Steirereck
Rasumofskygasse 2 / Ecke Wissgerberlände
A-1030 Vienna
tf (0043) (01) 7 13 31 68
fax (0043) (01) 71351682
closed Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays
Reservations a must
All major credit cards

My first visit on jan-15-2001 (on a stopover doing Zurich - Vienna - Sydney)

The Restaurant, and its outstanding wine-list (tour of the wine cellar is possible too, don't miss it) deserves all great top ratings from gastro critis (Michelin's top Restaurant in Austria).

I rate this Restaurant (meals, service, athmosphere) as high as the (19 out of a total of 22 I have visited so far) very top French Restaurants (Michelin). I did choose the full menue (austrian Shillings 930) complemented by a glass of wine per course (Austrian Shillings 595)

(the wines offered I list in brackets):
***************
* Starter: gebackenes Wachtelei mit Rauchfisch
and Pastinakenravioli mit Kresse und Lammsalami
***************
First Courses:
* Pochierte Forelle mit Avocado Mangosalat
(199 Grauburgunder Kabinett, Lage Steinbach, Lackner Tinnacher, Steinbach/Gamlitz)
* or Gänseleber - Lebkuchentorte
(15 years old Madeira, Rich Malmsey, Blandy's)
* or Gebratene Wachtel mit Zimtapfel
(1999 Das Beste vom grünen Veltliner, Auslese, Gerald Malat Palt)
***************
second course:
* Zander auf Weisskrautnudeln und Paprika
(199 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Loibner Berg, F.X. Pichler, Oberloiben)
* or Hummer mit Kohlrabi
(199 Gelber & Roter Traminer, Umathum, Frauenkirchen)
* or Steinbutt auf Mandelfisch, Pfefferfeigen
(1998 Riesling, Kallinger-Prskawetz, Wien)
* or Lamm mit Fenchelpolenta und Zitronen
(1998 Pannobile, Hanns Nittnaus, Gols)
* or Wildhase mit Punschgewürzen
(1997 Primus, Alto de Casablanca, Veramonte, Chile)
* or Tyria-Beiried mit Pluskatjus
(1998 Carbenet Sauvignon ?Clausenberg?, Rosi Schuster, St. Margarethen)
***************
* Cheese Seletions from the Trolley
(1998 Cornado da Haza, Ribera del Duero, Alejandro Fernandez)
* or Sorbet: von Williamsbirne, Passionsfrucht, Campari-Orange, Melisse und Preiselbeeren
(Champagne Gobillard Brut Tradition)
***************
Desserts:
* Warme Schokolade mit Eierlikör, Crème Karamel
(1996 Beerenauslese, Velich, Apetlon)
* or Halbgefrorenes von Mandeln mit weissem & grauem Mohn
(1996 Beerenauslese, Velich, Apetlon)
***************
* to finish: Steiereck-Schokolade von Amarena-Kokos-Vanillekipferl-Balsamicoessig-Marzipannougat-Sesam Valrhona

Next time Gisela must accompany me!

Thanks, Rudi. We meant to try this place last time we were in Vienna. This time, we'll be there longer, and your recommendation says a lot, so we'll have to give it a try. Besides, my husband is Steirisch, so we almost have to go there.

Rudi: Magnificant posting! Do you have any recomendations in Munich, Innsbruck, Tyrol, BUD?

i was at Steirereck last week, and I confirm it is a great restaurant, and not too expensive. Two 5-course menus for 63 euros each (add 43 more if you want a different glass of wine for each course), and one 10-course menu for 93 euros. Excellent.

Can only confirm Rudi's rating of this place... it is absolutely outstanding. Best value for money is for lunch (its also easier to get a table), but for the all out experience, go for dinner.

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/thumbsup.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdining_forum/thumbsup.gif

Any recent nominations for best restaurant(s) in Vienna?

Any recent nominations for best restaurant(s) in Vienna?

Well perhaps not the "very best" but had two great meals at Mienl am Graben and Zum Wieban Rauchfangkehrer over the Easter holidays.

mike

Well perhaps not the "very best" but had two great meals at Mienl am Graben and Zum Wieban Rauchfangkehrer over the Easter holidays.

mike

Thanks, Mike. I've heard that Vienna may be the hardest city in Europe for folks (who should be) on a diet...and I'm looking forward to putting a couple of inches back on the waistline! I've got all summer to take it off :D

Any recent Steirereck experiences?

Any recent Steirereck experiences?

Well, the Steiereck has since moved to a new location in a completely refurbished historic building in the middle of the Stadtpark, Vienna's large inner city park. The design of the restaurant is now much more modern than it used to be - see here (http://steirereck.at/wien/restaurant/) for pictures and opening hours - beware that strangely enough the restaurant is closed on the weekend (Sat and Sun).

Also, Austria's most renowned Chef Helmut Österreicher who had been at the restaurant for decades and brought it to fame, left about a year ago. The son of the owners, Heinz Reitbauer jun., has now taken over - and apparently the cuisine is not as innovative and original as it used to be. Austria's main gourmet guide Gault Millau has even taken one of their "chef hats" - they are now rated at 17 Points/3 chef hats, down from 19 points, 4 chef hats.

