Ein nettes, inhabergeführtes, spanisches Restaurant in der Südstadt, Nähe Chlodwigplatz. Bei unserem Besuch am Sonntag, 28. Juni, war schönes Wetter und es gab ungefähr ein Dutzend Zweiertische draußen, an der Straße, die aber einerseits ruhig (kein großer Durchgangsverkehr) andererseits von Passanten und anderen Restaurants interessant belebt ist. Der Innenraum ist auch geschmackvoll eingerichtet, war an dem Tag aber fast ganz leer, bis auf ein Pärchen an der Theke.
Wir hatte eine Auswahl von Tapas, die durchweg lecker und von sehr guter Qualität waren (z.B. Oktopus und andere Meeresfrüchte). Die Bandbreite an Tapas war zwar nicht übermäßig originell, aber dafür gab es auch eine Reihe von interessant klingenden Tellergerichten, die wir diesmal nicht ausprobiert haben. Zum Nachtisch eine schmackhafte Crema Catalana und ein sehr guter spanischer Brandy.
Zwei Sorten Hauswein, je in rot und weiß und einer in rosé, sowie spanisches Bier vom Fass (und günstiger als das Kölsch!) sorgen hinreichend für die flüssige Begleitung. (Für nur 17 Euro die Flasche kann man auch aus einem ganzen Schrank mit Flaschenweinen auswählen, was wir aber nicht genutzt haben, besonders, da wir uns mit spanischen Weinen so gut wie gar nicht auskennen.) Abzuraten ist nur vom Sangria, der trotz frischer Orangen und Äpfel im Glas einen intensiv künstlichen Geschmack hatte. (Der aufs Haus servierte Likör am Ende hatte übrigens ein ähnliches Aroma - der gleiche Saft, einmal mit Wein, einmal mit Branntwein versetzt?)
Eine kleine Verwechslung bei unserer Bestellung führte zu einem amüsant anzuhörenden, temperamentvollen Bohei im Hintergrund. Insgesamt ein sehr angenehmer und nicht zu sehr ins Budget gehender Abend (die Tapas je um die 5 Euro, alles zusammen unter 90 Euro).
http://www.la-guitarra.de/
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A nice, family-run Spanish restaurant at the southern end of the city centre, near Chlodwigplatz. When we visited on Sunday, June 28, the weather was mild and about a dozen tables for two had been placed on the pavement next to the road, which luckily is not much frequented by cars, but made interesting by other restaurant and passers-by. The inside looked pleasant, too, but was quite empty that day.
We had a selection of Tapas, all tasty and of really good quality (noticeable esp when you have octupus and squid etc). The range of Tapas wasn't overly exciting, but there were a number of other dishes on the menu that sounded interesting. For dessert we had a yummy Crema Catalana and an excellent Spanish brandy.
Two types of house wine, each in red and white and one in rosé, plus Spanish beer on tap (and costing less than the local Kölsch!) take sufficient care of your thirst. (You can also have a bottle of wine which you can select from a wine cabinet for only 17 Euros, but as we know little about Spanish wines we didn't try that.) I would only advise against the Sangria, which, in spite of fresh oranges and apples in the glas, had a distinctly artificial flavour. (The final home-made liqueur on the house, btw, had a very similar aroma - the same juice in both, maybe?)
A little mix-up in our order led to an amusingly spirited exchange in the background. All in all, a very pleasant evening that is not too much a strain for the budget (tapas at about 5 Euros each, altogether our bill was under 90 Euros).
http://www.la-guitarra.de/
Wednesday 1 July 2015
Thursday 7 November 2013
Sorgenfrei, Köln
Update: Leider gibt es das Sorgenfrei seit 2020 nicht mehr.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Update: This restaurant permanently closed in 2020.
