What Was Your Favorite European Restaurant Of 2016?
Jan 6th, 2017, 01:27 PM
#1
Original Poster
What Was Your Favorite European Restaurant Of 2016?
Since we all love to travel to Europe and many of you live in Europe, I thought it might be fun to get everyone's votes on their favorite place they dined in 2016. "Favorite" to me includes food, ambiance, service and overall experience, but use any criteria you'd like.
Since I only visited France in 2016, obviously I only have one country to choose from. Third place went to Le Bacchus in Beaune. Our second favorite (and a very close second) was L'Arôme in Bonnieux.
Tracy and I voted L'Ange 20 in Paris our favorite 2016 restaurant. We had visited in 2014 and wanted to try their new location near Place des Vosges to see if they were still as good as we remembered. They were better!
We dined here on our next to last night, and it was so good that we hoped we could get a reservation for our final night. Thankfully, they had an opening for the following evening, and our second dinner (with many new dishes on the menu) was just as terrific on night two.
Let's compile a list for our future travels. What was your favorite dining experience in Europe last year. Happy New Year!
<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/lange-20-paris-france/</B>
Since I only visited France in 2016, obviously I only have one country to choose from. Third place went to Le Bacchus in Beaune. Our second favorite (and a very close second) was L'Arôme in Bonnieux.
Tracy and I voted L'Ange 20 in Paris our favorite 2016 restaurant. We had visited in 2014 and wanted to try their new location near Place des Vosges to see if they were still as good as we remembered. They were better!
We dined here on our next to last night, and it was so good that we hoped we could get a reservation for our final night. Thankfully, they had an opening for the following evening, and our second dinner (with many new dishes on the menu) was just as terrific on night two.
Let's compile a list for our future travels. What was your favorite dining experience in Europe last year. Happy New Year!
<B>http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/lange-20-paris-france/</B>
Jan 6th, 2017, 01:41 PM
#2
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My favourite European restaurant is the one we can walk to, around the corner from our house.
We don't eat out often, and since we have the campervan we don't tend to eat in restaurants, certainly nothing fancy, when on holiday.
We don't eat out often, and since we have the campervan we don't tend to eat in restaurants, certainly nothing fancy, when on holiday.
Jan 6th, 2017, 02:02 PM
#3
Ours was a restaurant that we came across when driving around Mt. Etna on Sicily - we were getting desperate for somewhere to stop for lunch, and quite teasy with each other, then while we were stopped at some road works, we saw the sign for this place:
http://parcostatella.com/index.php/s.../il-ristorante
While DH parked the car in the deepest shade we could find, I went to ask if they were doing lunch and what they had and stretching my italian to its limits, understood that there was no menu but they would serve us what they had - antipasti, pasta and whatever else we wanted. What could go wrong?
To this day I'm not entirely sure what we ordered but we agreed I think to share antipasti for one, DH had one pasta dish and me the other, and then lamb chops and potatoes. And what a shame we couldn't order a bottle of wine as we were driving - the wine list looked terrific. We listed ourselves to a glass each and some fizzy water.
We were a bit disappointed when the antipasti arrived - just 4 small dishes - but no sooner had we tucked into those than another 4 arrived, and then another - I lost count. I have no idea now what we ate but it was all delicious.
While we were having a rest, we noticed several tables full of serious looking businessmen tucking all this wonderful food away as if they weren't going to eat for a month, and eating so fast!
After a suitable pause the pasta arrived - I discovered that mine was simply dressed with truffles, DH's was a meat sauce as i remember. Thank goodness I'd asked for a small portion. And finally the lamb chops - I'll know better next time. the desserts were gorgeous but we could manage only coffee.
the bill - less than €50.
I know that if we went again it probably wouldn't be as good as half of the fun was finding such a wonderful place just when we needed it, but I would love to stay there a night and not have to worry about drinking.
http://parcostatella.com/index.php/s.../il-ristorante
While DH parked the car in the deepest shade we could find, I went to ask if they were doing lunch and what they had and stretching my italian to its limits, understood that there was no menu but they would serve us what they had - antipasti, pasta and whatever else we wanted. What could go wrong?
To this day I'm not entirely sure what we ordered but we agreed I think to share antipasti for one, DH had one pasta dish and me the other, and then lamb chops and potatoes. And what a shame we couldn't order a bottle of wine as we were driving - the wine list looked terrific. We listed ourselves to a glass each and some fizzy water.
We were a bit disappointed when the antipasti arrived - just 4 small dishes - but no sooner had we tucked into those than another 4 arrived, and then another - I lost count. I have no idea now what we ate but it was all delicious.
While we were having a rest, we noticed several tables full of serious looking businessmen tucking all this wonderful food away as if they weren't going to eat for a month, and eating so fast!
