Vienna Restaurant Tips by BLewJay

Restaurant Name: Aida Café-Konditorei Wien

It's a chain of very good Konditoreien located throughout the city which serves up delicious desserts and coffee.

Favorite Dish: With our delicious cup of Mélange (Austrian coffee with cream), I had the Marokkanertorte (3-layers of delicious chocolate cake with creamy filling in-between and on the top) while LJ had the Tiramisuschnitte (mascarpone cheese, ladyfingers, cream, espresso coffee, liquor and shaved chocolate ).

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 587-258-5
Address: Opernring 7, Wien 1010
Website: http://www.aida.at

Restaurant Name: Salm Bräu

Having flown into Vienna earlier in the day, getting a short nap and then heading into town to begin our sightseeing adventure, we decided to have our first authentic Austrian meal. Since we were so close to the Belvedere Palace, we went to Salm Bräu (known for the great food and awesome beer which they brew on the premises). It's a huge restaurant/pub frequented by many locals (that is definitely a plus), which offers great food and beer at reasonable prices.

Favorite Dish: For dinner, we shared the Braumeisterplatte (4 types of schnitzel...wienerschnitzel, puteschnitzel, leberschnitzel and surfleischnitzel along with roasted potatoes, rice and onions) washed down with a Salm Bräu Helles Krügerl and a Salm Bräu Märzen Krügerl.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 799-599-2
Address: Rennweg 8, 1030 Wien
Directions: Located directly outside the Belvedere Palace (Renweg and Salesianergasse).

Restaurant Name: Der Wiener Deewan (Pakistani all you can eat)

We received a call from our friend Martin to meet him in Vienna for lunch. He suggested a Pakistani restaurant, which serves delicious food...and you pay as you wish. Now that's something that doesn't exist in many places. The concept behind this is that you pay whatever you feel like paying...most folks pay more than what is required, but this allows the owners to help feed the poor and homeless people who stop in at no cost. Wow, I think that could work just about anywhere!!!

Favorite Dish: On the menu that day was Chick Peas and Potatoes (in a curry sauce), Chicken (of course in curry), Lamb (baked to look like sausage), a Vegetable Medley (zucchini, celery, etc.) and White Rice (cooked in saffron). There is no charge for water, but you pay a small fee for soft drinks, beer and juices.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 925-118-5
Address: Liechtensteinstrasse 10, 1090 Wien
Directions: Located near the Police Barracks

Restaurant Name: Zum alten Heller Restaurant

Our friends Martin and Barbara invited us to hang out with them for the afternoon. After visiting the Hundertwasserhaus, we stopped by the Zum alten Heller Restaurant for lunch. This is a family run establishment serving authentic Austrian food with a smile and excellent service and is frequented by the locals...always a good sign.

Favorite Dish: Barbara had mentioned to us that the meals served here are huge, so LJ and I decided to split the meal. We ordered the Eierschwammerln à la creme mit Semmelknõdel (fresh hand picked and sautéed mushrooms in a white cream sauce with bread dumpling).

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Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01-712-645-2
Address: Ungargasse 34, Wien 1030
Directions: Located a few blocks from the Hundertwassrhaus.
Website: http://www.tourist-net.co.at/lokale/zumaltenheller

Restaurant Name: Café-Restaurant Weimar

After the opera, we decided that we'd like to get some coffee and dessert...so we left the Volksoper and headed down the street to the tram stop. Well wouldn't you know that many of the shops were closed...bummer...so we were resigned to the fact that we had to wait till another time to satisfy our craving. But alas, we saw that one shop was open and serving customers...the Cafe Weimar (established in 1900). We walked in and our senses were on high alert. There really isn't a place in the U.S. that compares...desserts, newspapers, the strong aroma of coffee, and gentleman playing the piano, well dressed waiters, and patrons not in a hurry. The true Vienna coffeehouse...we sat down and ordered.

Favorite Dish: We had a Truffeltorte, a Hofburgtorte and Mélange.

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01-317-120-6
Address: Währingerstraße 68, Wien 1090
Directions: Located 100 yards south of the Volksoper.
Website: http://www.cafeweimar.at

Restaurant Name: Schloss Concordia

Located across the street from Vienna's Central Cemetery (where many famous composers are buried) is Schloss Concordia. But don't let the proximity to the cemetery scare you off...if you are searching for the best schnitzel in Vienna (in my humble opinion) then Schloss Concordia is the place to go. Can't give you all the history on the place, but it was once in need of repairing and now it's completed...we got there after 11 and had the place all to ourselves...mirrors on the wall, candlelight, great food, wonderful friends and the man passed out at the table behind us because he drank too much beer.

