totally worth the wait

Beautiful food, great price and lovely atmosphere.

Best food on our trip!! Perfection

We came here very hungry after a day of walking looking for pizza while on holiday in June 2024. We mistakenly thought that because this place claims to be an Italian restaurant that the pizza would be good if not excellent. Unfortunately it was not. Possibly the driest, chewiest pizza I've ever had. The toppings on the pizza I had were fine but the artichokes on my wifes' were badly prepared and inedible. If you decide to come here don't order pizza, it's BAD.

Absolutely fabulous, the second time I have been here and would come back again !! The food is AMAZING and it’s a reasonable price, particularly for Ambleside. Must mention the lobster ravioli which is 10/10 and so delicious. Other meals have bigger portions but this one just tastes spot on. Thank you so much to Nora who was so patient and lovely even though we were the last people in the place at the end of the night, thank you!!

Excellent service and delicious Food. Never disappointed.

Had takeaway. Good service, great food. Had the Dodd’s lasagna and gnocchi with beef brisket. The gnocchi was especially good.

Fabulous Italian restaurant. We went as a family of 6 and were lucky to just walk in as we went not long after they’d opened but I would advise booking as it got very busy, very quickly. The food was excellent and the staff were lovely, lots of choice and everything tasted delicious. A great choice for families and couples. Highly recommend if you’re visiting Ambleside.

My Husband and I eat here tonight and the food, service and venue was amazing. Loved that no booking was necessary and it was very popular

Excellent food. So much of it. Friendly service. Great value for money.

This is a really good restaurant. We arrived to Ambleside late and didn’t book anywhere to eat. This place was recommended to us by one of the staff in another restaurant, because they take walk-ins. The staff were really good and the food was great, just what we needed after a long drive.

Still sitting in the restaurant as I write this. Had the Pototato Gnocchi with brisket, absolutely stunning food. Took me straight back to Italy, eating my heart away. Fiancée had the Quattro Formaggi which was also stunning. The pizza dough is a highlight, so I'd imagine all the pizzas are amazing. Amazing service and atmosphere. It gets busy so better to come earlier or you'll be on a waiting list, but the wait is worth it.

Amazing little restaurant, great food and fab service. We had to wait for table about 45 minutes in the bar, no problem with that, just had a nice G&T. The lobster ravioli was to die for! Charcuterie board very tasty, nice variety of meats, some cheese too. Highly recommend this place, just bear in mind it gets very busy, and they don’t do bookings so you might have to wait or just leave your number and they will call as soon as table is available.

A lovely pepperoni pizza. Absolutely gorgeous interior, was such a comforting and relaxed vibe. Would recommend!

Excellent food and great service

Great atmosphere and family feel staff were very nice. Food unfortunately was horrible. I had the vegetarian risotto and it was awful. Paid £18 for it too. The cocktail of the day was £8.50 and undrinkable. Such a shame as all the reviews were so positive and we were really excited. Felt quite sd when we left.

Amazing 👏 service the manager of the restaurant he was trying to accommodate as much as he could for customer really busy place thanks

Returned after two years, still as amazing as our first visit! The food is just so good. Fresh, tasty, massive portions! I would recommend this restaurant.

I recommend this palce lots, had absolutely delicious, authentic meal - not 'just' Italian but actually Italian with a proper character and amazing taste to it. Portions were super filling, prices really good too - will become our go-to spot for upcoming visits in Lake District.

Booked a table - was full even on Wednesday night! Parked in public car park round corner. Great service. Tasty food & drinks - smoked chicken and bolognaise. Shared a tiramisu which did the trick for 2 hungry customers :-) Thanks

Amazing food, we got the lobster ravioli and the crispy belly pork and they were both delicious. Some of the best food we’ve ate! They only do walk ins so arrive before you’re starving as you may need to wait at the bar with drinks

This place is an absolute jewel in Ambleside. The food is excellent, the service and welcome is incredible. You have to wait at peak time for a table but it’s so worth it.

I honestly had a perfect night here. The portion sizes were very generous and we definitely left very full. The staff were great and very knowledgeable about gluten intolerances. Kimchi chicken wings were great - usually not gluten free but they prepare them fresh so could be adapted gluten free. Soup of the day was roasted tomato and red pepper which was delightful The gnocchi with slow braised beef brisket was my absolute highlight. the flavours were amazing and the beef was so tender and flavourful! The oak smoked chicken breast was adapted gluten free and this was also very delicious too! To finish off the dessert was a great portion of chocolate panacotta which was absolutely delicious. Perfect evening.

The dishes are delicious, the best of them was sweet mushroom spaghetti that is worth trying. The service was great ✨

The food was phenomenal, the service was so fast, if you want authentic Italian this is the place to go, we had the antipasti to start and it was the best I've ever had, for mains we had sea food and lobster ravioli and both were great, then an authentic tiramisu, it was our one year anniversary and we were so happy to spend it here.

