The Restaurant, Kendal College in South Lakeland

Food, presentation, attention to detail and service. Absolutely OUTSTANDING. It’s hard to believe the food served has been prepared by young, adult students. Certinaly some very talented chefs of the future

Allow for the fact this is a training restaurant and what you get is a stonkingly good meal and excellent value. The restaurant is comfortable and the staff/trainees are warm and welcoming. The food is as good as anything you might get in a high end restaurant, but at a much lower price. What’s not to like....nothing. Highly recommended. We’ll be back.

This restaurant is part of the Kendal College catering department (one of the best catering colleges in the UK!). They serve lunch on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and offer a Taster menu on Wednesday evenings during term times. The purpose is to train the student chefs and waiting on staff. The food is aimed at 'Fine Dining' level with a menu offering a choice of 3 starters, 3 main courses and 3 desserts followed by coffee. There was also a small but excellent wine list. The cost for a three course meal is under £14! We had a wonderful meal here. We were met at the entrance to the College by a very friendly and efficient student who welcomed us and showed us where to go. In the restaurant we were welcomed again and shown to our table. The students waiting on table were good and were working under a tutor who was managing the restaurant. They did a brilliant job in looking after us offering high quality customer service. The food was excellent. Well cooked, delicious and beautifully presented. We were given three courses that would not have been out of place in a top Fine Dining restaurant but would have been 3 or 4 times the price. The restaurant was large, clean, bright and airy with a relaxed atmosphere. This really was a great experience - and one well worth doing not only for the food and value but also as a way of observing young people working well and achieving really great results. Would I go back? Yes every week if I lived nearer!! I am just about to book an evening Taster meal - cannot wait! Do go; Go often, be well fed and support some great young chefs in the making!

Superb quality service with the young students, combined with excellently cooked and presented top quality ingriedients in a comfortable airy restaraunt. Kendals hidden gem

Invited to the restaurant as a treat by my daughter. The students had been working with Rob and his team from The Castle Dairy Restaurant which was devastated by the recent floods in Kendal. The food that was produced was outstanding. I have paid more for meals and been served food well below the standard of food served last night. It started with a small selection of canapes which got the taste buds roused and looking forward to what was to follow. The confit of chicken with apple and pickled walnut was great.First time I have tasted pickled walnut and I will trying them again. Then came the dish I was looking forward to dressed Cornish crab, I was not disappointed. I would have loved this to be a lot larger and served as a main meal. This to me was fabulous. Pastrami spice-cured trout followed. Described by my wife as 'gorgeous'. The slow cooked rump of lamb was served to perfection tender, tasty and pink absolutely delicious. Then came the sweets. Passion fruit curd, pineapple and coconut very delicate flavours that impressed our table. Finishing the meal with candle-light rhubarb, green tea sorbet. I must admit I was not looking forward to the sorbet, however, it was just as impressive as the rest of the meal. The meal was held at Kendal College to raise funds towards the appeal for those suffering from flood damage. I then found out it was a weekly event were the students work with chefs as part of their catering course to produce meals like this. They also serve lunches every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I'll be visiting their website to find out details of how to book. To sum up a great meal with no disappointing aspects. I understand the cost of a Wednesday Dinner to be £25 and their lunch menu to be £11-50.

We have visited the college for both lunch and dinner on several occasions in the past two years. The food is always well upto the standard of the best hotels in the Lake District. We run a wine tasting group for U3A in South lakes and have already booked for two lunches and a wine tasting dinner for the coming year. Especially delicious are the home made bread, the soups and deserts. We are always well looked after by Graeme Hedley who always sees that our groups are well looked after.

We have now visited The Restaurant numerous times over the past couple of years and never had ordinary food yet. This occasion was no different. We came for lunch and for the price I don't know where you could get better - £10.50 for three high quality courses and coffee. Our daughter has been in attendance on an associated course, hence why we started coming here, but we will continue to visit for meals after she has left such is the quality.

