We found Vienna quite surprising in many ways. It was our first time but we can safely say that we would definitely go back. Vienna is full of art, music and incredible food. For us, it is becoming our new Paris or New York.
Vienna is extra surprising, especially in food department. They are so switched on when it comes to vegetarian/vegan food. Every vegan or vegetarian restaurant has their own cookbook published traditionally and their bookstores are full of those local as well as international cookbooks.
Personally, I am a huge fan of German/Austrian cuisine. Mostly because I love how they do their potatoes. And the dumpling business is just divine. They call them dumplings but they’re very much like baked loaves like nut roast without the nuts but breadcrumbs instead. I believe they are their bread substitute. We had something similar in Prague too.
At Wrenkh, you should ask for a menu in English and they give you one with an “E” at one ear (the left ear, to be precise). And definitely ask for wine recommendation; you won’t be disappointed. We fell in love with Austrian wines. Try Grüner Veltliner. You’ll thank us later. Actually, you can get Grüner Veltliner in Australia. I know it because we found some a few weeks after we got back.
Food at Wrenkh
We ordered two distinctive Austrian dishes so that we could share. It’s a great way of trying different dishes.
Dish number one: Creamy lentils in white wine sauce with roasted bread dumplings (above) or laird lentils in “Veltliner” sauce with celery stalks and carrots, served with herbed bread dumplings. Same thing.
Dish number two: Wrenkh’s Erdäpfelschmarrn (shredded potatoes)
Grated crispy grilled potatoes with marjoram, oregano and thyme, served with roasted seasonal vegetables and herbed goat cream cheese-dip.
Sides (above): Lightly cooked seasonal vegetables and cream cheese dip.
Wrench in Vienna is such an institution; they even have a cooking school (right next door to the restaurant). We noticed that the students were presenting their dishes to a group of judges outside. It is always nice to see young people showing interest in cooking.
When we eat out, we have the tendency to talk to our fellow diners. We did that in Paris on many occasions. This time we found ourselves talking to a really nice couple from Frankfurt.