The Monks Bistro in South Lakeland

We came here while staying in cartmel for 2 nights. Staff were great & food was beautiful. It was really busy after the races on the Friday & great atmosphere.

Visited for a long weekend with friends, the lads watched the football in the bar area on the Sunday and we booked for Sunday lunch. Friendly staff and good food. We had a late table & received a phone call a few days before asking if we wanted to let them know what meat we preferred so they wouldn’t run out, a nice touch.

Recently my wife and I decided to visit The Monks Bistro for Sunday lunch. The atmosphere and welcome by the staff was warm and friendly. We were told the roast of the day was Beef Chicken or Pork. After perusing over the good selection of food on offer on the menu we chose the roast beef. We were not disappointed. The Beef was beautiful, accompanied by six perfectly cooked veggies, a large Yorkshire pudding and lovely flavoured gravy. With such an extensive menu to choose from we will definitely return

Beautiful food, very friendly and accommodating waiting staff and delicious cocktails! Only wish I lived closer to visit regularly!

Excellent Sunday lunch. Superb value set menu and lovely and personable, friendly staff. Faultless!

Our voucher was a meal for 2 from the fixed menu (2 courses). It was certainly well worth a visit. The food was of a very high quality & in extremely pleasant surroundings.

Fantastic service and an excellent choice of dish options.

I have visited the Bistro several times before, This time I had the company of some dear friends who came to the Bistro for the first time. They loved it as much as I have always done. Everything was excellent. Thank you.

From walking into the Bistro to leaving we were treated to amazing food, impeccable service, friendly, professional staff and great cocktails. High standard throughout, meaning we will be returning again and again.

Lovely fresh food. Ordered from the fixed menu and wasn't disappointed. All food is freshly made and pleasantly presented. Good drinks choice too and reasonable prices Will definitely make the trip again

We are regular customers of the Bistro...the service is always second to non...Matthew looked after us once again and as always brilliant...thank you Matthew....cocktails and food superb...we love visiting the distillery...see you next month!

A great place for lunch with a good choice and attentive service.

We had a lovely lunch at the Bistro before the boys did their whiskey tour. Would definitely recommend.

I’ve been to the distillery a few times and always enjoyed it but didn’t feel the food or service was brilliant this time. I think £26 is pretty steep for quite an average 3 course Sunday lunch and, although staff were polite and friendly, we had to ask for more drinks and water and one of our group was completely forgotten when we had our starters brought. I would still recommend friends to try it but, for me, it’s not as good as it has been before

A super, charming bistro with delicious food. We had the cheese souffle and the battered cod and chips. Food served beautifully, not too much or too little, and extremely tasty. The service was wonderful, quick and not intrusive. I will be going back in a couple of weeks again. Very impressed.

Once again we had a lovely meal here. It's relaxing, good food, good value and friendly staff

My wife ordered a roast chicken lunch which was stone cold when it arrived at our table .My omelette was fine which I finished before the second roast chicken meal arrived. This one was burned to a cinder. So she then ordered the omelette which was ok. Suffice to say we dined alone.

We visited the bistro after completing the distillery tour. We were warmly welcomed and seated quickly. The menu choice was amazing. We really struggled to choose what to have. Both we both ended up having the same 3 courses which were all amazingly well cooked and presented. We would definitely return if in the area again.

This was the first time in over 40 years we have ever been out on valentines night. We had a fairish drive to get there so we had a earlier booking than we would have had normally. Staff are welcoming, and they remember us. Enjoyed the valentines day menu, shared a lobster for the main course, had to forego the complimentary cupid cocktail as I was driving. All in all very enjoyable. The quality has kept its standard since we went in when it first opened.

We had scallops for starter, they were a little under done however this didn’t stop me from eating them. Great flavours for all three courses. Good value for money for the Sunday lunch. Although I don’t drink, the shop was worth a visit too.

We were met with a warm greeting and seated immediately. Lovely atmosphere with simple tasteful furnishings. Waiting staff we’re lovely and attentive. Menu was varied and suited everyone’s tastes and drinks menu extensive. When the food arrived it was lovely and of a high standard and we couldn’t fault a single element. Loved everything about the place and will definitely be revisiting in the very near future!!

Thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Food was lovely and staff could not be faulted. Will certainly recommend to others.

The first thing I mentioned to my wife was the Excellent service from the staff. Food spot on aswell

First time at the Lakes Distillery- very tastefully rénovation. We enjoyed our meal which was well presented and very tasty. We would visit again if in the area.

