Sheila's Cottage in South Lakeland

Staff and food very good. My wife is Coeliac and the staff were on the ball in understanding and knowledgeable about gluten free.

Such a cosy and enjoyable place to eat. The staff were really welcoming of our dog, and the food was brilliant! Would definitely recommend the Steak and Ale Pie with Mash and the Sticky Toffee Pudding. The staff really make this place, and I'll definitely be returning when I'm next in Ambleside.

We visited Sheila’s Cottage for the first time today and we loved it, the team were exceptional and really looked after our little pooch bring her a towel to dry off, fresh water and a few treats 🥰 we have the bacon and Brie sandwich alongside a mug of soup which was delicious. We would highly recommend popping her for some lunch when your out and about in Ambleside, we will be back thank you!

Beef and apple pie is nice,a quiet place to have lunch.It is good for the beef and apple pie!

Lovely cafe with great food and great service. The steak pie is highly recommended as is the ploughman’s.

Brilliant place to eat, especially if you have a dog with you. They made our pup so very welcome. It was wonderful to be able to eat out with our dog. The restaurant is split into two levels with one floor for dog owners and one for without. We ate out on a Saturday evening and the place was full of dogs with their owners. All well behaved. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for the area. This is definitely our go to eatery when we are in Ambleside.

Wonderful place to be welcomed and eat good food with our Labrador. Prices are reasonable and inline with other establishments. 2 levels, lower level for dog owner upper for those without dogs. Very popular with dog owners. Will be our go to place when in Ambleside

What an absolute gem of a place! We ate there earlier this evening. The food was faultless. The pie was described as the best ever by my husband. I went from the specials board choosing beef stroganoff which I can describe as totally delicious. The beef was very tender and oozed so much flavour. There was a really warm cosy atmosphere in Sheila’s and seemed to be busy. The staff were extremely polite and nothing was too much trouble for them. They even provided our pooch Stan with treats so I know he’ll definitely want to go there again. Thankyou!

Relaxed and casual. Food lovely, good size portions. Staff really welcoming and pleasant. Would definitely recommend this restaurant. We will be back for sure.

Beautiful evening at this lovely restaurant. Staff were so friendly. Service excellent Food and wine amazing Great Xmas decorations and festive atmosphere

We have eaten here a few times over the many times we have stayed in Ambleside and it never disappoints. The food is amazing and the service is great. Staff are friendly and attentive. Definitely our go to place to eat in Ambleside.

Delightful place, lovely staff, great food and dog friendly as well!

We visited on recommendation of a local, and were so impressed with the food. We had the Chicken Kyiv with (deliberately) burnt ketchup, and the filo & goat cheese tart with apple and walnut salad, which were both exceptional. We also had a grinch sour (a Midori sour sans vodka) which was delicious. The staff were very attentive, and two separate servers pointed out the 10 % service charge was optional (which we happily paid, with extra). They were also very considerate of our dog, while also having a dog-free area for everyone else. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for lovely food in a relaxed, charming restaurant.

In honesty, we stumbled across this place, but what a treat that we did! Extremely welcoming staff, cosy atmosphere, friendly fellow diners (making a fuss of our dogs! 🙂). We all had the battered haddock, chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce. All the food was fantastic. However, for me, the absolite star of the show was the mushy peas!!! They were that good I had to ask how they were made, and a chap came over personally and told me the 'secret recipe' ( I'm not telling you...you'll have to go and find out for yourselves). I genuinely think I could eat a bowl of them, all to myself. The fish was battered and cooked to perfection, and the chips were crunchy and fluffy inside. Amazing! The staff were brilliant, serving time was excellent...and a special mention for the immaculate, if a little on the small side, gent's toilets. So, so clean. Rare to find these days. Overall, the whole outfit should be very proud of themselves. Great effort all round! 👍

Excellent food, friendly staff. In the group we had an excellent venison casserole,the pheasant burger which was amazing, and the lamb chumps, all super good! Only downside for us is that we didn’t notice the sign outside that said that dogs are welcome downstairs and we are not that keen in sharing eating space with dogs, we could have been warned and if we knew how good the food was going to be, we’d have done it anyways!

Been to Ambleside quite a few times. We always have a week in December but have never dined at Sheila's other than afternoon coffee n cake. What have we been missing. We have just had the most fantastic meal. My main was the venison casserole. It was stunning , amazing flavours, beautifully presented, piping hot. We both agreed that it was the best meal we've had over the last week we've been up here. A* plus ! Great service, knowledgeable staff and really friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back. Thank you to all at Sheila's.

