Lucy’s On A Plate

We came here on a recommendation in December. It was really quiet, but so was most of the Lake District! We had a great evening meal here, the menu is very diverse and the portions are quite large (we ordered way too much food). Unfortunately we didn’t have room for any dessert but they did look delicious. It’s a very nice stop in Ambleside!

I was on vacation in England and this was the best restaurant that I went to. I had the venison and it was the first time that I had venison and it was amazing. I was not really hungry when I got my main course but I ate it all. I didn’t think that chocolate would be good with meat but it was. And the dessert menu was great. It was two pages of desserts and the tea was one of the best teas that I’d had on my vacation too. If your in Ambleside, you have to come here.

From what I understand, this is a popular place for food and desserts. It was crowded on a Sunday afternoon. We were seated right away and there seem to be two rooms and a separate «bar» area. The food selection was great and the service very nice. Nothing too special though. There were boxes on the floor in the front and other items being unpacked during the afternoon which was odd. The bathroom was not clean and the garbage was way overflowing. Not a good sign in terms of how the kitchen might be, so I can’t give this more than an A-​OK for a review.

The one thing I had planned for the weekend… lunch at Lucy’s. I remember a dinner that was so lovely, I had to go back and just make sure it was that good.
I wandered in and was seated… right next to all the cakes! I had brought my book (as you do when you dine solo), but probably spent more time staring at the cakes than anything else. The only problem with with table is that I felt like I was in the way of the staff and anyone trying to look at the cakes… which was everyone in the restaurant.
I opted for the Mariner Pie with cod, salmon and pollack, topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. It was a massive portion! It looked wonderful and it was what I would expect of comfort food. I would have liked a spoon to go with it since the sauce was a little on the runny side. It had lovely flavour, although I did wish there was a bit more fish in it. There were a couple of large pieces, but there may have been more prawns in it than fish… which I actually was not expecting (honestly I cannot remember reading ‘prawns’ in the description), but they were a nice addition. The mashed potatoes on top were really creamy and a bit on the lumpy side (which I like). I did not finish the whole portion… 1) it was a lot of food, even with a side of salad and 2) I wanted dessert.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted something from the cake table or if I wanted a dessert off the menu, so I asked for the dessert menu… you know… to compare. I may have gotten a little (ok… maybe a lot) greedy and went with the Borrowdale Sticky Banana Pudding. I really wanted the White Chocolate and Whisky Bread and Butter Pudding, but since I had it before, I really thought I should have something else. What sold me on this one: the description said it was a cross between sticky toffee pudding and bread and butter pudding. What is better than that?! It was a massive portion that came out… attracting attention from everyone in the room. It was so rich, but so full of raisins, sultanas, and dates that there was not a lot of ‘bread’. It did taste a lot like sticky toffee pudding, but lacking the extra toffee sauce. There was not a lot of banana in it, but the pieces that were in there were a bit hard, like they used dried banana chips. And it did not have the consistency of bread and butter pudding. A bit of a disappointment really, although I loved the ice cream on the side, it did cut through the richness.
The staff were all over the place… some were really nice, others were just kind of there, and one was storming all over and I got the feeling that she was annoyed with the customers and the other staff. A lot of the customers went up to the staff to either get them to bring the bill around or to let them know that they were ready to order. Even paying is confusing… if you are paying with a card, you play near the cake table. If you are paying with cash, you pay at the bar in the other room. I still like Lucy’s, but I will say that while I highly enjoyed my main dish, the overall experience was not as good as the first time.

A bit of a fussy place: too many menus, too many boards, too many «quotes», too many staff, too many menus. Loads of cakes. Sandwiches were nothing special so probably over-​priced. But, it’s Ambleside, not Shoreditch; what’s to expect. Better than elsewhere, perhaps

One of the recommended places to eat in Ambleside. Extensive and somewhat bewilderingly large menu. Plenty to suit most palates including vegetarians. It can be busy so get there early or book

A great restaurant, the food is freshly cooked and has some great names. I had corgette slippers!!! The menu changes on a daily basis too so you need to look at the notice board outside to see what each evening delights will be.
The service is very good and very attantive. It has a great relaxed atmosphere and a cosy feel.
It is a little more expensive than your usual restuarant but worth it for the freshness and quality of the food.

Great retaurant in lovely Ambleside. They are very child friendly with things for kids like pickers plates with houmus, bread, cheese, grapes. They also have a box of story books, paper and crayons that they bring out. The menu changes with availability and is locally and sustainably sourced. A special mention for the sticky toffee pudding which is heaven in a dish. There is also a deli where you can get a lot of the same stuff to take with you.

Lovely restaurant, great atmosphere. Menu changes daily and if you’ve booked, you’ll probably get a mention on it. Puddings are brilliant. I got the impression that the staff change quite regularly (passing trade, seasonal shift in young people working in the town) and some of them didn’t have a clue! Excellent choice of wine (recommend the South African Pinotage). I went with a couple, and even as a third wheel, had a brilliant time. Also check out the deli shop and the wine bar, all owned by the same people. They kinda have the monopoly in Ambleside! But all the food is very, very tasty. Pretty pricey