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hand picked restaurants

Who says you need to go to New York to view the Manhattan skyline? See a scaled-down replica, towering over River Main with a design reminiscent of the 1930s style New York skyscrapers, right here in Frankfurt at the The Lindner Hotel and Residence Main Plaza. Living in one of their 118 gracefully decorated bedrooms, suites, maisonette-apartments or even the penthouse, most of them with a kitchenette, may prove to be a memorable experience.

Lovers of light Californian cuisine may find solace in the New Brick Californian Restaurant where you could watch Head Chef Heiko Mattschall, through their open plan kitchen, dutifully crafting a rich breakfast buffet, a delicious lunch or an evening meal. The colour scheme is an elegant red, grey and wooden tone, which beautifully contrasts the soft ceiling lighting and the dark wood panelled, glass fronted kitchen area. In summer step in to the cobbled square for some refreshing cocktails, while watching a boat slip by along the river a few meters away.

The five conference rooms are equipped with all mod cons and fitted with high quality furniture and light, tasteful fabrics bringing in a slight breather to the most heated of business meetings. Once you?ve clinched that all-important deal there?s a swimming pool, sauna, steam bath, a modern gym as well as massage area all waiting to be experienced.

Right here at the Sachenhausen Main embankment, the majestic looking Lindner is an oasis of calm where the busy guest may find just about everything except the commonplace.

This trendy and happening place in Frankfurt's Ostend district is well known in the restaurant scene amongst those who love some great Italian food and wines to match. With its dimly lit bar and seating area, the Devina Lounge exudes cosiness and intimacy, a perfect blend if you want to consider eating out there with friends or with someone special.

To start with, there's shrimp cocktail or beef carpaccio, but you could sideline both of these and simply go for the appetizer platter with salami, Parma ham, and mortadella salad. Seafood lovers will find the frutti di mare plate well up to expectations while the ruccola with armesan slivers and cocktail tomatoes will whet your appetite for more.

An Italian restaurant without pizza? Unheard of, and well, at Devina Lounge, it is not even a faint possibility because they prepare pizzas the authentic way, by firing them in a wood oven. There are a number of variations with mushrooms and salami; tuna, garlic and artichokes; anchovies and capers and even for vegetarians, with cheese, black olives and peppers.

If you feel that Italian food is synonymous with pasta,  you're sure to feel justified once you have sampled some of the dishes at the Devina Lounge. Patrons are given the choice of selecting the type of pasta they prefer, penne, tagliatelle, rigatoni, spaghetti or tortellini and then choose how they  want it prepared. Carbonara, a creamy combination of ham, egg and cheese never fails to please while al arabiata with tomato sauce, olives and peppers strikes the right note if spicy is your favourite taste. They also have specialities with each type of pasta, and maybe you could try tagliatelle with chanterelle cream or tortellini with peas and mushrooms.

If you'd rather dig in to something more substantial, the meat and fish dishes should do sufficient justice to your needs, and you could try the pork or chicken cutlet in cream; rump steak with fried onions; grilled beef tenderloin with herb butter; lamb in red wine, or maybe sole with pepper.

The atmosphere there is positively buzzing and everyone seems to be having a great time; Devina Lounge could be a fabulous place to host a party for friends and family.

Take a breath of authentic Frankfurt life at Berger Street and enjoy the small town atmosphere which coexists peacefully with the buoyant night life. As many people live in the four-storey townhouses there, the shops are small corner shops run by immigrants rather than big department stores. You will, however, also find some book shops - including many dealing in second hand books.

After shopping, you could step into Markou, a popular three storey bar and restaurant with a beer garden. The venue has a rustic atmosphere with an innovative cuisine and well-stocked wine cellar.  A wide variety of cocktails and drinks add to the refreshing gastronomic experience.

As you settle down into the comfortable seating you could order your drinks and select from the range of finger food which include mini spring rolls, fried mozzarella sticks, red hot jalapenos, taco chips, barbeque chicken wings, and potato wedges, all served with dip and salad garnish.

Soups are represented by tomato soup made with mozzarella cheese and whipped cream, Indonesian curry soup with shrimp, chilli con carne, and soup made from fresh vegetables. Starters and tapas call out for your attention and the irresistible olive kalamon, pepperonis grilled with garlic, shell fish pan in white-cheese sauce, and grilled, marinated eggplant, zucchini slices with cream cheese will have you lusting for more.

