Zum Goldenen Kalb — Restaurant in Munich

Wanted to go there for dinner? Think twice. This is probably not a good idea. Unless you are ok with misogyny, social discrimination and unethical sales methods.

Be ready to get offered a ton of stuff you don't want, and be ready to get served a ton of stuff you did not order. But believe me, everything will end up on the bill.

Refuse the starter platter. This is a scam. They will just pick and choose the most expensive starters on the menu. They won't even offer you the possibility to select what you want.

When the waiter brings you to the aged steak shelf, take the time to look at the prices. When they are so badly written that you can't read them (on purpose, I guess), ask the waiter. Their aged steaks are horribly expensive and you will always be proposed with the most expensive one first.

Then comes the side dish selection. You will order some, they will probably bring more. Some you did not order at all. You might then thing the additional ones are complementary - nope. They will appear on the bill. Moreover, the quality of the side dishes is average at best. But super expensive...

Add to that the general attitude of the staff, which is properly disgusting. Especially if you're a woman. Or not white. Or if you don't show you're part of high social classes.

Long story short, run away. There are 100x of places you should go in...

After what I experienced today I can really not recommend anyone to go there. We were looking forward to this evening for weeks as the beef at this place was supposed to be good.

However,

All the time one waiter after another comes by trying to sell you bottles of water. Other drinks take ages. 2.We ordered premium t-bone and tenderloin medium rare and it came out cold and bloody. As we complained about this issue a waiter he simply offered us to throw it back on the grill (well, he did that with half of our plates. The rest, he forgot). After we had finished eating, we were asked by yet another waiter, whether we liked it. We then told him our complaints so far. He apologized and said, he would see what he could do. We never saw him again that evening. So we wanted to pay but at this time it surprisingly took like half an hour till the next waiter stopped by. Finally one waitress arrived with the check (360€ for 5 persons). We decided not to give the full tip as we were really disappointed with how everthing went. However, instead of apologizing the waitress starts to yell at us.

So all in all,...

Food is closer to 5 stars but I found the behavior of the selling process from the waiter unethical, that is why such a low review, pushing the guest to spend without sharing prices in such a way is something I have never experienced. The contrast is that we were treated remarkably well, is very professional and really high standard of food but I had a very bitter experience. As an example, a waiter should not open a bottle of Ruinart champagne a minute after arrival without acknowledgment of a budget or mentioning the price (as a note this is a very expensive bottle). And the same style has been across the whole evening. Conclusion? Wonderful food and service up to 230 eur per person while feeling across the evening being taken advantage. I could have decided to spend the same amount with a different approach and would have left the evening happier. I just wish you re think the way your serving staff approach sales in general, or if a potential customer reading be aware that this could happen to you. I am happy to elaborate further on this experience, please just ask. I may...