Diners' Choice: Neighbourhood gem restaurants in Cumbria

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighbourhood gems in Cumbria? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Pour House

4.9

4.9 (30)

£25 and under

Unspecified

Whitehaven

About the restaurant

The Pour House is a tapas and cocktail bar with a relaxed atmosphere and chill music. Established by Luke and Robert in 2023, we are a relatively new experience within the town of Whitehaven, offering cool and fresh ideas to the cocktail and tapas industry.

We offer a range of traditional Spanish and English tapas dishes from Thursday to Saturday and Sunday lunches on Sundays. We have a range of approximately 40 cocktails, including call cocktails you may desire, in addition to an extensive range of mocktails.

We have a chilled atmosphere, so we're perfect for lunch, a quick bite to eat or a longer stay with a few drinks.

Cheers
Luke & Rob

Top review

Austin

Dined on 18 Nov 2024

Fantastic food, fantastic ambience. Will return for tapas again or maybe bottomless brunch.

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4.8

4.8 (331)

£25 and under

British

Carlisle

About the restaurant

The Greenhead Hotel was taken over in June 2020 by local proprietor Jordan Dodwell & his partner Anna Pearson. After a complete refurb they opened the doors on the 14th August 2020.

Head Chef, Dan, & his young, eager team use the finest ingredients available using local butchers, suppliers and even forage in the nearby woodland. During the shooting season we source game from the local shoot which features on our specials board.

Situated on the Northumberland and Cumbrian border, with Hadrian's wall on our doorstep, the hotel offers a cosy drinking area with locally sourced ale, a chic restaurant serving homemade classic pub food with a modern twist and 7 newly refurbished dog friendly en-suite guest bedrooms, alongside a 45 bed Hostel, providing the perfect base for your trip.

Top review

Fiona

Dined 7 days ago

Huge portions. Sunday roast beef meal was absolutely delicious. Steak Pie also delicious and served with lovely roast veg.

Casa Italian

4.8

4.8 (89)

£25 and under

Italian

Whitehaven

About the restaurant

Welcome to Casa Italian, where we bring the heart of Italy to your table. Located in Whitehaven, our restaurant offers a warm and inviting atmosphere perfect for any occasion. Owned by Luke, Robert & Dean, we strive to provide a great experience alongside our Head Chef, Stuart and Executive Chef, Ryan. In the evening, immerse yourself in the full Italian dining experience with our carefully curated evening menu. Whether it’s a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner, Casa Italian is dedicated to serving authentic Italian flavours with a modern twist.

Top review

Tracey

Dined 6 days ago

Casa Italian was lovely, good portions of tasty food. Great table service , smiley helpful waitresses .

The Cavendish Arms

4.7

4.7 (1892)

£26 to £40

British

Grange-Over-Sands

About the restaurant

Please note we cannot guarantee specific tables when booking on line or at busy times.

The Cavendish Arms is a 450 year old Coaching inn set in the heart of Cartmel. With Simon Rogan and his famous Lenclume restaurant we have some very high standards to maintain. Our food is fresh and sourced locally to ensure the freshest ingredients are on your plate at all times. Our menu changes often and is always being developed by our very talented Head Chef and his team. Along with a great food offering, we are challenging boundaries with our selection of 25 gins, 10 whiskeys and many more superior sprits, we always try to have an alternative rather than using main stream brands behind the bar, ensuring our guests receive the best possible value for money we can provide whilst experiencing a better than expected product. In short our aim is to make sure you leave having had a memorable time and be wearing a huge smile.

Top review

Carolyn

Dined on 11 Dec 2024

Lovely ambience, Christmas decorations and a gorgeous open fire. Friendly welcoming staff and great food. Would definitely recommend.

Crooklands Hotel - the restaurant

4.7

4.7 (801)

£25 and under

British

Kendal

About the restaurant

The Restaurant
Our main restaurant is modern with a lantern light ceiling which allows in plenty of natural light to flood in. A great piece of real architectural design. The restaurant boast some wonderful bespoke ironwork along with a vintage industrial feel . This restaurant offers a modern ambiance an ideal place to catch up with family and friends and enjoy our mouthwatering local dishes.

