World City Guide

Restaurants

The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.

Some restaurants might not accept credit cards and visitors should check before getting a table. Prices usually include 16% VAT. Normally, a tip of 5-10% is expected for good service.

The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal for one person and for a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they include VAT but not a tip.

Gastronomic

Aubergine
Padrone Paolo Vargiu, a book-keeper from Sardinia turned restaurateur, has created Aubergine – a stylish gourmet French restaurant. Its rich and colourful setting is accentuated by tables laid entirely with Versace – tablecloths, plates and glasses. The house speciality is a delicious slow-roasted lamb after a recipe from the Pyrenees Mountains.

Alte Gasse 14
Tel: (069) 920 0780. Fax: (069) 920 0786.
Price: 45. Wine: 25.

Bistro Rosa
A ‘pink bistro’ may not seem the best place to enjoy first-class food, especially if the riotously colourful decor predominantly features pigs. Nevertheless, Bistro Rosa has a lot to offer. The cuisine is just as surprising and creative as the surroundings. French fish dishes, such as baked lobster stuffed with rice and seafood, or desserts like a superb almond parfait, are superb.

Grneburgweg 25, Westend
Tel: (069) 721 380.
Price: 36. Wine: 15.

Erno’s Bistro
Despite the name, this place is actually a rather fine gourmet restaurant. With its relaxed ambience and comfortable, timeless style, it might even look like a bistro but the excellent service, exquisite wine list and innovative menu, featuring treats like chicken breast and lobster on a pistachio sauce or perch fillet with red pepper coulis and green asparagus, prove it a first-class establishment.

Liebigstrasse 15, Westend
Tel: (069) 721 997. Fax: (069) 173 838.
Price: 50. Wine: 30.

Gargantua
Initially, Klaus Trebes, the chef here, was determined to cook only one dish a day – like an original family-run kitchen. But popular demand soon forced him to turn Gargantua into a ‘normal’ restaurant. And as such, with its elegant setting, antique furniture and German ingredients-meet-international recipes, it has been extraordinarily successful. The gourmet concoctions include blackened tuna with Japanese ginger and wasabe or duck breast with cherry vinegar.

Liebigstrasse 47, Westend
Tel: (069) 720 718. Fax: (069) 720 717.
Website: www.gargantua.com
Price: 60. Wine: 22.

Restaurant Franais
Situated in the Steinberger Frankfurter Hof, the Restaurant Franais is in line with the hotel’s supreme reputation. With Royals as well as Rolling Stones on its guest list, it was the first restaurant in Frankfurt to earn a desired Michelin star (currently holds three). Everything is perfect: the quiet atmosphere, the elegant antique furniture, the presentation of the food on the plates, the attentive service and the dress code of the waiters. The French cuisine boasts delicacies such as saddle of lamb with peccorino crust and bell pepper garlic roulade. Closed Sunday and Monday. No lunch.

Kaiserplatz 1
Tel: (069) 21502. Fax: (069) 215 905.
E-mail: infoline@frankfurter-hof.steigenberger.de
Website: www.frankfurter-hof.steigenberger.de
Price: 50. Wine: 21.

Business

Brckenkeller
Located in the Altstadt, the old part of the city, this is a historic venue – wine has been sold in these atmospheric vaults for over 300 years and food has been served for more than 65. Once a plain restaurant with entertainment from local musicians, it is now the best address in town –– for imaginative, light and fine cooking. Chef Markus Peschke delights in developing his New German cuisine and weaving in some other influences, for example in the starter of lukewarm fine Italian noodles with olive oil and caviare, or the main of roast turbot with parsley butter and cucumber, or the dessert of Austrian apricot dumplings and Grand Marnier ice cream. These unusual but distinctive catacombs have become a regular for the food and wine connoisseur.

Schtzenstrasse 6
Tel: (069) 298 0070. Fax: (069) 296 068.
E-mail: info@brueckenkeller.de
Website: www.brueckenkeller.de
Price: 60. Wine: 25.

Exedra
This Greek restaurant, with its simple decor consisting of wooden tables, white walls and Delphi carafes, is nevertheless much more than a typical Greek tavern and more of a gourmet version. Exedra serves creative dishes, such as grilled octopus in oregano, garlic and lemon, as well as old favourites like kebabs. The business lunch (available between 1200 and 1400) is highly recommended, as are its various fish specialities. The restaurant opens at 0900 Monday-Friday, when a number of dishes – such as tsatsiki, noussa, feta, pleos and moussaka – can make up an interesting Greek breakfast.

Heiligkreuzgasse 29
Tel: (069) 287 397. Fax: (069) 443 391.
E-mail: exedra@frankfurtrestaurants.com
Price: 28. Wine: 16.

Ginkgo
This corner restaurant is for fastidious palates. Unconventional, refreshing and diversified cooking is performed as an art form, in remembrance of Goethe’s ginkgo leaf that apparently grew in his garden. It is one of many places where the poet is still celebrated as he was born in Frankfurt and spent the first 26 years of his life there. The simplistic decor and the cool and chic aura set the stage for dishes like veal steak with mushroom risotto with an olive crust and onion and red wine sauce. The menu changes monthly.

