Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

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.

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.

Berlin's Kurfürstendamm is home to a number of boutiques by leading designers, drawing fashionistas by the hordes, while the hotels and restaurants in this upscale boulevard are equally popular with locals and visitors alike. In the midst of all these trendsetting shops is the Austeria Brasserie, an elegant and very chic French-inspired restaurant, where you could indulge in some of the best oysters, lobster, fish and other delicacies.

As you enter Austeria Brasserie, the serene atmosphere sets to work, lulling your senses, helping you to fully relax and enjoy the fabulous food on offer. The plush furnishings, warm lighting fixtures, and eclectic murals on the walls create an ambience that is quietly refined. You could choose to sit in the restaurant over an elaborate meal with coffee and cocktails later in the stylish lounge or if you just want a snack, say a homemade pie, then the bistro will suffice, providing you with a number of options for some light enjoyment.

For oyster lovers, there are well known names in the menu that will trigger a keen sense of anticipation whilst those who prefer lobster could try it grilled, with tarragon mayonnaise, cream and chervil vinaigrette. The boiled version, served cold, with garlic and cocktail sauce also makes a handsome dish, while butter poached langoustines with noodles and Newburg sauce is a veritable treat indeed.

Amongst the appetizers, the choices are numerous, and you could try out the pot roast goose liver with pear and Mesclin lettuce salad; spaghetti with cherry tomatoes, basil, parmesan, garlic and chilli, or pumpkin cream soup with saffron and crayfish. Moving on to the more substantial dishes, the sea bass in salt crust with spinach and parsley potatoes; a large sole meunière with glazed vegetables or the oven roasted dorade filled with Provençal herbs and served sautéed with fennel, all deserve special mention.

Austeria Brasserie also has some specials lined up, and you could treat yourself to Russian caviar, served with crème fraiche and foil potato or different variations of smoked salmon with red horseradish and sour cream. Desserts are not left behind in this quest for culinary excellence and a mere sampling will prove that they have hit it spot on. Whether it is the crème brûlée, delicately sprinkled with brown sugar, or the mousse au chocolat with Valrhona chocolate, kumquat compote and vanilla cognac foam, or the sorbets and homemade tarts, these confections are almost bound to afflict you with calorific amnesia of a high order.

Not content with just a selection, Austeria Brasserie has an entire walk in wine cabinet with over 140 choices from across the world. Two different temperatures are maintained, ensuring that the optimum level is retained consistently. 

While this idyllic restaurant is well suited for a meal with friends or family, their business lunch menu has some delicious options and is just the thing over which to spend some quality time with your associates.

The French inspired Brasserie Am Gendarmenmarkt is one of those places where style meets substance effortlessly in a setting that is sophisticated yet casual. The location of this restaurant in the heart of historic Berlin is another factor that contributes to its chic elegance, particularly as it is right in the centre of the fascinating cultural life and grandiose architecture that is so prevalent in the Pigeon Strasse.

Comfortably casual, the restaurant fits the mould of an upmarket Parisian Brasserie with ease and the pleasant and relaxing atmosphere is perfect if you want to linger over lunch or a dinner with someone special. The stylish lounge with its opulent Art Deco prints is just the place to add that hint of glamour to your events and meetings, and it's equipped with the latest technology to ensure that your presentations are carried out seamlessly. The terraces and patio, on days when the weather is clement, are a delightful setting for a lazy afternoon over a delicious bouillabaisse.

Fresh, seasonal produce, which hasn't travelled too far to reach your plate, forms the basis of the dishes that emerge from the kitchen. The cuisine is French although the German hints are inevitable and add to the overall enjoyment of the food. Consider for example the potato and watercress cream with grilled shrimp or the consommé of parsley root with Parmesan ravioli; the delicate blend of flavours and textures spur you on to anticipate the next course with mounting pleasure.

For starters, you might have the duck liver with potato salad and winter truffles or the beef with capers, spicy cucumber, anchovy fillets, shallots and boiled quail on toasted bread. Main courses bring to light the German connection with the wiener schnitzel from the veal topside while the calf's liver in port wine sauce with balsamic shallots lends to a lighter and flavourful taste. If lamb is more to your liking, then the saddle of lamb with herb crust on rotweinjus beans and bacon could be more favourable.

Surprisingly, there's also a slight Italian twist, with homemade ravioli and tagliatelle, while the steaks offer a hearty alternative with the Black Angus breed heading the list, and dishes might feature such appetizing meals as the châteaubriand with vegetables and herb béarnaise or the 8 oz sirloin with broad beans and dried tomatoes.

The French are on top form when it comes to dessert and in this aspect too, the Brasserie does not lag behind with delectable choices such as mousse of white Valrhona chocolate and apple strudel with raspberry sorbet or crème brûlée ruling the list. There's also an exquisite selection of cheeses for the connoisseurs.

The wine list offers an eclectic selection which spans the wine producing countries in the New and Old World ending with an entry from South Africa, Fusion V 2004, which is a neo-classical variant that has found numerous enthusiastic takers. Their comprehensive Website outlines further details regarding menus and offers.

Hamburg's Wandrahm restaurant derives its name from the historic 'wandrahmen' or wooden frames upon which cloth manufacturers dried their products on the waterfront, between the 14th and 17th centuries. While the name has no bearing on the restaurant fare, it could make a good icebreaker, and adds to the interest of diners who flock there for the delicious food.

Wandrahm looks out over the water and is located near the Kaiserkai. Two levels with delightful views serve to fuel your enthusiasm even further. Fragrant coffee and a hearty breakfast are the way to begin your day on a special note or you can drop by for a tasty lunch later. The atmosphere is rich and opulent in an understated manner, with twinkling crystal chandeliers and dim lights exuding the effect of subtle luxury.

