Fodor's Expert Review Matthew's Bistro

Matthew Colley is a charismatic chef who opened his own restaurant in 2001 to serve "retro classic" dishes to hungry Lake District walkers. He's passionate about local, artisanal produce and makes almost everything from scratch, including his own Cumbrian sausages. The mid-evening set menu is an exceptionally good value (three courses for £25); opt for the goat cheese and parma ham parcels; the shoulder of Lakeland lamb marinated with wine, garlic, and shallots; and whatever the special dessert of the day is. The atmosphere is warm, leaning towards lively on the weekends, and families are welcome. There's a separate children's menu.