The Cross Keys — Restaurant in Milton Keynes

Honestly I am a little confused at how popular it is here.

OK the good bits, service was excellent and prompt. Seating nice enough. Wine tasty.

Not so good bits. The food! I've eaten here a few times and not left a review but felt prompted to do so after another ..mediocre meal. It feels like this venue prices itself at a standard / expectation that it does not deliver. I feel If they condensed their menu to ..a pub, focussing on less options but did them way better it would be a million times better. It says pub classics (aubergine miso is one..odd pub classic) then serves £60 steak or £31 beef Wellington. The whole menu feels confused.

Everything just lacks any particular love, it looks and tastes like uninteresting food.

The portions whilst big are, simpy a big portion of a mediocre food, isn't great.

I had bruschetta with aubergine and feta paste. It was two slices of bread, big portion but over garlicky not very pleasant tasting , I asked about the feta as there was none but said it was mixed with the aubergine paste. I could not taste any feta..and left a slice.

Main of pea and parmesan risotto, ok dodgy choice but I added salmon, admittedly I thought it was a risk as salmon with parmessan rissoto doesnt go well to me, however, if its suggested on a menu you assume theyd pair it flavour wise The picture I've taken is the dish...see what I mean? It was unappetising in flavour and presentation, I left half of it. Again a huge portion of not very nice food. There was no effort to match the flavours with the dish.

It feels like the bigger portions are trying to make up for lack of flavour.

I can see many 5 star reviews and wonder how this is, perhaps its just me..and my partner who also thinks its not good, that feel this way.

But I've left with way too much garlic repeating on me and the need to have added salt to try and make it more interesting. Thsts never good.

Plus I'm always a person to finish all their food regardless, I left half the dish on each course.

I'm afraid I'll give it a miss for future, tried it quite a few times with the same...

Thank you for making my birthday this year a day that I will remember.... not in a good way. I will make sure to tell the others as well.

I am really disappointed by my first and last visit to this place. I have booked a table for 12 people for Sunday, 06/08, to celebrate my birthday. I managed to do this booking over the phone after I had to call multiple times. We arrived at the location at the time of the booking and we were constantly rushed to order our food and drinks. And after 1 hour and a half, when we were about to order desserts for our table, we were told that we have to hurry up because they have a 2 hours policy for using the table. I was surprised and disturbed to hear this because I was not aware of it as no one bothered to tell me when I had made the reservation or when we were seated at the table. Imagine how I felt when I had to ask everyone that was invited for my celebration to just go home or go out because we have to just go out. Also, when I have received the bill I have seen that there was a service charge or 10% on it and I was not aware of that one as well as it was not mentioned anywhere and by no one. And I had no choice if to pay it or not considering that the service was not the greatest one. Also, the person that took our food order did not even bother to follow the request of one of the people from the table that just asked not to have any gravy...

Unfortunately not a great experience on a Wednesday afternoon work lunch with around 12 people on the table we where disappointed mainly with the food. No staff greeted us when we arrived only after waiting around in the garden and then checking at the bar did they point to our table that was reserved. At no point did the explain that it wasn't table service and we then all had go up to the bar to order. The food came out rather suspiciously quick consider there was 11 eating we where served in under 20min. Unfortunately one of the salads was wilted and looked limp was warm , the pork and chorizo burger came out under cooked and raw in the middle. I asked the staff if this was cooked like this as normally and they said they cook pork and beef burgers pink normally. This isn't stated on the menu anyware nore was I asked how I would like it cooked when ordered and with mince meat this is very high risk. The so called vegan/vegetarian risotto came with none vegan/vegetarian cheese on it and again wasn't stated on the menu. To give the staff credit they did remake the three dishes agian and correctly with little issue in a timely manner. The second lot of dishes were better but overall it felt like the kitchen was rushing orders and mabey they need to slim down the wide range on the lunch menu ect. Unfortunately we wont be coming back...