A highly overrated and overpriced Michelin star experience: Restaurant Irma La Douce (22. June 2023)
It seemed to be ‘the day of the pastrami’ since I already have had pastrami for lunch, so, I was a bit surprised that we got served “pastrami butter and nut butter” with the …
… bread. And I must say, both butters were actually enjoyable, and so was the bread. So, as a starting point, and on top of that because the restaurant was actually relatively flexible when our plane was delayed, I had kind of high expectations. Of course, also, because the Irma La Douce had just been awarded a Michelin star in 2021.
There is no tasting menu, but you get to pick your starters and mains from the menu. Not necessarily my favourite approach, but well, so be it. I went for the “halibut (potato mille feuille, beurre blanc made from fermented white onions)” (EUR 30.00) and while it sounded quite amazing, it turned out to be a relative disappointment. I mean, it wasn’t bad, but from a taste and flavour combination, yes, even a texture combination perspective, it wasn’t a Michelin star.
Since the description of the dish sounded super appealing, i.e., “lamb in two courses” (EUR 64.00), I was intrigued by “Kokoreç 2023, pickles, folk, yufka” and it actually looked interesting. When we got the dish served, I asked, half jokingly, but actually quite seriously, if there wasn’t something missing on the plate. To which the waiter replied, no that’s all. I mean, sure, happy to try something mind-blowing even if it’s of a small size, so, fine. But honestly, it turned out to be a relatively uneventful lamb sausage in a wrap. So, yeah, definitely also not at the level of wowing me.
The second course was “lamb back, aubergine, gnocchi, Parmesan” and while the gnocchi was more a gnoccho, the whole thing was somehow not where I had expected it to be. Sure, again, it wasn’t bad. I mean, the meat was good, so was the gnoccho. And I actually liked the aubergine too. But it was just somehow “too average” to be exciting.
The “friandises” in the end were okay. Also, rather uneventful.
So, I must admit, I loved their flexibility to adjust to our delayed plane without making a fuzz about it, and I liked the atmosphere of the place as well as the overall friendly service. But, to be fair, I was rather disappointed by the food – and by the price you pay for the food. So, yeah, not really sure, this is a place I would award with a Michelin star, resp. if it deserves it.
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Contact Details:
Restaurant Irma La Douce
Potsdamer Str. 102
10785 Berlin (DE)
Tel.: +49 30 23 00 05 55
E-Mail: irma@irmaladouce.de
Homepage: http://www.irmaladouce.de
About the Author: Sven
I started the blog in October 2009, while living in Milan which I definitely consider to be one of the food capitals of the world. I was in touch with food since my early childhood (as my father is a former chef). Whenever I can, I travel the world to discover new places, to meet people but mostly to try local dishes and to find hidden gems! If you know a place worth going, please drop a line to: info@thediningexperience.org.
Currently, I am a member of the following food-related associations: Chevalier @Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Zurich-Ville; Membre Gourmet Dégustateur @Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs [OMGD]; Gesellschafter @Goldener Fisch and Member @Slowfood Convivium Zurich City. 
