The Lake Restaurant in St Albans

The new chef, Mr Nitin, has raised the cuisine in the restaurant of St Michael’s Manor to a new level. We had a meal that was memorable, and far superior to a lunch taken there with friends in July 2023. I’ll be back. VIP treatment for vegetarians too.

It’s a bid devoid of atmosphere. The food was good overall for a breakfast although portion size was small. Continental breakfast also offered. Nice views of the lake.

We hired the Oak room for a private Sunday lunch celebration to celebrate a milestone birthday. It comfortably sat 12 people and gave us the peace of mind to not worry about the two toddlers we had. Although we only ate from the Sunday lunch menu the food was excellent and the service was quietly efficient too. The whole event was organised by Ussha at St Michael’s who was really helpful.

Am I the only person who doesn't find the lake restaurant website user friendly? When I cluck on accept cookies it does nothing, when I select to view menu there is little information and no prices and you can't book online, all these things are not an issue when booking with ant other restaurant.

We had a fantastic stay at the hotel and enjoyed great breakfasts and dinner Friendly staff and a wonderful entourage

We were served promptly with individual tea requests, we were asked about dietary needs which had already been conveyed on booking. No cheese please! It took45 minutes for the food to arrive, with cheese! The sandwiches looked as thought they had been frozen - perhaps they were waiting for them to defrost! All the different breads were stale and fillings hardly distinguishable. They certainly were not freshly made even though the restaurant was not busy - now we know why! The scones were warm ? reheated in a microwave - not fresh. jam was thin and runny. The two Staff were polite and helpful but, I felt they were embarrassed - certainly the food was not their fault. Will NOT be making a return visit.

We visited the restaurant in May with my partner's elderly grandparents for Sunday lunch. As is natural when family visits, we wanted to give them an excellent experience- this is especially true of his grandparents as they prefer restaurants of a high standard.We chose the Lake Restaurant as we had heard good things of St Michael's Manor hotel and the online menu looked of good variety and quality. On the surface this appeared like the best choice for a nice, classic, family meal. All of the food was delicious, and we had no complaints on this aspect- I especially enjoyed the Gianduja desert. However we all agreed that the service was somewhat poor and did spoil the meal for us. I believe was is best shown when the waiter took away my partner's grandmother's main before she had actually finished it, and did not even ask her if she was done (despite a considerable amount of food being left). My partner's grandmother was taken by surprise by this but before we could object the waiter had left quite abruptly. Overall we found the service to be quite abrupt and a little rude- perhaps this was due to several large groups being in the restaurant at the same time and the staff being overstretched? The room was very full of several large groups which did make it hard to hear the other people at my table- however the atmosphere was lovely which made up for the noise. However the experience was slightly ruined by the rudeness of the staff- aside from the incident mentioned previously, we had to ask several times for the bill and did feel slightly abandoned towards the end of our meal. We will not be returning, which is a shame as other family members regularly stay at the hotel, and it would have been convinient if the on-site restaurant had been good enough to return to.

The set menu is incredible value here. This is a fine dining restaurant but we would have paid as much for lunch at any chain restaurant

I have not actually stayed at the Hotel but my experiences of how they look after birthday, wedding anniversary and reunion parties is excellent. They hold Wedding Receptions and I believe they specially reserve the hotel for these at the week end. The food is excellent although perhaps a tad expensive.

I arrived to find the car park was completely full, I had to double park (there was plenty of room for other cars to get out though) I receievd a warm welcome and was met by my colleagues and soon had a an arrival drink in hand.The menu is wide, we choose the set menu.My salmon starter was superb, very well presented and great flavours.. then the main...I had chosen the fish pie along with three of my colleagues, when it was served the waitress was adement I had chosen the belly pork (who is the customer here?) in the end one of us had to relent and have the belly pork, with not a sorry for the confusion in sight...The tea and petit fours made up for the main course 'pork belly gate'Overall very good except for the mix up; everyone makes mistakes but be brave enough to say sorry and hold your hands up.. .

Very good value for money with a great choice of food and excellent service. Well worth a visit to celebrate a special occasion or to enjoy a good meal.

A cool bottle of wine, sat out by the water and watching the sun go down. A quiet pleasant setting. Wine slightly overpriced but it is a hotel!

Ate here on a Saturday night. The service was efficient and friendly, the food well presented and cooked well with sensible portion sizes. We ate off the Lunch/Dinner menu as there were limited dishes we fancied from the A la Carte menu. The wine list had a good choice and wines to suit most pockets. Overall an enjoyable meal, with prices perhaps a little above average but this reflects the beautiful venue.

