Reviews in Cumbria and Lake District

The fact that my wife and me make a 130 mile round trip to eat at this fine restaurant is proof enough of our liking for its exceptional food and atmosphere. We are always made welcome and the attention to our culinary requirements is first class. Please do not let the "corner shop" exterior blind you to the delights that await inside

To enjoy a fine meal cheerfully served in the spacious conservatory overlooking the broad sands of the Leven estuary is a unique experience, especially welcome after walking the one-and-a-half miles along the old canal from Ulverston.

Food really was excellent - fresh and authentic; a quality and varied menu (meaty and vegetarian options - something for everyone) - i heartily advise trying the sticky ribs with boddingtons! Cooked to perfection. As for the vodka/tequila for my Birthday, a big thanks...it capped off a perfect night with great atmosphere. The staff were really great and were happy to nip into the kitchen to raid the cinnamon and orange store - the perfect accompaniment to the wide selection of tequila! This in turn led to many 'artistic' crayoning creations on the tablecloths - a fab idea to keep kids young and old entertained! Amigos - a mexican gem. Looking forward to visiting again soon.

great home cooked food in a friendly village atmosphere

We found this little place tucked away, very unassuming. What a revelation. The food was fabulous -wonderfully tasty, beautifully presented and REAL CHIPS. Compliments to the chef; I had a rare fillet steak which was cooked to perfection, which most pricey restaurants can't manage. The ambience was lovely, very relaxing, and the accommodation was good. We planning our next UK holiday around it !!

very well looked after by the management and staff, attentive but not in your face. very enjoyable specials also available in the evening. good wine selection with over 70 bins available. will be back next time we are in the lakes

We went to Francines on Saturday night. They didn't really have a table but managed to fit us in and I am so glad they did. The food was absolutely stunning and the ambience topped it off perfectly. The lobster was cooked to perfection and the desserts were amazing! I will definitely go back next time I am in Windermere as it made the weekend even more special.

A well presented bar/restaurant, with a wonderful outdoor area. A nice selection of wines, and an interesting food menu. visited a few times to drink but only ate there once as i was a little disappointed at the meal i had at lunchtime, i thought it was a little overpriced for what i got, although it was well presented. had i had more time however i would have probably visited again for an evening meal to check out what the evening service was like.

I would say this was one of the best Italian restaurants i have been to. Having an Italian family I know the taste of real Italian food. the food was of excellent quality and the atmosphere was very relaxed. a high class restaurant and certainly worth a visit.

Good meal had by us all on the Headwetting day [large group with one 'large' member]. Beers served in 4 pint pitchers, just a shame Mike couldn't stay for the meal.....must have been the pork scratching that put him off his chillie. Staff were very accommodating even though they were very busy. Booking advisable as it is very popular choice amongst local diners. A1++

Called in when passing with friends, excellent choice and quality, will definitely recommend, will be going again

I stayed in Windermere for 1 week and had my dinner at Villa Positano 3 times! I love that place: the atmosphere , the music and the food (you should try their cheese-cake!) And Angelo and Claire and the staff are just brilliant. Even though they are busy, they are smiling and friendly and the service is TOP 10!!!

The food, staff, beer, facilities, atmosphere and sunday night quiz were excellent! Would definitely recommend this to everybody young, old and disabled alike. Made us feel so welcome we went every night for the whole week of our holiday!

Well done

I spent a weekend in Windermere and had a look at Villa Positano's menu on the Saturday. Unfortunately we could not get a table as it was reservations only that day. This however is usually a good sign! So I made a reservation the following morning for the same evening and I was not disappointed. Very friendly staff and good atmosphere. Not too formal, just as you would expect it from a 'typical' Italian restaurant. Only point of slight criticism is probably the volume of the music on the first floor, a bit too loud for my liking. If there is only two of you it is alright for having a conversation but I guess if there are 4 or 5 you need to start shouting across the table... In any case the food was brilliant which is what counts. We had grilled Sardines as a starter. They came with a very nice salad garnish. Main courses were grilled Swordfish and I had Mediterranean style sea bass (grilled with tomato and mushroom) which was just beautiful. A real treat for my taste buds. Price wise this was definitely ok, if you are used to London prices this was great value for money! If I get back to Windermere/Bowness I'll make sure to have a meal at Villa Positano again!

EXCELLENT - The food at this place is brilliant. You can choose a set menu with lots of choice for just £15 and it’s fabulous. I have ordered off both the set menu and a la carte menu and both are superb. I can't fault the food in any way - Steak Postilion is to die for if you are a foodie you really must give this place a try you really won’t regret it.

It's the best cafe in town everything was home made and very tasty, also it was very cheap.

As a regular customer, I am always impressed by the "specials" - so tasty and well presented yet so inexpensive. The staff are welcoming and I love the chilled out atmosphere. My kids love playing up in the playzone and my husband always escapes to the internet cafe. It really is a family day out.