After a suitable pause the pasta arrived - I discovered that mine was simply dressed with truffles, DH's was a meat sauce as i remember. Thank goodness I'd asked for a small portion. And finally the lamb chops - I'll know better next time. the desserts were gorgeous but we could manage only coffee.
the bill - less than €50.
I know that if we went again it probably wouldn't be as good as half of the fun was finding such a wonderful place just when we needed it, but I would love to stay there a night and not have to worry about drinking.
Jan 6th, 2017, 02:12 PM
#4
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My winner is Le Grand Vefour. We spent a week in Paris and a week in Barcelona in April. We have been to Paris many times but this was our 1st time in Barcelona. We ate at several excellent restaurants in Old Town Barcelona. Tast Ller was our favorite. However, the most memorable dining experience we had on our trip was lunch at Le Grand Vefour in Paris. The place is gorgeous and the food was fantastic. We made reservations well in advance so they sat us at the prime table in the house which is a banquette along the front wall that used to be Napoleon and Josephine's table. We were there for 3 1/2 hours enjoying the food, the ambiance and two bottles of Ruinart Champagne. What a way to spend the afternoon. For our 2nd place award we have to go just across the Palais Royal courtyard from Le Grand Vefour to Verjus. The dinner degustation menu at Verjus was incredible.
Jan 6th, 2017, 02:14 PM
#5
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"I know that if we went again it probably wouldn't be as good as half of the fun was finding such a wonderful place just when we needed it..."
Great story and a cool looking place annhig. Your quote above reminds me of when Kim, Mary, Tracy and I visited Il Latini in Florence in 2001. A very fun night (with waaaaay too much Chianti) concluded with us and a room full of Italians singing Dean Martin songs until the owner told us we were all the last people in the restaurant that had already closed.. We've never returned because that experience could never be duplicated.
Great story and a cool looking place annhig. Your quote above reminds me of when Kim, Mary, Tracy and I visited Il Latini in Florence in 2001. A very fun night (with waaaaay too much Chianti) concluded with us and a room full of Italians singing Dean Martin songs until the owner told us we were all the last people in the restaurant that had already closed.. We've never returned because that experience could never be duplicated.
Jan 6th, 2017, 02:26 PM
#7
We've never returned because that experience could never be duplicated.>>
exactly, Tom, but it might be fun to try!
letsgaux - formidable! we've not eaten there, but we did have lunch at le cinq once [before it got its third star] and it was incomparable, not just for the food but for the service. looks like pretty good place to spend an hour or four...
exactly, Tom, but it might be fun to try!
letsgaux - formidable! we've not eaten there, but we did have lunch at le cinq once [before it got its third star] and it was incomparable, not just for the food but for the service. looks like pretty good place to spend an hour or four...
Jan 6th, 2017, 02:32 PM
#8
http://www.tavernmurrisk.com/ I had heard really good things about this place but when five of us walked in after 7 hours of climbing Crough Patrick we looked really bad and were really tired, hungry and thirsty. They treated us so nice and the food was so amazing. We ate and drank for a couple of hours and then they were nice enough to call us a cab to take us back to Westport.
Jan 6th, 2017, 02:40 PM
#9
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A bit tough because I've been to some really great restaurants in the past year. And while my favorite restaurant experience was my six hour one on one cooking class with 2 Michelin star Chef Julien Roucheteau of Table du Lancaster, I'm going to award my favorite restaurant experience again to Merchants Tavern in London (Shoreditch). Their quail/foie gras starter is on my death bed meal list and their service never fails to blow me away. "Welcome back Ms Belinda... we have your usual table waiting for you." Even though I haven't been there in a year.
Jan 6th, 2017, 03:02 PM
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We had lunch at Le Cinq a few years ago on our anniversary. They knew it was our anniversary and really rolled out the red carpet for us. Le Cinq and Le Grand Vefour are two of the most beautiful restaurants we have ever been to. The best meal have ever had just from the food standpoint was at Guy Savoy, but the atmosphere cannot compare to the other two.
Jan 6th, 2017, 04:13 PM
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Jan 6th, 2017, 04:33 PM
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My top Michelin (maybe top 'finesse') goes to Pedro Lemos, Porto. Great food, perfectly served. Just perfect.
My top belgian would go to 'la cour des grands', Liège : very refined dishes, with a 'cool' service. And cheap. 50 € pp.
My top french this year would go to the 'smash' at Saint-Clair, on the riviera. Great food around a swimming pool.
My top italian goes to 'Marco Polo' in Mestre, superb spaghetti alla vongole.
My top in Bxl was 'la truffe blanche' where we had a menu oriented towards truffle. Great ambiance too.
My best in Paris was 'Elmer' in the 3rd. A superb 'cochon noir' - black pig. Grezt wine - hips. Too much...
My top belgian would go to 'la cour des grands', Liège : very refined dishes, with a 'cool' service. And cheap. 50 € pp.
