L'ermitage - Houffalize

I am relieved that I did not stay at this hotel, but instead ate at the restaurant. The service at the reception was awkward, and the dining room was nearly empty. We ordered a set menu, but were disappointed with the weak soup and mediocre steak. The sides were unimpressive, with overly salty fries and a bland salad. Despite a complaint, the replacement steak was oddly cooked. The waiter seemed inexperienced and made us feel uneasy. The creme brulee was average, and the chef even peeked out of the kitchen at the end of our meal. It is clear that this restaurant is not living up to its former glory, with outdated photos of delicious dishes. I have had better experiences at other eateries and hope that the owner can improve and bring passion to the establishment.

I am relieved that I did not stay at this hotel, but instead decided to eat at their restaurant. Unfortunately, my experience was less than ideal. The reception was awkward and uninviting. The dining room was nearly empty, which was surprising. We ordered a set menu, but were disappointed with the quality of the soup, which lacked depth. The pate was good, but the main dish, a steak, was poorly cooked and tough. The side dishes of fries, bearnaise sauce, and salad were passable, although the mayonnaise had too much pepper. After a complaint, we received a replacement steak, but it was still not up to par. The creme brulee was mediocre. The waiter seemed nice but was not very attentive. Overall, the restaurant lacked passion and attention to detail. The kitchen was opened for us to see, which felt intrusive. It is clear that the restaurant is not living up to its former glory, as the food did not match the enticing pictures displayed. I have had better dining experiences elsewhere and hope that the owner will make improvements in the future.

After a complaint, we were given a new steak, which was also poorly cooked. The waiter seemed friendly but unconfident, making us feel uncomfortable. The creme brulee was average, and the chef even peeked out of the kitchen to observe us. It was evident that the restaurant's heyday was in the past, and the current dishes did not live up to expectations. Overall, this dining experience fell short compared to my previous visits to top restaurants. Perhaps the owner can strive for improvement, but the lack of passion was palpable during our meal.