Is it me or has the quality slipped a bit at Grünauer?
Wine:
2008 Zantho
Zweigelt, Burgenland, Austria
Liked this a lot!
We both had the Szegediner:
Braised pork shoulder with paprika sauce, sauerkraut and bread dumplings.
Everything was flavorful but the pork was so overcooked and dry it was barely edible. Â The so-called bread dumplings seemed like very stale bread chunks that was so dry, hard, uncut-able and un-chewable and they wouldn't soak up any of the sauce.
Strudel for dessert was good.
When we were ready for the check the waiter got lost and I had to ask another waiter for it.
I really *really* wanted to like this place because 1) I talked it up to a friend who was visiting KC for the first, and probably only, time and 2) I spent four years eating amazing German food in Wisconsin and had a hankering for food from my (husband's distant relatives') homeland. Unfortunately, we left Grunauer without the warm, fuzzy, satiated feeling that German food is supposed to give.
I'm used to rustic, gingerbread house/ski haus-like German restaurants, so I did not expect the white tablecloths of Grunauer. But you know, it is what it is. Anyway, service was alright. My friend and her traveling companion weren't used to German food, so we asked a good number of questions and ordered some of their more mundane dishes. Although the server was adequate and was not condescending, we weren't provided with recommendations or get the assurance of, "that's a good choice" or whatnot after ordering.
Now the food: The kasespaetzle was great. Wonderfully cheesy with nice and crispy, salty, in-house fried onions. My friend's goulash was a bit dry and had more spaetzle than meat. And my friend's traveling companion wasn't happy with a hamburger that was drenched with horseradish (since I arrived late I don't know if it was explained that there would be a lot of horseradish, but she was surprised). And we weren't fans of the veal bratwurst. I've had veal and I've had (tons) of bratwurst, so I figured that the combination would be a homerun--not so. It had a liver-y taste to it and each time I took a bite I tried so hard to convince myself that I *should* like it, but to no avail.
The kasespaetzle was amazing, but aside from that I wasn't impressed, especially considering the price. Unfortunately, I have a hard time justifying spending a lot of money on food that would be just as good, maybe even better, Â if they were $5-$10 cheaper and made more simple.
Dare I say that you haven't had a French Dip* until you've had Grünauer's version? Well, I'm saying it so there.
The meat is so very tender and juicy. The waiter told me it was because it's slow roasted for a looooooong time. In fact, it's so juicy you don't even need the au jus. It's served standard with pomme frites and those are good, too as was the salad I started with.
Service is overly awesome - very friendly and professional. And they have a lovely patio that I'm sure makes a fantastic bier garden in nice weather. I'd definitely be a regular here if I lived in the area.
*Technically Grünauer calls this sandwich an Austrian Dip, but if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a French Dip in my mind.
There are a lot of things I could say about Grünauer, but all you really need to know is this:
All things considered, Grünauer is the best restaurant in Kansas City.
And I'm pretty sure it's not just me--everyone I've ever brought to Grünauer becomes a raving fan and invariably wants to go back again.
Grünauer's menu items will please both adventuresome and prudish diners alike.  The food quality and preparation are absolutely top-notch, but without the pretentiousness you might see at restaurants with similar quality.  If Grünauer was in a strip mall I would still totally love it--but it just so happens to be in an absolutely stunningly beautiful space.  I can't think of a better place in Kansas City to bring a date, loved one, or client.
Wunderbar brings an incredible selection of spirits, wine and beer, plus world-class cocktails. Â The massive amount experience and expertise behind the bar is only made apparent by the professional service and product quality.
Shocked at a few yelpers who rated Grünauer poorly--but it seems like the common thread was the cost of the menu items or shock at the final bill.  I'll clarify that this is not a place to come for 'super cheap eats' or to get the most (volume-wise) food for your money.  That said, I find that Grünauer is an incredible *value*, and i'll even say inexpensive compared to many other restaurants in Kansas City.  Plus, Grünauer does have the menu posted on their website (with prices)--so it's not like they're pulling any punches.
So Grünauer:  Thank you so much for all the awesome food, drinks, service and the great times you helped make happen, and you can bet I'll always be back soon.
Hands down, best Austro-German food in KC. We discovered this gem on our final visit to the former City Tavern, occupant of the space prior to Grunauer. We hated to lose City Tavern, but Grunauer has filled the space perfectly.
Sausage appetizers and spaetzle is a must to start the meal as is a finely crafted Deutsch pils or hefe. We have tried a wide array of the entree items, but the schnitzel and sauerbraten are clearly the best. Although touristy options, they represent the best German choices available in landlocked Missouri.
