Eating out in the Lancaster area? Check out our listings of local restaurants, cafe bars and pubs serving food ...with something for every taste!

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Additions and Reviews
Tell us about places we've missed - or add more detail to the entries here. Send your reviews to ed@virtual-lancaster.net. Please include the name of the restaurant, eaterie or pub somewhere in the review!

RESTAURANTS IN LANCASTER

Antony's Café Bistro
11 King's Arcade, King Street, Lancaster LA1 1LE
Tel. 01524 39920
Open: Daytimes + Evenings Thu - Sat from 6.30pm
Jack Mitchell (October 2007): Anthony's Bistro is so hidden away it's like a secret, but it's really one of the best places to eat in Lancaster. They do light lunches and amazing specials and the owner's wife bakes their cakes! I really like their milkshakes, they make them with real ice cream. It's an amazing place.
Jean McCafferty (March 2005): I would like to add my commendation of this excellent centre-town restaurant. This was our first visit for an evening meal, the occasion being a family birthday celebration. We enjoyed six main courses, five starters and three puddings for around £90. The quality of the food was high with an inventive menu, catering well for a range of tastes, including vegetarian. The service on the Friday evening was excellent, our party being the only one! This was very pleasant for us, but I feel that publicity about the evening opening times would bring Antony's a well-deserved increase in their clientele. Highly recommended!
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Badgers
Lancaster Leisure Park, Wyresdale Road, Lancaster Tel. 01524 846697
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Bella Italia
26-28 Church Street, Lancaster Tel. 01524 36340
Allie Gutmann (July 2007): Cheap and always cheerful. Bella Italia doesn't boast exotic cuisine, but it does offer excellent food at affordable prices. A student, family and couple
friendly resturant it caters for all tastes and offers and exciting range of italian food. Always tasty and definately a place to go for a bite to eat without the hassle of booking. However the service does leave something to be asked for, but we can't ask for miracles. I would give it a 6/10.
Richard Hardy (December 2006) writes: Wow the atmosphere here was amazing! I came to Bella Italia for my 18th Birthday and it was a night to remember... The menu was really varied and they had a delicious specials board. The waiters all knew what they were doing, they were very organised and they took great care of us, they were very friendly. They even gathered all the staff to sing happy birthday to me. Definitely a night I'd recommend to hundreds more. Well done guys and Ciao!
Kristina (October 2006) writes: For two friends' birthdays, we came to Bella Pasta. We were greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and a delicious and varied menu. Everyone's food was excellent, service was friendly and prompt, prices were excellent value and the staff even managed to organized surprise drinks for the birthday girls. I would definately recommend this place for a casual, enjoyable evening.
David Duncan writes (January 2003) "This is a quality little place with great staff, I'd go there again."
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Bistro 26
26, Sun Street, Lancaster
Tel: 01524 846252
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
Richard Calcutt (Feb 2008): My girlfriend and I have visited this restaurant a number of times and have been consistently impressed with the great food on offer. We have been for Sunday lunch (which I believe was £11/head for 3 courses) and while the menu at this time is limited, the food is fantastic and cooked in a way which lacks the false pretense of some other restaurants. The staff have always been friendly and prompt, and the decor is classy and refreshing. This place is a gem, unfortunately hidden in one of Lancaster's back streets, but I would urge anyone looking for a high quality evening meal or a Sunday lunch to get a map out a give it a go. Best restaurant in the town for my money!

The Bombay Balti Restaurant
Jubilee Hall, China Street, Lancaster Tel. 01524 844550
Open: Lunch Mon - Sat 12 noon - 2.00pm Evening Mon - Thu 5.30pm - 12pm Fri - Sat 5.30pm - 12.30am Sun 12 noon - 12 midnight
Judith Keshet writes (24/2/06): Really top-notch Indian food, either eat in or take-away. We had an early dinner there when we were the only guests,
so it was a bit low on atmosphere. However, service was friendly and the
food delicious. We've also had home delivery of their meals and will
certainly go back for more.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
Elizabeth Clark (Nov 2007): We popped into the Bombay Balti this week and were pleasantly surprised at the décor, the service was slow despite being quite empty, but I’m pleased to report I found the food excellent. In particular the veggie dishes, I haven’t come across a tastier Indian in Lancaster. My son however was not so impressed. His food had been contaminated with nuts and he suffered a reaction after one mouthful of food. The waiter was most unsympathetic and didn’t even offer to get him a glass of water. He had a word with the kitchen staff and came back indignant that it was nothing that they had put in the food. Sadly we had to abandon our meal as my sons head swelled like a pumpkin and his throat got tighter. They didn’t even knock the price of his meal, which he couldn’t eat, off the bill. We didn’t leave a tip, but my son did deposit a large pile of vomit outside their door and in my car. Allergy sufferers beware!

