Kysty Kitchen, Ambleside in South Lakeland

Went with friends on a Saturday lunchtime. Stunning food at sensible prices. Can’t fault anything there. Portion size is perfect for lunchtime with an interesting menu. Staff friendly. Will be back soon.

We have always promised ourselves we would try a Michelin starred restaurant, however often looking at menus find them a bit “not us” so to speak. Do knowing that Kysty is linked to the Old Stamp House we decided to try here instead. This place is amazing. We met with friends for lunch and from first entering the door we were made to feel relaxed. This place is comfortable and relaxing, not pretentious with high expectations of dress code etc. From the first taste of our appetisers (the beetroot meringue was to die for) right through to the dessert at the end everything was outstanding. The drinks menu was local and I loved the non-alcoholic Riesling….something I had never heard of before. I would definitely recommend trying Kysty, and next time we visit the Lakes we will be sure to book a table

This restaurant is completely unpretentious and relaxed . The food was out of this world - the goats curd and beetroot starter was sublime - I wanted to order a second one it was so good! Every mouth of each main course was flavoursome , interesting and perfect. Each dish thought through to perfection in terms of produce, flavours and textures. Go it is wonderful!

Made to feel very welcome and valued as customers. Excellent food from the chef Dan. Service superb, especially Laurence. A great night

We had had a truly fabulous lunch with excellent service in a very relaxed setting. Every course was delicious and beautifully presented. The beer bread and Cumbrian butter was a triumph. £35 for three courses is a bargain, this is Michelin star food at gastro pub prices. I cannot wait to return. Thank you to the Kysty team.

Loved this. We chose it as the taster menu at sister restaurant “the old stamp house” was just a little too challenging for us. This place delivered really quality food. Amazing service. But with a casual relaxed feel.

Described as a casual dining experience, this is still very much a cut above your average restaurant. Excellent service, exquisitely designed dishes - although the menu is short, this is still ideal for making an impression with a good meal. Fantastic.

I have to say I was a little concerned when I looked at the sample menu online, very little choice, I thought I would never find something I liked. How very wrong was I…… It was amazing from start to finish, fabulous window seat, fabulous food and fabulous service. We were treated to tasty amuse bouche to wet our appetite, then served the most delicious muffin bread with salted Cumbrian butter, I could have just eaten a double portion of these two freebies all night, fantastic. Our starters were amazing: trout and goats cheese with accompaniments too numerous to remember, beautifully cooked and amazingly presented. Our main courses were: venison with a blackberry sauce and roasted cod with Morecambe Bay shrimps, both to absolutely die for, what a treat. We shared a custard and oat slice to finish. I hate custard, I mean, really hate custard, this was sublime. We enjoyed two large glasses of wine: red and white both served in carafes which made it a little decadent to serve your own wine. An amazing evening, perfect in every way, an absolute must if in Ambleside. For me this was a joint first for the best meal and service during our week in Ambleside.

What a fabulous experience for a first visit. The food is stunning- easy to recognise the connection to The Old Stamp House. Literally could not fault a dish or the service - and since these guys could do nothing about the weather- got to say a perfect night 👏🎉

Quite simply fantastic. We go there a couple of times each year for special family occasions and love it. Great sommelier and really interesting food.

Really looked forward to visiting Kysty. Reviews excellent and recommended by friends. We knew it was fine dining, not a problem for us as we enjoy it, for us, it's all about local ingredients and taste. Menu fab, presentation fab (see photos) but..... my meal tasted rather bland. I had the trout which was swimming in some sort of juice/oil, very off-putting and just NO taste, had to ask for some black pepper, which I have never done in a restaurant before and a tad embarrassing. Cod, again... bland and the sauce tasted like vinegar... I didn't have a desert, as I felt I would be wasting my money and didn't want another bland experience. Hubby's meal he felt was OK, but we both agreed we unfortunately wouldn't be returning guests. Such a shame as we are repeat visitors to the lakes and always looking for lovely venues to eat and we don't mind paying for lovely food. I did mention it to the waitress but I guess they don't get a lot of 'it was just OK' so she didn't know what to say, so said nothing Sorry folks, for us, underwhelming, and we so wanted to love it.

