Filling station Review.
 

http://www.lakesescape.co.uk/Lakes_E...tion_Cafe.html

they hope to add to the website in future.


I dropped by there on Sunday 12/02/12, although later than I'd planned as the road was closed from the direction I was traveling (until April it's only accessed from the A66 roundabout) so by then it was closed (only open until 4pm in winter), I had a quick look round before returning to ambleside for my tea.

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The following day I headed back for some food.

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The place was smaller than I'd expected with perhaps seating for 30 inside, but then they had 8 of those picnic type table/bench things outside, bike parking was well catered for with perhaps 50 dedicated spots and more along the road if needed,very clean, but then again very new as you'd expect from somewhere only opened from the start of December, I was their first bike of the day, and chatter to the guy running the place who seemed a nice bloke and talked about bikes a fair bit (even provided some bike mags to read with my meal) I ordered a tea and was asked if I wanted a pint, good start...

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the coffee is "coffee Republic" so all the fancy ones are there if you're into that kind of thing, Oh and they have sweetener for those that need in on the table.


then came the food, in order to be fair I got the all day full English, I made a point of not requesting how I liked it cooked as I would normally, just to see what they would do, we chatted about future plans for the place and he's hoping to have theme events throughout the summer, so those could be worth looking out for.

My food arrived pretty promptly and more importantly was well cooked, (I can't stand that rubbery bacon and alike you get when a fryup is rushed),
it was well presented and tasted very good, I'd call it a "premier" fryup, the sausage I was told was award winning cumberland and I belive it and the bacon was local and tasty to, the beans were Heinz, egg fresh and bread kingsmill, so all good stuff, I loved the lambs liver on there to, the potatoe bread thing was a new one on me, but wasn't bad, the black pudding was cooked well and not to dry, I even tasted the fryed tomato (which isn't something I normally like) which once again was fresh and quite nice really, served with two slices of toast (4 triangles) and real butter.

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about half way through it here.

All in all it was a nice meal, the portions were generous; to the point I was unable to finish it all, so make sure you're hungry if you're going for that option, they do burgers of various types to (I was even shown some of the raw burgers, locally produced and fresh meat, not to mention a good size), so they should be good.

My meal and tea came to about £8, not the cheapest I've ever had it's true, but then the ingredients where perhaps some of the best, so value wise I thing it was good.

would I go back again.....? Yes I would.

Hope this helps you decide to visit.

Re: Filling station Review.
 

Looking good, thanks for the review. Having to endure that delightful full English just for us hey what a hero.

Re: Filling station Review.
 

Hey there was tomato on it....!!!! a marter to the cause no less....;)

Re: Filling station Review.
 

I'll remember you trying that tomato.:lol: ;)


Potato cakes is a Scots thing I believe, very nice, and not often seen on a cafe breakfast menu. Perhaps an alternative to the humble hash brown?
For that alone, its obvious they go to an effort of providing decent fodder.

I'd eat all that no probs, but then I order large fryups coz I'm usually starving!

Re: Filling station Review.
 

They are NOT Potato Cakes (which is a Yank thing), that, going from the pic, is a fine Tattie Scone.

More widely available South of the Border than you would think, and a good alternative (or addition) to Fried Bread made in the Bacon Fat you just just got out of the Bacon.

Re: Filling station Review.
 

That as well ;)

Can buy em in Asda, but never seen em served on a plate in a caf!

Re: Filling station Review.
 

You brand whöre.

Re: Filling station Review.
 

not at all (well in this case anyway), the point of a review is to ask these questions and provide information for others....:smt102

or was that in relation to the ASDA comment of Lou's ?

Cheers Mark.

Re: Filling station Review.
 

There's nothing wrong with asda smart price mechanically reclaimed haricot beans Mark..

Re: Filling station Review.
 

I'll take you work for that....:)