DO NOT pass up a cup of the Julius Meinl coffee brought in from Austria after dinner. Without blaspheming the Roasterie, this coffee is the best brew in KC (roasted out of the metro area.)
After a recent trip to SW Germany, I found Grunauer lacking very little of the old world flavor. KC is lucky to have this restaurant. Go and enjoy. Prost!!
I go to Grunaeur almost weekly... I go because it's one of KC finest! Â I've gotten to know the bartender's and staff now. Â They are one class act. Â I use the word "consistency" a lot in my reviews. Â I'd like to say it's my biggest reason for going to Grunauer. Â But it's not. Â Oh, they are consistent... matter of fact... they are 5 stars on consistency. Â But trumping consistency, Â is the quality of EVERYTHING they do. Â The food is creative, excellent quality and always served with great presentation. Â Beer... always cold and served in a variety of cool beer mugs, glasses etc... Â The atmosphere is old world, European comfort. Â
I am a big foodie for many reasons. Â Least of them because I need to eat. Â Grunauer fulfills all my foodie needs... quality, atmosphere, great energy from staff and patrons, good location, uniqueness, and yes... CONSISTENCY. Â It's comfy, cozy and hip all blended into a great neighborhood, favorite place to land.
Grünauer has been on the scene for about three years and is still as exciting to me as it was the first time I ate there.  There are only a few places to find any authentic Germanic food in the Kansas City area and I'd give Grünauer top marks for the quality and breadth of the menu which features several dozen very fine takes of Austrian based cuisine.
Whenever I have been there for lunch or for dinner, which we did last night following the matinee performance of The Flying Dutchman at the Kauffman, I have found nearly every offered dish to be delicious and generously portioned. Â Service is always impeccable with a friendly twist. Â And the surroundings are so pleasant in the Freight House row overlooking the Union Station and the railroad tracks that it practically guarantees a wonderful experience.
Last night I ordered the Schweinebraten (roast pork loin and shoulder) with bread dumplings and red cabbage.  The pork was moist and very tender and such a large serving that I brought part of it home.  The bread dumplings were dense, flavorful and covered with a little brown gravy and I always love Grünauer's take on red cabbage which has a sharp, clean flavor that is both sweet and tart.  Hubby had Tafelspitz, sliced beef in a vegetable and beef consommé with roasted root vegetables served with three separate sauces.  He loved the chive and the creamed spinach and he passed the apple horseradish over to me.  It was great with my pork!
Others in our party ordered Classic Wiener Schnitzel, Szegediner (braised pork shoulder with paprika sauce with sauerkraut and bread dumplings) and Erdapfel Gulach (a stew of potatoes, bell peppers and sausages). Â The only disappointment was the Erdapfel Gulach and that was not because of the actual dish but, instead, it was a very small amount of food compared to every other thing we were served. Â It was especially apparent because it was the dish served to our grandson and, like most teens, he is a really big eater. Â So he polished off his bowl very quickly and, I'm sure, would have liked to have had seconds.
For dessert, Sis and I shared an order of Crepes filled with apricot jam. Â They were very good, but at $8.00 for two crepes, I'm not sure I would order them again.
Sis had a small issue with something on her bill, but our server, Katie, very kindly adjusted the bill for her.  Overall, I love Grünauer and always enjoy our visits there.  It is so nice to have a place to have some wonderful Austrian food in a special setting.
Oh my this place was tasty. My grandparents were Czech and it tasted like an upscale version of grandma's house. I went with the Bauernshmaus which came with smoked pork loin, bacon, a brat, and homemade sauerkraut. The bacon was the star of that plate. 1/4" thick with a nice smoky flavor. The sauerkraut had the perfect bite to it. My girlfriend had the schnitzel grunauer (stuffed with creamed spinach). The breading was light and perfectly crispy and when she cut into it the spinach came spilling out. It came with mashed potatoes which were justvso-so. After dinner we split the apple strudel which was awesome. Very large portion perfect to split between two people.
So food was great, but service wasn't that good. I think it just happened to be our server though. It was 10 min between us getting sat and him coming over. I asked about beer recommendations and he just pointed at a few on the menu without really explaining them (but, to be fair, the one I got was really good). He explained one special (not very well) but apparently there were two specials that night (I happened to overhear a waiter at a different table). Once we got our food he never came back again until we were finished. But, again, I was observing the other wait staff and they all seemed pretty competent. We just always seem to get the "new guy" or the waiter that thinks he is above it all.
