Lettonie (restaurant)

Lettonie
Restaurant information
Established	1988
Closed	September 2001
Chef	Martin Blunos
Food type	French cuisine
Rating	Michelin stars (1994–2001)
Street address	Newbridge House
City	Bath
County	Somerset
Country	United Kingdom
Seating capacity	24 (Bristol) 42 (Bath)

Lettonie was a restaurant owned and run by chef Martin Blunos; it was located in Bristol until 1998 when it relocated to Bath, Somerset. It was awarded a Michelin star in 1992, and a second in 1994; these were held until the restaurant was closed in 2001.

Lettonie was first opened by Martin Blunos in Bristol in 1988. The restaurant was named Lettonie; the French word for Latvia. The restaurant could seat 24 diners, but the French cuisine was considered to be at odds with the location – the restaurant was located in a shopping parade. After nine years, the restaurant was relocated under the same name some 11 miles (18 km) to his hometown of Bath, Somerset. While in the second location at Newbridge House, it became a restaurant with rooms. The building was a Grade II listed building. The location had previously been a hotel with 9 bedrooms, but under Blunos, these were reduced to 4, and a 34-seat restaurant and an 8-seat private dining room were installed.

Blunos closed the restaurant after 13 years, with a drop in advanced bookings from the United States blamed due to both the foot-and-mouth outbreak and the September 11 attacks. After the closure of Lettonie in September 2001, Blunos opened Blinis in Bath, two months later. This held two Michelin stars for a single edition of the guide in 2002.

The menu served at Lettonie was predominantly French in nature, although featured elements of Latvian cuisine. Dishes include a pork belly served with morels and a celeriac puree; at the time pork belly was an unusual dish to be served in a fine-dining restaurant. Blunos explained that he had originally had a pork tenderloin as well, but since diners preferred the belly dish, the fillet was dropped.

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