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A salad for €25, a schnitzel for €20, and overall a rather mediocre meal for €75 including tip – that's the result of our recent visit to the Grünwalder Einkehr. But let's start from the beginning…
The Grünwalder Einkehr has been on my list of restaurants I wanted to try for quite some time. Recently, we finally got around to it and drove to Grünwald relatively spontaneously, without a reservation, to eat there. In fact, we didn't even know we were going to stop there. The restaurant's parking lot was pretty full of cars. Nevertheless, we managed to find a spot right in front of the restaurant on the road that runs alongside it. Getting there by public transport is difficult due to its somewhat remote location. The only way to get there is by tram line 25 towards Grünwald (stop: Robert-Koch-Straße).
We entered and were immediately greeted by a friendly waiter who asked if we would like a table for the jazz evening or for the restaurant. When I told him we wanted to dine in the regular restaurant area, he led us through the conservatory located near the entrance. This area was quite chic – with a black marble floor, white furniture, and a small bar – yet very different and, in my opinion, much more modern than the restaurant we subsequently entered. The very Bavarian-style restaurant, with its huge and imposing wooden spiral staircase, ceiling spotlights, separate dining areas, and a mezzanine with additional light wood tables – where we took our seats – immediately caught our eye as soon as we entered. While not particularly modern, it offered a cozy atmosphere and a well-coordinated ambiance – typically Bavarian, with lots of light wood, white tablecloths, Bavarian-dressed staff, and equally Bavarian decorative elements.
The friendly waiter I mentioned earlier was also assigned to our table that evening and took our drink order immediately after we had chosen it and sat down. We were initially a little undecided about which wine to choose. My companion opted for a Merlot (0.15l/€5.50) and I for a Lugana (0.15l/€8.70). We also ordered a 0.5l bottle of water (Aqua Panna) for €4.95. However, my companion's red wine was much too warm, so we asked for a new glass, which was then at the correct temperature. The waiter apologized for this. He also apologized for what he felt was too much time before our main course order was taken, which didn't really seem that way to us. I was torn between the fish, which was offered in various preparations and types on the menu, and the mixed green salad with chili mango and king prawns. I opted for the latter, which, at €24.50, certainly required careful consideration. In retrospect, I was somewhat disappointed, as my plate contained only enormous chunks of lettuce – definitely not bite-sized – with a decent dressing (I ordered balsamic dressing but received French dressing, which thankfully was tasty), three prawns, and a small amount of cantaloupe. I asked for the chili seasoning to be omitted. At the aforementioned price, it was definitely too expensive. My companion ordered Wiener Schnitzel with fried potatoes. The two main courses arrived simultaneously. As a starter, we chose asparagus cream soup (€7.50). This was very delicious and was served with a small slice of bread and melted cheese. I took a bite and was reminded of the time as a child when I used to make myself processed cheese sandwiches in the microwave – nothing special in my opinion. There was nothing to complain about with the starter, except that it was served without a spoon. We quickly finished the accompanying bread basket – along with the butter and small jar of herb butter that had been served at the beginning. Refills were brought to us very promptly and attentively. My companion's Wiener Schnitzel was a perfectly adequate portion. There was nothing to complain about in terms of taste either. However, the potatoes, served in a separate bowl, were far from being fried potatoes. They were unfortunately very dry and only cooked on one side; it seemed the kitchen had run out of onions and spices. At €19.90, the Wiener Schnitzel was definitely above average and overpriced for the portion size, the small jar of lingonberry jam, and the "fried" potatoes.
Since we weren't entirely convinced by our meals overall, we skipped coffee and dessert that evening. The restaurant offers a variety of desserts. Between €8.90 and €12.50, you can order chocolate mousse with marinated berries; champagne and wheat beer tiramisu with white chocolate, mango compote, and raspberries; apple fritters baked in an almond crust and served on apricot sauce with ice cream; crème brûlée; and many more. Some of these dishes sounded appealing, but as mentioned, we had already spent over €70 after just two simple glasses of wine, a soup, and two main courses. Standard menu You can view the entire menu here and discover the many other dishes. Vegetarians are also catered for, as are asparagus lovers during asparagus season, and meat and fish enthusiasts.
The Grünwalder Einkehr also offers a lunch menu, which includes two or three course lunch menus from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm for €16.90 or €19.90. (Here's an example from the menu, which changes weekly but is currently available for you via the link above: Grünwald Gazpacho with horseradish and toasted bread, sliced venison in juniper sauce on vegetable noodles with shaved Parmesan and fresh parsley, or saltimbocca of tilapia with a light Riesling sauce on roasted garden vegetables and herb potatoes, and for dessert: blood orange gratin with fresh strawberries). Sounds good, but it would be too expensive and heavy for me as a lunch menu. If you're ever in Grünwald at lunchtime, you can try it. Breakfast is also served from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. You can also view the menu online. A classic, simple breakfast with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, two kinds of jam, honey, butter, cheese, raw and cooked ham, various types of bread, and a coffee specialty of your choice costs, for example, €12.65.
Card payments are accepted at the Grünwalder Einkehr. It's open daily from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. I wouldn't necessarily recommend a visit, as the food, while okay, isn't anything special. An acquaintance of mine ate there with his wife some time ago, and they both agreed that the food was alright, but nothing amazing, and far too expensive. All in all, it's a nice little spot with a bit of greenery around it, but not a must-visit for Bavarian cuisine. As an alternative, I'd suggest the logistically much closer... Harlaching Hunting Lodge I recommend the Grünwalder Einkehr, which is certainly more rustic and has a different atmosphere, but definitely better in terms of food and value for money. You can decide for yourselves. 🙂 The service and ambiance at the Grünwalder Einkehr are definitely excellent.
I'll be back: Neither a clear yes nor a clear no. There are cheaper restaurants with better food and a nicer, Bavarian atmosphere.
Place visited: Grünwalder Einkehr
Address: Nördliche Münchner Straße 2, 82031 Grünwald
Website
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