Following the opening of the Hostellerie du Grünewald 30-room (including 5 suites) hotel in Luxembourg-Dommeldange (10-14 route d’Echternach) on 3 April, the restaurant opened it doors one month later; The Luxembourg Chronicle got the opportunity to try out the fare this week of the venue with a steeped tradition now under new, young management, giving it a vibrant and exciting feel.

The imposing building now with a stark black facade once held one Michelin star for its restaurant and four stars for its hotel in its glory days; more recently it was operated as an apart-hotel for long-stay guests. Despite it opening just recently, it is already at 60-70% capacity during week-days, such as its appeal (it also has a few long-term guests too). Under new management of managing partners Aline Bourscheid and Clovis Degrave who plied their trade at the Brasserie Schuman and Le Sud in Clausen respectively, the 21-ares site has received a startling makeover.

From the spacious parking facilities at the rear of the building, under the hillside where sumptuous barbeques are held where the menus include steak and lobster, or gambas and spare ribs. Noticeable too are a number of vines adorning the patio walls and the steep hillside at the back of the property, with a greenhouse carefully tucked away which allows the chef to grow his own herbs available almost year-round.

First stop was the (winter) bar for a pre-dinner drink - a cosy, rustic yet trendy venue that can cater for 20-30 people max, with so much to marvel at, especially the art deco ceiling. The restaurant has two main dining rooms, one with a traditional "dining room" feel with flamingoes adorning the wallpaper and in a picture over the mantelpiece, and the other modern with much light from the large windows on two sides. Together, they can cater for almost 60 covers, with the outdoor terrace accommodating another 45.

The venue specialises in events, with a large Garden Party planned for 18 June with a food corner brunch, DJ and the works...

The restaurant's cuisine in "relaxed French", featuring traditional recipes with a trendy twist; lunchtimes (Wed, Thu, Fri & Sun) offering a lunch menu, with evening dinner (Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun) à la carte. The menu itself is straight-forward, with just 6 starters, 6 main courses and 6 desserts from which to choose, with the French and Luxembourgish wines carefully chosen to go with any of the dishes chosen.

The restaurant was most relaxing with soft atmospheric music and light chatter from other diners - all tables were occupied when we were there. The service was notably quick, with the young, cheerful and expert staff adorned in their smart uniforms - even the waitresses wore bow-ties. The tables themselves were set without tablecloths, but noticeably with branded napkins.

We were served a complementary starter of a couple of succulent lamb and vegetable samosas. The meal could be described as a complete dining experience just waiting to be discovered - no wonder there was not a seat to be had...

For starters we had the grilled foie gras on light potato puree, and the green asparagus in a warm asparagus soup garnished with a poached egg. For the main course we selected one fish and one meat dish, the former being the scallops - delicately singed/cooked and served with pureed sweet potato and a tangy Thai sauce -  and the latter the Black Angus Beef - a filet slow-cooked and served with a rich gravy, crisp vegetables and a potato puree flavoured with truffles. For dessert we opted for the lemon tartlet - lemon swirls served on a horseshow-shaped shortbread, accompanied by a lemon sorbet - and the red fruits dessert, delicateld prepared and served on a light sponge base.

What we noticed first was the esquisite preparation of each and every dish; the taste lingered from every mouthful, and the staff were most excellent.

Verdict: a youthful exhuberance for a discerning clientele in a modern decor, and excellent presentation of all dishes based on classical French cooking with a modern twist.

For further details, see www.hdg.lu, tel: 2452-76891, email: restaurant@hdg.lu

For full photo album, see http://bit.ly/2qY01qm (on Facebook)