Brewers Fayre
Greaves Park, Bowerham Road, Lancaster LA1 3AH Tel. 01524 389335
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Crow's Wine Bar & Restaurant
10 King Street, Lancaster Tel. 01524 382888
Andrew Barratt (March 2008): I should qualify my comments by saying that I consider eating out to be one of the greatest pleasures and luxuries in life and I really am hard to displease. Lancaster is full of great places to eat. Unfortunately Crows is not one of them.
Crows simply doesn't know what it wants to be. Currently it is billing itself as a cafe/ winebar/ wi-fi coffee bar/ restaurant/ bistro/ motel. I think the classification "god-awful craphole" would suffice.
I went there with my wife. The omens right from the off were not good. For a start I found the crow painted on the outside of the restaurant reminded rather too much of the racist black and white minstrel type crows depicted in the movie Dumbo. However, I assumed this was reading too much into it and let it go.
I had pre-booked a table. The restaurant was deserted yet we were still made to wait close to ten minutes until we could go to our seats. My seat was wonky. Annoying.
The menu aims for a faux Tex-mex/American diner feel. (Like I said Crows seems doomed to aim for a multitude of things, even in its menu choices). Naturally enough, assuming it was serving Mexican food I asked for chips and salsa to start and then the chicken club sandwich for a main.
Simple enough? Pah.
Twenty-five minutes later the chips and salsa arrive. Guess what.. yep they have sent us a bowl of oven chips with some dorritos mild salsa. I was looking around for the Punk'd camera crew, but no they were deadly serious. As I said I am easily pleased so I didn't even complain.
A further half-hour later my main arrived. The chicken club sandwich (described on the menu with such mouth-watering terms as "succulent" and "juicy") turned out to be half a chicken breast with cucumber on top served on a cold bap. With oven chips. That were cold. For ten quid. For the first time in my life I actually complained, on the rather reasonable grounds that they were serving polished turds on a plate and passing it off as some kind of americana-bistro delicacy. Honsestly I have could eaten some chicken, bacon and bread, puked it back up on to a plate, served it up and it would have still been closer to a club sandwich than what they were offering.
This place is a joke. The food is awful, the decor is awful, the service is slow and stroppy and they seem to have an ungodly obsession with oven chips (naturally described on the menu as fries.)
Eat here again? I would rather scrape out my own stomach lining with a rusty pair of eyelash curlers thanks.
Antony Weaver (August 2007): I've eaten here once or twice a year for the last few years (never my own choice) and consistently found the service to be mediocre at best, and with the most recent visit last month the staff were mostly
non-attentive or even a little rude! We were with a mid sized group, and all found the food decidedly average in quality and sub-expectation for the price paid.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Etna Pizza Pasta
New Street, Lancaster LA1 1EG Tel. 01524 69551
Satori (Feb 2008): Romantic dinner for two on Valentine's (at gunpoint;-). With no prior warning they created a lovely vegan spaghetti dish for me. The house wine warmed my heart and joy was unrestrained. A houseful of hand-holding, very chuffed looking couples (not that I was peeking...). The Maitre, whilst friendly, forbears, with discreet charm, to draw attention to (many) previous (cheap) dates there....
Liz Shotter (February 2008): I have been to Etnas once with my husband and they were completely baffled by his request for cheese on garlic bread, served packet risotto and my husbands pizza was pathetic.  Decor is really tired now and as we were the only people in there on a Thursday night the atmosphere was non existent. Rubbish.
Kathryn Jones (January 2008): I’ve been going here on a regular basis since 2003 after randomly wandering in from the street one night and getting a table at very short notice. I’ve kept going back and I’ve taken as many people with me as possible and sent as many people there as possibly on staff nights out, birthdays, Christmas dos, girly lunches, random dates, romantic anniversaries, with friends, family and boyfriends/girlfriends and the place has never let me or my enthusiastic recommendations down. The food is always fantastic, the wine is always delicious and the waiting staff have always very attentive and jovial. This is without a doubt my absolute favourite restaurant in Lancaster – it knocks all of the other Italian restaurants into a cocked hat with ease.
Bill Nankivell writes (July 2006): Etna, what a great place, with great food at a great price!  I was one of a party of sixteen who squeezed into this little gem last night and everyone of us had a fabulous time. Recommended to everybody who visits Lancaster and likes Italian food.
Satori writes: Traditional Sicilian family restaurant. Get to know the staff - and they will insult you like you're family. They remember every guy I've ever taken in there - and are fortunately discreet. So obviously I have only the highest praise. Prices are low, food is good, service is too. It's a small place but there's an upstairs room for bigger parties.
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Fortune Star
16 Dalton Square, Lancaster Tel. 01524 842828
James Glass (January 2007): We have eaten at so called "top" Chinese restaurants in Manchester, Liverpool and London and would happily place this among them. The service is excellent, nothing is too much trouble and the food is consistently good.
Saffron Warde-Jones (Dec 2006): Whilst I agree with the previous comments regarding service, my family thought the food diabolical! It could not even be charitably described as mediocre. In terms of Chinese cuisine, I set the benchmark for an “excellent” rating on a par with that served at restaurant’s, such as “Kwok’s” in Ipswich, or “Ken Hom’s” in London. We left most of our order and complained to the staff. Having gone there on the basis of the rave reviews published on both this site and in Fresh magazine, and left so dissatisfied, makes me wonder if the restaurant has changed hands?
Caroline Eames wrote (04/06): "The Fortune Star has extremely friendly and welcoming staff and I have never had better service at any other restaurant, ever. The food is consistently excellent. This is the place that we turn to if we want a convivial evening out in comfortable surroundings - exceptional place for welcoming children - nothing is too much trouble."
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The Gatehouse
501 The Gatehouse, White Cross Industrial Estate, Lancaster Tel. 01524 849111
Laura Sheppard (May 2007): I was rather dismayed after having read the previous reviews for The Gatehouse, as something has most definately changed there. It was wonderful. The staff were prompt and helpful and the food and serving timed to perfection. There was a very relaxed feel with everyone in there; you knew they were all taking their time and enjoying the food and location. The meals were similarly perfectly cooked and I would definately recommend the dips to share as a starter with fantastic flavours and a fun way to settle in. The restaurant itself is beautiful too, definately worth visiting for an exceedingly comfortable touch of class. I hope everyone enjoys this restaurant as much as we did.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

