Regensblog

The venue is nice (see below), if a bit loud when crowded. It serves well for large gatherings and the veranda out back when the weather permits it is also a nice touch. Service is kind of hit-or-miss, but our Kellnerin today was quite good and friendly to boot.

S-bahn: Neustädtermarkt or Albertplatz

Tel. 0351/ 56 33 126
Tel. / Fax 035975 8064
http://www.bauernstuben-kuegelgenhaus.de/

http://www.inoras.ro/?section=local&instit=326&dom=3&or=1

Franz Schubert was a big fan of this place. Nice atmosphere, but loud if full (or there’s a big party behind you) and little chance to escape the smoke.

That said, this place is very small and old-fashioned, but was bustling. The service was nice, but a little rushed. And by the end of the meal, we all needed to get out of the billows of second-hand smoke. Normally, I don’t mind a little bit of smoke, but I think the Viennese smoke more than most.

But the best part was the food! Big portions for small prices and the quality of the ingredients and preparation was outstanding. I had the Schweinebraten (pork roast) with Semmelknödel (bread dumpling), a dish I’ve had several times since moving to Germany and I can easily say this is the best permutation I’ve had yet. Don’t miss the Sternbräu if you’re ever in Salzburg!

This place was nice and quiet on a Sunday afternoon, if a bit smoky despite there being only one other party in the downstairs luncheon room. The smoked breast of goose was very good, if a bit pricey. But hey - it was goose, so what was I to expect? The plum strudel and walnut ice cream afterwards was delightful.

http://www.humlerhof.com/

Unfortunately, Bar Liston 12 is right at the top of my All-Time Worst Dining Experiences in Italy (granted, it’s a short list) due to the lousy noodles, rather cartilaginous pork (was that ham? bacon? sow’s ear?) and beaten raw egg yolk they purported to be Spaghetti Carbonara. It was just disgusting; almost as much as the fact that we paid exorbitant prices (something like €4 for a glass of Coke!) and stormed out of there in frustration and resorted to the special on cheeseburgers at the McDonald’s in Affi.

They were a much better deal, especially with regard to our satisfaction.

This place is along what I can only assume is one of the main tourist-trappy areas of Verona - right on the circle surrounding the Arena. They serve sub-Stouffer’s quality food at obscenely inflated prices. We had tried to go to another place nearby, highly recommended by a friend who is something of an Italy-expert. Unfortunately, after a comedy of errors while trying to find the B&B, then trying to find parking in Verona while coping with the Italian style of driving, we showed up between the end of their lunch hours and the reopening for dinner.

It was raining. The trip through the city had been terrifying. We were wet, miserable, tired, stressed and HUNGRY. We just stumbled back to the main drag (in an effort not to get lost and overstay our parking) and decided to just eat something and get back out of the city before dark. The only thing that stands out about this place is the awfulness of the food. My ‘Lasagna al forno’ tasted like it came out of a can. A Chef Boyardee can. It is such a bummer that the worst Italian food I’ve ever had in my life was in Italy. But I feel like it’s my own fault.

It’s alright. We went home and made better food (puttanesca sauce with penne) than this joint could ever dream of serving.

http://www.steidlewirt.de/