Berger Strasse 81
Tel: (069) 491 202. Fax: (069) 9550 2899.
Price: 30. Wine: 15.10.

Knoblauch
There is no need to be afraid of Knoblauch, even though its name translates as ‘garlic’. This small but charming place is hard to define as it lies somewhere between a pub, small eating house and restaurant with a bit of an art gallery thrown in. The Westend meets French flair allows for a casual ambience. Sweatshirts are as welcome as ties and the kitchen is as versatile and imaginative as the dress code, with dishes like the duck foie gras and succulent veal with Ravigotte sauce.

Staufenstrasse 39, Westend
Tel: (069) 722 828. Fax: (069) 729 715.
Price: 35. Wine: 18.

Osteria Enoteca
Located a little bit outside the city in Rdelheim, this is real Italian cuccina of the highest level: homemade pasta cooked al dente, oven-baked bread and fish grilled to perfection, such as the salmon medallions on wild rice or the trout in lemon garlic butter. The atmosphere is unlike most Italian restaurants – peaceful and quiet. The focus here is strictly on eating and drinking and not so much on talking or entertaining.

Arnoldshainer Strasse 2, Rdelheim
Tel: (069) 789 2216.
Price: 45. Wine: 30.

Trendy

Charlot
Being located on Opernplatz usually means a place is created with the beautiful people in mind – and Charlot is no exception. The modern and stylish yet intimate interior is spread over two floors, the top one includes a balcony where the most desirable tables are situated. The restaurant is such a popular meeting place for its chic clientele that – sadly – the authentic Italian cooking, such as tagliolini with seasonal mushrooms, seems to be ignored by most who eat here.

Opernplatz 10
Tel: (069) 287 007. Fax: (069) 2199 6666.
Price: 40. Wine: 20.

Die Leiter
‘The Ladder’ remains a fashionable eating place for the trendy and beautiful. Mediterranean flair and bold French cuisine add a hint of class to this place, frequently visited by the in-crowd. Nevertheless, a great selection of European wines and digestifs makes it even enjoyable for the true connoisseur. German favourites done with flair and imagination can be expected, such as the roasted zander (a fish not unlike pike) on sauerkraut with champagne vegetables and polenta.

Kaiserhofstrasse 11
Tel: (069) 292 121. Fax: (069) 292 386.
Price: 40. Wine: 18.

Schirn Caf & Restaurant
The dining concept for the next generation: multifunctional, mobile tables on castors, with sofa chairs and comfortable chaise longues, make for an interesting space inviting people to wine, dine or just sip tea in the cool ambience. The 40m (131ft) bar is legendary. There are no menus but charts offering different ingredients from Asia to the Mediterranean, which can be selected individually and mixed and matched. Resulting ‘food combinations’ could be cream of Hokaido pumpkin with beetroot chips or gnocchi with lobster and spinach pure. The intriguing mix of materials and styles make the visit an interesting experience.

Am Rmerberg 6A
Tel: (069) 291 732.
Price: 40. Wine: 20.

Sushi Circle
Newly opened, this already trendy sushi bar at Opernplatz serves the fresh fish dishes on a conveyor belt. Appealing to businesspeople as there is no waiting involved, it is great for a healthy lunchtime treat with green tea. However, it is equally enjoyable with sake rice wine in the evening.

Neue Mainzer Strasse 84
Tel: (069) 9139 9302. Fax: (069) 1337 7900.
E-mail: info@sushi-circle.de
Website: www.sushi-circle.de
Price: 40. Wine: 18.

Zum Gemalten Haus
This down-to-earth German, pub-style restaurant has been an institution for centuries. Founded in 1880, it has not changed much over the years. Guests still mingle together on long benches and enjoy the traditional apple wine and good company. The lovely backyard presents a nice shady place in summer, ideal for cooling down and unwinding from the hectic city life. The menu is well suited to a pub and is certainly not one for vegetarians, with options such as the ‘Slaughterhouse’ Platter, which includes boiled beef, boiled pork, tongue and, of course, Frankfurters. Most come with sauerkraut and bread, as well as the option of Frankfurter Green Sauce.

Schweizer Strasse 67
Tel: (069) 614 559. Fax: (069) 603 1457.
E-mail: info@zumgemaltenhaus.de
Website: www.zumgemaltenhaus.de
Price: 20. Wine: 17.40.

Budget

Abendmahl
This unobtrusive restaurant in the quarter of Bockenheim offers great value for money. It serves traditional recipes and original home cooking, such as venison goulash or grilled chicken with roast potatoes, in a Mediterranean ambience. According to the individual appetite, small portions are available as are particularly big ones.

Florastrasse 24
Tel/fax: (069) 702 555.
Price: 20. Wine: 15.

