The Narrowbar Cafe

Great little find. Stopped off at Penrith on our way to Glasgow. Had a spinach & fennel soup, which was thick & tasty with good home made bread. Salmon quiche, which I thought was quite salmon forward but my parents found balanced. Toasted brie & bacon ciabatta, which was tasty and satisfying (we took half for later). We also tried the sweet potato fries, which again my parents demolished but I thought could have been a little tastier — certainly better alone than with ketchup. Finally they gamely made me my signature chocolate and peanut butter milkshake and it was a valiant effort. Including a mocha that Dad enjoyed it was £25 + tip. Picked up a leaflet for Lowther Castle & Gardens which might also make a good stop off a few miles away (though £8 ea. entry).

The Narrowbar offers a slice of Camden in Cumbria; cool staff, hip sounds, trendy food. The Jack Vettriano print on the left as you enter from Devonshire Street strikes a slightly naff note, but this is redressed by contemporary exhibitions currently featuring glass designs by Kathryn Pearce.
The menu ranges from the full English breakfast (£6.35) to wholemeal pittas (£2.50). My favourite snack is curly fries with garlic dip (£2.65) and a latte (£2.05).
Lunchtime O’Booze can choose from: Richmond Ridge, Semillon Chardonnay (£3.00/£12.50); Pinot Grigio San Antonio (£3.50/£14.50); Villa Rosa Merlot (£3.00/£12.50); and Castle Creek Shiraz (£3.15/£13.25) among others.
There’s a seating area at the rear, in Little Dockray, for fresh-​air fiends/​nicotine addicts.

It really is narrow! It serves delicious food, all café classics like soup and baked potatoes, and more modern stuff than some other penrith tea rooms like ciabattas with wensleydale and red onion relish. And home made quiche. In fact I think everything might be home made and I also think it’s the just about the best place for lunch you could choose if you’re passing through Penrith.