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On a tip from my colleague, my companion and I recently ended up at La Kaz – a cozy restaurant with a bar atmosphere on Ligsalzstraße in the Schwanthalerhöhe district of Munich. La Kaz looks very inviting from the outside, with numerous simple tables outside, the weekly menu displayed on a chalkboard, and a subtly lit entrance area. Upon entering the restaurant, we found ourselves directly in front of the long bar, which stretches primarily along the right side of the elongated restaurant.
We had made a reservation by phone in advance and were immediately registered by a young server who asked for our names. We were shown to a cozy table in the back. The restaurant has numerous tables of varying sizes, some separated by clever dividers made from repurposed room doors. We sat at one of these small tables for two. Although the restaurant was almost completely full that evening, it wasn't too loud for comfortable conversation. The service was quite efficient, and we were given the food and drink menus.
For drinks, we opted for a Hugo (€4.80) and a still water (0.2l for €1.80). We were a little confused by the water, as a small glass with water already poured in it was placed on our table, without a bottle. The water tasted very much like tap water, but according to the server, it was bottled. My Hugo was delicious, and I was later given a straw upon request. Since we were both hungry, we each ordered a starter and a main course. For our starters, the pumpkin soup (€4.90 per bowl) on the menu looked very appealing. It was served relatively quickly with a fresh bread basket and had a very creamy consistency. The accompanying bread was flavored with various herbs and was very tender and soft. For our main courses, we chose the linguine with mango and chicken (€9.90) and a salad with goat cheese (€11.90). It took quite a while for both main courses to be served. Although the restaurant was full, we still had to wait longer than average. When the main courses finally arrived, both looked very appealing. My companion's pasta was a generous portion, attractively presented, and served at the right temperature, and was, all in all, quite edible. My salad, unfortunately, was not. While the goat cheese was delicious and the dressing was okay, there were too many olives in the salad for my taste, and the grilled vegetables had a certain kind of seasoning or sauce (?) that my stomach couldn't handle. I should add that this certainly doesn't make it a bad restaurant, or that there's anything wrong with the kitchen or the ingredients, but I felt quite unwell immediately after leaving. I know it wasn't particularly appetizing, and perhaps it was just my stomach, but I was definitely not amused for quite some time afterward. Unfortunately, the vegetables also tasted a bit like they had been grilled, as if they had been left on the grill for too long and the flavor had transferred to the food. Although the salad looked really good and the cheese was well seasoned, I wouldn't order it again.
Otherwise, the weekly menu changes regularly. I've taken a picture of the standard menu for you. There you'll find dishes like "Pasta Verdura" with grilled vegetables, pesto, capers, and feta (€8.90), various salads with, for example, beef steak, shrimp, chicken schnitzel, or hummus (between €11.90 and €13.90). There's also tomato soup with homemade mountain pesto (€4.80) and other appetizers such as vegetables from the lava stone grill with dips (€6.90), hummus (€6.90), or fried shrimp with salad and bell pepper dip (€8.90). The standard menu is quite concise. However, the weekly menu ensures a varied selection of dishes, offering something for everyone. You can view the menu here view.
After we had finished our meals and emptied our glasses, we wanted to pay. The card reader was broken, and my companion had to leave the restaurant to get cash. This is something I'm noticing in more and more restaurants. So, if you're planning to visit, remember to bring cash and make a reservation, as you'll likely have to wait a bit depending on the day of the week if you arrive without one. During our visit, the service consisted entirely of young, blonde waitresses – all very friendly and efficient. In the end, we paid a total of €41 including tip. For an alcoholic drink, two appetizers, and two main courses, that's reasonable by Munich standards.
The ambiance is very cozy with subdued lighting and a relaxed atmosphere. The furniture is very simple, and as mentioned, there's a long bar and exposed, black-painted pipes on the high ceilings. Despite my little "incident," I wouldn't necessarily discourage you from visiting, as the service is friendly, the food—apart from the salad—was fine, and the atmosphere is very cozy and inviting. I would even come back again, as I was probably just unlucky with my salad and my stomach. Many people around me were eating the same salad and seemed quite satisfied. So, if you're looking for a casual spot, La Kaz is definitely a good choice. It's also easily accessible by public transport via lines 4 and 5—Schwanthalerhöhe station. Enjoy!.
Based on my personal experience with the salad, I wouldn't be coming back for now, but I did enjoy the appetizer. Perhaps – once I've overcome my salad trauma – I'll return to La Kaz.
Place visited: La Kaz
Address: Ligsalzstraße 38, 80339 Munich
Website
Pictures:
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