Villages and dinners in the Lake District

We’re staying a week at a country house hotel outside of Keswick in September. The hotel has a very well reviewed restaurant, and we need to decide how many nights we are going to reserve dinner there. There’s something to be said for simply heading back to the hotel each night after a busy day, knowing that dinner is waiting! In addition, we don’t want to be caught out trying to find a place to eat further afield, if that’s an issue right now due to covid, labor shortages, not having a reservation, etc., so I’d appreciate any advice on that coupled with recommendations for villages and/or restaurants (doesn’t have to be fancy, just good and gluten-free friendly) that are recommended. We’ve been to the Lake District before and are acquainted with Keswick, Buttermere, and Beatrix Potter’s home. We plan to spend a day in Grasmere visiting the Wordsworth properties but generally like to avoid bigger towns. I’m asking a lot here—chime in where you can! Thank you!