Foundry 34

Having eaten out around Penrith town centre over the last four months, Foundry 34 was one we were keen to tick off our list. How we haven’t eaten here before, I honestly don’t know. The food was excellent and cooked very well—especially the steak, which was perfectly medium, exactly as requested (rarely done right!). The draft cider and Prosecco were excellent and served in perfectly clean glasses. The cutlery was spotless too, with no stickiness on the table—important factors for someone like me with OCD. We had two main courses, two puddings, Prosecco, cider, and after-meal coffees for literally £62. Outstanding value, and clearly one of the reasons this place gets so busy. The ambiance was relaxed and pleasant. Even sitting beneath a speaker, the music level was just right. Overall, my score would have been 10/10 had it not been for the change of server midway through our meal. Our initial server, although polite, felt a little sullen and lacking in energy. Shortly after being shown to our table, I found myself at the bar ordering drinks rather than being asked if we would like any—a service that was offered later once the server changed. Being the only diners in the restaurant at that moment, it felt almost as though our arrival for our pre-booked table was an inconvenience. This created an initial atmosphere that took a while to shake off, and it was noticeable enough for us both to comment on at the time (between ourselves). Thankfully, our replacement server was excellent—warm, attentive, and genuinely caring in his approach. His manner went a very long way in lifting the overall experience for us. We all have bad days, but having worked in retail for over 30 years, I learned very quickly to leave personal baggage at the door. Perhaps there's a lesson in that here, which is why I felt it was important to take the time to leave this feedback. That said, the food and overall setting were superb, and we would happily return.