GoJi
6-8 Rosemary Lane, Lancaster
LA1 1NR
Tel: 01524 67470
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
kristen (April 2008): My husband and I and a good foodie friend checked out Goji restaurant last night. Had a fabulous time! Originally we had thought it was a buffet restaurant but found out that it had been changed to a table service restaurant. Our evening started on an iffy note, shrimp crackers out of a bag with sweet chilli sauce - but got better from there. Our starters were all fairly decent. The lemon grass skewers with scallops and shrimp were well cooked and seasoned but for £8 for this one dish we would have expected more than 2 scallops. The rest of the starters were all good but on the smallish side portion-wise. The mains were all really well done. On first sight it didn't look like a lot of a food, but it definitely was all delicious and deceptively filling. The crispy beef chilli dish was a highlight as were the aromatic duck pancakes. The service was overall really good and the waitresses were very attentive. Overall - a great find - and we will go back and recommend to others.

The Golden Dragon
11 George Street, Lancaster LA1 1XQ Tel. 01524 33100 Fax 01524 845200
Open every evening 6.00pm - 12.00am Sun - Thur
6.00pm - 12.10 amd Fri and Sat Last orders 15 mins before closing
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Victoria Frith (April 2008): I've eaten here twice in the last month and am sure it won't be long before I visit again! The first time was on a Wednesday evening, it was fairly quiet and the service was excellent. The food could not be faulted and my boyfriend and I were in agreement that we would return soon. The second visit was on a Saturday evening, a last moment decision to go out for food rather than cook at home. Much busier this time and it was clear that at a weekend booking is advisable. However they were still able to seat us (politely informing us that the table was booked for and hour and a halfs time). Service was much slower but staff still excellent. Not all the meal arrived at the same time which was a little disappointing and service definatley not as organised. But food was once again excellent and I will definitely be back. In my opinion this is somewhere visited mid-week to make the most of the experience.
Rachel Fung (September 2007): My husband and I have been going to The Golden Dragon for a long time, (for about 6 years?) I have always had good service, excellent food and first class atmosphere. As a Chinese myself I can say the standard of the food at the Golden Dragon are almost as good as back home in Hong Kong! However, it is not the cheapest place to go for Chinese meal, but then again, you do get what you pay for I'm afraid. I would give 8/10!

Golden Jade Chinese Restaurant
78 Penny Street, Lancaster LA1 1XN Tel. 01524 847788
As of December 2005: Currently closed with staff operating from the Golden Dragon

Imran's Restaurant & Takeaway
18 King Street, Lancaster, LA1 1JY
Tel: 01524 66010
Punjabi home cooking. Open 12-2.30pm & 6-11pm.
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Neil Foxlee (Dec 2007): Imran's is serving reasonable Punjabi food at a very reasonable price (£4 for evening buffet!).