This is a wonderful Italian restaurant in Ambleside. Right on the main road so easy to get to and find, but you can't hear the traffic at all from inside. You can't book tables ahead of time, and it is a smaller resturant. So if you plan to visit, especially with a larger group, I would try to get there earlier. We phoned the team the day before and they said the best time to arrive is just after 6, as they get their rush at around 7pm (as with most places in the Lakes, most people eat earlier at around 5-7pm). Last food orders are at 9pm. The food was amazing, great selection of options for starters, pasta, pizza and other Italian classics (see photo). Would highly recommend the chicken fusilli, and beef gnocchi. The team were really friendly and accommodating and service was super quick (as it usually is with smaller places like this). Best meal we had in the Lakes.

Every year we visit the lakes and every year we make a special effort to visit Dodds in Ambleside. It's a fantastic restaurant with a great selection of food and drinks. The staff are always friendly and helpful. They add a very modest and completely optional service charge to your bill (it's less than I'd usually leave as a tip), so don't cry when you see this when you come to pay.

Nice food and popular in the area

Ordered some takeaway from Dodds for the last night of our holiday. We had passed by a few times and looked really nice inside so was our first choice. Order for family of five took 20m which was just enough tome to drive to pick it up. Food was great - classic pasta dishes, traditional pizzas and enough olives to beat even my teenage daughter! Thank you Dodds for a fab end to our holiday. Rob.

Amazing little restaurant. Some of the best food I've tasted in a long time. Home made black pudding was out of this world. Highly recommend this restaurant when your visiting Ambleside

Last night of holidays and what a great way to spend it here in this fantastic restaurant. Staff amazing, food delicious and brilliant atmosphere. Thank you.

Dodds: Ok food, limited vegetarian options and service seriously underwhelming. Pizza not cooked well, not uncut despite request, staff blunt & seemed confused. Dessert was yummy though.

Stopped here for a quick lunch. Pizzas excellent the Etna was really spicy without being too much. My wife had beetroot and apple soup of the day and mixed salad which she really enjoyed. Efficient and friendly service.

Great food, good service. Loved it.

My partner & I visited Ambleside on Thursday 25th July , we saw Dodds Restaurant which offered a nice exterior ambiance, this was carried through into the restaurant itself which was modern, bright & very clean. Service for drinks was prompt & offered by very courteous staff. Food-wise we decided to share ,my partner ordered pizza & I ordered the lasagne. Both came very well presented which was only outdone by the excellent quality of the food itself. I would rate both the lasagne & pizza as quite exceptional for both quality & value, servings, particularly the lasagne were very generous indeed. Cannot fault any aspect of the restaurant & would recommend it without hesitation. If in Ambleside you must try Dodd’s lasagne, it is to die for.

Really good food. It's walk in. We arrived to a full place but waited maybe 10 minutes at the bar. The food was delivered super quick and was lovely. Maybe a little pricey, but expected.

Excellent Italian dishes as well as traditional British dishes. The pork belly with black pudding was amazing!

Overall, great food and wine 🍷 👏

Great food, good service, would keep coming back

The food was lovely, and was presented well. We had a pizza and a carbonara pasta dish. The service however was not great, as the staff were rude and slightly blunt. We found that the staff stood over us and stared while we ate our meal, including the kitchen staff, which caused us to feel slightly uncomfortable. There was also an issue with the Diet Coke we ordered as it was flat and tasted of nothing. We noticed that the bar woman mocked us while the server told her about the complaint and slammed our new drink down. The seating is also far too cramped and results in people being able to hear what each table is saying. We would return for the food, but hopefully the service could be improved upon.

Had the mixed platter for our lunch. What can I say other than 10/10. The prawns are some of the best we’ve had in the uk. Also took the loaded fries. In hindsight probably didn’t need those as well but they were also very good. Will definitely return again one day

The food is delicious and the service is friendly!

Nice place good food had a nice lunch here friendly staff will definitely be back there

Lovely food but felt rushed and the place was manic. We'll have a takeaway next time.

The food and service here were incredible. I had the Lamb Flatbread special, which was great for me. They do add on 10% for a service charge - and as someone who always tips (and always rounds up) this probably prevented me spending more - which is fine. I did think the diet coke was far too expensive though - hense the 4 stars rather than 5 - £5.90 for a pint of draft diet coke just seems Ludacris.

Chefs must be Italian here because the food was on point 👌 we loved every dish.

Well I stumbled across this place, initially I had to wait 39 mins for a table, well worth it. I have the mushroom risotto, it was very nice... I will be back... the service was good.. thanks 👏🏾

A lovely place to stop for lunch. The smell of the food enticed us in. We ordered the Mortadello Cuban sandwich and a grilled chicken sandwich plus a large bottle of sparkling water. Originally ordered the sausage and black pudding sandwich but as they checked for allergies they advised that it would be cooked near a fish option on their menu which is my allergy. Very grateful that they checked as sometimes in some restaurants and cafes they still don't. The food was delicious served with salad, dressing/dip and crisps The restaurant was busy but didn't feel cramped and the service was excellent very helpful and friendly. My husband ordered a black coffee which he said was very good too. If in Ambleside I would definitely recommend here as somewhere to stop.