A pleasant surprise. After the flight of stairs, you are greeted by a large restaurant room. Bright, warm and trendy, the Madeleine restaurant has a lot going for it.
First of all, the bar itself. Imposing and sophisticated, it looks like a large hotel bar like we see in some American's movie. However, cocktails are not the main drinks of the establishment. Here, wine is king! Although Madeleine is not strictly speaking a wine bar, it does have a great wine list. You will find a wide range of local wines by the glass and by the bottle. They even have this ingenious Enomatic machine, a wine dispenser, which many would dream of having at home!
After the bar, it's the room itself that catches your eye. It's hard to choose between the intimate corners or the huge bay window. The decor is modern and airy, with a mixture of wood and a warm, bright blue.
But the serious business begins when the menu opens. Chef Delecourt has created it to honour the terroir of his adopted country. A few choices of starters, meat and fish dishes sit alongside the four specials of the week. Here, the faithful customer is pampered. New dishes are offered every seven days. A Luxembourgish dish, a fish dish, a meat dish and a vegetarian dish are on offer. And given the history of chef Michaël Delecourt, we'd give a try for the vegetarian dish.
Vegetables and regional products are both favoured by the chef, although he will swear that he does not have a preference or a signature dish. A multi-tasker, passionate and extremely experienced, Michaël Delecourt travelled a lot before arriving in the region. His travels were obviously all linked to gastronomy, and he trained in many establishments, thus refining his palate. He worked in some Italian and regional restaurants and also the Hotel des Nations in Clervaux, now closed. For 12 years, Chef Delecourt ran the restaurant for "Madame", as he still calls her. There, vegetarian dishes were always offered in the same way as meat dishes. A modernity for the time and the region, anchored in a rural gastronomy of stockbreeding.
But Michaël Delecourt's talent preceded him. He quickly took over the reins of the Madeleine, accepting the challenge of winning back a new clientele and, above all, building customer loyalty. And the reward came quickly, since the famous Gault&Millau quickly honoured the chef's cuisine by giving it a score of 12/20, which is quite a good rating.
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The chef himself says so. His cooking is raw, multicultural and inspired. If the basis of the traditional recipes is present, Italian and world gastronomy appears by touches in his plates. Chef Delecourt's ideas come from his travels and books. Here too, everything is prepared on the spot and organised to the letter. The chef is meticulous and leaves nothing to chance. The fridge is methodically structured, and the layout is king to allow easy serving. He shares his kitchen with many young people, particularly enjoying exchanging and training the new generations.
Have you heard of their croquetterie? Everyone loves a croquette, and they understand that. That's why the menu has been expanded to include a range of croquettes made entirely in the kitchens. Lobster croquettes, frog legs, and "bouchée à la reine" compete with the traditional cheese and shrimp croquettes. Beware: it's easy to get your mouth watering when it comes to choosing! The traditional "home-made" ice creams are also a gourmet nod to his affinity for Italian cuisine.
The result is an honest gastronomic experience, a pleasant and gourmet moment to share. Gourmets and foodies alike will find something to their liking, as the menu, which is extensive without being overpowering, will satisfy all customers.
Practical information :
in Marnach, at the ShoppingCenter Noordstrooss
Opening hours: Every lunchtime from 12 noon to 2pm and in the evening from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Fridays and Saturdays evenings from 6pm to 9:30pm.
+352 26 90 46 95