My lasting impression of Lago Ristorante on Mill Street in Worcester ended up being much more favorable than my first. From the outside it just doesn’t look like much, but once you get inside and see the long bar extending almost all the way across the room on one side and the picture windows overlooking Coes Reservoir on the other you begin to change your mind. Although the bar and dining area of the restaurant consists of just one large room, the interior looks new and inviting. Usually when I go to a restaurant with just one other person I prefer the bar — and the bar here looks like a great place to sit and have dinner. On this occasion, there was a group of us so we sat at tables near the window. I didn’t see any large tables and the room was not set up in a way that you could put two tables together so I think you are pretty much restricted to the bar or tables for four.
The menu is a single sheet of heavy paper printed on one side with four sections: Starters, Salads, Main Courses, and Specials. We were informed that they also have homemade deserts. Since I am doing the low carb diet, right now my eyes automatically skipped over the pasta dishes and went straight to the 16 oz. sirloin. Again, my first impression, the price of $17, lowered my expectation, but I went with it anyway. It came with two vegetable dishes, summer squash and a mixed vegetable, as well as a small side salad served before the main course.
Although we waited patiently for the meal, it ended up being really good. The steak was cooked to perfection–despite the fact that the server never asked if I knew what medium rare meant. It looked great, it was very tasty, and it appeared to be a true 16 ounces. The two sides of vegetables were delicious as well. The salad crisp, fresh, and simple. Overall, it was a great meal and a fun experience — I would definitely return. –RS