I think that we will definitely be back to try some other things on the menu. I love the ambiance of the building. The high ceilings and open floor plan does make it get pretty loud in the dining room, but if you are sitting close to each other its fine. I think that it  might be a tad overpriced but that isn't going to stop me from going back. Its hard to find good food from that region of Europe and it is in a great location; perfect for a date night.
I'd read some very good things about this Austrian restaurant near Union Station in Kansas City but I was unprepared on a recent business trip for how good they could get the not-always-memorable Austrian cuisine. Â First of all, this is not your typical stereotype Germanic restaurant with the reebock antlers on the wall and the dirndl-wearing waitresses. Â It's not about perception of an exotic place but about its culinary essence.
I went there on a busy Saturday night and was comfortable sitting at the bar.  I had a delicious beet and farmer's cheese salad with fried pumpkin seeds followed by a mushroom goulash called Schwämmerl the sauce of which was celestial-really a knock out.  It came with homemade (as is everything except their wurst which come from a great New York City supplier) potato dumplings which are quite different than what we usually think of as dumplings, they are long and thin rather than handball shaped.  This was washed down with an excellent full-bodied Austrian beer called Hirter Moerchel.  The service was very friendly and engaging and given the activity levels never felt or seemed frantic.  Well done.  And the price was very reasonable.  Well done, kudos all around.
I just love this place. I've been here three or four times, and I wish I could give you some great overview of the menu because I've tried a variety of items, but the truth is, I've never gotten past the sausage. They change seasonally, and they have all been amazing. Although if you ever get a chance to have the curry wurst, and then they rotate it out, you'll be very sad. Please, come back, curry wurst!
With that being said, the bites I've had off my friends' plates have been excellent. The saurkraut is great, and the spaetzle is great as well. Oh, and the coffee is superb.
I love the atmosphere, and I've always had good service here. I highly recommend it for anyone. Even if you're a little frightened by the big foreign words on the menu, what is behind them is awesome.
Went here yesterday randomly with a friend and the Schnitzel Semmel with frites off the lunch menu. It was bomb.
On a side note, we walked over there from  Crown Center. Took the link that connects to Union Station then over the Freighthouse bridge. Nice little walk if you are into that sort of thing.
I've eaten here twice and just figured out that this is "Austiran" and not "German". Who knew?
Great Austrian food that is refined and executed well. Â Bartender service throughout the meal was an absolute pleasure. Â Very knowledgeable about the menu. Â Began with a phenomenal roasted beet salad with some of the best farm cheese I have ever had. Â Roast pork loin with again some outstanding braised red cabbage. Â Finished with an ice wine and apple strudel. Â A great stop, highly recommend.
Review Source:Okay, here's the deal guys: This is one of the top three restaurants and bars in Kansas City. The drinks are sweet. The cuisine is super sweet. The atmosphere is sweet. You can't find half, scratch that, more than half of the menu at any restaurant in Kansas City. If you do, they're copycats. And sometimes that's okay but not with German/Austrian cuisine you see?
Okay, so the menu might be a little in, well, Austrian/American words. But I don't hear anyone complaining when they go to lay froo frog balloon you see? Nope. That's a good place too, but not top three. Plus, chicks dig this place. Even though they have 200 people there a night, chicks still think it's like a secret speakeasy or something. Real class.
Plus, the bartenders really know what they're doing here guys. They like win competitions and stuff. And they have really big ice cubes that keep your drink nice and cool. And if you don't know what to drink, ask okay? Because these guys love to help. I only drink like, three drinks because these guys have showed me so much cool stuff. Like, Brandi and stuff. I love it.
Classically Austrian trained chefs in the kitchen. Plus one of the owners is from Vienna. And the other one is his son. And the other one still lives in Vienna.
I gotta say I love this place.  I eat lunch here once a month for sure.  I love all the appetizers and such but the goulash is always awesome.  Great beer selections and the staff has always been cool when I've been there.  I wasn't sure that an Austrian  / German spot could make it then I remembered how many folks of German descent there are in the area.  Duh.
The service here is laid back yet professional. Â Easy to park out back as well. Â I know people love Jack Stack but this is my favorite in the Freight House area.
Just a solid spot.
I am 50/50 on the place. I have been here twice. I ordered the exact same thing twice.
Experience number one.
We were at at bachelor party. Drinks flowing. WURSTTELLER plates past around.....so so good. My meal, CLASSIC WIENER plate with jagar sauce and warm potato salad. Overall I thought one of the best meals I had eaten for some time.
Number two.