Istanbul Mediterranean Restaurant
66 Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1XF. Tel. 01524 843400
Clare Chapman (Feb 2008): Undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Lancaster. The food was excellent and reasonably priced. We waited a satisfactory amount of time for the food - long enough to know it was being freshly prepared. The wine was very good and the service friendly and efficient. The freshly baked flat bread and garlic sauce that came free of charge with our meal was absolutely delicious and the Turkish background music provided exactly the right ambience. We enjoyed this restaurant so much we went two nights in a row with a different group of people on each occasion. If you want to experience proper Turkish cuisine in a friendly and unpretentious environment, then look no further than Istanbul restaurant.
Tracey & Jo (Jan 2007): We originally went not knowing that Casa Luca restaurant had changed hands and was now known as Istanbul Mediterranean Restaurant. Upon entering we noticed the place had been redecorated in a 'quick style fashion'. As we were there we thought we would give the place a try. There was another table seated with a couple. The initial service was Ok but we waited far too long for the food which was semi warm placed upon cold plates. The food itself was nothing special and could have been cooked at home.
We were served with the wrong wine by the waiter, however he was polite along with the waitress who was also very polite. Unfortunately credit/ debit cards were not accepted and we had to go to the cashpoint for some money, which was inconvenient. We thought that there needs to be a vast improvement in the quality of food to warrant a return visit and for this establishment to be classed as a 'professional restaurant'.
Linda Kaplan (January 2007): Casa Luca has changed and is now Mediterranean food.
Joseph (Dec 2006): Casa Luca has closed, and changed hands. I am bereft, it was the finest Saturday lunchtime in Lancaster.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Joseph's Restaurant
10 Gage Street, Lancaster LA1 1UH Tel. 01524 844707
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Kebab and Steak House
6 China Street, Lancaster LA1 1EX Tel. 01524 846667
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
Judith Read (March 2008): Decided to try this restaurant following a recommendation. It is like sitting in someones dingy living room. Access to the toilet is via the kitchen which is not appropriate. The meal itself was disappointing to say the least. My order for chicken tikka kebab with salad, rice and chips came without salad and the chips were awful. We waited for an hour for our food and on mentioning why there was a delay my husband was met with a very irate "chef" who was extremely rude. The whole meal and eating experience was very bland. On the plus side the waiting on staff were extremely nice and polite. My advice is go to Crows just a few doors away instead.
Mark Leslie (Jan 2007): I have followed Norman, who is the chef, from various locations around Lancaster for the past twenty years.The Kebab sauce is the best around Lancaster, the food is always good - nothing too fancy, but always good and hot. He has added mexican food to his menu, which is a lot better than some of the so called Mexicans in Lancaster. Simple surroundings,with friendly staff. Try it, you wont be disapointed.
Sarah Potts (Jan 2007): My fiancé and I fancied a meal out and had fancied the Kebab & Steak house for a while. I called up at 6pm on Friday Night and they tald my they were busy but could fit us in at 7.30. We were a bit dubious as to whether we would be hanging around but when we got there the place was reasonably quiet. We placed our order and made the mistake of ordering starters as well. When the main course arrived we were stuffed!! My fiancé had a steak and I had fajitas. We were so impressed with the portion sizes and the quality of the food. In total 2 starters, 2 main courses, 2 pints, 2 glasses wine & 2 Tia Marias = £40. Real good food at very reasonable prices. I would highly recommend this place to anyone 10/10.

Lancaster House Hotel - Gressingham Restaurant
Green Lane, Ellel, Lancaster LA1 4GJ tel: 01524 844822
email: lancaster@elhmail.co.uk
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
Liz Shotter (Jan 2008): I live right on the doorstep of Lancaster House but have always considered it too out of my league and as such never thought to go for a meal here. Some friends took us on a Sunday night just before Christmas and we were blown away. It was quiet but somehow there still seemed to be a nice atmosphere (Christmas spirit perhaps), great decor with roaring log fires and crisp white linen on the tables. The waiter was incredibly attentive and even opened two bottles of champagne that we had brought with us, he was pleasant and chatty. Our starters came out really hot (luke warm food on cold plates is a real pet hate of mine)
and was absolutely wonderful. The main meal was just as delicious (I had duck) and we were thrilled. This has now replaced our usual haunt and is the firm choice for the future. Only problem was the price but you do get what you pay for in Lancaster.

Marco's
27 North Road, Lancaster
Tel. 01524 844445
Friendly italian restaurant, informal atmosphere, they like birthdays. Excellent Early Bird deals.
Kathryn Jones (Jan 2008): Fantastic place for eating out during the day – the Happy Hour offers make it a great place to have a nicely cooked, pleasantly served, moderately priced and well mannered lunch and their house wine is very nice to go with it. Satori (Augst 2007): Thirteen (a coven) of us came celebrating a birthday and the food was delicious. A team of waiters relayed the entrees to our table so we didn't have to wait more than a couple of minutes for us all to be served together and the staff were cheerfully attentive - as was the chef who fusslessly created an excellent and tasty dairy-free penne with vegetable sauce for the vegan in the party (me). The birthday girl was regaled with a special complimentary dessert with sparkler - plus music, flashing lights - the Marco's special. We had a great evening and it didn't cost the earth.
Jean Palmer (2006): We tend to eat as a family at Marcos during 'happy hour' (5.30 - 6-30) & have found the basic pasta/ pizza menu very good value & consistent in quality. The service does vary but the staff are friendly.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

