Brook

Off to a good start; crémant de Bourgogne rosé, warm and fluffy rolls and tomato tapenade.

Amuse bouche; a take on traditional Hamburg labskaus, which is corned beef accompanied by gherkin, anchovy, and a fried quail egg.

2nd course (somehow I forgot to snap the 1st!); creamy lemongrass and pea soup with grilled prawns and cress.

3rd course: Fried filet of zander with a Cajun-inspired risotto with chorizo, mushrooms and paprika and a few sugar snap peas.

4th course: Duck breast with sides of spicy cauliflower, sautéed mushrooms, Italian crespelle filled with root vegetable mash and a hearty duck glace.

5th course: Chocolate and mocha variation - including white chocolate parfait, chocolate cake, nougat mousse and espresso jelly.

Brook

Bei den Mühren 91

Altstadt, Hamburg

Notes:
On a brisk Saturday night B and I headed for Brook, which seems to have become an institution among the Hamburg locals. And for good reason - a five-course dinner including accompanying wines, San Pellegrino, and coffee will set you back just 52,5 euro per head. Michelin has also found this to be quite a decent value proposition and has awarded the restaurant with a bib. We decided to go for the whole package, but also to start out with a beautiful glass of crémant de Bourgogne. It was onn the sweeter side for sure, but a pleasant start to our dinner that went well with the amuse, which was a take on a typical Hamburg labskaus. I am not sure exactly how fond I was of the concept of corned beef, gherkin and anchovy but it surely was interesting. The first course, which I somehow forgot to snap a picture of, was grilled salmon, wrapped around sage and served with a Nicoise gremolata featuring potatoes, olives, and tomatos. In our glass, a crisp, mineral riesling from Rings, which accompanied the first three courses. And from here I think I will let the pictures speak their own language. As you can tell, Brook serves tasty and pleasing food with little twists that sometimes seem very 00's. No big surprises, just plain comforting fare, which provided a perfect setting for an evening in good company. Service was extremely competent, the atmosphere was lively and cosy, and clientele mainly local - and for a comforting dinner at a reasonable price tag in Hamburg I feel fairly sure that Brook cannot be beat! Highly recommended.