I spent one night in the hotel and breakfast was included. i must say I was very impressed with the near white glove service. I was the first person in the restaurant, and the buffet was fully stocked with cheeses, meats, breads and buns, eggs, etc. And made to order eggs were also available. Service The service was excellent and would return to this hotel because of the staff in this restaurant.

This is a lovely restaurant with a great view of the lake. The service was friendly and the food lovely. Dining is quite formal but relaxing. Everyone that visited when we were there were smartly dressed. Although it is on the more expensive side and there is a 12.5% service charge, we thought it was worth it. The restaurant is easy to find and it has a large car park. After lunch we, spent a bit of time wondering around garden and lake. It is a wonderful place to take pictures. We had a great time and will definitely be back.

What an idyllic setting. The Lake restaurant is a jem. Myself and four members of my family enjoyed a lovely double birthday celebration. The service was quick and efficient without feeling rushed, the staff were pleasant although not overly engaging.

We arrived at 12 noon for a 2 year olds birthday lunch.Childseat was dirty,seating not appropriate for numbers booked.Seating old and in need of reupholstering.

Beautifull place. Fantastic views over the lake. Snacks served all day. Just go in and have a glass of wine or beer on a hot sunny day. I was very impressed by how well the layout was planned by the lake

See other hotel review - ate in The Lake Restaurant in the evening, and for breakfast the following morning. The quality of food is of a very high standard indeed. A great selection, well prepared and presented. Thoroughly recommended

We stayed at the hotel for two days, ate in the bar the first night (food from the same kitchen) very good. The second night we ate in the restaurant. The food and wine were excellent, although the food could have been a little hotter. The service was excellent.

My husband and I ate here last night and it was such a lovely evening. The restaurant is in a beautiful part of St Albans. There's ample parking for diners and hotel guests. The service was faultless - friendly and efficient. But the star of the evening was the food. We elected to go for the Lake menu - which had 2-3 choices for starters, mains, and dessert. The freshly baked bread was delicious, as was the amuse bouche we were served before our starters. My husband had the stilton mousse, which of course I had to have a taste of, and it was light and airy, and very flavourful. Next came our mains, pork belly for him and roast cod for me. And it was all cooked to perfection and so tasty. We were then surprised with a pre-dessert - an exquisite orange sorbet. And our actual desserts were also lovely, tarte tatin for him and mango coconut eclair for him. All in all, the food was amazing and excellent value for money. Would definitely return here for another meal, or even drinks in the summer, as the surroundings are lush.

Set in a stunning room overlooking Verulamium Park it is hard not to be wowed by The Lake restaurant at St Michael’s Manor Hotel.

Over priced, poor service, cold food and very small portions. Would not bother to return. Had to get our own drinks from the bar. For an expensive restaurant the service was very poor and they had the cheek to charge us 12% service charge. I've had better food and service at our local restaurants.

My fiancé took me for dinner here for my birthday last night. I have to say what an incredible meal I had. I have eaten at a lot of Michelin restaurants and other amazing places. But this place only being 30 minutes from home and not having to go into central London too is a bonus. THe food was so so fresh and the waiters absolutely amazing so attentive ! Can't fault the food or service at all. Fully recommend to all.

Restaurant with ample parking, in aprt of St Albans, where parking is near impossible. We had lunch there on a bank holiday. On the phone, i was told the set menu is available It was not, an extra £7 was only. Drew the managers attention to this and immediately was offered the more expensive menu at the quoted rate. Same happend to another 4 customers next to us.

We had dinner here and both really enjoyed our food. As usual it was quality ingredients which made the meal so good. Decent portions and great flavours. Prices are reasonable for the quality.

Thes is one of my favourite spots in Saint Albans for quiet and contemplative afternoon drinks in some of the most beautiful natural surroundings that characterise Verulanium park area. The outdoors space is music free and the grounds stunning!

The food is excellent, the staff friendly and attentive and very professional as they do not hover but when you need them they are there.

Fabulous food, fabulous service, very reasonable prices, extensive wine list, friendly team. Lovely room to eat in and bar and seating area very comfortable and well presented

Unfortunately having have fab food and service here on a number of occasions, my expectations are set reasonably high for the Lake. So this time, whilst we had a nice time, it was the irritating shortfalls that tend to be more memorable than the good bits. We had the Sunday menu (in the evening) which looked nice, but I am not convinced it was any better than the usual menu. The

Went for a meal with my partner food is amazing and staff. Restaurant manager made us fell very welcome. Would recommend to anyone.

