Fodor's Expert Review L'Enclume

The village of Cartmel has earned a place on England's culinary map with this ambitious restaurant with rooms. Chef Simon Rogan's innovative food incorporates long-forgotten herbs and cutting-edge techinques. The restaurant is in what was once a forge, now converted to a bright, contemporary, and airy space with dark wooden beams, stark white walls, and splashes of color. The set menu comes with up to 12 courses; if that sounds like a bit much, go for the simpler lunch menu. Dishes might include aged veal in coal oil, native lobster with broad beans, and Goosenargh duck with cherries. Nearby Rogan and Company (simonrogan.co.uk), run by the same team, has a slightly less elevated menu. L'Enclume's 16 elegant rooms are in three different buildings around the village.