My wife learns of my experience and we set off to eat "the best meal I had eaten for a long time". WTF. I was awful. Everything. I am not sure if being buzzed made the first experience better but I would have for sure helped #2.
My bottom line. You've got a 50/50 shot of having an amazing meal or a dash for McD's. For as much as it cost I want at least 80/20 odds.
Lovely experience at Grunauer! Â Beautiful ambiance, great service, perfectly cooked food. Â I could eat their rye bread every day for the rest of my life. Â The house salad is large, 2 people could easily split it. Â The pumpkin oil vinaigrette on the salad is superb. Â I had the Grunauer Schnitzel, and it was so perfectly cooked. Â Juicy pork complimented by rich creamed spinach on the inside with a crispy breading on the outside. Â Comfort food at its finest! Â I had the side of pommes frites and they were just okay - next time will opt for something different. Â The waiter did bring out a spicy remoulade sauce for them that was a great compliment.
Review Source:This restaurant was a welcomed surprise during a recent business trip I made to Kansas City. I had expected to find a fair share of barbecue establishments in the city, Â but little else - especially not a Continental European restaurant of this caliber. In the event that you find yourself in downtown Kansas City, do yourself a favor and pay Grunauer a visit - you'll be glad you did.
Food: The menu at Grunauer is largely comprised of classic Austrian and Continental European fare, including everything from wiener schnitzel and spaetzle to Hungarian goulash and pommes frites. During my visit, I started with a glass of the Leitz Out riesling, which I've had on multiple occasions in the past - the wine was served at the correct temperature and the pour was heavy. For dinner, I opted for the traditional "vom schwein" schnitzel, which was excellent. The pork cutlets were perfectly breaded, cooked, and presented. For a side, I opted for the pommes frites, which were generously portioned and nicely seasoned. Our party didn't have any room for dessert, but the waiter did provide us with a complimentary, and quite tasty, glass of cordial.
Service: The service was impeccable, but my guess is that the experience might have been slightly different had we not been the only occupied table in the dining room - we dined around 6:30PM on a Tuesday evening. Nonetheless, the waiter was affable, knowledgeable about the wine and food, and capable of offering recommendations when solicited. Contrary to some other reviewers, I did not find the staff to be even remotely pretentious - these reviewers must not get out much.
Atmosphere: Grunauer is located in a renovated freight house in an up-and-coming neighborhood of Kansas City known as the Crossroads Art District. The restaurant is tastefully decorated, the ceilings are remarkably high, and there is plenty of natural light throughout. The dining room is also located in a completely separate room from the bar area, which affords an intimate dining experience. Dress is casual.
Cost: Moderately priced. Appetizers are $7-$15, salads are $5-$12, soups are $5-$6, schnitzels are $20-$24, gulasch are$17-$20, viennese classic entrees are $17-$26, sausages are 3/$18 or 5/$25, and sides are $4. Desserts are all $8.
Other: Grunauer serves both lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Brunch is also offered on Sundays. The bar is open 11:30AM-1AM, Monday-Saturday, but closes at 9PM on Sundays. Ample parking is available in the private lot directly adjacent to the restaurant. Reservations can be made online via OpenTable.
After talking about eating here for several months, my wife and I finally decided to do it!
We started with the smoked rainbow trout as an appetizer, then my wife ordered the Hungarian beef and I had the weiner schnitzel, which was amazing!
Great food, cool decor, excellent service, and a refreshing selection of German beers on tap! The place is way too expensive for me to eat there often but we'll definitely be back!
I'm really glad I got to eat here. Â The restaurant is in the Freight House district next to Jack Stack and Lidia's.
I went here for lunch this week and was pleasantly surprised. Â I ordered the Schnitzel ($11). Â Schnitzel is a pork cutlet breaded and pan sauteed. Â It is served with a potato cucumber salad but I subbed in some spatzle instead. Â Spatzle is a type of egg noodle.
The schnitzel was a thin slick of pork (a generous size) lightly breaded. Â The pork itself was very tender and cute easily with my knife. Â The breading was thin and crispy. Â The dish was not oily which was awesome. Â It was yummy. Â
The spatzel was light and looked handmade. Â It was sauteed and nicely browned. Â There were bits of cooked cabbage mixed in.
My companions at lunch had the fish sandwich (grilled and served with a house tartar sauce and lingonberry jam), sausage duo (choice of two sausages with mashed potatoes and red cabbage) and the schinkenfleckerl (pasta with savoy cabbage, shallots, white wine and smoked ham).
