Ammolite - The Lighthouse Restaurant — Restaurant in Verwaltungsgemeinschaft Ettenheim

First experience as a two star restaurant, which was overall very good - although not necessarily better than experiences at one stars. The ambiance is very intimate, lights are slightly dim, there aren’t too many tables inside, and seats are very comfy - I really enjoyed sitting next to my partner rather than standard in front. Food was very good - and the quality was amazing. The fish and meat were cooked to perfection. The veal was very tender. Surprisingly for me, what sticked the most was the pre-dessert made of carrot. Really good! Although the chef (I guess the main one) had the extra care to bring a small pastry for a particular event we were celebrating (it was a a very nice surprise) overall I felt that not all the staff was prepared at the same level. Nearly all were friendly - with some being more experienced than others. I guess considering the two stars I was expecting a bit more. Not really just a short description of what I see in the plate (very very concise) but some facts around the construction/idea/story behind a plate. I didn’t see that coming - but I noticed that the same dishes were described more thoroughly on the table next by occasionally. In addition, I asked for English speaking description to a staff member - which forgot, and I also had to remind her about my glass of wine. This is not a big issue of course because the food was great and service was overall friendly - but I asked myself if the staff was still learning? Still a very good experience and the extra care of the main chef was just...

Ammolite has been on my ‘need to visit’ list since I last stayed at Europa Park in Hotel Bell Rock back in 2017, so for our visit in December 2022 - we decided to treat ourselves and booked a table.

From the moment you walk through the door and are greeted by the friendly service team, you know you’re going to be in good hands. The restaurant itself is beautifully opulent, representative of the experience you’re about to undertake. Once you’ve taken your seat, the experience begins, with the arrival of some beautifully presented Amuse Bouche as you peruse their impressive wine menu.

After we had selected our wine and the menu we were going to have, it’s essentially an assault of tastes for the next 3 hours. I lost count of the delicious courses we were expertly served. Some of the highlights for me personally were the incredible Cod dish and the Wagyu Beef, they absolutely sensational. Even the bread was an impressive experience in itself, and it wasn’t just food, it was theatre.

The service is without a doubt some of the best I’ve ever experienced, and all the team were clearly passionate about giving the best possible experience - and that they certainly did. They were a well-oiled machine that delivered perfect service, expertly.

There is no denying that this is not a cheap experience, but I would say it is worth the money. The passion, skill and imagination that has gone into this incredible culinary adventure has to be experienced personally to fully appreciate it - as no review will ever...

Both food and table service could not have been better. We enjoyed every minute. The sommelier service was lacking though. We ordered varying wines with an idea to match the dishes and unfortunately the selection suggested was just so-so. We were not asked about our wine preferences and not have been offered trying wines before ordering. As a result some of the selections were huge misses. It's also not explained how a particular wine complements a specific dish and why it was suggested - e.g. was it meant a contrast, to underline a specific flavor or maybe as a mere background. We were left to guess and wondered if it was just random. It sure felt like it.

Better arrive hungry, there is really a LOT of food to enjoy, portions are small but not tiny and all these dishes add...