Restaurant at Hazel Bank Country House in Allerdale

Precis: Wow! Excellent! Any other superlative you choose! Full review: What a wonderful gem of a find! From the start the welcome was warm and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble for Gary, Donna and their team; what a diamond they have found in Jack! The quality of the furnishings is very high, the fittings top class and the home made biscuits in the bedroom were delicious! Even a welcome decanter of sherry to start off your stay! The hallway walls are adorned with award plaques from numerous organisations! The grounds were extensive and very well kept. We had read about the wild red squirrels and hoped we may get to spot one - no fears there; we watched them running around the garden and feeder each day! Now for the food! Absolutely excellent! Each evening started at 7pm with canapés and good conversation with fellow guests, most of whom seem to be repeat visitors, with good reason! Gary is very personable and quite the bon viveur, his knowledge of wine is excellent, after all by his own admission he has been in the game for a good number of years! The four course dinner menu is set, no choices, but the menu is on display each morning and I'm sure that alternatives could be organised if enough notice were given. Each course was exquisite, served piping hot (where appropriate!) and presented beautifully, as was the table in general. Service was efficient, friendly and knowledgeable. Breakfast was just as good! Hazel Bank has seven rooms and the restaurant is open only to residents. All this means that each guest gets very personal, and personable, service from start to finish! If you think that this review is a little enthusiastic then I doubt you've visited! Don't get me wrong, it isn't for everybody and nowhere is totally perfect, but Hazel Bank gets VERY close!

Beautiful hotel,fantastic host,food was excellent,location for walks straight from the door superb,faultless experience throughout,couldn't of asked for anymore highly recommend and not to mention the red squirrels.

A lovely large house in quiet Borrowdale. Service was excellent. Rooms excellent Evening meal, 5 courses, excellent. Breakfast was excellent in a lovely dining room. Large lounge to relax in. The gardens are large with lovely views. Parking very easy. A good bus service from the end of the drive.

This is a very comfortable small hotel with truly excellent food and wonderful friendly service. Excellent value for money and a lovely countryside location with wonderful wildlife and birds.

Visited at lunch time. Was rudely approached by a member of the staff. Was made to feel like an intruder. Awful customer service! Don’t waste your time or money to stay here! If you can…stop at Lodore Falls hotel further down the road. Fantastic facilities and first class service!

I have given a full review of the food on the hotel page. I hadn't realised the restaurant was open to non residents but have just seen that it is so anyone who is staying in the area should not hesitate to treat yourself to what is guaranteed to be a memorable meal.

The hotel is a true gem. Amazing attention to detail and focus on the customer experience. The hotel is immaculate and the food literally superb. We've been twice now, and can't wait to visit again.

Si aún no ha probado "le pista de la resistencia" en la buena mesa. . . . Esto es algo que debe hacer " . Gary y su familia ofrecen comidas y vinos tan exquisitos que sería una tontería no probar este.

Maravillosamente sabrosa comida, muy bien servida en un hermoso restaurante. Probablemente solo 10 mesas como máximo, así que un entorno agradable. Disfruté cada bocado.

WOW, the food is amazing. I've eaten in some very nice restaurants and Michelin star restaurants and this is in this category. Each meal was outstanding, beautifully tasting and exquisite in presentation. If we lived closer we would certainly frequent the restaurant as it is open to non residents. Amazingly talented chefs!

The food and service are outstanding. The experience starts with cocktails in the parlor and moves to the dining room.

We stayed at Hazel Bank four nights and after the first night of dining we knew we wouldn't go anywhere else the next three. I was wrong to think a 4-course meal might be too heavy or filling. From the canapes at cocktail hour to the elegant desserts, every bite was sublime. Enough said.

Hazelbank is absolutely amazing. Gary and Donna take a personal interest in all their guests. The food is wonderful. I am a vegan and some of the food I have here is the best I’ve ever had. The hotel is immaculate and has a lovely cosy feel that’s really welcoming after a good walk. We come back every year. We always stay in 4 or 5 star hotels and this is up there with the best as far as we are concerned. A little gem.

We had a meal here. It is a fixed menu, but they will deal with any special dietary requirements if you let them know. It is a very comfortable and elegant restaurant. The food is high standard and service is personal and friendly. An enjoyable meal at a very reasonable price for the quality. Definitely worth a visit.

Beautiful food in lovely setting with perfect host. Extensive wine list. Set menu with fresh local produce testily cooked. Recommended

The food at this small hotel is excellent. Although the restaurant is small and primarily for residents we met a non resident local couple celebrating a birthday with dinner there. Pre booking essential. Although there is a 4 course set menu for dinner, dietary needs and preferences are happily provided for. Just ask. An excellent selection of wines too.

