L A
Google
The food here, except for rather insipidly bland raw prawn starter, was exceptional, definitely 1 star Michelin quality. Some dishes, especially 2 sets of amuse bouche, pre-dessert - all 2 star material. What lets down this amazing food is rather dull dining room (it's neither funki modern to explain lack of any details to grab onto, nor cosy in any way, facilities, like toilets with diluted soap (!) that sprays everywhere because it's so diluted, seriously, with people paying minimum €85 per menu you economise on €5 soap?!), that and overstretched service. Service simply doesn't match the food, even though it is kind, the nicest of the servers was Carla. They have to be careful also with the language, double-check twice if needed, but my alternative to lamb was pork, though waitress called it beef. I happened to be OK with it, when instead porc came out (incidentally it was by far THE best pork dish I ever tasted), but imagine if you are Muslim or Jewish, the shock of it. Water without gas was ordered, but sparkling brought, took ages to replace it with server not even apologising and pulling a face when i said to change it/that it was wrong. Wine not offered at all at any time throughout the long lunch, staff are ran off the feet and don't upsell anything- the owner may be better off paying one extra wage instead of very few staff being stressed out and not offering guests any service except bring dishes out and take away the plates. The owner is sure missing out on a lot of revenue because of this. Water was not even offered at all on arrival or at any time, and had to be asked for, as was bread, as was olive oil, and it all took way too long to arrive. No warmth or kindness from staff at all except lovely Carla, but she was ran off her feet.
Now to the food - the amuse bouche were exceptional, especially smoked sardine fois gras "sandwich" with mango & sesame crackers. Strawberry pre-dessert is also fabulous. Petit fours very good indeed. Salted chocolate dessert michelin quality, great technique on display. Tuna is too cold, and the whole dish lacking zing. Pork dish, melt in one's mouth, crackling type finish up the top - exceptional. As was artichoke "soup" dish. Oysters hiding under foam with seasonal asparagus is also very good.
If they can fix the service, facilties, toilets, and get order and sense in service, with one server throughout dining experience for specific tables, instead of all that mingling of staff, and slightly sharpen the menu, this is one star Michelin in the making. The food is practically already there. Bread was excellent too. I loved the use of stunning ceramics, especially those with antiquity references. Enjoyed the experience, at least the food and the ceramics.
