April 2008
Fast and Funky
HAMBURGERS AND FRENCH FRIES IN VOGUE
unich offers innumerable options for quick and easy meals. Italian
tramezzini can be found on every second corner; the notorious Bavarian
Leberkäs in a
Semmel is offered in butcher shops and bakeries everywhere; and even though Berlin still is the capital of
Döner, Munich’s number of Middle Eastern food stands has soared in the past years. In this landscape, chain stores of questionable quality no longer have a monopoly on hamburgers and fries. For speedy and satiating American fare, there are plenty of alternatives to McDonald’s or Burger King.
Cosmogrill is located in a basement on Falkenturmstrasse, and passers-by are likely to see the pleased faces of diners through the front window of the special fast food restaurant. A variety of burgers make up the menu. The name
Classic Burger (€ 5.90) indicates the customary beef, tomato and onion combination, but for a few Euros more, it can be enhanced by Irish cheddar (
Double Cheese Burger, € 7.80), a honey BBQ sauce (
BBQ Bacon Burger, € 7.70), or avocado cubes and sour cream with horseradish and chives (
Cosmo Avocado Burger, € 8.90). The selection of chicken burgers (€ 7.70–8.50) garnished with dried tomatoes and pesto, melted brie and ham, or grilled bacon and guacamole are savory alternatives to beef. The
Wasabi Tuna Burger (€ 9.50) with
wasabi mayonnaise, water cress, tomatoes and coleslaw certainly will outrival a
Filet-o-Fish. Vegetarians may choose between a
Goat Cheese Burger (€ 7.70) and the
Spa Burger (€ 7.50), with spinach and walnut cottage cheese, mango and peppers. But the highlights of Cosmogrill are the two burgers that are justly classified as
High End Burgers. If the
American Bison Burger (€ 11) with orange Dijon mustard, dried tomatoes and onions is not special enough for you, try the
Wagyu Kobe Beef Burger
with truffles, celery sauce and tomatoes (€ 15.50). Distinguished by a black and white lounge atmosphere with modern
chandeliers and an international staff, Cosmogrill represents a new fast food culture with an individual touch, whose opening hours are also very customer-friendly: Thursday through Saturday, burgers are served until 5:30 am.
Appealing to a crowd susceptible to late-night munchies,
M.C. Müller on Müllerstrasse features a menu of burgers only. The M.C. Müller restaurant is dominated by black tiles and a golden coat of paint, and is a hybrid between a cocktail bar and a funky diner. All burgers are served in American-style plastic baskets. The
M.C. Müller (€ 7.70) consists of the standard hamburger ingredients seasoned with a homemade sauce. For those with a moderately experimental taste,
Betty Blue (€ 7.50) offers blue cheese and avocado topping.
Dean Martin (€ 8.90) is the dandy of all burger sandwiches at M.C. Müller and boasts bacon, a double layer of cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce and a shot of whiskey. All burgers come with french fries or taco chips.
Near Sendlinger Tor, the small eatery
Schnelle Liebe (Thalkirchnerstr. 12) has set up a grill exclusively for organic food. Three hamburger variations based on greens, tomato, relish and leeks are on offer at Schnelle Liebe. Flavored with a Japanese barbecue sauce, the
Yakitori Deluxe is a step beyond the classic
Burger Deluxe.
Diablo Deluxe contains bacon and a fiery chili. All hamburgers cost € 6.90 and come with a small salad and potato slices. Aside from beef sandwiches, Schnelle Liebe also has salads, a variety of
foccacia with toppings and noodle dishes quickly at hand. Seating is very limited in the sparsely decorated restaurant. The nook is often packed and it is advisable to come a little earlier in the nighttime.
While Schnelle Liebe refrains from serving french fries,
Pommes Boutique specializes in fried potato sticks. However, the self-service restaurant at Amalienstrasse 46 seems more like a stylish boutique than a greasy spoon stinking of fat. Pink and green walls and oak tables create a relaxed urban atmosphere for a pleasant food stop. The
Belgian Pommes (€ 2.20) are freshly cut and most likely the best fries you will get in the city. The extra-thick golden crispy sticks can be enjoyed with more than twenty dips (€ 0.50 per small bowl). Unfortunately, Pommes Boutique only offers sausages (€ 3.20) or vegetable patties (€ 3.80) along with their fries. A super hamburger place with the best fries in town has yet to be opened. Until then, the suggestions mentioned above represent delectable substitutes. <<<
