Lettonie (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 1988 in Stoke Bishop, Bristol, England |
| Founder | Martin Blunos |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Bath , England |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Martin Blunos (owner and chef) |
| Products | French cuisine with Latvian influences |
Lettonie was a dining establishment managed and owned by chef Martin Blunos. Initially situated in Bristol until 1998, it later moved to Bath, Somerset. The restaurant was awarded its inaugural Michelin star in 1992, followed by a second star in 1994, retaining both distinctions until it ceased operations in 2001.
History
Established in 1988 in Stoke Bishop, Bristol, Lettonie had seating for 24 guests. The restaurant focused on French cuisine, despite being located within a shopping arcade, which contrasted with its refined menu. After nearly a decade, Blunos relocated Lettonie approximately to his native city of Bath, Somerset, positioning it at Newbridge House, a Grade II listed building. The Bath venue functioned as both a restaurant and accommodation, reducing the original nine hotel bedrooms to four while increasing dining capacity to 34 seats along with an eight-seat private dining area.
Lettonie ended its operations after 13 years due to a drop in advance reservations from the United States, which was linked to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and the impact of the September 11 attacks. After closing in September 2001, Blunos opened Blinis in Bath two months later; this new venue briefly earned two Michelin stars in 2002.
Menu
The menu at Lettonie was mainly French with influences drawn from Latvian culinary traditions. Signature offerings included pork belly served with morels and celeriac purée—a dish that was uncommon in fine dining during that period. Initially, pork tenderloin was featured but was removed from the menu because patrons favored the belly cut.
A standout dish involved scrambled duck egg flambéed tableside with vodka, garnished with Sevruga caviar, and accompanied by buckwheat and plain blinis served alongside chilled vodka. Another celebrated creation resembled traditional boiled egg and toast soldiers but consisted of a hollowed egg filled with vanilla cream and mango coulis, paired with shortbread sprinkled with sugar and chocolate.
Reception
Lettonie received its first Michelin star while located in Bristol in 1992, secured a second star two years later in 1994, and preserved both stars after relocating to Bath in 1998 until its closure in 2001. In 1999, it was acknowledged by Harden's restaurant guide as one of the finest restaurants in the United Kingdom.