Hidden Rivers Cafe in Carlisle

This restaurant gets plenty of good reviews so we must have just hit it on a bad night! On the plus side, the place is lovely. A warm cosy atmosphere perfect for a cold autumn evening. And some of the food was excellent, though some wasn't, and some was pretty poor. However what really let the place down was the service. The staff need to realise that customers are there for a nice evening out, and are spending a reasonable sum of money and they don't want to feel that the staff can't wait to get them out. At any establishment like this you would expect to be able to finish the meal off with a coffee, not to be told ( at 9.10pm), that the machine had been switched off, and that it was our fault because when asked "would you like any more drinks?", we had declined! We would have accepted a cup of Nescafe, but that wasn't available either. A few other things, like serving Gin & Lemonade instead of Tonic didn't help. We'll return, as it's a nice place, but the staff need either someone in charge or some more training, because on this occasion they let the restaurant down, unfortunately.

We had a wonderful meal and enjoyed the whole night. The staff were very friendly and attentive. I had cauliflower pie as my main and wow the flavour is on point, delicious meal. Will definitely be back soon!

Really enjoyed our second visit to this lovely restaurant. The food is always amazing, Chicken Tikka is my favourite and the service is warm and welcoming. Highly recommend!

We have been here before and have always found the food and service exceptional, and today was no different. The food was cooked to perfection and our waitress was very friendly and helpful. She was pleasant, smiling every time she served us. We had the venison burger which I would recommend to anyone. The pudding were to die for...I suspect I added several pounds to me weight. If you are in the region please try Hidden River Cafe. It's worth the drive.

What a find!! Staying in the area for a short holiday. We googled places to eat and this came up. Food was delicious, staff very friendly with excellent service. The restaurant is stunning in a stunning setting. Highly recommend

We book not knowing what to expect as it’s a central location for all the family to meet, I can’t remember this place enough. It’s a small dining area but perfectly presented. The staff and friends and knowledgeable, they went out there way so my son could get a dessert he liked as nothing took his fancy on the menu, good value for money and lovely atmosphere

Hidden River Cafe is a true gem. We were hosting some international and local guests and wanted to show them the beauty of rural Cumbria in a relaxed and inspiring environment. We had drinks on the veranda enjoying the view over pasture, woodland and the river before being treated to hospitality of the highest standard. The environment is light, open and rustic. The staff are warm and friendly and the food is of the highest standard. You can tell they are passionate about delivering the highest quality. Hidden River Cafe is definitely well worth finding.

What an amazing place to have discover. I'm based in Carlisle and it's only 20 minutes away serving incredible food with fantastic service. Insane quality I have struggled to find anywhere else recently. The team are super friendly and if that wasn't enough a surprisingly extensive wine list covering all corners of the globe. I will be back the question is who am I bringing with me next time? See you again soon.

After being a regular local customer over the years I was disheartened to have a not so great experience here a few weeks ago and thought that it had sadly started to go downhill. I was thankfully proven wrong as my boyfriend and I had a beautifully cooked meal here on Saturday night. The staff have shown that they really do care about their customer’s experiences and went out of their way to show us that the previous experience had clearly been a one off bad day. The food and drinks were delicious and we are happy that one of our favourite places to visit hasn’t lost its touch. We will definitely be back for more. Thankyou

We stayed this week in one of the cabins and dined here twice as a table of 4 and every single meal was absolutely delicious. We all struggled to choose for the evening meal as the options all sounded just as amazing as each other so we each picked something different so that we could try them all. The corned beef hash starter and Cumberland sausage main was absolutely incredible. We’ve eaten here many times in the past when staying on site and I can truly say that the new chefs have really improved the standard as the food we had this week was the best we’ve eaten in such a long time. Everything is cooked so fresh and you can tell that real care has been put into the whole dining experience now more so than ever before. Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience - it was more than just a meal as the whole setting is beautiful every time we visit no matter what the weather.

Delicious menu and friendly service. Probably the best focaccia, romesco and whipped butter starter we’ve had .. ever .. including Michelin starred dining. Lunch for 4 was well priced and the veggie options for 2 of our party were great. We’ve booked another lunch already. Can’t say more than that!

Beautiful location, relaxing ambiance and aesthetically pleasing with matching music to get a god lunch vibe! Service was good and we felt welcomed and valued. Food was good however I felt it lacked finest of seasoning and the peppercorn sauce was bland. Over all good experience, I would replace the wine glasses for a more classy feel to the meal. Pleasant walk around the grounds afterwards.