We were a party of 12 adults meeting for a family reunion. Unfortunately our visit coincided with St Albans closing a number of roads for a Christmas event and causing gridlock around the town. This meant that 2 couples had to abandon their cars and walk to the hotel, arriving long after our reservation time. The staff were very understanding and waited patiently until our group was complete.

Grand. Opulent. St Michael's Manor is a beautiful hotel. Food is good and presented well. Open for meals all day. Always feels like VIP treatment even if you go for a drink only. A gem of a place. Love it here

Prijs prestatie van dit restaurant is helemaal top. Bewijs dat je in Engeland dus echt WEL lekker kan eten. Zowel binnen als buiten prachtig om te zitten. Het was zo lekker dat we de volgende dag nog een keer zijn gaan lunchen.

Beautiful surroundings, nice restaurant overlooking the lake but where's the food?

What a treat, to be able to enjoy three separate food opportunities at The Lake. Breakfast is cooked to ordered is truly delicious. Yum. We ate breakfast twice and both times left feeling happy and replete. On both occasions breakfast kept me going until the evening.

We were here with family. All three courses were very good especially panna cotta. Nice service, lovely bar and gorgeous lake view.

If you really want something special, this is the place to go. Where else could you go for views of wildlife while enjoying a delightful meal. You can also see other people are enjoying a delightful experience.

We visited after a gap of a couple years with friends & had the 3 course table d'hote menu for lunch. Three of us had calves' liver which was cooked to perfection - it is so easily overcooked - a real test of the chef. Everything else we had was most enjoyable including the wine recommended by our waiter.

We were looking for a nice restaurant in a good location close to London and this completely fit the requirement. St Albans is a 21 minute train ride from London's St Pancras station and the restaurant is about a 25 minute walk from the station. The location is next to the largest park in St Albans so we had a great walk after lunch through the park to the abbey prior to walking back to the station for the trip back to London. As for the meal, it was definitely worth the trip alone. They serve great bread and our meals were enjoyable overall. Mine was excellent: salmon for main and carrot and ginger cake for dessert. My wife enjoyed her starter and the pollock but the crab risotto was a letdown. Having said that, the service was low key and pleasant and, as mentioned by others, the tables are well-spaced making the room is quiet enough to be able to have a conversation. We are looking forward to our next visit.

My partner treated us to Sunday lunch at The Lake Restaurant chosen mainly due to its proximity to the Harry Potter Experience which were were due to visit that afternoon. He had been in contact with the hotel reservations staff regarding provisions for my gluten free diet and had been impressed with their overall response. It is worth noting that our booking was for 14th February - St Valentine's Day.

Table for 9 people for Sunday lunch Beautiful surroundings Starters, Roast Lunch and Desserts all excellent. Excellent attentive but unintrusive service. Pink champagne, Crozes Hermitage and Pommerol all excellent. 60 quid each Will definitely return.

White tablecloths with tables respectably far apart, super polite staff and good food make this a nice "posh" restaurant in a great setting. Correspondingly priced but worth it for a splurge.

Came here for dinner while staying for the Mrs birthday. Went off the set menu which is great value.

Lovely lunch with fab view over garden. Need more vegetarian choices. Good service and will return shortly.

Me and my husband went here for a meal last night.We were served but an amazing waitor possibly the best service we have ever had anywhere.the food was absolutely delicious my husband is a head chef and thinks you deserve another rossette

Service was excellent; setting lovely and main dining room was packed for sunday lunch (but tables not jammed together). Kids were made very welcome even though people were dressed smartly and their was a certain formalness to the venue. The food was mixed - my miso cod was unusual and not what i was expecting, and i'm not sure I'd order it again, The bream was superbly cooked, as was the salmon. Overall very nice, and not unreasonably priced for the quality of food, service and setting,

Booked our Ruby Wedding Anniversary dinner here. Staff happy and friendly. Food excellent.Nice surprise when Chef had piped in chocolate on our plates "Happy Anniversary" Reasonably priced, would definitely go again

Although I had read some mixed reviews before going the setting looked so nice I wanted to give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt and my husband and I decided to make a booking for a Saturday night.

