Thousands of us flock to the Lake District each year to admire the beauty of nature and there are plenty of places where you can eat your greens. Here are some you might like to visit
Zeffirellis and Fellinis, Ambleside Zeffirellis and Fellinis are family owned restaurants with an Italian influence. Enjoy a mixed palette at Zeffirellis with a mixture of non- meat options, vegetarian, vegan and gluten cooking. Meanwhile, Fellinis is focused on providing its clientele with a full ‘Vegeterranean’ dining experience, created with locally home grown ingredients. The Restaurant is also home to a cinema committed to showing niche studio and art house productions. www.fellinisambleside.com www.zeffirellis.com
Green Valley Vegetarian Restaurant, Grasmere International vegetarian cooking is at the heart of the menus at The Green Valley, located inside the Lancrigg Vegetarian Country House Hotel. Dishes like quinoa and coriander cakes are served up in the elegant surroundings as well as chickpea, tamarind and tomato curry, buckwheat pancakes and vegetarian fish and chips – tofu wrapped in Nori and a quinoa batter. Vegan diners are also well catered for. All the meals are all complemented by a wide variety of organically produced wines and beers. Lancrigg Vegetarian Country House Hotel, Easedale, Grasmere, Cumbria LA22 9QN; 015394 35317 www.lancrigg.co.uk/the-restaurant
Rattle Gill Café, Ambleside Expect hearty, home cooked, vegetarian food at this popular Ambleside café, located alongside a beck. Everyone from cyclists to runners, photographers to walkers and tourists to locals are attracted to the Rattle Gill in their droves in pursuit of one of the many mouth-watering dishes from their savoury, fully vegetarian menu or a slice of something lovely from their renowned cake platter – five different slices of cake for those with a sweet tooth. Tea and coffee is Fairtrade and organic, where possible. 2 Bridge Street Ambleside Cumbria LA22 9DU www.rattlegill.com
World Peace Café, Ulverston Expect delicious vegetarian, organic food in generous portions packed with taste and nutrition. There is also great coffee, organic teas and fresh fruit smoothies. This charming café is run by Buddhists from the nearby Manjushri Meditation Centre. There is a pretty back garden which is the ideal place to spend lunchtime. There is also a Fairtrade shop and a meditation centre on the site. 5 Cavendish St Ulverston Cumbria LA12 7AD; 01229 587793 www.worldpeacecafe.org
Upfront Gallery Café, Unthank, near Penrith Vegetarian food made on site in the gallery kitchen includes salads, sandwiches, quiche, savoury pancakes, pasta and lasagne. There is also a great choice of cake, including gluten free options, as well as fruit crumbles and sticky toffee pudding. All of this is combined with art, exhibitions and interesting sculptures. Upfront Gallery, Nr Hutton-in-the-Forest, Unthank, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9TG; 017684 84538 www.up-front.com/coffee_shop.html
Quince and Medlar, Cockermouth Prepare to indulge in imaginative vegetarian dishes, carefully presented with homemade breads, organic wines and non alcoholic delights. Colin and Louisa Le Voi provide homely cooking with locally nourished Cumbrian ingredients. The menu at Quince and Medlar is a perfect blend of exotic world foods, from delightful Wasabi baked beets and Mooli roots to the ever colourful Moroccan big beef tomato & mildly spiced green lentils. 13 Castlegate, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9EU; 01900 823579 www.quinceandmedlar.co.uk
Filling Station Café, Keswick The Filling Station is a dream diner reminiscent of the nostalgic 1950’s housed in an old petrol station and car dealership in Keswick. You can stop by for a tasty gluten free burger or a vegetarian delight absolutely meat free. Have a tempting breakfast with fluffy American buttermilk pancakes and assorted seasonal fruits drizzled with maple syrup or stop by for dinner with an appetizing burger with battered halloumi or veggie patty. Crosthwaite Road, Keswick, CA12 5PR; 017687 72103 www.fillingstationcafe.weebly.com
Jintana Thai Restaurant, Ambleside A new addition to the Jintana Thai restaurant collective has arrived in Ambleside. Taste the assorted palette of Thai cuisine indulging in Thai green curry with fresh basil and kaffir lime leaves in a fragrant and spicy coconut curry sauce, served with Thai Jasmine rice. The Pad Thai here is said to be fantastic too. Jintana Thai Restaurant, Compston Road, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 9DJ; 015394 33394 www.jintanathaicuisine.com/ambleside
Linthwaite, Windermere Serving modern British food, the restaurant has been listed in Michelin and awarded 3 AA Rosette’s. Featuring the best of local produce and organic where possible, the food at the Linthwaite offers a cool air of home cooking with a hint of fine dining. Enjoy the sweet potato kofta, avocado, cucumber, wasabi mayonnaise with celery, walnut and grape risotto, celeriac purée for a delicate mix of flavours for the vegetarian palette. Linthwaite House Hotel, Crook Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3JA, United Kingdom; 015394 88600 www.linthwaite.com/food/vegetarian
Gillam’s Tea Room, Ulverston Gillam’s family have a long history in Ulverston, having owned a having owned a Cash & Wholesalers grocers since 1892 until it closed in 1994. Since then Doug Gillam and his wife Shirley have opened Gillam’s Tea Room hoping to continue the same quality service as his great great grandfather has done in the past. The tea room has an extensive menu for vegetarian and vegan dietary needs as well as stocking quality organic wines and beers. 64 Market Street, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7LT; 1229 587564 www.gillams-tearoom.co.uk
Where do you like to go for vegetarian food in the Lakes? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet at @lancashirelife
