The best restaurants serving Italian food in Ambleside and Grasmere South Lakeland North West

Had some excellent food here on our trip to Ambleside, highly recommend it! The lasagne was incredible...

Wonderful food, great for families with children, this place has a real buzz. We liked it so much we went back for lunch the next day! It also has an independent cinema so it's great for a rainy day with children. Definitely recommended.

Absolutely divine! One of the best sticky toffee puddings I’ve ever tasted, nestled in the heart of the Lakes. Perfectly moist, rich, and indulgent, it was a dessert to remember. The cherry on top? All for the unbelievable price of just £5.95. I paired it with a freshly brewed coffee made by professional barista staff. A hidden gem and an unbeatable treat.

Not as authentic as it purports to be. Sauce on the pasta was sparse and quite bland, the veal tough and bland and the tiramisu looked as though it had been splashed on the plate from a great height. On the positives the lasagne was tasty as was the carbonara. Little ambiance about the place with bright lighting and no sense of Italy anywhere. The young staff were pleasant and attentive but couldn’t pronounce their own dishes correctly which contributed to the sense that is was as authentic as a cockney in a kilt. My nonna (grandma) would have been unimpressed.

Harley’s occupies a former church/chapel and vision of its interior is blocked out when entering. The stonework and windows are dominated by Gothic arches, whilst the small tables and chairs are quite basic. A few former pews provide group seating at the perimeter. The servery is a jumble of bottles and cakes and bakes, illuminated by a mix of eclectic lighting. The cooking smells from the kitchen dominate the atmosphere and my clothing seemed to absorb the stench that lasted well after I had returned to base. A kitchen venting system seemed visible from the tables but its function seemed not to be working. My latte was fine and the heated mince pie brought out the lovely flavours of the Christmas fruit mix whilst the home cooked pastry seemed to have faired less well from the reheating which might have come from a microwave source. Staff were attentive and most helpful in assisting my departure due to my disabled gait.