Andalucia
Situated in the quarter of Bockenheim, Andalucia is one of those very rare places that serve traditional Spanish home cooking at its best. Its comfortable atmosphere and affordable prices attract students but also a wide range of clientele, from Spaniards and big families to businesspeople. Within its atmospheric interior of wooden tables and landscape paintings, Andalucia serves traditional tapas and la carte dishes, such as lamb on the spit with fried potatoes and salad or grilled coalfish in brandy and white wine sauce.

Konrad-Brosswitz-Strasse 41, Bockenheim
Tel: (069) 773 730.
Price: 20. Wine: 15.

Chicago Meatpackers
The interior decor is eclectic industrial meets 1930s Chicago, with the focus on all things railway – two electric trains run around tracks on the ceiling, sounding alarmingly like rain. And everything else is very American. The menu boasts chicken wings, Ribeye steaks, gourmet hamburgers and brownies. An all-American experience in the middle of Frankfurt. Open until 0100 Sunday-Thursday and until 0200 on Friday and Saturday.

Untermainanlage 8
Tel: (069) 231 659. Fax: (069) 232 391.
E-mail: meatpackers@hotmail.com
Website: www.chicago-meatpackers.de
Price: 19. Wine: 15.50.

Romanella
This cosy Italian place treats every guest like family. And most of the regulars might as well be, they come back so often, mainly for the bistecca (steak) and the pasta. If there is no space to sit down inside or in the little garden outside, they just take their favourite food home.

Wolfsgangstrasse 84
Tel: (069) 596 1117.
Price: 26. Wine: 15.

Tse Yang
With its wooden ornaments and opulent seating arrangements, the decor does not distinguish Tse Yang from any other Chinese restaurant. But the diverse and creative menu does make a big difference. Totally immune to Western influences, it covers a variety of Chinese regions and dishes, including a Szechuan-style spicy pork and a chicken in soy sprouts and oyster mushrooms.

Kaiserstrasse 67
Tel: (069) 232 541. Fax: (069) 2424 6407.
Price: 25. Wine: 14.80.

Personal Recommendations

Edelweiss
Hidden in the quarter of Sachsenhausen, this Austrian restaurant is not overloaded with Alpine kitsch but decorated in a genuine country-house style. Traditional Wiener Schnitze is served in this authentic Austrian ‘Gasthaus’, but also a few typical dishes with a twist, like spinach dumplings with tomato-parmesan cheese or fruit dumplings with buttered breadcrumbs. The menu is not short of Austrian wines or its famous strong Schnapps.

Schweizer Strasse 96
Tel: (069) 619 696. Fax: (069) 619 697.
E-mail: info@edelweiss-ffm.de
Website: www.edelweiss-ffm.de
Price: 25. Wine: 18.

Jasper’s
Despite its modest location hidden at the rear of a building, Jasper’s has conquered a well-deserved place in the ranks of Frankfurt’s top restaurants – primarily through imagination and quality. Jasper’s provides a sophisticated full menu, comprising dishes such as duck breast in cherry sauce or fish pot with Riesling broth and shrimp, but also offers delicious little snacks. The setting, with its dark leather seats and colourful pictures, is ideal for a romantic occasion or for a more lively evening.

Schifferstrasse 8
Tel: (069) 614 117. Fax: (069) 623 554.
Price: 25. Wine: 12.50.

Living Bar-Restaurant XXL
As proudly advertised in the ‘Extra Extra Large’ of the name, this is Frankfurt’s biggest restaurant. The location speaks for itself. In a theatrical, almost Hollywood setting, Living offers a lot of warm light, big-screen TVs for sports events, exciting themed parties for singles in the bar and an international cuisine with Californian, Italian and Asian influences. On the menu are seductive tortellini verde in gorgonzola sauce or penne with wok-fried strips of chicken breast and Asian vegetables in coconut curry sauce.

Willy-Brandt-Platz
Tel: (069) 242 9370. Fax: (069) 2429 3730.
E-mail: info@livingxxl.de
Website: www.livingxxl.de
Price: 30. Wine: 17.50.

Rosengrtchen
This beautiful venue delivers the expected romantic atmosphere of a restaurant called ‘Little Rose Garden’. However, the tempting Mediterranean cuisine, such as grilled baby calamari in garlic lemon sauce or pan-fried sole with zucchini vegetables, clearly entices food lovers as well.

Eckenheimer Landstrasse 71
Tel: (069) 592 174.
Price: 25. Wine: 12.25.

Stars
Stars presents the ideal opportunity to enter the Messeturm (the tower at the Frankfurt Messe). Interior designer, Jordan Mozer, was obviously inspired by science fiction movies as the restaurant features a lot of glass and steel. The cool, modern influences especially suit this unique location and do not clash with the delightful but old-fashioned live piano. The kitchen is inspired by Pacific Rim countries and serves interesting concoctions like pumpkin tart on beetroot apple fondue, grilled lamb fillet on pumpkin lentil salad, braised shallots with dried vegetable polenta and wok-fried fruits for dessert.

Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 49
Tel: (069) 756 0300.
Price: 25. Wine: 21.