A good restaurant with a lot of interesting contrasts is "Sorgenfrei", in the "Belgisches Viertel" in Cologne. Easily missed from outside, it nevertheless has room for almost twenty small tables. The menu is short, but items changes frequently, and there is always something vegetarian to be found, too. The cuisine is an interesting mix of German and Mediterranean, using traditional, seasonal ingredients. Prices ranges from an average of ten Euros for starters and desserts to 25 - 30 for main courses. Portions are none too big, but the quality and presentation are excellent. There is a special lunch menu at very friendly prices. Service is relaxed but competent, the overall interior design is sparse and plain, but warm colours keep it pleasant. On entering, the place feels more like a bistro than stylish restaurant, but this just allows the food to speak the more clearly for itself. The dining experience is completed by an excellent choice of European wines, by the glass as well as by the bottle.
Monday 20 August 2012
Thursday 28 June 2012
Flogaus, Köln/Cologne
Update: Leider ist das Flogaus (seit 2015 Metzger&Marie) seit 2021 geschlossen.
Seit sie vor einem knappen Jahr eröffnet haben, sind wir vier- oder fünfmal bei "Flogaus" gewesen, und sind jedesmal glücklich nach Hause gegangen.
Das Restaurant (dessen Name übrigens nur der Nachnahme des Inhaberpaares ist, keine sonstige Bedeutung ;) ) liegt in einer recht ruhigen Seitenstraße im lebhaften Agnesviertel. Die Innenausstattung ist warm und einladend, obwohl sie recht modern ist.
Alles, was wir bisher gegessen haben, war einfach unbeschreiblich lecker, und dabei gleichzeitig traditionsverbunden, mit saisonalen und regionalen Zutaten. Die Karte ist recht klein, aber es ist immer etwas dabei, das man probieren möchte, und durch die frischen, saisonalen Zutaten wechselt sie auch öfter. Viele der Gerichte stammen aus der traditionellen österreichischen Küche. (Bei unserem letzten Besuch gab es allerdings eine Neuerung: es wurde ein "Überraschungsmenü" angeboten, die Karte selber war dadurch noch etwas kleiner geworden. Wir haben das schon mal in einem anderen Restaurant gesehen, und bei so garantiert guter Küche ist es auch kein Problem, sich überraschen zu lassen, aber wir hoffen doch sehr, dass das nur wegen der Frische der Zutaten eingeführt wurde, und nicht wegen etwaiger Probleme mit dem Umsatz.)
Die reichhaltige Weinkarte besteht ausschließlich aus deutschen und österreichischen Weinen, die die Wirtsleute wohl selber bei den Winzern einkaufen, weshalb sie oft viele Detailinfos zu den Weinen geben können.
Der Weineinkauf ist aber nicht das einzige, das die Inhaber, neben dem Kochen, selber machen. Zum Auftakt bekommt man immer selbstgebackenes Brot und verschiedene hausgemachte Wurstsorten, zum Abschluß gibt es, anstatt des sonst üblichen Getränks aufs Haus, ein kleines Gläschen selbstgemachte Konfitüre o.ä.
Bei der Rechnung kommen wir bei jedem Besuch zu zweit auf gut über hundert Euro, aber wir nehmen auch eigentlich immer drei Gänge, und bei der angebotenen Qualität sind die Preise wirklich sehr anständig.
http://flogaus-restaurant.de/
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Update: Flogaus (its name changed to Metzger&Marie in 2015) closed in 2021.
It's high time to review what is possibly our favourite restaurant in Cologne at the moment.
We've visited "Flogaus" four or five times now since discovering it less than a year ago (when they had just opened) and have always gone home happy.
The restaurant takes its name from the couple who started it last year - he is the chef, she manages service. It's a small place in the middle of the popular Agnesviertel, yet situated in a quiet side-street. The interior manages to be modern but also warm and welcoming at the same time.
The cooking is delicious beyond words and at the same time wonderfully down-to-earth. No silly frippery of rare or new-fangled ingredients here, we keep being surprised by the almost-forgotten household words we find on the menu. The menu is small, but there is always something eligible and the use of seasonal ingredients guarantees regular changes to the menu. Many of the items on the menu are from traditional Austrian cuisine.