I would not recommend this restaurant. The service was awful and the food was burnt and not good quality.I would not go back.

The service was exceptionally poor, lack of quality in the food was not very good. My child’s cookie was burnt not only that they tried to hide it on the bottom of the cookie.

Went there for a birthday lunch after having seen Grace Dent give a good review. Beautiful location, made all the better by sunshine sparkling on a heavy hoar frost, but the restaurant itself was really cold. I put my outdoor coat on again after the starter, my husband never took his off. When we arrived, on time, there were about a dozen people in a room that could seat at least ten times that number, but it nonetheless took almost twenty minutes before anyone came to give us menus and take a drinks order (enjoyed my Orchard mocktail, tasty and attractively-presented) and a further twenty minutes before the starters arrived. We'd been seated in the cold for more than an hour before we got our mains. The food was tasty but the portions were very small. My main (pork fillet with black pudding) was delicious and well cooked, but starter-size. It came with creamed leeks but only a scant dessertspoonful, and a memorable rich and flavoursome gravy but, again, a scant dessertspoonful. I'm not a big eater but I finished my main course hungrier than when I first arrived! Many good things about the meal, but overall not an experience I'll be repeating.

This place is an absolute hidden gem, super welcoming off the grid small venue with charming atmosphere and views, we were serve throughout the evening be Ewen and Paige, both of them made sure we were happy with every step of our experience while also giving us the time to enjoy ourselves and the amazing food on offer, I have to say for someone like myself who loves to dine out, every part of this menu was immaculate, the steak was perfectly cooked, I asked for med rare towards rare and the chef read my mind, the menu is extensive enough to give everyone an option they are happy with, but also not over bearing with options, the staff made the experience just as much as the food, will dine here every time we are in the area from now on, thank you again to Ewen and Paige, from the Doll family, we are extremely grateful.

What a discovery! Delightful cafe set in the countryside looking very festive and with a cosy warm atmosphere. The Sunday lunch was scrummy, and the staff were all pleasant and friendly. Really made a fuss of the pupster and she got a biscuit! Will definitely be back.

Went for lunch at the cafe. They had the Christmas menu on which had a good selection of meals some with a GF option which pleased my wife. The food is great although the portions are rather small for me but if you want more there are plenty of side dishes you can have, We had great service from Ewan who was our server and made sure we were looked after. Very friendly place and the food is excellent.

We enjoyed a lovely evening meal at the Hidden River Cafe during our stay. The restaurant had very classy and cosy vibes and Becky was amazing; very welcoming and attentive towards my allergy requirements. Thank you so much Becky and team!

Great full English, great coffee. Service was provided by Becky, and othets - with a smile! Thanks guys x

Just had an excellent Sunday lunch at The Hidden River Cafe. Lovely atmosphere and very cosy on a cold December afternoon. We were served by Leah and Ewan who were both very friendly and efficient. The food was delicious - we haven’t had such a good and generous Sunday lunch for a long time. Compliments to the chef and kitchen staff. A very different place and well worth the detour from the main roads and towns.

Always loved this place, the atmosphere and food. The last meal I had was very average (not what it described on the menu) service shocking but give them benefit of the doubt with being a larger group. Today went for brunch just the two of us got shashuka eggs which on the menu was with peppers onion tomato and feta with eggs.. today it came as some bland pasatta with two fried eggs in it no feta on top no peppers nothing. On saying to the waitress apparently the chef forgot some elements and sent out a dish of feta?!

Friendly , trying to tell all my friends food 10 out of 10 well done chef ! Steak sandwich best i have had nice quiet spot will return

Food was amazing! Staff are so efficient & attentive at all times! We had Soph Izzy & Olivia serve us our Sunday lunch & nothing was too much! Gr8 afternoon with our family & definitely be back again soon! Thank you

Having stayed at one of the Hidden River Cabins we had both breakfast and dinner at the cafe. Becky and the team were very helpful but they are certainly underselling themselves calling it a cafe. The evening meal was beautifully presented and tasted amazing too. We were a party of 4 and all go something different for all courses so we could have a taste of everything. Will definitely return when we go back to the cabins as those were fantastic too.

Superb food and atmosphere, the best place in the area. The service was outstanding. We also went to another venue owned by the same owners, but it wasn’t a patch on the hidden river cafe, in every way.

Gorgeous space for a cosy dinner, the fairy lights around the beams make it extra cute. We were there at night and appreciated the ambience. I'm sure in the daytime it would also feel like a special space, with the large windows. The food was pretty tasty, though I would say in general the portions were on the small side. Nonetheless we would recommend, and would definitely return :)

We visited for my daughters 18th and extremely pleased we chose here. Service was fantastic and all food ordered was delicious. The prawns for starter were some of the best I’ve had and everyone commented on how good they’re meal was. We will definitely be...

Truly a hidden gem! We have visited Hidden River Cafe a number of times when travelling up to Scotland and it’s probably our favourite part of the trip! The food is utterly incredible - so so so delicious. Super high quality in a stunning setting....

Becky and the team were fantastic. The food was out of this world and the service was top notch. Definitely recommend. If you want a chilled, warm, relaxing vibe, then Becky and the team are the best around.

Hidden River Cafe is just a lovely place to visit and eat at. The food is wonderful, fresh, local and beautifully cooked, the restaurant is lovely and warm and very attractive. We were served by Becky who was really caring and helpful. Would recommend this...

We have been talking about Hidden River Cafe to our parents for some time and promising them a visit.Today we managed and it was a very warm and welcoming experience especially on this typical Cumbrian wet day. The food was cooked to perfection and the...

Just had a wonderful afternoon at the HRC with my dear friend ably served by a very competent and friendly table server Becky who was so knowledgeable about the dishes and was able to suggest great combo, taste sensations. If I can advise on anything...

Warm, cosy, dog friendly restaurant. Staff were totally charming. Natalia was hugely helpful, telling us about the cabins a available and helping us with the menu. The food was absolutely delicious- tiger prawns to start, the freshly made smoked salmon ravioli and perfectly chargrilled steak...

Lovely little place tucked away but worth the drive make a booking as not that big fresh and clean inside staff lovely we went for Sunday lunch perfect menu and food cooked to perfection pudding also yummy make the effort and go you will be...

Visited for breakfast with my partner and baby. Order was taken quickly and coffees were nice but this is where it went downhill. The place was full of flies and one decided to drown itself in my partners coffee… The eggs on the bacon and...

A beautiful hidden away spot for lunch! We found this place as a last minute lunch spot whilst googling places to eat. We had 4 dogs with us and were over the moon to find out they’re dog friendly too! We ordered a range of...

Beautiful setting for our evening meal. Food was second to none, very talented chef. It made a welcome change to have a vegetarian meal at Michelin Star quality. The meat eater also commented on how the steak was cooked to perfection! Our server Becky was...

Lovely setting Great food Perfect portion size Friendly staff Only slight observation- each table had a napkin to keep them steady. Lots of flies, doors open. Lots of dead wasps on the windowsill where we sat But all things can be amended.

This us a really nice place for lunch or dinner . We had lunch was delicious, charming little place

We'd heard and read great things about Hidden River so we thought it would be perfect for a birthday lunch for my elderly dad. The setting is certainly lovely and the staff are polite, though the very young team seemed to be struggling with a...

Tea arrived no milk asked 3 times for milk.food arrived one tier of cake went over one of our friends knees ,breakingteacup and tea plate also chpping the cake tier .(accidents happen we know). Again waited for new plate and tea cup in the end...

Haven’t been here for a long time, the new menu is amazing. Really hard to make a choice from all the tempting options. However the seafood pappardelle was a great choice. The scallops, prawns, mussels and shrimp were top quality the pasta and sauce perfect....

Driving home from Inverness we were looking for somewhere to stop for lunch. 10 minutes off the motorway, a bit quirky and unbelievably delicious food. Great value too.. we will be back !

Set in a tranquil location dinning is available inside and out side. The location could not be better. Food is absolutely delicious although it is a rather small menu. However this probably saves on waste. Parking can be a problem especially if you are disabled....

The Hidden River Cafe is a Gem of a restaurant, set in beautiful rolling country side with the river running close by. The food was excellent and plenty of it, all of a very high standard. The restaurant is clean, comfortable, friendly and they allow...

Average food. No plant based options one veggie option. Last onion ring floating in oil the rest were great. Veg charged as extra

40th birthday party planned and agreed for up to 50 people at the end of March 23 with Cafe and then confirmed by phone once additional checks by the venue verified the date was available. On / around 22 June requested menu options for our...

All I can say is "wow, wow, wow what a very special place!!!!" It's worth the drive, on the way there you're thinking, "crikey, where is this place?" as you drive down many country lanes, and that's the reason why it's called Hidden River, as...

My family attended a wedding at Hidden River Barns, and it was a fantastic event. It was beautiful orchestrated and decorated, and we loved every minute of it. The cafe on site is excellent. We were served by Will, Bethany and Anna, who were unfailingly...