Second visit for one in our party, and first for me. Wonderful food, wonderful service and a great location. The food and service would be well placed in the best of restaurants. Splendid all round. Very highly recommended.

Pre Valentines 'Sparkling' lunch including glass of Prosecco with Raspberry cassis. Selection of dainty freshly baked warm bread rolls to accompany starter. We both opted for the asparagus risotto with truffle oil and mouth wateringly tasty local lakeland lamb for main course. Daintly presented desserts in shape of a sailing ship, followed by choice of tea and various coffees. Students occasionally a tad nervous, but gently encouraged and kindly tutored by Mr Hedley as always, to guide the apprentices in the right direction of provision of warm & friendly hospitality. Bravissimo!!

Overall an excellent meal. But let down by the main course which was a bit on the small side, the meat was also very dry. The waiters and waitresses did very well until the end which was let down when 3 people on our table never got any coffee. There was nobody about to ask, they all disappeared !

The college is our favourite place to eat in Kendal. We love the youthful enthusiasm of the students, steered by the gracious charm of Graeme. As a couple in advancing years, we delight in seeing the insecurity of "first years" as they mature and blossom into the self confidence of the "third year". As for the food - well sourced produce, prepared and cooked with care and skill, and presented with finesse. We often balk at spoiling a culinary "work of art" with spoon or fork, and I could still recall the flavour of one soup two weeks later! Do we have to raid our savings to eat here? Well, our next meal is the Christmas lunch, served during December. Three courses, Christmas cracker, mince pie and coffee for the princely sum of £10:50!! It selfishly disturbs me to give a good review as this might encourage more people to eat here and I might not get a table booking!

Well done to Graeme and all the students, another very enjoyable and professionally served meal. Highly recommended.

The quality of food and service is extremely good. The students and teaching staff do an excellent job.

okay, I may be biased as an offspring is currently one of the students...BUT....this was really lovely food at lunchtime. Three courses followed by coffee all for just under £11. The service is exceptional, the serving staff are polite, courteous and knowledgeable about the food they serve, the food itself was just so well cooked, and we were even treated to a student flambee demonstration. We've already booked for a Xmas lunch, and curry night. This is a very professional outfit and the students will be a credit at wherever they end up if this is their level now

My first visit to The Restaurant, and I was not disappointed. The food was excellent quality and the service was top notch. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.

It's always a delight to watch the students learn their trade and the choice and quality of food on offer is always excellent quality and superb value.Almost an up-market 'Pensioners's Special' !!!

This is an exceptional restaurant as it is a training venue for all of the student staff with high expectations. You will not get finer food or service anywhere for the prices that are charged. It is not always open so look in advance for the schedule on the college website.

Lunch taken amidst other couples/friends/family parties and a bustling ambience under the watchful eye ot sommelier/supervisor Graeme Hedley who directs the students in his jovial relaxed manner about their service, almost like a film director!! Wonderfully presented food...starter pour moi - beetroot carpaccio with crispy Parma style ham whilst vegetarian niece had an 'egg florentine' served on a mini muffin. Main course exceptional - locally produced lamb [ courtesy of Plumgarths] with a timbale of daupinoisse type potatoes, whilst the 'veggie' enjoyed a creamy tagliatelli with wild mushrooms. We both completed our extravaganza with a sumptious ginger cheesecake, served with a crispy ginger tulle and some tasty little jellies. Needless to say, after a cafetiere of delicious coffee, I was compulsively anorexic until the following morning!Of course, I will return shortly! Students - you are all a credit to the department of catering asnd hospitality of Kendal College!!

This is such a great place to eat. Meeting the students and their tutor makes the whole experience really interesting and the food is excellent, especially considering you'd pay as much in a local cafe or tea room. Well worth a visit.

