Michelin star for must-visit quirky restaurant based in train carriages | World | News
Located in two restored carriages of the Orient Express, the extraordinary restaurant received its first Michelin star less than a year after its opening. The Pullman Restaurant at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel and Estate in Galway, Ireland, was among 20 locations in Great Britain and Ireland to receive the prestigious award for the first time at a ceremony on Monday night. The eccentric dining experience takes guests inside two original carriages from the legendary long-distance train service between Paris and Constantinople and even includes an ‘Agatha Christie’ compartment, paying homage to the mysterious author’s famous novel.
Since the restaurant opened last March under head chef Angelo Vagiotis, diners have also been treated to panoramic views of the resort’s golf course and Lough Corrib. The Michelin Guide describes it as a “memory-making” fine dining experience that “showcases the best Irish produce in beautifully balanced dishes such as Oscietra caviar and wild turbot with champagne and vanilla sauce.”
The restaurant’s service was also praised by the award-giving body as “delightful, engaging and attentive”.
Priced at €130 per person, the tasting menu also includes The Burren venison, served with preserved fruit and campot peppers, tangerine sorbet and rhubarb wine gums, and served with dark chocolate sorrel.
A recent guest described her birthday celebrations at The Pullman as a “magnificent evening” and described the tasting menu, accompanied by select wines, as “magnificent.”
“The staff was engaging, knowledgeable and courteous,” they wrote on TripAdvisor. “It was a magical experience and we will go again.
“It’s a shame they can’t shake the cars gently to give the impression that the cars are actually moving!”
Monday’s ceremony marked the first time the Michelin guide was unveiled in Ireland, with international director Gwendal Poullennec describing it as “a truly historic event for Irish hospitality”.
He added that the “landmark” event recognizes “not only the outstanding cooking, but also the people, places and passion that define Irish food, culture and hospitality”.