The rich wine list consists entirely of German and Austrian wines, which they seem to get from direct contact with the wine-makers, judging from the details the service can give you about them all.
Apparently, the family also owns a butchery, as the guest is always greeted with a selection of home-made bread and meats.
Last time we visited there had been a change to the way the menu was set-up, in that a 'surprise menu' had been introduced while the actual menu had been further reduced. We'd seen that at another restaurant of similar style before, and there we had been told they were very successful with that - we very much hope that the change to this style at Flogaus does not denote any difficulties. (With the cooking as lovely as we know it to be, a 'surprise menu' is fine by me, really.)
Although I don't think we've ever left the place with a bill under a hundred, given the quality prices are very decent indeed.
http://flogaus-restaurant.de/
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Cucina di Rosa, Cologne
Wir haben dieses Restaurant auf der Suche nach einem kleinen Imbiß nach dem Kino gefunden, und sind seitdem noch ein paarmal dagewesen, mit gemischten Ergebnissen.
Gelegen ist es geradezu ideal an dem Platz direkt gegenüber der Agneskirche (nähe Ebertplatz). Dadurch gibt es hier Tische draußen, ohne Straßenverkehr. Auch drinnen sitzt man ganz nett.
Das Essen war bisher immer sehr lecker - die Karte ist klein und kommt ohne die italienischen Allgemeinplätze aus. Das macht sie interessant, und die Qualität der Speisen ist erfreulich.
Es gibt auch eine schöne Auswahl an Weinen im Glas, nur weiß man leider nie, ob das, was auf der Karte steht, auch vorrätig ist. Das erste Mal, als wir da waren, gab es nur ungefähr drei der acht gelisteten Weißweine.
In Anbetracht der Lage und der Qualität der Küche sind die Preise angemessen, aber leider ist die Bedienung oft unprofessionell. Man kann sich des Eindrucks nicht erwehren, dass man hier lieber nur ein paar Stammgäste bewirten würde, und dass man die Idee, jeden der kommt gleich zu behandeln, besonders wenn es mal ein paar mehr Leute sind, für eine ziemliche Zumutung hält.
Einige Beispiele aus unserer Erfahrung: da wird gezögert, einen gelisteten Wein auszuschenken, weil nicht mehr viel da ist (und man ihn ja vielleicht noch für wichtigere Kunden braucht?), und als wir einmal an einem Sonntag da waren, war das Brot ausgegangen, aber anstatt sich zu entschuldigen und den Sachverhalt zuzugeben, wurde nur mit einem 'später vielleicht' abgewunken (das Personal wurde dieweil durch die Nachbarschaft geschickt, um nach Brot zu fragen), dem Paar neben uns ihre Antipasti ohne Brot serviert und anstatt einer Entschuldigung gab es Klagen über zuviel Kundschaft - eine Viertelstunde später war etwas Brot aufgetrieben (auch für das Paar neben uns, das mit den Antipasti inszwischen fertig war). (Es war altbacken, aber zu meinem Spargel-und-Champignon Gericht unbedingt nötig, wir hatten Glück, dass wir unsere Gerichte erst so spät bekamen.) Eine Entschuldigung mit dem Angebot eines Preisnachlasses, oder zumindest eines Getränkes aufs Haus wäre meiner Meinung nach angemessen gewesen, wenn schon nicht für alle, so zumindest für das Paar, das seine Antipasti ohne Brot essen mußte, aber nichts dergleichen. Wir sind dort aber auch schon angemessen bedient worden.
Alles in allem also ein netter Laden für eine Kleinigkeit vor oder nach dem Kino, aber nichts wenn es ein geplantes, schönes Essen sein soll. Das Problem ist dabei nur, dass es bei der guten Lage kaum gelingen wird, bei schönem Wetter spontan einen Platz im Freien zu ergattern - das Vorbestellen lohnt sich hier aber wirklich nicht.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We found this place looking for a snack and a drink after the cinema one day and have been back a few times since, with mixed results.
