Restaurant Essens

The Restaurant Essens is located in the village of Hlohovec in the heart of South Moravia, in the Border Castle building, which is part of the extensive Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Under the leadership of Chef Otto Vašák, they focus on Czech cuisine in the form of a six-course menu and their goal is to use their own ingredients as much as possible and to support small local farmers and suppliers. The high quality of the food and service is underscored by the sommelier with a wide selection of wines from various corners of Europe. Upon arrival, the gallant and attentive staff will greet you with a smile, seat you at your table, and offer you wet towels to refresh your hands. This is followed by an amuse bouche – toast with cheese and marinated kohlrabi – and a six-course menu interspersed with currant and sorrel sorbet. Let’s mention, for example, the appetizer of smoked tomato on tomato gel, with tomato powder and diced Ibérico bacon, served with chicken broth and lovage oil. Everything was very delicate and perfectly seasoned. After an interesting light dessert of apricot compote with a great combination of flavors and textures, we ordered coffee. As a treat, we were also served petit fours in the form of baked semolina porridge with apple caramel, fresh raspberries and blackberries from their garden, and Linzer wafers with poppy seeds and plum jam. The dishes were served at a perfect pace. The staff communicates with you about how quickly or slowly to serve each course, which was absolutely precise. The wide range of homemade non-alcoholic drinks made from fruit and vegetable juices, non-alcoholic pairings from tea infusions or fermented lemonades is also fantastic. A visit to the Essens fine dining restaurant is definitely worth it!