Hi there. I've got an upcoming trip to Germany next week and will be staying most of the time in Dusseldorf. Of course this would be the best time to try out some German fare, so I tried checking out some restaurant review sites and they recommend the following:

- zum Schiffchen
- Rheinturm Top 180
- Victorian Restaurant

Has anyone been in these places? Any comments about the food, prices, service and ambience?

I'll also be passing by Munich and Frankfurt for a couple of days so if you could recommend THE ONE restaurant to visit for those places that would be most appreciated!

Pointers on good German beer houses would be welcome too! :D

Thanks in advance.

Hi there. I've got an upcoming trip to Germany next week and will be staying most of the time in Dusseldorf. Of course this would be the best time to try out some German fare, so I tried checking out some restaurant review sites and they recommend the following:

- zum Schiffchen
- Rheinturm Top 180
- Victorian Restaurant

Has anyone been in these places? Any comments about the food, prices, service and ambience?

I'll also be passing by Munich and Frankfurt for a couple of days so if you could recommend THE ONE restaurant to visit for those places that would be most appreciated!

Pointers on good German beer houses would be welcome too! :D

Thanks in advance.

I have not been in Jean Claude Bourgueil's "Im Schiffchen" for a longer time, but it is a 3 star Michelin with a sometimes bit lame service. It is not in the city centre but a bit outside of Düsseldorf. The Rheintum is worth for the view, but there are better places with similar priced menues (the value of money factor is a point, if you do not want to spent monery for the view). I cannot comment on the Victorian, is should be good, but I have not been there yet.
Le me give you another advise, the Hummerstübchen (www.hummerstuebchen.de) is very good ( little bit less expensive than "Im Schiffchen".

A sidenote, there are two "Schiffchen" in Düsseldorf, one is called "Zum Schiffchen an is in the old town, an the Restauran "Im Schiffchen in Düsseldorf Kaiserswerth.

Beer in Düsseldorf, well walk into old town in direction rivver banks, there are several pubs serving the local beer called "Altbier".

Jan

Did you mean Im Schiffchen or Zum Schiffchen? One is a gourmet temple while the other is a down to earth Rhineland beer hall.

Im Schiffchen ( www.im-schiffchen.com ) is a traditional European culinary temple. Attentive/fussy service, amuse bouches, knowing sommelieres and very good food to be had. But I'm not sure if one would feel comfortable as a single diner, better to go with business partners etc.

Victorian is a kind of Duesseldorf high society living room, patrons tend to come overdressed and sporting tans from their last yachting holiday. The food is aimed at keeping the regulars happy so no surprises there...And if you should not look the part, for whatever reason, I do think service would not be that forthcoming.

The tower restaurant is unknown to me, but might be interesting and the views are nice.

If I may, I'd like to recommend a couple of places in Ddorf, first Robert's Bistro down at the Medienhafen office and entertainment complex. It's a longstanding favourite with innovative French bistro cooking and no reservations taken. Crowded, good atmosphere and fun.

Also at the Medienhafen is Berens am Kai with stunning interiors and "modern German" cooking. Excellent place where reservations are a must.

And for the traditional German vibe, you could either head to Zum Schiffchen or one of the other trad beer halls in the Altstadt or maybe to a slightly more private place like Reusch ( They too have opened a dependance at the Medienhafen ).

For beer, there is something for every taste. I think part of the fun is to wander through the Altstadt in Ddorf or Cologne or Sachsenhausen in Frankfurt and get a feel of where one would fit in and have a gemuetlich evening.

Munich: Have a Bavarian lunch or dinner at Spöckmeyer. Just round the corner from Marienplatz, Sendlinger Straße. Excellent, authentic and not too touristy.

FLYGVA, mosburger and Kathrin, thanks for the tips!
That's a nice-looking list there, and your descriptions are a great help.
I'll let you know how things come out!

Enjoy! And have a Weißbier for me in Munich...

In Munich, try the Nurnberger bratwurst restaurant just behind some shops right off the northern side of Marienplatz! Family style seating, just pop in, sit down at one of the tables, and see how the other diners operate when it comes to table etiquette and paying. Locals almost entirely, hardly a tourist. Gruss Gott. Nach ein bier, bitte!

For Frankfurt I would suggest the Malepartus (www.malepartus-frankfurt.de). They serve authentic German and local food. The food is great and not even very expensive. We'll be going there (again) for our Frankfurt Do.

Hi there!

I'm back from Germany and I'd just like to mention where I ended up going.

In Munich, I went to Nuremberger Bratwurst Glockl Am Dom near the Frauenkirche (sonoftheheartland's recommendation?) which had a very cozy atmosphere inside and had really great sausages and Augustiner beer.

In Dusseldorf, a business partner wanted to go to the Rheinturm Top 180 and the food and night view were just great! Perfect I think for a dinner for two. The prices didn't seem unreasonable to me either. Later in the week some friends and I passed by Zum Schlussel in the Altstadt for altbier and more German food and it was pretty good too. The waiter was a bit terse though but you could probably put it down to it being a busy night.

Also had a couple of Japanese dinners at Benkei and the Nihonkan. The food tasted authentic, but unfortunately these were both *too* overly-priced, perhaps even 2-3 times that of what you would expect here in Japan.

During my stay I must have had 20 different beers, but with 5000 or so in Germany it'll sure take some time before I can try them all out :)

Thanks for the Rheinturm rec! I will host someone in Ddorf in December and that might be just the place to take him to. :)

I'd say the Nipponkan has an edge over Benkay. However, there are a couple of Japanese "Izakaya" style places on the nearby Klosterstrasse which I think are even closer to the real thing and more "omakase" ready.

Also a couple of great Korean restaurants near the main station, doing a very authentic kimchi jjigae. ^

Thanks for the Rheinturm rec! I will host someone in Ddorf in December and that might be just the place to take him to. :)

I'd say the Nipponkan has an edge over Benkay. However, there are a couple of Japanese "Izakaya" style places on the nearby Klosterstrasse which I think are even closer to the real thing and more "omakase" ready.

Also a couple of great Korean restaurants near the main station, doing a very authentic kimchi jjigae. ^

you are right about this, Klosterstraße is the street with the most and authentic Japanese restaurants you could have in the Düsseldorf area.

Any current suggestions?

My proposals would still be the same. There are quite a few Michelin Star restaurants in 1/2 driving from DUS, the Residence in Kettwig is close and so are the the two great restaurants in Bergisch-Gladbach. However, DUS is a town for foodies and whatever you are looking for, it will be there - but what are you acually looking for?

My proposals would still be the same. There are quite a few Michelin Star restaurants in 1/2 driving from DUS, the Residence in Kettwig is close and so are the the two great restaurants in Bergisch-Gladbach. However, DUS is a town for foodies and whatever you are looking for, it will be there - but what are you acually looking for?

There are actually three in Bergisch Gladbach. The little town called Odenthal that is right before Bergisch Gladbach on your way from Düsseldorf has a "One Michelin Star Restaurant" as well, if I am not totally mistaken.