WIENER´S CAFÉ in Bogenhausen

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Wiener's Café Wiener's on Ismaninger Straße in Bogenhausen is a rather hidden restaurant/café with plenty of outdoor seating and a huge terrace furnished with rattan furniture, some of which gets plenty of sun. We stumbled upon it by chance while out and about in Bogenhausen – but we'd already eaten and were full. From the outside, the café looks rather unassuming, and if it weren't for the yellow awning with the "Wiener's" lettering on the building, we probably wouldn't have noticed it at all. A few days later, when we had a craving, we remembered the café, got in the car, and drove there. Parking in this area – not far from Käfer delicatessen and the well-known South Indian restaurant Kerala – isn't always easy. If you don't like looking for parking, it's also easily accessible by public transport via bus (line 100 – Friedensengel stop) and tram (line 16 – Sternwartstraße stop).

The positive aspects of Wiener's Café are its somewhat secluded and therefore quiet location, the attentive service at our table, and the appealing food – we ordered two different breakfasts. Less appealing was the incredibly loud and impossible-to-navigate server behind the counter, who complained loudly about missing glasses, incorrectly placed plates, drinks mixed in the wrong proportions, colleagues, and just about everything else. This was certainly noticeable because we, along with two or three other groups, were the only guests in the cozy café, which had about 15 tables and groups of varying sizes. Many people were sitting outside on the terrace, enjoying the last rays of sunshine. The woman was definitely far too loud, and several people looked rather irritated, as her behavior didn't quite fit the ambiance of the restaurant/café. When we paid, we mentioned it to our friendly waiter, who just laughed and said, "Yes, that's always the way it is," and at least gestured to his outspoken colleague to be a bit quieter. I'm certainly not sensitive to noise, but this was really unacceptable. Of course, it wasn't a constant problem and therefore shouldn't be considered a persistent negative point for what is otherwise a very nice restaurant/café – but it was still noticeable.

On our visit, we definitely called ahead and reserved a table. The gentleman on the phone was exceptionally friendly and took plenty of time to take my reservation. He turned out to be our waiter (mentioned above) upon our arrival and brought us the menus as soon as we were seated at one of the cozy tables for two along the window front. I've photographed some excerpts from the menu so you can get an overview of the extensive selection. We deliberated for quite a while but were certain we wanted breakfast. The range of breakfast options leaves nothing to be desired; there are a wide variety of breakfast choices. My companion and I opted for the "Kahlenberg" breakfast for €12.90 and the "Kärrner Ring" breakfast for €10.80. We also ordered a Diet Coke (0.25l for €2.90) and a Viennese Melange (for €3.30), which my companion thoroughly enjoyed. Both breakfasts were delicious, beautifully presented, and incredibly generous. However, we did have to wait almost an hour, even though the terrace and the outdoor seating area were practically empty. Even allowing for a bit of Viennese "leisurely" waiting time, it was far too long. How long would we have had to wait if the restaurant and terrace had been full?

You can see the food we ordered in the pictures, and I'm sure you'll agree: beautifully presented, and the taste lived up to the visual promise. We could barely finish, and the accompanying bread was fresh and delicious. Each breakfast came with a small glass of freshly squeezed orange juice – which was truly freshly squeezed, not always the case. Otherwise, there was nothing to complain about. Next to us sat an older couple who had ordered a dessert and a main course. The gentleman chose sauerbraten but wanted potatoes instead of dumplings, and the lady wanted pancakes with lots of vanilla ice cream and no whipped cream. I overheard this because, apart from the waitress's squawking, it was very quiet. When the main courses arrived and we were still waiting for our breakfasts, the gentleman received the sauerbraten with dumplings – not with potatoes as ordered – and the ladies got their dessert with lots of whipped cream and very little ice cream. 😉 So, that didn't quite work out. Although the waiter was very friendly and tried hard to ensure everyone was satisfied, things didn't go so well for him during our visit.

After finishing our meals, we paid €32 including tip and – despite the wait and the chaotic service from the bartender – would definitely come back, as the atmosphere was great and the food was really delicious. I can absolutely recommend a visit if you have some time to spare, are looking for a restaurant or café with a relaxed atmosphere for you and your friends or family, and can appreciate the typical Bogenhausen crowd. For example, a very self-confident guy with sunglasses, a tan, and a loud voice kept running in from the terrace, desperate to stand out and show that he's a regular. 😉 All in all, though, I enjoyed it and was quite satisfied. The restaurant is definitely a nice spot in Munich to sit, chat, eat, and relax. If you're looking for a place to work with your laptop, the free Wi-Fi is available. Card payments are also accepted. We had no complaints about the food, and the main courses ordered at the next table – although served incorrectly – also looked very delicious.

I'll be back: Despite the noisy staff and long wait, definitely worth it. A very quiet, inviting café with great food.

Place visited: Wiener's
Address: Ismaninger Straße 71a, 81675 Munich
Website

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