Everyone was happy with what they ordered. Â I was told the kielbasa was spicy (which the waiter had warned) so just a heads up.
Highly recommended.
What an excellent lunch. Â I've been here a few times and it has always been good (albeit on the pricey side).
Today I stopped in for lunch and for some reason ordered the fish sandwich - yeah, I know... Not the most German selection - but, DAMN that was good!!!  I didn't expect that.  Packed with flavor, but not overpowering the light fish.  Also had a side of cauliflower with sautéed onions... Again, not a typical choice but it was delicious (although a little too buttery, of that's even possible) .
Service at the bar was very friendly and fast plus they have wifi so I can do a little work.
This meal deserved 5 stars, but past visits were not quite as great, so I give them a very enthusiastic four stars. Â
I will be back.
The food is great- it's Austrian, not german... but as an American can't tell a difference between what they serve and what I ate while in Munich.
I've been here a handful of times and every time except the most recent visit I've had the sausages- the sampler is great because you get one of each and there's enough for you to take a decent amount home; I've also gotten the two-sausage meal which was also plenty filling. Â On my most recent visit I had the Weiner Schnitzel and while it was good I won't say it was the best I've ever had- but I'm definitely going to try it again. Â My wife always orders the schwarmmel and says its delicious. Â
Their menu makes no mention of their LITER BEERS (ein maß) but rest assured, they have them- you just have to ask.  Also, the website doesn't say a word about their beer garden (bier garten), but they definitely have one.  They also serve the Radler, which is a half beer, half citrus (lemon or grapefruit) drink which my wife thoroughly enjoys. Â
I'm very happy to have found a Munich style beer hall with liter beers and a beer garden. That's enough for me to become a regular, the fact that they have delicious food is icing on the cake.
Stopped in for a drink on First Friday yesterday. Â The place was poppin'. Â It's to be expected, given its location, but I know that it would be on most given weekend nights.
Just had a chance for a nightcap - had already eaten dinner out - had the schwarzhog as an alternative to zwack (for those confused, those are German digestifs) and enjoyed the buzz and noise of Wunder Bar. Â Reminded me that I need to be back soon for a proper dinner.
A very very close second to my favorite restaurant/lounge in KC. Â AWESOME German cuisine! Â Can't go wrong with anything on the menu in my opinion. Â The bar staff here is very polished and makes a damn good drink. Â Many many German beers on the list to choose from as well. Â
The restaurant is quite large and has a very pleasing decor with natural lighting. Â They also have a small patio to sit outside during the spring/summer/fall. Â
My girlfriend and I usually eat out at odd times and we were the only ones at the bar during a weekday once and I had a brief conversation with the bartender about different bitters, very informative and polite. Â The coffee here is to die for! Â I'm not sure if it's the beans they buy or it's the baristas but it's one of the best espresso's I've had in the last 3 years. Â
The food menu is VERY heavily influenced German/Austrian cuisine. Â Not a great place to go if you don't have an adventurous palate or desire to expand it. Â I come from a German heritage and love this type of food and thought what took so long for someone to open a German restaurant in the midwest. Â Good job with everything!!!!
I have been looking forward to trying Grunauer for quite some time and I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. Â My fiance and I both had goulash. Â He had a mushroom goulash while I had Hungarian beef. Â We tasted each others' dishes and I liked his better than mine. Â The mushrooms were tasty and tender. Â My dish was fine, but it was brought to the table just slightly lukewarm and would have been much better served hot. Â The beef in my dish was tender and flavorful, but a bit dry.
We also ordered the chocolate souffle for dessert. Â It was very chocolatey, which we appreciated, but we were disappointed that it wasn't actually a souffle. Â What came to our table was flat, crusty and crumbly and more the consistency of a badly overcooked brownie. Â The flavor was good, but the consistency was not. Â
The service was acceptable but strangely pretentious. Â Our waiter clearly had been schooled in pretentious waiterspeak, but hadn't fully bought into it which felt a bit bizarre, especially since the waitstaff at this restaurant are quite casually attired in jeans. Â Our waiter was somewhat inattentive and slow at times, but he was clearly stretched too thin and I truly think he was doing his best. Â
The atmosphere is ok. Â The high ceilings of the old freight house are definitely not good for acoustics, so with a full crowd, the cacophony was a bit much, especially with the music in the background. Â This is definitely not a good place for a romantic evening and seems to be more suited to a raucous crowd looking for beer and German/Austrian meats than a nice quiet meal.
All in all, this place was just ok. Â Given the price point for the entrees, I do not feel compelled to rush back, but I wouldn't absolutely refuse to eat here if a friend wanted to go.
