The accolade for Mathieu came shortly after La Distillerie was named Best Vegetables Restaurant in the World by green restaurants guide We’re Smart.

Gault&Millau gave the eatery one of the best ratings at 18 out of 20 possible points and three chef’s hats. Restaurants Ma Langue Sourit and Mosconi shared the same top ranking.

Other winners included Louis Linster--son of renowned Luxembourg chef Léa Linster--who was named best young chef. Bazaar in Luxembourg City received the prize for best bar, with Bellamy named the most popular restaurant.

In other categories, the winners were:

• Pastry chef of the year: Carole Lesquer at La Villa
• Sommelier of the year: Nathan Roellinger at Maison Lefèvre
• Restaurant hostess of the year: Nathalie Pham at Two6Two
• Notable newcomer of the year: Ryodo Kajiwara at Ryodo
• Mediterranean chef of the year: Renato Favaro at Cômo

Hospitality association Horesca--a lobbying group for hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés--won the personality of the year award in recognition of its efforts to keeping restaurants alive and open during the pandemic.

But the event came with a bittersweet taste as the award winners were announced the same day fine dining restaurant La Pomme Canelle at Le Royal hotel said it would close until further notice because of the business downturn. Only half of its team will be given other jobs within the hotel.

Further difficulties await the sector when new health measures come into force. The number of people who can share a table will be limited from ten to four. While restaurants were previously allowed to remain open until midnight, an 11pm curfew will restrict business hours once it’s approved by lawmakers.