Small restaurant mainly for residents but does welcome non residents We stayed at hotel for four nights and ate in restaurant each night and was superb every night Ambience service and quality were all superb Sets the expectation for other restaurants very high and will be bench mark from which all others are measured

After a 5 hour journey from the Cotswolds we were made very welcome with a much needed pot of tea. Our room "Bowfell" with views of the fells was very comfortable and had a large wardrobe, the bathroom had a very modern feel with L'Occitane products and a great shower. The food at dinner was fantastic with meals being gratefully adapted to be Gluten Free as I have Coeliac Disease, breakfasts were also lovely and were enough to see us through until dinner. My car never left the Hotel all week as there are several walks from the front door and a bus stop at the end of the drive. So good was the experience I've booked again!

The best meal i've had all year! no exaggeration... sorry to set the expectation bar high for future diners (and the chef) but it really was sensational at every level. (Very intimate atmosphere so probably not one I'd suggest for a jolly!)

Thanks to Gary, Donna and David The Chef for making a friend's birthday celebration really special. All the details were there - such as beautiful flower arrangements - and the meal was the most amazing fine dining experience. We were looked after beautifully and the more energetic guests were able to enjoy the croquet lawn in the sunshine.

Outstanding food and service on both evenings we dined here. Gary is the perfect host and gives a brief overview of the courses. Absolutely worth treating yourself.

El menú era fijo y estaba un poco preocupado, ya que no soy un ventilador enorme de cordero. Pero todo lo que puedo decir es que confía en el menú, y confía en el chef y no te decepcionará! La principal de cordero era el mejor que he probado en mi vida, estaba bien bien, como todo lo demás en el menú.

Just had the most wonderful stay at this beautiful hotel or should I say home as that what Gary and donna make it feel like there hospitality never stops from the moment you arrive from the home made short bread in your room every day to the canopies in the evening then to top it all the most wonderful food you can imagine for evening dinner truly a magnificent place to spend your stay in the lake district if I could I would reward them my self with 10 gold stars. Nothing was to much trouble and the views from room was icing on the cake so three cheers to a lovely couple who know how to treat guests.

Un gran motivo para alojarse en este hotel es la comida de la noche. Hay un menú fijo, pero se ajusta para satisfacer las necesidades individuales.

Llegué a casa de esta maravillosa casa de campo, nunca me sentí tan relajada mientras está lejos de casa, todo tiene un factor sorpresa, desde la comida hasta las vistas, la hospitalidad y el confort de la casa, no podemos esperar para nuestra próxima visita,

Each meal was perfection, and the canapés before dinner each evening were a delight, the breakfasts first class, attention to detail was not lacking in any way.

Superb dining experience. I'm Vegan and David the chef made the most delicious dishes for me. So beautifully designed and decorated on the plate, just exceptional. The whole ambience of the Hotel was wonderful, cozy but very special. Garry and Donna were wonderful hosts, I had a really special night.

We ate here and we're so impressed with the delicious meal ,canapés prior to the meal and coffee and home made biscuits following . You must go !!!

As this is a restaurant review I'm assuming non-residents of the hotel can book for dinner. We were staying for 2 nights at Hazel Bank Hotel - each night the hotel offers a set 4-course dinner in the restaurant which we chose to take this offer one night. I am vegetarian and they were more than happy to cater for my dietary needs. The food was absolutely outstanding in each course and the wine list is superb - more than expected in a good city restaurant.

Gary and Donna and their children and grandchildren welcome you to what is effectively a small hotel/large house in a wonderful setting. Comfortable rooms and bath rooms. A lounge to have drinks and coffee and really nicely prepared original food - not pretentious, just good! Perhaps it is just as well the Lake District has so much rain otherwise it would be inundated!A wonderful stay

There is a four course set meal each evening. It is well balanced and beautifully cooked and presented. The owners are very happy to offer alternatives, if there is something on the menu that doesn't appeal to you.

Meals always taste wonderful when someone else is picking up the tab, but this place is a bit special. Many guesthouses offer meals for non residents and I have tried a few and been disappointed. However, this place offers a very warm welcome to strangers (non residents) and provides food of Michelin star standard. There is a set menu for each day which was served at around 7.30pm. Each course was professionally explained by the waiting staff and each course was really delicious. It was substantial too: I wasn't tempted to get fish and chips on the way home! The wines were excellent, though certainly not cheap. Over all the experience was excellent and we shall return.

The menu changes daily and offers a four course meal with distinction. All ingredients are locally sourced and cooked to your liking. There is an impressive wine list too.

The four course dinner was excellent. Although it is a set menu, each course has been carefully chosen to ensure variety and a good range of flavours. The owners are very willing to offer suitable alternatives if something is not to taste. The dining room is lovely with excellent tableware. Service is excellent too. Wine choices are extensive and very reasonably priced. We thoroughly enjoyed eating at Hazel Bank and can recommend without reservation.

