Restaurant Check - Innsbruck - Part V

The Privilege - Innsburck's first dinner club.

First of all I have to say, that this is a kind of new concept to the Tyrolean food branch - the dinner club. What to expect from the Privilege Club?

The Restaurant and Club Privilege is perfectly situated meters from the Golden Roof, directly in the pedestrian area of the old town of Innsbruck. When you enter the restaurant, you will be in the Lounge. Upon walking up the stairs you reach the main part of the restaurant with a show kitchen.

The 4,50 € aperitif was not my taste although it is complimentary for all female guests, when they have ladies night! The food was quite good and nicely decorated. I ordered a Vitello Tonnato (12 euros) followed by a Truffle Risotto (about 17 euros). The accompanying wine was good as well and with 25 euros not too expensive. I would have loved to order one of their delicious desserts, but due to the large portions I was completely satisfied. 

After our dinner we found ourselves downstairs in the Club area. There we got some tasty drinks and good beer. I would say the atmosphere is a kind of cold, and we have been some of the only guests, there were only four other tables occupied.

All in all we did not pay high prices and in my opinion the Privilege has a good value for money. 

Restaurant Check - Innsbruck - Part IV

The restaurant „Das Schindler“ is situated next to the main entrance of the shopping center “Kaufhaus Tyrol”. The atmosphere is casual and the service is average. They have a lunch menu at a set price of about 13 euros for two courses. There are also 3- and 4-course menus. The menu is changing every week and I go there very often with friends to have breakfast as well as for lunch. 

Last Friday I went there with a colleague and I ordered thinly sliced Carpaccio followed by risotto with mushrooms. In addition, my colleague had mixed salad and thai chicken with risotto. 

The quality was good and the portions not large but enough as a lunch menu. The best about the set lunch menus is that they are served fast and the price is reasonable.

Restaurant “Das Schindler”

Maria-Theresien-Straße
6020 Innsbruck

Austria

Insider's Getaway

The weather in Austria turned immediately to winter, without having a long autumn time. Despite the summer was great and the weather was still okay, I am really looking forward to the Christmas time.

Although I am really looking forward for white christmas, there is nothing to be said against a trip to the warm South. That's why I decided to go to South Tyrol in Northern Italy to enjoy a sunny Saturday, while it is navy and rainy in North Tyrol. 

There is no other place to start the day then at a cool bar with a capuccino and a croissant with a cream of vanilla - if you are lucky you might have your Italian breakfast on Piazza Walther in the heart of Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol. Afterwards, it's time to stroll throughVia Portici, next to Piazza Walther. The Via Portici is famous for its alcoves, where you can find all major brands. If you reached the Market, turn left and finish your walk by going back to Piazza Walther, along Via della Mostra. This street is famous for its high-class shops, like Armani, Tod's, Bogner and Furla. 

If you want to continue with shopping then you should definitely go to Merano, which is about 20 minutes North-West of Bolzano. The best place to have an excellent lunch or an exclusive dinner is the Restaurant Oberwirt in Lana - a completely new one-year old restaurant in an old landmark building on the old town square of Lana, a small village just 10 minutes before Merano. Not only is this restaurant the Number One in Lana by Tripadvisor, it serves the best of the Italian cuisine and is member of Slow Food, which stands for unique products and the highest available quality.

Restaurant Oberwirt
Piazza Gries 2
39011 Lana, BZ, Italy
www.oberwirtamgries.com
Closed on Sundays

THE REVIEW

We have always been regular guests at the Hidalgo Restaurant in Burgstall, which is next to Lana. The reason for our visits was not just the food, more likely was it because of Traudi and Renato, which made us feel welcome and they always made sure that we had a great dinner or lunch. When they left the old restaurant, we did never come back to Burgstall. 

Today, at the Oberwirt, we can combine the exceptional hospitality of Traudi and Renato with outstanding food and Italy's best wines, recommended by Renato himself. The idea to only serve dishes influenced by slow food is great and you really can get dishes, you would never get in any other restaurant in South Tyrol. 

My absolute favourite dishes (to be honest, I love everything I've had there!) are "Tagliata" of White Piedmont Beef and the Saffron risotto! Another course, worth to-die-for and not to be missed is the dessert: Beside finest choices, my favourites are by far Crème Brûlée and warm Chocolate Soufflé. If you are not in a hurry, make sure to order a typical Italian "Espresso" accompanied by a glass of Grappa at the end of a gorgeous lunch or dinner. 

Of course everything has its price, but I can only proof that this is one of South Tyrol's best restaurants and the setting is just that perfect for a sunny Saturday midday or a special occasion for just the two of you! You really get what you pay for. 

Restaurant Check - Innsbruck - Part III

Today me and my colleague tested one of Innsbrucks finest restaurants high above the city, more exately on the top floor of the town hall, which also accommodates a high-class shopping center. 

In general, the atmosphere is a kind of sophisticated and the interior stylish with great views of the Tyrolean capital. For such a high-price restaurant, the servers are not dressed adequate - they wear sport sneakers and a black shirt.

The first course was a soup of chestnut with a lot of foam and orange zests on top. All in all the soup was quite good at a reasonable price of 4,50 euro. The bread served with the soup was a bit dry and there was no butter on-site.

For main course we choose chicken breast with mushroom risotto and green salad with beef filet. The chicken was very good, spicy with a nice sauce and a risotto which was cooked perfectly. The salad and the beef filets were very good, too.

