Gilpin Lake House - South Lakeland

I dined at this restaurant during a three-night stay at the hotel. The hotel was aware that we were there to celebrate my partner's 50th birthday, but nothing special was done for the occasion. We chose the wine pairings, which brought the total cost of the meal to £400. The food was excellent and the wines paired well. However, I would have liked to have received a menu card with details of the matched wines. Another issue was that we were scheduled for a 7pm reservation, with an invitation to the bar at 6:30 for pre-dinner drinks. Unfortunately, we were ignored by the bar staff for 25 minutes before finally getting two glasses of champagne. Although they did not charge us for the drinks, it was not a great experience. I would recommend the restaurant, but due to these frustrations, I am unsure if we would return.

We went to Source at the Gilpin to try their tasting menu. Source is supposed to be a Michelin-starred restaurant. We had high expectations, especially since it had recently been taken over and this was the new chef's first Lake District menu. However, we were disappointed as the food did not meet Michelin standards. The tasting menu consisted mainly of fish, with duck and desserts in between. Unfortunately, the duck was poorly cooked and hard to cut, with unrendered fat. We left some of the meal, which was unexpected considering the reputation of the restaurant. The desserts and handmade chocolates were also disappointing, with the portion size of the chocolates being very small. Although the menu mentioned cheese as an additional course, it was not offered during our meal. When asked about the sourcing of ingredients for the Lake District menu, we found out that most of the ingredients were not local, which was misleading. Overall, we were extremely disappointed and do not plan on returning. Another couple at a neighboring table also complained about the same issues and received a discount on their bill, but we did not receive any follow-up on our complaints. I would not recommend Source at the Gilpin in its current state and do not believe it deserves a Michelin star.

The restaurant did not meet our high expectations. The staff were excellent and knowledgeable, but the menu options were limited. Two members of our group do not like fish and this information was not taken into consideration when ordering. The food arrived lukewarm and while the langoustine starter was enjoyable, the cod main course was forgettable. The cheese selection was good, but overall we felt that we paid too much for the experience. On a positive note, the wine was affordable and the staff were friendly and attentive.

We recently dined here and were disappointed. At £120 for 6 courses and snacks I would expect Michelin quality in food and service) but that was sadly not the case. We were asked to arrive at 1900 for 1930 but were left sitting in the bar area with nothing more than a tiny bowl of nuts and olives until 1945 by which time we were very hungry. The first course was a soy soaked cauliflower. Interestingly we’d had a cauliflower curry for supper the previous evening so I was looking forward to the stunning difference between the two. This one was effectively in a thai green curry sauce and I didn’t enjoy it. The sweetness of the scallop in the next course was obliterated in a bitter marmite tasting sauce and the cod was a little dry and when I looked at the 2inch long block of cod all I could think was that it was costing me £20). The service was also very slow which I think was being caused by a blockage in the kitchen as opposed to a lack of skill by the waiters although we did have to chase our drinks more than once as we didn’t do the wine pairing but ordered by the glass. All in all it felt a bit sloppy when you would expect rigour from a restaurant with a michelin star. Maybe this is because the chef who earned the star Hrishikesh Desai has moved onto pastures new. Sadly it seems he has taken his star with him.

We first came here 12 years ago, and we’re delighted to have had an opportunity to return. The food blew our minds, easily the best tasting menu we have eaten. Our host, Tim, was knowledgeable, friendly and enhanced our experience with his charm and wit. We can’t wait to find an excuse to return