Old Forge - Lanesborough

I used to eat here frequently before the pandemic, and I had always enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. However, my recent experience was quite disappointing. The restaurant was chaotic, the staff seemed overwhelmed, and the manager was extremely rude. It should definitely be avoided. Instead of seating guests in the many empty areas of the restaurant, they make people wait outside in the sweltering 90-degree heat just for a chance to sit in the waiting area. I waited nearly 10 minutes before anyone came out to explain what was going on. They couldn’t even estimate how long the wait would be. Based on the forlorn expressions of those waiting, it felt like I might wither away before getting a table.

However, they clearly have no understanding of German cuisine, and the execution was off. The presentation was sloppy; my knife was submerged in the sauce when I tried to serve my meal again. The sauce was placed in the center of a flat, thin piece of veal, which was quite large. It was made with a few mushrooms and had a creamy consistency, but I received only about an eighth of the sauce I expected. The red cabbage—served in vinegar—was not braided as it should be. When we settled the bill, I felt compelled to share my opinion with the waitress. Her response was dismissive, suggesting I should have said something earlier or asked how the food was. I shouldn’t have to complain about a meal, especially one that was so disappointing it should be removed from the menu. Thankfully, it’s only available for October. Let me offer some suggestions: 1. Correct the spelling on the menu, especially if you're going to give me a note to fill out. 2. Do your research before serving a dish. There are much better recipes online. 3. I know what I'm talking about—I’ve been to Germany four times. As for the service, I’d rate it a 2. The waitress was so inattentive that she didn't bother to pick up a drink that fell on the floor. I asked her to return in two minutes to take our order, but she showed up ten minutes later while chatting with another waitress, even though there were only three tables occupied. The soup was decent, but it wasn’t hot enough, and it was sitting out for about 15 minutes before we were served, so the top was nice and brown but cool to the touch.