Left out in the cold...

Imagine the following scene: it's a dark, cold and rainy Saturday night. A couple is huddled together under an umbrella, hurriedly walking through a scenic park. It's their anniversary, and they are looking forward to the night ahead. When they reach the restaurant they realize that something is wrong, there are no lights on in the usually bustling building. They peek inside and eventually find a sign on the door saying that the restaurant is closed. Cold, wet and hungry they look at each other in despair, not knowing where to go...

This was us on our last anniversary. I like to imagine that it really looked as gloomy and dramatic when I tell the story.

It was the weekend of our anniversary. Each year we go back to the restaurant where we had our first date. It is a special place for us, and so we only go there once a year for our anniversary dinner. We are always very much looking forward to the night as it means good food, good wine and good company. We always plan ahead, booking the table, checking the menu and picking out outfits, well me at least.

It is a fancy-ish restaurant, owned by a very well renowned Luxembourgian cook, with a large, open kitchen and a nice wine selection and smaller menu. The building is set in a park in the south of Luxembourg, so you do have to walk about 5 to 10 minutes through the park before reaching the restaurant itself, which is a very modernist, industrial looking structure with rusted steel panels.

We have spent some great evenings there the last couple of years, though the last time that we went the food and service was not as up to part as the years before but it is our tradition and so there was no question really where we would go. Chris made sure to book a table a week ahead.

On the night in question we were hungry, excited and I had even put on my "not-made-for-walking" heels. We were, cold, wet and foremost hungry, standing in front of the closed restaurant. A simple note had been taped to the door: "closed for technical reasons".

While making the reservation Chris had to leave his phone number, so we knew that they should have our contact details. What we could not understand was that nobody had contacted us to let us know that the restaurant was not open. I simply did not expect that from such a reputable restaurant. We were actually quite a long way from home and had no idea where to go. It was getting late, and we wanted to go somewhere nice, but we did not know anything in the vicinity.

We ended up calling a restaurant which is close to where we live. As it was a Saturday night I, I wasn't very hopeful, but they had a table available and were very happy to accommodate us. The restaurant is called Pèitry Restoberge and is a renowned restaurant, which has been mentioned in the Gault Millau and the Guide Michelin. Located in an old barn, it's a unique and atmospheric space. They serve a traditional regional cuisine and I really appreciate their attention to seasonal and local products. Plus, they do offer vegetarian options on the menu and even vegan options are available upon request, which is still a bit uncommon for this class of restaurant in Luxembourg (though times are changing).

Overall, the evening did have a happy end, and we had a great culinary experience. Their pumpkin soup was the most velvety (this is actually the perfect work to describe it) soup I have eaten in my life and the creme brulée for dessert was actually freshly flambeed at the table. Chris crowned it "the best creme brulée he had ever had", and I have to agree with him. We had an amazing Portuguese wine, which the sommelier told us was very popular, and we have been trying more Portuguese wines lately and so far have not been disappointed yet.

I am hoping to do a complete review post in the future, maybe during autumn as I can imagine that they will have some amazing dishes on their seasonal menu. For a 3-course meal, with aperitif, water, wine and coffee, we ended up paying about 175 Euros. The price was a bit higher than it would have been in the other restaurant, but the extra cost was well worth it, as Pèitry's quality of the food just outclassed the other restaurant. Considering the occasion, location and quality, I gladly paid that price. Still, it is a restaurant for special days and not necessarily your regular go-to hang-out.

Afterwards, I contacted the first restaurant by e-mail; the restaurant itself as well as the owner's main restaurant, where she cooks and entertains. My e-mail was very diplomatic but I never heard back, which disappointed me even more, as the owner prides herself as a beacon of hospitality. A simple "we are sorry for the inconvenience" would have been really appreciated. Just a couple of days ago, news outlets here in Luxembourg reported that the restaurant had actually not reopened after the winter break and that the lease would not be renewed.

Therefore, we might have to make Pèitry our new anniversary tradition but should there ever be a new restaurateur in the first location we will surely check it out, for old times sake.