Whitehouse — Restaurant in Riga

Beyond dining: the art of flavors, the poetry of presentation

Cocktails

From the very first moment, the service set the tone for the evening. Our waitress, sensing we weren’t in the mood for alcohol, gracefully offered a selection of non-alcoholic cocktails. The one we chose was a delight — fresh, well-balanced, and beautifully presented.

Appetizers and starters

The evening began with a charming chef’s compliment — a delicate roll presented on a bed of nitrogen stones, the mist swirling around it like a scene from a culinary performance. It was both visually stunning and delicious, instantly creating a wonderful first impression.

Our first course featured golden potato croquettes paired with an caviar sauce — an unexpected yet harmonious pairing. This was followed by tender eggplant layered with creamy goat cheese, finished with a delicate crispness. Each bite felt thoughtfully composed, like a brushstroke in a culinary painting.

Desserts

Before dessert, an enchanting touch arrived at our table: a vase with a single orchid, adorned with two tiny candies. As they melted, they released playful bursts of flavor that popped delightfully in the mouth — a whimsical prelude to the sweet courses.

Next came the chocolate dessert — elegant and nicely balanced in sweetness.

The grand finale was a strawberry creation of remarkable artistry — ice cream at its base, a cloud-like strawberry texture, rhubarb and strawberry purée, all concealed beneath a delicate meringue dome. It was a masterpiece of textures, flavors, and presentation.

Atmosphere and overall Impression

We dined on the terrace, overlooking a peaceful park, surrounded by the warmth of a summer evening and impeccable service.

Summary

This is not a place one visits simply to eat. It is a celebration of taste, an exhibition of plating artistry, and a testament to the skill of both the kitchen and the pastry team. A truly deserving Michelin...

I had dinner at Whitehouse in Riga and it really lived up to the Michelin mention in many ways. The kitchen even surprised us with a few extra small tasting plates, which turned out to be some of the best bites of the evening – full of flavour and beautifully presented.

From the menu we had the chef’s specials (pasta with cheese sauce & truffles) & focaccia with truffle butter as starters. As for the mains we had the beef fillet with fries, Faroe Islands salmon with fries and ended it with the chocolate dessert. Everything looked and tasted great. The only thing I would have wished for was a more tender cut of beef fillet – it was nice, but at this level I expected a little more quality from that dish.

What really made the evening though was the service. Krista, our main waitress, was simply outstanding. I have been to some amazing Michelin-starred restaurants in Monaco, Dubai, and Milan, yet Krista’s service level exceeded even those. She had the perfect balance of professionalism and warmth, checking in at exactly the right times, explaining dishes with knowledge and passion, and making sure the whole flow of the evening felt effortless. She goes above and beyond in a way that makes you feel looked after, not just served. Krista is the kind of person any restaurant would dream of having on their team.

I also had a short interaction with Matilda, who was equally great. She came across as attentive and genuine, and I have no doubt she will do very well in hospitality if she continues on this path.

Whitehouse is absolutely worth visiting if you are in Riga. The food is creative and well executed, the extras from the kitchen add a nice touch, and the service – thanks to Krista – takes the whole experience to...

Overall a great 4.5 star experience. The food was excellent, the setting and the service both very nice and comfortable. At the same time, pricing was about as expensive as Riga gets, and the experience wasn't entirely perfect. Service was a bit hapless. First of all, the set menu is a bit shrouded in mystery - it is neither mentioned on the website nor shown in the menu, you must inquire, almost insist on seeing it, and we couldn't find out definitive details before we arrived at the restaurant. Besides, we twice were wrongly told that something isn't available. As it pertained to one dish of the set menu, we subsequently were informed that it had been found after all (and served some delicious, incredibly soft salted deer). Less luck for the beverage - only after having been served an alternative did the bar keeper arrive, bottles in hand, to inform that he had found what we had requested after all... The presentation was very flashy (think gold foil etc.) but that shouldn't distract from objectively great flavours. Comparing our chocolate bonsai to the pictures here, though, we felt that ours was a bit simple and void of love. Compared to the miniscule size of previous courses (e.g., a single scallop), the base of the chocolate bonsai also was huge and very heavy. We therefore left the place a bit stuffed and honestly a bit underwhelmed in spite of some fantastic courses early on. All in all, we had a great evening but if I had to pick one restaurant in Riga to go back to, it wouldn't...