Restaurant at The Queen's Head

Perched on the side of the tranquil Troutbeck Valley the Queen's Head was recommended to us by a delightful couple whose garden we went to see . You can't leave the valley without calling they said. Well it was around lunchtime and the dubious delights of the retail therapy filled streets of points west did not inspire. So in we went.

The place is awash with ancient carved wood and it's not every inn that can claim a bar made from a four-poster formerly in a local castle. Somebody obviously cares about the food, starting with the freshness of the ingredients. A monthly changing menu offers such dishes as home cured salmon served with marinated olives and a honey and lemon dressing. The rump of lamb roasted on to a goat's cheese and apricot mash shows flair, though my choice would be for the mixed seafood and wild mushroom cassoulet, cooked in a rich butter sauce and then topped with crispy cabbage.

A three course set meal including coffee will cost you £15.50 and this representative of the excellent value that an area like the Lakes provides through many of its restaurants and bars with food.