The Meeting House Restaurant
11-15a, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 1TJ
Tel: 01524 848049
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
Sharon Hayton (April 2008): This surely has to be (in my humble opinion) the best restaurant in Lancaster. Service is fantastic - friendly smiles and just enough attention from the moment you walk through the door. Good, well-prepared and well-presented locally produced food, right down to desserts and ice creams from a small local producer. Try the Dockside
smoked salmon - ab.fab. Even the house wine I had was a good wine. All round excellent value for money. Veggie choices looked good too - not the usual boring meat-free fare.
Nick Miller (March 2008): The lovely Helen and I got married on Saturday 1st March and we brought 24 of our friends and relatives to The Meeting House Lane Restaurant for lunch.
Dan and his team did us proud. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and the hard working staff were at all times polite and courteous.
We wanted to create the atmosphere of a family Sunday lunch with a choice of starters, a generous roast with plenty of vegetables, home made sweets and a local cheese board to finish. We were not disappointed, we were greeted with champagne and allowed to take our time.
Thank you Dan, it was great and we will be back on Friday, just the two of this time.
Kathryn Jones (Jan 2008): Decided to give this place a try for a date on the sheer strength of the reviews after I couldn’t get a reservation at my usual haunt – these people know what they’re talking about. The food was absolutely superb, the wine was excellent, the waiting staff were polite, friendly and very obliging and the atmosphere was lovely. Even with two office parties going on in the adjoining room, the quiet and civilized atmosphere of the place wasn’t spoilt and my boyfriend and I had a wonderful time there. The prices were very reasonable, particularly given the excellent quality of the food, and we will definitely be going back and taking as many people as possible with us.
L. Connors (September 2007): On the basis of such favourable reviews my partner and I decided to try the Meeting House one Friday evening. We booked late but they were happy to accommodate us-the first positive. The second was the service. All members of staff were incredibly friendly and genuinely warm. And the third positive? The food. It was amazing. We gorged on three courses and a coffee afterwards, complete with miniature Kendal mint cake. The highlights were a smooth and velvety leek and potato soup, the locally produced sausages and the ice cream selection. The only negative I can hold against them is this: had I not visited the virtual Lancaster page I would not have known it existed. A restaurant this good and this reasonable needs to be trumpeted!
Matthew Harris (July 2007): Having lived away from Lancaster for seven years I am always pleasantly surprised on my return by the ever increasing quality of the food available. The Meeting House Restaurant is no exception. This site has housed a number of restaurants over the years but none that can hold a torch to this current incarnation. From the minute you are warmly greeted to when you are seated and presented with the menu the experience is rewarding. The menu reads like a who’s who of fine local produce and each dish is complimented by simple yet effective flavours. I had the black pudding and bacon salad to start which was divine. The duck which followed as a main maintained the high standard set by the preceding course. The table was then presented with a cheese board I can confidently say puts shame to the number I have had elsewhere, even here in London. A wine list with a tempting selection of both European and new world wines finishes the whole experience with a satisfying tone. I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone with the confidence they won’t be disappointed.
Adrian Friday (May 2007): Saturday lunch. Glasson smoked battered Haddock, Chunky Chips, mushy peas, tartare sauce (all home made) and a cappuccino. Glorious! Great flavours, strong presentation, arrived instantly and delighted the taste buds. We loved the use of local produce. Everything was good; the naturally salty smoked fish complemented the batter and produced a novel twist on an old favourite - the chips were perfect. My wife said they were the best she'd ever had. My 18 month old daughter and I loved the peas too. It was also very well priced. We will go back to sample some other options.
Town was thronging with people just yards away at the special bank holiday market. But we were the only customers in the place! This is a tough location - we went there to check out the Runcible Spoon which is no more (RIP) - the Meeting House had a child seat and were quite happy to fit us in with a little one, but the toy area has gone (replaced by a tasteful contemporary refit). Hopefully they'll succeed, the food that we've tried certainly means that they've got to be worth a visit.
Satori writes: this is just a selection of the positive reviews Virtual-Lancaster has received for the Meeting House - they are the most positively (and informatively) reviewed restaurant we've ever listed!
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Metro Bar & Restaurant
60-62 Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1LL.
Tel: 01524 66900
Bar, with restaurant upstairs offering a wide selection.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Mr Shah's Indian Restaurant
18 King Street, Lancaster LA1 1JY Tel. 01524 37191
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Miyabi Japanese Restaurant
6, Cable St, Lancaster Lancashire LA1 1HD
Tel: 01524 848356
Japanese and oriental food, much liked by those who've eaten there.
