MASTER´S HOME – Innenstadt – italienisch

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Last Saturday evening, my companion and I had dinner at Master's Home in Frauenstraße – not far from the Munich Viktualienmarkt – where we enjoyed a wonderful 8-course Italian menu.

The first thing to note is that from the outside, you wouldn't expect the restaurant to be such a pleasant surprise upon entering, offering such an excellent dining experience, or even that such a chic atmosphere is hidden behind these walls – especially if you've looked at the Master's Home website beforehand, which suggests quite the opposite. Upon entering, you descend a substantial staircase and find yourself directly at the small cloakroom where you can leave your coats. We opted against this and went straight through – past the bar to the left – into the restaurant, where a friendly waiter showed us in after we mentioned our reservation. The bar itself is also quite nice – we peeked in briefly on our way out – dim lighting, a substantial bar, quite a few people, certainly a good place to celebrate, chat, and drink.

There isn't a menu at Master's Home if you book the set menu. 🙂 You can select dishes online. Food for the bar Visible, but these do not apply to the restaurant in the back. Only those receiving the 8-course menu were seated there. Here are the courses in the order they were served, which isn't really helpful since the menu changes regularly, but it gives you an overview of the variety. (Unfortunately, the option to view the menu on the website doesn't seem to work due to poor website design.) Of course, requests for exclusively vegetarian courses are accommodated, and guests are also asked if they prefer to avoid fish altogether. Special requests are gladly accepted.

First course: Tuna fillet on arugula salad with fennel and spring onion, with lemon-vanilla dressing and red pepper. The first course was very tasty, and although I was initially hesitant about the tuna, it tasted quite delicious in combination with the salad and the unusual sauce. The second course was served immediately afterward and placed in front of us by a friendly waiter.

Second course: I had eggplant stuffed with ricotta and topped with cheese on a bed of tomato sauce. My companion had the meatier version of the second course: roasted quail with risotto in a herbed cognac sauce – absolutely delicious, the meat was tender, the risotto very soft and creamy – I even had a bite. My eggplant tasted wonderful with the cheese filling – a fantastic combination.

Third course: Crespelle filled with eggplant on a truffle-lime sauce – vegetarian and absolutely delicious. I'm a total truffle fanatic and can never get enough of them. Combined with the crispy crespelle, it's a true delight. A bit tricky for those who don't like truffles.

Fourth course: Once again, the vegetarian option: a Parmesan basket with pappardelle, artichoke, and tomatoes, topped with Parmesan cheese, or for my companion, with veal ragout instead of eggplant. It was also very delicious; the Parmesan basket was very tasty, and I ate it along with my portion of delicious pasta. A very successful course. My companion's ragout was tender and very tasty.

Fifth course: Nile perch on cold beans in an onion marinade with mustard sauce. I'm not usually a fan of hot-cold combinations with dishes that are typically served warm, but the cold beans with the melt-in-your-mouth fish were very delicate and absolutely delicious. The sauce was also very good, not too mustardy, and perfectly complemented the fish.

Sixth course: Lemon sorbet with vodka and mint. A very delicious course, and unusual as a sixth course since we were served another warm "main course" afterward. The sorbet was exceptionally fresh, and almost a bit too much. The further down you went with your spoon, the more the vodka came through, further clouding my senses—even after the Hugo and Prosecco. 🙂 A refreshing change from fish, eggplant, and warm dishes.

7th course: As mentioned, the meal continued with warm dishes. Shrimp on peppers with Martini sauce.
My companion ordered young bull beef on a panini with fried potatoes and a red wine, shallot, and honey sauce. Since bell peppers aren't really my thing, and the shrimp disappeared in one bite—just two very small pieces—this course wasn't exactly my favorite. My companion's fried potatoes weren't exactly a culinary highlight either, but they certainly weren't bad or inedible.

Eighth course: Panna cotta with raspberries and mango on vanilla sauce – absolutely delicious. The waitress placed the final course in front of us and deliberately wobbled the plate slightly on our table to make the panna cotta wobble. 😉 It was excellent and, combined with the raspberry and mango, a very well-rounded finale. We were both very full – but not uncomfortably stuffed – after the empty dessert plates were cleared away.

My companion then ordered a cappuccino, and we both finished with the limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur) included in the menu, which – as far as my blood alcohol level was concerned – was the final straw. Limoncello is definitely delicious, and if you're asked what you'd like at the end – choose it! The staff was very friendly, well-trained, and professional. Our courses were served sometimes by a slightly older Italian waiter, and sometimes by a younger woman who seemed rather bored, barely smiled, and didn't make eye contact when she (of course, from memory) presented each course. All in all, however, the service was very good and the staff were friendly. For example, when my Hugo ran out, I was immediately asked if I wanted another – but I declined.

Overall, it was a very successful evening in a wonderful setting. I love the English-inspired style: dark, heavy leather armchairs, white tablecloths adorned with numerous fresh roses, dark green walls combined with dark wooden beams, chandeliers on the walls and some even on the tables, dark parquet flooring, and a grand piano positioned among the mostly round tables, which are moved aside for each guest to accommodate the comfortable armchairs. The zebra-skin rug hanging from the ceiling is also a real eye-catcher – although it doesn't quite fit in with the overall aesthetic in my opinion – but it certainly draws attention. The many flowers, candlesticks, decorative elements such as swords, masks, and antique firearms on the walls, an old grandfather clock, patterned red curtains at the windows, heavily framed pictures on the walls, and many other carefully chosen details make a visit to the Master's Home in the rear restaurant area truly pleasant and cozy. I felt comfortable immediately after taking a seat, didn't want to leave (and couldn't really leave anymore... 😉 ) and was very impressed by the atmosphere and the incredibly warm and friendly ambiance – supported by the friendliness and charm of the waiters.

The 8-course menu costs €180 for two people – with drinks and an aperitif or coffee at the end, you're looking at around €220 including tip. Card payments are, of course, accepted. The Hugo cost €6.50 – which was reasonably priced, and the cappuccino was €3. The cappuccino was also very good – certainly a matter of taste, but my companion doesn't like too much milk foam on her cappuccino, which was the case here. Water was constantly being refilled throughout the entire meal – the glass practically never got empty. 😉 A bottle (Fiordilino/0.75l) costs €5.50 and is always placed on a small side table – not directly on your own table. The bread served before the first course was rather unremarkable, and I've certainly had much better "Italian" bread. As an aperitif, we chose an Aperol Prosecco and a simple Prosecco for €5.50 and €4.50 respectively.

Overall, Master's Home is difficult to describe because it offers both a fairly simple bar and an elegant restaurant in the back. If you're looking for a special occasion for your girlfriend or boyfriend, where you can enjoy a nice meal in a relaxed atmosphere, stop by and savor the food. Have fun! Afterwards, you could – theoretically – continue the party and drinks right next door.

I'll be back: Definitely for dining on a special occasion.

Place visited: Master's Home
Address: Frauenstraße 11, 80469 Munich
Website

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