I just wanted to drop a note, I don't often comment but felt I had to on this occasion. We went for dinner on Thursday night 15/06/23 and what an absolute treat it was. Just wanted to let you know how fantastic the two girls...

Booked for my wife’s birthday breakfast. Warmly welcomed to the restaurant. Being a beautiful day sadly there were no seats outside, however the lady that welcomed us said we could sit and order anywhere inside and once a table became available outside we could move...

Here for lunch today which was delicious. The setting is lovely and the café is light and comfortable. I had Crispy Cod loins with a gorgeous creamy sauce. My friend had the mussels with cider sauce. We had chips with them too which sounds a...

Our first visit to this little gem as part of a birthday celebration. Lovely food and service. Well done to both Izzy and Indra who were pur servers, a credit to the team there.

This is a brilliant establishment with delicious food and friendly staff. We will certainly be returning!

Hi, first time at Hidden River Cafe but not my last... 4 of us booked for lunch as part of a friends 50th celebration mystery day out and what a start to our day, food was excellent & was so fresh, all of us thoroughly...

Lovely dining experience again when we came to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary. Special request for chicken for our dogs was no problem at all. Staff friendly and helpful setting was lovely as always not overly fussy and got a cabin feel. Would highly recommend

Food looked amazing however came in at just after 11, asked if we could sit in and have breakfast and the girl behind the bar was saying yes no problem and was about to seat us. Just before this she was rudely interrupted by a...

I've heard so many great things about the food here, so i decided to surprise my partner for a celebration meal. We were not disappointed at all. The place itself is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to come back on a lovely day to...

Wonderful food, very friendly staff. We had the 2 for £20 deal but paid extra for the steak and lamb, well worth the extra! Will be returning soon!

Absolutely great food - a definite step or two above the average. Serious value for money, friendly staff, and not as difficult to find as other reviews might lead you to think!

Was here veryrecently we had starter Iberian ham and a chickpea salad it was very nice the starters. The ham was thin light with tomato. Mains we both had pan chicken basically it was chicken with mash and there was a sauce light white sauce...

We had the small plates which were absolutely gorgeous. Highlights were the soft shell crab and whipped feta Kids menu was brief but well executed. Would love to come back if in the area again. Tip: use What Three Words to find easily

Brilliant place but use sat nav to find it. Also book first as it is usually busy especially at weekends. Superb food and wonderful views. Also nice and cosy with a woodburner in cold weather.

The best Sunday lunch I have eated. The setting was gorgeous, the food out of this world and all at excellent prices and real value for money. Cannot wait to go back.

Very well prepared food with fresh ingredients. Friendly staff. Well worth the journey to find this place.

Booked lunch for friends birthday We got lost and had to stop and ask the local postie for directions. Not the easiest place to get to , driving through farms on minor roads. Not enough road signs and this is unhelpful .Not enough parking on...

As a fan of afternoon teas, this has to be the best by far. The food was absolutely beautiful and very different from the expected, average afternoon tea. The staff were exceedingly friendly and efficient. The location was gorgeous with lovely views and the cafe...

We were on the way back from a trip to Galloway and fancied a lunch stop. My partner found this place in a quick online search and off we went. What a piece of luck! A simple and airy space with absolutely gorgeous food. We...

We have been for lunch at the barn on the last two Sunday's and I felt I should write a review to say how exceptional the food and service has been. It's a stunning venue in a lovely location and just a really nice lunch...

Lovely food in great surroundings. Staff friendly and helpful. Some innovative and tasty veggie options.

The venue was very nice, the food was (mostly) excellent. Arrived for a pre-booked meal which turned out to be a set-meal 'sharing' Valentines Day menu. Had booked well in advance and had not been informed of the change to the menu. It wasn't the...

Went to the HRC tonight for the first time with my wife for a valentines meal. When we got there we didn’t realise it was a set menu and one of the courses a cheese fondue, unfortunately I have a dairy allergy. When I advised...

This was recommended to us. Not easy to find but we’ll Worth the effort Very warm and attentive staff Lunch was just as we ordered Highly recommend Word of warning as this also serves the log cabins guests Sunday is not a good idea if...

We have eaten here a number of times and given excellent reviews however on the last couple of occasions the food and service hasnt up to the previous standards. This was our go to restaurant but not any more. Could it be that we ate...

