IKIGAI

Dining at Luce d'Oro means discovering a refined fusion cuisine strongly influenced by Japanese elements. The 6 courses menu is an unique experience that will remain for a long time in my mind. The combination of new flavors impressed me positively and it allowed me to get closer to the Japanese cuisine which I didn't know before that evening. I also enjoyed the way the courses were introduced to me by the waiters. 2 Michelin stars absolutely deserved, in my opinion.

This review is for Ikigai Restaurant. We drove to have dinner here and while I enjoyed some aspects, overall, I feel the negatives outweigh the positives. Upon arrival, the parking was confusing. There was nobody to ask, no valet, so we just parked in front. It felt strange. We looked around trying to find the Restaurant in the hotel. We asked a few workers where the restaurant was and they vaguely waved us in a direction that lead to what looked like a basement so we were confused. Someone finally noticed us and escorted us to the restaurant. The amouse bouche were great, we started with a glass of champagne to accompany it. We were approached by the sommelier and we explained that I was not able to drink a lot of alcohol, only one or two small glasses, and that my husband did not feel comfortable driving unfamiliar roads after drinking. The sommelier kept insisting that the pairing was not a lot of alcohol but she didn't seem to understand that I was unable to consume that amount due to a medical complication. We acquiesced and chose to share a wine pairing. Things got worse after that. Our server offered us the wagyu upgrade, which we accepted. However, he came back twice and insisted we look at the price on the upcharge. Again, this is very strange to me. The sommelier forgot to serve us the pairing until we almost finished our second course. The drinks were poured at odd times, and one was forgotten. The time between courses was inconsistent, either rushed with one course following another in quick succession, or long waits between. Unfortunately, since I felt pressured to drink more than I wanted to, I felt very sick by the time our wagyu course arrived and I could barely take one bite. I spent the rest of the meal going back and forth between the bathroom and my seat. I felt so uncomfortable, I declined the next course. There were two people who came to our table unprompted and told us that they cannot reduce the price if I decline the course. I was shocked and at this point in time, I understood that we were treated rudely, perhaps due to assumptions they made about our financial status or perhaps because we were not guests at the hotel, or possibly due to other much more distressing reasons I prefer not to think about. I have been to many top rated restaurants around the world with prix fix menus, I am fully aware that the price does not change if I decline some courses. This is not my first time at a Michelin rated restaurant, I have experienced a handful of 3 star restaurants as well. However, this was the first time that anyone has ever talked down to me and discussed a "discount" at my dinner table. The idea is preposterous to me. It is such a shame because the food I was able to eat before I had to excuse myself was fantastic. The flavors were great, and I appreciated the style. I just have such a bitter taste in my mouth from how we were treated. It is upsetting how the sommelier and server ruined our meal, and my evening. As a point in contrast to Ikigai, I frequent a local restaurant in the country I reside in that is also rated 2*. However, they understand that I can only have very little alcohol and they know I cannot eat sweets, so they usually pack me some chocolate or a petit four, which I give to my daughter at home. One time, I mentioned that my daughter loves one of the special ingredients they used and they included a little bit to give to her. That is the service I expect when I spend €1000+ on dinner.

This was €800 down the drain. The worst money I have ever spent. The food took so long (2.5 hours) that I had to leave and put the kids to bed and was still hungry. This place is genuinely a blight on an otherwise amazing hotel. I strongly recommend avoiding it, as it just isn’t close to worth the money. Even if it cost half the amount it would be completely not worth it. We had an amazing trip to Schloss Elmau and this place nearly ruined it. I left tired, needing a meal, feeling terribly ripped off.

Excellent service and wonderful wine & dining experience.