Kirkstyle Inn - Carlisle

A bit of a bad experience for us to be honest We made a booking for 6 on the 2nd June for my mother's 89th birthday We were really looking forward to it The starters were lovely, but the 3 main courses of beef had sinew running right through it was terrible My main course was the sweet potato, that too was inedible due to the amount of balsamic vinegar over it My relative did send an email to the chef as she did not want to put the review on here We recieved no reply hence our comment on here A lot of money for a disappointing meal for my Mother's 89th birthday

This was my fourth visit to the Inn since it reopened, and I have consistently enjoyed the good food and service. However, there is one issue that has been bothering me - ever since they received a Michelin recognition, the portion sizes have been shrinking with each visit. The Sunday roast beef lunch I ordered came with just two tiny slices of beef, each measuring around 1/4" thick x 1.5" wide x 2" long, which was quite disappointing. The same issue of small portions also affected my partner's hogget dish. With such small amounts of the key ingredient and increasing prices, continuing this policy will surely result in losing business. Unfortunately, we will not be returning as we feel this is unacceptable.

The food at this restaurant is outstanding. Our only complaint is that the portions are ridiculously small, except for the Sunday roast. We were thankful that they allowed us to sit at a table by the bar even though I had booked the wrong Kirkstyle Inn. This restaurant is very busy and it is important to make a reservation ahead of time, especially on weekends. The complimentary sourdough bread was a clear indication of the high quality of the food. I shared the venison haunch for the Sunday roast, and both meats were cooked perfectly. However, only having one piece of mushroom as the vegetable accompaniment with the venison felt incomplete. The prices are reasonable for the quality of food, so perhaps they should suggest ordering side dishes. For dessert, I enjoyed the raspberry soufflé with rhubarb ice cream, which was sweet and fluffy perfection. I highly recommend this restaurant and give it 5 stars.

I have eaten at this restaurant six times since it reopened following a transformational renovation. It is the top restaurant in the Alston area. The menu consists of mostly fine dining options with small portions, so be sure to order extra sides. They prioritize local ingredients, which really enhances the overall quality of the food. I definitely plan on returning later this year.

Very enjoyable lunch on a busy Easter Sunday , with lots of entertainment for the grandchildren