The Punch Bowl Inn

The welcome was warm and the staff were attentive, just as we remembered from previous visits. We chose the Punch Bowl restaurant for a family and friends birthday gathering because it had always been excellent before, so it was disappointing that parts of the meal fell short. The room and lounge were very cold. I know it was an unusually cold spell in June, but I kept my coat on and our daughter was shivering badly, almost to the point of chattering teeth. Most of the food was excellent, but the two 8oz fillet steak and chips meals, at over £40 each and the most expensive dishes on the menu, were poorly done in several ways. I’d been unsure how to order mine, but after being told to choose what I liked and trust the chef, I clearly asked for rare and medium rare. Both plates looked neat, but mine was barely blue and warm on the outside, raw throughout, with hardly any sear. The medium rare one also looked as though it needed more cooking even to count as rare. The tomatoes had only been warmed, not blushed, roasted or grilled. The hand-cut chips were pale, soggy and tasted old, like they were waiting for a final cook. The onion rings were burnt nearly to a cinder. The watery, split peppercorn sauce didn’t seem to contain peppercorns and wasn’t something you’d want to dip chips in. The manager offered to remove both steaks from the bill. I didn’t want to make a scene or feel unreasonable at a birthday celebration, so I asked for one to be taken off instead, since we’d tried hard to eat the meals. I want this local pub to do well, and I hope they look more closely at the details of their finer dishes. Blue Rare: 42-46 °C Rare: 48-52 °C Medium Rare: 54-57 °C Medium: 60-63 °C Medium Well: 65-68 °C Well Done: 71 °C

The Sunday lunch was enjoyable, although the portions seemed small. There was a children’s size, but from what we could tell it wasn’t much different from the regular one. Staff were welcoming when we arrived, and the atmosphere was pleasant. We’d booked The Punch Bowl at Crosthwaite well ahead for a special occasion, a 70th birthday, after someone recommended it. When I called, I explained it would be a typical birthday set-up with balloons and so on. The meal started well, but things changed at dessert. We brought a birthday cake and asked politely if we could have it instead of ordering dessert, with plates and, if possible, help lighting the candles. We also planned to order tea and coffee. The response felt cold and unaccommodating. I was told, “You don’t come to a restaurant and bring your own food.” I understand a venue may not allow outside cake, but the tone and way this was said felt upsetting and embarrassing. When I asked what plates alone would cost, a staff member, possibly the manager, said, “Erm… I don’t know… £20,” which sounded like a figure picked at random. We ended up not eating the cake there. We just asked if the birthday guest could blow out the candles, and someone handed me a lighter. We then ordered teas and coffees. Our bill was over £250, so we weren’t trying to avoid spending money. It was the way the request was handled that bothered us. If they’d explained a reasonable plating fee clearly, or politely said outside cake wasn’t allowed but candles were fine, we’d have been happy to pay. Instead, the guest didn’t feel special on what should have been a special 70th birthday meal. When we paid, we asked to have the service charge removed because of this and because service had been fairly limited and not very warm. We’d only been attended to a few times. At first we were told the charge was mandatory, but after I repeated the request, it was taken off without further issue. A real shame. It began well, but the lack of warmth and professionalism at the end let the visit down.

The food was generous and good value, with dishes cooked and seasoned well. We chose The Punch Bowl Inn’s set lunch for Mother’s Day, and everyone at our table enjoyed what they ordered. The chicken schnitzel was crisp and really moreish, and the light, well-risen cheese soufflé was full of flavour. It’s not aiming for Michelin-star cooking, and that’s fine. It delivers the kind of meal it promises. One set-menu dessert wasn’t available even though we arrived right at opening, and there was no alternative offered. That was a missed opportunity. The dog-friendly seating area is a nice touch and makes it an easy, relaxed stop with a dog. Overall, a solid, enjoyable meal with filling portions at a very reasonable price.

After a long day in the saddle, I stopped in for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. The soup, lamb, broccoli and dessert special were all superb. Highly recommend it if you’re a keen foodie. Thanks, Punch Bowl!