What is better than Goulash and Beer...well nothing!  I came to Grünauer on a Thursday evening with a few friends and decided to sit outside since it was a gorgeous night.
The wait staff was very attentive, and offered good selections on the dinner choices and beers. Â I went with the Goulash and Dunkel beer. Â Both were excellent choices.
Grünauer is located next to Jack Stack and Lidia's at union Station.
You know what? Grünauer has grown on me. I'll be honest, if not for the fact that it's the go to bar for afterwork drinks at my office, I probably wouldn't have spent much time there, but that's really not fair.
Grünauer has a lot of character and class, the bartenders mix both tried and true cocktails and creative new ones with quality booze and generous pours. Service is always attentive (except that one time when they stopped and changed the music in the middle of a song we were listening to) and it's just a nice place to go and hang out even if you're not eating a meal. We've never felt rushed, or as if we're putting the staff out by just having a drink. Before you judge, "a" drink rarely happens so they probably know this.
There's three or four pretty distinct areas of Grünauer:
- The bar - where singles, first dates, and guys that just have a hang up about sitting at a table with other guys go.
- The hightops behind the bar - where the serious drinking is done. Larger groups can pull together a couple tables.
- The patio - awesome place to go when you want to feel like you're not going to be seen, whether you are drinking or eating.
- The restaurant - when your family wants to go to Grünauer, or you have a work group with some people you don't know that well, this is where you go. It's fine, the place looks the same, the food is just as good and the drinks are just as strong but to me, this feels like wearing one of your favorite pairs of shoes on the wrong feet.
And about the food. It's an Austrian restaurant and Austrian's evidently really like meat in every meal. There's not a lot here I've eaten but what I've had has been fresh and well made. Everyone I've been there with has been complimentary about their food too.
They'd easily get 5-stars if they had more vegetarian and vegan options. I know, that sounds ridiculous but they're flanked by Lydia's and Jack Stack. Most people driving into the city are going to go to one of those. Grünauer is right in the middle of Kansas City's art district, which is populated by more healthy eating people than in any other part of the city (pure speculation and hearsay). I'd bet that their customer base are the locals that work nearby - thus the request for more vegetarian and vegan options.
The only reason I don't suggest going here more often is I can never remember how to spell it. Granuer, Granauer, Graneuar, oh hell, that place next to Lydia's.
My husband and I ate at Grunauer for lunch on Sunday, February 19. We recently visited Germany, so we were excited to try some of the dishes we came to love on our trip. Â As a bonus, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the restaurant still had Boulevard Chocolate Ale on tap.
The dining room wasn't packed and we were able to get right in at 11:45 a.m. I think there were only two servers working the room, so, while the restaurant wasn't full, the servers were quite busy. I was feeling a bit impatient because I was starving and I just wanted attention. STAT.
Once our server came to the table, all was well. We each started off with a chocolate ale and bread - which instantly took me back to Germany. I believe the bread was a rye and it tasted exactly like some I experienced in the southern part of the country while on holiday.
I ordered the KÃœRBIS CREME SUPPE (Pumpkin Soup). Pretty as a picture and topped with pumpkin seeds, I was looking forward to this dish. Sadly, I thought it underwhelming and flavorless. Not great for me, however my husband had the Suppe of the Day - a Cheddar and Beer soup. This was delicious and while he wasn't looking I took as many bites as I could.
We followed our soup by sharing ROTE RÃœBEN SALAT, roasted beets with greens and farmer's cheese. With this salad I remembered what I didn't love about German food - I never found a salad dressing that I loved. The dressing was authentic, I just didn't care for it. But the cheese, and homemade croutons were delicious and the beets were earthy and yummy - so I would call the salad an overall win.
For lunch I enjoyed a WEINER SCHNITZEL with cold cucumber and potato salad. Â Prepared exactly as I remembered it, the schnitzel was perfection - tender, moist, lightly breaded perfection. The potato salad reminded me of a potato salad I had in Mannheim and is definitely not like American potato salad. The dressing is light, not thick and globby like ours. The salad is simple and tangy, I think just potato, cucumber, dill, red onion, mustard, (perhaps some vinegar and oil)...it pairs well with the schnitzel. To wash it down I had a Weihenstephaner Hefe Weiss.
My husband enjoyed an Austrian Ham with Eggs and a potato pancake (I ate the ham leftovers the next day for breakfast). The ham was great the next day. He said that he really enjoyed his dish. And to quench his thirst he ordered a Hofbräu Dunkel.
