Star rating: *** Avid food review readers should know by now my family like travelling far and wide for our regular meals, writes Kirsty Marston, so when Lake Vyrnwy was mentioned, we were relieved it was relatively near considering other places we have travelled to.

We went to the Tower Tavern for the first time on Mother’s Day and had enjoyed a fantastic meal, a set menu for about £13, served in the function room overlooking the lake.

With eight family members dining at the large circular table covered with a crisp white table cloth, we all commented how beautiful the room would be for a special celebration such as a wedding.

The three-course meal, with an excellent choice for each course, finished with coffee, was wonderful. In fact the best Sunday roast we had had for a long time – apart from my Mum’s of course.

We returned several weeks later for my Dad’s birthday. Again, as on Mothering Sunday, we booked a later meal at 2.30pm.

Sadly the perfect experience we had previously enjoyed was not repeated.

The staff were similarly welcoming and eager to help my elderly Nan to the table. They had also purposely reserved the table nearest the window after remembering how much we had enjoyed the function room experience on our previous visit.

We all perused the menu but were disappointed it was not as tantalising as the Mothering Sunday menu and were then disappointed again when told there were only a couple of portions of roast lamb left.

Fortunately we didn’t all want the lamb but that’s not the point. It is my number one gripe when you book a table within the serving hours but do not get the choice available at the start – especially when you’ve pre-booked a table.

Anyway, rant over – I thoroughly enjoyed my generous starter of salmon and herb fishcakes, while others polished off the soup of the day and the crispy potato skins.

On to the main course. Dad and I both ordered the roast lamb before anybody else did, while others ordered the roast chicken. My Nan, who has a very small appetite, is often overwhelmed with adult portions so often enjoys a child’s portion better.

She ordered the sausage and mash from the children’s menu which the staff kindly said wasn’t a problem. They really are more than accommodating. Dad and I agreed the lamb was tasty and carved in generous portions.

When ordering at the bar, I was told the Sunday dinner was served with roast potatoes but knowing my partner and his love of mash with almost anything, ordering a side portion was again no problem with the staff.

Sadly the chicken dinners were no way near as impressive as what was served during our previous visit – my Mum’s was acceptable but my partner’s was more bone, skin and wing than chicken breast. On Mothering Sunday, the chef had served a succulent chicken breast fillet served with stuffed apricots.

Also this time around the vegetables were served on the plate, rather than the individual pots of vegetables we had had the last time. Nan’s children’s meal of plump sausages was a generous portion and what she ate she enjoyed.

Perhaps if we had never visited before we may have thought it was just satisfactory and never returned but knowing what we did and the quality of food we had enjoyed before, we were sadly disappointed.

The sweets – lemon sponges for the others, chocolate muffin for me – were certainly not homemade but were OK apart from the last dish to be served which had obviously had a blast in the microwave a bit too long. It was inedible.

Finishing with coffee, we decided it was a shame the meal had not reached the standards of Mothering Sunday. And by having to pay for courses separately it worked out more expensive for a meal of much less quality.

If I had been reviewing on Mothering Sunday it would have got five stars but the visit on which this review was based only gets three. The staff would get five – the food let them down.

My suggestion is for the Tower Tavern chefs to put in that extra bit of effort they put in on Mothering Sunday every day of the year, because when people are paying for food it is always special and they deserve to get what they pay for.

ADDRESS
The Tower Tavern Bar and Restaurant, Lake Vyrnwy Hotel
Tel 01691 870692

MENU SAMPLE
Starters
Grilled brioche topped with sliced tomato and mozzarella (£3.95); Hot caerphilly cheese and creamed leek tartlets (£4.75)

Main courses
Lake Vyrnway mixed grill (£12.50); Vyrnwy estate lamb chops (£9.95); Potato gnocchi or penne pasta with garlic, tomato and parmesan (£7.50).

Desserts
Hot dessert of the day with custard (£3.75); Iced blackcurrant cheesecake (£3.50); Chocolate muffin (£3.50).

ATMOSPHERE
Very relaxed overlooking the lake, formal in restaurant areas but more relaxed in the bar area. Very welcoming.

SERVICE
Professional and efficient with personal touches.

DISABLED FACILITIES
Disabled car parking space right outside the door and access throughout.