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The Corso, or rather the Corso Bar, is located on Müllerstrasse, not far from Munich's Sendlinger Tor. I recently had dinner there with a companion. We initially walked right past it because the bar is quite small and rather inconspicuous. From the outside, neither the building, nor the entrance area, nor the bar's sign is particularly inviting. However, once inside, a different and positive impression quickly develops.
The front area was relatively cramped with only a few tables – four small tables stood by the window, right next to the long wooden bar that stretched the entire length of the front restaurant area. There were about ten small tables in total there, all of which were occupied. The friendly Asian waiter led us to the rear section of the restaurant – initially not even noticeable – with ten more tables. All were tables for two, except for two that could seat four people. We sat on a reddish leather banquette or on rather stylish black mesh chairs. The decor was understated, with red roses and bottles of Aperol Spritz on the shelves above a large, illuminated "Salt" sign on the wall. Picture frames adorned the walls, along with postcards, spice jars, and beautifully set tables with fresh tulips, candles, white napkins, and small brown wooden pepper mills – all in all, a very cozy and warm atmosphere. A stylish wooden beam wall, harmoniously integrated with the oversized white and black lampshades, further enhances the cozy atmosphere. As mentioned, the exterior doesn't give the best impression, but once inside, we immediately felt comfortable and welcome. 🙂 A friendly young waitress greeted us and directed us to her colleague, who checked our reservation off the list and led us to the back. We had four tables to choose from, even though they were all free. However, as the evening progressed, all the tables were occupied, so the reservation was definitely advisable and necessary. (If you're planning a visit, be sure to make a reservation. Even during the week!)
As soon as we sat down, we were offered a large bottle of water. However, we declined and opted for wine and a Hugo instead. The Hugo was served without a straw – as I noticed is apparently common practice in most restaurants – and I left it at that. We ordered a white wine (Bianco di Custoza / 0.2 liters for €6.60 – quite decent, worth trying). A positive note was that after we ordered our main courses, the waiter asked again if we wanted to stick with white wine, as we had ordered beef (dry-aged sirloin with rosemary potatoes and herb butter for €23.90), which would have been better paired with red wine. I chose a salad that wasn't listed on the menu in the combination I selected. The salad I chose – a field salad with cherry tomatoes, rosemary pear, and croutons – was actually supposed to include bresaola and bacon for a total of €13.20. I asked if I could have goat cheese instead of bacon or bresaola (which was mentioned in another dish: goat cheese and pomegranate stuffed eggplant, spinach, and mushroom ragout for €13.80). The waiter kindly accepted my request, and my dish was served as ordered. Unfortunately, the salad was rather bland. The lamb's lettuce was dressed quite oilily, and the small goat cheese medallions were also relatively tasteless. It wasn't worth the money and looked more appealing than it tasted.
In total, we spent €52 including tip, which the food definitely wasn't worth, even though the ambiance is great and you feel quite comfortable there. We left a very small tip (not even €2) because the food was far too expensive and didn't meet our expectations. My companion specifically asked for the meat to be cooked medium, but when it arrived, even the slightest pressure with a fork caused blood to ooze out of the meat, leaving a thin film of blood on the plate. This was definitely not medium. While the portion of meat was adequate, it still wasn't worth the price, even considering the quantity.
Corso offers a daytime menu and an evening menu, both of which are relatively concise. The evening menu – in our case – is also handwritten on a large chalkboard and passed from table to table so guests can choose their meals. A definite plus was the friendly waiter, who was very attentive, tried to accommodate both of our requests, was always present but not intrusive, and provided excellent service. Our meal came with a basket of fresh white bread – the taste was average, but not exceptionally delicious. The Hugo was very tasty, though perhaps a touch too sweet – which might not be to everyone's liking, but I enjoyed it. Another delightful and welcome touch was the salsify cappuccino served in a small glass as a complimentary "greeting from the kitchen" before our main courses – very delicious and delicate in flavor.
Card payments are accepted at Corso. It's open daily from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM. The daily menu changes regularly, sometimes featuring interesting soups, salads, or even quiche, goat cheese and walnut salad, beef tartare, and much more. As mentioned, the dinner menu is also rather small and manageable – with approximately five to seven different appetizers, main courses, and desserts each, it's quite substantial – especially since they accommodated my individual requests. Corso also offers a breakfast menu. This is available Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For example, you can choose from a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese for €6.50, white sausage with a pretzel and mustard for €5.90, or a large breakfast for two with Prosecco, a small fresh orange juice, a cup of coffee or cappuccino, a surprise from the kitchen – hot and cold dishes – bread and butter for €32. I haven't had breakfast there yet – perhaps that's the restaurant's culinary strength – maybe it would be worth a try.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend eating at Corso. It's relatively expensive, and while the food is visually appealing, it's not exactly a culinary delight. It will fill you up, but for €52 you could get a much more satisfying meal in larger portions. They also offer cake and coffee, but we didn't try them. Perhaps you could give it a try sometime – the atmosphere is really lovely and cozy – with a drink or dessert. The main courses aren't bad, but they're not worth a special trip. But as always: with the right company, any evening can be perfect. 🙂
I'll be back: No. Not at first. The food wasn't worth the money, even though the service was great.
Place visited: Corso
Address: Müllerstraße 51, 80469 Munich
Website
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