The Italian Sul Lago Milton Keynes — Restaurant in Milton Keynes

We went to Sul Lago for our anniversary dinner. My boyfriend travelled in to Milton Keynes from Norway so we had a table booked from 20:15 to accommodate his flight/train- this time is advertised on the on line booking form- when we arrived we were offered a drinks menu. We both commented on how nice it was to be able to pick a drink before being given the food menu.

Once we had ordered our drinks we were given the food menu. They swiftly came with our first drinks and asked us for our food order. We weren’t quite ready so asked for a few minutes. The server said not a problem and left us to it. He then returned pretty sharpish asking for our order. We made a quick decision on the food and gave our order. Felt a bit rushed. Not even five minutes later our food was on our table. My boyfriend went to go to the bathroom just after placing our order and the food was on the table before he returned. When he sat back down we ordered another drink. I joked that if we blinked the drinks would be on the table. That was almost the case!

Almost as soon as the last mouthful was had. Our plates were swiftly taken away and dessert menus put in their place. They came over multiple times asking what we wanted for desserts. No time given to properly look and decide really. Then we ordered the Bakewell cocktail to go with our desserts- this cocktail was delicious and tasted remarkably like a Bakewell tart. Whilst we were sat having our cocktails and desserts three different servers separately came over trying to take our plates and glasses- whilst we were still eating and drinking.

Whilst we were having pudding. I overheard a waitress go to another table to take payment and they must have felt as pressured as we did to leave because I heard one of the patrons say ‘don’t worry. We’re leaving in a minute’

Once we had finished eating another server came over to clear the plates and glasses. My boyfriend asked if they were closed or could we have another drink whilst we waited for our car to arrive. The server said they weren’t closed- they clearly thought they were as the bar tender already had their coat on. The rest of the wait staff were sat at a nearby table. He said he would go and check. He returned and said that we could have another drink. I asked him if we were going to have everyone hovering over us waiting to take the glasses and for us to leave because I’ve never felt so watched and as though people are desperate for us to leave before. We ordered two old fashioned which were very tasty. The server who we had spoken to had obviously spoken to the other staff because they did give us a bit of a wider berth after this.

We didn’t have a starter. Only mains and a dessert and yet we’re made to feel like we had outstayed our welcome pretty early on in our visit. There were people spraying and wiping tables down all around us. The staff were eager for us to finish so that they could go home. Our booking wasn’t even the last slot you can book on a Friday there. This was supposed to feel like a relaxing anniversary meal and instead we felt like we were being rushed through the whole process. I have looked back on my messages and I sent a message to our lift at 22:30 saying it feels like they want us to leave. It is advertised online that the restaurant is open until 23:30 on a Friday. Perhaps the staff are only paid until 23:30 and no later for clean down? That being said. They were all sat at a table waiting for us to leave by the end so clean down can’t take that long. I have spoken to a friend who has been since then on an earlier table and they said they had a lovely time and couldn’t fault it. Maybe don’t accept later table bookings if you’re not happy to accommodate. Having said all of this. The food was delicious and if you’re looking for tasty fast food. This is your place! Fast being the...

If I had to give this a one line summary it would be don't waste your money.

Now I'm not normally one for lengthy reviews but I think you need the context for the reason if that statement. Let's start with the positives:

The location - this is by far and away the best thing about this place. Top of the lake. South facing. Stunning sunset. For that it gets a star.

The pizza. Can't fault it the pizza was excellent. Great toppings authentic N'djuja. Cooked properly. £17 a pizza is a bit steep but for a tasty pizza and good setting then it's palatable. Second star.

Unfortunately the positives stop there. Let's get to the reasons behind the one liner:

The service - it wasn't the worst service ever, but it wasn't anything special. Slow to bring the menus. Ordered drinks, and a bottle of tap water. Drinks came but no glasses for the water. We only got those when we asked a second time.

When taking the drinks order the waitress asked if we'd like olives and/or bread to start. We said we'd like some olives. They never arrived. She came to take the food order. Asked if we'd like starters to which we responded "just the olives please". It won't take Sherlock to guess that the olives never turned up.

The mains. After being undecided about pasta or pizza I got a pizza (as documented above). My fiancée opted for the pasta, lobster and crab linguine. She wishes she didn't.

Now I know what you're thinking... Lobster?! - but the setting is so nice we thought it would be the kind of place that could pull a dish like that off. It's not.

Linguine tasteed of nothing on first bite. And then an extremely heavy lingering fish taste. And it hummed of fish. Those that know fish, will know that the fresher fish is the less it smells. So we can old assume that it wasn't very fresh. Certainly didn't taste it.

I said the service was bad, we did have the opportunity to tell the waitress there was a problem because she did come over and ask if everything was good with the food. Problem is it was when we were mid way through the first bite. So hadn't had the chance to register what we truly thought of the food yet.

3/4 of the linguine was left at the end and none of the other staff that cleared the plates or brought the bill thought to ask if the food was okay. Wish we'd have said something but didn't want to dampen the evening anymore than it already was.

To top it all off the bill comes to £57. For a pizza, linguine, single GnT and a pint of Moretti.

Hopefully you can see why I summarised to the one line I did. I'm not saying never go. We might have just got a bad dish. So if you're willing to pay above average prices for below average food and mediocre service, all sugarcoated with a nice view then this is your place.

If not, I'd urge you to go spend your money elsewhere. Or just come and have a...

Vegans & vegetarians best to avoid!! I ordered Bruschetta Pomodorro (vegan) and my friend ordered a Bruschetta Tricolour (vegetarian).

Our server served me the Bruschetta Tricolour which was mozzarella and tomato to which I said is that vegan and she replied yes, I said I don't think it is. I asked her again as I have never seen vegan mozzarella look like that and she no it's definitely vegan. I again mentioned to her what I ordered and again to the same response, tes, yes it's yours.

My friend Simon tried it as I still wasn't convinced and he said that's not vegan as it's Mozzarella Cheese! So we swapped plates. I was shocked to have nearly trusted the server as I would have had severe stomach cramps had I eaten it due to being lactose intolerant. I still wasn't convinced as to what I ordered was my plate as it was warm as opposed to this being cold in authentic Italian restaurants.

I caught my waitresses eye who took my order who said it's definitely what you ordered.

We started eating it and half through I tasted something which tasted like chicken (I am 49 years old and not eaten meat since I was 9 years old on principle). I played around with my food and found a piece of chicken which Simon tried and confirmed that it was indeed chicken.

I called the waitress over who was shocked and quickly whisked both our plates away even though Simon was still eating his. She came back and apologised and said she had called the manager who came over after a few minutes. She asked what had happened and said it can't have been meat! It is kept separately in the kitchen. She said let me go and find out and I will come back to you. She said she would take the starters of the bill. She came back after speaking to the chef and apologised saying there had been some cross contamination and staff training issues with our server. I told her that I felt sick and that I was dairy intolerant and not eaten meat since I was a child. Again she apologised and said she had ordered fresh starters for us. I replied that we had lost faith in their food and it would be my first and last visit to the restaurant and we left without paying for our soft drinks or starters. Totally underwhelmed on a Monday evening...