Hospitality in Germany; Siberian Anna Klimenko: Value Absolute

She comes from Siberia, yet she has the warmest of all hearts. Anna Klimenko was our hostess today, at Trier’s Taj Mahal Indian-Pakistani restaurant.

We had another treat today, an Indian feast fit for a maharajah, and service fit for any king. It’s not all that often the unexpected turns into the unbelievably pleasant. While in Trier today, Mihaela and I got a powerful urge for Indian cuisine and decided on the Taj Mahal of Trier, since we had only dined at their Bernkastel Kues restaurant. And boy, were we delighted.

As I alluded to, we have been patrons of the Taj Mahal restaurant in the city center in Bernkastel for some time. The owners of this extraordinary Indian eatery having been so successful there, they opened another restaurant to further spread their reputation: the one in Trier’s center, in addition to the one at the Hotel Bernkastel Hof.  These restaurants are superb for the cuisine, the prices, the quality of food & wine, and, most of all, for their service. But aside the superb curry lamb main we dived into today, it was the person running the dining room that made our day.

I won’t get into the extensive menu all the Taj restaurants sport, suffice it to say any fan of Indian cuisine – heck, Gordon Ramsey himself, would be impressed not only with the extent of the menu, but especially with the preparation and presentation. For less than €25 both of us feasted today heartily, and the Karlsberg was ice cold too – it needed to be, obviously!

But brightening our day, the delightful smile and genuine attentiveness of Anna Klimenko added to an already upbeat and near perfect time in Trier. As it turned out, Anna has just received news of her new position in service at one of Bernkastel’s finest hotels and restaurants Graacher Tor. Given Anna’s demeanor, attentiveness, and skill we assumed she had been in the restaurant business for some time, but as it turns out she has been a student these last few years.

Mihaela and I have traveled fairly extensively in this part of Central Europe, even into Scandinavia, and honestly we have not come across a better Indian offering in all those travels. It is fair to say too, that if not for Anna, we would probably have done a partial review of Taj Mahal along with some other attractions. Evidently Anna brought with her the particular warmth of the Siberian spirit, so many people back home, in the Russian Federation, still posses. They do have the best ambassador in Anna. Never forget where you are coming from, Anna, we won’t!

Both Mihaela and I commented today on how gracious and refined Anna is for so young a hostess. From her recommending the best dishes on the menu, to her patience in waiting our indecision, and on to delivering each course expertly and in the most charming way. We have both been in the hospitality business, and Anna is exactly the kind of team member any establishment would “kill for.” Expert, kind, genuine – both Mihaela and I were pleased to exchange business cards and a promise to dine at Anna’s Graacher Tor engagement. And we will remember to take along our still camera for better shots (sorry Anna, video had to do).