L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms
Featured Restaurant
L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms Summary
- Address: Cavendish Street, Cartmel, nr Grange-over-Sands, LA11 6PZ (Map)
- Tel: +44 (0)1539 536362
- E-mail: Click here to contact
- Website: Go to the L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms website
- Gallery: View more images
- Cuisine(s): French, Modern, Gourmet
- Opening Times: Mon - Fri: 19:00 - 21:00
Sat - Sun: 12:00 - 13:30 19:00 - 21:00 - Avg Price: £70.00
- Party Planner: Group bookings & Party planner
(Avg Price is the average cost per person for two courses, coffee, half a bottle of house wine and tip/service)
L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms Description
Every so often a new restaurant flashes on to the scene, bringing in its wake a sense of presence and certain success. When Simon Rogan set up the business in 2002 he had a very clear vision of the way in which it should be heading, and he seems to be pretty well on target. Described in The Independent as being "one of the five best restaurants with rooms in Europe", it may well be that one of the biggest problems L'enclume will have is retaining its proportion which seems at the moment to be about right. Simon was named Best Chef by The Good Food Guide 2009 and L'enclume was also included in the final 'top ten' restaurants outside London at the London Restaurant Awards - known as the 'Oscars' of the London restaurant industry.
For diners who want to make the evening memorable by staying the night, there are seven individually designed and furnished rooms at L'enclume, together with the cosy three bedroom L'enclume House.
The approach to food is refreshingly unusual. After years of learning the rules we hear that in Cartmel at least, they are there to be broken - with careful research and experimentation, of course. There is about L'enclume an air of determined restlessness, in a wholly positive way as new flavours are found, old ones are resurrected, and due obeisance is made to nature. In other places where this has occurred it has sometimes induced a labatorial frisson into the realms of the kitchen, but this is not apparent in Cartmel, and instead we hear that "subtle herbs, roots and flowers" are to be encouraged to take control. Sounds good.
Three menus are available, arranged rather as a series of inductions within a semi-secret society. The Introduction is an ordering of food that embraces the whole table, what some might term a tasting menu, and starts with egg drop hot and sour soup, followed by glazed pork cheeks, cacao, date, cassia. Next comes cepe ravioli, parmesan, maple syrup, brown butter, skate wing, pomegranate, almond and avocado, with confit lamb hummus, tomato and molasses, with sea scallop, ricotta tonka and gingerbread.
Honeycomb, sweet chilli and citrus precede expearamenthol (sic) frappé and a conclusion of walnut, artichoke, smoked cherry and butterscotch. This summons up a whole cacophony of flavours and textures that is wonderfully appealing, though traditionalists may find themselves reaching for their dictionaries. But there's more.
From the Tour Menu, a stunning twelve courses in all, a number of them already a part of The Introduction, meet a razor roll reversal, langoustines, tamarind, peanut, asafoetida, Cornish crab, vanilla and argan oil, and a stiffy tacky pudding (a nice take on the neighbours) just four of the additional courses.
The Set Dinner, and somehow anything less than capitals seems positively insulting, is back to a traditional three course framework, but tradition ends there.
Start with cured sea trout, avocado, pear, Wasabi before moving on seamlessly to roast lamb rump with that sadly under-used body part - sweetbreads, broad beans, blue and soy, to a conclusion with lemon grass pannacotta, grape, red berry, and white chocolate caramel.
Other dishes could include duck breast from Goosnargh, confit gizzard, blood orange and juniper, and monkfish in picada crumb, prunes and basmati, citronelle emulsion. Desserts include their chariot of cheeses, hot cheesecake in the style of nobody, pistachio, Pedro Ximenez, or a pineapple crème brûlée, with rum and spices.
The sense of restlessness mentioned above means changes from time to time - keep abreast of them by clicking on to their elegant and informative Website.
Fixed Lunch
- £25 (3 courses)
Fixed Dinner
- £50 (8 courses)
Your Reviews of L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms
Soulagents (9 March 2009)
I have to state from the off that I'm no expert when it comes to food but I've never shied away from trying new experiences. I therefore looked forward to my first experience of a Michelin starred restaurant with a great deal of excitement and a completely open mind. This was a birthday treat for my wife and we visited on Saturday lunchtime. I had asked my wife to disregard any prices she might see on the menu as I wanted to discourage her from ordering the 3 course option - it may have been her birthday but I wanted the full experience! She opted for menu 1 which consisted of 8 courses. I'm not going to describe each course, partly because others have done it before me and partly because I couldn't do them justice, suffice to say that each plate, glass, slate and bowl was stunning both in presentation and taste. We now both know what the television 'experts' are on about when they describe the taste sensations they experience. We found ourselves talking like Masterchef judges(!) and our conversation was centred solely around the food and our fabulous surroundings.
The members of staff were attentive and very helpful and despite our 'Berni Inn' credentials we didn't feel intimidated in any way. This was a wonderful experience from start to finish - we felt sated without feeling full and left knowing that we would soon be returning, perhaps for the 3 course lunch. If you are of the 'I could eat a horse' persuasion then there are other establishments in Cartmel which you may be better off patronising, but for culinary excellence and an experience to savour for a long while afterwards you have to visit L'enclume.
Lee (4 February 2008)
We had the 'tour' taster menu of around 14/15 courses and I highly recommend it. Highlights include dehydration/ rehydration, gorgonzola chips, Greek meatballs, amazing texture less tzatziki, foie gras ice cream, stiffy tacky pudding, Surrealists nitro slammer, langoustine, tamarind, peanut, asafoetida and not forgetting my favourite - whim 01.
My only potential criticism could be that some of the main course sections lulled, but only because the menu had started so well. Thankfully, the desserts woke me up again. And the excellent wine list sent me off to bed.Service was excellent, not pretentious or lacking in any way as I had read on other reviews prior to visiting. We also stayed over and I can recommend the rooms.
All in all, we left feeling full, happy and looking forward to coming back.
I can understand that it's not what some people want from a restaurant, hence some negative reviews on the internet, but if you want a three course meal, go to a pub around the corner. Expect a tastier menu, and a few amazing, unexpected tastes at that.
See more reviews of L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms
Write A Review For L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms
Have you eaten at L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms? Then why not write a review for L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms! It only takes a few moments, no registration is required.
Not sure what to write? Have a look through all of our restaurant reviews for inspiration!
Additional Info for L'enclume Restaurant with Rooms
Children welcome
Groups allowed
Air conditioning
Outside seating
Reservations
Cover Charge
- House red: £25.00
- House white: £20.00
- Service charge: Not included
Find Another Restaurant
Search for restaurants and locations (eg. grill in grange-over-sands)
UK
Europe
USA
|
Digg
del.icio.us
StumbleUpon
Google
Facebook