Eating out in Ambleside.
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Mrs.Chips and I are spending 3 nights in Ambleside at the end of the month. Typically, on a 3 night break we would have fish & chips, an Indian meal and a meal at a pub. Can anyone recommend the best chippy, Indian restaurant and eating pub in the area? Ideally, within walking distance of the centre of Ambleside, so that both of us can enjoy a drink.
Thanks for all positive suggestions.
Mrs.Chips and I are spending 3 nights in Ambleside at the end of the month. Typically, on a 3 night break we would have fish & chips, an Indian meal and a meal at a pub. Can anyone recommend the best chippy, Indian restaurant and eating pub in the area? Ideally, within walking distance of the centre of Ambleside, so that both of us can enjoy a drink.
Thanks for all positive suggestions.
Mr.Chips said:
Hi Guys,
Mrs.Chips and I are spending 3 nights in Ambleside at the end of the month. Typically, on a 3 night break we would have fish & chips, an Indian meal and a meal at a pub. Can anyone recommend the best chippy, Indian restaurant and eating pub in the area? Ideally, within walking distance of the centre of Ambleside, so that both of us can enjoy a drink.
Thanks for all positive suggestions.
To be honest I wouldn't really choose to eat in Ambleside, though Zeffirellis is decent if you like proper pizza (though it's all veggie).Mrs.Chips and I are spending 3 nights in Ambleside at the end of the month. Typically, on a 3 night break we would have fish & chips, an Indian meal and a meal at a pub. Can anyone recommend the best chippy, Indian restaurant and eating pub in the area? Ideally, within walking distance of the centre of Ambleside, so that both of us can enjoy a drink.
Thanks for all positive suggestions.
IMO you should be prepared to travel - The Drunken Duck is okay for pub meals, bit of a gastro pub. If you want a posh Indian, Gilpin Spice. I day say you could probabaly get decent fish and chips somewhere in Ambleside or Windermere but my favourite in the area is the chippie in Staveley
It's been a couple of years since I've spent time there, but
Lake road kitchen is wonderful
There's a decent Thai, https://ambleside-thai-restaurant.com/ none of the Indians had a great reputation
The Priest Hole or the Old Stamp House are also very good.
Lake road kitchen is wonderful
There's a decent Thai, https://ambleside-thai-restaurant.com/ none of the Indians had a great reputation
The Priest Hole or the Old Stamp House are also very good.
I've just come back from a weekend near Ambleside so with this post in mind had a look whilst wandering about.
I think that there is only one fish and chip shop, the Walnut Fish Bar, I had fish and chips from there in summer and they were average, not great.
I only spotted one Indian restaurant, it was called Ishaas, I've not eaten there but it was pretty busy on Friday night.
I don't know about pubs as there are a few and they all serve food and they are always busy. We had pizzas at the Tap Yard which were nice, my kids had burgers there in summer and said they were nice (but 12 and 14 year old lads aren't fussy).
I think that there is only one fish and chip shop, the Walnut Fish Bar, I had fish and chips from there in summer and they were average, not great.
I only spotted one Indian restaurant, it was called Ishaas, I've not eaten there but it was pretty busy on Friday night.
I don't know about pubs as there are a few and they all serve food and they are always busy. We had pizzas at the Tap Yard which were nice, my kids had burgers there in summer and said they were nice (but 12 and 14 year old lads aren't fussy).
PH5121 said:
I think that there is only one fish and chip shop, the Walnut Fish Bar, I had fish and chips from there in summer and they were average, not great.
There are two. The Walnut is opposite Fellini's... pop up The Slack to Ghyllside Cycles, there's a chippy there which is better (The Old Smithy).I've not eaten a curry in Ambleside for years, but there are plenty of (in my opinion) good alternatives -
- Bar eS for tapas / mexican, nice little place delicious food, good atmosphere.
- Kysty - for really good food (a bit 'posher'). It's Cumbrian for 'Fussy' and is beautiful food (but comforting, warm and cosy food). Kysty is in the old Bilbo's unit round the back of..
- Doi intanon - decent Thai, generous portions, friendly service.
For pub grub again lots of options but my current favourite is The Ambleside Tavern. Don't be put off by the sports bar exterior. The food is all home cooked, and the pies are especially good (and generous). I had a beef randang in there on a particularly wet day in September and it was cracking.
Lotobear said:
Mr.Chips said:
Hi Guys,
Mrs.Chips and I are spending 3 nights in Ambleside at the end of the month. Typically, on a 3 night break we would have fish & chips, an Indian meal and a meal at a pub. Can anyone recommend the best chippy, Indian restaurant and eating pub in the area? Ideally, within walking distance of the centre of Ambleside, so that both of us can enjoy a drink.
Thanks for all positive suggestions.
To be honest I wouldn't really choose to eat in Ambleside, though Zeffirellis is decent if you like proper pizza (though it's all veggie).Mrs.Chips and I are spending 3 nights in Ambleside at the end of the month. Typically, on a 3 night break we would have fish & chips, an Indian meal and a meal at a pub. Can anyone recommend the best chippy, Indian restaurant and eating pub in the area? Ideally, within walking distance of the centre of Ambleside, so that both of us can enjoy a drink.
Thanks for all positive suggestions.
IMO you should be prepared to travel - The Drunken Duck is okay for pub meals, bit of a gastro pub. If you want a posh Indian, Gilpin Spice. I day say you could probabaly get decent fish and chips somewhere in Ambleside or Windermere but my favourite in the area is the chippie in Staveley
AlfaPapa said:
For pub grub again lots of options but my current favourite is The Ambleside Tavern. Don't be put off by the sports bar exterior. The food is all home cooked, and the pies are especially good (and generous). I had a beef randang in there on a particularly wet day in September and it was cracking.
