+++ Advertisement: This post was created in cooperation with Ristorante Galleria. Thank you! +++

Ristorante Galleria Italiener Innenstadt München

Pappa al Pomodoro – Italian tomato soup with mozzarella frittta

Ristorante Galleria – Phew… I'm not really sure where to begin. Should I start with the first impression upon entering the small Italian gourmet restaurant, the first taste after the amuse-bouche, or the overall impression after leaving? So many impressions, so many things that you don't experience every day, as I did at Ristorante Galleria. My companion felt similarly, and so our first impressions were a little surprised, mixed with curiosity. A glance around the room: hearts everywhere. And by everywhere, I mean absolutely everywhere. On the walls, on the tables, on the shelves, on the menus, in the form of pictures, figurines, and motifs. Simply everywhere. It's a colorful affair in the small Italian restaurant. "Let's wait and see what happens," I thought to myself. After all, Ristorante Galleria has been a popular gourmet restaurant in Munich's city center since 1998. So you might initially expect something different, perhaps a clean, minimalist interior and simple decoration. But you've come to the wrong place. There's a lot of love and attention to detail here, and you can see it in every corner. Even the owner describes the overall look, with its giant glass balloons as lamps, wine bottles scattered here and there, and numerous colorful elements, as a little "crazy".

Bright colors, lots of hearts and decoration

So, the two of us sat at one of the 18 tables and took it all in. The small Italian restaurant seats 45-50 people, with another 15-20 at the sunny tables on the terrace along the street. The restaurant is divided into two sections, and anyone who turns right after entering can easily miss the other, equally colorful area straight ahead. We had barely sat down when we were handed the menu and asked what we would like to drink. Still water arrived at the table, which was covered with a white tablecloth and also decorated with a charming touch. It was served in equally colorful glasses. Despite the aforementioned splashes of color here and there, Ristorante Galleria is by no means cluttered or uncomfortable. On the contrary, the longer we sat, the more harmonious and pleasant our visit became. As a starter, and before the culinary testing began, there was a glass of sparkling Prosecco and a basket with two different types of homemade bread and butter – in heart shape, of course, no question.

Beef Carpaccio

Menu at Ristorante Galleria

Before I get to our menu and the food, here's some background information. Ristorante Galleria offers both à la carte dishes (at least two courses) and set lunch and dinner menus. They also frequently have specials, such as the current Saturday menu, which consists of an Italian appetizer, a pasta dish, a dessert, and a glass of Prosecco for €25. A daily lunch special (Monday to Friday) is also available, featuring a two- or three-course menu (soup and a pasta dish, or appetizer, main course, and dessert for €16 or €25, respectively), with the menu changing daily. Currently, they also offer a five-course spring menu (currently including, for example, amuse-bouche, beef tartare with green asparagus, ravioli alla parmigiana, turbot with spring vegetables and saffron, and a mango-coconut dish) with Prosecco for €49 per person. So, there's plenty of variety at Ristorante Galleria.

The wine list features exclusively Italian wines. "Stick to what you know!" was the motto of the team a few years ago, and they now focus specifically on a selection of over 450 different Italian wines from their own wine cellar. The set menus (5, 6, or 7 courses) offered in the evening are always (!) surprise menus. Simply let them know what you don't tolerate or don't like, and the surprise evening begins. Of course, tasting menus with wine pairings are also available.

„"Inverted" Vitello Tonnato

The menu

Now, let's turn to the menu my companion and I enjoyed. I won't go into too much detail, as there will soon be a new menu for you, our guests, featuring different delicacies than we did. However, for a first impression, there are pictures of our menu in the slideshow below, and here is my conclusion and impressions. After the Prosecco was finished and we had settled in for a while, we received a small amuse-bouche from the kitchen, which every guest receives. It was a small, homemade Italian "arancini," filled with baked rice, tomato, and mozzarella. A successful, if somewhat rich, starter due to the cheese.

After this small appetizer, we had "pappa al pomodoro," an Italian tomato soup (from Tuscany) with a small mozzarella fritter. The soup was good, not overly seasoned, and quite thick. The pure tomato flavor was clearly and intensely present. With the homemade bread and the creatively arranged fried mozzarella balls, it was more than successful. We drank a glass of summery Ca Maiol, Lugana Maiolo DOP, 2015 from Lake Garda, with a dry and fresh taste and a hint of salt.

