Restaurant Atelier* — Restaurant in Gulpen-Wittem

Atelier, Gulpen » My (last) visit: Aug 2024 » Previous visit: May 2023 » Total score: 4.7/5 – very good » In a nutshell: I really enjoyed the food, I would describe it as outstanding overall. I would particularly like to highlight two excellent intermediate dishes, one with red mullet and one with potato. I would also like to point out the excellent main course with doe and an outstanding selection of confiserie. I also thought the wines were very good. I will definitely consider visiting the "Atelier" again. 1|113|64

My ratings for this gourmet restaurant in detail:

●● Service – 4.7/5 – very good: ● Hospitality, friendliness, obligingness, etc.: 4.7/5 ● Atmosphere, temper, facilitation, etc.: 4.8/5

●● Food – 4.9/5 – outstanding: ● Flavors (range, depth, composition, harmony/balance, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Level (thoroughness, craftsmanship, originality, exclusivity, variety of impressions, consistency/diversity, etc.): 4.9/5 ● Choices: 4.9/5

●● Beverages, mainly the wines – 4.8/5 – very good: ● Taste (depth/range, length, complexity, balance, accessibility, elegance, intensity/subtlety, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Level (variety/novelty of impressions, consistency/diversity, exclusivity, etc.): 4.7/5 ● Did the beverages (mainly the wines) match the dishes?: 4.8/5 ● Choices: 4.2/5

●● Presentation of the food – 4.1/5 – still good: ● Textures and (differences in) temperatures: 4.4/5 ● Colors and decorations: 3.8/5 ● Timing and sequencing as well as sizes of portions: 4.7/5 ● Special effects (positionings, DIY-effects, sculptural or thematic elements, surprises, color and motion effects, fake effects, olfactory effects, fog or smoke effects, etc.): 3.2/5 ● Procedures at and around the table (attunements and explanations, elements added/changed, service and staffing intensity, involvement of kitchen team, orchestrated dish presentations, preparations and dishes (partially) built up at the table, etc.): 4.2/5

●● Presentation of beverages, mainly the wines – 4.8/5 – very good: ● Procedures at and around the table (explanations and attunements, etc.): 4.8/5 ● Quantities poured as well as timing in relation to the dishes: 4.7/5

●● Premises and location – 4.4/5 – good to very good: ● Accessibility, surroundings and - as applicable - the view: 4.5/5 ● How did I like the room or - as applicable - outdoor area’s style, decor and atmosphere?: 4.6/5 ● Well-being (space, privacy, temperature, ventilation/odors, lighting, soundscape, sanitary facilities, etc.): 4.2/5

●● Price – 4.8/5 – very good: ● Price-performance ratio for food: 4.8/5 ● Price-performance ratio for wines and other beverages: 4.9/5 ● Price transparency and correspondence of the expected to the actual price (simple, complete and unambiguous price information on the restaurant's website and in the menu,...

One of the few restaurants i've been visiting since 15 years now. Unfortunately, there have been 2 negative developments over the years which have made me award only 4 out of 5 stars.

My main concern is, that over the years, prices have gone steadily up, however quality of food has stayed the same or even somewhat decreased.

Only recently mid november 2018, they organised a "wild-avond" i don't know the exact translation, but it consisted of actual wild animals being served in an 8-course amuse-style diner. Don't take me wrong, it was delicious, but it was partly the same as 2 years back. There was little to no innovation and the quality of the food was... not what i expected it to be as a loyal customer.

My main concern was, they did a lot of effort to remove certain flavors from dishes like wild hare or venison, because some people don't appreciate those flavors. But that was actually the theme of the evening, people who don't care for those flavors shouldn't complain about that. They should know they get them and the restaurant shouldn't have gone through such an extreme effort to remove those flavors. I for one missed them dearly and i did not enjoy my meal as much as previous years.

That being said. Recent renovations to the restaurant were stunning. They really turned the original part of the restaurant into a modern, yet very cozy place again. I was glad to be seated in the original part of the restaurant again in which they started 15 years ago. The evening itself was great. the food, while delicious, lacked a certain level that i had gotten accustomed to. Also the waiter, their 15 year old son, still has a lot to learn. His presentation of every meal was forced and unimaginative. He listed the ingredients virtually identical to the ones on the menu and there was no real improvisation. It would have been better if someone more experienced had been there that night.

All in all, i will definately return in the future, but i hope someone reads this and...

Evening off to a great start with a personalized menu. Surprising 7 course dinner offering accompanying wines but also very well paired, carefully selected nonalcoholic beverages (made in house). Their attention to detail continued throughout the evening with the kind staff picking up on all signals and showing fantastic care, well planned service and overall top hospitality. Relaxed but overall very correct atmosphere, excellent care surpassing all of my expectations.

Ending with a spectacularly confusing goose liver ice-cream & cheese combination which still has me thinking about it and will continue to do so for a while.

Recommended - more surprising/daring than some other Michelin star...