21st October 2012
After a few errands in the city, i decided to finish my weekend with lunch at The European. Recently upgraded to a Hat Restaurant in the recent good food, i was intrigued that it would be increased to Hat status after years of being just short.
When i arrived it was pretty crazy with a show about to start next door and the wait staff were pretty stressed and rushed in their service. However once the initial rush settled down, which would have pushed any restaurant, the staff settled in and provided good and efficient service.
For my final meal before starting a diet, i went for the full three courses. Before ordering food i looked at the extensive drinks list including some quality European beers, including favourites Budvar and Leffe Blonde.
For entree, i went with the smoked eel and jamon croquette. Three balls of beautifully crisp croquette filled with smoked eel and jamon. Combined with a puree and topped with bean sprouts and a slice of lemon. It was very nice but nothing extraordinary.
Next up was a Pork Cotoletta with Italian Coleslaw, a big chunk of pork with the bone still attached covered in bread crumbs and with a great coleslaw. Again simple food, done well.
I finished with my favourite part of the meal, a desert of chocolate salty caramel, peanuts and yoghurt gelato. A scoop of chocolate salted caramel encased with a crisp shell of dark chocolate. Combined with a dark chocolate stick covered with crushed peanuts and surrounded with both caramelised and chocolate covered peanuts and a smooth and contrasting yoghurt gelato. This was the mix of quality home style cooking and innovation, technique and imagination that is expected of a hat restaurant.
Good quality food and service but, with the exception of desert, the dishes did have the wow factor of a hat restaurant. Still a decent meal and good value with quality ingredients and techniques that will never have you leaving hungry.