One of my favorites was the "Vitello tonnato e viceversa" – a kind of "reversed" vitello tonnato (16.50€ per serving) made with tender veal fillet and high-quality tuna. Vitello tonnato is a dish that quickly and bluntly reveals whether a restaurant understands its craft and has high standards for the ingredients used. The "reversed" version, paired with crispy, thin bread chips, is a very elegant and skillfully varied dish, as each individual component is clearly discernible. This was followed by a rather classic beef carpaccio with Cipriani sauce (18.50€ per serving) – "Cipriani," by the way, was the name of the inventor of the original "carpaccio" dish over 65 years ago.

homemade ravioli with eggplant and parmesan filling

The pasta at Ristorante Galleria is homemade, so I was particularly looking forward to the "Ravioli alla Parmigiana" that followed, filled with an eggplant and Parmesan mixture, topped with pine nuts and Parmesan foam. I could taste that the pasta was homemade from the very first bite. At the same time, the dish gained in flavor and complexity as I savored each component individually. Delicate and, despite being quite classic, very well done. Up to that point, I had enjoyed the simplicity combined with sophistication in every course. Nothing was boring or too "clumsy," yet at the same time, it wasn't overly elaborate or pretentious – something I absolutely dislike on my plate, no matter where I'm dining.

The following "Risotto allo zafferano con animelle alla milanese" (Safari Risotto with Sweetbreads "alla Milanese", €18.50 per serving) had a fantastic consistency. Not all risottos are created equal, and I know that the Italians are the best at it, especially since I ate the best risotto of my life in Milan. This version also brought back some fond Italian memories, and I definitely give it a thumbs up. Sweetbreads aren't usually my thing, but of course I tried them too, and I actually found something good in them.

Before the refreshing mango-flavored sorbet and the meat course, we had fish. More precisely, a colorful and skillfully arranged combination of scallops, pea purée, snow peas, vegetables, and a little caviar on top. Fantastic, and along with the vitello tonnato, right up there with me. So, if you enjoy a Mediterranean touch with fresh fish or scallops, you'll definitely find something to your liking here – both as part of a set menu and à la carte.

And then came the meat course, and also the most unusual course: a beef fillet hamburger with a caper crust, green asparagus, and artichoke (28.50€ on its own). This was one of the courses that made me agree with my earlier statement about the "variety in presentation" on the plate. The meat was very flavorful and quite substantial, so I was definitely full after that. The meal was rounded off with a sweet variation of chocolate tart and sour cream sorbet – a delightful dessert, both enjoyed individually and together on a spoon. I like desserts with a bit of texture, and this tart perfectly fulfilled that requirement.

Colorful, winding, yet inviting: Ristorante Galleria.

Awards and ratings

Ristorante Galleria has been a fixture in Munich's city center for almost 20 years. It clearly stands out from its numerous Italian competitors in the immediate vicinity. The cuisine is creative and varied, and "pizza = not on the menu!" ;-). What arrives on the plate is attractively presented, but not overly elaborate or fussy. I mentioned it to my companion and the owner right there: every single course, every dish, is different. If you compare the appearance of the individual plates, you could easily mistake them for dining in different restaurants. This is a matter of taste, but it also leaves plenty of room for new experiences. It's no coincidence that Ristorante Galleria, for example, won first place on the German TV show "Mein Lokal, Dein Lokal Spezial" on Kabel 1 (…I was a judge several times…) (…it was for the best potato soup…), is considered "one of the three best Italian restaurants in the city," and is ranked 13th among the best Italian restaurants in Germany by Feinschmecker magazine. (The soup is still on the menu: "Zuppa di patate e lattuga con polipo grigliato," meaning a potato and lettuce soup with grilled octopus for €10.50). If fish is served, it comes from Chioggia, Italy. The meat used at Ristorante Galleria comes from Austria. Only the highest quality ingredients are used, and dishes are always prepared according to season and availability.

I personally had a wonderful time. The "Galleria" is certainly different from many other gourmet restaurants. But I've always liked that. In the end, what matters is how you ate and whether the evening and the meal were worth what you paid. In my opinion, this restaurant offers excellent value for money. If you're open to new experiences, enjoy Italian cuisine, and like to dine in an almost "private" atmosphere, then you'll definitely like it here. Anyone looking for something special will find it here.

The man behind the stove: Andrea Pomiato Colesso and I

Hard facts and information

The menu changes seasonally, approximately every 2-3 weeks. Some classic dishes remain permanently on the menu (such as Tuscan vegetable medley with burrata; vitello tonnato; and the frittura con gli scampi, e calamaretti e la polenta – prawns, calamari, and polenta). Those who prefer to dine in a private setting can do so in the separate room or area. The restaurant can also be rented for private parties (30 people or more). The aforementioned terrace is open until 11:00 PM, and the restaurant itself is open from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM and from 6:00 PM to midnight, Monday through Sunday. Should summer decide to extend its stay a little longer, it might also be of interest that the Ristorante Galleria is air-conditioned. Parking is not possible directly in front of the restaurant, or only with luck along the street, as the restaurant is just one side street away from Marienplatz. Public transport is therefore just a stone's throw away. A nice touch, and also worth mentioning: On each table are small porcelain hearts that you can take home; the proceeds from their sale are donated to charity.

Details:
Tested: Ristorante Galleria
Address: Sparkassenstraße 11, 80331 Munich
Website

Pictures: