Comida

Comida is Kendal’s hotspot for Spanish inspired food and drink, perfect for catching up with friends, or people-watching over the busy high street. Serving up classic Iberian dishes such as Spanish Omelette and chorizo, plus many intriguing wines. You’ll find Comida on Highgate, within easy reach of parking and hotels.

The movers and shakers behind Comida are Alba and Simon, a married couple who arrived in Kendal from London in 2012. Their first project was the renovation of a dilapidated Grade II listed building into a B&B. Simon went on to work at Lakeland Arts, while Alba worked at The Brewery Arts Centre. This experience led them to take on their next challenge, Comida, in 2016. The building has a rich heritage as a site for independent businesses – it was previously a car garage, then Maelstrom Clothing, then the Patisserie, then The Coffee Bean. Comida continues this great tradition of independent, top-class hospitality in Kendal.

On the Brunch menu, for midday and early afternoon visitors, you’ll see poached eggs with Sobrasada (spreadable chorizo) and Manchego cheese, paprika roasted cauliflower, and Valencian fried chicken with patatas bravas. There’s also the Full Spanglish, a delightful all-in concoction wherein Chistorra sausage and Morcilla black pudding take the place of their familiar counterparts and the beans are rich with red paprika.

Then there’s the Tapas menu, which runs into the evening. Here you’ll find chorizo slow-cooked in dark wine and honey, the exquisite Jamon Serrano (the best ham), and calamari fried in a coating made to a secret recipe. There are also plenty of desserts, and vegan and gluten-free diners are looked after by a range of dishes. The drinks list is generous to say the least, covering the entire family of red and white Spanish wines, with guest appearances from Malbec, Sangria and Absinthe.