Jack Mitchell (October 2007): I noticed with dismay the number of unfavourable reviews for this place and I just had to say something. I love this restaurant. I will admit their teppanyaki displays are not the best I have ever seen but the chefs are practicing and they have the less experienced ones on earlier in the evening I noticed. When I go there I go for the sushi and avoid the teppanyaki displays altogether. They're more fun if there's a party of you and you like catching food in your mouth, and who doesn't? I do enjoy the sushi though, the waitresses are so sweet and attentive and the sushi is just delicious. They've really expanded their sushi menu since the last time I went, and they were keen for me to try all the new recipes. It's a shame there are bad reviews for this place on here, it's a lovely little Japanese restaurant and Lancaster's ONLY Japanese restaurant, I'd be lost without it.
(As the previous reviews were over 6 months old we have taken them down now - ed)
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Moghuls
91 King Street, Lancaster LA1 1RH Tel. 01524 36253
Bob Deegan (May 2007): We have been going there for years. The food is always good and seems freshly cooked, and we always receive a friendly welcome. Good value for money too.
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Mung Mee
6 Chapel Street, Lancaster. Tel: 01524 64107
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
Vince Clarke (Jan 2008): My girlfriend and I have eaten here twice; once for lunch and once for dinner. Fresh and tasty food combined with excellent service at a very reasonable price make this restaurant well worth a visit.
Beverley Harding (May 2007): The service was fantastic!! After reading the other reviews I was concerned this birthday dinner would be a disaster, but the waitresses were smiley, polite, and helpful, and the timing of our food (we went for the banquet) was spot on. I have eaten in a fair few of the restaurants in Lancaster and this was easily as good as Quite Simply French and The Waterwitch. Delightful!
James Kerrigan (April 2007): “We decided to book a meal at Mung Mee after seeing a good review. Unfortunately it was a bad experience and one I would rather forget. On the night the meal was reasonable, decent enough Thai food, I have been to Thailand myself several times and it was of an ok standard. Yet the service was sloppy to non-existent. For the money there are several other restaurants better than this and far better value. The starters especially are a waste of time. Conclusion – could do better!”
Gerd Nonneman (March 2007): Eaten here several times now and I have brought a series of colleagues and visitors - many of whom have gone on to become repeat customers themselves. Mung Mee has pulled off the real coup of becoming one of the best & most authentic Thai restaurants I know. And that extends to the food, the service, and the décor. The latter is stylish and combines a designer-look with authentic and well-placed Thai art. The restaurant is surprisingly spacious and atmospheric. The staff are almost all Thai: the only non-Thai figure is the male half of the UK-Thai couple who own and run the place - and he provides a relaxed but competent managerial hand. The whole feel is very friendly (with a fair bit of laughter between the staff), and in my experience they have no problem rectifying the odd quibble one might have - be it a dish a touch too spicy for your constitution (try telling them in advance and they'll adjust the levels of 'heat'!) or a bottle that's corked. Don't expect the sort of super-well-oiled efficiency of a starched waiter with 20 years' training, but it's more fun.
The food is a joy - even for someone who's familiar with home-cooked Thai food both in Thailand and the UK. Thai friends find the som-tam (spicy-sour papaya salad) here just as they remember their mothers make it! An absolute must are their fish dishes - e.g. the deep-fried black tilapia with a sweet-chilli sauce, or fish dishes in a spicy garlic and lime soup (can't remember the names, sorry!). Everything seems absolutely fresh - or at least tastes it.
This is now my joint favourite restaurant, with Il Bistro Morini (completely different of course, but equally enjoyable). We've even had friends and Thai-food-fiends come over from Durham, where one of the UK's other top Thai restaurants (Num Jai) is located, and they soon had beautific smiles on their faces.
As others have said, the prices are very reasonable including, by the way, a very nice bubbly (not 'champagne' but tasting better than many an ordinary champagne) priced no higher than a good bottle of wine).
But the lunch deals stand out for value for money, at £7 for two courses. Lancaster's definitely become a good deal more interesting!
Mark Chapman (March 2007): We decided to visit Mung Mee on the recommendation of a friend and was pleasantly surprised with the decor and setting when we arrived. However over the course of the evening i was shocked by the non-existent service, poor quality food and pathetic portions. When i tried to complain the rude and arrogant manager just looked blankly at me. I wrote a letter further expressing my views yet two weeks later had not recieved a reply. I rang the manager and he told me he 'wasn't bothered' and hung up! I strongly advise you not to visit Mung Mee.
Victoria Carter writes (January 2007): "After hearing mixed reviews about this new Thai eaterie, we decided to give it a go and see for ourselves. So, on a wet, dark Tuesday in January we set off, walking past an array of empty pubs and restaurants, worrying that we would be the only two diners and wondering what the atmosphere would be like.
"We needn't have worried; they were moderately busy and it felt relaxed and warm when we arrived. The service was friendly enough and our starters of Hot & Sour Soup and Pork Ribs in spicy sauce were lovely. The heat from the chillis didn't overpower the other flavours and we were starting to think we'd found our new favourite restaurant!
"We both chose noodles for the main course and my Seafood Phad Thai was great, lovely fresh prawns and lots of squid - I always choose this dish whenever I go to a new Thai restaurant as I think it gives a good indication of the quality. The other dish of spicy beef & vegetable noodles was really good, with quality meat used and plenty of fresh vegetables. three starters, two main courses and four beers cost £40, not bad at all. We will be back."

