Went in to have a nice birthday dinner for my husband, was essentially turned away by the host. We came in a party of five and a baby, who mind you, was sound asleep in his car seat. We offered to sit on the patio, which they said no to, because they weren’t serving it this evening, even though it was one of the nicest evenings in weeks, hardly a cloud in the sky, no wind, temperate. But she said no, and then made a pained face at us over and over again, saying it was going to be a long wait, maybe even 30 minutes, which we didn’t mind she could clearly tell that we didn’t mind this so then a few sentences later said it was now going to be a 45 minute wait, even though nothing had changed, she hadn’t left to ask anyone, she just decided it was going to be longer. When we said we wanted to put our name down, she set aside the waitlist paper and grabbed a piece of scratch paper to write our name on. It was pretty awful. She clearly did not want to seat us. When we told her, it’s okay we don’t need her to seat us anymore, she smiled and gave the fakest apology I’ve ever heard.
Service: 1
Suzy K.
Lakeside Dinner destination, large restaurant with patio dining Good service and food
Grace Grace
We were there for an event and were in an area split up/divided. Made it harder for connection with the group. The food was great. Service seemed overwhelmed or not organized with each other but friendly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Blackened Ahi
Gator Bone
This Place has potential based on location and lack of dining options in the area. However, dirty bathrooms with no hand soap, overworked wait staff, and pricey/poor food items leave this place needing much improvement. FOOD: FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS- Great!, FRIED CALAMARI- Great!, FETTUCCINI ALFREDO W/ PRAWNS- Small portion, box noodles w/ canned sauce, Not worth it($47), INSALATA AL LAGO- Filled with Romaine stems, drowned in dressing, chicken was dry.To top off the bad food, the server brought the wrong drinks, beer was completely flat.We will not return until we see marked improvements on reviews.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Brent P.
This Place has potential based on location and lack of dining options in the area. However, dirty bathrooms with no hand soap, overworked wait staff, and pricey/poor food items leave this place needing much improvement. FOOD: FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS- Great!, FRIED CALAMARI- Great!, FETTUCCINI ALFREDO W/ PRAWNS- Small portion, box noodles w/ canned sauce, Not worth it($47), INSALATA AL LAGO- Filled with Romaine stems, drowned in dressing, chicken was dry. To top off the bad food, the server brought the wrong drinks, beer was completely flat. We will not return until we see marked improvements on reviews.
Kelly Elizabeth
Busy night, live music was very nice. The spaghetti squash puttanesca was a complete disappointment. I caution against ordering it.It came looking like it was an afterthought, all separated layers. The bland, average tasting marinara with a few capers and olives looked like it was just ladled on top in a great big plop. The spaghetti squash was perfectly cooked but the zucchini and cauliflower underneath were raw. The bottom of the bowl was completely covered in a layer melted butter. This is not an exaggeration, I wish I'd taken a photo. I'm not one for returning a dish that I've ordered unless a mistake had been made. Here the mistake was thinking this establishment knew what puttanesca was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizza
Isaac
Great place for a wedding
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pat D.
It has been several years since my husband and I went to Al Lago on Lake Tapps. We were VERY pleasantly surprised. It is no longer just a restaurant, it is Fine Dining, right in little old Auburn, 4 miles from our house! It is cozy, intimate and romantic, just the place to impress a date. We went on a Saturday night and a 2 man jazz band was playing very well. Some people actually got up and danced! It's still Auburn. I would not wear an evening gown, but I felt very comfortable in glittery blue jeans, a sparkly top and diamond earrings. Thank goodness there were no baseball caps in sight. It was as lovely an evening as many of the fine dining places we went to on our 51st anniversary trip. The food and service were top notch. I had the chicken marsala which is excellent. I ordered a "small" side salad which covered a whole plate, and since it was so good, it went home in a box. If you don't want the pasta "al dente", just tell them and they will bring it more well done. This is a special place to go to for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, romantic dates, etc., especially when they have a band. Not cheap, but not super expensive either. Can't wait for summer when the deck overlooking the lake is open.
Athene D.
I've had better I thought the services was okay, but it took forever. I know it's a party of 6 but then there were things about the service that just really had me scratching my head. The waitress seemed so flustered and if a table of 6 is large, then maybe a more advanced server should have been scheduled for our reservation. I appreciated being set in the back, we had the whole area to ourselves because the live music would have been way to much to have a conversation without yelling. The appetizer Brussels sprouts were tasty! Great balsamic flavor and well balanced! I will say I was very disappointed I didn't get the lamb, as it feel off the bone. I did try a bite and it was incredibly delicious. The steak was also so well done. TORTELLINI VALDOSTANA 28. Prosciutto, mushrooms, peas, sherry cream sauce Unfortunately I ordered the tortellini and added prawns. Those were first of all, not prawns, but shrimp and so over cooked. This dish was just covered in the American style heavy cream and cheese. It was like Mac and cheese. The sauce was overly thick. You couldn't enjoy the sweetness of the peas, the saltiness from Prosciutto. I had no idea there were mushrooms because of how thick the actual sauce was, I'm sorry but that is not a cream sauce. The portions were far too much! That and the lamb were 2-3 servings I will say they were nice about a corking fee. We did end up doing a bottle of Italian Prosecco since they were out of cava. I don't know how much it would have been but it's a nice option to have. My other issues was my friend got gluten free pasta. The waiter initially came over and was spilling juice all over, the floor and the table; almost getting on another friend. Then they added cheese without telling her; she's ordered the dish twice before with no cheese on top. She did send it back due to the cheese. When it came back, I had a small bite. To me, it was inedible as it so covered in chili flakes, I think she was just being too polite to send it back again. I just felt horrible. Our other friend said the steak was okay too, what was cooked. The cream brûlée was delightful! Overall, not sure I'd go back. At least not for the pasta.