General opinion is that the restaurant is now overpriced for what is offered. However, service and wine list remain at their very high standard. Personally, I prefer the new Steireck ess.bar (http://steirereck.at/wien/essbar/ ) located in the same building, where they offer little dishes in a bistro-style setting. Both the restaurant and the ess.bar have very nice patios overlooking the park, something the "old steireck" was lacking.

Also worth mentioning: Helmut Österreicher has since opened his own restaurant, "Österreicher im MAK" (http://www.oesterreicherimmak.at/) , very modern bistro-type restaurant located in the Museum of Applied Arts, open daily, serving modern interpretation of classic Austrian dishes - I haven't had a chance to go there yet since I have spent the last 6 months in Canada, but the opinions I heard were mixed. Possibly start-up difficulties.

Vienna resident-what an informative and helpful post!

This is taken from a note to a friend who actually stayed with us when we had a whole year in Vienna (Schubertjahr - 1997)

Where to eat
- Café Diglas, Wollzeile….what wonderful lunch and dinner menus….great late in the evening when the pianist is there.
- Ofenloch, Kurrentgasse…still very nice, even if the Sunday lunch menus are not quite the same as they were throughout 1997! (ask to sit in the ‘Laube’!)
- Trzesniewski, Dorotheergasse…for open sandwiches and a ‘Pfiff’ at lunch time! Talk to everyone here!
- Palatschinken, Koellnerhofgasse…for pancakes, crepes etc.
- Pfudl, Baeckerstrasse…..we like for a late lunch after the crowds have gone.
- Konditorei Oberlaa, Neuer Markt or Landstrasser Hauptstrasse (by the Hilton)…for breakfast.
- Piaristenkeller, Piaristengasse (8th district)…for the best Zither music in town (provided Rosemarie Koch is still playing!)…the best table - for 2 is #17 - and ask Rosemarie to play “Uber die Wellen”
- Figlmueller, behind the Stefansdom….for the largest ‘schnitzels’ anywhere!
- Danieli, Himmelpfortgasse……if you must eat ‘Italian’ !!
- Kardos, Dominikanerbastei…for Hungarian !!
I do realise that none of these are as 'upmarket' as the 'Steirereck'!

While I am about it......
What to do
- Have coffee in one of the many coffee houses - Central, Landtmann and Demel are the top three…also the ‘Kleines Café (in the Franziskaner Platz)……you can peek into Sacher’s too!
- Take the #38 tram to Grinzing and go to a nice ‘Heuriger’ garden
- Take the #1 or #2 tram right round the Ring.
- Go to the Volksoper, and then afterwards to the nice café just down the hill
- Go into the Universitataets/Jesuit Kirche…preferably for Sunday morning mass….the best choir in town. But you can also make a 'pilgrimage' to Schubert's church (the Lichtental) in the 9th district - check what's being sung there
- Go and stroll in the ‘Naschmarkt’ – Vienna’s food/market stall area.
- Visit the Belvedere castle (for Klimt – the “Kiss” – and some Monets)
- Visit the Schoenbrunn Palace
- Visit the “Hundertwasserhaus” – crazy, modern, fascinating
- Visit the Kunsthistorisches Museum
- Stroll down Graben and the Kohlmarkt, where the two streets meet you can have a glass of champagne (and shop) at Vienna’s most elegant food store – Julius Meinl (like KdW in Berlin or Harrods food dept in London)

One used to be able to take the train to Melk, rent a bicycle from Austrian Railways there, and cycle all the way down to Krems (returning the biicycle in time for the last train back to Vienna). We've done it in every season of the year....a fantastic experience
UNfortunately this service is no longer available...BUT you could rent a bicycle in Vienna and take it with you / bring it back!

nkosi

Was in Vienna a week ago & ate at the 'oldest restaurant in Vienna' (whose name just blew past my mind/lips - I'll post again later w/ the name). Have eaten there before & liked it.

Wouldn't put it in the category of the OP restaurant, but actually the food/service/wine (we went from wine list, not by the glass) was good. The company was great, and we were the only people in the place in tuxedos & evening gowns (we were going to a formal ball immediately following) :D

Cheers.

Vienna resident-what an informative and helpful post!

My pleasure.

Don't hesitate to ask me any more questions concerning going out in Vienna.

Stayed at the Bristol on a fabulous Starpoints stay (see SPG forum for a full trip report later) and ate dinner in Korso, their first class restaurant. The outdoor seating was a delight (great weather was helpful, no doubt) and the traditional Austrian dishes we ordered - goulasch and boiled beef - were both outstanding entries. Herr Thysinger, the maitre d'hotel for the restaurant, was a delight, as were every one of his suggestions. All in all, not inexpensive but a terrific meal.

This was one of the first Flyertalk threads (if not the first) that I read and followed up on oh so many years ago. We ate at the Steirereck, and it was the best meal I have ever had. Each of the many, many courses was paired with a wine, and the whole thing took hours and hours. It was a wonderful treat and truly our fondest memory of Vienna. And the fact that I then became a FlyerTalk addict...