And the FWRR awards 2011 goes to….
The below list is most likely also my all-time favourite list. But I will update the list next year and see if there are movements. Most of the restaurants on the list all gave me some memorable lunches or dinners in 2011. Some are still so present in my memory from earlier vistis that I cannot disregard them. So if I had 10 restaurants to re-visit on this planet, this would be my choices today.
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1. Schloss Berg, Nennig. Bau continue to improve his cooking to perfection. I like everything about this place, the ambience, the service – the food and wines top notch.
1 - Schloss Berg - The Champion
2. Sölleröd Kro, Copenhagen Now had this pearl been in France it would be a 3 star michelin – but as it is – its in Denmark and thus “only” have 1. Jan Restorff is the best maitre in the world.
2 -Sölleröd Kro - runner up
3. Lameloise, Chagny Frederic Lamy and his team in the service makes sure the perfect food from the kitchen is delivered and presentated to perfection.
3 - Lameloise
4. Le Cinq, Paris. Not visited this year, but I cannot and will not leave it out of my list. Its simply too good. Maybe in 2012. One can always dream. 2 star michelin rating. No food photo – but a photo I never get tired of. Oscar and the missus meeting Bruce Springsteen, just outside Le Cinq.
4. Le Cinq - well actually Bruce Springsteen meets Oscar...
5. Restaurant Babette, Vordingborg – Henrik and Brian in the front and Vivi and her team in the kitchen make sure your dining experience is close to perfect. Being in rural Denmark, 1 hour from Copenhagen i.e. it has no michelin star rating but I am sure it would have at least 1 in France.
5 -Restaurant Babette
A shared 5th place go to
5. Der Butt, Warnemünde. 1 Star michelin rating. Tillman Hahn in the kitchen and all is well in the world. The dinner we had here last summer was outstanding, and even better than the years before.
5 -Der Butt
7. Restaurant Clairefontaine, Luxembourg. When Arnaud Magnier is good, he is really good. He is for sure the best chef in Luxembourg, and he often surprices you with combinations or presentations you would never dream of – but afterwards you will. Take a look at the the Cordon Bleu Revisited below and you will know what I mean. 1 star michelin rating.
7 - Restaurant Clairefontaine
8. Restaurant Rosin, Wulfen. Visiting Frank Rosin in his newly awarded 2 star michelin restaurant was something else than expected. Very down to earth cooking. Beautiful settings, and a wine list among the best I have seen in Germany.
8 - Restaurant Rosin
9. Bouquet Garni, Luxembourg. Thierry Duhr is among the best chefs in Luxembourg, and this adress is probably the most romantic gastronomic restaurant with its stone walls, and open fire in the evening. 1 star michelin rating.
9 - Bouquet Garni
10. Hotel Marbella Club, Marbella. For sure worth a visit. Javier Doncel, or the other waiters will treat you as a king, And you will be stunned by the quality of the food and surroundings. No michelin rating.
10 - Marbella Club Hotel, The Beach Club Restaurant
Enough gastronomy….
I shall finish the list of with some Brasserie style restaurants – but they all managed to impress me – some of them once some of them repeatedly..
1. Bullerei, Hamburg. Tim Mälzer and or his team, produces simple food, but with an outstanding price/quality, super friendly staff and an ambience I simply fell for. A surprice on the list, but the evening I spend there was really something. No michelin rating.
- 1 – Bullerei – perfect beef
2. L´annexe, Luxembourg. Award winning in two categories, Jerome with J.P., Sebastien and Christophe in the front and “Miche” and his team in the kitchen provide you with super Brasserie food and you always feel welcome no matter how crowded the place is. And believe me, it can get very crowded. No michelin rating.
- 2 – L´Annexe
3. Ill Riccio, Luxembourg. Tano and Tina holds this restaurant in firm hands. Luca is slowly taking over the responsibilities, and he is everything you could wish for in a host. Its a TINY restaurant with a large menu, good wine list. The kitchen is very flexible and will cook just about anything you ask for. Easily my favourite Italian restaurant. No michelin rating.
3 - Ill Riccio
I am thankful forall the good friends that shared the moments with me along the way in 2011. Rock on….
Food, Wine and Rock´n´roll 
Elegance…
Knowing some of mentioned places I can’t agree more. Looking forward to see more nice places this year.
I’m surprised you’re listing l’annexe here. I haven’t been there since over a year although. Back then the price/value relationship disappointed me. Clairefontaine was only slightly more expensive.
But maybe prices changed
Hi Steve, thanks for stopping by. L´Annexe has for me a very good price/quality level for Luxembourg standards. And they are so children friendly – its a dream for parents to dine here.
As for price level compared to Clairefontaine. Yeah, you are probably right.
But right now L´Annexe has a concept of a 3 course dinner inlcuding wines and coffe for I think 50 eur. And I think you would pay at least the double at Clairefontaine.
But L´Annexe is good Brasserie food, Clairefontaine is gastronomic – so I really think you cannot compare. So at Clairefontaine you get the amuses and the sweets as part of the meal. And if you settle for 2 dishes a la carte in compare to 3 dishes at L´Annexe, well the price difference is probably not that big anymore…
I like them both – for different reasons….
The 50 EUR menu including wines sounds good. And it’s not one of these fancy design restaurants where food comes second.
Might give it another chance. Good food options are rare.
Well say hi to Jerome from me.
Question back. I need suggestions for good restaurants in Champagne. Not 3 star but good level. Do you have any ?
For the champagne, I can’t help you out unfortunately. Haven’t spend much time there.