This was our first visit to the Lakes Distillery Bistro and we found the food and service first class. There was no fuss and we were well looked after.

Husband rang ahead to say I was a vegan. On arrival told the vegetarian options were vegan on the set menu. Shortly afterwards waiter informed us that the last vegetarian/ vegan option had sold out! Did I want a big salad instead? Not really as a main meal on a cold January evening! To be fair they rustled together a roasted mixed veg meal which was tasty. Found it disappointing that there was a complete lack of vegetarian options. Husband enjoyed his meal and we were pleased we paid the offer price and not the full price. Would not recommend to non meat eaters

Everything went very well the meal was great as was the service.

We originally came to the distillery four years ago and signed up to the founders club and then went into lunch. I am glad to say that the quality of the food and the staff were excellent and we are looking forward to visiting again soon

Excellent food and brilliant service from our waiter will be going back here.

The bistro is a great place to dine - bringing a bit of glamour to an evening out with great local food, excellent service and a range a imaginative cocktails- the set menu is wonderful value

Was there with my sisters for one if there birthdays. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. The service, food & ambience was really good. They did not hurry us to leave giving us time to catch up.

Great surroundings, atmosphere and food. Staff are a tribute to the business.

Fantastic service right from before the door was opened for us; without prompting we were guided to a better and more convenient table for a less mobile member of the party. Lively ambience; varied menu and great cooking. Attentive, prompt, friendly service from start to finish. Great birthday lunch.

Lakeland Distilery and Bistro really worth a visit. Beautifully restored Bistro from old farm buildings. Friendly and efficient staff, great choice of menu. Outside dining.

Always an excellent experience, one of our top three places to eat

100% improvement on our last visit. Service has vastly improved. Staff were very attentive and polite. The two young waiters showing a good balance of respect in their work and casual conversation. Food was excellent as always.

Great choice on menu Good value Beautiful and tasty food Friendly staff

Excellent food with a good choice. Very attentive and efficient staff.

Another great meal at the Distillery - perfect place to celebrate a birthday with the family - thanks

We had a table of 4 friends beside the fire on New Year’s Eve. Food was excellent, service excellent particularly Mat. Could not fault the night. Outstanding.

Brilliant evening for New Years Eve. Great food, great service, excellent restaurant.

Lovely meal in a delightful setting, great bistro, classy, lovely staff,very friendly. I had the steak which was just beautifully cooked. Only a new years eve menu but plenty of choice.went for breakfast this morn at 10 am but sadly no hot food till 11 am which was disappointing but we know for next time. Will def go back when we are in area again

Excellent food, very attentive staff and beautiful surroundings. We were made to feel very welcome. Would highly recommend

We have been to the Bistro at the Distillery several times. On this occasion it was to celebrate my 65th birthday with two dear friends - and what a birthday meal it turned out to be! The shoulder of lamb was the best roast lamb dinner my fiancee and I have ever had. A perfectly cooked thick, though not too thick, steak of lamb - not just slices. Tender and juicy with a very acceptable amount of fat! Excellent sizeable Yorkshire pudding, cauliflower cheese, carrots and ample gravy and mint sauce helped make it a memorable aftenoon`s eating. Topped off with an egg nog panna cotta and a glass of the One whisky Port cask finish....... Looking forward to my next birthday!!!

Dairy free items had been highlighted, excellent service, lovely food. 2/3 course set menu was good value

The staff were friendly and helpful. We arrived late and explained our worry of being late for the distillery tour. The staff helped super fast ordering of food.

The Christmas set menu was lovely, highly recommend the beetroot salad starter and sirloin main. Staff as always very professional

We had a 3 course festive menu started was very nice pudding was lovely, main meal was a little bit of a let down food was warm rather than hot, gravy was really runny, this is the only thing that let it down,

Very enjoyable experience Food very nice but a bit tight with the fresh veg and no stuffing with the turkey We will def go again

Really nice restaurant in a great setting. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Only one slightly negative was the main course was quite cold and this was a shame as it took the shine off the experience.

Service was a little slow to begin with , however the service improved as the meal progressed. Food was tasty and well presented. The staff were generally friendly and enthusiastic. I will return of course as the Distillery offers good value for money in a pleasant environment.

Overall the meal was very good although it took a long time for our order to be taken. It seemed that we were stuck in a corner and forgotten about; however when they did finally take our order they were very apologetic about it, and fortunately we were not in a particular hurry.

