Milano's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Lawton

I lived in Lawton over a decade ago, worked my way through most of the menu back then, and have not had the chance to have Milano's since. I had the opportunity to the other day, and it hasn't changed in quality and flavor one bit. Not that I could order the whole menu this trip, but it was a pretty representative sampeling and lots of leftovers. It was a tasty weekend.

What has changed is the location, but this is a total win. The place is more open, with lots of seating, and has great decor without being over fussy. Best of all, I didn't feel rushed to finish so someone else could have their turn at the yummy goodness. Something I remember feeling guilty over when I wanted to relosh things more slowly at their modest location in the old days.

The free garlic knots were light and fluffy with a savory quality that is so craveable all on their own. The Alla Panna sauce continues to be salty and creamy with a bit of tomato tanginess that you could eat as a soup, but fortunately, there are more knows avaliable. I dream of this stuff. This combo could be an inexpensive lunch for one.

The calimari was light and crisp without being chewy. They have their cook time down to the second. The sauce and lemon remain refreshing flavor enhancers, but this calimari doesn't need it. Just don't have high hopes for leftovers. As with most squid options, the distance from done perfectly to rubber is a fraction of a minute. So don't plan on using them as leftover, or if you do, don't attempt to reheat. They lose all their charm.

The cheese and margarita pizzas didn't disappoint, but I think I forgot to order them well done. I am not a big fan of a doughy crust in general. I was there when it was pretty quiet, so I doubt they were pulled from the oven early. Otherwise, the flavors were on point and were tasty when cold or reheated in an air fryer (also fixed the doughyness). The "pizza bones" also make great alla panna dippers if you prefer something less fluffy and want more chew.

The Chicken Sicillain reminded me of what I have been missing out on. Over the years, I have tried to replicate this flavor at home. I hope to make some progress with this reminder of what the real thing tastes like. So good. An extra squeeze of lemon throws this over the top and helps this reheat nicely.

Did not get drinks or dessert. I did not try to go gluten free or friendly, no idea if this is even possible (sorry, but not sorry). This was a total splurge, wrath of the Gluten Monster be damned. After 10 years, it didn't disappoint my memory and satisfied deep-seated cravings. One of the few places that hasn't changed as so many places suffer for rising costs and shrinkflation. This place still knows that food is a sign of love, and I love you guys too.

Beware, though, the salt levels on this feast was a bit crazy. My rings usually fit comfortably even after a gluten cheat feast, but I had puffy fingers with painful indents. I had to set the bling aside for a while as I hydrated, and this calmed down. My top suspects are the ala panna and/or classic pizza since that is what I had mostly eaten up to that point. Most of the Chicken Sicillian was eaten after this had calmed down so it might not be as big a culprit for those watching their sodium levels.

Last but not least, the service was excellent. Our server was friendly, kind, and polite and let me rave about how I love the new location, how great the food was, how much I missed this part of Lawton, and I know we left a decent tip so I hope she felt appreciated.

Not bad for a place that had to put up with all the buzz when I moved there nearly 20 years ago that, "we are getting an Olive Garden" as if that was the best thing ever to be in Lawton. I think I went there once with friends who wanted to go about 6 months after they opened. Meanwhile, Milano's got my business at least every month, if not every week (sometimes twice). If I lived there, I would be in big trouble, as their food remains excellent and the rest has only gotten better!

P.S. the pictures were taken after a few...

TLDR:

poor service, wait staff uneducated on the menu and knowing what items they are out of. Caused us to get incomplete dishes, not getting what we paid for!

Seafood not prepared well.

Diavolo sauce was a joke! Still thinking it was a mix of tomato and something store bought.

Please read entire night experience below.