The Inn
The Inn is full of old world charm with little hidden nucks for dining. This restaurant is full of character and is used at lunch times primarily, but in the evenings, it offers a cosy ambiance lit by candle light ideal for a more casual approach to dining.

The Inn also offers an afternoon tea which is simply divine. Served between 2pm-5pm by prior bookings only.

The Bar and Snug is a relaxed and super cosy space sticking with the old charm of the Inn which this part of the building offers. It has an impressive wood burning stove and is dog friendly.

Top review

Sharon

Dined 3 days ago

We had a fabulous meal, as usual. Crooklands never disappoints. Food was scrumptious, staff were professional and the table was perfect. Thank you

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Experience

NYE Celebrations

The Black Bull

4.6

4.6 (655)

£25 and under

British

Kendal

About the restaurant

Welcome to The Black Bull, Sedbergh, we look forward to seeing you

Top review

Peter

Dined 4 days ago

A very good 3 course lunch. High quality food throughout and an exceptional belly pork and liver sauce starter. An extensive wine list. Aiming for a fine dining experience and largely succeeding. Fish main course could have been more generous size wise - I felt I got the amount I'd expect on the 7 course tasting menu which if it was available at lunchtimes I would gladly pursue.

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Experience

Black Bull Tasting Menu

Merienda

4.6

4.6 (394)

£25 and under

British

Keswick

About the restaurant

Keswick is one of the most scenic parts of the Lake District – which in itself is up there with the most scenic parts of the United Kingdom – and in the very heart of the town, you can find Merienda on the Main Street, whose food is about as beautiful as the surroundings. We offer wholesome, uncomplicated food in a homely ambience, and you can enjoy it any time of day, from a quality morning pick-me-up (We are serious about coffee and use quality Merienda's exclusive espresso blend from Darkhouse Coffee Roasters, Keswick) and hearty breakfast, to a range of delicious cakes and filling sandwiches, to a scintillating evening dinner menu accompanied by a range of fine wines and quality beers. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are the focus of a menu filled with British classics and dishes inspired from around the world – reserve a table and head on down.

Top review

Andrew

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

Great food and friendly service. Very relaxed dining

Plough Inn Wreay

4.6

4.6 (316)

£26 to £40

Pub

Carlisle

About the restaurant

A country pub in the picturesque village of Wreay near Carlisle

Top review

Brian

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

Nice atmosphere, great service and food sublime, halloumi fries and teriyaki chicken to start, then steak burger, and 2 rump fillets cooked on stones, quality is second to none, the toffee sundae, sticky toffee pudding and white chocolate cheesecake, really enjoyable evening, will definitely return

The Ivy House Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (651)

£25 and under

British

Keswick

About the restaurant

Located in the centre of Braithwaite village, within the Holiday Property Bond Hotel, Ivy House Restaurant offers its guests contemporary Cumbrian classics, in a breathtaking Lake District setting. From succulent Cumbrian classics to modern European delicacies – the team have designed their daily changing menu to delight and inspire. Just 2 and a half miles from Keswick and 10 minutes from Bassenthwaite Lake- the elegant restaurant and peaceful village of Braithwaite, is the perfect location for a relaxing evening meal out, after a exhilarating day in the Lakeland Fells.

Top review

Malcolm

Dined on 10 Dec 2024

This was our first visit to The Ivy House. We were impressed. The staff were excellent. Prompt and efficient. The food was well presented and very tasty. The helpings are generous but not too big. The menu is small but has good variety. Hopefully it is changed regularly to encourage return business. We will be returning.

OPA Greek Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (25)

£25 and under

Greek

Windermere

About the restaurant

Family run small restaurant offering homemade greek dishes,grill and lovely cocktails

Top review

Katie

Dined 2 days ago

A hidden gem. Cosy ambient taverna, great food and very friendly staff. Will definitely be returning and would highly recommend!