Vienna Restaurant Tips by themajor

Restaurant Name: Cafe Landtmann

One of my absolute favourites, the Landtmann drips with traditional style and elegance. Not as touristy as other establishments,it obviously attracts the well heeled and well connected who obviosly come to do deals and gossip under the glimmer of the chandeliers. This might be a little off putting for some, particularly as the liveried waiters buzz with an austere efficiency that some people might find a litle intimidating - but believe me, they don't bite.

The food is excellent. The sliced veal is mouthwatering, their schnitzel puts Figmuller in the shade (size isn't everything!), and the traditional half breaded chicken is marvellous. The desserts are similarly mouthwatering...and yes, they also boast a Landtmann Torte which straddles the rather delicious region between chocolate mousse and cake. Perfect!

Favorite Dish: Difficult to choose. I'll have to keep returning until I make my mind up.

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Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: Dr Karl-Lueger-Ring 4
Directions: U2 Schottentor tram 1,2
Website: www.landtmann.at

Restaurant Name: KunstHausWien Restaurant

If you are keen to hunt down Hundertwasser, it makes all the difference if you can tick off the essential sights the right way round. As his Spittelau power station is a little further afield, the two sites in central Vienna that you'll definately want to visit are Hunderwasser Haus and the KunstHaus Wien. If you are intending to rest at some point for food and drink, take my advice and visit them in that order. For whilst the flats have spawned a somewhat tacky arcade of shops opposite (they have the quirky Modern Art toilet though!), the museum that is the latter has a lovely café/restaurant.

For the KunstHausWien Restaurant was the scene of our family Christmas lunch in 2004, and very nice it was too. A good variety of bistro type dishes in a lovely setting...well, lovely to all except those with a severe allergy to poinsettias! All in all, a grand way to finish off a heavy spate of sightseeing - and it's open from 10am to 11am!

Favorite Dish: The chicken dishes we had were excellent as were the salads. The side order of humble chips were particularly comforting on what I recall was a freezing cold day!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 43-1-7120497
Address: Weißgerberlände 14
Directions: Landstrasse U4 nearest underground station
Website: http://www1.kunsthauswien.com
Other Contact: office-khw@aon.at

Restaurant Name: Culinarium Osterreich

Austria, believe it or not, is one of Europe's biggest advocates of organic food and this is a fine restaurants which attempts to source such produce and use them to cook delicious traditional fare. Although based in la ovely old building, CO (as I shall call it from now on) is incredibly modern inside and sports a swish 'designer' interior. The glass lift up to the first floor restaurant arguably covers one the shortest vertical distances I have ever travelled...even stepping into the driver's seat of a large 4x4 is more likely to cause vertigo!

A window seat will enable you to watch the world go by in Neuer Markt, something you might crave if it's fast food you're after. For at the CO they cook from fresh ingredients and this can take time - one of their signature desserts took almost 30 mins to arrive on my plate (I was warned beforhand) but by jove was it worth it! This is one of the places you can try one of Franz Joseph's favourites, 'Tafelspitz'. Basically it's boiled beef and hardly what you'd have expected the old Emperor to tuck into, but it's good down-to-earth tasty 'peasant food'.

There are of course plenty of places to try this particular dish and the same applies to their Kaiserschmarren, a rich shredded pancake with vine fruits and served with warm plum compote . To be honest, in four trips to Vienna it's the finest I've tasted. If you can't afford a trip to the restaurant, go downstairs to their café during the day and order yourself some!

Favorite Dish: Kaiserschmarren - in my opinion the best in Vienna and worth the wait!

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Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Address: 1, Neuer Markt 10-11
Directions: A very short stroll from Stephansplatz

Restaurant Name: Figlmüller

The Figlmüller seems to be on everyones lips when they are regailing you with tales of thier first culinary march through the centre of Vienna but I must say, I do wonder why. It serves local dishes - well, one in particular! - and it's certainly touristy, though I wouldn't condemn it for that. No, what it's REALLY famous for, is the size of its schnitzels. There must be photolab technicians all over the world ready to slash their wrists if another snap of a tourist pointing to a stupendously enormous plateful of flattened breadcrumbs hoves into view.

I hate to say it but, as my dear wife says, size isn't everything! Food should surely be judged on taste on quality rather than size...or am I preaching to a world totally won over by the mystifying allure of the Big Mac? If you want to taste meat with your breadcrumbs you'd do better going elsewhere; the Landtmann for example. Or stay put at the Figlmüller and ordering one 'natürlich'. On the other hand, if you really really do want that extraordinary photo...

Favorite Dish: I believe the schnitzel is almost compulsory. Sit between two other tables that have ordered one and you could almost share theirs without paying!

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Theme: German/Austrian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: 1, Wollzeile 5
Directions: Very close to Stephansplatz, down a little alleyway...

Restaurant Name: Kartoffelpuffer heaven!

Here in the UK we like to think we know a thing or two about the humble potato - thanks to the British Empire, once we'd successfully twinned the flavoursome fish with the cheery chip, our gastronomic gifts were recognised throughout the world...'er, quite! But seriously it's good honest tuck and hard to beat for a bit of alfresco dining - or so I thought until I stumbled across the Kartoffelpuffer vendors of Vienna!

These delicious potato fritters are served piping hot with a simple garlic sauce brushed onto the surface. Also available are bratkartoffel (dry baked slices of potato), and maroni (hot chestnuts). From my experience the vendors are geared up to deal with people seeking a warming snack in Winter, which is another good reason why you should visit Vienna later in the year. The vendors can be found all around the city and within the various Christmas markets providing a good cheap alternative to a full blown dinner - and for those on different diets it's vegetarian friendly and (to my wife's delight) gluten free too!

Favorite Dish: It's got to be kartoffelpuffer!

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Theme: Street Vendor
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Seek and ye shall find!
Directions: Just keep your eyes - and potatoes - peeled!

Restaurant Name: Wiener Würstl

When you're feeling peckish and a restaurant doesn't quite fit the bill - what do you do? Well, given the grim standard of street vendor food in the UK, you'd be best advised to go hungry. But here in Vienna, there are countless stalls selling excellent tuck, that is far from our darkest notions of 'fast food'. Not that evry stall deserves custom but many are first rate and the fancy Wiener Würstl cabins on the Kartner Straße are certainly worth a look. So if you're looking to fill a gap but don't want to shell out for a big meal these chaps have an array of sausages to delight any culinary devotee of the double entendre. Excellent stuff, but unless you opt out of ketchup and/or mustard you'll get a generous dollop that can be a little overwhelming for the unwary.

Favorite Dish: The first for Würst!

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Theme: Street Vendor
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Directions: All over the place!

Restaurant Name: Nordsee

If you're missing the dear old UK or simply don't want to throw more cash into the mouths of multinational hamburger empires, why not try one of the branches of Nordsee?

Set up for sit down meals or speedier takeaways, we thought this Viennese fish and chip parlour was rather good...though to be honest, it also serves a wide array of fancier dishes like lobster too...and you don't see many of those being sprinkled with pickle vinegar on Brighton seafront. Rather tasty and good mayonnaise came with the chips too!

Favorite Dish: Fish and chips - A cheery meal to round off a bitterly cold Winter's night walk.

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Theme: Seafood
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Karntner Strasse and beyond...