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Augustinian Monastery Innkeeper – Last week, my companion and I had dinner at the relatively newly opened Augustiner Klosterwirt in Augustiner Straße – right next to the Frauenkirche – accessible via Marienplatz, Stachus or Odeonsplatz – as it is very centrally located and generally easy and uncomplicated to reach after a short walk.
I had made a reservation online in advance, which proved to be a real advantage. Our table was reserved for 9:00 PM, and when I arrived, the restaurant was packed. I went straight to the reception desk opposite the entrance, where a waiter dressed in Bavarian attire was waiting for me. I gave him my name, but he couldn't find my reservation and was about to tell me I must have made a mistake. Thankfully, I received a confirmation email for my reservation, and I had even been told in advance that my reservation for another day was fully booked, so I booked the alternative evening. I showed the waiter my email, and he handed his phone to three of his colleagues—one of whom was the owner, whose photo I later spotted in the laminated menu—and assured me that we would find a table for me. After some back and forth and a brief consideration of whether I should just leave, as it was quite crowded and noisy anyway – my companion hadn't arrived yet – I finally agreed to take a seat at a table for four, which was already marked with a reservation sign for two other guests. To be honest, I was already losing interest, as it took over 10 minutes before I was seated and the whole place was incredibly chaotic. (During the wait, waiters came by twice with food, didn't know what to do with it, complained about colleagues, guests, or the procedures, and to top it all off, the waitress finally asked me if I was the one whose name was on the reservation card on the table, because I couldn't just sit down wherever there was an empty seat.)
Okay, so there I was, sitting at a table. The two strangers who were sitting with me hadn't arrived yet, nor had my companion, so I had plenty of time to observe the lively scene, soak up the atmosphere, and try to ignore the hectic hustle and bustle. Our waitress, who was very attentive and friendly, but also incredibly disorganized, handed me the menus relatively quickly, a fact that became apparent several times throughout the evening.
My companion arrived, found a seat opposite me, and we chose our drinks. As usual, I opted for a Hugo, while my companion ordered a Radler. The Hugo was delicious, arrived without a straw (which was provided later), and was perfectly fine. The Radler was also acceptable, though a bit bland. The menu—typical for traditional, somewhat touristy Bavarian restaurants—offered few vegetarian options but otherwise covered everything one would expect to find in a Bavarian restaurant (duck, liver dumplings, veal lungs in cream sauce, sauerbraten, pork knuckle, roast pork, Wiener schnitzel, a platter of local delicacies, etc.).
My companion chose the boiled beef with cranberries, horseradish, potatoes, and gravy, and a small creamy potato soup as a starter. I wasn't very hungry and opted for the larger soup without cream, but with bread if possible. The waitress took quite a while to take our order and also served the two gentlemen who had arrived in the meantime and joined us at our table first. Of course, this wasn't really a big deal, but it would have been more appropriate for them to take our order first, as we had already been seated for 10-15 minutes while the gentlemen were just getting in.
Well, the order was taken, the soups arrived relatively quickly, my bread was forgotten and, after asking a second time, was served in the form of two simple slices resembling pieces of bagged bread. The soup was definitely too salty; while actually delicious and robust in flavor, it still wasn't quite a well-rounded dish. My companion's main course didn't arrive at all. Only when my soup was almost gone, our tablemates had already finished eating, and the boiled beef still hadn't appeared, did we inquire. The server hurried to the kitchen, returned, and explained that there had been a mix-up in the kitchen because she had sent the order correctly. Fine, but the upshot was that everyone at the table had long since finished eating by the time the rather unappealing-looking boiled beef was served – though it tasted quite good.
Alternatively, as mentioned, many different Bavarian dishes are offered. Vegetarians are rather limited at the Augustiner Klosterwirt. They offer spicy fried Alpine cheese with tomato ragout and potatoes for €8.90 or penne with arugula for €9.80. For dessert, apple fritters, apple strudel, and crème brûlée are available between €5.90 and €6.50. Check out the Menu (In the second tab) it's best to book online. We paid €16.90 for the boiled beef, €2.50 for the small soup of the day – which is reasonable – and €4.50 for the large (oversalted) soup plus an €0.80 bread surcharge, which would also have been acceptable if it hadn't been so salty. Including Hugo and Radler for €5.90 and €3.50 respectively, we ended up paying €37 with tip. However, we were initially given a bill for €50 because our disorganized waitress had listed the boiled beef twice, even though it was barely served – truly disorganized – albeit friendly – service.
The two gentlemen sitting next to me ordered a huge platter of dumplings, sausages, meat, etc., for two people – €17.80 per person. It looked so delicious that I immediately asked if I could take a picture. 🙂 You can see the result in the photos. One of the gentlemen said the food was very tasty and he would order it again – it certainly looked good. Personally, I wouldn't order the soup again, as it was almost inedible due to the excessive salt content, as mentioned before. My companion's boiled beef might be worth a try. Alternatively, the menu mainly offers meat dishes, as well as fish and cold cuts.
The service was very friendly and attentive – as were the gentlemen at the beginning regarding the space issue – but the overall impression was incredibly disorganized and poorly structured. Although the owner regularly walked around, personally checking on the guests at the tables to make sure everything was alright and exchanging a few friendly words, I still didn't get the feeling that the service was well-planned and coordinated. While one can certainly feel comfortable at the Augustiner Klosterwirt, I was left with an overall negative impression.
The Augustiner Klosterwirt building itself is very impressive, with a huge spiral staircase leading down to the lower restaurant area, which offers tables under a massive dormer ceiling, a long bar, and an overall quieter and more organized atmosphere than upstairs. I actually only intended to use the restrooms and discovered that there's also an equally large dining area downstairs with dozens of tables. I recommend that if you want to try the food, as there wasn't really anything to complain about (just skip the soup!), you definitely book online and not by phone, as the system doesn't seem to be working perfectly yet. Be sure to arrive early, as it was absolutely packed when I was there on Tuesday evening.
Card payments are accepted at the Augustiner Klosterwirt – but double-check your bill. It certainly won't be a disappointment, and it might be a bit more inviting around lunchtime, as it's quieter – though I haven't personally experienced that. Ultimately, it's a typical Bavarian restaurant with Bavarian food – from the decor and ambiance to the many wooden elements, the Bavarian flair, and the waitresses in dirndls. Have fun trying it out! I wouldn't advise against it outright. You can get an idea from the pictures. My window seat with a view of one of the towers of the Frauenkirche was lovely. 🙂
I'll be back: Not right now! Very uncoordinated service, very loud, too crowded, and available elsewhere.
Place visited: Augustinian Monastery Inn
Address: Augustinerstraße 1, 80331 Munich
Website
Pictures:
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