After travel, my second greatest love is food. At home in the UK I am always keen to find cute, quirky cafes, visit an up-and-coming restaurant or indulge my taste buds with some international cuisine. Whilst abroad, this trend continues as I seek out cosy coffee shops, traditional gastronomy and where my purse-strings allow luxurious multi-course menus. During my recent trip to Prague, our hotel – The Mark Luxury Hotel – invited me to review their Le Grill Restaurant. It was an offer I just could not resist!
After a long day sightseeing in the cold February air, there was no better way to end day 2 in Prague than making the short trip from our room down to the Hotel’s adjoining restaurant for a 3-course dinner.
On arrival in Le Grill we were met by our friendly waiter for the evening who led us through the restaurant to our candle-lit table. The warm welcome as we entered the restaurant and the attentive service that followed set the tone for the evening. The restaurant itself exhibited all the hallmarks of a well-managed establishment offering an acknowledged dining experience; crisp white tablecloths, sparkling silver cutlery and crystal-clear glassware set within a room decorated in a modern-style and with decadently high ceilings, which provided a real sense of space and style.
Although the restaurant was a little quiet – probably something to do with it being a Monday evening – the ambience was lovely and we were soon approached by our sommelier, complete with wine list and advice regarding our choice of wine; we opted for a glass of deliciously fresh Prosecco.
Once we had our glasses in hand we were taken through the various food options for the evening. We had chosen to opt for the Winter Seasonal Menu where the varied course options were based upon a number of fresh, seasonally available ingredients including beetroot, root vegetables, apples and chicory.
Before our starters arrived, we were offered a complimentary bread basket and a scrumptious amuse-bouche – Goats Cheese Cream with honey and nuts.
Starters
I absolutely love Chicory so my eyes were immediately drawn to the ‘Chicory Salad with Goats Cheese Cream’ – a rather unusually healthy choice for me as I usually wouldn’t opt for a salad as a starter but I was eager to sample and discover the contrasting flavours within this dish.
I was not disappointed as the salad was a pleasurable mix of sweet and bitter, as well as crunchy and smooth. The Goat Cheese Cream along with the small pieces of apple marinated in Red Wine added a sweet edge to the dish, and the selection of nuts scattered on the top, a crunch.
Chicory | Goat Cheese Cream | Nuts Selection | Apples in Red Wine | Watercress
My boyfriend, Dom, on the other hand, went for the even healthier option (very unusual). He enjoyed a Mixed Salad with Quinoa, Pears and Sweet Potato crisps drizzled with a tangy Apple Dressing. Equally delicious! (We were eager to share the flavours, textures and taste experience in each of the dishes – so share and share alike became our motto.)
Main Course
Having spotted Roasted Duck Suprêmes on the menu, it was going to be hard persuading myself to go for anything else, but seeing as my boyfriend doesn’t like ordering the same meal as someone else, I sacrificed myself and opted for the Pumpkin Risotto instead .. must be true love, right?
That being said, my Risotto was full of taste and very delicious and the portion size surprisingly large. I particularly enjoyed the hint of sage and subtle crumbling of gingerbead over the top of the risotto which added an extra flavour and dimension to the dish
Pumpkin Risotto | Champignon | Grana Padano Cheese | Gingerbread | Sage
As expected the Roasted Duck did not disappoint and Dom (with a degree of coercion!) surrendered a (small) slice for me to try.. after which all was forgiven! The Duck was cooked to perfection – lean and slightly pink in the centre – and beautifully presented on the plate.
Roasted Duck Suprêmes with Confit Duck Leg | Red Cabbage | Pumpkin | Potatoes Gnocchi
Dessert
As our third and final course approached, I was already feeling suitably sated but I am a girl with a sweet tooth and could not resist tucking into dessert.
I had opted for the fresh, tart and zesty Lemon Pie, topped with raspberries and a light rosemary cream. I must say that it was nearly too pretty to eat!
Lemon Pie | Rosemary Cream | Meringue | Lime Crumble
Dom opted for the decadent Chocolate Joconde with Vanilla Mousse and Forest Fruits sorbet. Wow! The desert offered a variety of flavours from the rich Joconde, to the creamy mousse and finally the tangy but refreshing fruit sorbet.
Vanilla Mousse | Forest Fruits Sorbet | Chocolate Joconde | Red Wine Reduction
The Verdict
Le Grill definitely exceeded my expectations for a number of reasons. I find that usually Hotel’s Restaurants, or those associated with them, occasionally lack character and charm but this certainly does not apply to Le Grill. The ambience was great for a relaxed evening with a friend or partner, and the meal was deliciously indulgent, introducing us to a variety of unique and interesting flavours. I was particularly impressed by the skilled presentation of dishes which made the food almost too attractive to eat and most definitely photo-worthy. I wasn’t the only one with their camera out at the table.. which makes a change!
The service was fantastic and very professional which certainly set the experience apart from others. The staff were incredibly attentive and always willing to please, and we were both made to feel very welcome by all involved.
In my opinion, with the combination of mouth-watering dishes and outstanding table service, it is no surprise that Le Grill has repeatedly been placed in the top 20 best restaurants in the Czech Republic. Our dining experience was refined but not pretentious, delivered great value for money and was the perfect place for an enjoyable relaxing evening within walking distance from Prague’s bustling historic centre.
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What did you think of my Le Grill Restaurant review? Have you been to Le Grill or perhaps stayed at The Mark, or maybe you are planning a trip to Prague? If you enjoyed this post or have any more questions about my experience, please do leave me a comment in the box below!
*Disclosure: Many thanks to the team at Le Grill and The Mark Luxury Hotel for inviting us to review their restaurant. We were guests of Le Grill for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are, as always, my own.
Contact details:
Le Grill Restaurant, Hybernská 1002/12, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
www.grandmark.cz/restaurant-le-grill
+420 226 226 126
