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»It's later than you think.«
Obertal 22, 56077 Koblenz
Randolph
last updated on 04-01-2009:
(updated on 07-01-2009)
After a long day’s work abroad, one does not always wish to travel far for the evening meal. Whilst pottering about in the sleepy Koblenz suburb of Ehrenbreitstein, we found this establishment. Lo and behold, it claimed to be specialised in Indian and Itailian cuisine! Two of my favourite cuisines! I had to go in, in spite of deep doubts as I tried to imagine what kind of chef was this, who could turn his hand to two such starkly different styles of cooking.
Inside, we were welcomed by an Indian gentleman - good start! There appeared to be two dining rooms, one for each type of food. Heartened by the appearance of Mr. Singh (as his name proved to be), we opted for the Indian room. The menu contained a choice of over 60 well known Indian dishes; and we noticed that the Italian menu had even more. My goodness! What a multi-talented person this chef must be!
We were just about to ask Mr. Singh about his chefs, when we heard a distant bell ringing in the direction of the kitchen. At that moment, our hearts sunk as we realised that the Head Chef was Herr Microwave, from the famous German Mikrowellenofen Kochendschule. And so it proved to be….
The poppadoms arrived. They resembled chamois leather cloths in both appearance and texture - under-microwaved. A Tandoori Mixed Grill came wrapped in a tin foil overcoat. Steamed hissed out at me as I opened it; Herr Microwave had done his job. Unfortunately, no-one had told him that the salad garnish that traditionally accompanies a Tandoori should be cold and handed separately, but Herr Microwave had popped it into the tinfoil parcel, so that droopy, wet lettuce, squashed heated tomato, and bedraggled onions were festooned over the meagre contents. And I mean meagre; Germans have something of a reputation as hearty eaters, but the portions here were not enough to feed a dachshund. Mark had ordered a Lamb Biryani, and was served a poultice of rice and meat, uniformly coloured dark red, as obviously the food dye in it had suffused throughout the whole dish during the microwave process.
I tried to have a discussion about Indian food with Mr. Singh, but suddenly he became strangely unacquainted with the English language, and my basic German does not extend to pointing out how a true Indian dish should be constructed. After an attempt at sarcasm, asking if the Microwaves were Sharp or Zanussi, and whether the cost of spare parts for microwaves was high in Germany, we left as a very disappointed duo. I have no idea what the Italian food was like, but I shudder to think what the 'Scalopina Indische Art’ or the 'Pizza A la Chef’ (mit peperoniwurst und zweibeln) would have tasted like.
This is a place to be avoided at all costs.
7 people thought this review was helpful
Firmungstr. 30, 56068 Koblenz
Randolph
last updated on 04-01-2009:
A comfortable and spacious Cafe-Restaurant-Bar in the heart of the Old Town in Koblenz. Einstein offers a hearty Breakfast Buffet from 8 a.m. untill 11.30 a.m., another buffet-style lunch spread over a 6-hour period straddling the middle hours of the day, plus an a la Carte choice for Dinner. It has a very interesting list of cocktails. The service is cheerful and friendly, making this a good destination for short or longer breaks from your sightseeing and shopping tour of old Koblenz.
4 people thought this review was helpful
22 Avenue Prud’Homme Havette, 55400 Étain
Randolph
last updated on 04-01-2009:
A 2-star hotel and restaurant (Logis de France rated 1 fireplace), La Sirene is located 15 km from Verdun on the RN3 road to Longwy/Luxembourg and is near to the Verdun battlefields. Interestingly, it claims on its web site to have been “chosen by Napoleon as a stopping place in 1970 after the battle of Gravelotte”. Mmmm….
An attractively lit Logis establishment is always tempting to the weary traveler in France, but in the case of the Sirene appearances were deceptive. My room proved to be cheerless and sparse, the only creature comfort being a tiny television set mounted near the ceiling of the room (which was about 5 metres high) in such a position that only a giraffe could have seen the programmes. The restaurant – attractive enough in itself – provided very ordinary food and low quality ingredients. The main attraction seemed to be the Hors d’Oeuvre buffet, about 20 dishes laid out on a self-service, all-you-can-eat basis. But really, who wants to load up with gherkins, limp lettuce leaves, grated carrots, industrial pate, cubes of anonymous cheese, slivers of cold, wet processed ham, and suchlike? There was, however, a decent little wine list and a good choice of half bottles, so I was able to mull my palate with a half Gigondas and a half Buzet at 13 and 9 euros respectively.
La Sirene might make a handy centre for touring the battlefields, but I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a long stay or for any good level of comfort.
5 people thought this review was helpful
Rue Griange 21, B-4500 Huy
Randolph
last updated on 04-01-2009:
The Belgians often claim that their cuisine is better than that of their near neighbours, the French, and they spend a lot of effort in imitating it. The attempts to out-do the French involve devices such as rich sauces and overworked presentation. At Azzurra we have the unseemly spectacle of Belgian cuisine imitating French cuisine imitating Italian cuisine (if you know what I mean).
Accordingly, pasta dishes are drowned in cream or passatta, and pizza (bought-in frozen bases) are laden with too many garnishes. Carte dishes masquerade as Italian in name only: for example, Belgians love croquettes; here, they were constructed partly of Parmesan cheese and topped off with a cream sauce, and entitled ‘Crocchette al Parmigiano’, an imaginary Italian dish that exists only in the minds of Belgian Chefs. Starters were around 10euro, mains 20euro, and neither were worth half the price.
I was as disappointed as I might have been, had I tuned into Poirot on the TV and found Hercule wearing a beret and hooped shirt whilst trying to sing Nessun Dorma.
3 people thought this review was helpful
Chausee Napoleon 5-9, B-4500 Huy
Randolph
last updated on 04-01-2009:
Situated on the Meuse river bank, close to the centre. Garage facilities available for bikes and motorcycles, but on-road parking only for cars. 28 rooms at medium cost. It advertises full restaurant facilities but there was little evidence of this during my visit. Friendly staff. The usual high room costs encountered anywhere in Belgium. Recommended only as a stopover destination. The rooms are somewhat spartan and the whole place has no soul.
5 people thought this review was helpful
Ristorante Pizzeria San Vigilio
Via San Vigilio 34, San Vigilio, Citta Alta,, 24129 Bergamo
Via Gombito, Citta Alta, 24129 Bergamo
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