BLOCKS Steakhouse — Restaurant in England

Best Steakhouse in the Lake District! Yesterday, after a visit to Honister Slate Mine, we fancied a nice meal out. After much googling and head scratching, we decided to call BLOCKS Steakhouse to see if they could squeeze us in with only 30 or so minutes notice. Thankfully, they had space for us and happily booked us in. On arrival, we were warmly greeted by the happy staff and shown to our own private dining room with an open fire with a nice table for 6 already set up in anticipation of our arrival. The nice waitress took our drinks order and gave us all the menus. Whilst browsing through the incredible menu, we were brought complimentary slices of chilli and paprika bread accompanied by a herby butter, which was magnificent. We ordered 3 steaks, the fajitas and two kids' meals, each and every dish was of the highest quality. I am a bit of a steak conissur, and I can say with some degree of authority that the Fillet Steak at BLOCKS is the best Fillet Steak in the Lake District without a shadow of a doubt. I had the fillet steak with chips and peppercorn sauce. The fillet steak was cooked to perfection and had the right amount of char with a nice juicy, pink interior. The chips were perfectly cooked, and the portion size of the chips was very generous. In terms of the peppercorn sauce, the quality was of the highest standard, but the portion size for me was a little lacking as I do love peppercorn sauce, I would have happily accepted a half pint of this creamy goodness! Now we come to the dessert, which really was the cream on top of this epic feast! I had the Baileys Creme Brulee, which was accompanied with a lovely shortbread biscuits, wow! This dessert was mind shatteringly brilliant! My friend had the New York Cheesecake and by the look of his face, and judging from his comments, I would say he was satisfied. After paying the bill, just after I was telling the staff how happy I was with the experience, I was heading for the door when a waitress came around the corner and greeted me with a full body complimentary beer shower, the tray of drinks poured all over me, I managed to juggle and catch one of the gin glasses whilst soaking up the booze like a sponge, she was just as shocked as I was by this catastrophic waste of perfectly good alcohol and thankfully no one was hurt and by some kind of miracle, non of the glasses were smashed. Overall, I would say that this is my favourite Steak House in the whole of the Lake District and I expect that I will be visiting again every time I come...

Nothing like it was. We will not be returning we were sorely disappointed

Firstly the menu has changed and you now no longer get a choice of sides which is why I liked this place initially for the options.

Kitchen messed up the starter and made including peppers which was stated on ordering and was noted on the check they just didn't pay attention therefore long wait for my husband's starter while we had finished.

Kids meals were poor for £9.95 sausage was pre chopped and dry. Also ran out of drinks we ordered.

Worst part was the steak ordered sirloin, medium came out and steak was grey and grainy so many char marks on outside all you could taste was burnt. When the waitress checked back we returned the steaks. They made fresh ones which were much better but still charred tase. This took 25 mins to redo and at no point in that did we receive and update or a check back ok the table.

We wanted more drinks but getting the attention of someone we tried for ages we had to go to the counter.

Dessert menu loads was out of stock and my daughter's allergies sorbet and vegan ice-cream all not available. We left without dessert.

For £114 for 2 adults and 2 kids honest a joke. We can get a much better meal anywhere else. We thought this place was good for a special anniversary dinner but I was sorely mistaken.

Although the waitresses were nice they were all young and clearly not experienced and it massively reduced the quality and attention to service that was needed.

Whatever has happened to this restaurant what a disaster. People will vote with their feet soon I'm sure. Expensive prices for poor quality food....

I have a soya allergy, tried to call ahead, no answer. Not the best start.

We arrive for our table of 5 and I ask for the allergen menu. They tell me they don't have any other menus than the regular menu.

The manager comes over and says that I can't have anything with oil as they use a vegetable blend that includes soya bean.

Direct quote "everything good is done with the oil" they weren't wrong tbh.

The manager would occasionally say I think this food is safe go check with the chef and then say no.

They confirmed no starters were safe, no desserts other than the vegan ice-cream were without soya and the bread was made with soya.

To their credit the gluten free bread was soya free but not the best.

They finally told me I could have a steak but it would need to be cooked separately without oil. And said the only sides I could have were vegetables, a dry salad or premade falafel.

I paid £36 to eat a tough steak as no oil or butter could be used and 1 portion of vegetables.

Sadly the vegetables were the highlight of the meal.

The staff were very awkward about having to tell me I couldn't eat anything on the menu and made it quite uncomfortable at the table as I was the only one with an allergy.

They offered a free soft drink but charged full price for my meal despite the quality...