Paninoteca No.1 — Restaurant in Frankfurt

We found this place when we were hungry and just looking for a place to get food while walking around Frankfurt. I chose to get the "Pennette de Gamberretto" or something along those lines, but basically penne pasta with creamy tomato sauce and shrimp. Kind of a large portion but I was just about able to stuff it all in. I'm not sure what the local standards for Italian food are around here but as an American who is used to Ragu and Prego sauce, this tasted amazing. I am lactose intolerant so I was a little hesitant about the "creamy" part, but I think it was just how they described it, which was fairly accurate. Maybe they used cheese as a base? Either way I had no reaction. The sauce itself wasn't thin or watery. Had a gentle but not overwhelming tomato taste. The shrimp probably aren't fresh, but the sauce is good enough to mask that fact. If I wasn't so full, I would've loved some bread to scoop up the rest of the sauce. The pasta was cooked just right. I should also mention I didn't go into the restaurant itself but a little side opening where you could still sit, but without all the fancy waiters and all the frills. You ask for the dish, and you get the dish, and nothing more. You could see them cook the food in the kitchen while you wait. Didn't have to wait too long either. As far as I could tell, the guy at the counter speaks fairly fluent English, not sure if he's there all the time. Also, the chairs are fun to spin around on. Overall, good food with a...

Spending the New Year's Eve there was absolutely the worst idea ever. Probably the number of waiters was underestimated, we got a sit but took a while to order. We ordered a bottle of wine and the waiter arrived with a different one with a really cheap aspect, tasty also not good. We got the fish with a different side dishes than announced, when I claimed the waiter told was just a decoration (What?). Meanwhile someone looking older and reacher that us complained and got something better. People on my right ans left side where complaining for something. Finally asked the bill for three times and once a talk with the Maitre the waiter in an impolite was answered to my "you are complaining since the beginning" (not true). Got 🌟 🌟 just because they at least deducted the cost of the wine frfrom the bill. Summarizing...

Like every other 5-star Google review, the service here was exceptionally bad — almost as if it were part of the restaurant’s brand. I ended up playing waiter and went to the bar myself to grab our beers. The staff saw me, gave me a warm smile… and then carried on with their Olympic-level ignoring. Truly inspiring teamwork.

As for the food, we must’ve been at a different restaurant from everyone else — or maybe we were just lucky enough to get the “mystery chef” that day. The vongole looked promising with all the clams, garlic, parsley, and tomatoes… but tasted like someone cooked the pasta, then immediately gave it a bubble bath. We added enough salt to summon Poseidon, just to feel something. A true masterclass in how to make food taste like absolutely nothing.

The second star is giving for the calzone,...