C S.
Ordered the chicken parmigian and was incredibly disappointed with the flavor. Way too sweet and too much bechamel. Made the food taste nothing like a classic chicken parmigian with spaghetti pasta noodles. Considering the price and taste, we were let down that dinner night. Likely will go elsewhere next time and all future times.
I was really excited to try this restaurant out. However, after trying to call their main number three days in a row, several times per day to make a reservation, I gave up. No one ever answered the phone and yes according to their own published times for being open someone should have answered. The sign of a poorly managed business.
Andrea Peyton
We came on the weekday evening. Food & drinks are pricey but it's a visuallt pretty place. Food is light on seasonings, bread was hard sourdough, butter was good, waiter was nice, atmosphere was good, music was awesome oldies! Tip was auto-included for future references. Overall experience was good. Spent around $60 for one plate, one lemonade and one soda.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Robert
Not one good thing about the experience. Had to go looking for the host. Sat us (party of 3) at a 4 top not a booth, didn’t ask our preference (we moved) Waitress brought our food, nothing more nothing less. Zero personality.Had to ask for bread (at an Italian restaurant?!) it was cold and stale. No olive oil, no balsamic. Cauliflower was good but served with buffalo dipping sauce (at an Italian restaurant?!) which was predictably awful. Clams were ok, meatballs and sauce were awful. Salmon and filet were not terrible thank god.Waitress did not box up leftovers just brought me boxes and a $177.00 bill. I tipped 15% on top of that because I’m a sucker but almost always tip 20%. You have to go out of your way to suck to get 15%. I will never go back.
Went in to have a nice birthday dinner for my husband, was essentially turned away by the host. We came in a party of five and a baby, who mind you, was sound asleep in his car seat. We offered to sit on the patio, which they said no to, because they weren’t serving it this evening, even though it was one of the nicest evenings in weeks, hardly a cloud in the sky, no wind, temperate. But she said no, and then made a pained face at us over and over again, saying it was going to be a long wait, maybe even 30 minutes, which we didn’t mind she could clearly tell that we didn’t mind this so then a few sentences later said it was now going to be a 45 minute wait, even though nothing had changed, she hadn’t left to ask anyone, she just decided it was going to be longer. When we said we wanted to put our name down, she set aside the waitlist paper and grabbed a piece of scratch paper to write our name on. It was pretty awful. She clearly did not want to seat us. When we told her, it’s okay we don’t need her to seat us anymore, she smiled and gave the fakest apology I’ve ever heard.
Service: 1
Lakeside Dinner destination, large restaurant with patio dining Good service and food
We were there for an event and were in an area split up/divided. Made it harder for connection with the group. The food was great. Service seemed overwhelmed or not organized with each other but friendly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Blackened Ahi
This Place has potential based on location and lack of dining options in the area. However, dirty bathrooms with no hand soap, overworked wait staff, and pricey/poor food items leave this place needing much improvement. FOOD: FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS- Great!, FRIED CALAMARI- Great!, FETTUCCINI ALFREDO W/ PRAWNS- Small portion, box noodles w/ canned sauce, Not worth it($47), INSALATA AL LAGO- Filled with Romaine stems, drowned in dressing, chicken was dry.To top off the bad food, the server brought the wrong drinks, beer was completely flat.We will not return until we see marked improvements on reviews.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
This Place has potential based on location and lack of dining options in the area. However, dirty bathrooms with no hand soap, overworked wait staff, and pricey/poor food items leave this place needing much improvement. FOOD: FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS- Great!, FRIED CALAMARI- Great!, FETTUCCINI ALFREDO W/ PRAWNS- Small portion, box noodles w/ canned sauce, Not worth it($47), INSALATA AL LAGO- Filled with Romaine stems, drowned in dressing, chicken was dry. To top off the bad food, the server brought the wrong drinks, beer was completely flat. We will not return until we see marked improvements on reviews.