The menu is largely international and brings a host of starters that could include favourites such as grilled calamari with melon salad and yoghurt dressing or veal and lobster carpaccio with artichokes and Noilly Prat vinaigrette. If soups are your mainstay, you might be tempted to try the bouillabaisse, clear game and fish broth with saffron and vegetable pearls.

Main meals might encompass a lobster ravioli with green asparagus and sepia espuma or a marinated and fried spring chicken on a sugar pea and baby tomato risotto. Fish lovers will rejoice in the barb fish poached in Riesling stock with stuffed zucchini flowers and crushed lime, but for meatier dishes opt for the fillet of beef with spinach leaves and shallots. The more adventurous will enjoy the ostrich medallions with sautéed potatoes, leeks and rosemary sauce whilst the veal ossobuco is a trusted choice for many.

Finally, coming to the desserts, the list is befitting of any grand pâtisserie with delectable selections such as crème brûlée with orange salad and Grand Marnier, ravioli filled with cacao-pomegranate cream in a passion fruit sauce or the apple tart with tonka beans and port wine sabayon. If you find delights of more savoury nature appealing, explore the cheese board, which is accompanied by fig mustard and aged balsamico.

The comprehensive wine list is excellent and features some well known choices that span the entire gamut of wine producing countries.

Alpenraum brings a remarkably fine dining experience to Munich with its centrally located classy restaurant, a place where food transcends its basic function of satisfying hunger and becomes an eclectic form of art. Soul food is not merely a new age term there, everyone who has visited it even once can argue about the succinct flavours that dominate the menu, textures that are unique and a cuisine that is known to bring deep pleasure.

The decor is casually sophisticated, with soft muted hues dominating the colour scheme while fresh and dried flowers adorn the tables, lending a touch of chic. The alpine theme is evident in a subtle manner with the antler shaped candlesticks being just one of the ways you might connect this minimalistic and gorgeous restaurant with the glorious Alps. A long wooden table encourages large and boisterous parties although the Alpenraum is also suitable for intimate gatherings and even a romantic evening round some of its quieter and smaller tables off the main dining room.

Businessmen also find themselves at the Alpenraum for a quick lunch which could involve starters of truffled kohlrabi or brook trout with lentil salad. The main course could bring pork rump, perlgraupen and grapes and finally end with a fragrant and comforting dessert of rice pudding, vanilla, apples and cinnamon.

The high end cuisine benefits from the fresh and regional produce sourced from the Bavarian Alps and more elaborate meals call for dishes such as fried duck breast with blue herb mousse and leek salad or marinated herring with thyme poached apples and potato lasagne amongst the starters. There's a refreshing intermediate course which could bring knuckle of veal carpaccio, truffled celeriac terrine and beetroot jellies or fried scallops with polished perch fillets, black balsamic lentils, pear and olive emulsion.

The Alpenraum chefs are exacting when it comes to the main course, where such dishes as crispy fish roulade with spinach, pasta sepia, sweet potato and pepper foam or a duet of lamb featuring both braised and roasted versions with baked tomato polenta and Jerusalem artichoke foam rule the list. Dessert could bring a delightful concoction known as Mozart ball dumplings with pears compote and macis parfait or a selection of cheeses from the Alps.

Alpenraum also offers catering services for business conventions, receptions, parties or weddings while their spacious restaurant is well suited for hosting events and other such functions.

This uber chic supper club in Berlin is sleek, sexy and very modern with all the elements of a trendy hotspot prominently visible, making it a very happening place to head out to, once darkness sets in. But the magnificent views of the Spree River are best during sunny days, and so it's also the ideal spot for a leisurely lunch with friends and others of your circle.

The decor is minimalist and the attitude spunky, a combination that works remarkably well; no wonder you see all the fashionistas and trendy people there, sipping cocktails and nibbling on the delectable Asian inspired fare. In summer months, Spindler & Klatt is constantly busy on weekends with promoted events and celebrity parties that keep the buzz flowing.

The beach style loungers and bench type tables on the outdoor terrace are inviting while inside, there's a sense of vastness about the space, and the predominant white colour creates a soothing background. Apart from the central dining area, there's also a lounge and a freeform dance floor where nightly events take centre stage after 11 pm.

The gentle mix of Japanese and Thai cuisines lends their unmistakable nuancesto starters of chicken satay, skewered pieces marinated in coconut milk and peanut sauce. On a slightly different note is the gratinated goat cheese with chilli sweet potato, macadamia nuts, herb salad and watercress vinaigrette. But when it comes to the unusual, fillet of ostrich with lettuce, passion fruit dressing and pomegranates wins hands down.

The Japanese open kitchen brings a variety of exciting sashimi and tempuras; don't miss the tartar of salmon with Thai basil and ginger, or the marinated octopus with wild herbs and cilantro chilli salsa.

For the main event, the chefs delve into their repertoire and come up with the linguine with green asparagus, mascarpone cream and black truffle, whilst another choice could bring you grilled black guinea fowl with garlic gnocchi, root vegetables and ginger jus. Adding further to your dilemma is the Korean veal with wasabi mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach beef and ginger jus while the grill also beckons with the salmon or the rump steak atop wok vegetables with Thai basil and ginger. Rounding off this excellent meal are the fruity desserts, mango with vanilla brittle cream and yoghurt ice cream or the strawberry rhubarb cake with bourbon tinged mascarpone.

Cocktail choices run into the popular daiquiri, margarita, mojito and mai tais while those with a discerning eye will find the wine list to be an excellent compilation of European wines, whiskies and spirits. Beers, soft drinks, teas and coffees are some of the other drinks on offer and the extensive list seems to have something for everyone.

Berlin's night scene would be incomplete without a jaunt to Spindler & Klatt.