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Gourmet Germany, Austria & Switzerland

When you take your tongue out sightseeing in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, what are its favorite taste treats?

I want to add my comments! 

Cafe Hawelka in Vienna: avoid!
We had a terrible experience at Cafe Hawelka. The head waiters were rude (although one young man was quite friendly and helpful), and we were charged 17 euro for two Wuerstl and drinks. We would have been better off going to a nearby Imbiss. Sad the recommendation was so off.
Farah K
Provo, UT  USA   03/29/2013

Gluten free hiking Berchtesgaden to Prague
If anyone on this thread is interested in hiking in NP Berchtesgaden, seeing lovely Salzburg and Regensburg, and continuing to Prague, you're welcome to check out our "Salt to Gold" trip. We stress great hiking, city exploring and gourmet food. Since gourmet in Germany and Czech Rep. doesn't always go well with a gluten free diet...we offer our trips also in a gluten free form. Ever had a gluten free "Bretze" (Pretzel)? Tereza @ www.PathwaysThroughEurope.com
Tereza
Prague, Czech Rep.   03/11/2013

Good Italian
There is a chain of Italian restaurants called Vapiano-- in many countries in Europe although a majority seem to be in the GAS countries. It's is Italian food made in front of you (salads, pizzas and pastas)-- really good, really fresh-- and since you pick it up yourself there is no tipping. In Vienna alone there are now 5 of them or so-- including a brand-new one at the Westbahnhof.
EM
Vienna,  11/18/2012

Berlin amazingly vegan-friendly!
As a vegan, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of vegan/vegetarian places there were in Berlin. My count included about 17 all-vegan and 25 all-vegetarian restaurants (my favorites being Kopps and Viasko). And there was an all-vegan grocery store in Prenzlauerburg as well.

In addition, there are numerous "bio-markts" in every neighborhood where you can find organic produce and sundries, as well as vegan German sausages! I was hoping to find such things when I arrived, and I was not disappointed that they had vegan brats and wursts of all sizes and "regional" distinctions. And some of the best vegan cheese I've ever had was German-made. Leave it to them to figure out how to make the best-tasting vegan meat and cheese!
Pete
Seattle, WA  USA   11/14/2012

Restaurant experience
The Edelweiss restaurant in Murren, Switzerland should not be a recommended restaurant. The staff was very unfriendly. We had to ask for the menu that was posted outside as the one that was presented to us was a much higher priced menu.
Janice Merritt
Clements, CA  USA   09/15/2012

eating in vienna
Gyros in Vienna near the Haus Der Musik was wonderful. The food was delicious and plentiful. The owner was friendly and truly does love to feed people.
Cathy Kurisu
Cypress, Ca  USA   08/18/2012

Munich restaurant
Restaurant Opatija had a varied menu to please everyone in our party of seven. The cost was reasonable and wait staff wonderful. A great break from traditional German fare. Delicious fish!
Cathy
Cypress, Ca  USA   08/18/2012

Ticino dining with a view
Creamy cannelloni, spaghetti with delicious pesto, warm avocado with melted provolone, bresaola with tomatoes, olive oil, and chives, delicate beer batter felchen from the lake, porc picata, vitello tunato . . . Oh, my. These are my memories from the quiet terrace of the family-owned Hotel Panorama in Gerra at the Swiss end of Lago Maggiore. I return home and try to replicate the flavors in my kitchen, but I don't even come close. Did I mention the light desserts of fresh fruit, crunchy sweet meringue, and icecream?
jw
LA  USA   07/03/2012

Berchtesgaden restaurant....yummy!
If you are staying anywhere near Berchtesgaden, this was one of the best restaurants we encountered anywhere on our trip: http://www.gebirgshaeusl.de/ It's actually a pension system...there are 4 hotels near each other that are all run out of this restaurant. People come from all over, whether they're staying at the restaurant or not. Highly recommended. I had a dish called "Züricher Lekkerli" (good luck trying to google it) which was 3 oh-so-tender pork medallions with a mushroom and ham cream sauce over the largest bowl of spaetzle I found in Europe. Decent prices.
Angela
Charles Town, WV  USA   06/05/2012

Excellent food in Salzburg
The Barenwirt is the place to go for great Austrian food in Salzburg. A little off the beaten path from City Center, but not so many tourists. Make sure you reserve before going.
Alex
Longmont, CO  USA   05/04/2012

Berlin Favorites
Several neighborhood spots we really, really like in Berlin: Lubitsch (Bleibtreustr. 47), a delightful cafe in the Savignyplatz area, one of our favorite old Berlin neighborhoods. Schwarzwaldstuben (corner of Tucholskystr. and Linienstr.), a quirky and friendly place around the corner from the Neue Synogogue. Schneeweiss (Simplonstr. 16), nouvelle German cuisine in seedy-but-hip Friedrichshain.
Sue
Pittsburgh, PA  USA   04/16/2012

Giessen Germany
Mutter Schmidt in Giessen (awesome Jaeger Schnitzel), or Alt Giessen (good steaks).
Ralph
Fort Polk, La  USA   03/07/2012

Good food
Vils Alp See in Austria has the best apfel struddel in the german speaking region. If that doesn't get you, a walk around the lake will.
Mike Keel
Simi Valley, Ca.  USA   01/26/2012

About Austria
There are 2 towns in Austria that Dave and I love...Gmunden and Friesach.Both have great food and weekly markets and a super climate for those of us with humidity problems in the summer...not to mention the friendliest people in Austria. PS Our daughter's husband has a wonderful Buddhist Gomde in the nearby village of Scharnstein.It is a beautiful country location that is situated in a centuries-old farm property .
Mary Major
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada   01/06/2012