The place is situated almost ideally, in the square right opposite St Agnes church, giving it the option of out-door seating and a low-traffic side road. Seating indoors is pleasant, too.
The food we've had so far has always been very nice - the menu is fairly small and doesn't do the Italian standards, making it quite interesting, and the quality of the cooking is enjoyable.
There is also a good selection of nice wines by the glass, though there's always a chance that they are out of stuff on the menu. The first time we went, they had about three out of the eight or so whites listed.
Considering the location and the quality of the cooking, prices are adequate, but unfortunately the service is rather erratic and quite unprofessional. You get the impression they would prefer to serve only a small number of familiar guests and are a bit put out by the idea of having to serve anyone who comes in, especially if there are a lot of people at once.
Some examples from our experience: They will hesitate to serve a wine, listed on the menu, if they fear they might run out (saving it for more important customers, one wonders?), for example, and last time we were there, they had run out of bread, but instead of apologising and explaining, they just signalled a 'maybe later' (as they were obviously sending staff out to find replenishment of stock) and served the couple next to us a plate of antipasti without it (and instead of apologising complained about the amount of custom they'd had that made them run out). Fifteen minutes later, when they had finally found some bread somewhere, they served it to the couple who had by then already eaten their antipasti. (The bread was stale, but still, better than nothing - as I had a dish of asparagus and mushrooms that really needed bread with it - I was lucky we were served only after they'd found the bread.) In my opinion, an apology with an offer of reducing the price of the dish or at least a free drink would have been in order - if not to all customers who were out of bread at least to the couple with the antipasti - but nothing of the sort.
At other times, however, we were served adequately.
So, all in all, a good place for a drink or a snack before or after the cinema, but nothing for a more ambitious kind of meal. The problem is, of course, that the good location means it's pretty unlikely you'll get a seat outdoors on a fine day without booking, whereas it's not the kind of place you'd want to book for.
Gelegen ist es geradezu ideal an dem Platz direkt gegenüber der Agneskirche (nähe Ebertplatz). Dadurch gibt es hier Tische draußen, ohne Straßenverkehr. Auch drinnen sitzt man ganz nett.
Das Essen war bisher immer sehr lecker - die Karte ist klein und kommt ohne die italienischen Allgemeinplätze aus. Das macht sie interessant, und die Qualität der Speisen ist erfreulich.
Es gibt auch eine schöne Auswahl an Weinen im Glas, nur weiß man leider nie, ob das, was auf der Karte steht, auch vorrätig ist. Das erste Mal, als wir da waren, gab es nur ungefähr drei der acht gelisteten Weißweine.
In Anbetracht der Lage und der Qualität der Küche sind die Preise angemessen, aber leider ist die Bedienung oft unprofessionell. Man kann sich des Eindrucks nicht erwehren, dass man hier lieber nur ein paar Stammgäste bewirten würde, und dass man die Idee, jeden der kommt gleich zu behandeln, besonders wenn es mal ein paar mehr Leute sind, für eine ziemliche Zumutung hält.
Einige Beispiele aus unserer Erfahrung: da wird gezögert, einen gelisteten Wein auszuschenken, weil nicht mehr viel da ist (und man ihn ja vielleicht noch für wichtigere Kunden braucht?), und als wir einmal an einem Sonntag da waren, war das Brot ausgegangen, aber anstatt sich zu entschuldigen und den Sachverhalt zuzugeben, wurde nur mit einem 'später vielleicht' abgewunken (das Personal wurde dieweil durch die Nachbarschaft geschickt, um nach Brot zu fragen), dem Paar neben uns ihre Antipasti ohne Brot serviert und anstatt einer Entschuldigung gab es Klagen über zuviel Kundschaft - eine Viertelstunde später war etwas Brot aufgetrieben (auch für das Paar neben uns, das mit den Antipasti inszwischen fertig war). (Es war altbacken, aber zu meinem Spargel-und-Champignon Gericht unbedingt nötig, wir hatten Glück, dass wir unsere Gerichte erst so spät bekamen.) Eine Entschuldigung mit dem Angebot eines Preisnachlasses, oder zumindest eines Getränkes aufs Haus wäre meiner Meinung nach angemessen gewesen, wenn schon nicht für alle, so zumindest für das Paar, das seine Antipasti ohne Brot essen mußte, aber nichts dergleichen. Wir sind dort aber auch schon angemessen bedient worden.
