Bridge Street Restaurant

Located in Kendal, Bridge Street brings a breath of fresh air to that attractive gateway to the Lake District, and the culinary prospects of the town are much enhanced by an over-riding concern for the quality and freshness of food, served in a friendly environment.

The lunch menu changes every month with three or four choices per course, and an October meal might consist of a starter of pan fried mackerel with warm potato salad and a shallot caper dressing, followed by poached chicken breast with sweet sour noodle, served with a potato dish and vegetables, and rounded off with apple fritter, vanilla ice cream and syrup sauce.

The muted colours and tasteful table settings lend themselves particularly well to dinner at this restaurant. A leisurely browse over the menu in the bar could include a bowl of mammoth Belli di Cerignola olives, bruscheti bread with garlic or tomato and mozzarella, before sitting down to some of Peter Gott's speck ham, wild boar air dried prosciutio with poached pear walnut salad.

White crab wrapped in smoked salmon, mango coriander salsa  and dressed cress leaves brings a pleasing touch of the briny into the choices, and for vegetarians there could be cantaloupe, water and Galia melon, toasted pumpkin seeds with sliced avocado and Keldthwaite gold. All starters are served with Artisan breads baked in-house.

Lamb that has spent its short life on the Lakeland Fells is, in the view of many, unbeatable. This lamb could have come from Kentmere, and is incorporated into a mini leek and Caerphilly shepherd's pie, with red currant sauce. For vegetarians there is blacksticks blue tart, butternut squash tortelli, sherry and roasted pepper sauce.

The poached halibut fillet is served with a soft crab and coriander spring roll, graced with a piquant brown shrimp sauce. All main courses are served with a potato dish and vegetables.

Round that off with smooth milk chocolate torte, caramelised banana and chocolate sorbet in such pleasant surroundings, perhaps accompanied by one of the spectacular dessert wines on offer, and I cannot imagine you wishing to move too far for the next few hours.

Whilst some of their dishes may sound complex, they arrive at table with the main ingredients prominent in appearance as well as flavour.

For special occasions, such as New Year, seven course gourmet evenings are de rigeur, with such treats as roast saddle of venison and lemon crème brûlée with lavender shortbread and clotted cream ice cream.

The wine list carries several very acceptable wines by the glass and includes their Magnificent Seven, wines chosen as representing the pinnacle of winemaking skill within a range of £30- £45.

The temptation on the part of some restaurants to have a website designed that turns out to be a mental obstacle course has been firmly resisted here, and one click on One Bridge Street's Website is the first step towards a friendly and fully informative introduction to this excellent restaurant.