The best restaurants in Derwent Valley Allerdale North West

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!

What an amazing experience. The setting is stunning, the food is magical and the whole ethos of sustainability surrounding The Cottage in the Wood is inspiring.

This was our first visit to The Cottage in the Wood and it was a fantastic experience. The staff were, without exception, all friendly and helpful. The tasting menu was amazing and occupied the whole evening. Every course was personally explained by the attentive team, who also introduced the vegetarian options where they differed from the standard menu. After a night in one of the comfortable rooms, our stay was rounded off by a wonderful breakfast with a breath-taking view across the valley.

Good find - definitely a hotel restaurant (not a pub), pretty quiet, but excellent service and good food. Kitchen clearly cared and was imaginative. Wood pigeon was tender and went well with the black pudding. Lamb fillet was tender and pink, and generous portion. My daughter’s lamb curry was really tasty and served with a proper south Asian roti. Worth a visit for sure.

Superb friendly service from start to finish. Lovely hotel with well stocked bar and food offering in the restaurant was amazing.

We had visited previously for a meal a few months ago but decided to stay for a 2 night break and we weren’t disappointed ! From the moment we arrived we were made to feel welcome. Our room was lovely with our own terrace. We dined there both evenings and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Sophie and the rest of the staff really looked after us and we’ll definitely be returning !

Visited here whilst on our jollies. Lovely location near Derwentwater. Friendly service. Fabulous reasonably priced (for the Lakes) food. Friendly for woofers including our lab. Food delish! Coffee gorgeous.

Just brilliant. Scenic, quiet, quality.

Honestly, the restaurant at Lingholm is a must visit. We went for breakfast, all of the staff are super welcoming and friendly. The food is outstanding, best meal out in a long time!! Plus whilst you're waiting for your food, you can explore Peter rabbits vegetable garden

The menu has deteriorated unfortunately from previous high standard . Chicken Caesar salad was just over cooked breaded chicken on a serving of salad with little dressing. The flat iron steak was not in a ciabatta as advertised and not as flavoursome as it always was on the previous menu. Skinny chips instead of chunky is I suppose a matter of taste but another step backwards in my opinion

Fine pub in Braithwaite with plenty outdoor seating and parking. Friendly staff,good craic.

We came across this gorgeous tea room quite by chance on our way to Honister Pass. We are so glad we stopped. We sat outside in the sun watching the lambs playing in the fields whilst eating a delicious lunch. I enjoyed a tuna melt with a fresh mixed salad, sea salt crisps and lovely crunchy coleslaw and hubby thoroughly enjoyed a bowl of lamb stew with a homemade cheese and herb scone and a helping of mint and rosemary jelly. Both were absolutely gorgeous. We don't usually have dessert at lunchtime but on this occasion I decided on a homemade scone and jam and it was one of the best I've ever eaten (and I've eaten a fair few in my time). However the star of the show was undoubtedly the homemade sticky toffee pudding. Well we just couldn't resist and it was just perfect, the best ever and we aren't easily pleased! Not only was the food outstanding but the staff were friendly too. We can't recommend this tearoom enough. We will definitely return.

I had earmarked this tearoom for our lunch stop which would be 3/4 point of our 8.5 mile walk round the Borrowdale Valley. We sat inside as it was a rather chilly day, friendly welcome and lovely food the toasted cheese & chive scones are delicious and my hubby thoroughly enjoyed his Cumberland sausage roll, along with a couple of hot drinks. Well worth stopping, I'm sure sitting outside in warmer weather would be lovely. Highly recommend.

Great breakfast,cooked to perfection by Sarah, same great quality every morning. Highly recommend,great start to the day.

So disappointed to arrive last night for our restaurant reservation to be told "it's not in the book"! You are not able to book online therefore we phoned 3 weeks prior but obviously whoever took the call never "put it in the book". The fact we are on honeymoon made this even more disappointing.