At Samling - South Lakeland

We were the only party in the restaurant on a Saturday lunchtime and maybe this has to do with charging £80 for a four course lunch and £25 for a cocktail, seems over the top even for a Michelin star venue. The service was excellent, friendly and funny and of course the outlook on the lake is second to no other place. The food was very good, excellent duck, beef and dessert and wine pairing was also very good with some unusual wines. One negative would have the cod dish which was uninspired and overcooked and an Indian wine which is obviously a novelty but one best left in India! Overall very good.

Four of us dined at The Samling last night, three of us having done so on other occasions. I am lucky to have eaten there half a dozen times or so but this is the first time since before the lockdowns. What can I say it was probably about as close to perfect as any meal I 've ever had. And this was a sentiment shared by all of us. It was absolutely superb, every course was close to perfect, and some were possibly actually perfect. The Samling has always been good but this experience was absolutely 'knock out ', they are at the top of their game right now. The front of house team was friendly and professional, courteous but relaxed. Their dining room is one of the smartest in the Lake District (with stunning views by daylight) and for cocktail lovers there is a brilliant selection, which we all indulged in. Truly excellent.

As always we had the most delightful and delicious lunch. The setting is just magical with views over Lake Windermere. The hotel is a very elegant Victorian mansion and the dining room is the most amazing modern room with glass walls. The views from the dining room are stunning but the food is even better. All the courses were spectacular especially the duck,the cod and the beef fillet. The presentation and service are excellent. The service s always so special. Very friendly and professional. All thanks to the wonderful Rebecca and Alex the sommelier. He recommended some delicious wines which complemented the dishes perfectly. This is a very special restaurant. We are looking forward to returning in February.

Visited here this evening for my wife’s 60th birthday. From start to finish this was a fantastic experience. A warm greeting from staff as we arrived and drinks were served on the terrace whilst taking in the amazing view. The food and service were exceptional throughout and were enhanced by the panoramic views of the Lakeland sunset. Thank you in particular to Eric (sommelier) and Rebecca (table service) both were knowledgeable and informative but not pretentious and made the meal even more enjoyable. Lovely touch after the meal where we were served petit fours and a glass of 60 yo dessert wine to acknowledge my wife’s special anniversary. Overall an outstanding evening thank you.

This restaurant is exceptional, and we have tried many other Michelin star restaurants. The website doesn't do justice to how beautiful the location is: a grand entrance, cleverly designed landscaping that hides cars, and a stylish new kitchen/dining extension. We were greeted at the hotel front door by a maitre d', who provided excellent service throughout (although I unfortunately forgot her name). A fantastic barman served us drinks on the lovely terrace. The food and service were flawless. Although the atmosphere was quiet, it felt exclusive rather than empty. Definitely worth a visit!