For 38 euro for two, this is an expensive venue for lunch in Innsbruck, but in my opinion it was worth the money for such atmosphere and quality of food. It really has to be a special occassion if you want to go there for dinner, because the prices can be twice compared to the set lunch menu.

Restaurant Lichtblick
Maria-Theresien-Straße 18, 6020 Innsbruck
T: 0043 (0) 512 566550
http://www.restaurant-lichtblick.at/

Travel Diary: My Summer holidays Part 7

Just arrived home now after a beautiful 3-week trip through the very South of Italy.

My last stop for this trip were the Marches, a region between Emilia Romagna and Abruzzo, famous for the shoe outlets. I stayed once again at the majestical Villa Lattanzi in Torre di Palme (within 20 minutes driving to Tod's and Prada outlet). The service was perfect again and the room clean, modern with a touch of luxury as well as excellent Etro Relent toiletries. Sea view and a very nice breakfast is always guaranteed! I had also a nice last evening with some italian friends at a very cool place, called Cobá Beach, directly on the beach of Porto San Giorgo, about 5 minutes by car from the Villa.

Before I went to the Marches, I have been in the modern region of Apulia/Puglia, where I checked out the new Borgo Egnazia Resort, famous for the Million-Dollar wedding of Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake. 

The resort itself is beatiful and everyone is polite, helpful and friendly. I love the system to be a "Hotel-for-every-kind-of-guest": They have the La Corte area, where they only have double rooms and suites - perfect for couples and on the other hand they have the very nice Borgo area, where I stayed - with the optic of an old italian townhouse. I got a room on the first floor and it therefore had a rooftop terrace with views of the Adriatic sea and the sunrise!

The location is not really good, because the hotel's own golf course devides the hotel from the private rocky beach! That's why they have a shuttle every 20 minutes. They have also a beautiful sandy beach (my favourite place during my stay!), which is about 10 minutes by complimentary shuttle every 20 minutes, too.

If you do not want to eat inside the hotel and you are able to get out of the hotel, then you should book a table at either Osteria del Porto (Excellent dinner 4/5 points) or at Saporedisale, which serves also seafood and really good Pizza - for me 4/5 points, too!

When I left Puglia to go to the Marches, my last stop, I was sure to come back in the near future as the Borgo Egnazia is just the perfect resort for a summer holiday and the temperatures are not very high in Puglia.

Restaurant-Check Innsbruck - Part 1

It is not very hard to find a restaurant with a varied lunch menu, but restaurants with a good value are very difficult to find. Here are some of my favourite spots in the capital of the Austrian Alps:

1.) Die Pizzerei

My absolute favouirite place to have lunch or dinner! New restaurant with small lunch menu and huge choice of all kinds of Pizza for lunch and dinner. Although the restaurant isn't on the small side, getting a table on-site is nearly impossible. Make sure to reserve a table in advance when you are going to Innsbruck! Open for lunch from 11.30-14.00 and for dinner from 17.30-1.00. Closed on Sundays. http://www.diepizzerei.at

2.) Café Sacher

My favourite spot for All-day dining! A top notch Cafe with exclusive dishes and a Michelin Starred Restaurant open for dinner only. This is one of four Café Sacher in Austria while the main property with the Hotel Sacher is located in Vienna. If you do want to dine in tradition, then treat yourself with a piece of an original "Sachertorte" for 4,70 € (!!). My favourite dessert: the "Sacher Würfel" for 2 € only. This is the perfect spot to have a late lunch, in case you missed lunchtime in Innsbruck! Open daily from 8.30 am till midnight. Café Sacher Innsbruck

3.) Das Schindler Restaurant

Dazzling restaurant with a weekly changing lunch menu. Prices are average for lunch, while they increase bout 30 percent for dinner. The location is perfect for all shoppers, as it can be found next to the main entrance of the "Kaufhaus Tyrol". This is also my favourite spot for a lavish à la carte breakfast whenever I am in Innsbruck at the morning! Open for breakfast: 8.00-11.30 am, lunch 11.30-14.00 and dinner from 18.00-22.00. Closed on Sunday and bank holidays.

 Das Schindler 

Travel Diary - Part 2: Get your Bargain in Veneto

After shopping at the Factory Outlet of Aeronautia Militare, we were hungry and went to a local bar.

We had excellent pasta and fabolous buffola mozzerella from Campania! The prosecco was as good as the delicious desserts! We paid about 7 Euros for one dish and 2,20€ for an excellent glass of prosecco!

Afterwards we were on the way to the next factory outlet of another renowned fashion brand!

Before we arrived in the town Trebaseleghe, we passed by Bassano del Grappa with its pretty city center!

Pictures of the following factory outlet are less impressive than reality. This is a real hidden gem under the outlets with savings of up to 50%:

Can you guess the brand? Well, as I can keep a secret, you'll have to be patient!

Now we're on the way to our exciting accommodation in Vicenza! The sun goes down and the sky over the Veneto and the city of Padova (picture) turns orange! Simply stunning!

Have a nice evening!

Travel diary - Part 1: Bargain Travel to Vicenza

Good morning everyone!

I am going on a bargain trip to the region of Veneto, where we will shop in some famous factory outlets.

After passing the Brennero at 6.40 am we arrived in Italy! Although we had no traffic jams yet, in the radio they said it's expected for 9-10 am. 

As we are now in Sterzing, I would say it's time for a cappuccino and a brioche con crema!

Have a nice morning!