Langouste Restoran — Restaurant in City of Belgrade

A Fading Star? A Michelin-Starred Experience Falls Short

The allure of a Michelin star is undeniable, promising not just exceptional cuisine but an impeccable dining experience. When a restaurant is newly crowned with this prestigious honor, as was the case for the establishment in question last November, the anticipation is even greater. Unfortunately, a recent visit suggests that this particular star may be losing its luster. The tasting menu, a showcase of the kitchen’s artistry, was a solid performance. Dishes were well-executed and technically proficient, demonstrating a clear understanding of flavor and texture. However, the meal lacked a certain spark—that "wow" factor that separates the merely good from the truly memorable. The food was good, but it didn't transcend; it failed to leave a lasting impression. The service, an equally important component of a fine dining experience, was a study in contradictions. While the waitstaff's frequent, almost performative inquiries of "I hope you like our service" felt a bit strange, it was the glaring oversights that truly soured the evening. A simple request—a candle for a friend's birthday dessert, confirmed in advance—was completely forgotten, a bewildering lapse for a restaurant of this caliber. Adding to the list of missteps were several surprising and frankly, unprofessional, choices. The restaurant charged for bread and butter without any prior notification, a practice almost unheard of in the world of Michelin-starred dining. The stingy pour of wine for a single glass was another detail that, while small, speaks to a broader lack of generosity. The most baffling moment, however, came at the end of the evening. After the bill was paid and the desserts had been cleared, the chef came out to greet the tables. He stopped at ours and, with a smile, said, "Happy birthday!" This final, ironic gesture was the ultimate confirmation that the message had, in fact, been received by the kitchen. The birthday was known, yet the simple request for a candle was still forgotten. It’s a stunning example of a disconnect between the front of the house and the kitchen, a symptom of management that seems to have its priorities misplaced. Ultimately, the food was a saving grace, but the overall experience was a letdown. A one-star rating is a hard-earned achievement, a testament to culinary excellence and an expectation of flawless execution. If this restaurant hopes to maintain its place among the gastronomic elite, it needs to work much harder to ensure that its service and attention to detail match the quality of what comes out of its kitchen. Otherwise, that shining star might be at risk of...

Unfortunately, our recent experience at Langouste fell significantly below expectations.

We arrived at 17:00, in line with our confirmed reservation (adjusted by email weeks in advance). However, we were informed it was “too early” and asked to wait, which created an uncomfortable start to the evening.

The overall atmosphere was unpleasant from the moment we entered. As we were being seated, we passed by a group of guests in casual attire smoking strong cigars, with the smoke lingering throughout the area. This was both unbearable and surprising, as we did not expect this in a restaurant of this standard.

Our group of 12 was provided with only one menu, which was highly inconvenient. Service of drinks was also noticeably slow, especially for those who ordered first. At times, the tone of the main waiter was unprofessional—for example, when asked about a dish, his response was: “I’ll explain to everyone at once to avoid repeating myself.”

In terms of food, the dishes themselves were interesting, with excellent presentation. The head chef’s personal engagement at the end of the meal was a welcome and positive touch.

That said, the overall experience did not meet the expectations set by Langouste’s reputation. Our internal rating was 2.5 out of 5. Several of my international colleagues, who have dined at Michelin-starred restaurants abroad, expressed particular disappointment, as they are accustomed to a much higher level of service and attention to detail.

Despite the considerable cost, the evening did not deliver value for money and was, regrettably, the least enjoyable dining experience of our trip. The lack of attention to detail, the atmosphere, and the overall service left us dissatisfied.

We hope this feedback will be taken constructively to support future improvement and to maintain Langouste’s esteemed reputation. However, we will not...

It’s been a couple of days since we visited the restaurant, and I’m still trying to understand what went wrong with our experience. We chose this restaurant to celebrate our 10th anniversary because of the view, which was indeed nice, except for the dirty windows.

We ordered the “meat” set, and surprisingly, the first appetizer was red caviar. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing bad about caviar, but we expected the set to be consistent, and it did not feel that way at all.

Additionally, we requested wine pairings with our meals, but the waiter suggested, “one bottle would be cheaper.” We were looking for a different kind of experience, so my husband joked about it and asked if they could still do the pairings. The waiter confirmed, but they failed to deliver. The first red meat course was paired with white wine, which might be acceptable to the sommelier, but we did not find it suitable.

The waitstaff ruined the atmosphere of the place. We expected one waiter to attend to us throughout the evening, but three different waiters served us, frequently changing and providing little information about the courses. I found myself eavesdropping on a nearby table because their waiter was offering more details than ours.

Moreover, there were two courses with truffle oil and two courses with very smelly goat cheese. One of each might have been okay, but two was too much for me. The gazpacho was superb, but the tartar smelled a bit off; the meat was definitely not fresh. To top it off, the profiteroles, the dessert, were so tough that we couldn’t bite into them. We left extremely disappointed. There were so many unacceptable details for a restaurant of this level. There are some really nice Michelin-starred restaurants in Belgrade, but unfortunately, this is not...