14th November was the night Robert Stacey from Castle Dairy was in the kitchen of The Restaurant at Kendal College with the students. An excellent meal with super service- the students did the college proud. The menu consisted of: Veloute of Jerusalem artichokes, Carmelised cep Risotto, Grilled Mackerel, Assiette of pork and Passion fruit bavarois. I have a diary intolerance and they coped with this beautifully. The price is great £25.50 and you will not get a meal anywhere else of this standard at that price. Get the brochure and book for a meal. Well done.

Here in a Catering School section of Kendal College, you can eat and drink in the style of the best restaurants, which is where many of their students go after training. The food and service are to be admired. If any thing isn't "quite right" the Tutor gently points his charges towards their next task, and your enjoyment is never hampered. The fact that you will need to book weeks ahead is a firm indication of the quality and value of eating this restaurant. We held a "significant birthday" lunch party here, and we were NOT disappointed. The price is well below what you would pay for the equivalent fine dining in a profit-making establishment.

Great food, great service, great price. Be warned, book ahead or you won't get in!

the food was grweat and im a studnet there but eating there is amazing

Warm reception from entering with chief tutor/ Sommelier Graham Hedley supervising [nervous] 1st and 2nd year students throughout our 3 course luncheon. Contemporary decor where you can observe students preparing/cooking your chosen dishes on the BIG TV screen from your table. Friend chose Egg Florentine on a home cooked muffin whilst I opted for the carpaccio served with beetroot and salad, accompanioed by a varied selection of freshly baked warm bread rolls. Main course I could'nt resist the Cumbrian Fell bred lamb which was so succulent, it literally melted in the mouth, served with seasonal vegs. and potato rosti + a ? asparagus coulis.. Friend went for local chicken breast, which was beautifiully presented. We completed meal with a chocolate marquise [ mousse] + tonka bean ice cream + raspberry coulis and afterwards cafetierre of cafe + 2 pots of tea for friend. A little light entertainment in the form of a cookery flambee demonstration by the students serving everyone a portion of flambee'd pear in a toffee sauce under the auspices of the friendly tutor and highly entertaining Graham completed our dining experience perectly!You need to book ahead to dine here. Reservations only. Although they were not full to capacity I am sure word will soon spread of Kendal College's 'delightful dining experience'! We will be back to sample more!! Well done everyone.

Kendal College restaurant is a hidden gem. Starters were excellent, I chose the smoked haddock fish cakes with chive & garlic mayo, my other half the pork shoulder and black pudding terrine with caramelised apple chutney. For mains I had breast of Langwathby chicken filled with haggis and my husband had pan fried fillet of whiting with herb crust which we enjoyed. Desserts to die for, Spiced Parkin with nougat one wafer, vanilla ice cream and coffee anglicise, trio of mint cheesecake,macaroon and sorbet.The service by the young staff was efficient and overseen by attentive restaurant manager. The waiters/waitresses took time to explain various sauces and accompaniments to all courses. A good selection of wines and soft drinks was available served by knowledgable staff.The lunchtime service was busy and had a good atmosphere. It just confirms why I keep returning to the restaurant.

Attended the 10 course Visionary Chef 2011 finals in October - absolutely fantastic - service from students was better than we've expereinced in a lot of 'professional' restaurants. So many wonderful courses with wonderful wine - a real experience!

As soon as you enter the restaurant, you forget you're inside a college. The Restaurant is fully fitted out like a high quality eatery; the students working there are friendly and eager to please; and the food is excellent. We enjoyed the "Culinary tour of Cumbrian tastes" lunchtime menu - I had asparagus with poached egg and a hollandaise sauce; pan fried trout with new potatoes; a white chocolate and pistachio tart; and coffee to finish. Everything was cooked to perfection and elegantly presented. For £12.50, it was amazing value. If this is what students at the college can do today, it bodes well for Cumbrian cuisine in the future.This is the kind of place that locals get to hear about by word of mouth, but are reluctant to tell Lake District tourists about - in case they crowd the place out and the prices go up!