As with every major city, it is always a daunting task to choose a good restaurant when there is one at almost every other street number. Unfortunately, Munich hosts a number of restaurants that will simply put a terrible taste in your mouth or burn a hole in your wallet. We found our favorites by trial and error and also through recommendations. This is the first post in a series listing my favorite restaurants we often visit in Munich. Every Munich tourist book already offers you all the great places where to get great Bavarian food. But if you want something a little different, then here are two places:

Adventurous Cuisine

Zimmes & Zores

Warngauerstr. 17, Giesing, Phone: 089 5506 4970 Website

I’ll start off with the disadvantage: It’s not so near Marienplatz or an U-bahn stop but if you get off at the Silberhornstr. tram stop, you’ll be there by foot in 10 minutes.

Nothing but praise: This restaurant is number ‘Uno’ in my book. Every time we have eaten here, the food has been superb and service was friendly and attentive, and prices reasonable. The restaurant is cosy, definitely NOT fancy, has a non-smoking room, displays a bit of artsy playfulness, but otherwise it’s clear the focus is on the food. [Update: Since February 2008, all open-to-public restaurants are required to be smoke free. Z&Z also add a little red deco. The place is packed on Friday nights. ] The menu is presented on a clipboard on a single sheet of paper because the dishes change every day as may the restaurant’s chef. The highlight for me is that they offer half portions of most all dishes for a reduced price if you aren’t hungry for a major feast.

Suggestion: Great place for a first time date or with friends who like to tease their culinary palette. Open: 10-24 o’clock Monday-Friday

French Cuisine

La Bouille

Neureuther Str. 15, Schwabing, Phone: 089 39 99 36 Website

Disadvantage: Get off the U-bahn at Josephsplz, then prepare to get lost. That has been our experience 75% of the time. Bring a street map just in case.

Embrace French Snottiness: Yeah yeah, there are better French restaurants in Munich, but you’ll pay way more. At least that’s been our experience so far. Some may also argue that La Bouille is also a tad on the salty side, and on one visit I would concur, but maybe I had a cold. But I think it’s a great place to start when you are first getting to know French dinning style. Everytime I’ve left the restaurant, I was happy and not overly blotted that I ate too much. I love that I’m enjoying a dish, which simply couldn’t be made at home. The menu is consistent and diverse with fish, poultry, and red meat meals. Open: 12-14:30 o’clock Monday-Friday, 19-24 o’clock Monday-Sunday