The menu only has a few options but this was fine by us- easy to choose exciting food. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable,

Great food in a professional but relaxed atmosphere. Could not fault the food or the staff. We will definitely be returning at some point.

The food was fantastic. From the surprise little starters and bread all the way to the cheeseboard. Excellent cooking and flavours, served up with a smile. I chose the pigeon to start, followed by the duck. So beautifu.ly cooked, soft and delicious. I can highly recommend this restaurant. Make sure you book!

Lovely food, great presentation, good flavours, the staff was lovely and service was quick and effective. My husband found the starters a bit simple and a little bland, and portions on the small side but for fine dining I would say they aren’t too bad. Everything was cooked well but some dishes like the salmon and the artic char lacked a bit of waw - cherry compote was lovely I would of added a little more texture to the mix - some other crunch element but I would still come back.

What a great place to eat. Great welcome, staff and service were impeccable and the food… well go and try for yourself, but I can assure you you will not be disappoint, take the opportunity to try the excellent paired wines with each dish, fabulous....

Krysty is the second restaurant of the Michelin starred Old Stamphouse, delivering food largely derived locally within Cumbria. And it is certainly fine dining! All the courses were delicious, as were the amuse bouche and bread at the start. Taste, texture and presentation are all...

This is such an amazing restaurant. The service is consistently friendly. The food is wonderful. You are greeted with complimentary treats followed with walnut bread. Everything which follows is DELICIOUS. We eat out allot. This restaurant is number one for customer experience and wonderful food.

Fantastic food and fantastic value and fantastic staff! It seems to be a review with just one word mentioned and that is Fantastic but that is all that is needed, just go for lunch and enjoy!

Kysty apparently means to be fussy or discerning, in this case about what you eat. At this restaurant you need have no concerns that being fussy will inhibit your dining experience, the food and service are simply that good. Having previously been to the Old...

Excellent food in a fabulous atmosphere - we went for dinner with friends for my husband’s 40th and just couldn’t have asked for a nicer evening! Lovely service, great setting. We would definitely return.

I booked Kysty on the strength of the reviews on this website and it certainly did not disappoint. The quality of the service and food was excellent. If we revisit Ambleside in the future we would not hesitate to come again.

Very small intimate restaurant with a comfortable relaxed feel and not formal. The food was exceptional and the slightly short menu was augmented by complimentary amuse bouche and homemade warm bread at the start of the meal. Flavours were excellent and well balanced throughout the...

Absolutely stunning. My husband and I went for our anniversary meal and it was just fabulous. The food was top quality and the service exceptional.

Excellent food, very good service, and a modern un-fussy atmosphere. Experienced no faults at all. We will return

Unassuming cafe vibe belies a very good dining experience. The cured chalk stream trout was the standout dish of the evening equally enjoyed by both diners. The lamb and beetroot mains were delicious and it was all completed well with an interesting custard oat tart...

Stunning absolutely delicious food, complimented by the fabulous service. Just Fantastic from start to finish. Will most definitely return. A credit to the Old Stamp.

Super tasty food. Good vegetables and excellent matching sauces. Quality dining with relaxed and helpful service. Probably best to book.

Fantastic from start to finish. First visit and it exceeded our expectations. Some of the best food we’ve ever eaten for the price. Wine pairing excellent and not too expensive either. Free tasting dishes and beer bread included really added to the experience. Highly recommend

Coming from the city, one is used to a restaurant in modern chic decor fitting for a Michelin standard. But no! That’s just too boring to be usually common. This delightfully simple looking restaurant far surpasses the common standard look. In fact, I felt very...

I’m an ex Westminster college chef ( just before Jamie Oliver but had the same fantastic tutors) with Over 10 years experience at Clarridges , Bp and Bank of England before I Changed jobs , today for our 25 th wedding Anniversary we tried a...

Great food, service and value. We were late and in walking gear but the restaurant was very accommodating and welcoming. The menu was modern and interesting with a good range of wines to choose from.

Booking in advance is highly recommended and most often required for a very good reason - the food and service is outstanding and the secret is out Plan a day, make a reservation and enjoy - you won’t regret it The quality of the food...