Excellent service on Saturday as usual...thank you

Very good food and atmosphere. Have never been before but certainly would again. I had been it touch in advance to let them know I was vegan and they were able to tell me what was suitable for me to eat. I was with 2 colleagues and we all thoroughly enjoyed the food. The staff were exceptionally friendly to a point we all commented on it. Very good service. Restaurant itself is comfortable and well decorated with a cosy fire, and the onsite shop was great. Overall an excellent experience and I would definitely br back.

Absolutely amazing place. The food was outstanding and the staff were so polite and thoughtful. Will we definitely be back in the furure. Thank you for making our first trip a memorable one!

The staff at The distillery are really lovely, and welcoming but the service is slow. For example we had to ask 4 times for some horseradish sauce to go with the roast beef. It would be a nice touch to have some bread offered at the start of the meal, we had a delicious starter of prawns and avocado and a small piece of bread to mop up the sauce would have been great. It would be a challenging venue for a lone disabled diner to negotiate their way to the toilets, this is disappointing as the bistro is a new build and is not accessible for wheelchair users unless they have an able bodied person with them. Negotiating the slope down from the carpark in a wheelchair is not for the risk adverse diner! All that said the food is delicious and I am a regular customer

Fantastic food, stunning setting, attentive service. Will definitely be back.

Didn't appreciate being charged £4 for a soda water and cordial. Neither did we appreciate buying items from the shop after the tour n then calling in a Farm shop the way home and the items were cheaper than we had paid at the Distillery. However the staff were lovely n friendly and helpful.

Had a fabulous meal on sunday. Staff where so friendly too. We will be back. Thank you julie clarke

I have visited the Bistro several times and have always been more than satisfied with the whole experience, If ever I am in the Lakes the Bistro is one of the must visits to put in the calendar. This time was on the occasion of the Xmas lights switch-on-excellent.

First time at the gin distillery and will definitely be going back the food was excellent price was great and the Gin was out of this world so 5*

Lovely lunch! Relaxed surroundings, great service and delicious food.

I eat here, as do my friends , as I am a coeliac and require a strict GF diet. There is an understanding here about this and the issues of cross contamination. This makes the whole experience more restful. It would have been lordly to eat in the entrance restaurant as the fire has a lovely ambience. However the food is the most important factor ! Thanks to the staff for making it their business to be clued up re dietary issues and take this seriously.

Superb food and service - would highly recommend. We have eaten at the distillery a few times and really enjoy the variations of foods served at the Bistro. Possibly the weather but a little colder in the restaurant on the occasion.

The food was delicious, but there were a couple of mix ups on service. We have been before and this hasn’t happened previously. Was Were just unfortunate on the night but was rectified to our satisfaction, by the staff who were helpful and friendly.

This is the 2nd time out of many times we have been to the distillery and had a problem with service.In fairness this was not the waitresses fault ,it was the time we had to wait between starter and main course ,the manager apologised and toke the price of our 1st round of drinks of the bill. The food is usually excellent and this time my husband’s and mine were very nice but my daughter had a problem with her salad,no anchovies,cold chicken and lumps of cold bacon,and sparse amount of dressing. The manager again apologised and dealt with it in an appropriate way. We left reasonably happy but as it was a special occasion it was a shame it didn’t go smoothly. I have said we’d recommend the distillery because we have had lovely meals here, it’s just a pity that we have now had 2 in a row unsatisfactory experiences

Superb atmposhere, relaxed but friendly. Staff were excellent and looked after us extremely well. The food was outstanding, we had the fixed price menu and everything looked amazing, tasted fabulous and was great value too. Drinks were also superb - the Mojito Royale was deliciously lethal! All in all a brilliant evening - we will definitely be back.

We booked as part of a tour and 3 course set menu deal. The tour was interesting and the whisky very tasty! The service in the bistro was excellent, the staff very welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable. The food was excellent and very enjoyable. If I had to give a slight negative it would be that I was a little cold as sat in a draft. But the overall experience was excellent and we would definitely return.

A delicious Champagne Afternoon Tea, and thank you for the 'Happy Birthday' chocolate plaque! Friendly, efficient staff. We will definitely be back.

Well worth a visit, but don’t go if you are starving!

Excellent meal,never had a bad one there yet,very good service and good value for the money

Would recommend as different, good, friendly service but dish we wanted had run out at 7pm. Frittata OK but too much potato. Steak as required but too salty. Three scallops for £12 stingy. Disappointing to be asked to try whiskies but despite being listed no malts available.