Lovely little restaurant nice beer Lovely pie

Absolutely first class amazing choice of local top quality produce and an interesting menu not your usual choices. The staff (shout out to the lovely Leah) they all made my birthday meal absolutely perfect and we will be returning from Keswick with friends before Christmas loved it!

Gorgeous food and friendly staff.

We visited he by chance and so glad we did. The food was lovely and the setting was perfect for what we wanted. There was plenty of food choices and the food was well presented and tasty. We would highly recommend a visit if in the area

The food was the most delicious we have had in a very long time. We were so full by the time it came to dessert but we couldn't turn it down and miss out. So glad we came. Would love to go back.

Delicious food and fantastic ambiance! We visited for lunch and were impressed by the attentive service. Highly recommended if you’re in the area!

We've visited Sheila's Cottage several times and have never been disappointed. The food is always delicious and members of staff are always polite and friendly.

Exactly what you wanted after a long walk after it starts the rain outside. Fantastic food and homely place.

Great place and friendly service

Had an absolutely gorgeous dining experience here last night! Food was some of the best we’ve had. Lovely staff and service! Awesome place

Amazing find! Book in advance to not be disappointed. Service was friendly with a smile. All food was delicious. Highly recommend the sticky toffee pudding.

Nice place. Busy day but nobody rushed us.

No atmosphere and a sign saying we don't have WiFi so you can talk. No WiFi was a bit annoying, it was more annoying to ask what the soup is and be told to look at the board, why not just tell me. Chicken on my daughter's salad was very dry, she wouldn't eat it. I had the Borrowdale teabread and cheese but had to ask for another slice of cheese as there were two slices of cake but only one slice of cheese. They only charged an extra pound which is fair enough but surely if you have teabread and cheese on the menu it should come with enough cheese?? The teas were very nice and loose leaf is a nice touch. Cost was just over £70 for four for lunch. Could easily have been a 3 star but that would be a little harsh.

Everything about this place is superb. We went for an evening meal with family. Absolutely tip notch. The venison casserole is to die for. Didn't take any photos. We just ate, drank and spoke to each other.

Very warm and welcoming. Quick service. Dog friendly

Great food. Highly recommended.

Great soup! Good coffee. Cosy atmosphere and helpful staff.

Absolutely gorgeous food and amazing cocktails. Really cosy atmosphere and staff are so lovely

What a fantastic little restaurant. Wonderful food, brilliant service and friendly staff.

Overpriced. Had the burger , it was a "pork & mango special recipe" which felt more like old sausages that needed using up rather than wasting... Wouldn't go back.

My wife and I have been going to Ambleside twice a year for nearly 20 years... We look forward to Sheilas cottage so much that we always have two meals each visit - so 4x a year !! The standard of food and service never drop and the menu retains a comfortingly similar look with local fresh produce at the core. The food is based on hearty local favorites and served with perfectly cooked steamed vegetables , never limp or undercooked. My last meal was fish and chips... i just fancied it but thought it would be a mistake to move away from more local dishes.... it was fantastic.. the batter was crisp but not greasy and the chips were plentiful and delicious.... Just proves that the chef really knows his craft - dogs are welcome and the atmosphere is relaxed and inclusive, plenty of seats and great service. Thanks to all the staff!!

A great all round experience. Fabulous food, friendly staff.

Superb food cooked perfectly. Really good choice on menu too.

Incredible service from friendly staff and delicious food. Dog friendly. Would definitely recommend and come back against. Book in advance on weekends to avoid disappointment as it can get busy and sadly people without a booking were turned away.

Off the beaten track, down a side road is a hidden gem. The food is amazing, large menu with local produce dishes. Portions are large, good explanation of dish on menu. Staff are welcoming, very knowledgeable about their menu. We took our dog, on arrival she was given fresh water and treats. It's the little touches as well as good food and atmosphere that make you want to return. Booked for our last night.

The waitress was quite rude when we stopped by for a cuppa and a cake.

The filo spinach tart was lovley and flavourful, fish and chips were good, lovley fish but a bit oily. Staff friendly and efficient , dog friendly, would recommend

Very good food and service. Lovely place

Spot on for a lunch spot. Amazing homemade food. Quiches, burgers, sandwiches, pies, soups. Dog friendly. Lovely staff. Tucked away off the main streets so it retains it's quaint Lakes feeling. Highly recommend.