So we like our food, and appreciate skilled cookery, innovation and the whole experience, this place knocked our socks off! le manoir was good, but this place has something special in terms of experience, its the sister restaurant of the already starred stamp house some...

Been several times and it never disappoints. Food and service are amazing. A rare combination of casual and fine dining. Dress up smart or go in your walking gear.

Incredible lunch with fantastic service. Our group ordered each dish so we could sample everything on the menu. Without exception, every dish was amazing. We cannot wait to return.

I booked this meal as a celebration for my partner’s birthday and we were not disappointed! The food was wonderful and the service was excellent!! We would highly recommend!

Fabulous! I have a vast experience of restaurants, i can't fault Kysty's , the food is excellent, presentation is wonderful and the food tastes glorious. I highly recommend, not forgetting the friendly service.

Having visited the Old Stamp House on a number of occasions it was a pleasure to visit Kysty this time around. Overall an enjoyable experience with myself trying things I had never eaten before. Service and food was excellent and I am sure to visit...

Super lunch. We’ve eaten there several times when in the Lakes. The food is delicious. It’s a limited set menu that doesn’t disappoint. The attention to detail is great. We’re booked to go back in April

We'd had dinner at Kysty before and had wanted to go back and so we booked a slot for when we were passing Ambleside last week. Everywhere seemed pretty quiet on a Friday lunchtime in March but Kysty was full and it's no surprise as...

Popped in to celebrate my birthday. First class service. Honest personal service, not the scripted service you get too often. Had three courses. Couldn't decide which dessert not to have so we had three between us. Absolutely terrific. Flavour bombs on a plate.

We've been before but wanted somewhere special to celebrate the end of my wife's cancer treatment and Kysty on a wet Wednesday night was perfect. All the food was perfect- scallops and trout starters, lamb and Arctic chard mains and chocolate delice and custard and...

Excellent meal using local ingredients. The amuse bouche were so good as a little taster of the main meal. I had the scallops and char main course which were delicious. Really good value for the quality of food

What a cracking little place not hard to see why they get such great reviews, all well deserved! We went for the set lunch, every course was outstanding, with great attentive service without being over the top, not sure how they send this food out...

Absolutely first rate across the board. The food was exemplary and we enjoyed every component of each course. Hard to pick a favourite, so we simply appreciated them all equally. Long may it continue!

We came to Kysty to celebrate our first anniversary and we were treated to quite simply some of the best food we've ever eaten. All the dishes were presented beautifully and they even piped happy anniversary onto the dessert plates which was a nice touch....

We were aware of Kysty as we knew it was the sister restaurant of the Old Stamp House were we had eaten many years earlier. As we were stopping in Ambleside for 2 nights for our wedding anniversary, we decided to do lunch there on...

I read the reviews before booking and was not disappointed. Excellent service by the knowledgable team. The food was exceptional and although a limited menu it caters for most tastes. I will definitely return if visiting the area again.

Our second visit to this lovely restaurant. Beautifully prepared and presented food full of wonderful flavours. Lots of little extras that make the meal such a special experience. Really enjoyed the large scallops and salted duck. Staff friendly and attentive and enjoyed our chat with...

Absolutely fantastic. We have visited the old stamp house restaurant a few nights earlier (sister restaurant with Michelin star) this place is equally as good. Dan the chef and his team are exceptional. Ignore reports of small portions. You get the most tasty Michelin style...

The food was heavenly. The amuse bouches were delightful. Each course was delicious with perfectly balanced flavours and textures. There was a good selection of wine. The staff were attentive and the atmosphere relaxed. We could not have asked for a better meal.

Another fabulous long lunch at Kysty… four of us made different choices across the small but interesting menu, each dish thoroughly enjoyed, precision attention to detail on each… so so tasty. Staff were attentive and friendly… it was a full restaurant on a dreek January...

Fantastic meal. The food was stunning and delicious. Lovely relaxed atmosphere with brilliant staff. Can't wait to go back!

The most exquisite food. Small menu choice but enough. Every dish was beautifully prepared and delicious. Prebook as very popular and always booked up.

The food was just ok,.. the dishes themselves were nice, but not impressed with taster menu size portions for full size dish prices! No options for extras . We love a good taster menu, this was just pricey small dishes. The flavours were just nice,...

Excellent locally sourced food, great wine and friendly and attentive staff. We’ve been to the Stamp House a few times and this is a excellent “more casual” alternative. Not the cheapest but is more than reflective in the quality of food and drinks. Wish they...

Delicious food beautifully presented by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Couldn’t ask for anything more. In particular the beer bread was exquisite and the pork cheeks divine.

Visited mid week for lunch with my son, the restaurant is up a side street in the middle of Ambleside. The decor is start modern, the menu is very small but very well executed and the food a delight, we both ordered Normandy cider to...

We visited here on a Saturday lunchtime having secured a last minute reservation and so glad we did! Service was friendly and very slick, high attention to detail. The 3 course lunch menu is excellent value for money for the quality of the food served,...

The food and service was delightful, and we had a great time here. It's more than I would usually spend on a meal out but worth every penny.

Went to Kysty for dinner with my wife on our first trip to Ambleside. We booked it on the basis of the reviews we'd seen and were certainly not disappointed. The welcome was warm, the ambience was relaxed (think minimalist Scandi) and the food was...

We decided to book Kysty on the day we arrived in the Lakes as the reviews were so good, we were not disappointed! As a vegetarian it can be difficult to find good quality dining, but the food was exquisite. The heirloom tomatoes with goats...

Having dined here before we decided to take my parents (My Dad is definitely not into fine dining so I was slightly apprehensive!) However, they both thoroughly enjoyed the whole meal. Quite rightly so too! We love it here, the flavours explode on your taste...

Great experience. Had 3 course lunch and all courses were amazing. Great ambience and service- would definitely visit again

I can highly recommend the shrimp with cauliflower veloute (super tasty), Arctic char with buerre blanc (fish cooked to perfection and every bite was so flavourful) and gingerbread cheesecake (delicious light mousse on a crushed ginger base). And I cannot not mention the amazing bread,...

Enjoyable experience at Kysty. The service was good and everything was timed well. Interesting menu, I went for the trout to start, deer for main and cheese for dessert and all courses were really tasty and beautifully presented. Recommend booking in advance as we did...

Excellent food. Good service. Staff attentive and the dining room is very nice. Portion size is a little small but quality is super

I'll get the two negatives out of the way first. There is no choice for vegetarians for starter or main course on the set lunch menu and the main of grilled hispi cabbage would have benefitted from more intense grilling to really caramelise the leaves....

Excellent food and excellent service. Unpretentious regarding the unnecessary aspects of dining out and completely focused on the food and a relaxed atmosphere. The food was stunning. The staff were knowledgeable and efficient. The prices were a bit above average but the meal was worth...

Kysty prides itself on fine dining in a more casual setting - and it delivers! The food is exquisite - really delicious flavours with meticulous attention to detail. The wine selections work well (and they even have a decent non-alcoholic white). Service was superb. In...

Table arrangement not the best, was seated in a closed off door way, food spillages on the wall. Male Head Waiter, wasn’t sure about ingredients, ordered wine pairing, wine came when nearly finished starters. Well-presented food / style over substance! Kitchen staff and waiting staff...

Just perfect. Took the family with two young children and immediately the staff brought felt tips and colouring to keep them busy. The kids menu was spot on too - simple and nothing too complicated. The grown up food at Kysty was absolutely divine. From...

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting restaurants in Britain. The food is sublime, there aren't enough superlatives to convey the experience of dining at Kysty. Special mention has to go to the front of house team who are top of their game in every respect....

Older review now, from late last summer but never reviewed at the time. One of the single best meals we’ve ever had out. Interesting menu, great service, relaxed vibe, local ingredients. Awesome modern take on classic British dishes.

Brilliant staff, brilliant cooking, brilliant food, brilliant wine, brilliant price - loved it all and will return whenever we are in the area

You must visit! Great modern relaxed vibe, amazing food! Every single morsel was beautifully presented and sooo tasty. We loved it!

