I've looked through the other threads on FRA stopovers, but my questions is a little more specific and not really addressed. I'm really hoping some Frankfurt Foodie FTers can help :D
I arrive on a Friday morning at 9:15am with an onward (intra-Europe) flight at 3:20pm. That should leave me plenty of time to shower in the lounge, head into the city, have lunch, and return. The question is where. My criteria, from most to least important, are:
(1) Location: I'd like to leave 1.5 hours for lunch, so the restaurant needs to be relatively close to the train station. I'm not sure where exactly to draw the line, but I do know that I don't want either to worry about rushing the meal or to cut things too close getting back to FRA either.
(2) Cuisine: While I know there are lots of good European and non-European places in Frankfurt, I'm looking for German/Austrian food only. However, I don't eat pork, so any place I go would need to have some non-pork options. (I know, I know, some of the best German food is made of/with pork. What can I do?) So all-wurst joints are out. :o
(3) Wish List: I'd prefer somwhere new and interesting vs. old and famous; modern interpretations over classic presentations; someplace up and coming rather than quote-unquote "authentic"; someplace I can pair the food with good German wine; and a good location -- people watching, an attractive room, etc. -- where I could while away the time would be nice as well.
(4) Cost: I'd like to spend 30-40 Euros all-in, but I would go higher if the more the place fit my wish list in (3) above.
Thanks so much in advance for your ideas and suggestions! It's easy enough to find places near the train station, and I've looked at lists (on chowhound.com and elsewhere) of best Frankfurt restaurants, but it has been difficult to combine the two criteria into a meaningful set of choices.
etch5895
Mar 2, 12, 10:33 am
There is one place I can think of in the airport, outside of the security zone. Did you actually want to leave the airport and go to downtown Frankfurt?
as219
Mar 2, 12, 10:34 am
There is one place I can think of in the airport, outside of the security zone. Did you actually want to leave the airport and go to downtown Frankfurt?
Yes, I'm more than happy to go to downtown Frankfurt.
david7031
Mar 4, 12, 5:44 am
I can't make a first-hand recommendation because I live in Stuttgart...
That said, I did take a look at several restaurant guide sites for Frankfurt. My favorite sites are:
www.gaultmillau.de and http://www.restaurant-ranglisten.de
Using this, I found a restaurant that might meet many of your criteria. It's called Emma Metzler. Here are some links:
This seems to be one of the top-rated restaurants in Frankfurt. Usually quite expensive... but, they have a daily special lunch, 3 courses for €23,50 to €26,50. That can be a great way to discover a good restaurant, and it would (almost) fit into your budget.
According to the Frankfurt transport web site, you can walk there in 15 minutes from the S-Bahn "Hauptwache" station. The S-Bahn runs every 15 minutes from FRA to there (and back), and takes 14 minutes. The restaurant opens at 12:00, so if you can manage to be out the door by 14:00 (or maybe 13:45), you will be in fine shape timewise.
It looks quite intersting - I'll have to try it if I'm up in Frankfurt on a weekday!
Anyone from Frankfurt care to commen on this idea?
as219
Mar 4, 12, 2:29 pm
Thank you so much for this terrific suggestion, david7031! I really appreciate it ^
I took a look at their menus, and it's exactly the kind of place I'm looking for. They get high marks for their wines as well! :D
Reservation is made, and I'll be sure to post back with my experience... :)
mosburger
Mar 5, 12, 9:01 am
I got a rec for the restaurant "Unterschweinstiege" at the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Frankfurt a couple of years ago and was very happy with the offerings there. Would consider that establishment also in this case.
I got a rec for the restaurant "Unterschweinstiege" at the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Frankfurt a couple of years ago and was very happy with the offerings there. Would consider that establishment also in this case.
Thanks for another good recommendation! (It's a good fall-back if my flight is delayed and I have to go somewhere closer to FRA!) ^
as219
Mar 23, 12, 10:33 pm
Thank you so much for this terrific suggestion, david7031! I really appreciate it ^
I took a look at their menus, and it's exactly the kind of place I'm looking for. They get high marks for their wines as well! :D
Reservation is made, and I'll be sure to post back with my experience... :)
So... :D
In short, Emma Metzler was fantastic: Perfect distance from the train station, exciting, inventive German-European cuisine, great wines and the price was right!
They offer three different pre-fix menus -- vegatarian, meat/poultry, fish -- and a choice of 2 or 3 courses for each. I had the 3-course fish menu, which cost 26.50 Euros.
I would call the first course an amuse bouche, but really it was a more substantial dish than that, more like an appetizer: A serving of "taramasalata" made with creme fraiche (super light and airy, much less fishy than the normal, Greek variety), served with bitter pea shoots, a rice wafer and balsamic reduction. I loved this dish - the creamy saltiness of the tarama was perfectly offset by the spicy bitterness of the pea shoots. Bonus!
Second course was celery soup with anise foam. It's hard to describe how intriguing this tasted: there was a fullness, almost chewiness to it -- very earthy, a little sweet. I would never have thought to pair celery and anise, and the combination was something much more than the sum of its parts. I savored every drop of this soup. Definitely pushed the edge of the envelope!
Third course was a tender piece of herb and sesasme encrusted cod, served with a leek, tomato and asparagus ragout, saffron foam and jasmine rice. A lovely dish if not as inventive as the previous ones.
Dessert was a buttermilk biscuit "donut" (it was glazed in icing!) with buttermilk icecream, berries and a white chocolate tuile. I liked it a lot -- even though I was near bursting at this point.
Given the extensive German wine menu, I put myself in their hands and was not disappointed: They served me a crisp, mineral, tinge of floral riesling -- very unlike the sweeter rieslings I'm used to drinking in the states. If complemented the pre fix perfectly.
My only regret is that I didn't order off the main menu as well! There were at least 3-4 entrees I regret not being able to try! :(
I have to give kudos to david7031 for the great reccomendation! An attractive restaurant with serious, inventive food. I'm definitely going back the next time I have a Frankfurt layover...and I highly reccomend it to anyone else looking for a layover lunch. ^^^^
david7031
Apr 6, 12, 9:32 pm
Hi as219,
Thanks very much for being the guinea pig for me and actually testing this restaurant! :D
As you know, I've never been there ... but I do love eating at good restaurants, especially if I can also afford them! :) Because of that, I have discovered a few favorite web sites to help me make sure I pick the right one -- in advance! (I hate paying through the nose and being disappointed...
Anyway, thanks very much for the feedback - I really appreciate it!