Stephen W

Isn't it just a train to Nennig Bahnhof? That's about 45 minutes from Trier by train. From Nenning station to the restaurant is about 1 mile.

Are you looking for good local food, Michelin standard fare or something in-between?

Funny that. I wonder how it happened? Really? This tweet to Jay Rayner and this one to Giles Coren would seem to indicate otherwise.

So, news from the German 3 star scene: Approximately two years after Nils Henkel took charge of "Gourmetrestaurant Dieter Müller" the restaurant has been renamed ("Gourmetrestaurant Lerbach") and refurbished (pictures on the website). Nils Henkel looks to be further developing his style of cuisine and the restaurant perhaps better reflects this. It is also interesting to note that a 6 course vegetarian tasting menu is available (Menü Pures Gemüse) - not something that you tend to see advertised at the top-end in Germany.

Do I gather that you went at the end of May? If so, I've seen several accounts from that time with roughly the same opinion. It will be interesting to see if the recent revisions to the menu have addressed those concerns (I notice for instance that the Tuna dish has changed). I await Amieden's report with interest (and may find myself planning another visit...)

Anybody visiting Tom Aikens for the first time should always go for lunch and have the lunch menu (£29 I think). That way, if you don't like it you haven't forked out a huge sum (by London standards). As an aside, their wine list prices seem to have been reduced recently.

From the GBM website

Does anybody else perceive a price increase at Vendome (even excluding the 24 course menu at €245)? If so, any thoughts on that in the current economic climate? Is the top end of German cuisine not suffering a downturn? I'm also intrigued by how a 6-7 hour meal works with a lunch and dinner sitting - wouldn't the lunch customers still be there when the dinner customers came in? Wouldn't the dinner customers be finishing at 1 - 2am?

Goulash (and only goulash) and Koelsch (no better combination on a cold day): Puszta Huette, just off Neumarkt. Flammekuchen and Koelsch, sat outside overlooking the Rhine (nothing better on a hot summers evening): StaeV A Brauhaus outside the centre (good food, good and friendly service): Brauhaus Goldener Pflug - easily reachable by tram line 1 (stop: Merheim). A Brauhaus in the Altstadt (serves Paeffgen Koelsch for those who like a slightly stronger taste): Brauhaus en d'r Salzgass

Not perhaps quite that easy to sell a house for full value in London or remortgage it at the moment.

There's a rather good video of the restaurant on their website.

What a fantastic menu (and beautiful pictures)! I need to start saving for another visit... Was it part of a special event or did you request it specially?

What date have you put in for next year?

Yes, same result for me. I've decided not to bother again next year. It's not so much the disappointment of getting turned down year after year (the odds favour that), more the envy of those who get in on their first attempt.

The key is that little button at the top left of the screen marked "english". For those who want a direct link click here. When I was last at KaDeWe (August 2007) most of the eating places in the food hall were "sit at the counter" type places, with the chefs working on the other side of the counter. The oyster bar was the only one I remember with a few tables as well.