If you like salads then you will be happy to see that the menu lists various types such as olives, pepperoni and cheese, mozzarella and roasted turkey breast strips, Italian salad with cheese and eggs, and baked mushrooms. Guests can choose Balsamic vinegar or yoghurt dressing to accompany. Side dishes such as slide potatoes with cream cheese, croquettes, fries, homemade coleslaw and potato corners with rice serve to provide you with company in between the courses.

Main course follows with rump steak, onions and herb butter or turkey steak in olive oil-lemon-oregano marinade, and Roman's spit - a medium sized, faintly ridged cooking apple - with beef, pork, fiery vegetables and turkey cutlets. Those who prefer seafood could order calamari, fried squid rings with salad and tzatziki, and chopped salmon in lemon pepper sauce.

You could also try the Markou special mixed grill for two people which is popular among regulars. This brings to your table two aperitifs, appetizer plates, pieces of pork and beef, and turkey and lamb fries served with rice.

The menu also highlights a few Italian dishes such as spaghetti with shrimp in olive oil, garlic and tomatoes and penne with feta and cream sauce. Viennese apple strudel with vanilla sauce and original cream yogurt with honey and walnuts fill in the chinks, to complete a wholesome and delightful dining experience.

In Frankfurt, apfelwein is as popular as kölsch is in Cologne, and you shouldn't be surprised to see numerous pubs where this apple based wine is the favoured drink. Adolf Wagner is one of the city's oldest apfelwein houses, a family run business that has been around from 1931, although their reputation is based primarily on the creation of a fabulous, contemporary restaurant with good food and drink, and not just on past laurels.

Long wooden benches line the walls, while murals lend a rustic feel, perhaps a look that is carelessly contrived as a concession to the numerous tourists that throng here. Seating options include a warmed winter garden where you can relax with friends over a delicious meal and a bembel of apple wine. The bembel, a traditional off-white and blue pitcher, is used to serve apfelwein and is never far from  the hands of the friendly waiters who are ever ready to replenish your glass.

Wagner is renowned for their reasonably priced food and popular dishes there include bratwurst with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes and the wiener schnitzel, breaded veal slice with fried potatoes and salad. The menu lets you choose from beef, pork, veal and sausages and the dishes in each section are well thought out, providing a mix of traditional favourites and some innovations that reflect the local tastes, as well.

Frankfurt specialities on the menu are bound to induce hunger pangs, particularly if you are fond of grilled spare ribs or pork shoulder, while cold dishes such as handkäse mit musik, regional cheese with oil, vinegar and chopped onions along with bread and butter hold their own appeal. If you are visiting in summer, then do try the sausage salad or the sülze, diced meat in aspic, with marinated onions for a refreshingly different take on German specialities

There is good news for any vegetarians who may be accompanying you, or possibly even yourself; just try the fried feta cheese with olives, pepperonis, onions and bread or  the vegetable patties with herbed sour cream and salad.

If you are not too keen on sipping apfelwein throughout your meal, you could choose from a number of German and French wines, while spirits and non alcoholic drinks are also there for your pleasure. What you won't find is beer, but the huge number of alternatives makes up admirably for any disappointment you might feel.

Desserts include the famed apple strudel or the homemade red fruit pudding, both with ice cream and you will be hard pressed to find another more fitting way to end such a hearty meal!

If you fancy tucking into some exotic curries whilst on a visit to Frankfurt or looking for some delicious Indian food, then Jewel of India might just be the place. Located in the heart of the banking district and close to the trade grounds, localites may vouch for the fact that this is a great place, if a tad pricey, though watch out for their special menu of the day, which represents excellent value, however, the feisty menu and the appetizing spread of authentic Mughlai fare will also help you get your money's worth.

The interior is well laid out with interesting artwork, subtle lighting and the gentle flicker of candle light, all of which could set the tone for a pleasant meal. The décor takes in all the finer points of Indian heritage and culture, so here's a place for those looking to treat themselves to some royal food with soothing music in the background.

The cuisine focuses primarily on the North-Western princely states of erstwhile India, while those from the other regions are not completely forgotten. Their house speciality of grilled king prawns in a mild sauce and green peas with potatoes and fresh mushroom curry is refreshingly tasty. The chef recommends an assorted silver platter or the 'thali' of the king's feast of grilled meat, a selection of curries; vegetables and rice while the queen's feast, or begumi khazana, is an array of vegetarian delights with lentils, rice and dessert.

