Lake Road Kitchen — Restaurant in Great Britain

We have done several tasting menu experiences in the last few years, locally at L’Enclume through to Mark Fosh in Palma. Some Michelin starred and some not. The success factor for these events are a coupling of great food and a fantastic service experience. 4 of us dined at Lake Road Kitchen on the evening of Sat 17th July. Feedback on food is subjective, so I will concentrate my review on the service we experienced. For this type of experience, the service needs to be fantastic. Even though £90 per head is at the relatively low end for this type of menu, in order for it to work we still need a serving team that speak and engage with their customers with passion and energy. We were hugely disappointed with the waiting staff’s attitude. They were just so dour. Neither of them engaged with us or responded to our attempts at conversation. Admittedly we are a talkative bunch but to shut down any conversation or questions with one word answers was not what we were expecting. Don’t get me wrong we were not looking for a TGI experience, but we were looking to the team to tell us what a great experience we are going to have, and to talk about each dish with passion and excitement as though they cared. We got off to a bad start as we sent a beer back that was Oxidised. The guy serving us was not impressed that we had ordered beer in the first place and was even less impressed that we had sent it back. We import Craft Beer from the USA and so always look to try any beers that are on the menu that are new to us. Every time we have been to a tasting menu experience, we have chosen the Wine Pairing Package. We did not on this occasion, and this is testament to either the lack of knowledge or reluctance to share any benefits or information on the wine other than price. His sales pitch consisted of saying at one point ‘so are we having wine?’ he just about stopped himself adding ‘or what?’. My advice would be that if you are in Ambleside and looking for a fine dining tasting menu experience, do explore alternatives. We can argue all day about the food, but what you can’t argue with is our perception of the waiting staff. Our perception was that they didn’t really care, and that their offering was nothing special. The bar team at ES in Ambleside talked more passionately about a £5 plate of Tapas then these guys did about a dish that Chef had probably spent hours and hours preparing! We should have checked the reviews more closely……ah well you...

We arrived at LRK excited to begin our '6 stars in six decades' culinary adventure, generously gifted by our children to celebrate both our big birthdays.

The door was locked and as we had arrived early, we gave a tentative knock, but to our suprise, we were welcomed in by name and diners we're already eating. It was like we had entered an exclusive club.

Promptly seated, decor modern with a minimalistic vibe highlighted by the unfettered table tealight, we studied the cocktail menu and settled for Champagne and a Monkey 47 gin. Although menus absent we had already opted for the 8 course taster menu with wine pairing.

A tasty sourdough bread arrived with a dry aged butter, accompanied by a pecan smoked pastrami, dill pickled cucumber and mustard mayonnaise.

The waiter suggested making a sandwich which felt slightly out of place but the bread was tasty if the pastrami slightly underwhelming, perhaps overpowered by the pickled cucumber.

Our first course was 'knock it out of the park' exceptional, Ora king salmon with a tomato and maple dashi. It was literally a melt in the mouth experience with a heavenly savouring aftertaste, matched perfectly with a French wine you probably wouldn't drink on its own.

Fried chicken with smoked peppers and lime was a finger food morcel perhaps trying too hard to be something different than fried chicken.

Smoked Shetland monkfish followed, which was nestled on a delightful velvety cream burrata with beetroot. The fish had been lovingly taken to 38degrees infused with just the right level of smokiness for a perfect balance of flavour, once again paired beautifully with the wine.

Veal shin with koshihkari rice porridge in saffron, topped with parmesan flakes was a bold dish with the saffron dominating, maybe not for everyone.

Steamed Norwegian halibut was next, in a chicken buttersauce with black truffle which was packed with flavour demonstrating once again the Chefs natural talent for cooking fish.

Our final savoury dish was a barbecued Iberico pork saddle with braised fennel and wild garlic capers brought together with an exquisite pork gravy, if only there was more!

Pistachio gelato with English cherry was a delightful first dessert followed by a delicate cheesecake with a blackcurrant and gooseberry compote, delicious.

No petit fours but coffee was classy with a deep rich flavour which topped off a real eclectic mix of tastes, textures and flavours from a chef clearly fearless...

Our expectations were high when we were offered a cancellation and took it gladly,although I had tried to book the eight course tasting menu and we were only offered twelve. Before we arrived we had to pay a large deposit and were sent an email stating that if we didn’t bring a mask we would be charged for one. A bit steep at £160 a head for food. On arrival the paint was peeling from the window frames and the frontage didn’t look loved. Once in the doorway we were instructed to wear masks and greeted as Mr and Mrs Marshall. We are a couple but not married so not a great start. The very in your face waiter began selling almost immediately and tried to upsell us to an extra dish. As if twelve wasn’t going to be enough. The ambiance is nice if you face the kitchen but if you face the street it’s basically a blank canvas. No linen service here. It’s very informal and you pour your own wine. Michelin star it aint. The food lacked any wow and was hugely protein hence very filling. The dishes were prepared with love and care but rather bland. I expect to have my taste buds wowed with explosions of flavour in a tasting menu. It’s not about the size. I began craving Some greenery. There were five or six fish courses and the cod was pretty much raw and see through in the middle. A heavily smoked duck broth was akin to bovril or a gravy. We began to dread the next course coming out as we were so full despite having skipped lunch. The only non meat or fish dish was very welcome Pine nuts in a peppery cheesy sauce. The heaviest savoury course (pork chop) came last but I was too full to eat it all. The three desert courses began with a delicious raspberry sorbet. So welcome after the heavy dishes and the only time I found myself describing any dish as delicious. Then followed a rich marscapone dish and finally a cheese cake both of which were just ok All in all the menu lacked balance,service was rather pretentious and toilets fit for a campervan. I have had so much better for less money and we left very disappointed. Much of this can be put right if customers are listened to and amendments made. At these prices people expect excellence and finesse from sincere servers who show a little humility. We did have one...