Lago Lounge — Restaurant in England

When we arrived it was quite dingy and noisy inside, we were left standing waiting, until a polite but very quiet server said some things I couldn't really make out, I indicated where we would like to sit and we went there. The server gave me a laminated card with a QR code to order food through a phone and a paper menu.

The table was sticky which was a little off putting and the table was wobbly. I used my phone on the QR code which took an age to then tell me to see a server because the link wasn't working. I found a server and showed them the issue, they told me to order at the bar. I went to the bar and ordered the food and drinks, I asked for water for the table too. The bar staff pointed at a container of water and said for me to help myself as they placed the ordered drinks on the bar.

At this point I'm getting annoyed, I know things can go wrong and that's fine, but I am now apparently being turned into my own server, will I end up cooking the food too?!

I had to point out to the bar staff who knew that I was at the furthest table I couldn't physically carry it all, and could someone carry the drinks to the table while I apparently self serve water, which they did.

The glasses for the water were hot and the water was in a large glass container which was keeping it at room temp or warmer if the sun hits it, which is obviously not desirable.

I returned to my sticky, wobbly table having served myself, to then wait quite some time for what appeared to be a childs portion to be presented to me.

My lunch was cooked well and tasted good, it unfortunately did not satisfy and yet cost £30 for two people to have one small course each.

I would try this place again if someone else wanted to go, as they had a good selection on the menu, but would not choose to go myself. I see there are plenty of positive reviews, so maybe I was just very unlucky on this occasion, though it seems unlikely and probably more likely many people just accept it when things are a bit shoddy.

This could easily be a decent restaurant, they are nearly there, they just need to actually provide basic table service in a very normal and simple way like other places do, wipe tables down properly and wind the price down by 25% or hand over something that more closely represents what was paid for.

2 stars given for the very good choice on the menu for people with various dietary needs - which very much deserves recognition when compared with others.

Update: see the reply/excuses they replied with, and with the standard 'email with more details' they say to all reviews - how many more details do you want?! Relaxed service?.. So relaxing rather than serving...

In Sunday 21st May, I had the unfortunate experience of visiting Lago Lounge Cafe Bar and I must say, it was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I've had in a long time. I had heard good things about the restaurant and was excited to try it out with my wife. However, the terrible service we received from the waiter who greeted us left us feeling disrespected and unappreciated as customers.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, my wife and I politely requested a table adjacent to a window. To our surprise, the waiter flatly refused our request, despite the fact that the restaurant was not full and had plenty of seating availability. Instead, he insisted on seating us at a cramped table for two at the back of the restaurant.

We were baffled by the waiter's refusal to accommodate such a simple request, especially considering the ample space available. It was clear that he had no interest in providing a pleasant dining experience or ensuring customer satisfaction. Rather than acknowledging our disappointment and attempting to find a suitable solution, the waiter simply shrugged off our concerns and displayed a complete lack of professionalism.

Feeling utterly disregarded and disheartened, I informed the waiter that we would be taking our business elsewhere. It was evident that our patronage meant nothing to him, and we had no desire to support a restaurant that treats its customers with such indifference.

As a customer, I believe it is crucial to be treated with respect and have reasonable requests accommodated whenever possible. Sadly, Lago Lounge failed to meet these basic expectations. Their disregard for customer satisfaction is not only disheartening but also reflects poorly on their overall reputation.

I strongly advise against dining at this restaurant if you value good service, respect, and a pleasant dining experience. With so many other options available, there is no need to subject yourself to such disappointing treatment. Save yourself the frustration and choose a restaurant that truly values...

Lago lounge - cool name, I suppose rather fitting for the rustens lake location, and an ok layout with the quirky design touches plus feature wall of frames, leather sofas, low hanging lights etc etc. No ambience at 4pm Friday afternoon. Perhaps a little too early on in the day. Background music was on repeat for more or less the entire time of the meal. Unfortunately the “dining experience” itself totally fell short of any sort of expectation based on a quick google search of this place prior to our impromptu visit, but the food … the food was so consistently bland throughout … sweetcorn fritters, quesadillas, and churros should be so full of flavour. And the prawns. Borderline burnt. How on earth do you get prawns wrong !? Bejng so quick and easy to cook 😂 I’m half Belizean / half East Asian and perhaps expected flavour slightly more authentic. I think these dishes have been so adapted to suit a different taste and far removed from any traditional version .

Waiting time to be seated: zero

Waiting time for food to be served: not a long wait.

Waiting for desserts: longer than expected and had to follow up twice

Staff: One waitress, tall with long black hair, a standout for the wrong reasons, came across as v surly when collecting plates. So glad she’s not a waitress at any restaurant in the city where I live.

Overall the venue scores ok on aesthetics but there are so many places with fantastic interior decor /design serving incredible food, with great staff. The lacklustre food and overall poor service I experienced at lago lounge reflects my low rating.

Upside: location by the lake, plus free 5 hrs parking. Disability easy access - no steps, plus roomy...