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Little Wolf | Weinviertel in your neighborhood | Restaurant number 10 of 14 – Restaurant number 10 out of a total of 14 was up next, and so the final sprint of my test series for the Munich campaign is slowly beginning. „"Wine Quarter in your neighborhood"“. This initiative aims to introduce Munich residents to Austrian wines from the Weinviertel region. Therefore, you can sample different Weinviertel wines at 14 selected restaurants until the end of June. (I have already reported on:) Blue Buck, Halali, essence, Freisinger Hof, Restaurant Bavarian National Museum (bnm), Österia, Landersdorfer and Innerhofer, Restaurant Ebert, Inn at Bavariapark).

Little Wolf Weinviertel in Deinem Viertel

Pork belly, beef ribs and beef brisket with side dishes

The Little Wolf Steakhouse & Diner

This time, my destination was Little Wolf – a small and cozy smokehouse and diner (about the size of an average living room) on Pestalozzistraße, near Sendlinger Tor. Little Wolf opened in February of this year and focuses on meat, meat, and more meat – and (pardon the expression!) incredibly good meat at that. (Vegetarians can continue reading…) From smoked beef ribs and smoked beef brisket (each with BBQ sauce for €24 and €16 respectively), to a pastrami sandwich with pickles, cheese, and mayonnaise (€13), to a vegetarian option, they offer everything you could want – mostly meat-based – to fill you up and satisfy your cravings. However, vegetarians are also catered for with a "Jambalaya" featuring smoked vegetables and blue cheese (€11). In addition to the food, drinks – especially wines – also play an important role at the Smokehouse & Diner. While you should definitely check out the adjoining Little Wolf Bar (a few doors down at Pestalozzistraße 22) for wine, the diner itself also offers a number of liquid highlights. Besides the regularly available 20-30 bottled wines and an additional seven or eight wines by the glass (three reds, three whites, and one sparkling wine), they currently also have four excellent wines from the Weinviertel region, two of which have been part of their selection for quite some time (and will continue to be). (A list of the four Weinviertel wines can be found below).

The bar

Ambiance and team

I was really looking forward to Little Wolf, run by Corinna and Wolfgang Götz, because I already knew I'd be tasting excellent wines from the wine district and that the atmosphere was truly unique and special. You walk in and might not immediately know what kind of cuisine to expect or even if they serve anything decent. But as soon as Matthias Götz – sommelier, bartender, and "the man for everything" – starts talking about the meat, the menu, and especially the wines, you realize you've landed in a pretty unique place. A relaxed atmosphere, cool 50s/60s and rockabilly music, as well as R&B and funk, a casual bar along the small kitchen behind it, attractively set tables in cozy booths everywhere, and pictures on every wall – even in the restrooms. Quaint, cozy, hip, and chic in its own way, as well as fantastic in the kitchen thanks to the talented chef Sarah Strobl. I had a really good time here and was able to try many things.

Pastrami sandwich with Grüner Veltliner Weinviertel DAC – Martin Kohl Winery

Food and wines, as well as recommendations at Little Wolf

First up was a pastrami sandwich paired with a fantastic 2015 Weinviertel DAC Kittl (from the Kohl winery). A very elegant wine with a robust character, intensely spicy flavor, and an exotic bouquet. The grapes for this Grüner Veltliner come from 50-year-old vines and are perfectly suited to this style. In my opinion, it's the perfect accompaniment to this incredibly delicious and unique sandwich. Unique because the pastrami – smoked and seasoned (usually red) meat – is cured for 200 hours at the butcher's for the Little Wolf Diner, sandwiched between the delicious rye bread (from the Schmid bakery), and then smoked for another 20 hours. The effort is well worth it. The pastrami sandwich is so incredibly delicious and worth every penny. In the photo, you see half of a small portion, so for the €13 mentioned above, you definitely get a really big sandwich with plenty of pastrami.

After I'd finished my sandwich, I had a glass of the yellow-green 2015 Sauvignon Blanc Altenfeld (from the Prechtl winery). A dry white wine that releases aromas of gooseberry, nettle, and yellow bell pepper, and impresses with a pleasant acidity. I tried this wine with a selection of three main courses from the menu: Pork Pelly with Honey Mustard Sauce, Beef Ribs, and Beef Bisket. For the latter, the sommelier at Little Wolf recommended the third wine—also from the Prechtl winery, a Weinviertel DAC Grüner Veltliner from the Längen vineyard with a dry character. Of course, I followed his advice, enjoying the Sauvignon Blanc with the Pork Pelly and the Grüner Veltliner Weinviertel DAC from the Prechtl winery with the Beef Bisket. And once again, I can only say: Perfect. I've rarely eaten such tender, easily cut, and delicious meat. Admittedly, the portion was a bit much, but I simply couldn't stop eating. In the end, both the plate and the side dishes of coleslaw and mashed potatoes (each €2) were completely empty. They also served homemade cornbread (€2), which I highly recommend. Absolutely delicious! I saved a piece of the ribs to enjoy with the fourth and final wine – a 2012 Weinviertel DAC Reserve Hundsberg (from the Uibel winery). This wine was already one of my new favorites before this tasting, and now I'm even more impressed and will certainly order it again soon. It's also worth mentioning that none of the four Weinviertel wines are meant to be paired with any particular dish; each one can be enjoyed with the meat dishes – depending, of course, on personal taste.

The team, my companion and I

Key facts and personal conclusion

Any meat lover, or anyone who appreciates a cozy atmosphere and great wines, will adore Little Wolf. I'm absolutely certain of it. For me personally, meat isn't a constant "must," but I simply couldn't stop eating in this inviting diner. Be sure to try the fantastic pastrami sandwich with a Weinviertel wine (see recommendation above). If you're still feeling a bit peckish, you absolutely must try the ribs with the Weinviertel DAC Reserve Hundsberg (from the Uibel winery). For me, along with the sandwich, they were the clear winners of the evening. I highly recommend stopping by and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

The Little Wolf Steakhouse & Diner is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00 PM, with the kitchen serving until 11:00 PM. If you're coming by car, be prepared to spend a few minutes looking for parking. If you prefer public transport, simply take subway lines 1, 2, 3, or 6 and get off at Sendlinger Tor. (Buses and trams also stop here (the tram line is closed until September).) To secure a table in this cozy diner, it's highly recommended to make a reservation by phone. Card payments are accepted at the Little Wolf. Currently, the diner is a little difficult to find – be careful not to accidentally walk into the Little Wolf Bar instead of the diner…although…that wouldn't be the end of the world. 😉

Here You can also read the interview with owner Wolfgang Götz conducted by my tz colleague Alex Wulkow.

The selection of wines from the Weinviertel region at Little Wolf Steakhouse & Diner

In June, the following wines from the Weinviertel region of Austria will also be available by the glass at Little Wolf Steakhouse:

1) 2014 Sauvignon Blanc Altenfeld vom Urgestein, Weingut Prechtl
2) 2015 Grüner Veltliner, Weinviertel DAC, Längen „vom Löss“, Weingut Prechtl
3) 2015 Weinviertel DAC Kittl, Weingut Kohl
4) 2012 Weinviertel DAC Reserve Hundsberg, Weingut Uibel

Place visited: Little Wolf
Address: Pestalozzistraße 9, 80469 Munich
Reservations: 089 856 361 52 or Corinna@zumwolf.com
Website
Information about the Weinviertel region in your neighborhood

Pictures: