We were lucky enough to have dinner at de Mangerie restaurant in the Crowne Plaza, Maastricht. The hotel is in prime location with a full view over the city. The restaurant is very classic in style with crisp white tablecloths and simple decor. 

From the moment we entered, we were so pampered. The staff were very welcoming, friendly and generous with their time and our table was first class with a beautiful view over the Mass river. 

Now for the food, they have a classic menu with a good selection of fish, meat and a wild game section. We had a selection of starters including a perfectly cooked tuna tataki; a lamb plate with the most tender thin slices of roast lamb, lamb spring roll and sweetbreads; poultry terrine and sweet little cups of creamy pumpkin soup. Everything was delicious, the tuna plate was an explosion of Asian flavours, the lamb was subtle and the terrine, hearty and strong. For my taste, the wasabi mayo could have been spicier but that is a minor note in such a delicious ensemble. 

For main, we found it difficult to choose from the vast offerings; Duck confit, Red bass, Steak Rossini, Venison, Salmon, Chicken, mushroom risotto… this is the kind of menu where the accompaniments sound just as inviting as the mains.

We opted for the salmon and the red bass. Both fillets were generous in size and cooked to perfection. The bass was accompanied by a rich lobster bisque and creamy stack of orzo with salty samphire. The salmon was on a bed of linguine with asparagus and tomatoes. The flavours were perfectly balanced without one ingredient overpowering the taste.

Portions were generally generous…

…However, we managed to find some space for dessert, of course. The chocolate Panna Cotta was creamy with the perfect ‘wobble’ and a boozy hit of Baileys. The orange pie with ice cream was a delicious fresh, fluffy citrus explosion. 

All in all, this was a real treat of an evening, despite the central location, the feeling in this restaurant is pure calm with a sense of time stopping. The food is classic and delicious. There are no strange flavour surprises, just good ingredients, cooked well. We would highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion especially if you’re trying to impress.