Among the starters there are onion rings fried in batter, succulent lamb mince rolls and creamy tomato soup. Choose from a variety of flavoursome curries such as fish fillet cooked in a creamy coconut and mustard gravy, chicken cooked with green peppers and lamb in almond gravy; these could be accompanied with steamed rice. Soak up the flavours of the tandoor sizzlers of fillet of salmon grilled with fresh herbs, chicken breast marinated in saffron and yogurt and lamb cubes doused in Indian herbs and spices.

Sweet treats include gulab jamun, milk dumplings in a light sugar syrup and rasmalai, cottage cheese dumplings in cardamom, pistachio and saffron milk. The team at Jewel of India hope that diners will appreciate their journey through the Mughlai cuisine of India and enjoy the palate tingling experience.

If the name Gargantua reminds you of a giant character and his comical adventures of eating and drinking in François Rabelais's novel, then you may share the same love for food as Klaus Trebes, the owner and chef of Gargantua. Taking a leaf out of Rabelais's book, Trebes and his wife Monika continue to keep up the same spirit with the opening of this restaurant in 1983. Over the years a lot of hard work and fun have transformed this place onto one of Westend's chic dining addresses.

What greets you first is an abundance of ivy in the garden area complete with French furnishings and marble tables for that balmy summer meal. Step inside to find an elegantly dressed country house styled room in mellow tints of apricot and ochre. A Provençal chandelier and bowl lighting add to the warm feel and the L-shaped guest room with its Biedermeier styled furniture may prove to be a cosy spot to enjoy a glass of wine.

The seasonally changing menu demonstrates some classic German and French dishes with contemporary interpretations, all created by the man himself. So don't be surprised to see a blackened tuna 'Gargantua' and a small tuna tartar with Japanese ginger, radish and wasabi. For starters there is terrine of bouillabaisse with aioli and a Greek style vegetable salad, and wild boar sausages with roasted black pudding and foie gras on onion-apple salad.

Mains of braised beef cheeks in Sangiovese red wine come with calf's head 'praline', vegetable flan and polenta, while a tagine of poulard with fig and vinegar onions is served Oriental style with pilaf, fruits, nuts and salted lemon. Fish lovers will be happy to see the fillet of turbot on cream kohlrabi and red wine sauce with spring onions and hot smoked Scottish salmon a la minute with warm vegetable vinaigrette.

Desserts are set to delight with a ricotta parfait served with a strawberry Margarita sorbet and minestrone of summer fruits with a lime-basil sorbet. From the cheese section try Gargantua's version of 'pizza', blue cheese and pears glazed with Beerenauslese dessert wine. With wines from France, Italy, Austria and Germany on the list, you could expect anything from the classic Bordeaux 1998 Château Lynch Bages to a plain Pinot Blanc.

As you approach L'Estragon, you will be taken in by the beauty of the white building surrounded by green bushes. The yard, with its access to sunlight, will certainly not go unnoticed as it provides a pleasant spot for a summer meal. Once inside, the compact setting, the warm colours, and the friendly staff welcome you to begin your gastronomic journey.

This charming, small restaurant is located in the heart of Frankfurt. The interior is inspired by the south and the chef is rooted in classical cuisine and Mediterranean flavours. The fixed carte du jour presents three categories for guests to choose from - international, lightweight and classical.

If you opt for international you could start with leek soup with shrimp, terrine of lobster, graved salmon, tuna and marinated squids, and Jacob fried scallops, noodles and black shallot-butter sauce.  Mains might follow with fillet steak with burgundy sauce and a crème brûlée for dessert is ideal for a sweet ending.

In the lightweight category wild garlic soup and marinated goat cheese with red pesto could provide the start. Main course? How about king prawns Mediterranean style and roast quail with truffle pasta. A selection of French cheese for dessert is all that's needed to complete the experience.

The classical list brings to the fore dishes such as foie gras terrine with caramelised apple, Riesling and brioche, dorade royal on lobster sauce, and saddle of lamb in garlic-olive sauce.

Special orders are catered for larger groups and you are likely to find popular dishes such as cream soup of wild garlic leaves, duck terrine, variation of fish with bouillabaise sauce, and roasted oxtail in red wine. 

Guests who arrive for dinner can order salads such as roasted goose liver with chicory, fried fillet tips and hand made noodles with truffles and truffle sauce. Main course options include pepper steak and slashes of beef fillet with a sauce of Dijon mustard. A mango parfait for dessert ends the meal on a sweet note.