Restaurants

Have lunch in the oldest medieval fortification of Frankfurt am Main, Eschenheimer Turm. Besides its notoriety as a historical landmark from the fifteenth century, the tower bar-restaurant serves up its standard, reasonably priced lunch menu every day.

For € 4.90, choose between eight dishes that range from a delightfully healthy Greek salad to the restaurant’s delicious fried chicken schnitzel with thick-cut French fries (served with mayo, European-style).

Other dishes like the Flammkuchen, a large, thin pastry dough baked with cream, bacon and onions, and the Currywurst mit Pommes remain standard offers, while the pasta special rotates on a daily basis.

The waitresses are especially friendly and service is, in my experience, always fast. Added benefit: even in winter, the sun shines wonderfully through the large glass windows at the base of the tower, making for an extra-cheery lunch hour when the weather is good. There are even a couple of swinging picnic tables to enjoy a playful lunch at when the weather is nice outside.

If you’re more up for cocktails, be sure to check out their happy hour. Starting at 18:00, choose from 15 different cocktails for € 6.50 each!

Aroydee (pronounced “ah-roy-dee”) is a real gem. The predominantly Thai staff serve up dishes spiced to authentic levels as the warmth from the open kitchen wafts through the restaurant. The sheer number of choices on Aroydee’s menu is daunting; there is something for everyone who has even the slightest taste for Thai.

If you have a moment, check out their website to narrow in on your favorite dish. Choose your favorite meats (duck/chicken/beef, etc.) or vegetables, rice vs. noodles, and whatever sweet/salty/spicy sauce you prefer – there is sure to be a corresponding dish on their menu. I recommend #27, Pad Med Mamuang Gai, with chicken, cashews, shallots, onions, peppers and carrots (€ 7).

If you want an extremely Thai dish, order number #40, Som Tom (€ 8.50). I guarantee you’ll be full, though it’s “just” a papaya salad. Make sure to communicate what level of spice you’d like, or you’ll be in for a fiery surprise!

They’ve just renovated and expanded their restaurant space to almost double its previous size. As it’s close to the center, Aroydee is also quite busy during the lunch hour. If you don’t mind grabbing food on the run, it’s often faster to call in your order before you head over.

For tapas in Frankfurt, it doesn’t get better than La Trinca. This Spanish restaurant has locations both on Schweizerstrasse and in the Kleinmarkthalle, and is always good for a small dinner party. The hot and cold varieties of tapas are perfect for sharing, so bring a friend or make it a date!

My personal favorite: the tortilla de espinacas y chistorra, a potato-spinach omelette served with red sauce for a spicy twist. Second-favorite: the pinchitos de pollo, grilled chicken drizzled with a rich cherry sauce. If I’m feeling extremely decadent, I’ll go for the datiles con jamón (dates wrapped in bacon) for a bit of heaven on earth. Most tapas cost between € 3 – 6, and if you’re hungry and eating with one other person, plan on ordering at least 3-4 plates to share.

La Trinca offers larger main meals as well, but half the fun of a tapas restaurant is to go for a bunch of smaller dishes, mix it up, and share the fun! Make sure to order a glass of red from the Spanish wine selection to sip with your dishes…¡buen provecho!

When I’m travelling one aspect I always want to discover of the unknown culture is the food. Sometimes I have to be brave to try them and not every national dish is exactly my taste but at least I’ll have tried it. So if you visit Frankfurt you should not hesitate to try a typical Frankfurter dish. One of the most famous Frankfurt dishes is “Grüne Soße”, it’s a cold sauce made of seven different herbs and sour cream which is mostly served with potatoes and eggs. To round this meal up it is typical to drink apple wine with it, which is another famous Frankfurt speciality. And one of the best places to enjoy this Frankfurter meal is the restaurant Exenberger.

At Exenberger you get real Frankfurt food, which is freshly made from locally grown ingredients and you can enjoy your meal in a very relaxed and cozy atmosphere. In summer you can also sit outside and enjoy the real Frankfurt tavern feeling. Besides “Grüne Soße” Exenberger also has some other very good traditional dishes like roasted potatoes (which I also prefer to the cooked potatoes with the “Grüne Soße”) with junket or pork rib with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. For dessert you have to try the unbelievably delicious red berry compote with vanilla sauce.

So if it is a nice summer day and you’re sitting outside enjoying your meal and having one or two glasses of apple wine you will feel like a real Frankfurter for sure.

One of the benefits of living in a multi-culti city, like Frankfurt, is the access to many international flavours! This time, credits are given to French-oriented cuisine, wines and people (once again!). One of my friends spotted Niewo, a small bistro in Bornheim and became one of its most regular clients…

After I visited the place myself, I came to understand the reason! As soon as we entered Niewo we felt at home; actually, some people were playing cards next to us, as if they were at home, while others enjoyed a romantic dinner. The warm and friendly atmosphere is reinforced by Marlen, one of the owners of Niewo and one of the most friendly hosts you have ever met!

The cuisine has some French roots; I had a terrific boeuf bourguignon! But this does not mean that other dishes are not well cooked. Besides their permanent menu, they have a weekly card, which is for me a first sign that the dishes are fresh and home-made. Indeed, the confirmation came when we tried the dishes – do not miss their Bratkartoffeln with the secret ingredient…

Also the decoration reminds you of your mum’s living room, while Marlen looks after her guests like a mum herself. And sitting close to each other might bring you to laugh all together or cheer on a glass of wine!