Grand Sultan — Restaurant in Milton Keynes

We were there for a hen party September and when we arrived we were told we would be seated upstairs and to follow the manager who then proceeded to move tables to seat us, then she had to ask patrons already seated to move to make room for our party of 11. We went to order drinks downstairs at the bar to be told they would be brought up to us, after 20 minutes no drinks had arrived and none of the preordered food had arrived either, we then went back to the bar to ask for jugs of water to be told again they would be brought up to us. After another 20 minutes no food, no drinks and not even water had arrived. When the manager was walking past us the hen started asking where our food was as it was all booked up and paid for in July and that we had been to the bar separately 3 times asking for drinks including water to which the managers only reply was "if you went and paid for drinks at the bar that was your decision". Magically within minutes our starters of flatbread, falafel, a spring roll and some drinks had arrived, 10 minutes later other drinks and 1 jug of water for 11 people as well as the dips for the starters we had ravenously devoured had also arrived. After another 40 minutes of there being no sign of any staff and no sign of our mains being cooked let alone brought up to us we had had enough and decided that 1 drink, 1 glass of water and a starter in nearly 2 hours would have to do as we had another prebooked venue awaiting our arrival. So we got up and went to tell the manager we would pay for what we had eaten but not the full meal as we had not received a full meal (our drinks were already paid for). The manager was already receiving complaints from other patrons who had their meal in a 4 hour time frame but had also had to wait over an hour for drinks and she proceeded to argue that we had to pay the service charge for our drinks and for the full meal as ordered as we were deciding to leave. After carefully chosen words it was agreed we would each pay for what we had eaten and the service charge on our drinks would not be included. This meal had been booked, for 11 people since July last year and the day before we had called ahead to make sure they had the booking and would be ready for our arrival yet they seemed unaware, caught off guard and quite frankly out of...

In the heart of the theatre district, this restaurant was a royal dining experience from start to end. The grand entrance with high ceilings and magnificent decor is very inviting. We were warmly welcomed by the team and offered a table on the balcony seating area overlooking the entire restaurant. We had clear views of the open kitchen, and the food was constantly flowing and served immediately to guests.

The staff was super knowledgeable about the menu and provided top food recommendations. For starters, we had a cold mezze, a hot mezze, and garlic king prawns, all served with a generous side of complimentary Turkish bread and dipping sauces. The flavours were very fresh and clean, and all dishes had individual taste explosions. We really loved the chilli dipping sauce with the bread and even asked for some to take home; it was that delicious.

For mains, we had the lamb ribs and the chicken shish. As you can see from the images, the portions were favourable, and the addition of the rice, chargrilled vegetables, and the array of fresh salads was again substantial in portion size. The unique blend of the chargrill flavour leaves you wanting more, that's for sure. It's a fresh flavour that you will crave forever more, and we are already planning our next visit to try more on the menu.

We had a selection of Turkish desserts served with the most amazing Turkish tea to cleanse our pallet. The restaurant is experimenting with fine foods from around the world. We were delighted to be offered a taste of the new French cake patisserie joining the new menu. Very light and delicious.

The new owners were out talking to the diners and appreciating every word of feedback. The head chef also took the time to come and ask us and other diners how we enjoyed the food. I loved that personal touch it added to our special dining experience.

It sounds like the guys have big plans for this restaurant in 2025 definitely one to watch on my restaurant bucket list.

We travelled from Solihull, well worth the hour and fifteen-minute drive, there are so many great hotels to stay close by.

Congratulations to the whole team on a magical dining experience. We could easily see why you consistently receive five stars on...

"Our visit to Sultans in Milton Keynes for an 18th birthday on 04/08/24 was filled a series of disappointments. The long journey we undertook, expending a significant amount of fuel to reach the restaurant, only added to the frustration we encountered. Traveling with children heightened the challenges we faced, as their hunger and dissatisfaction mirrored our own. The service was lackluster, with disinterested and slow waitstaff failing to meet our expectations. The disparity between the online portrayal of the establishment and the reality we experienced was evident from the moment we arrived. The ambiance fell short of inviting, with advertisements disrupting the atmosphere. The food presentation and taste were equally disappointing, resembling leftovers rather than freshly prepared dishes. The shared platter, dominated by sticky and stale-tasting rice, had sparse meat portions carelessly placed atop it. The overall quality of the food was subpar, with only the children's meals offering any sort palatability. Despite engaging with the manager and receiving a partial bill reduction, the dissatisfaction lingered as the children were left unsatisfied and hungry. And the birthday girl was disappointed and miserable that this is how she spent her big day. And us as the Adults were starving as we left the restaurant. This experience at Sultans was far from the celebratory occasion we...