My top french this year would go to the 'smash' at Saint-Clair, on the riviera. Great food around a swimming pool.
My top italian goes to 'Marco Polo' in Mestre, superb spaghetti alla vongole.
My top in Bxl was 'la truffe blanche' where we had a menu oriented towards truffle. Great ambiance too.
My best in Paris was 'Elmer' in the 3rd. A superb 'cochon noir' - black pig. Grezt wine - hips. Too much...
Jan 6th, 2017, 04:43 PM
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Pizzeria Rucola - Krakow. Inexpensive. For average to below average people. Best pizza I've had anywhere.
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restauran...rn_Poland.html
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restauran...rn_Poland.html
Jan 6th, 2017, 04:59 PM
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"My winner is Le Grand Vefour."
Interesting.
I had lunch there about 15 or so years ago ...
I remember it very well. The service was wonderful, but except for dessert,
the food was not memorable.
Interesting.
I had lunch there about 15 or so years ago ...
I remember it very well. The service was wonderful, but except for dessert,
the food was not memorable.
Jan 6th, 2017, 05:38 PM
#15
We liked Elmer's in Paris too. This year we only spent 15 days in Europe in Paris and Iceland. My favorites were Ellsworth, a casual great meal, and Frenchie's which is a perennial favorite.
Annhig, we had a similar experience in Sicily when we visited Mt. ETna. We were starving and couldn't find a place to eat. We finally fell on some family restaurant just opening. It was fabulous, probably the best meal,of many in Sicily.
Annhig, we had a similar experience in Sicily when we visited Mt. ETna. We were starving and couldn't find a place to eat. We finally fell on some family restaurant just opening. It was fabulous, probably the best meal,of many in Sicily.
Jan 6th, 2017, 06:26 PM
#17
Three Chimneys on Skye was our favourite, this past May. We went for the three course lunch, my husband and our two daughters for a special birthday.
The entire experience was unforgettable, from the simply prepared but exquisite food, including a trio of amazing butters accompanying bread and crackers, to the moody and gorgeous setting, and spending my birthday with the people I love most, we hit the trifecta - companions, food and setting, in that order.
http://threechimneys.co.uk/
It was so special a time that it took my mind temporarily off a percolating abcess I was suffering from in a molar.
I'm blaming the abcess on a rookie mistake. When the charming waiter enquired whether we wished still or sparkling water, I selected still, thinking he knew, of course, I meant tap water. Abcess = brain fog. I was impressed with the fancy bottles the "tap" water came in, until I saw the real tap water glide by me to the next table. I'm not enough of a water aficionado to choose to pay for water, and I know very well to specify tap. A pet peeve of mine so it is, paying for l'eau.
Adding insult to injury, each of three bottles cost £5, which in Canadian was $10 each. That $30 really bugged me! A memorable and wonderful afternoon.
The entire experience was unforgettable, from the simply prepared but exquisite food, including a trio of amazing butters accompanying bread and crackers, to the moody and gorgeous setting, and spending my birthday with the people I love most, we hit the trifecta - companions, food and setting, in that order.
http://threechimneys.co.uk/
It was so special a time that it took my mind temporarily off a percolating abcess I was suffering from in a molar.
I'm blaming the abcess on a rookie mistake. When the charming waiter enquired whether we wished still or sparkling water, I selected still, thinking he knew, of course, I meant tap water. Abcess = brain fog. I was impressed with the fancy bottles the "tap" water came in, until I saw the real tap water glide by me to the next table. I'm not enough of a water aficionado to choose to pay for water, and I know very well to specify tap. A pet peeve of mine so it is, paying for l'eau.
Adding insult to injury, each of three bottles cost £5, which in Canadian was $10 each. That $30 really bugged me! A memorable and wonderful afternoon.
Jan 7th, 2017, 02:40 AM
#18
Annhig, we had a similar experience in Sicily when we visited Mt. ETna. We were starving and couldn't find a place to eat. We finally fell on some family restaurant just opening. It was fabulous, probably the best meal,of many in Sicily.>>
yestravel - it was hard deciding which meal to pick of the ones we had in Sicily - before we went I heard people raving about the food and I was a bit sceptical but it's all true.
yestravel - it was hard deciding which meal to pick of the ones we had in Sicily - before we went I heard people raving about the food and I was a bit sceptical but it's all true.
Jan 7th, 2017, 02:50 AM
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Borda Berri in San Sebastian.
Not really a restaurant, rather a pintxos bar, but the foods are cooked freshly on order and they are one of the best dishes that I've ever had, so why not. Seafood or meat or risotto, you can't go wrong in that bar.
Not really a restaurant, rather a pintxos bar, but the foods are cooked freshly on order and they are one of the best dishes that I've ever had, so why not. Seafood or meat or risotto, you can't go wrong in that bar.
