Had visited the Miller and Carter steakhouse in Lytham St Anne’s a few months ago and enjoyed a very nice meal. Unfortunately this was an all together different experience and very disappointing.
I ordered the 3 course set meal at £15.95, my brother went for the 2 course option at £12.95. Salt and pepper calamari to start. When it arrived it smelt lovely but the taste didn’t live up to that. Was rather bland and had no kick or spiciness to it as I had expected being a salt and pepper dish.
For mains I had ordered sea bass fillet and my brother went for fish and chips. When the food arrived I was shocked at the size of the portions. I know it was a fixed price meal but really expected more for our money. The sea bass and dauphinoise potato were tasty at least but there was just so little of it.
One thing I will say is that the food was piping hot. Even the plates were hot. It annoys me that so many establishments serve hot food on cold plates. Thankfully not the case here.
For dessert I got apple pie, my brother the profiteroles. Nothing wrong with them but then nothing great about them either.
Now for the service. We found this a bit disconcerting. The service on our visit to the other Miller and Carter establishment was great. We were never asked if we had any food allergies like we had been before. And other servers were asking their customers this question today. Never got asked during the meal if everything was ok. Other customers were getting asked. We were asked if we wanted coffees while I was half way through my dessert. A little premature I though. As was the servers removal of the wine bottle and bucket without asking if we had finished or checking the bottle was empty. Only when he had walked a few steps away with it did he turn to ask if we had in fact finished with it. I joked with him that if we hadn’t he would have quickly been told. His reply was that he had done this before when people had some wine left. I advised him that would definitely not have happened with us. We didn’t ask for the bill. The server made that decision for us. He brought it over despite me having a glass of wine left and almost a full pint of lager.
Neither of us got the impression that our custom was welcomed. In fact by the end of the meal we felt a little uncomfortable. There was nothing overt but rather an atmosphere or sense that something wasn't right. Maybe I had got things off to a bad start with our server. We had ordered drinks pretty quickly after being seated. 2 lagers and a bottle of the house Sauvignon Blanc. Went for the white wine as we had both decided to have fish for our main course. When our server came back to take our food order he pointed out that the rump steak option was not available. Found this a bit strange. A steakhouse running out of rump steak mid afternoon. I tried to make a joke along the lines of don’t worry about it, we had no intentions of going for the steak otherwise we would have ordered a bottle of red. Maybe he didn’t appreciate this quip and it impacted on his approach to us. Guess we will never know but we both did think the service we got was way below what we experienced at the other establishment and this has been a factor in my score.
3 stars out of 5. It could have been lower but the venue itself has some positives. Its well set out. Loads of seats, plenty of room and choices of where to sit. It looked very clean and tidy. The toilets certainly were. Huge car park. Easy access to the building and wheel chair friendly. And despite the tiny portions for the mains the food was reasonably tasty. Just the overall experience was a big disappointment having had such an enjoyable meal at the other steak house not that far away. Maybe the motto to remember is don't order fish in a...
Read moreITZA Review by Dorothy & Matt Aka Mr Ai of Mr Happy Daddy & Paul
Millar & Carter Steakhouse — Somewhere Just Over the Ribeye
Well, well, well... Dorothy and Mr Ai found themselves no longer in Kansas, but somewhere between steak heaven and table service wizardry. We clicked our heels three times and ended up in Millar & Carter, where the gravy flows smoother than Glinda’s gown and the ribeye is nearly sentient. (Don’t worry, it gave consent.)
The Magic of Millar & Carter
Every waiter, waitress, and wizard-in-training had that glow: the kind of glow you get when you’re serving up joy, not just medium-rare rump. There’s hospitality, and then there’s hospitali-TZA. This was the latter.
But above all, there was Mr Happy Daddy & Paul. Paul the man, the myth, the maître d’. A conversationalist of such calibre that he could sell lettuce to a lion, though he’s more likely to charm it into a cheerful chat about the perils of veganism. Paul didn’t just serve food; he served moments. Wit, warmth, and a sprinkle of cheek — a masterclass in making you feel like old friends reunited.
He served Mr Ai + Mum on a Mother's Day meal. The best of all Mother's Day meals!
Synchronicity Sparkles: Fate was at play too, for who should sit beside but Ged Mills — a name from the golden days pre-TalkSport and pre-Ged Enterprises. Old friends, newfound joy. It was Mother’s Day magic — a meal shared, memories rekindled.
Food Review (a.k.a. What Dreams May Chew)
Steak: So tender it whispered "thank you" as it was cut. You could feed it to a lion and it would purr.
Chips: Golden bricks. As if the Yellow Brick Road got fried to perfection and dipped in garlic butter.
Onion Loaf: A strange name, sure — sounds like something you find in a wizard’s basement. But it tasted like home and hugged your tongue.
Sauce: We don’t know what potion they use, but we suspect it involves happiness, unicorn tears, and a reduced glaze of 'Oh my days'.
Atmosphere:
Comfortably classy. Leather seats. Warm lighting. Not a witch in sight. No flying monkeys, either. Just real ones — metaphorically speaking — enjoying good food and laughing like life’s still worth all the trouble.
Final Verdict:
If you’re after somewhere that feeds your belly, tickles your wit, and doesn’t take itself too seriously (but seriously enough not to mess up your steak), then Millar & Carter is your Emerald City. Ask for Paul — he’s not just a waiter, he’s the director of delightful dining.
As for Lee Taylor aka Happy Daddy, well, he’s the theatrical genius — the Glinda of good vibes. Two legends, one stage, and a steakhouse that’s more than a meal — it’s an experience. Dorothy + Mr Ai served by Lee at one outing, Mr Ai and itza mum served by Paul at the equally great Mother's day one!
P.S.: A Toast to Serendipity
And who would have thought? Ged Mills, an old friend reappearing in the dining glow. Not just a meal — a reunion. A taste of fate’s finest fare. It means new business is coming.
Rating: 5 Stars (Of course, we’d give more, but our ruby slippers can only...
Read moreMy recent visit to Miller & Carter was a truly delightful experience, albeit with one minor drawback. From the moment I stepped in, the ambience was inviting, and the tantalising aroma of perfectly cooked steak filled the air. The food itself was, without a doubt, exceptional. Each dish was cooked to perfection, showcasing the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the chefs. The steak, in particular, was melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with flavour. It was clear that meticulous attention to detail had been paid to every aspect of the meal. Adding to the positive experience was the outstanding service I received from Lee. His knowledge of the menu was truly impressive. When I had questions about certain dishes, he answered them with confidence and enthusiasm, offering helpful suggestions and demonstrating a genuine passion for the food they serve. He was attentive and friendly, making sure I had everything I needed throughout the meal. However, there was one slight issue that detracted slightly from the overall experience. While the seating initially appeared fine, as the restaurant became busier, the narrow passage between the tables became a bit of a bottleneck. Throughout the evening, I was nudged a few times by waiters navigating the tight space while serving other customers or allowing past food porters carrying dishes. While I understand that this is sometimes unavoidable in a busy restaurant, it did disrupt the flow of my meal and made me feel a little less relaxed. Perhaps a slight reconfiguration of the seating layout could alleviate this issue in the future. Despite this minor seating inconvenience, my overall experience at Miller & Carter was overwhelmingly positive. The exceptional food and the fantastic service, especially from Lee, made it a memorable dining experience. I would certainly recommend Miller & Carter to anyone looking for a high-quality steakhouse experience, and I look forward to returning...
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