We have visited the restaurant many times over the decades. Very nice place with very nice staff who have of course changed over the years. This time I tried lamb's liver, which was very good. The others took other dishes, some of which were not so satisfied, which gives a deduction to the food with one star.

Lovely food and atmosphere! Amazing staff too who were so kind to my dog, really nice place in Ambleside.

We had a lovely time here just had drinks and relaxed... Recommend it highly...

First time visit. Friendly, helpful staff and absolutely outstanding food (pork burger with mango and stilton). Highly recommended and I look forward to returning.

Stopped here for a piece of cake and a drink whilst on a visit to Ambleside. We remembered the place from last year and it was a no brainer to go in this time. Had a lovely slice of neopolitan sponge. Delicious! Welcoming friendly staff. I would definitely recommend.

Nice and cosy place with good food

Food was satisfactory, the staff member where excellent but the ambience was somewhat suboptimal.

what a great little place. Fab soup and toasties.

Booked I advance after reading reviews and it did not disappoint, first class food , beautiful presentation, so good we went back the following evening , staff are beautifully perfect,nice atmosphere

We thought it was adequate but lacked atmosphere in our view.

Lovely meal . Very friendly service.

Good food well presented nice place.

A beaut of a find! Like the Tardis, this place is a lot bigger than you think, and staff and food were top notch.

Lovely food and service. A treat. Had lunch and dinner there.

Lovely staff, service on point and amazing, well presented, tasty food. Highly recommended 😊

Delicious food and very professional service. Highly recommended 🥰

Really good food, also delicious vegetarian options and not too crowded.

Great food Great wine Great staff Great location Great ambiance

The starters were very good. I had the whitebait and my wife the pork belly. The main course was not as successful. The lambs liver and bacon (mine) and lamb chump (wife) were both overcooked. My potato mash was barely seasoned (although my preference for salt and pepper may give an idea of my age) and frankly a little disappointing. Apart from some of the food not being to our taste, the service was good.

Lovely place great food and welcoming staff 😁

We both ordered Chicken Kyiv and expected a nice hearty meal. What we got was a small spoonful of wilted spinach with the chicken on top. This came with three very small roast potatoes and a couple of pea shoots and some sauce. For this we were charged £24 each. We were also charged £5.25 for a small bottle of Peroni beer whereas we were only charged £4 for the same drink at the best restaurant in town. Fair to say that Sheila’s is vastly overpriced.

Great service, wonderful food, Going again soon

just a bit disappointed really, it says serving lunch till 4 but then was told it had stopped serving food at it was 3pm? it’s a very pretty place and the food looked promising but turned away before the said stopping time :(

Food was fantastic. Would recommend.

I asked if my quiche was the one on the menu board which was mushrooms and leek when it arrived. As the large pieces in it did not look like mushrooms the waitress told me "O yes they are mushrooms." After been unconvinced I ate some pieces and it was infact sausage from the days before menu. It was a very nice meal but I felt cheated and when I ordered the quiche I was not told what the quiche would be. I perhaps should have asked but I regularly have quiche at cafes and I am usually told what it is. I think with allergies etc the staff need to know what they are serving to people.

Very friendly relaxed atmosphere with good food & wine.

Great place to eat away from crowds, service was good and the food was excellent 👍👍

Delicious meal which far outstripped our expectations. We shared a platter for one which was rather generous. The homemade piccalilli was a fantastic accompaniment to the chicken and pulled pork. For mains we had lamb and chicken and ham pie. Both were generous in size and came with vegetables. Once again very well cooked and tasty. We couldn’t finish it all so didn’t get a chance to sample the desserts but they looked amazing! Highly recommended!

Easy to miss this place tucked away from the Main Street, but don’t. A great selection of dishes and a variety on European wines. We had a lovely dinner here. There’s even a kids menu so everyone gets to choose their options. We splashed out on a great Valpolicella which meant our bill was a little higher than normal. But great value all the same.

What a hidden little treasure. Great food, mushroom and brandy soup was fantastic. Friendly staff. Definitely recommend.

Great place for an evening meal. Quality food at a reasonable price, served with a smile

Fantastic meal here tonite, so good we booked tomorrow night aswell. Quality of food very good, service not rushed. Well worth the visit.

A family trip to the hidden gem Sheila’s Cottage. The food was delicious. The staff were lovely and welcoming. We will definitely be returning!!

