Hot Lava — Restaurant in England

It was mid day, sunny out on a cool 38 degrees Fahrenheit when we stumbled here. Set menu at lunch for 7 pounds sounded pretty good. Tripadvisor and Google said it was a good place with a 4.5/5 rating. When we went in the place was nice, clean. Waiting staff was very friendly, giving use the warmest table in the place. Looking at the menu, me and my friend though how it was possible for this place to be open with so many plates on a menu. Went from Italian to British to ,god may only know, "jack daniel" pork ribs. I got the soup of the day (week?) which was tomato and basil. Once i took my first taste i was very disappointed, it was basically tomato soup, no basil. My friend got the a tomato Bruschetta and he said it was full of raw garlic (we will get back to that in a minute). The main course was a mushroom and pork loin and i change the chips for vegetables, bad idea that change. The vegetables were cooked in a garlic oil i believe, all i know is that i still taste that garlic after an hour of eating. The pork loin was overcook and tough covered in so much sauce you could barely see it. With so much sauce one would think it would have some flavor but it was so bland. Not just the sauce but the pork was bland. Worst part was that the first bite i took from the pork is was all fat, no meat. i decided to not take pictures because i didnt want to give my phone a virus. Definitely not...

I have been to this restaurant twice both occasions chosen by other people. The first time the food was really good but it was most definitely unorganised chaos. Sat for 5 minutes with my steak in front of me (the steak was good) waiting for cutlery only to be told there wasn't any. 🤨Borrowed my partners knife and folk.

Roll on deserts......same issue no spoons this time. The waiter brought out serving spoons. How I laughed but really?????

The second time, I was hoping lessons had been learnt. There was enough cutlery (yey) but this time there weren't enough glasses. So basically you had to wait for a drink until someone else finished theres before they could serve you yours. I kid you not.

5🌟 to the bar person who handled it professionally but to the owner 0🌟.

I would say better luck next time but for me, there...

Very disappointed with our meals. My starter was so bland. Not a hint of garlic in the sauce over the mushrooms. My partner had the garlic muscles and he said the same. Also they drisseled balsamic vinegar all over the mushrooms that mixed with the sauce and it was awful. Main course arrived. I had the Sunday roast. Very stingy with the beef ( 3 mouthfuls)the plate just loaded with veg and gravy. My partner had the ribs. The sauce was nowhere too be seen and he said the ribs were bland and dry. I've been to Ripon many times but never had a meal out while I was there. I read the reviews about this place and chose it because of them. Sorry. But my review doesn't match what everyone else says...