Nawaab Balti House
32 Parliament Street, Lancaster Tel. 01524 847488
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Pizza Margherita
2 Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QD Tel. 01524 36333
• Eaten here? Send us a review!
John Palmer (January 2008): I hadn't eaten at Pizza Margherita for a couple of years when we returned after the theatre this week to give it a try. What a disappointment.The service was slow, the food was decidedly average; I had Calzone Mezicano (hardly any meat & a bland sauce) & pizza with ham & pineapple (sparse topping) for my child. Other people seemed happy but having worked in a cafe it seems that most folks expectations aren't that high. I even had to remind them for my drinks & my starter. I'll stick with Marco's next time.
Amy Brewster (March 2007): This is a regular spot for us and I would highly recommend it for people with allergies. I am both dairy and gluten intolerant and they always cater and go the extra mile.
Heather Lennon (Feb 2007): Honestly one of the best italians I've ever eaten at...the staff and managament couldn't be more friendly and accomodating and the food is absolutely brilliant. The fairly select menu serves to give you better quality dishes at incredibly reasonable prices...I always have the lasagne - its the nicest I have ever had! It is the best italian restaurant in Lancaster...if you don't go there you really are missing out!

Shabab Indian Restaurant
23a Castle Hill, Lancaster LA1 1YN Tel. 01524 388454
Open: 5.30pm - 12 midnight 7 days a week.
Not licensed. Alcohol-free establishment.
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Jane Dewhurst (March 2008): Consistently well flavoured, good priced Indian food. Staff are always friendly and welcoming and service is good.
Catherine Stewart (July 2007): Lovely food, lovely staff and reasonable prices. Get yourself down there.

Simply French
27a St. George's Quay, Lancaster LA1 1RD Tel. 01524 843199
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Rose Cantley (July 2007): We ate here for our wedding anniversary dinner and had a lovely meal.  Substantial portions and a great menu selection for both the meat eater and the vegetarian (which my husband is), we thoroughly enjoyed our evening.  The service was attentive but not ott and although the food was quite pricey, we had 2 starters, 2 main courses and a bottle of wine for £45 which I didn't think was too bad.  I would recommend this place as somewhere to go on a special occasion.

The Spaghetti House
18, Mary St., Lancaster Lancashire LA1 1UW
Tel: 01524 846011
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Helen Seddon (March 2008): They were very inflexible with their booking. Although we had booked a week in advance, we tried to increase the numbers by 2, 24 hours in advance and they could do nothing for us.
Chris Barrow (September 2007): I'm afraid I can't comment on the food as we left before we had a chance to order. We arrived for our booking on time and waited for 15 minutes without being offered drinks, were led through to a quiet restaurant and were told we'd have to hurry as they had lots of tables coming in later. After asking about this the waiter argued back, and we decided to leave. After asking to speak to the manger we were told we had a minute to leave the building. Simply appalling treatment from both waiter and manager and they were not even busy.
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The Stonewell Tavern
8 Church Street, Lancaster. Tel. 01524 388474
Food served 11am - 3pm every day.
Taken over at the start of 2007 by two friendly anglo-italian couples, who plan to make this a pub with a continental twist!
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Vicky Hartley (September 2007): Ate here on Friday, great staff, great food, great atmosphere, great music!...
Louise (July 2007): After reading the review about this place I decided to try it. It completely lived up to expectations, the food was fantastic. In fact I would even venture to say the best I have eaten this year and beautifully presented. The service was also good, very friendly and we didn’t have to
wait for long to be served.
Dr Daniel Muzio (June 2007): This little gem is an absolute must for anyone that enjoys good food. As an Italian expatriate, I can say with confidence that this is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have come across in the UK. It is truly authentic and better value than most comparable places in Italy. Highly recommended.

The Sultan of Lancaster Restaurant
The Old Church, Brock Street, Lancaster LA1 1UR Tel. 01524 61188 Not licensed. Alcohol-free establishment.
Open: 5.00pm - 11.00pm 7 days a week
Catherine Stewart (July 2007): The food is gorgeous and really fresh. The vegetarian/vegan selections are varied and tasty and the staff are helpful, welcoming and polite. My favourite Indian restaurant in Lancaster.
Judith Keshet writes (24/2/06): "The Sultan is a great place to eat and I always make a point of taking out-of-towners there. From the friendly welcome at the door, to the great atmosphere, swift and efficient service it has everything you can ask of in a restaurant, especially as the food is great, with a wide range of veggie options. With the range of delicious drinks available alcoholic drinks are not missed." • Eaten here? Send us a review!

The Sultan Food Court & Gallery
Tel: 01524 849494
Sun-Thurs:10am - 5pm, Fri & Sat: 10am-10pm.
Beneath the restaurant is a very elegant art gallery. It has been extended and a new food court has opened there in August 2004, serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern meals, snacks and drinks, with a huge selection of coffees. You can also buy from a range of home-made pickles, jams and Indian and Arabic sweets.
Catherine Stewart (July 2007): Excellent food and friendly staff. Good veggie/vegan selection and not too expensive.
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The Sun Cafe
25 Sun Street, Lancaster LA1 1EW Tel. 01524 845599
Offers evenings of food, live music and stylish, relaxed surroundings. Licensed to serve drinks with food only.
Mon/ Tues/ Sun: Bookings taken for parties of 8 and above. Opening hours: Sun/ Mon / Tues: 11 to 3.30;
Wed/ Thur/ Fri: 11am - 3.30pm + 7pm onwards;
Sat: 11am - 4pm + 7pm onwards.
Saturday is live music night.
Dr Chris Crockford (Dec 2006): Dreadful, no, non existent service, less than average food (2/10 for a home made soup), management who care not of the opinions of their customers. Definitely a venture resting on its laurels and heading downhill fast.
Vicki Hartley (Sep 2006) writes: This place looked nice and modern when we walked in for a collegue's birthday, then it deteriorated from there. The waitresses were plain rude, the food was varying from ok to awful and the prices are way too high.  I would never recommend them to anyone, I was very disappointed.
John Freeman writes: (April 2006): "Poor service put me off this place for a long time during the day, but I've been back a few times recently and enjoyed the food and service apeared to have improved. Sadly, weekday visits proved far better than a trip to the Sun at the weekend for lunch: it was back to chaotic service (there seems little or no organisation of waiting staff when this place gets busy), and, worse yet, a lukewarm coffee (for which there were, to be fair, abject apologies, but that's not the point). Completely put me off yet again, which is a shame because there's no faulting the food and it's a nice place to eat in."
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Sunbury Coffee House
Sun St. Lancaster. Tel: 01524 843312
What's It Like: S. Marriott (August 2003): During the current hot weather, we recently visited the Sunbury to rest our limbs for half an hour. We had heard that it had recently changed ownership and although the style of the place had not changed - the decor had been re-vitalised together with the menu. The outside seating is very inviting (especially in this weather) and the menu was sufficiently comprehensive to satisfy everybody, young and old. We just had cake and a cold drink for less than £2 but thoroughly enjoyed the short rest and the friendliness of the staff. We will be visiting again.....!
• Eaten here? Send us a review!