This is going to be long, I went to milano's last night for the first sit down meal as I've only ever tried stuff off of their lunch menu. For a friday night it didnt seem very busy and service started off slow. We eventually had a chance to order. We asked our waitress what things she liked on the menu and if had any recommendations. She only stated pizza. . . We asked if there was anything else and she admitted to having tried almost nothing on the menu. She wasnt able to explain anything to us! Clearly the restaurant does not do tastings with their staff to get an understanding of the menu. I am italian and I was the one who had to explain these dishes to the party members. The recipies on the menu were far from traditional (or what im used to seeing). One of our party memebers ordered veal and a few minutes later we were told they were out. Not a problem, this things from time to time. He ordered the shrimp diavolo. The rest of the party ordered chicken parm, shrimp pesto, and the linguine tuttomore. So the chicken parm is good, no issues. For all of the seafood dishes the shimp were clean but the tails are NOT REMOVED. This is very tacky and looks unprofessionally done. The tails need to be removed before hand your customers should have to get their hands dirty to pull the tails off. Cutting them off left meat inside of the shells, which was just letting it go to waste. The shrimp pesto was good with the exception of the tails. The linguine tuttomore was supposed to have mussles, shrimp, calamari, and baby clams. This dish looked messey with the sauce but we could confirm that there was no calimari, baby clams, or scallops in the dish! It was replaced with imitation crab! The red coloring on it looks like what you get from the store. The shrimp diavolo was suppsed to have shrimp, scallops and muscles. No scallops in the dish! We called the waitress over and asked where the scallops in the dised were? She didnt seemed suprised and the told us that they were out of scallops! WHY DONT YOU TELL PEOPLE YOU ARE OUT OF MULITPLE ITEMS ON THE MENU!?! We were served incomplete dishes without a knowing before hand! Also the diavolo sauce was terrible, infact the dished tasted like it was a tai chilli with a little tomato thrown in it. This reminded me a poor quality lo mein from a bad Chinese food restaurants! Over all disappointed with the staff and how this establishment is ran. Ive worked in restuarants and kitchens before and if you want to stay open for long if it continues to be...

So we came in and the staff seemed really nervous. We had three people walk up and then avoid making eye contact or so much as a hello. We began too wonder if it was a seat yourself kind of restaraunt before a very quite but nice waitress finally offered too seat us.

We were warned about the wait, so it wasnt a bad thing. 45 minutes, normal wait time. The decor is odd and doesnt belong with an Italian eatery. Sports on the channel, fake grass that looks like green onions, and the music choice is a little depressing rather than inviting. Love the mural, simply breathtaking.

We were given complimentary rolls, which honestly, lacked a bit of flavor and weren't cooked all the way, still VERY doughy. Not bad, I would compare them too a local Luigi's restaraunt really, but without a practiced hand. Still new opening, so we cut them some slack.

Our server seemed very unsure of himself, so do most of the wait staff. They're nervous too take plates away, ask if you need refills, and in general, kind of jumpy. I'm chalking it up too new restaraunt still, we shall see. Still, very friendly, quick too respond, and definitly want too help.

Our appetizers came out in only ten minutes during a major slam, so we were happy too see such timely service. The shrimp Napolini was delicious. A little unexpected with its soupy presentation, but delicious nonetheless. Sauce is fantastic too dip the bread in. Good mix, but the lemon seems a little much.

30 minutes later, earlier than expected the entrees arrive. Veal marsala and a chicken marsala. The chicken marsala had the best sauce, but quality control is definitly not a thing. the sauce for the veal was very watery and not that great. The veal and chicken were WAY overcooked. The chicken was almost plastic tasting and the veal was so done, I actually got tired from chewing it. The veal marsala would be bettor if the veal at least looked like it belonged. You get a heaping pile of noodles and alot of mushrooms, but the slab of (obviously frozen) veal was more an after thought, left by itself on the side of the plate. More like spaghetti and veal guys. Both meats tasted bland and the only enjoyable part was the noodles themselves. They tasted good and mixed well with the entree sauce.

Honestly, I wouldn't come back. The service was good for just opening, but the food was subpar and left me wanting something with a bettor, heavier flavor. I cant say I was thrilled with Milano's, but it's still bettor than subway. The spirit of italy may be in the walls, but its definitly not in the food. I expect italian too be more authentic, but it was obvious as we looked at other dishes as well, alot of it was frozen before...