For dessert we shared the MARILLEN PALATSCHINKEN a light crepe dessert filled with apricot compote. It was pretty spot-on. I was slightly disappointed the menu didn't have the Austrian dessert Nockerl - I've never seen it outside of Austria, but I have dreamt about it since I ate it last spring. Perhaps the chef will surprise me on a future visit. <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSalzburger_Nockerl&s=8a6d156eaa2d23b1df4a9a15474e80b602bad6833c3b4720825e7d9b2c0f76aa" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/…</a> - oh, dear lord, it is good.
Would I go back? Sure, the next time I need a taste of the Motherland and I can't afford the airfare. I enjoyed my visit to Grunauer. Authentische!
I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to list this one as a good option for a vegetarian. I need not have worried.
Interestingly, when I've visited my sister in Austria, it was harder to find good vegetarian food than it was at Grunauer. Not only were there a few tasty appetizers, salads and soups, but there were a couple very nice veggie entrees. My friend, who is going vegetarian for a month, and I each picked one of them and shared.
She had the schwammerl gulasch, which had mushrooms in a creamy paprika sauce. It was topped with some tasty sticks made of potatoes. Very nice. I got the kasespatzle. The spatzle was delicious, with swiss cheese and onions mixed in, but the crispy onions on top were a bit of overkill.
Our non-veggie friend got the special Restaurant Week menu with the schnitzel and said she enjoyed it tremendously. She let us share her dessert, which I didn't catch the name of, but it was some kind of wonderful fritter on a fantastic berry compote.
The service was excellent and the ambience there is beautiful and upscale while still comfortable and welcoming.
I've been there in the past for a happy hour with friends on the patio, which was nice in good weather, and for a jazz performance in the loft, which turned out to be one of the best intimate music venues in town.
Already a fan of German cuisine, I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to get into Grunauer. Â I'd heard enough to know better; to know that my taste buds would be more than satisfied.
But here's the deal folks. Â There are soooooo many great German restaurants in this country that don't cost a small fortune, unlike this one. Â Kansas Citians complain too much about price when it comes to food because they don't realize how good of a deal they have going for them in this Foodie-growing city.
But this was actually a tad pricey, I must say. Â
We were there for their special, a crispy pork shank that easily feeds 2. Â It was phenomenal!!! Â Really, it was. Â I can't say enough good things about it.
This is a 5 star, folks. Â But please know that it's priced like one too, so that knocks it back one in my book.
I liked the food but the service was just ok.
There were 8 of us that went for dinner. We had the pumplin soup (dairy so I didn't taste it) and the smoked salmon plate. The salmon was excellent and everyone else seemed to really enjoy the pumpkin soup.
The plates looked really big so hubby and I split the Bauernschmaus (Smoked pork loin, austrian bacon and a bratwurst served over housemade sauerkraut) we cut the pork loin in 1/2 he ate the brat and I had the bacon. There was enough sauerkraut we shared with the whole table. The sauerkraut was amazing, best I have ever had.
I thought the prices were a little steep but when you look at the portion size they are probably right on the mark.
The places wasn't really busy when we were there so I thought it odd that our server didn't come by often and we had to wait for water. This is a big no no for me. I hate to wait for water refills.
The waiter when he was there was nice and he helped me figure out what I could have on the menu that was dairy free and he was knowledgable. Just wish he would have checked on us more often.
The decor to me was upscale German bar. Clean, open, and lots of German stuff on the walls. Not the best German food I have ever had, but it was good and we will go back.
Woah, Nelly! This place was HOPPING on a Sunday at 12:30 pm. I'm SO glad I made a reservation. However, tip to those not in the know, the dress is dressy. I think I was the only one in the place in a Patriots Sweatshirt. OK, so I was the ONLY one in a sweatshirt period. Had to show off my Patriots pride you know?
Anyhow, met up with some friends here and we were shown to our seat. We all remarked on the ambiance. The very high ceilings, the bricks (loft-ish style), mirrors, German artwork, the bar, the woodwork, etc. Really stylish!
This is the 2nd time I've ever had German food in a restaurant setting before. I didn't have that great an experience the first time (I didn't like the food), so I went in with low expectations hoping to be blown away since this place was so highly rated.
I looked at the entire menu and could only find 4 items that remotely looked appetizing to me. Unfortunately, all four had dairy. I found the menu to be very heavy on dairy and pork (which I eat, but I don't really care for it). They agreed to modify the smoked trout and the fried mushrooms so that I could have those dishes (the sauces had dairy). I sampled the non dairy parts of my wife's Goulash as well and one of the veal sausages from a friend.
