In Graz: Brasserie Santner, nicely French…
Since more than 6 years living in Graz, dining out has too often been a somewhat disappointing experience for me – in this otherwise very charming and pretty city (and the 2nd largest in Austria, after Vienna).
Until this Tuesday, finally (yes, finally), after hearing quite some great reviews from the past year, since the Brasserie Santner opened its door around 2012, I paid my late visit.
It was a great visit!
Maybe partly because after so many frequent unsatisfying dining experiences here, I didn’t expect too much from the Santner. However, I was surprised from the amuse-bouche to the end (and nice wines too).
I took a 3 course (2 starters + 1 main) menu for €37, great deal for an evening dine out. The starters were Foie Gras sauté (with tartelette de potiron butternut / sauce aux bergamottes), and Bourride Provençale. Both were excellent, well cooked and confidently pared with seasonal and local material (such as pumpkin, a local specialty), perfect from the flavor to the texture, would stand out even in Paris.
My entrée, filet of wild boar with shiitake mushroom, chard and chestnuts, was nice too – the meat tasting solid, the sauce carried the pretty strong characters such as chard and shiitake mushrooms well, and merged them into a whole. Maybe the black pepper was a bit too strong, but still acceptable. (And to be honest, the amuse-bouche and open wines I had here, were better than the very elegantly presented amuse-bouche and wine paring in the Steirereck I visited a couple of month ago.)
Very nice experience indeed, as they change menu regularly, I’ll have to go back quickly to try their steak of shark…
Address: Karmeliterplatz / Paulustorgasse 1, 8010, Graz, Austria | Tel. +43 316 820500