Where larger parties can relax and rejuvenate over good food
Cohen’s
Le Gaulois
Hörwarthstr. 4
Tel. (089) 36 74 35
Hours: daily 18-1
When searching for a casual place to celebrate the holidays with a group of friends, Le Gaulois in Schwabing offers all the ingredients for a festive evening — a warm atmosphere, delightful staff and delicious cuisine. Massive dark wood tables are especially inviting for big groups and the staff’s “no-rush” attitude encourages guests to settle in. Specializing in Gallic cuisine, this small restaurant’s interior is reminiscent of a candlelit French country inn with its hand-hewn beams. House specialty appetizers include homemade goose liver pâté and escargot simmered in garlic butter. Though meat and fish entrées are available, fondues are the most popular items on the menu. Beef, chicken, pork or fish can be ordered for any number of people and are served with several sauces for dipping — the ideal meal to linger over while enjoying one of the excellent wines from Le Gaulois’ extensive list.
Landgasthof Bründlhof
Badstr. 44, Wartenberg
Tel. (08762) 35 53
Hours: daily 12-13:30 and 18:30-22
Why not take the time during the holidays to reward your over-worked mind and body with crisp country air and the fine art of French cooking? At Bründlhof in Wartenberg guests can do just that. Don’t be fooled by the eatery’s unremarkable facade. Interior fixtures — terracotta floors, wooden ceiling timbers, a tile stove and tastefully arranged flowers — provide a unique and relaxing atmosphere. The ambience is complemented by “the main event” — a superb menu, which offers one gourmet masterpiece after the other. Traudl Mayer, the owner of Bründlhof, will readily assist you in finding the exact combination for your taste and is always delighted to offer her competent help in choosing exquisite, compatible French wines. Though, at Bründlhof, haute cuisine, a very friendly staff and luxurious comfort all come at a fairly high price, the experience may be one of the highlights of your year.
Welser Kuche
Residenzstr. 27
Tel. (089) 29 65 65
Reservations required
If you are prepared to dine in a truly informal, rustic ambience — informal in this case actually means eating without knife and fork — the Welser Kuche is a perfect place for an unusual dinner party. In the three vaulted rooms of the Feldherrnkeller, tucked behind the Feldherrenhalle at Odeonsplatz, this restaurant serves a medieval meal, the so-called “Welser-Mahl.” You can choose between a fixed ten-course (DM 89), a six-course (DM 79) and a five-course meal (DM 69). Main courses vary according to the season and include lamb, venison and goose. The Kräutergans (herbed goose), for instance, is served with dumplings, red cabbage and apple sauce. Hearty first courses include mead (served, true to style, in a horn), Griebenschmalz on bread and stuffed eggs in saffron sauce. The entire meal is based on the recipes of Augsburg patrician Philippine Welser (1527-80). What makes the Welser-Mahl special is the combination of original 16th century cooking and the medieval setting. Guests are provided with an oversized napkin to be tied around their neck; a dagger is the only eating utensil and a list (available in 30 languages) advises guests of medieval table manners: “Don’t stick your dagger into the table.”
Backspielhaus
Weltenburgerstr. 6
Tel. (089) 928 70 90
Hours: daily 7-18, Sun. 8-18
Brunch at the Backspielhaus is a culinary event you should not miss! Located just outside the city center, at Weltenburgerstr., this extremely popular bakery and café is the favorite of diners from all walks of life. Here, dark winter days are brightened by large windows, orange and baby blue walls and comfortably arranged seating areas. The Backspielhaus is perhaps Munich’s most creative (no prefab chain store buns) bakery. Attention to exotic ingredients and extraordinary detail is the house’s claim to fame. A long, deep display counter contains mouth-watering selections of oversized pastries with a variety of rich fillings, breads and cakes that will make your heart rejoice on even the earliest of mornings. These sweet brunch openers can be accompanied by an array of cheese, sausage, eggs and fruit. A call to the restaurant before heading out will save your group time in line.