Busy night, live music was very nice. The spaghetti squash puttanesca was a complete disappointment. I caution against ordering it.It came looking like it was an afterthought, all separated layers. The bland, average tasting marinara with a few capers and olives looked like it was just ladled on top in a great big plop. The spaghetti squash was perfectly cooked but the zucchini and cauliflower underneath were raw. The bottom of the bowl was completely covered in a layer melted butter. This is not an exaggeration, I wish I'd taken a photo. I'm not one for returning a dish that I've ordered unless a mistake had been made. Here the mistake was thinking this establishment knew what puttanesca was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pizza
Great place for a wedding
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It has been several years since my husband and I went to Al Lago on Lake Tapps. We were VERY pleasantly surprised. It is no longer just a restaurant, it is Fine Dining, right in little old Auburn, 4 miles from our house! It is cozy, intimate and romantic, just the place to impress a date. We went on a Saturday night and a 2 man jazz band was playing very well. Some people actually got up and danced! It's still Auburn. I would not wear an evening gown, but I felt very comfortable in glittery blue jeans, a sparkly top and diamond earrings. Thank goodness there were no baseball caps in sight. It was as lovely an evening as many of the fine dining places we went to on our 51st anniversary trip. The food and service were top notch. I had the chicken marsala which is excellent. I ordered a "small" side salad which covered a whole plate, and since it was so good, it went home in a box. If you don't want the pasta "al dente", just tell them and they will bring it more well done. This is a special place to go to for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, romantic dates, etc., especially when they have a band. Not cheap, but not super expensive either. Can't wait for summer when the deck overlooking the lake is open.
I've had better I thought the services was okay, but it took forever. I know it's a party of 6 but then there were things about the service that just really had me scratching my head. The waitress seemed so flustered and if a table of 6 is large, then maybe a more advanced server should have been scheduled for our reservation. I appreciated being set in the back, we had the whole area to ourselves because the live music would have been way to much to have a conversation without yelling. The appetizer Brussels sprouts were tasty! Great balsamic flavor and well balanced! I will say I was very disappointed I didn't get the lamb, as it feel off the bone. I did try a bite and it was incredibly delicious. The steak was also so well done. TORTELLINI VALDOSTANA 28. Prosciutto, mushrooms, peas, sherry cream sauce Unfortunately I ordered the tortellini and added prawns. Those were first of all, not prawns, but shrimp and so over cooked. This dish was just covered in the American style heavy cream and cheese. It was like Mac and cheese. The sauce was overly thick. You couldn't enjoy the sweetness of the peas, the saltiness from Prosciutto. I had no idea there were mushrooms because of how thick the actual sauce was, I'm sorry but that is not a cream sauce. The portions were far too much! That and the lamb were 2-3 servings I will say they were nice about a corking fee. We did end up doing a bottle of Italian Prosecco since they were out of cava. I don't know how much it would have been but it's a nice option to have. My other issues was my friend got gluten free pasta. The waiter initially came over and was spilling juice all over, the floor and the table; almost getting on another friend. Then they added cheese without telling her; she's ordered the dish twice before with no cheese on top. She did send it back due to the cheese. When it came back, I had a small bite. To me, it was inedible as it so covered in chili flakes, I think she was just being too polite to send it back again. I just felt horrible. Our other friend said the steak was okay too, what was cooked. The cream brûlée was delightful! Overall, not sure I'd go back. At least not for the pasta.
Ordered the chicken parmigian and was incredibly disappointed with the flavor. Way too sweet and too much bechamel. Made the food taste nothing like a classic chicken parmigian with spaghetti pasta noodles. Considering the price and taste, we were let down that dinner night. Likely will go elsewhere next time and all future times.
Restaurantji Recommends
Its ok. The food is good but i could find better for the same price. The ambiance is nice a s the staff is friendly.
This is a great date night spot! Loved the burrata salad!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Elk Chops, Tiramisu Cake Slice, Bruschetta, Chicken Parmesan
I was really excited to try this restaurant out. However, after trying to call their main number three days in a row, several times per day to make a reservation, I gave up. No one ever answered the phone and yes according to their own published times for being open someone should have answered. The sign of a poorly managed business.
We came on the weekday evening. Food & drinks are pricey but it's a visuallt pretty place. Food is light on seasonings, bread was hard sourdough, butter was good, waiter was nice, atmosphere was good, music was awesome oldies! Tip was auto-included for future references. Overall experience was good. Spent around $60 for one plate, one lemonade and one soda.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Not one good thing about the experience. Had to go looking for the host. Sat us (party of 3) at a 4 top not a booth, didn’t ask our preference (we moved) Waitress brought our food, nothing more nothing less. Zero personality.Had to ask for bread (at an Italian restaurant?!) it was cold and stale. No olive oil, no balsamic. Cauliflower was good but served with buffalo dipping sauce (at an Italian restaurant?!) which was predictably awful. Clams were ok, meatballs and sauce were awful. Salmon and filet were not terrible thank god.Waitress did not box up leftovers just brought me boxes and a $177.00 bill. I tipped 15% on top of that because I’m a sucker but almost always tip 20%. You have to go out of your way to suck to get 15%. I will never go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1