Griechenbeisl — Restaurant in Vienna

We had the opportunity to travel to Vienna for our anniversary in July which we celebrated in Griechenbeisl Restaurant. Tucked in a small alley in central Vienna, Griechebeisl had very promising reviews online. It seemed to promise us not only delicious food but also a wonderful atmosphere full of history. We did not hesitate and booked a table for two in advance for an early dinner on 15th July. We loved the atmosphere the most, without any doubt. The ambience is unrivalled when you think about sitting in a 500-year old eating house. It’s amazing that this restaurant has survived so many centuries and still continues to pass on its history. The building itself is also very beautiful with original features still intact. Sometimes when you eat in a traditional, historical restaurant, the service can be hindered. This is definitely not true for Griechenbeisl. The team was very friendly, efficient, and attentive without being overwhelming. It’s true that famous people used to dine here but we did receive the same quality of service. Our waiter made us feel like we were celebrities ourselves which is a true testament to their attention to detail. The food itself was also very delicious. The majority of the menu consists of traditional Viennese food like Viennese Schnitzel. We had the sirloin with fried onions and roasted potatoes to the side and the salmon with a green and strawberry salad as a side. Both were excellent. With this high quality of the food and it’s central location, Grichenbeisl surprised with its relatively decent prices. It was not too pricy and we definitely thought that our dinner was great value for the money we paid (64 Euro for two main dishes, two glasses of wine and a bottle of water, along with a tip and couvert per person). There were very few things that we did not like about Griechenbeisl. As a heads up, it seems that the menu on the website does not correspond to the menu that they give you on site. Prices are relatively the same but there are significant differences in the dishes they indeed offer in the restaurant. For example, the salmon that I had is not even an option on the website menu. So have this in mind in case you would like to select your meals ahead of time. While the food and drinks were great, both in terms of quality and price, the bottled water was another story. We really felt that we were served tap water. Which would have been fine, if we were not charged 4 Euro for it. And finally, I wanted to highlight a slight inconvenience that may be an issue for other travelers. You need to book a table in advance otherwise they cannot promise you that one will be available. The process is very easy and straightforward on their website, just requires a bit of planning in advance. Overall, we would say that Griechenbeisl was a great restaurant for us to celebrate our anniversary while we were in Vienna. We would definitely return if we have this opportunity...

We loved Griechenbeisl so much, we ate here twice during our five day stay in Vienna. As I am writing this review a month later, I am sitting here salivating just thinking about the food. The first time we ordered Beef Goulash, Sea Bass, and Kaiserschmarren (dessert). The second time we ordered the Goulash, Pork Schnitzel, and Kaiserschmarren. Everything we ordered was absolutely delectable. My husband doesn't like goulash and he raved about it. The schnitzel was by far my favorite in all of Vienna & Prague. If you are going to try Kaiserschmarren -- it HAS to be here. I honestly would be afraid to try it anywhere else. It is a typical Viennese dessert of "torn" pancakes that has a caramelized sugar coating with a dusting of powdered sugar and a plum sauce. It was truly mind blowing. It was the best dessert we had in Vienna. We saw it sitting in large pans at other restaurants and could see it being anticlimactic if you made the mistake of ordering it elsewhere! The restaurant itself is quite historical with it being the oldest restaurant in Vienna. (since 1447) We preferred to sit inside where we could experience the unique atmosphere. Every room is different. Tamais and the other waiters were fantastic. They really made our experience top notch. We went to lunch at an odd hour (2:00 pm) so we were the only patrons in the restaurant by the time we ate dessert. My husband and I are already planning a return visit and Griechenbeisl will be our first stop. Do NOT miss eating here - you will be...

The place was a bit tricky to find, as it is a little hidden in an alley, but as most hidden gems, it was worth looking for. It's recommended to get a reservation, as my family and I got very lucky to find a table without one - this place seems very popular among locals and tourists alike. The staff is very professional. I was quite impressed with our waiter, who was knowledgeable, polite, patient, friendly, and welcoming. The food was delicious. The meat I ordered was served in a perfect "medium" level of doneness. I got to try their wiener schnitzel from my family member, as we shared our food. The schnitzel was a little dry but having it with the jam and lemon juice, which was served on the side, somewhat made up for it. The potato salad which was served alongside the schnitzel was incredible and personally, was the highlight for me however. Their beer was very nice, both the Gosser and the Schladminger. At the we had an apple strudel, which was served with whipped cream. It was warm and tasty. The coffee was also excellent. There was also live music, performed by what I assume is their regular musician. He first played some traditional/folk music on the accordion and then on the piano. It was quite lovely.

Overall, this place is a must visit if you're ever in Vienna. It also is apparently quite ancient and has some history behind it, if...