Good, but kitchen ‘lost’ the check for our main course and it left us waiting. Pudding of real ale ice cream was pathetic, one very small scoop and a wafer biscuit. It was good but very poor value for money

Unfortunately myself and partner were extremely disappointed with the Very poor quality of our meals - the prices for the starters/main courses were expensive and the food did not reflect the price! The service was very good but we won’t be returning or recommending to any others. Sorry!

The service as brilliant, the waiter was friendly and attentive. The food was exceptionally nice, my son and I had the ribeye steak (I also had the hand cut chips) which was soooo tasty. My wife had the roast chicken, which was also tasty , the gravy was divine. The desert of real Ale ice cream was great, I wish I had more tha. One scoop. Overall as a one off meal, it was perfect.

Brilliant service from friendly staff capped by excellent food. Will definitely be going back next time we’re in the area.

Our trip to the Bistro at the Distillery was bought as a gift and what a fantastic gift it was. Lovely setting. Fantastic food. Welcoming staff. Really chilled and pleasant dining. Cleanliness was first class. Will definitely go again. One for our memory box.

A very lovely setting. We went on a weekday evening, which meant it wasn't very busy either. Staff very attentive, helpful and friendly. The food was very good, too. Overall, a very nice place to go for a lovely meal in a cosy setting.

Took yet more visiting friends for lunch and the standard was as good as always. Cheese souffle exceptional and the chips are always yummy. Definitely recommend this location.

This was mine and my husbands 3rd visit to the lakes distillery and it won’t be our last, the food, drinks and service was amazing

We had family visiting the Western Lakes so wanted to be sure that we recommended a high quality place to eat together. The Bistro did not disappoint. The food was beautiful (I have never had fish so white and fluffy). The portion sizes are just right. Absolutely good value for good quality food and drink.

A lovely restaurant in a wonderful setting. Excellent service and good food. We will go back again.

The Bistro at the Distillery is one of my favourite places to go for lunch. The food and service is always very good and I love the ambience. I can always rely on it being of a high standard.

Lovely Bistro, however the variance between the meat portions was unusual to say the least, my daughter was given 3 slices of roast beef, I was given 1 slice... I did question it with the waitress at the time.... I believe Horseradish sauce should have been offered rather than I requesting it, there was a long delay between starters and main course been served which was a little disappointing! Hence we were unable to have deserts, it felt too busy to get a good service which was unfortunate...

Fantastic food and service, will definitely go back.

Excellent Bistro. Can be busy so need to book. Good menu selection which changes with seasons

We have been to the Distillery number of times and always enjoyed it. This time however we were very aware of the noise in the restaurant and put this down to hard flooring together with hard furnishings etc. Our friends found it hard to hear the conversation on our table and mentioned this to your manager at the time. Everything else was very good and we will certainly come again.

Friendly service and lovely food. Didn’t wait too long. Excellent deserts and coffee. Will come again.

Excellent service! Staff were very good and pleasant

Absolutely awesomely wonderful. Friendly staff, fantastic food, amazing cocktails and mocktails, what more do you need....

Easily the best place in the area for lunch, dinner or afternoon tea. We are frequent customers as we live locally - we LOVE it!

Lovely to be welcomed at the door. Superb service all evening. Nice to have a choice of mocktails. Dessert was amazing (pannacotta).

Excellent day out and treat for a birthday Will recommend to friend and family

Great food great cocktails. Would go again. Xx

A rare gem. Often in the lakes you have plenty of excellent expensive restaurants or touristy fast food. Finally we have a high quality bistro. Well done for getting it right.

Lovely lunch - food was so tasty, well presented and the lemon posset with lavender cream was a real treat. Have visited a few times now and never been disappointed. Good service with friendly staff. Always a positive experience, thank you

I liked the cheese and spinach soufflé best. We went there two times and both meals were good. We had chicken, steak and fish and all was well cooked. The service was friendly and they have special drinks with the distillery products.

The cuisine was excellent and the service first class

The food was lovely and great service. we really enjoyed it together a friendly relaxed evening.

We are at the bistro after doing the distillery tour (which I would also highly recommend). The cocktails were amazing (I can recommend the Gin Sparkle) as was the food. The lamb was the most tender lamb I think I have ever had. Staff were also super friendly and were able to tell us more about the history of the distillery. Thank you so much for a wonderful evening!