Im Goldenen Kessel — Restaurant in Dusseldorf

If you are searching for a nice traditional German restaurant in Düsseldorf, Im Goldenen Kessel is definitely the right option. The restaurant is located in the heart of Düsseldorf, and it’s very easy to find. The restaurant is large, offering lots of tables indoors, plus a nice outdoor area with tables as well. The restaurant’s design is very nice and unmistakably German, and I really loved the atmosphere inside. The whole place was well maintained and very clean when I visited. I came on Thursday around 2 p.m., and the restaurant was half empty, so I picked the table I liked best. My waiter was a very nice and friendly German man with a fun personality, and his English was excellent. He gave me several recommendations about the menu, and I followed his advice when ordering my meal and drink. The menu is quite big and full of traditional German dishes. A great plus is that they also have a full English menu available. That day I was in the mood for German sausages, so following my waiter’s advice, I went with the Bratwurstplatte (traditional German sausage sampler plate). My food came out pretty fast - within about 13 minutes. Visually the dish looked nice, and it smelled delicious too! The plate had a few different types of sausages, including Blutwurst (blood sausage), which is very typical for Düsseldorf and the Rhineland region. My waiter told me I would love it, but unfortunately it was my least favorite - I didn’t really enjoy its flavor or texture, and I left most of it. However, all the other sausages were super delicious, and I loved them a lot! The plate also came with creamy, delicious mashed potatoes and a cabbage/vegetable mix, which I skipped because I don’t really eat vegetables in general. Also, surprisingly, my waiter brought me a homemade mustard and recommended dipping the sausages in it. I tried it, and the flavors became even more enjoyable; the mustard was amazing! Overall, I loved my meal, and I can absolutely recommend ordering it. The portion was big enough to fill me up. But the real highlight of my visit was actually the drink (also recommended by my waiter): Van Nahmen Landschorle Johannisbeere. It’s a classic German drink that mixes fruit juice with sparkling water. My specific drink had a black currant flavor and tasted wonderful! Honestly, it became one of my TOP favorite drinks I’ve ever had in my life, and I highly recommend ordering it when you visit! Price-wise, the restaurant is mid-range. Prices are moderate overall, though slightly on the higher side. My bill for one main dish and a soft drink was around €20, which I think is reasonable for a nice German restaurant in the city center of Düsseldorf. Also, they accept all major credit cards and Apple Pay, which is an extra plus. I can 100% recommend this restaurant if you’re looking for classic German food in Düsseldorf. And I’ll definitely come back here again when I return...

I ordered crispy pork knuckle with salad and fried potatoes, and a coke. Sadly, the only food that I enjoyed was the coke. I was expecting crispy pork skin, but it was so hard, tough and chewy, even the meat inside. I feel it was there for a long time and like put on a microwave or reheated. The bottom part skin is not crispy and I think it’s because they only fry the top part. I only ate 1/4 part of the meat, because it’s also very salty:(( The frier potatoes was also very greasy and not crispy as well. When I was paying, the staff kept on asking how much tip I want to give. At first I already said no, and I’m not sure if didn’t understand me, so I asked again how much is the total, and then he asked me to choose again in the card reader on how much tip will I give. So just to finish everything, and leave immediately, I chose the lowest...

Not the best experience, honestly, but I'll probably come back to give this place another chance. Our server kindly spoke English when it got a bit loud and hard to hear, which we appreciated. They did, however, leave our glasses empty—a small but disappointing lapse.

The food was okay—a little salty, but standard German fare. Nothing stood out. What surprised me, however, was that the server suggested a tip of over 10% while also mistakenly charging us for an extra beer. It seems the previous customers' coaster hadn’t been replaced. Not feeling up to a confrontation in my non-native language, we decided to pay and leave.

I’ll be taking my business elsewhere for now until the service improves. I hope they can address these issues, as the beer alone makes it worth...