Prost — Restaurant in Wichita

UPDATE: They did update and corrected some things, so I give them credit for that. The unmarked bottle has been labeled. The solution was identified as hand sanitizer. I even think that there is a newly updated notice on their front door.

They created a video on their Facebook page that now suggests that they ask and offer the hand sanitizer upon entry and a mutual friend said that there are other options now as well, including bring your own sanitizer and even possibly wearing latex gloves. I increased my rating by one star, now being 2 stars. I commend them for correcting some things and in the possible modifications to their policy while maintaining the safety of all.

I cannot fathom the ignorance and absurdity that I just got tonight from Austin, the owner of Prost. I cannot tell you about the food but I can tell you about the service and policies in place that forces patrons to be sprayed with some sort of what looks to be homemade sanitizer spray.

I have never, ever had to have my hands sprayed with some kind of liquid sanitizing spray upon entering a dining establishment in my entire life, especially not forced to be sprayed without asking. I asked Austin if there was anyway around his policy on that and he told me that the only way around it was to not eat there and to leave. I told him that was too bad and walked out. (I really can't believe that he told me that, he clearly doesn't want to have my business and probably not want to stay in business with that attitude and policy of wanting to spray down every customer's hands when they enter his business. Clean latex gloves would have been a viable option for a compromised solution.)

Here's the story: I walk inside. Greeted and an unmarked spray bottle came up and pointed at my hands. I opened my hands and got sprayed with some type of what I believed to be homemade hand sanitizer. I rubbed my hands together and asked where the bathroom was so I could wash this stuff off of my hands. She said that the bathroom was outside and around the corner (in another cargo container). I asked her, if I went to wash my hands in the bathroom and came back then would I be sprayed again? She said yes, that was the policy. I sat down and asked to see a manager.

Manager came, I explained it all to her again. Told her that I didn't want to put whatever it was on my clean hands without being able to wash that stuff off, especially right before I ate. I didn't want whatever it was on my food or in my mouth. I said that I keep my hands clean and wash them all the time, I also don't like whatever it was on my hands and that I feel like I need to wash it off immediately.

The owner came, only to confirm his policy on spraying hands with what appeared to be his homemade cleaner in his unmarked bottle. He wasn't nasty about it but I took it as insulting, he didn't care about me or getting my business and providing customer service, he just only wanted my hands sprayed down with the solution of his choice, not mine.

I will not be back here to eat or promote this business of Prost ever again.

If they want to spray my hands before I eat, then sit me next to and within 6 feet of other diners who aren't wearing masks OR not wanting to sanitize my cell phone or other people's cell phones upon entry then I will not come back. Do they think that no one is going to touch their cell phones when inside and waiting for their food? Or sitting their germ covered cell phones down on the tables? Ignorant and absurd and a bunch of other things going on here. I took it more of a power trip and severe false sense of security.

Germs are everywhere, not just on my hands.

The owner has to be delusional to think he can have his staff spray my hands again without my permission or think that I will be a patron of his. He is also delusional to think that his spray concoction is going to eliminate germs coming into...

A fun experience. Went on a Summer Friday evening at 7:30. It wasn't very busy. We had to wait maybe 5-10 minutes, which was under what we'd been quoted. We got to sit outside, which was good because the weather was pleasant, and we had 2 young kids with us.

AMBIANCE: Long tables with bench seating. We expected we could've shared the table with another 4-person party, but it just wasn't that busy that day. Staff was friendly and prompt. Big fans outdoors, which probably helped with the flies. I'm glad we sat outside, where we get to see the street and the Revolutsia inner court and it feels more open. Inside seemed loud and crowded. Next time we will watch for good weather and request outside seating.

FOOD: The menu is relatively short. The food was good in a German-comfort-food kind of way. Comforting, but definitely nothing stellar. The portions were reasonable. The Flamkuchen was very good. The cold cuts tray could have used a radish or two more (1 halved radish just looked sad). Partner had the Fleischkase (looked/tasted like SPAM, which was ok with us) with egg on top and a side of skillet potatoes and sauerkraut. Both sides very basic. I had the Bierock, with red cabbage and fries. The Bierock was good, but unexpectedly sweet. Not sure why. Fries were warm and crisp. Red cabbage was also sweet. I think next time I'm ordering the Jagerschnitzel. There is a kids' menu, but our kids were happy to sample from the Flamkuchen, the cold cuts tray and our meals. The cheesecake desert was also very basic, with canned cherry topping. I wouldn't put money on the cheesecake being made from scratch either, but I might be wrong.

BEER: I didn't see the full beer menu, only the short version with the German beers on tap, and that was enough. We had a hefeweisen and a marzen, and they were both good. Beer came fast and cold and crisp. We both had liters, because that's the way to do German beer. Reasonably priced.

OVERALL: We will definitely go again, not necessarily for the cuisine, but for the experience and the liters of beer. And because it was a thoroughly fun and kid-friendy experience. It wasn't crowded when we went, so I can't speak to service when it's very busy, but the service was perfectly fine when we went. Smiles and friendliness and timeliness all around. The prices was very reasonable. I hope they serve Obatzda during Oktoberfest (I'd love to see a pretzels/radishes + cheese dip added to...

A classic Wichita foodie hidden gem, literally and figuratively. It's kind of hard to find, but just look for the innovative two story black shipping container building then pull around back for parking, entrance is on the east side.

The specialité de la maison is the handmade SPÄTZLE noodles, a type of German egg noodle. The spätzle is especially speziell, special, spéciale!

The BEST part was the WURST! Weisswurst, knackwurst, and a tasty, spicy ghostpepperwurst. I could not stop eating it!

Finally, you must try the MICHE bread, a type of artisanal rye and barley bread actually more common in France. The only thing better than miche bread is an Army football game at Michie stadium! It is said if you had to pick one bread only for the rest of your life, it would be miche bread. It must be cooked in a wood fired oven, because the crust has such a depth of flavor. Better yet, you can get a large half-loaf at De German Markt upstairs on the way out, for a very reasonable price!

The atmosphere is warm, friendly and chatty. I arrived alone and the other patrons struck up conversations, and we had a great time joking and learning German words(a great idea for kids and families). There are swings outside too for the kids to play while the grownups Oktoberfest.

The BEER I ordered the Göller Dunkel (yellow dark) lager, best beer I've ever tasted! There is a large variety of other biers on tap for whichever flavor you prefer.

So if you're in Wichita or just passing through, stop in at the best German restaurant in the state. The food is so delicious, the waiters and waitresses are very good, and the patrons are affable and sociable. I spent an extra hour after dinner in friendly banter, the kind you miss if you've ever been to...