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Update: In the former Zoozie's
Recently, after a walk along the Isar River in Munich, my companion and I went to Zoozie's. The restaurant is quite well-known in Munich, and anyone who's a true Munich native or spends a lot of time in the city will almost certainly recognize the name. My advice to you: don't bother. As I mentioned, I was there recently, and I'd also been there a while back for a drink – the service, the drinks, and the atmosphere were all perfectly fine then. My sad conclusion: I can cook better (and anyone who knows me knows what that means), and Zoozie's definitely thrives on its ambiance, the Munich city center flair, the captivating charm of its great location, and the major plus of its numerous sunny outdoor seating areas.
We arrived and wanted to sit outside. Many of the approximately 20-25 tables in the outdoor area were already occupied, but we found a spot at a small, empty table for two. After about five minutes, a young waiter came to us, cleared the table, and brought us the menu. Initially, he only brought us the regular menu, which we took to help us decide. Only after a chance glance at the next table did I notice that they had a completely different, or rather, additional menu in front of them. We asked—even though we had already decided—if there was another menu, and that's when he remembered there was. 😉 We received the second menu, but after a quick glance, we stuck with our original choice—a fatal mistake. It should be said that Zoozie's really didn't offer much that sounded "normal," judging by its name. Interesting creations, and I quickly noticed that I was looking in vain for a goat cheese salad, simple pasta dishes, or even just plain fish with potatoes on the menu. For your convenience: In addition to the nine regular breakfast combinations, which cost between €9.50 and €17.50, there are also a variety of appetizers, main courses, three different burger options, dishes for people with allergies, and four different salads. All breakfasts include meat; vegetarians would have to opt for the Paris breakfast with various cheeses, fresh fruit, and a croissant (€11.50). Otherwise, the breakfast options include things like seared scallops, buttermilk pancakes, bologna, salami, Bircher muesli, boiled eggs, or egg dishes with ham. All relatively basic. The appetizers range from beef fillet tartare (€10.50) and octopus slices (€11.50) to hazelnut and spinach gnocchi (€8.50 to €14.50 depending on your choice) and ceviche (€10.50). Main courses include cataplana, whitefish, conchigioni, chickpea curry spread, carrot and buckwheat flour cake, and spinach salad – to name just a few.
Okay, so we looked at the menu for a while and decided on a salad and a burger, along with a Diet Coke and a mango juice spritzer – which initially turned into a regular Coke and a juice spritzer, and were then swapped. The salad was described as a rocket salad with smoked tomato dressing and breaded pike-perch crisps for €16.50 (!). I debated for ages whether to order it, since €16.50 for a rocket salad with fish and no fancy toppings wasn't exactly cheap, and I just didn't have a good feeling about it. Anyway, I ordered it and ended up leaving more than half uneaten. The salad was presented with a complete lack of care. Just a pile of rocket, with extremely greasy, breaded (not baked!) pieces of pike-perch placed around the edge of the plate. They were dripping with grease and, apart from smelling fishy, had little to do with tasty fish, and the dressing was incredibly strange. It smelled vaguely of bacon, tasted incredibly strong, and I simply couldn't stomach it. The four slices of bread, which were simply placed on top of the salad, were also oily and hard. I gave up after a few bites and was very dissatisfied. My companion opted for the Zoozie's Burger – 230g of Angus beef with a beefsteak tomato and homemade chili jam for €12.50, which, considering the price, was reasonable. My companion was asked if she wanted cheese and whether she preferred the meat medium or well-done. She ordered it medium, but what she ended up with was a completely raw piece of ground beef in the middle, only slightly cooked around the edges. The center of the meat was completely uncooked! The accompanying fries were the highlight of the entire visit. The small pot of vegetables that came with the burger was rather unappealing and didn't appeal to my companion – so it remained untouched. Otherwise, the burger was okay – nothing special, and certainly nothing to write home about compared to other burgers.
I quickly pushed the plate aside and started to get annoyed. When my companion had finished eating – and tried the bread that had been served with my salad, which also failed to impress her – and the waiter came to clear the table, he asked me if I hadn't enjoyed my meal. I confirmed his suspicion, and he offered me a coffee. While I generally appreciate this gesture, I'm also, frankly, always baffled by the idea of "bad food – compensate with coffee," as I've experienced it quite a few times before. If I had wanted a coffee, I would have gone to a café. I was still hungry, and a coffee costing less than €3 neither satisfied my hunger nor recouped the €39 we ended up paying (including a €1.30 tip out of politeness). I declined the coffee but acknowledged the gesture as at least a semblance of good service. I should also mention that my companion's burger arrived about 5-7 minutes earlier than my salad. So, eating together wasn't really an option. Next to us sat a mother and her daughter, who ordered the antipasti burger for €10.50. It was basically just a flatbread with toppings – rather carelessly assembled – and the girl didn't seem particularly enthusiastic either. We paid and left.
As mentioned before, Zoozie's might still score points with its good eye for interior design and great location. Inside, high ceilings, simple furniture, understated photographs on the walls, and striking, huge, round red lampshades are impressive. The ambiance is great, and you feel comfortable as soon as you sit down. But as I always say: a great atmosphere can't compensate for bad food; the reverse is more likely.
Every Sunday and public holiday, they offer brunch here from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM for €19.50 per person (quite steep!), featuring various breakfast classics and orange juice. Children aged 0-6 eat free. Currently, they also have homemade Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) every Monday for €9.90, but I've somehow lost interest. I'd have to be in a really good mood to eat here again. I might try one of the listed desserts (tiramisu, Kaiserschmarrn with applesauce, or chocolate cake, each €7.50), as I've often experienced restaurants where the cooking was terrible, but the desserts were fantastic. We'll see. In any case, I'm still annoyed about the almost €40 I spent.
From a gastronomic point of view, the well-known Zoozie's belongs to Gast, Ocui, Ksar, Salotto and the Oskar Maria Literature House. All cool places in my opinion. Well, it was worth a try. It's open Monday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. You can decide for yourselves whether you want to give it a go. Perhaps their skill lies in the drinks and the wide variety of cocktails on offer. Here The drinks menu. Have fun trying it out. Perhaps some Munich residents reading this have had more positive experiences; if so, please feel free to share them with me. 🙂
I'll be back: No. Maybe I'd try it again for breakfast, a cocktail, or dessert. I'm not touching main courses!
Place visited: Zoozie's
Address: Dreimühlenstr. 10, 80469 Munich
Website
Pictures:
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