Bartolotta's Lake Park Bistro   

My family has considered the Lake Park Bistro to be our "special occasion" restaurant for several years. Our most recent visit was in April 2008 and I expect it will - in fact - be our LAST visit. The first disappointment - After making the reservation a month in advance, we were shoe-horned into a smal table in the west side of the restaurant (between the ONLY TWO OTHER occupied tables in that side of the establishment. There were plenty of empty tables in the restaurant..but no....all diners were squeezed together! The second disappointment - the menu which had stayed constant for many years had suddenly changed. Favorites were missing ...others had dramatically changed. The third disappointment - the wait staff obviously had no idea about the changes to the menu. We requested clarification on a few items and the waiter had to run to check with the kitchen. Mind you - it was not JUST OUR waiter doing this checking....it was most of the staff. Final disappointment - the food quality had gone down dramatically...blood-lines ran through the salmon and it was very salty an dmuch too well-done... the chicken was almost too salty to eat and frankly didn't look very appetizing ...portions had been cut in half from previous visits. This was not the Lake Park Bistro that we had just visited less than 4 months before! I sent an e-mail to the restaurant voicing my disappointment and received an obviously annoyed phone call from Mr. Bartolotta. He addressed all the standard issues such as he was sorry that we were seated the way we were; prices had to go up and portions were reduced because of the cost of food; he needed to "keep up with the trends in food;" it was time for a change; etc. But he never addressed the most important point - why had the quality gone down so much! He sent a $25 gift certificate - We won't be using it!

We enjoyed ourselves very much. Everything was very good and we will be back again. My Salmon was outstanding and our Service was as well. We will be back for special occasions. I will agree it was a bit noisy though but we still had a lovely evening.

I have been going to LPB for many years and have found it to be consistantly top notch for both family gatherings and for business. I frequently bring out of town business guests there for dinner and it is always an excellent experience. Staff is helpful and professional, food has been consistantly well prepared and as described. I think some of the knocks against this place are by folks who are intimiated by the staff - they are professionals, not there to be your new best friend. I often solicit the staff's opinion on pairings or other selections and have not been disappointed. The atmosphere is wonderful, but - and this is my only complaint - the place is much too loud. Overall, an excellent country-French dining experience with well trained staff and a very pleasant (albeit too loud) envirnoment.