Katelyn S.
Yelp
We recently visited The Lake House to celebrate my dad's birthday, having fond memories of the atmosphere from our previous visit for my mother's 60th birthday back in February. While the ambiance remains delightful and picturesque, we found the overall experience to be mixed.
We arrived for an early dinner and were pleasantly surprised to find a Restaurant Week menu, which offered appealing choices at a reasonable price. Our meal began on a high note with appetizers. The tuna tartare I ordered was excellent, and my parents enjoyed the mushroom risotto, which I sampled and found flavorful despite not being a fan of mushrooms. My grandmother's salad seemed to be a hit, while my boyfriend and grandfather tried the soup with Gruyère cheese grilled cheese. They thought it was just okay, though it did grow on them as the meal progressed.
We also ordered two bread baskets, which we later noticed came with an additional charge. Given how the service was unfolding, we weren't sure if the waiter was aware that we were a bit disappointed. However, when the bill arrived, he had kindly removed the cost of the bread, which we appreciated.
Unfortunately, there were some service missteps. We noticed that our table was not properly set with all the necessary utensils, and when we requested a butter knife, there was some confusion, and steak knives were brought instead. While this might seem minor, at a restaurant of this caliber, small details do matter. Additionally, our server, though friendly, seemed unfamiliar with the menu, explaining he also worked at another restaurant and found it difficult to keep things straight. It's understandable but did impact our experience.
For the main course, my father and I both had the pork chop, which I found flavorful, though the side dish didn't quite appeal to me. My boyfriend enjoyed his prime steak, and my grandfather's salmon was satisfactory. My mother and grandmother both ordered the cod and were pleased with their meals.
Despite some high points in the meal, we all agreed that, for the price point, the overall experience fell short of expectations. We've noticed a difference in quality since the restaurant moved to its new location. Although the atmosphere is still a strong draw, the service and attention to detail do not quite match what we had hoped for or remembered.
While The Lake House has some wonderful aspects, and we did enjoy parts of our meal, we collectively felt that we likely wouldn't return. We're grateful for the memories but believe there are other dining options that might provide a more consistent experience.
