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Golden Twenties – A while ago, I had a craving for good Italian food. So, one evening, my companion and I went to the Italian restaurant "Golden Twenties" in Schwabing. A former colleague had recommended it to me as one of the best hidden gems of Italian cuisine in Schwabing. Of course, I couldn't miss out.

Golden Twenties: Ambiance and Layout

The "Golden Twenties" restaurant is an Italian restaurant and café, clearly divided into two separate areas upon entering: the café to the right, and the restaurant serving excellent Italian delicacies right next door. We entered the chic restaurant with approximately 13-15 tables and seating for about 60 people. I took in the ambiance: dark wood furniture, tables already set with tablecloths and candles, a small bar in the corner, ornate stucco ceilings and dark parquet floors, numerous cushions on the wide windowsills, mirrors on the walls, and many other coordinated decorative elements.

I almost mistakenly went into the café instead of the restaurant, as there's no clear separation between the two from the outside. The café was packed – as I could see with a quick glance through the large windows. The restaurant became similarly crowded as the evening progressed. When we were finally greeted by the friendly waiter and shown to our table, I immediately felt comfortable. We were given a cozy table for two. Unfortunately, while the light beige leather banquettes are visually appealing, they become quite uncomfortable over time due to the tables being much too high. My companion sat opposite me on a simple wooden chair, considerably lower than me – so you'd better grab one of the chairs. 😉 Our table was directly opposite the dark wooden bar with its huge, hand-drawn picture on the wall, and once again I was struck by the extremely detailed and harmonious overall design of the interior.

The menus at Golden Twenties

After we were seated, the menus were brought to us relatively quickly, and even before we were settled, a small bowl of delicious truffle butter and a bread basket were placed on the table. I really appreciate that – a little something to nibble on before we start. As a matter of course, there's a container of breadsticks on every table in the restaurant, which I, of course, immediately devoured along with the truffle butter.

The menu offers a good mix of dishes. Both an extensive lunch and dinner menu await you at Golden Twenties. The dinner menu includes the daily specials, with dishes starting at around €15 and a set menu for just under €40 per person, as well as the standard menu. The set menu includes a starter, main course, and dessert. (Currently, for example, pink-roasted American roast beef with grilled oyster mushrooms, Ticino fig mustard, and shaved Parmesan; followed by a mixed grilled fish platter on spinach with rosemary roasted potatoes, and finally, a lime mousse tartlet.) The à la carte menu offers a variety of antipasti, pasta, meat, and fish dishes. A separate page is dedicated to the extensive selection of pizzas. The different varieties, ranging in price from €6 to €16.80, include toppings such as Parma ham, scampi, or truffles.

Selection and evaluation of the dishes

We opted for a large bottle of water and a glass of Chardonnay to sample (Chardonnay del Veneto Classico DOC | 2015 | 0.2l/€6.90). The wine list is extensive, well-organized, and readily available upon request. For our meal, we didn't order a starter but instead chose two different main courses. These ranged in price from €12 to approximately €28. After browsing for a while, I decided on the delicate John Dory with grilled scampi, sun-dried tomatoes, Taggiasca olives, potatoes, and a white wine sauce for €21. It was absolutely delicious, and the portion size was perfect. The scampi were easy to peel, I picked out the garlic cloves from the side of the plate, and savored the tender, buttery fish with the numerous small potatoes. My companion chose "Spaghetti alla Lorenzo," which is chitarra spaghetti with scallops, cherry tomatoes, and a lobster-cognac sauce for €14.80. A good choice, and I sampled quite a bit as well. In my opinion, scallops are always a winner, prepared in any way imaginable—and in this dish with spaghetti, they were a culinary bullseye, especially with the cognac sauce. Alternatively, there was also oven-baked boneless lamb loin wrapped in bacon, porcini mushrooms, and sesame seeds, served with green asparagus and potato gratin (€21.90), tagliatelle with white truffle in its own sauce (€17.00), or a risotto with asparagus and scampi (€13.80). I briefly considered ordering the risotto but ultimately decided on the wonderful fish.

The service and personal conclusion

The service was perfectly fine. Our water was refilled without us even asking, and the staff always made sure we had everything we needed. Our dishes were served simultaneously and were attractively presented. The portions were generous, and the value for money at Golden Twenties is definitely excellent. I've certainly had much smaller portions for the same price in far less inviting surroundings. So, we were both satisfied and left feeling full. Empty plates were cleared quickly, and we were never left lingering before the friendly staff attended to us again. Including tip, we paid €54 – certainly not cheap for two main courses, a bottle of water (0.75l for €5.90), and a glass of wine, but overall quite reasonable and in keeping with the reputation of the Golden Twenties restaurant. A big plus: the staff is exceptionally friendly and remained so even as more and more tables filled up later in the evening. The next table ordered the set menu, and I kept glancing at their plates. These portions were of course much smaller, but they looked appetizingly presented and also very delicious.

In conclusion, you're definitely in the right place if you're looking for a lovely evening at an Italian restaurant in a chic and welcoming atmosphere. It's not exactly cheap, but it's worth every penny. The service is very friendly and the waiters are attentive. The menu offers a good mix and also includes dishes beyond the typical Italian fare. If you want to try Golden Twenties, don't be put off by the exterior; the interior is much nicer. You're sure to have a pleasant evening and will certainly spend your money here, not waste it. Parking isn't ideal, but you'll forget about that after the first bite or forkful. Reservations are highly recommended. Card payments are accepted.

Place visited: Golden Twenties
Address: Arcisstrasse 61, 80801 Munich
Website

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