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Francine’s

Cumbria, Windermere - European - Restaurant - ££

Honest-to-goodness family-run bistro

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Good

‘The epitome of a local restaurant,’ this long-serving, family-run bistro and coffee house is a rare commodity in touristy Windermere – no wonder bookings are essential for each of the two evening sittings. The simple dining room is divided into three small sections, although the tables – each properly set with cloths and a vase of flowers – are just far enough apart to ensure privacy and elbow room, while service from the owner herself and local teens is knowledgeable and well-paced without ever feeling rushed. The rarely changing carte is supplemented by a short list of daily specials; when the cooking is ‘consistently enjoyable’, why mess with the formula? There are plenty of tried-and-tested ideas on show here, from a starter of potted salmon terrine with pink peppercorns, dill and cucumber pickle to heartily endorsed mains including lobster thermidor served with a pile of cheesy tagliatelle or ‘pig on a plate’ (pork belly and...

‘The epitome of a local restaurant,’ this long-serving, family-run bistro and coffee house is a rare commodity in touristy Windermere – no wonder bookings are essential for each of the two evening sittings. The simple dining room is divided into three small sections, although the tables – each properly set with cloths and a vase of flowers – are just far enough apart to ensure privacy and elbow room, while service from the owner herself and local teens is knowledgeable and well-paced without ever feeling rushed.

The rarely changing carte is supplemented by a short list of daily specials; when the cooking is ‘consistently enjoyable’, why mess with the formula? There are plenty of tried-and-tested ideas on show here, from a starter of potted salmon terrine with pink peppercorns, dill and cucumber pickle to heartily endorsed mains including lobster thermidor served with a pile of cheesy tagliatelle or ‘pig on a plate’ (pork belly and braised cheek with mash, homemade black pudding and crisp pancetta). It's not all so rich, however. Mussels come bobbing in a well-balanced leek, saffron and garlic sauce while linguine is laced with a jumble of springy palourde clams.

Given the generosity of the servings, you may need to pace yourself if you want to leave room for desserts such as the ever-popular sticky toffee pudding, as sweetly saturnine as treacle toffee on Bonfire night. Overall, this is ‘good, honest food’ backed up by a short wine list that serves its purpose.

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VENUE DETAILS

27 Main Road
Windermere
Cumbria
LA23 1DXGB

015394 44088

OTHER INFORMATION

Family friendly, Dog friendly, Credit card required, Deposit required, Pre-payment required, Cash only, No reservations

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