Lanty Slee's Ambleside

Was looking for some food in Ambleside… AND I DID NOT EXPECT THIS HIDDEN GEM. Apologies in advance for the lengthy write-up, but when food hits this good, it deserves the airtime. After a long hike, I stumbled in hungry and hopeful and left borderline emotional. The food was amazing. Not just tasty, but thoughtful. You can tell the produce is quality, and there’s real passion behind everything, even the cocktails. (Yes, they make their own syrups and little concoctions. Proper geekery in the best way.) The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, covers are limited, but that’s the beauty of it. You get proper service, and you can watch the chef cooking right in front of you in the open kitchen. It even got a little smoky at times some might moan about this, but honestly? I loved it. Made it feel rustic, like part of the theatre. Really did contribute to the smokehouse atmosphere. Now, onto the important part: what I ate. Chicken Wings – slightly smoky, nice and succulent, gone in seconds. Burnt Ends on Cornbread Base – In a nice sauce, indulgent, balanced perfectly by that cornbread. Beef Platter for a Hungry One (but honestly made to feed two!) – this was the showstopper. It came with steak, a hotpot (I wasn’t expecting much from this but wow, was unreal… stand-out flavour), and short ribs cooked low and slow to fall-off-the-bone tenderness with a crispy outer. - It was alot of food, and £75 for this dish, but again, this 100% is made for 2 people, and its well worth the money for the quality. Sides worth shouting about: Chimichurri sauce that cut through the richness beautifully. Bone Marrow Mash (yes, it’s as decadent as it sounds). Truffle Chips – crisp, fluffy, perfect. Fresh Greens – which was some salad leaf with a lovely dressing, nice subtle side to go with my main. Everything was cooked to perfection. Flavours bold, smokey but not overpowering, meat was juicy, textures on point. I smoke meat at home, so I know how much patience goes into this kind of cooking. They absolutely nailed it. And just when I thought I couldn’t eat another bite… out came the brownie with ice cream. Because let’s be honest, no matter how full you are, there’s always room for dessert. It wasn’t one of those gooey, half-baked numbers — this was a proper, baked brownie, solid but still rich, and it rounded everything off perfectly. Would I visit again? It’s an hour and a half drive for me… and yes. No-brainer. Do I recommend it? 100%. Hidden gem, smashing it out the park, and raising the bar for Ambleside food. Go before it gets “discovered” and you can’t get a table.

Smoked House is a true gem in the heart of Ambleside. The food was exceptional – full of rich, smoky flavors and beautifully presented. A special shoutout to the chef for the creativity and perfect execution of every dish. What made the evening truly memorable was the wonderful team. Warm, attentive, and genuinely kind, they made us feel right at home from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone looking for top-quality food and heartfelt hospitality.

Oh how I wish I didn't live 4+ hours from this absolute gem! We were visiting the Lakes last week and happened across Lanty Slee's by accident, luckily for us. Despite being wet, in hiking clothes and in the company of a very chatty toddler, they welcomed us in and served us one of the most amazing meals we've ever had. Delicious steak, pork t-bone (with rum soaked pineapple, omg), really tasty sides, and a fantastic cocktail as well! My only regret was that I wasn't able to stay for dessert. Thank you so much - it might be a few years off, but we will definitely be back!