I agree with that, although the owner is a bit grumpy :smile:.I like Dodd's italian restaurant. Very popular and you can't pre book though.
PurpleTurtle said:
We camped near Staveley in the summer and the chippy there is indeed brilliant, but it's a 20-30 minute drive from Ambleside depending on traffic , so not really suitable for the OP. Excellent food at The Eagle & Child pun in Staveley too, but again it would involve a drive.
...fair points but if you take in the Hawkshead Brewery Hall as well (and nominate a driver), and Wilfs cafe then it's job jobbed. I've had excellent and really quite poor meals at the E&C, it seems to change hands quite a bit and I don't know how it stands at the moment.More generally I don't understand why folk get fixated on staying in Ambleside - it's a honeypot with all the downsides that brings and there are much nicer places to eat and stay outside of it IMO
Lotobear said:
More generally I don't understand why folk get fixated on staying in Ambleside - it's a honeypot with all the downsides that brings and there are much nicer places to eat and stay outside of it IMO
It's because I want to stay in the same cottage for a week. I want to eat in a different place each evening, and probably a different cafe at lunchtime when we're not up in the hills, and I don't want to drive anywhere to eat.The only other place I'll stay in is Keswick. Nowhere else in the Lakes works for me given that we also want decent fell walking without having to drive.
During the way out of lockdown before it got too busy we regularly came up on a friday from Ulverston to the chippy at waterhead (where the steamers come in) - https://fishandchipsambleside.co.uk/ The bit of Ambleside on Windermere. If the weather is nice they have tables overlooking the lake.
As foir an indian in ambleside - we recently were at Ishaas https://ishaasindianeatery.co.uk with my dad & partners - and it was pretty good modern indian.
if you like Thai the best is Doi Intanon - https://ambleside-thai-restaurant.com/
.
As foir an indian in ambleside - we recently were at Ishaas https://ishaasindianeatery.co.uk with my dad & partners - and it was pretty good modern indian.
if you like Thai the best is Doi Intanon - https://ambleside-thai-restaurant.com/
.
Edited by 51mes on Monday 11th October 17:56
Lotobear said:
PurpleTurtle said:
We camped near Staveley in the summer and the chippy there is indeed brilliant, but it's a 20-30 minute drive from Ambleside depending on traffic , so not really suitable for the OP. Excellent food at The Eagle & Child pun in Staveley too, but again it would involve a drive.
...fair points but if you take in the Hawkshead Brewery Hall as well (and nominate a driver), and Wilfs cafe then it's job jobbed. I've had excellent and really quite poor meals at the E&C, it seems to change hands quite a bit and I don't know how it stands at the moment.More generally I don't understand why folk get fixated on staying in Ambleside - it's a honeypot with all the downsides that brings and there are much nicer places to eat and stay outside of it IMO
Grub at the Eagle and Child was excellent in August 2021, hope to be back again next time we visit the Lakes.
PurpleTurtle said:
Tell me about it ... I'm now a frequent visitor to their online shop!
Grub at the Eagle and Child was excellent in August 2021, hope to be back again next time we visit the Lakes.
Sadly Hawkshead beer is not what it was prior to lockdown. Windermere Pale was my favourite session beer of all time but has lost the fantastic hoppy kick it once had - Mosaic is still nice however as I had a pint at the weekend.Grub at the Eagle and Child was excellent in August 2021, hope to be back again next time we visit the Lakes.
Apparently the brewery owner sacked all his staff during lockdown instead of furloughing them and this has been cited by many local sources 'in the know' as the reason for the apparent changes in their beers. The good news is some of them have started up a new brewery in South Lakes so I look forward to trying them:
https://cumbriacrack.com/2021/03/10/new-brewery-la...
Some great suggestions guys, thank you all.
I know Ambleside is a bit of a tourist honeypot, but we have a nice place to stay, which fits our needs perfectly. We don’t drink much, but when we go away for a few days, we like the odd pint or three, usually with a meal. Mrs.Chips doesn’t like to drive at night or in places she hardly knows. Consequently, if we go outside Ambleside, it means that I drive so can’t have a drink.
Will let you know how we get on.
Thanks again.
I know Ambleside is a bit of a tourist honeypot, but we have a nice place to stay, which fits our needs perfectly. We don’t drink much, but when we go away for a few days, we like the odd pint or three, usually with a meal. Mrs.Chips doesn’t like to drive at night or in places she hardly knows. Consequently, if we go outside Ambleside, it means that I drive so can’t have a drink.
Will let you know how we get on.
Thanks again.
spikeyhead said:
Lotobear said:
More generally I don't understand why folk get fixated on staying in Ambleside - it's a honeypot with all the downsides that brings and there are much nicer places to eat and stay outside of it IMO
It's because I want to stay in the same cottage for a week. I want to eat in a different place each evening, and probably a different cafe at lunchtime when we're not up in the hills, and I don't want to drive anywhere to eat.The only other place I'll stay in is Keswick. Nowhere else in the Lakes works for me given that we also want decent fell walking without having to drive.
av185 said:
Stamphouse is really the only place with decent food in Ambleside.
I prefer the Lake Road Kitchen. The Thai place is also decent, as is the Priest Hole. The homemade pie frm the Old Smithy was also very very good, and my fish was decent. There's plenty of decent places there, and the Stamp House is indeed excellent, but to call it the only decent place in town is wrong.Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff