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Lucy's on a plate in Ambleside

Review of Lucy'...

Review of Lucy's on a Plate in Ambleside by Cecilia Campbell

CeciliaC

39 posts

Joined
10/6/2005

Review of Lucy's on a Plate in Ambleside by Cecilia Campbell
Posted: 18 Mar 06 1:58 PM Modified By admin on 10/26/2008 5:50:14 AM)

Our original review, below, was done in early 2006 as one of our first reviews. Since then we have visited it on a couple of occasions, generally with a favourable outcome, but only at lunchtimes. In our latest review from 2008, again a lunchtime visit, had we re-rated it it would have got a reduced score for the food. Since we posted our initial review we have received several critical reviews from unhappy diners. Given the number of people who visit the place I'm sure that from time to time both the restaurant and the kitchen come under a lot of pressure, hence over a two year period there will always be some dip in service. Generally speaking Lucy Nicholson is on hand to address any issues directly and points to the large number of letters from happy customers that she regularly receives. If we re-rate this establishment based on our last visit ie 2008, here is the new rating.

Revised Rating: total 18

Great atmosphere 5
Home cooked fresh food 4
Plenty of flavour 3
Good value for money 3
Service with a smile 3

Lucy's on a Plate, tel 015394 31191
Most recent visit: for lunch on March 18, 2006 (we have had many a lunch here before, but, as yet, not dinner)

Lucy's is just a great place for a foodie. Before you go into the restaurant, you can browse through the phenomenally stocked adjacent deli, and if you weren't hungry when you went in, you will be after 10 minutes in the shop.

The menu is extensive and a lot of it changes daily and with the seasons. There is something for every appetite, for the sweet tooth as well as the more savory one (like mine). I had Paddy McGinty's Salad, well dressed leaves with seeds covered with a couple of grilled pieces of goats cheese and served with an onion marmalade – just wonderful, one of my all time favourite salads. Martin had a bigger hunger on him (having "forgotten" breakfast) and had a cia-burger (on ciabatta bread), which was so tasty in itself he didn't even ask for ketchup.

The food is unfussy and fresh, and the atmosphere is great – Lucy's has its own unique style; part fun part relaxed and it just makes you feel comfortable.

The cafe/restaurant/deli is on Church Street in Ambleside, and has a sister establishment, Lucy 4, fifty yards down a side road.

Rating: total 23

Great atmosphere 5
Home cooked fresh food 5
Plenty of flavour 4
Good value for money 4
Service with a smile 5

CeciliaC

39 posts

Joined
10/6/2005

Re: Review of Lucy's on a Plate in Ambleside by Cecilia Campbell
Posted: 28 May 08 2:36 PM

We've recently been back to Lucy's for lunch on a couple of occasions (during May 2008). The deli moved last summer, and in its place is now partly space to relax if you have to wait for a table, partly more seating. Bringing little Luke is no problem, as one of the rooms seems to be used as the family room, and you don't have to worry about disturbing the other guests in there (too much).

The food is still good, although I have to say that relatively speaking it is not the best part of the Lucy's experience. It's fresh and home made, but imagination, flavour and attention to detail could all be improved on to give it that extra something that would set it apart from any good south Lakes lunch place. (We cannot comment on the evening fare, as we have not had dinner here).

Lizzie55

1 posts

Joined
6/6/2008

Re: Review of Lucy's on a Plate in Ambleside by Cecilia Campbell
Posted: 07 Jun 08 5:14 PM

We have just had a lovely holiday in Cumbria and enjoyed very friendly people and nice food until the last day. We were recommended "Lucys" by a friend. We went for lunch on 6/6/ 2008. When we arrived I noticed a number of Warburtons sliced loaves on a table near the reception area........... We were shown to our table. Minimal conversation. A number of menus were just put on the table No converstion about the soup or specials. We had to wait a long time and then had to go and find a person to take our order. The bottle of water was just put on the table unopened the plates and cutlery were just put on the table and not set out as is usual in a cafe restuarant.by a surly girl. The food arrived and we waited for the bread we ordered and waited........ So we had to ask again The menu states a basket of bread A man who was obviously stressed came with a hugh basket of rolls not bread as listed on the menu. My husband ordered fishcakes that came with a salad There was no dressing nor was there one offered. Meanwhile a conversation about a member of staff who hadnt arrived for work A man was discussing it with another member of staff across the room telling the girl to phone the person and tell the girl if she doesnt come to work not to bother coming to work the following day. Not a relaxing way to have your lunch. Meanwhile my husband just felt he couldn't ask about the dressing for his salad. There were many missed opprtunities for staff to tell customers about all the food available. We decided not to have a cake and coffee. We went to pay our bill and would you believe that during the process of paying our bill the two members of staff continued with the conversation about the member of staff in public. I just couldn't believe it. I did tell the staff member how I felt. We had planned to go to the the deli however following our experience we decided not to bother. We the met a lady in the carpark who used to be a reglar visitor to Lucys but fells the standard is not like it used to be and goes to other places in Ambleside instead. I was really looking forward to my visit as I had heard so much about Lucys The food was OK but the atmosphere was really stressful There was no caring atmosphere The staff just couldn't be bothered and it wasn't just one member of staff but everyone we came in contact with. So I hope Lucy will take note and not ruin an eating experience for more people Eating out is not just about food ........ Maybe she should send in a mystery shopper to see how the the place is perceived. It was the only bad experience of the holiday. We found the people friendly and we enjoyed lovely food until "Lucys". It certainly didnt live up to the hype on Lucys web-site. Lizzie

beardo

1 posts

Joined
10/25/2008

Re: Review of Lucy's on a Plate in Ambleside by Cecilia Campbell
Posted: 25 Oct 08 5:50 PM

We had an evening meal at Lucy's on 24/08/2008. I am sorry to say it was the worst meal we have ever had served. The service was poor - we had to request cutlery, butter, etc. and were knocked several times by staff pushing past the table. For starters we had a chicken and chorizo salad - the sausage was over cooked, the chicken very tasteless; Asparagus in prosciutto - the prosciutto was rubbery rather than crisp as described on the menu. Edible but unexceptional. The main courses were Beef in beer - very tough, quite dry and extremely salty to the point of being inedible; chicken in a consomme - supposed to be watery but surely some taste?, and duck - very tough. The mains were so disappointing we ate little, skipped the rest of the meal and left. Lucy did reduce the bill by £14 without being asked when I expressed my disappointment to her - but suggested that I should have told the waitress who would have offered alternative dishes and told me that the customer before me had had the same beef and hadn't complained. With my first choice being unavailable and the three dishes we chose so bad I doubt very much that changing all three dishes would have done much good! Presumably as others didn't complain I must have been wrong. An extremely disappointing end to our "celebration" evening.

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Lucy's on a plate in Ambleside

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