Our evening was exceptional, made all the more special by Laurenciu, our somellier, who was totally welcoming and friendly. Our first course highlight was the Morecambe Bay shrimp, a nine out of 10 signature dish. However, this was exceeded by the exquisit quality of the...

We have eaten at the Old Stamp House, but this was our first time here and we loved it. The minute you walk in it has a great ambiance, the staff are friendly and the food offers great value. The prawn starter with cauliflower is...

From the moment you walk into this small, but perfectly formed restaurant you are nurtured. The staff are professional, but relaxed and the food is absolutely delicious. It’s a special place to go, but you need to book as it’s deservedly very popular.

We were staying in Ambleside for a few days and we came across Kysty. The quality of the food was only matched by the incredible service. We would highly recommend this restaurant to eat.

One of the most amazing restaurants I've been too! the food was amazing, service amazing and it wasn't over priced either! going back to the lake this weekend and already really excited to go back tomorrow

We had the three course lunch menu which was outstanding. The food and service couldn't have been better, definitely on par with the numerous Michelin stared restaurants in Cumbria.

Everything I hoped for!! Food was outstanding. Tasted amazing, excellent quality and presented beautifully . Very friendly staff and a lovely relaxing atmosphere . Absolute gem of a place 10/10 from us 😊

We have been fortunate to have travelled a lot and visited many restaurants. The service was good and the food was tasty but the portion size of the fish and the duck was ridiculously small. The one piece of duck measured about 8cm by 1cm...

Every dish at Kysty is carefully conceived to provide wonderful flavours with excellent ingredients - many sourced from the local area, such as shrimp from Morecombe Bay, Herdwick lamb and local goats cheese. The staff are charming and the suggested wines for each dish are...

My fiancé and I went here for her 30th Birthday meal. We were both absolutely blown away. It was amazing! The staff were very helpful, the food was out of this world and it was extremely laid back. We were in the approximately 2 hours...

This restaurant is SO GOOD. Oh my goodness what wonderful food. Beautifully presented snacks to start. Gorgeous beer bread then follows. From the lunch menu you can then select either two or three courses. I had the goats cheese with beetroot to start which was...

Two of us had lunch here to celebrate a Booking process was straightforward online. I was emailed a few days before the day - a sensible thing to do as bookings are so far in advance that you might need a reminder. They also phoned...

Excellent in every department, service, food and atmosphere. Staff, friendly, professional and attentive. A small menu but excellent quality.

The front-of-house staff were welcoming as we stepped through the door. Every part of our three lunch courses (four, if you include the pre-starter) was beautifully presented and tasted absolutely delicious. The staff explained what each course consisted of. We couldn’t fault either the food...

Just as good as the Stamphouse but ala Carte. Great food, excellent service just a really great place to go.

Having been to the Old Stamp House on a previous visit to Ambleside we wanted to try Kysty on this visit. We were certainly not disappointed. It isn’t very large but it has a great atmosphere. I am vegetarian and there is only one option...

This is a top quality restaurant without the snobbish element that sometimes exists at such establishments. The staff were very helpful in explaining the ingredients of each course. It is not a place to visit every week but for a special occasion it was delightful.

Today was our first visit but it won’t be the last!! Lunch was lovely, four of us had between us nearly all the menu and everything was beautiful. Ambiance, service, food, drink top notch. Three hours wiled away chatting, catching up, thoroughly enjoyed our visit....

Quality local ingredients, cooked with Michelin star skills, did not disappoint, brilliant night out. Thank you guys.

This is a fantastic little restaurant. Tucked away in Ambleside but what a find. Service is unobtrusive but just right. The food is absolutely delicious. We could not fault any of the tasty courses. The menu has very good choices for all tastes.

Lunch was delightful. Care and attention to detail and lovely flavours. We’ve been before, and returning didn’t disappoint.

What a fantastic meal. Each course was beautifully presented. Visited for a birthday and although the meal isn’t cheap - it’s probably the best value I’ve ever had for such great food. We ordered all five starters and mains between four of us and were...

Excellent food, beautifully presented. Professional staff service. At £32 for 3 course it was excellent value for money.