Alles in allem also ein netter Laden für eine Kleinigkeit vor oder nach dem Kino, aber nichts wenn es ein geplantes, schönes Essen sein soll. Das Problem ist dabei nur, dass es bei der guten Lage kaum gelingen wird, bei schönem Wetter spontan einen Platz im Freien zu ergattern - das Vorbestellen lohnt sich hier aber wirklich nicht.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We found this place looking for a snack and a drink after the cinema one day and have been back a few times since, with mixed results.
The place is situated almost ideally, in the square right opposite St Agnes church, giving it the option of out-door seating and a low-traffic side road. Seating indoors is pleasant, too.
The food we've had so far has always been very nice - the menu is fairly small and doesn't do the Italian standards, making it quite interesting, and the quality of the cooking is enjoyable.
There is also a good selection of nice wines by the glass, though there's always a chance that they are out of stuff on the menu. The first time we went, they had about three out of the eight or so whites listed.
Considering the location and the quality of the cooking, prices are adequate, but unfortunately the service is rather erratic and quite unprofessional. You get the impression they would prefer to serve only a small number of familiar guests and are a bit put out by the idea of having to serve anyone who comes in, especially if there are a lot of people at once.
Some examples from our experience: They will hesitate to serve a wine, listed on the menu, if they fear they might run out (saving it for more important customers, one wonders?), for example, and last time we were there, they had run out of bread, but instead of apologising and explaining, they just signalled a 'maybe later' (as they were obviously sending staff out to find replenishment of stock) and served the couple next to us a plate of antipasti without it (and instead of apologising complained about the amount of custom they'd had that made them run out). Fifteen minutes later, when they had finally found some bread somewhere, they served it to the couple who had by then already eaten their antipasti. (The bread was stale, but still, better than nothing - as I had a dish of asparagus and mushrooms that really needed bread with it - I was lucky we were served only after they'd found the bread.) In my opinion, an apology with an offer of reducing the price of the dish or at least a free drink would have been in order - if not to all customers who were out of bread at least to the couple with the antipasti - but nothing of the sort.
At other times, however, we were served adequately.
So, all in all, a good place for a drink or a snack before or after the cinema, but nothing for a more ambitious kind of meal. The problem is, of course, that the good location means it's pretty unlikely you'll get a seat outdoors on a fine day without booking, whereas it's not the kind of place you'd want to book for.
Monday 16 April 2012
The Old Thatch Tavern, Stratford-upon-Avon
We visited Stratford-upon-Avon last week, and in our search for lunch came across this gem of a pub: The Old Thatch Tavern.
Cosy interior, with a separate dining area, friendly waiters, and great food and drink!
My partner was thrilled to find one of his favourite beers (HSB) on tap and there was a selection of three white wines by the glass - I tried two, and found them both really nice for pub wine. For cider they had some Aspall, which was very nice, too.
For lunch, my partner had a chicken and mushroom pie, which was very pleasant, with good quality meat and a good balance of filling/sauce/crust- also, it was a piece of a real pie, not a small, individual one (which in my opinion oftem means too much crust). The veggies and gravy didn't convince me, but they weren't bad, just pretty much standard.
I had a honey and mustard glazed cold ham (two thick slices), which was fabulous, with two fried eggs (done to the point) and great chips, cut just to the outer extreme of the ideal thickness range (but not beyond!), giving the right balance of outside and soft inside.
I had room for dessert, and had a warm chocolate fudge cake with custard which was pure bliss - amazingly light and fluffy.
We came back two days later for lunch again. The pie was still the same kind and another beer my partner had hoped to have this time was out, but what we had was just as delicious again: pork and black pudding sausages with slightly mashed new potatoes for my partner (lovely sausages and the gravy and veggies with it much nicer than the time before), and fish and chips for me, which was excellent, too.