Went here for a birthday Sunday lunch. Starters were fabulous all round with no complaints. The beef main course was delicious and tender and the only spoiler was the truly dreadful gravy slathered over the whole dish. At best could only be described as inedibly...

Really nice location. Quality and flavours of the food was fantastic. Would recommend the monk fish pakora to start and the Wagyu beef as a main, both cooked perfectly 👌🏻

Sunday lunch for 11 of us - staff were friendly, setting was lovely, food was delicious. Will definitely be going again.

This was our 3rd visit. On the first 2 visits the food was great but service was not. This time the food was excellent and service top-notch. We were well looked after by Jade who ran the room single-handed, efficient and smiling. Dishes were beautifully...

Really nice food and great staff. Many people have recommended this place in the past and pleased that we finally got round to trying it out.

Its not very often i recommend eating establishments due to everyonespersonal tastes but this is the only one that I have tried and returned to and would recomend that is local. Good food reasonably priced with a good atmosphere.

Visiting near by cabin for the weekend, booked to eat at Hidden River Cafe on our first night, Pleasant atmosphere, staff attentive and friendly. Good choice of food and it was all really tasty. Will definitely return during our stay at the cabin.

Gorgeous restaurant to shelter from stormy Autumn weather with delicious small plates and mains. Went on the recommendation from the hosts of the Faraway Treehouse where we were staying and we were really impressed with the food. I opted for 3 of the small plates...

Good food and service, was busy even in late afternoon so would recommend booking (especially if a larger group). Only downside was a single toilet for the whole cafe meant a fair queue forming at times. Overall a good place for a reasonably priced lunch...

The cafe itself is located off a quiet road in the countryside and provides lovely view of the field and a couple of the cabins. Missed our turn but it was generally easy to find. There is parking right next to the cafe but just...

A very lovely experience. Something for everyone on the menu, whether you go for the sharing plates or main menu. Husband really enjoyed his steak and I loved the soft shell crab BLT. Will be going back!

Stunning food, just stunning. We couldn’t fault a single mouthful and ended up fighting over the last chip and broccoli spear.. He actually licked his plate! Only negative was the cafe looked a bit scruffy when we walked in, dirty dishes and glasses on the...

Found this hidden gem absolutely lovely food and staff very professional and welcoming. Would recommend to anyone in the area. They also have accommodation in log cabins that look very appealing for a holiday. Well done, wish there was more places like this.

Great food, friendly and helpful staff, great atmosphere. Def need to book as they are very busy. We had chicken and wagyu steak and shared the strawberry mousse. All the food was excellent.

Absolutely fantastic menu with a brilliant vegetarian selection too. In the short time I stayed at the cabin I sampled 99% of the vegetarian dishes and can confirm they were all fantastic. My wife also confirmed that the rest of the menu is fantastic. Good...

We hadn't eaten any lunch and most eateries around didn't start serving until 6pm. We arrived without booking at 4.45 and asked if there was any chance of a table. They weren't actually serving at that time but a gentleman who was eating when.we arrived...

Food amazing! Service and Hospitality amazing! Nothing too much trouble. Made to feel very special for our special day. Grounds are stunning

A warm welcome and great food at very fair prices. Staff were lovely and the view across the valley was delightful. Never did see that river so very well hidden. Highly recommended.

Had an amazing lunch here last week. Well worth the trip beyond Longtow . Lovely setting, quick service I e and simply amazing food. Best meal out in a very long time

We went for supper last night and weren’t sure what to expect. The barn style cafe is beautifully done and provides a really lovely atmosphere. The menu that night was tapas style with 3 dishes for £16. This was a bargain. The food was really...

A brilliant meal. Service was great, food was absolutely lovely. We got 6 plates between 2 of us and was more than enough. Will be returning.

The food is terrific, restaurant cosy and with great service. We frequently travel 20 miles to enjoy dinner here and then to sit on the veranda in the cool evening air sipping coffee and to star gaze! This place is a gem.

Went for a family meal. Thought is a bit out of the way it is worth it. Atmosphere is relaxing and welcoming, staff were pleasant and very helpful. Food was amazing!!! Not too overwhelming menu, you can tell thought and preparation has been made to...

Beautiful setting in the middle of nowhere it would seem but in reality not far from Carlisle helped by a gloriously sunny spring day. Superb Sunday lunch, served in the barn on this day (apparently usually served in the cafe). Very reasonable prices. Efficient and...

My husband and I were holidaying in Cumbria and we always go out for a special meal on our last night, on this occasion it nearly did not happen. During our holiday we took the train over the Settle to Carlisle railway where we met...