I only usually take the time to give positive reviews however wanted to comment on our dinner last night. My husband and I ate here last night and one of the most annoying things was that we had three different people looking after us, all of which asked us if we were ok about 8 times, meaning every conversation we tried to have was interrupted, i understand they were trying to be helpful but it was really irritating. We both commented that the bread at the start of the meal was the best thing about the food! We both had smoked haddock risotto for starter, they were both quite nice but mine had a large bone in it which i wouldn't have expected as the fish was flaked so not in chunks at all, anyway i let that go as unlucky. My husband had cod which he said was ok but it came with a granola topping which he was interested to try, however it didn't really work. I had the partridge which was very dry so didn't eat it all. The menu said it came with game chips, i didn't know what these were so was intrigued to see, when my plate arrived there was no sign or any type of potatoes, so i asked the waitress and she went to ask the chef, came back and said no it doesn't come with chips but you can order some separately, i said i was only asking as it had said my main came with them on the menu she just said no they don't and walked away, then another waiter came and apologised and explained that game chips were finely cut potatoes and that they should be on my plate and looked to see if i had eaten them (think i would realise), he asked if i wanted some to be brought out on the side but i was nearly finished at this point as it was a small portion so i declined. Think for the price you pay here the staff should know the menus, as they are limited anyway so not much to remember. We also had our water refilled about 10 times in addition to being asked if we were ok, at each point we replied or said thank you, meaning our conversations were interrupted through the whole meal. The ironic thing was that we wanted to then pay so ordered a taxi, at this point we could not get anyone's attention to get the bill, then pay the bill! They had all gone from being massively over attentive to disappearing. Overall a disappointing expereince and we won't be rushing back as there are so many restaurants in st albans that offer similar, better value food and seem to have their service sorted.

Had high expectations for a lovely Saturday evening in the Lake Restaurant, but was disappointed . The menu was rather limited and very expensive ! The food was limited in quantity and arrived on very hot plates but the actual food at best was Luke warm.

Booked a table for two for dinner one saturday night at very short notice and they were happy to accommodate us. The table positioning was excellent as my wife had a great view across the lawn to the lake. The welcome was very good from the lady with a pony tail and we were immediately shown to the lounge area and a drinks order taken. The nibbles were substantial and very much appreciated as we were very hungry. The conservatory/orangery is light and airy with good views (see before). The service is reasonably good (to very good), however although the restaurant was fairly quiet when we were eating (early), one of the waiting staff was a little too quick to try to remove the plates (as my wife was still licking her plate), and my wife's wine glass still had some wine so, when the waiter attempted to take it, she almost broke his fingers. Food is very good, here. The only surprise and main criticism I have is that the restaurant automatically places a 12 per cent service charge and, although I would have probably added it myself, it was a little presumptious of them. I don't like places that do this. I would say that the price of each food item is also just a little too high.

the setting itself is idillic. The veranda looks out across some landscaped flower beds towards a small river, and the hotel itself is charming. If it's sunny this is a lovely place to spend an afternoon and I imagine the interior is snug and warm in the winter. So at least 4 stars for setting.

We were staying at the Hotel and for convenience dined in the Lake Restaurant. It was silver service and quite attentive but more efficient than friendly. There was no dress code and the staff were the best dressed. We dined from the well-priced Lake Menu (2 courses £18, 3 courses £22) and a la carte. Starters of mackerel pâté and smoked haddock risotto were very nice. Main courses of Hereford Fillet of Beef and Grey Mullet were nice – but not outstanding. My favourite wine, Viognier was one of the most reasonably priced on the wine list at £18 a bottle. Total cost for two course dinner with one glass of prosecco and a bottle of wine (and automatic 12.5% tip) was £98.

Decided to take my friend out for a special girls afternoon tea. A note that we had to book and at the time of booking told them about allergies. There was no note of it when we arrived.

The views from the restaurant and good and the staff very friendly. There were some interesting options on the menu. The food was generally very good. I'm still undecided about the chocolate covered foie gras. Definitely a good choice and worthy of a visit

I, together with 3 companions, dined at the Lake for lunch recently. The setting is excellent, the dining room being situated in an Orangery with great views of the beautiful gardens. That made for a great start. We arrived bang on time and were shown, promptly, to our table. Unfortunately, it took far too long for our order (from the a la carte menu) to be taken and outrageously long for our starters to be served (about 50 mins after we had been seated). Particularly galling, as it turned out that the starters were shockingly poor, including the tiniest bit of over-cooked pigeon breast with a really odd chocolate/foie gras accompaniment, small, over-cooked, scallops that were long past their prime, and a small, but passable, piece of trout tarnished by being served with a quenelle of freezer-cold, utterly bland wasabi 'sorbet'. Thankfully, the wine (also served late) was rather excellent, albeit way over-priced. Things looked up with the mains, being served comparatively promptly (but still on the slow side) - beef, lamb and sea bass being up to scratch with reasonable (but not great) sauces/accompaniments. Portions were on the small side, once again. Dessert was a mixed experience. The chocolate delice was a delight, but the cheese was poor - 3 tiny pieces of bland cheese, one of which was well past its prime, and this was priced at £8.50!