Prices were really decent for the quality offered, too.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186399-d1412024-Reviews-The_Old_Thatch_Tavern-Stratford_upon_Avon_Warwickshire_England.html
Cosy interior, with a separate dining area, friendly waiters, and great food and drink!
My partner was thrilled to find one of his favourite beers (HSB) on tap and there was a selection of three white wines by the glass - I tried two, and found them both really nice for pub wine. For cider they had some Aspall, which was very nice, too.
For lunch, my partner had a chicken and mushroom pie, which was very pleasant, with good quality meat and a good balance of filling/sauce/crust- also, it was a piece of a real pie, not a small, individual one (which in my opinion oftem means too much crust). The veggies and gravy didn't convince me, but they weren't bad, just pretty much standard.
I had a honey and mustard glazed cold ham (two thick slices), which was fabulous, with two fried eggs (done to the point) and great chips, cut just to the outer extreme of the ideal thickness range (but not beyond!), giving the right balance of outside and soft inside.
I had room for dessert, and had a warm chocolate fudge cake with custard which was pure bliss - amazingly light and fluffy.
We came back two days later for lunch again. The pie was still the same kind and another beer my partner had hoped to have this time was out, but what we had was just as delicious again: pork and black pudding sausages with slightly mashed new potatoes for my partner (lovely sausages and the gravy and veggies with it much nicer than the time before), and fish and chips for me, which was excellent, too.
Prices were really decent for the quality offered, too.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186399-d1412024-Reviews-The_Old_Thatch_Tavern-Stratford_upon_Avon_Warwickshire_England.html
Thursday 1 September 2011
Wackes, Cologne
A great discovery, this place, with just a few minor irritants. It is an adorable little place in the margin of the city centre, a few steps from the middle of the ring road that does Alsatian cuisine.
Alsace is an area in the middle between north and south, east and west, half German, half French. They like their snails as much as their sauerkraut, and simple, yet fine white wines are produced there.
The major original contribution to the world's stock of recipes from the area is the 'Flammkuchen' - flamed cake - comparable, in a way, to pizza, in that it is a very thin dough, covered traditionally with onions, bacon and sour cream. Goes adorably with a crisp Riesling.
The restaurant does 'Flammkuchen', but as it is a simple dish, it is not really advised to order it, because the owners (this being one of the minor irritants) prefer to serve bigger orders and are liable to turn a little stand-offish if you don't order anything major. (In fact, the review websites that have reviews on this restaurant have people complaining they became outright rude when the guests asked for soda-pops - which, indeed are not on the menu! - something that, I agree, isn't right, but, then, really, soda-pops with a good meal...??? - we've always gone with the wines they recommended, which might have been naive, but we can only say that we fared really well with it. :D )
So, what do they do that it is recommendable to order, then?
Well, I tried both my first frog-legs and my first vinyard-snails (escargots) there, and they were both some of the most delicious things I've ever tried. Maybe it was just the herb-and-oil dressing they came in, but it still makes my mouth water to just remember them. :D
The first time we were there, I had a fish dish that was lovely, and my partner had a poussin (spring chicken) cooked in a clay pot. He loved it so much, that he had the same again the second time we went. The second time, I tried their Flammkuchen - which was good, but, as I said, I did experience them going 'hmmph' in an implicit way. We've been three times altogether by now, and the third time I had some pork cheeks, which were lovely, too.
For dessert, I once had an apple-Flammkuche, flamed with calvados, which was pretty cool, and we also tried their Creme Brulée with Hop Brandy, which oddly came with the brandy separately the first time, but the next time was claimed to have the brandy inside. Ah, well, it was lovely both ways.
Seating is comfy yet simple - like the local food - and prices are mid-range. Another one of the slight irritants is that they like to get the bill slightly wrong in their favour - people on the review pages remark on this, and we noticed it two out of the three times we went - but it was pennies, so no problem, really.
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