Carlton Ambassador
In the governmental town of The Hague, it makes perfect sense to call your hotel the Ambassador. The Carlton Ambassador Hotel is situated in the city centre on the Sophialaan, a lane bordered by old chestnut trees. It has recently been renovated and the smell and visual appearance is why it’s known as the boutique hotel to stay in The Hague. The Hague is a beautiful city that offers many choices when it comes to dining out, and I am here to test out the newly refurbished Henricus Restaurant.
Whilst I was dining, lots of business travellers were experiencing the Carlton Ambassador as a haven of relaxation. So much so they were pitching their business ideas and ambitions whilst eating. Yes, the Carlton Ambassador Hotel has that environment of class but it allows you to get away from the busy activities of life and work. The moment you enter it gives you an instant impression of what is to come. I love gorgeous The Delftware design, where tradition meets contemporary design.
The Henricus Philosophy
Fresh seasonal quality ingredients are used to create the beautiful dishes served at the Henricus restaurant. The menu is called the Mood Book, which includes all dishes from the ever-changing menu. This unique concept offers optimal freedom of choice any moment of the day. So if you’re a regular here, then you know when returning, you won’t be served the same dish.
The new decor sets an intimate mood for anyone dining. It has a cosy atmosphere and I loved the decorated wallpaper. The type of people eating here ranged from business groups and corporate dining to people dining out as couples or on their own. This demonstrates the versatility of the restaurant’s clients.
Entree
This is a choice of four unknown dishes that the chef will create and change regularly. So on this occasion, I was served the mushroom soup, croquet, oysters and asparagus. Each one had such an individual taste but it was balanced very well. It was the best croquet that I have ever eaten. It was served just straight out of the oven with a selection of bread. I chose the brown olive bun and the extra virgin olive oil. Nice way to appreciate what was coming.
Starter with mushroom soup, oyster, croquet and asparagus.
Main Dish
The food I chose is called the big Green Egg; these are dishes that will stay on the menu. I went for a T-Bone Steak with herb butter and it was cooked to perfection. One caution, it is huge at 500 grams. The salad dressing was yummy and the chunky chips were delicious.
Angus Beef Burger
The Angus Beef burger is one of the most eaten dishes globally, so we chose it to see how we could compare it. This portion is adult size and my guest for the evening was a seven year old girl who in no time at all ate the whole lot. In her own words, it was the best burger she has ever eaten.
Dessert
For dessert, there were a selection of four choices, so I opted for fresh chocolate truffles and a light pastry biscuit with fresh raspberries. Finally, a gorgeous mouse which was something I have never tasted before, it was amazing. I chose a dessert wine which was the perfect balance to such an exquisite selection of food.
Chocolate truffles
Crispy crust with raspberries, creme Suisse and vanilla ice cream
Overall Experience
A big thank you to Ricardo who explained in detail what the restaurant had to offer. His customer service was excellent and he treated other customers with equal care. His thorough understanding of what the chef was cooking gives you an indication of how well trained the staff are. Even if you’re not staying at the Carlton Ambassador, I would highly recommend eating here. It was one of the best food experiences I’ve had in Holland for a very long time. To put it into perspective, over the last two weeks I have done 14 hotel reviews.
Information
UPDATE: Henricus has now been renamed Sophia
- Website: www.carlton.nl/hotel-ambassador-den-haag
- Address: Carlton Ambassador, Sophialaan 2, 2514JP Den Haag, The Netherlands
- Phone: +31 (0)70-3630363