Dined here this evening for first time definitely will be returning,staff, atmosphere and food excellent.All in all a lovely experience.

Popped in for an early lunch after reading the menu outside on the wall. We were welcomed in and had a choice of tables. The lovely waitress then ensured our dog had water and a biscuit! He was most impressed. The lunch menu is easy to read and has a good number of choices, although there is a lack of salads for some reason. We ordered sandwiches - a ham one and a bacon and brie. They came with salad and crisps and were really nice with plenty of filling and the thickest bread I've ever seen! They also have an interesting selection of fruit teas, if that's what you fancy. Overall, it was a really nice experience and one I will certainly repeat the next time we are in Ambleside.

The food was average, the service questionable, the bearded gentleman who served was surly, and clearly had somewhere to be puffing and rolling his eyes, he made the atmosphere very rushed. We booked for 8pm, and it was made obvious he wanted to be out of there! we were rushed to the point of rudeness and he even presented a bucket of steaming water and mop at 9pm!! It’s expensive for what it is, for 2 mediocre mains [salmon] and a bottle of wine £80!!! We had to take the left over wine with us. Very unprofessional and compared to everywhere else we have eaten thoroughly unpleasant and expensive. The Thai restaurant across the road was so much better in every respect.

The scones were really bad and too expensive.

We first visited Sheila's Cottage 44 years ago whilst on our honeymoon, have been a couple of times since and have never been disappointed. Not many things are as good as your first visit, but Sheila's Cottage is the exception, this is not our last visit, God willing.

Very welcoming and attentive, polite staff. Food was lovely, fresh produce, nicely cooked and presented beautifully, rebooked after leaving.

Had fish and chips, very disappointed, looks like they bought the fish from a supermarket already battered.

Came here on a weekend away and the food and service was amazing!! Highly recommend the steak and Stilton sauce and the baileys and chocolate chip cheesecake. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in the Lakes!

We booked in advance this little Gem of a place. The food was fabulous and so was the service. It was very clean and inviting. We will definitely return!

Lovely cosy cottage restaurant. Had the chicken pie which was delicious! Portion sizes were great. Would love to come back!

Lovely restaurant with very friendly and helpful staff. Food was very tasty and well presented.

Fantastic food The two girls that served us like a breath of fresh air Lyla and Lauren made are visit some thing special future management Will be back

Lovely food and very friendly staff

Cute little restaurant with delicious food! I had the cheese and onion pie and it was to die for. Definitely recommend going here for romantic cosy night.

We had a super time at Sheila’s cottage really helpful staff as menu was so good was hard to choose ! The Chicken Kiev homemade was amazing and for the 2 vegetarians the cheese and onion pie was superb . We will definately return !

5* amazing food with great location 😎 staff so nice & kind 🙏🏼 highly recommended this beautiful restaurant 🙌🏼💋

I visited twice during a weekend away, once for lunch and second time for tea and cake, both around lunchtime. Service was really quick and food was delicious. Cakes were lovely. Tea comes loose with a strainer. Great place, would recommend

Superb location and great value

Lovely restaurant. Food is very well cooked. Perfect veg. Staff are all very attentive. I was dubious of going back here, as we visited several years ago and the service was poor to say the least. Would not hesitate to go again, clearly something has changed. We received first class service this time.

Really nice cosy cafe, staff were so friendly and chatty. Dog friendly also, my pup got a towel, water and a treat. Highly recommend, food was lovely. Will definitely be back for an evening meal and cocktails.

We've been here many times in the past. However, the service is clearly going downhill. We were booked in at 8.15, we arrived on time and from the minute we walked in we were made to feel like an inconvenience. The food was as lovely as ever, but the atmosphere was lacking. Waitresses were doing shots, moaning in the vicinity of us and other customers, several of which had to go and pay at the till as no one attended to their table for long periods of time. We ordered dessert and our waitress made it clear we weren't welcome. Her attitude was disgraceful as a representative for the restaurant. At 2120 we were the last couple in the place and the sense that they wanted us to leave was overwhelming, there was banging and clattering of dishes and trays, candles and lights extinguished and chairs moved. We asked for a break between main and dessert only to be met with an eye roll. We left a low tip which was for the chefs alone as the food was still to the same standard. Probably won't be returning.

Super Tomato and herb soup today. Served with artisan bread. Cosy and warm interior. Service was swift and pleasant. Recommended when in Ambleside.