Favorite Dish: Our friends Martin and Barbara had told us that the portions were huge (LJ also confirmed this because she had eaten here previously) and the selection is quite large...so we got the menu and ordered. LJ selected Spinach Gnocchi (which came with gorgonzola cheese, cream sauce and a mixed salad) while I had the Salzburg Roulade Schnitzel (rolled breaded chicken schnitzel stuffed with ham, goat cheese, spinach and seasoned with pumpkin seed oil). Now that's what I call a meal!!! Of course, we needed a Hefewizen to wash this meal down.

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Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 769-88-88
Address: Simmeringer Hauptstraße 283, 1110
Directions: Located directly across the street from Vienna's Central Cemetery.

Restaurant Name: Café Landtmann

Before leaving for Vienna, we had contacted fellow VT'er alusru (Ursula) to see if she wanted to meet us for lunch one day. Wow, we all hit it off so well that we ended up meeting her a number of other times around the city...such a great, wonderful, lovely and awesome person. Now, back to Café Landtmann...established by Franz Landtmann in 1873, is one of Vienna's most elegant cafés...yes you can call it a Viennese Institution. Many famous people have dined here to include many VT'ers...lol...a perfect location to sit back and relax, read the paper or even people watch. All pastries are hand baked in the family bakery following old, handed-down recipes and using fresh ingredients.

Favorite Dish: As mentioned earlier, we met Ursula for lunch/dessert...we shared both the Topfenstrudel/Quark strudel (hand-made strudel dough rolled with fine quark cream and baked golden brown) and Apfelstrudel/Apple strudel (Hofbackstube apples, cinnamon, butter, breadcrumbs, raisins rolled and baked golden brown) with 2 cups of Wiener Mélange.

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +43-1-24-100-0
Address: Dr. Karl Lueger-Ring 4; Wien A-1010
Website: http://www.cafe-wien.at/ldt-start_ENG_HTML.html

Restaurant Name: Caffé Latte

After returning from Budapest, Ursula picked us up at the train station and we headed to Caffé Latte for dinner. The restaurant is located in the 7th District (funky and hip part of the city with restaurants, coffee shops, dance clubs, art shops, etc.).

It has lots of seating in the courtyard and an open window that looks out into the street so you can take in the feel of the city. The chefs make your meal in an open kitchen and they are so close to the patrons that you can reach out and touch the food if you like.

The food is delicious and plentiful, but service can be slow if it's a busy night. The establishment does accept credit cards...just be aware that the courtyard area does close down around 9:30, so you'll have to move inside to finish your meal.

Favorite Dish: We happen to eat at this place two times during our stay in Vienna, and the food was fabulous both times. The first time we ate there, I had Gnocchi Manzo (grilled beef tenderloin in red paprika sauce and gnocchi) while LJ had Täglich Fettucini Funghi (spinach fettucini and sautéed mushrooms). For our second dinner, we both had Spaghetti Scampi (spaghetti, sautéed shrimp and red peppers in a tangy red sauce).

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 523-55-09
Address: Neubaugasse 39, Wien 1070
Website: http://www.caffelatte.at

Restaurant Name: Oasia Restaurant

When you think of Austria, good Asian cuisine doesn't come to mind. But, we stumbled upon Oasia Restaurant...wonderful Asian food, served in a contemporary Japanese setting with awesome prices. So if you are in the area, you must stop in for a bite.

Favorite Dish: LJ selected the Vitalmenü (gebratene tofustücke mit teriyaki sauce, wokgemüse und jasmin reis und misosuppe) and an Apfelsaft gespritzt (apple juice spritzer) while I had the Nudelmenü (crispy pork mit sweet sour chili sauce auf bratnudeln mit gemüse und misosuppe) and Ottakringer Helles beer.

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Theme: Japanese/Sushi
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 01-3100170
Address: Schlickgasse 2, Wien 1090
Website: http://www.oasia-restaurant.at/index.php

Restaurant Name: La Pasteria Ristorante

La Pasteria is a combination deli (called Alimentari), restaurant and dessert establishment.

Favorite Dish: We had finished a delicious lunch (Oasia) and walked through the neighborhood looking for a place to top it off. Again, our friend Martin knew exactly where to take us...La Pasteria...where we had Piermonteser Herzkirschen (bing cherries in marsalagellee mit flüssiger amarettoschokolade und eierlikör) along with Caffe Latte, Cappuccino and Espresso.

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Theme: Dessert
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: +43-1-310-27-36
Address: Servitengasse 10, Wien A-1090
Website: http://www.la-pasteria.at