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The Wein Cantina is a trendy wine bar and also a very cozy restaurant near Munich's Ostbahnhof (East Station) in Haidhausen. I've driven past it many times, so recently my companion and I spontaneously decided to go there for dinner without a reservation. Even from the outside, the Cantina looks very inviting, bright, and friendly. The large windows along the restaurant's facade hint at the pleasant atmosphere even before you enter. On our visit, we found a parking spot directly in front of the Wein Cantina relatively quickly – otherwise, you usually have to search a bit longer in that area, or you can simply take public transport directly to the Ostbahnhof.
So, after parking, we entered the restaurant through the heavy fabric curtain behind the door and were immediately registered by a friendly waiter – the only one that evening, as we learned during a brief chat at the table – and shown to a small table for two in the corner. Just before we sat down, we were informed that it might take a little longer for our order to be taken and brought to us, partly because we hadn't made a reservation. This was perfectly fine with us that evening, as we weren't in a hurry, nor – at least initially – particularly hungry. The restaurant, divided into two rooms, has a total of about 12-15 tables of varying sizes for sitting and drinking. Even the bar, behind which the wines are served, isn't a typical bar but rather a long, solid wooden table that dominates the room, with additional seating for a few more guests at the front, where they can also enjoy food and wine.
We sat at our assigned table for two, complete with a tealight holder and a decorative fresh flower in a vase, and waited. The wine cantina's menu is very concise, clearly focusing on the wine selection. There are only a few different dishes available, all of which could fit on a single A5 page. They also offer a well-curated tasting menu with three, four, or five courses (for €39, €47, or €55 respectively, or with wine pairings for €60, €75, or €89). Since we weren't particularly hungry, we opted for individual dishes from the regular menu. We ordered our drinks in advance. I chose a 2013 Pinot Blanc from the Dautel winery in Württemberg (€4.50 for 0.1l), and my companion shared a bottle of still mineral water (Gerolsteiner Naturell, €5.80 for 0.75l). The drinks took quite a while to arrive, which is generally fine since we were aware of the wait. However, at around 15 minutes for two simple drinks, it was rather long. Since every single table was occupied and there was a group sitting next to us ordering one glass of wine after another, further straining the waitstaff, it was acceptable to me.
Immediately after our drinks were served, we decided on a starter and two main courses. The waiter was kind enough to point out that we could also order a single course from the set menu, so my companion chose the curry coconut soup with sprouts and enoki wonton as a starter, and I shared a bit of it. Before it arrived, we were served a refreshing amuse-bouche. This surely changes regularly, but that evening it was a delicious wild garlic and pointed cabbage foam, which tasted excellent and very fresh – especially when served with the incredibly soft and generous bread basket (filled with whole-wheat, white, and beetroot bread), the lemongrass curry cream cheese dip, and the fresh Cretan olive oil. The starter soup took a very long time to arrive – almost an hour, in fact – and I had already finished the entire glass of thin breadsticks at the table. My companion was a bit annoyed by the long wait, and after a while, I too found it too long – despite the "warning." When the soup finally arrived, it was very attractively presented and, in my opinion, tasted very good and intense. The bowl was quickly emptied and promptly cleared. (Especially at small tables, I find it an important part of good service that empty plates are quickly removed from the guest's table – and this worked well here).
Our main courses – the open vegetable lasagne with Parmesan (a hefty €15.50) and the pumpkin risotto with the "catch of the day" (€19.50) – took an extremely long time again. In total, we sat for over an hour and 45 minutes before we could finally eat. That was a really long wait, even though we both really liked the atmosphere and the consistently friendly waiter told us in a quiet moment that he was working alone because they had based their staffing on the previous weekend's turnout, which had been practically nonexistent. So the long wait was certainly also due to the understaffing at the Wein Cantina. When the plates arrived and we started eating, neither of us was particularly impressed. I have to be even more critical of my lasagne. The pasta tasted very bland and tough, and the tomato sauce was extremely under-seasoned and rather uninspired. While it looked nice, the taste – even with added salt – was rather dull. My companion's fish (a salmon) was very tender and tasted okay, the risotto was okay, but nothing special. We were both full from it – especially since we were immediately given another full bread basket without even asking, and we promptly devoured it.
Otherwise, the menu offered two more appetizers (salad or stuffed quail breasts for €9.50 and €14.50 respectively) and several main courses (priced between €15.50 and €24.50). For dessert, there was a white and dark chocolate duet for €8.50. As mentioned, the menu was quite concise. A well-curated selection of different wines was also available. To accompany the wines, you could also choose small snacks such as a cheese selection with jam or the ham of the week. There was also a wine of the month – in March, it was the 2011 Borsao Crianza, which you could try for €4.80 (100 ml).
Overall, I have to say I would definitely come back because the service was excellent. We were informed about the longer wait time, which was definitely too long, but the ambiance and atmosphere of the wine cantina are still great. I wouldn't eat there again – maybe a snack, but nothing more. It's ideal for sitting, chatting, and drinking wine, and I'll come back for that. I can definitely recommend the wine cantina if you like a cozy atmosphere with a touch of charm and chic. You can pay by card. In the end, we paid €57 including tip for a glass of wine, a bottle of water, an appetizer, and two main courses. That's not exactly cheap, and unfortunately, the food wasn't worth it in this case. The bar is nice, though, and has a certain something special about it. It's best to check it out for yourself – you certainly won't go wrong, and perhaps the chef was just having an off day. If you're looking for a venue for a nice private or business celebration, you can rent the Wine Cantina. Either just the side room (called the "Riesling Room"), or the entire bar. For this, you can... personal Contact the friendly service team and discuss everything.
I'll be back: If I want to drink a delicious wine in a cozy atmosphere – yes. If it's about the food – unfortunately not.
Place visited: Wine Cantina
Address: Elsässer Straße 23, 816687 Munich
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