One of the worst meals I have ever had. The portions were ridiculously small. It seemed like they were scraping leftovers of other peoples food and putting them on a plate for us. The potatoes were rotten. The service was poor specifically due to the manager being rude towards us (the male waiter was nice). The food is very overpriced.The only redeeming factor for this restaurant is the setting- the orangery and grounds are very pretty.

We were considering booking this hotel for our wedding so arranged to visit twice to try lunch on a Saturday lunchtime & dinner Friday night. On both occasions (day & night) the surroundings were stunning! The service from all the team was super attentive, we were very well looked after. The food was amazing, the waiters recommended wine was spot on. We then retired to the bar to test cocktail making skills & had fun with the barman making him create old skool cocktails. We look forward to sharing this gem with our friends & families.

My family had booked an evening meal on the 21st March 2015 to celebrate my parents 60th Wedding anniversary. The table was booked for 8 pm. The service was slow, with the main course eventually arriving just before 10 pm. The food was cold at best and the excuse given for the delay was the chef had cut his hand, I don't know why the food was cold. the order was mixed up and the wrong food was brought to the table.

Me and my wife are here while staying in Kings Langley to celebrate my birthday. As you pull up outside the place looks outstanding, all lit up. We were shown to the bar quickly and ordered our drinks, giving 2 menus and sat in the lounge waiting for our table. Being a chef I'm quite critical when it comes to food. We ordered from the 2 courses for £18 and 3 courses for £22 and for the ingredients on the menu is very very good value for money. Fresh warm bread came out. I ordered the pressed rabbit to start and my wife ordered the goats cheese. Both were presented very nice and tasted wonderful. I then had hake and the wife had battered cod, both fish dishes were cooked to perfection, the meat was so tender and tasty. We both had creme caramel for dessert which was nice but was a little too bitter. Service was fantastic, couldn't do enough for you. Would definitely return next time I'm in the area.

Things got off to a bad start. 15 minutes to get served at the bar. No proper drinks menu, just one of those flashing electronic devices quite popular in northern amusement arcade. Eventually got a flat pint of Peroni and a very average glass of Prosecco.

We went as a party of nine to the Lake Restaurant at St.Michaels Manor for Sunday Lunch as a birthday celebration. The hotel is reputedly the best in St. Albans. The Lake Restaurant with its view of the garden and the lake is unrivalled in this area.

We revisited St Michael's Manor Hotel for a silver wedding evening meal, having had our reception there 25 years ago. We are so glad we did as we a wonderful evening with fantastic, special food and amazing grounds to enjoy.

After visiting st.albans on a brief encounter with the family we decided to take a trip down to this stunning little manor house,to be greeted by beautiful gardens and lake.

This is part of the St Michael's Manor Hotel. The evening sun lights up this restaurant in the summer. You look out onto beautiful well kept grounds and you are looked after by knowledgeable and attentive staff. Menu is interesting, so is the wine list. Sit outside before you order and take in the gardens.

Este restaurante faz parte do St Michael's Manor Hotel e fica defronte a um lindo lago. Se voce quer um lugar romantico, num ambiente muito bonito com um atendimento impecável, eis o lugar.

We celebrated a friend's birthday by having a champagne afternoon tea at St. Michael's Manor. Staff were very friendly and service was with a smile. The finger sandwiches were tasty, scones were fresh and delicious (although they could have been even tastier if they contained raisins/sultanas). Unfortunately, I was too full after that to eat any of the mini cakes but staff happily packed these for me to take away , they were delicious. Fresh pots of tea was brought over on a couple of occasions. Overall, a very relaxing and enjoyable afternoon and my friend thoroughly enjoyed her birthday.

Had a family lunch here in early January, was very impressed with the food & the service. Can't wait to go back

New Years Eve dinner and dance. Food and wine average, both overpriced. Staff generally efficient but duty manager for the hotel clearly resented guests having a good time, and did all he could to kill the party spirit. We also had issues with the bill and the staff were unable to properly explain the details of the charging.

Visited The Lake restaurant once again to celebrate our daughters graduation. Had a great meal from the set menu and very reasonable too, All the staff very helpfull as our daughter is very particular about what she eats. The whole evening was enjoyable, as always.

The hotel is in a wonderful setting and the staff were pleasant. I visited with a few friends for a cream tea. What a disappointment. The bread was stale and the sandwich fillings almost non existent. In fact I don't think my prawn sandwich had even seen a prawn at all!! The scones were hard and crispy. There was a strange looking chocolate type parfait thing which none of our table liked. The viennese whirl and macaroon were pleasant. Extra tea was provided when asked even though it was a little cold! I think the hotel really needs to think about the quality of the food it serves. I sadly won't be returning to dine there again.