I recently visited this amazing restaurant on the lake (twice), the first was with work and it was so good I just had to go back again, so I went back with a friend. It was every bit as good the second time.
The Italian Sul Lago (Review)
There is plenty of (free) parking and what a location! As soon as you walk through the door you are greeted by flowers all around the entrance walls, it’s a lovely welcome, and then there is a giant blossomed tree in the middle of the room, chandeliers dotted across the ceiling and the best bit…floor to ceiling windows and that beautiful view of Furzton Lake. Milton Keynes is a very pretty City, so green and verdant but we are not really known for our magnificent vistas, there are no mountains or even large hills, there are no beaches or beautiful seas or many old buildings but we do a great job with nature. We have more parks and lakes in Milton Keynes then almost anywhere, and this restaurant is perfectly situated and has taken advantage of the lake views.
If the weather is on your side you can sit outside at one of the tables and enjoy the view…although…I was disappointed that they do not have a bar, so that means you cannot order a drink and sit outside. I felt a bit silly (at first) waiting for my colleagues without a drink, but it was still nice, the weather was warm and the sun was bouncing off the lake, it felt very restful.
Now over to the food, my friend ordered lasagne and garlic dough balls and I ordered a lasagne with a side of garlic bread with cheese. The garlic bread was huge, so big in fact that it could have been my starter (or main meal, come to think of it), and it was delicious, garlic bread is not often that memorable, once you’ve eaten one garlic bread you’ve kind of had them all, but this appeared to be hand-made and cooked in a pizza oven (I believe), and though by the end of the meal I couldn’t finish it all, I really, really wanted to.
The lasagne, oh the lasagne, I ordered it on my first visit and it was so good I had to order it again, and wow it was every bit as good as I remembered. I can honestly say that this is the best lasagne I have ever had, bar none. I have even been to Italy 3 times and I still cannot remember having one this good in the home-land. My only minor (very minor) improvement that I would make, is a slightly bigger or more varied salad. It came with a side of cress, but a wider variety of leaves or even better a side of vegetables would have been perfect, because I am not a big salad fan anyway. I could have ordered a side of broccoli (as it was on the menu), but alas I felt that the side dishes were too expensive. I know that costs have increased but £7 for a side of broccoli is excessive, I think, and not really in keeping with the rest of the menu. The lasagne was only £16, I would have expected £7 broccoli at a place that sold a £25 lasagne.
For dessert I ordered ice cream because I am on a low acid diet, and therefore cannot eat chocolate, I would have loved the chocolate brownie. However, the ice cream (strawberry and cream) was very nice but I think they could have made it look a bit more special though. I had dessert envy because my friend’s dessert looked so appetising. Even a sprig of mint on my ice cream would have made a difference, though I would have loved a biscuit or a wafer with it.
Finally I have experienced mixed levels of service. My first visit service was very good and friendly, even though we were a big group, my most recent visit however the waitress was not personable or warm, which is a shame.
Overall, despite a few very minor aspects that I would change, I had a fantastic time on both visits, and I simply cannot wait to go back. The food and the location are impeccable, this could very well be one of the best restaurants in Milton Keynes.
Additional Information
Parking: Large on site parking is available.
Address: Watling Street, Furzton Lake, MK4 1FB
Booking: Online bookings can be made.