I have just written a review of our stay at Hazel Bank, but feel the Restaurant definately deserves a review of its own. The food is absolutely first class, with a combination of beautiful tastes, sometimes unusual, but all delicious. I found myself getting very excited at the prospect of what was going to be on the menu that evening. The quality of the food is outstanding and the presentation superb. All carefully delivered and explained by Adam. It really is fine dining, but in the most relaxed way.

fantastic food. Extraordinary! Original combinations. Donna's light touch and artistic flair make for culinary magic. A complete treat.

A set menu, changing each evening. Uncompromising quality, a terrific winelist, and perfect service. We ate there twice.

Breakfast and dinner interesting, plentiful, very good quality and excellent value for money. Dinner menu changed daily. Personal preferences cater for cheerfully.

Another lovely evening and a warm welcome from Gary, Donna and family. We were staying in a local youth hostel while walking the Coast to Coast, so this was a luxurious treat. Chef does an amazing job - we ate some beautifully cooked lamb, and the toffee vodka syllabub was just one highlight of the dessert. Even if you're not staying at Hazel Bank, it's worth booking in for dinner....an event in itself with the pre-meal drinks and canapés, and after-dinner coffee etc in the beautiful lounge. Thanks all.

Four of us ate here whilst walking the Coast to Coast route. We have all stayed at Hazel Bank several times before, and chose to come for dinner as we knew what to expect. We were not disappointed. From the canapes in the drawing room at 7pm, through a 5 course set meal (that included such delights as locally-sourced Herdwick lamb, and toffee-vodka syllabub) and onto coffee with home-made chocolate truffles, everything here is about attention to detail and well-sourced produce. We have already booked for our next visit.

Me my Dad and Brother had an absolutely fabulous evening here at the end of a short walking holiday. From the gin and tonic on the lawn when we arrived to the cheese and port to finish off an outstanding meal. Excellent service and food, definitely worth a little extra for that special occasion

The friendly owner strives to ensure that everything about your experience works for you. Pre-dinner drinks we served with tasty canapés and you are shown to your table in a timely fashion. The menu changes every night - one of our party didn't eat fish and a tasty alternative was forthcoming. Each course is well-presented and portions are just right - if you want a cheeseboard as well then this came with an excellent array of local cheeses.Service is prompt without being too attentive and there is an excellent choice of good wine and liqueurs.

An absolutely wonderful 4 course, 5* meal with well chosen wines and delicate flavours. The desert was the best I've ever tasted and with real local character.

Table settings were immaculate. All food perfectly cooked and delicious. Although it is a set menu an alternative will be willingly granted if requested.

Really tasty food couldn't fault it at all and a sticky toffee pudding to die for. Nothing too much trouble will change anything you don't like

Staying a few miles away at the Lodore Falls Hotel, I had booked us in for dinner as non-residents. At around seven, we and the residents gradually assembled in the drawing room for pre-prandials, an opportunity for gentle chat and an exchange of tips and experiences before the main event, a four-course set meal of beautiful balance and presentation. I rather enjoy being fed as a change from having to wade through a menu, and each course was a joy. The dining room is pretty, the wine list really well-chosen, and the hosts are an absolute delight - people who clearly enjoy what they do, and do it with flair, skill and enthusiasm.

perfect service delicious food. Probably the finest restaurant in Borrowdale with a great wine list and good value to.

Each evening menu is a beautiful balanced meal over 4 courses using fresh local seasonal produce. The food was beautifully cooked and presented with flair. The chiefs easily adapted the daily menu and produced fantastic vegetarian food. For great food this is the place to go :-)

We were here as residents and chose to dine in house each evening. We have been fortunate enough to have experienced dining at several restaurants with Michelin stars and international reputations. Hazel Bank knocks the spots off them! From the warmth of Gary's greeting on arrival, the excellent wine list (without the Michelin star pricing) to the wonderful balance of flavours and textures each meal was a delight. We are planning to return as soon as we can, not just for the breathtaking scenery and abundance of wild birds and red squirrels, but for the comfortable rooms and outstanding cuisine.

We had the 4 course evening meal and breakfasts all cooked by Donna. The quality of the food was superb and the service very attentive but unobtrusive.

The 4 course meal really was beautifully cooked from start to finish, using good, fresh local produce. Wine was excellent and we were even served an extra glass of something similar to what we were drinking just to try. Excellent service and very good value for money - we would definitely go back!

The local lamb melted in the mouth, and Gary's wine recommendations - from an imaginative wine list that wasn't full of the usual suspects - were spot on.

Had a wonderful four course dinner at Hazel Bank. Ingredients were fresh... cooked to perfection... and beautifully served. And wonderful wines available by the glass too. Get there early so you can have time for an aperitif in the lounge...or if it's sunny out on terrace overlooking the garden.

Local produce, every single thing ordered was freshly prepared from scratch and was delicious. Pastry was the best we have ever had! Outstanding value for money

Liked everything on the menu including dishes that I would not normally have chosen. Some excellent wines at reasonable prices were the icing on the cake.

Excellent food, good sized portions and well balanced menus