Our first restaurant review in some time brought us to Hotel La Tour in Milton Keynes. More specifically, to their new Fourteen skyline bar and restaurant. The new addition to the Milton Keynes culinary offering is described as ‘a dining experience like no other’ and has been dubbed MK’s answer to The Shard.
I made an online reservation for my midweek lunchtime visit, a process that was efficient and quick and meant we had peace of mind knowing a table would be waiting for us when we arrived. As part of the reservation, I was able to note down any dietary requirements as well as additional requests, I informed them of a gluten intolerance on behalf of my guest and requested a table by the window to best enjoy the panoramic views the building had to offer.
Hotel La Tour has no parking of its own but has a convenient new multi-story car park right next door. The lobby of the hotel was bright and open, we were able to head straight to the elevator toward a well-signed fourteenth floor, hence the name Fourteen. The elevator doors opened onto a beautiful wall proudly adorned with the restaurant name, and as we walked in, we were immediately able to take in the panoramic views of Milton Keynes in what was quite a special entrance space.
The cocktail and wine list were extensive, although there was no soft drinks menu, which wasn’t a worry for us but did cross our minds. Our server was prompt in coming over to take our drinks order and I ordered their Suite Treat cocktail, a nostalgic bubblegum concoction poured over candyfloss, a mix that resulted in one of the best cocktails I have ever had – and I’ve had a fair few.
My guest ordered a glass of the Merlot and, after initially having a bottle brought over in error, was happy to report that the wine was well-balanced and very palatable. Next, we browsed the food menu, there’s not a vast choice available, and some of the dishes may require a more seasoned food taste, but they all sounded incredibly appetising, so we weren’t left short of options.
We opted to share a starter, initially choosing the tuna sashimi only to be told by the waitress that they had run out. Maybe we could have been told this when we first sat down, but we promptly got over our heartbreak and chose an alternative.
Thankfully, we were not left disappointed by our choice. The chicken parfait on toasted brioche with bacon jam turned out to be my guest’s favourite part of the meal. The dish was flavourful without being overpowering and had a very complementary, sweet, salty and creamy flavour combination. My only query at this point was when a member of staff came over as we were about to dig in to express concern that we had listed a gluten intolerance on our reservation and that this item was not gluten-free. Despite this I was pleased with how the server dealt with the situation, ensuring we had the allergen advice required to make an informed decision and kindly organising some gluten-free bread for us.
Now onto the main course, I ordered the roasted monkfish on black squid ink risotto with prawns, mussels, samphire and chilli oil. I cannot speak highly enough about this dish, it met every expectation I had, including being very well presented. Needless to say, my plate was empty by the end.
My guest opted for a rare rib-eye steak with chunky chips and peppercorn sauce. The feedback on this was not quite on par with my own, they said the steak was nearer medium rare and very chewy at points, though they did comment that the chips were perfect, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Come time for dessert, we were very nearly full but decided to share a slightly lighter-sounding sweet. Though all of the options sounded mouthwateringly indulgent, we unanimously agreed on the peach melba comprising caramelised peaches, mango sorbet, meringue and sharp fruits. On arrival, we both voiced a ‘wow’ at the beautifully presented dish and were approached by a particularly friendly server who told us how much she loved this particular item and even that it was vegan if that was of any interest to us. As with the previous courses, the flavours of this fruity dessert have clearly been given some careful consideration, which came across with each mouthful.
By the end of our meal, we had realised that there were multiple menu options, including an afternoon tea, lounge, and Sunday a la carte menu, which could have been ideal for a lighter bite. We also observed a buffet-type lunch going on that would be perfect for larger business lunches and groups who were shorter on time.
Overall, the clear selling point for this particular restaurant is the view, and for those not interested in food you could equally enjoy this spectacle from the bar area over a drink or two. The food, however, does complement the stunning scenery well and the use of open space and tasteful decor tie all of the above features together nicely to create a very pleasant dining experience.
MK’s answer to The Shard? Yes, if you want a taste of city dining without the hassle of straying too far from home, then Fourteen could be a great option for you. Similar to The Shard, though, you do pay premium prices for the luxury, but, given the impressive standard of food and premium views, I’m not inclined to see this as too much of a negative.
This visit was booked anonymously and the food and drink was paid for by the writer.
To take a further look or make a reservation, visit the website.
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