Verdes
46-48 Church Street, Lancaster LA1 1LH
Mrs Sherlock (September 2007): My husband & I used to be regulars at Verdes for over 8 years. The last time we went the service was very poor and worse than that my husband forund a large piece of glass in his Lasagne! The staff tried to pretend it was ice. We couldn't eat any more after that & decided to leave & were shocked to find they gave us a bill for a meal we couldn't eat! What is rather disappointing also is that they put their Lasagnes in the microwave in the first place. Never Again!!!
Krista Calvert (Jan 2007): My husband and I eat here frequently and are never disappointed. The food is consistently delicious and the atmosphere is wonderful. It is always an enjoyable experience.
Joy Grayson (24/8/06): I ate here recently with my son and was very disappointed. They brought the wrong pizza and it was so heavily burdened with cheese, it was far too rich to eat more than a slice so we left it. My pasta was like something left over found in the fridge a week later. We didn't have time to re-order as we were off to the Dukes. They offered to give us a
free pizza the next day but we didn't go back. They charged the wrong amount on the bill too.
Melissa Sedmak (1/3/06): "I loved the restaurant and the food. It was a great experience and I took the people from work there, I was so pleased with it. They also loved it :) Timing was perfect, staff were pleasant and the atmosphere was good too."
Jean Palmer (2006): "I went here recently and they managed to undercook the pasta!"
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Whale Tail Vegetarian Cafe & Restaurant
78a Penny Street, Lancaster LA1 1XN Tel. 01524 845133
Ist floor, no lift, sorry.
Tuesday - Saturday 10am to 8.30pm (last food orders)
Sunday and Monday 10am to 3pm.
20/3/08: Tuesday & Wednesday 4pm - 8.30pm adults get two courses for £7and children get 2 courses and a drink for £3 - So come along, and bring the family!
Refurbished in early 2007. Food at the Whale Tail is always imaginative, delicious and vegetarian, with a large selection of vegan meals to boot. There is also a daily organic snack menu - with an organic main meal provided each Friday. They serve full cooked breakfasts, mid-morning snacks, gorgeous cakes (several vegan), speciality coffees and herb teas as well as light and hearty lunches - not forgetting an enticing range of desserts. Well-behaved children are welcome. Provides children's storybooks and a separate children's menu. Also a good selection of newspapers.
The Whale Tail now serves an excellent range of evening meals both vegetarian and vegan. A comfy, friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff make the restaurant as
inviting as the already-popular cafe. A changing seasonal menu guarentees quality and fresh food, and the chefs are happy to provide alternatives for different dietry requirements if necessary. Booking suggested.
Catherine Stewart (July 2007): Fab food, friendly staff and comy cafe. The veggie/vegan food is yum and the Whale Tail salad is to die for. Reasonable prices too. They have just started opening evenings at the weekend too. Hooray!
Paula Clasper (December 2006) writes: I'm not vegetarian, but my goodness me the food is truly fab and it is most certainly a place you could take the most dedicated meat eater to - and I am sure they would not complain there was "something missing"!!
Claire Potter (Sep 2006) writes: I'd read about this place on Virtual Lancaster and wanted to try it, yet when I asked for directions in the street, nobody seemed to have heard of it - and when I finally did find it down an alleyway and up some steps, it certainly did feel like I'd discovered a hidden gem. I stepped into a really spacious room with the typical, earthy, relaxed atmosphere of a vegetarian restaurant, enhanced further by two, large squidgy sofas, art for sale on the walls, and a small play area for kids. The choice of food was great and even included (very unusual for a veggie place) ... things with chips!!! I had cashew nut and red pepper en croute with salads for £6, which was absolutely delicious, but the portions there are huge, and it could have easily fed two people. The staff were friendly and efficient, and I also noticed there were steps going down to a garden area, which I only glimpsed, but looked inviting.
A VL team member writes: "Recommended. Terrific vegetarian restaurant - a lifesaver for vegans and a range of fried stodge for the more traditional northern appetite too. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!"
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