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Restaurant Essence | Weinviertel in your neighborhood | Restaurant number 3 of 14 – I recently told you about the Restaurant Blauer Bock, as well as the Halali In connection with "Weinviertel in Your Neighborhood," we've now reported on restaurant number 3 of a total of 14 restaurants participating in the "Weinviertel in Your Neighborhood" campaign in June. If you'd like to read more about it or missed the first article, you can find it here. here Do it again.
The restaurant essence is located in Pasing. If you stop reading now because the thought "too far out" comes to mind, you're missing out – without exaggeration – on a top-notch restaurant. That said, you can reach Pasing in about 15 minutes by public transport (tram, bus, or S-Bahn almost directly to the restaurant) or by car. I recently visited to sample the wines from the Weinviertel region and try the food, and to get a feel for the place. I'd like to share my experience with you now.
Sommelier M. Pechlof and I with Weinviertel wine
Upon my arrival, I was warmly greeted by the friendly restaurant manager and sommelier, Martin Pechlof, and shown to one of the many already set tables. The best way I can describe essence is this: After looking around, taking in the side room, bar, lounge area, and terrace, I thought to myself how unfortunate it is that we always end up back at our usual haunts, missing out on so many fantastic opportunities and restaurants, or simply never getting to know them. Even before the first bite of food and the first sip of wine in my glass, I was thrilled. And when I left the restaurant satisfied and content after three courses, I knew I would be back.
The restaurant from the inside
Located on a quiet street, the restaurant essence has been a fixture in Pasing for three years. Since then, it has offered à la carte dishes as well as weekly changing three- to six-course menus (€42 or €72). A tasting menu is available for an additional €25 on the three-course menu and an additional €52 on the six-course menu, which includes wine pairings for each course.
Essence offers wines from the Weinviertel region of Austria, even outside the campaign period (June 1-30). Bottled wines, such as the Gelber Muskateller from Weingut Heinisch (2013) or the Grüner Veltliner Reserve from Weingut Dürnberg (2013), are always available. Wines like the 2015 Weinviertel DAC Classic from Weingut Heinisch or the 2015 Blanc de Noir from Weingut Dürnberg are exclusively available by the glass until the end of this month.
Starter with Weinviertel DAC | Grüner Veltliner
The restaurant is run by Daniel Roch and his wife and seats approximately 60 people. Depending on the table arrangement and the use of the lounge area (which accommodates an additional 20 guests), it can hold a maximum of 80 people in total. I settled into a comfortable table for two in the entrance area, near the long bar, and perused the menu. As mentioned, the menu changes weekly—sometimes with an Asian flair, sometimes with a French influence—and individual courses can also be ordered at essence. The set menus are, of course, also available course by course, each paired with perfectly matched wines (pre-selected for every menu).
The dishes at the restaurant essence
Since I was there for a tasting, the kitchen team put together a fantastic three-course menu for me, which perfectly complemented the Weinviertel wines. First, I enjoyed a wonderful aperitif – a crisp Austrian sparkling wine, "Veltliner dry," made from Grüner Veltliner grapes from the Heinisch winery (2014). It was the ideal starter. So, if you happen to be there and fancy an aperitif, this is a great choice. My (cold) appetizer was yellowtail ceviche with avocado and coriander (part of the gourmet menu), accompanied by the aforementioned Weinviertel DAC classic (Heinisch winery). A fantastic combination and a very light dish that certainly didn't spoil my appetite or leave me wanting more. The combination with the light Veltliner created a perfectly balanced flavor experience. The main course consisted of fjord trout with edamame, quinoa, and a saffron broth (which was poured over the fish at the table – see photo) for €24. Edamame is usually associated with Japanese restaurants, where it's served in the pod with plenty of salt. In my dish, however, the individual beans were layered on the plate alongside the quinoa sprouts for the fjord trout. One of the best dishes I've had in a long time. The icing on the cake was, of course, the glass of Blanc de Noir Zweigelt from the Dürnberg winery, with its delicate fruity notes and light acidity. Fantastic! Admittedly, I was quite full afterward, but as they say, "There's always room for more sugar," and so I was surprised at the end with a delicious dessert (espresso mousse, banana, passion fruit, and caramel) for €9.50. Heavenly and the perfect ending for anyone with a sweet tooth, but not to excess.
Main course: Fjord trout with Blanc de Noir
In summary: A superb menu where no two courses were alike in their ingredients; each one surprised me with its diversity and creativity in terms of taste and combination. So, if you generally enjoy the aforementioned components and would like to try the wines from the Austrian Weinviertel region, you should do as I did and come visit.
Recommendation from essence
If you're in the mood for something different, sommelier Pechlof recommends selecting your desired number of courses from the respective gourmet menu and thus creating your own meal. As mentioned, the perfect wine is available for each course, and even after June, the selection continues to feature wines from the Weinviertel region. Specifically, Martin Pechlof recommends, for example, the currently featured beef tartare with sour cream, mustard ice cream, and quail egg to accompany the Weinviertel DAC Classic Veltliner, or the fjord trout I enjoyed with the Blanc de Noir.
The dessert
Hard facts
Essence is easily accessible by public transport via S-Bahn lines 3, 4, 6, and 8, as well as tram line 19 and various city buses. Parking is readily available on the street. Card payments are accepted, with all major cards (except AMEX) being accepted. The restaurant and its lounge (for 20 people) can be rented for private events. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 12:00 PM, and Saturday from 6:00 PM.
The selection of wines from the Weinviertel region at the essence restaurant
In June, the following wines from the Weinviertel region of Austria will also be available by the glass at the essence restaurant:
1) 2015 Weinviertel DAC classic from the Heinisch winery
2) 2015 Blanc de Noir from the Dürnberg winery
Bottle wine list:
1) 2013 Yellow Muscat from the Heinisch winery
2) 2013 Grüner Veltliner Reserve from the Dürnberg winery
I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit. Essence is one of those restaurants that has reminded me that it's worthwhile to try new things and explore neighborhoods, even if it requires a short trip. Top-notch service, fantastic wines, and unusual, delicious food, as well as creative menus. The consistently wide selection of wines is another plus. Around 130-140 wines, primarily from Europe, are always available. There's also a small wine list with approximately three open whites and four open reds. Wine plays a major role at Essence. Add to that the perfect ambiance, the friendly service, and, of course, the delicious food. Thumbs up!
Place visited: essence
Address: Gottfried-Keller-Straße 35, 81245 Munich
Website
Pictures:
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