Amerdale House - The best rest restaurant I know (Amerdale House Hotel's Restaurant)

Member Name: cswann

Product:	Amerdale House Hotel's Restaurant
Date:	16/11/00 (176 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Superb food and surroundings

Disadvantages: Not open all year, not all that cheap, fairly formal wear is best

A superb restaurant in a lovely part of the Yorkshire Dales. Amerdale House is in the village of Arncliffe in Littondale, where it used to be the manor house.
Strictly speaking it's a hotel, and usually your best chance of eating in the restaurant is by staying overnight in the hotel. You see, the food is so good, the residents always eat there, so there aren't usually any spare tables. A visit could be on the expensive side, especially if you do stay the night, and it's best viewed as the kind of place you go for a special occasion, like an anniversary.
The restaurant has two AA Rosettes for Food, and is listed in many guides, such as the Michelin Guide and the Good Food Guide, and it's obvious why when you visit.

The lounge, and the dining room have a distinct air of 'class' about them. Silver cutlery, candles on the shiny wooden tables, tasteful décor - and yet it feels quite intimate, very much like you're visiting rich friends and eating in their dining room. There's room for about two dozen people to eat, and it's mostly couples or small groups. And, very important, there is never the feeling of being rushed, which makes it possible to savour the entire evening.

So, what about the food?
Seasonal, fresh, and where possible local, produce, is central to the menus. Dinner is a set-price affair, and each day, a new menu is produced, usually with 3 choices of starter, main course and dessert. So this means the chef can concentrate on doing a few dishes, and doing them well. I have visited Amerdale house for evening meal on 4 occasions, and have never been least bit disappointed by anything I've been served.
In most cases, the dishes have, quite simply, been the best I've tasted, e.g. scallops, mushroom tartlets, lemon sole, even the mashed potato is something to really rave about!
The bread is always special, too, and well worth trying The salads are adventurous, featuring

colourful edible (and tasty) flowers, but apart from that the cooking doesn't get too adventurous, and should suit most palates. There is always a fish course, but if you are vegetarian, you might be best having a word with the owners earlier in the day, so that can produce something else.
There's an excellent selection of cheeses, served with homemade oatcakes, and afterwards with your tea or coffee, there are delicious chocolates (homemade again), just to finish things off perfectly.
The wine list is excellent, with many wines coming direct from vineyards, so you won't get the same thing in just any old supermarket. I tasted a wonderful pudding wine there which I've never been able to find anywhere else since.

*** Updated information ***
The cost for dinner for non-residents is £35, but as I say it's not easy to get a booking this way (telephone 01756 770250 for availability). The food is so good that I feel it is worth every penny.
If you stay for dinner bed and breakfast, the cost will be more than £70 per person per night - worth it though, because Arncliffe is such a lovely (and remote) place. Ideal for couples - not so good for families with children, I have to admit - too expensive and not a great deal for the kids. Also, no dogs are allowed. All of this suits me fine - a hotel without dogs and unlikely to have screaming babies... Heaven

The cost for 2002 is £74.50 per person (Bed, breakfast and evening meal), but £72.50 if staying for 7 nights or more. There is also a 4 nights for the price of 3 deal.

The hotel doesn't stay open all year round, so don't plan a trip in the winter months - book now for a special weekend break, for next Spring or Summer.

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