With the fried mushrooms I could tasty all dough and greasy oil and little mushroom. I did what my friend did and peeled off most of the dough and I enjoyed that better. It just smothered the taste and texture. Frying should enhance it, not hide it!
The smoked trout was OK, but I was not loving it. The tartar sauce they made up without dairy for the mushrooms and the trout tasted like 99% mayo and wasn't mixed too well. It didn't go well with either menu item as far as I was concerned. I LOVED the sauerkraut that came with it, though. It was the highlight of my experience!
The goulash beef was tough and I didn't like the taste of the sauce.
The veal sausage has soft and tender and had a chicken broth like taste to it. However, I didn't like it.
The server was nice, but didn't come by that often to check on us. The service was just OK.
Anyhow, I've decided to not try any further German restaurants. It's just not for me between my limited choices on the menu with my dietary restrictions and the taste. However, my wife and one of my 2 friends loved it, so I know they will be back.
This place is delightful. Â Everything from the space itself, (which includes a large dining area with high ceilings, a nook /lobby decent sized bar, and outside patio area & the upstairs (dark & cozy) Wunderbar -- to the service, the food, AND the cocktails.
They have a great beer & wine list as well.
Top notch in every way. Â Grunauer has exceeded my expectations every time I have been there. Â And I have continued to take out of town guests (people who have discriminating tastes), & again -- exceeded expectations.
First of all (for me) Â the servers KNOW about dietary restrictions & will discuss & accommodate me. Â The food is delicious. Â I know between myself and everyone I have eaten there with, we have tried the bratwurst, the trout, the spinach salad, the sauteed spinach, the spatzle, the schnitzel, the schwammerl, the tafelspitz, and the frankfurter.
I recently had the Tafelzpitz (which was more than enough of a hearty dish for one person . Yet it was SO good, that I ate nearly the entire entree.). Â The most recent craft cocktail that I enjoyed was called the FLÃœSSIGKEIT STRUDEL, which included strudel juice, rum, bitters, lemon, cinnamon & egg whites. Â Like every other drink I have ordered there, it did not disappoint.
I will note that they DO have both coffee and dessert. Â And everything looks great. Â I just have been so full by the time I had my meal, that I have declined. Â I have been with other guests who opted to partake in the Austrian cappucino or a hot chocolate. Â And I myself did have a Meinl hot tea after one chilly winter First Friday.
Have you ever met someone that you fell for just days before moving out of town? Oh, Grünauer, why did I wait so long to meet you?!
Be assured, Austrian food is not typically something I would voluntarily choose as a dining option. But this isn't your corner wurst peddler, people. Grünauer elevates authenticity and brings the cuisine to the next level.
But let me get started on the cocktails, as I am often wont to do (both in expression and practice). Stunning. Sublime. Am I still talking about cocktails? I could just as well be talking about the ambiance (beer garden meets upscale ski lodge). But, really. The cocktails. I had two (and these change according to season). First I had the ... well, the cocktail menu is not up to date online, so although I could make up a complicated German word, I'll save myself the embarrassment. This cocktail is savory (briny) and is rimmed with seasoning that is a bit salty/spicy. Superb! Second, I had the pear/wine cocktail. This is the perfect light apertif or post dinner drink as it's ever so slightly sweet, and quite crisp. I want more more more!
On to the food. I started with the Grüner Spargel Salat (asparagus, lightly breaded mushrooms and a warm pumpkin seed sauce). DIEvine. I'm drooling on my keyboard just thinking of it.
Next, I ignored my inner qualms about ordering something as heavy the Schwammerl promised to be (mushrooms in a creamy paprika sauce with these gorgeous potato dumplings that resemble nothing like the belly bomb dumplings I remember from my Czech grandma's dinner table). The entree is just as hearty as the description implies. Whomever thought that a vegetarian dish couldn't be stick-to-your-bones needs to try this. Flavors are delicate (sweet/smoky paprika gives it a bit of a kick) and those dumplings melt in your mouth. But... too heavy for me, I'm afraid, and I boxed more than half of it. Please note that I'm not at all complaining about this dish! Just pointing out that I probably should have followed my instincts. I have no doubt most people would *love* it as it's really quite delicious and is pure cold weather comfort food.
Grünauer really knows how to cook mushrooms. Both dishes I ordered featured them and they are just so so incredible, both in texture and flavor. I had wanted to order the fried mushrooms app, but figured this time it might be mushroom overkill. Next time I plan on ordering that and the spaetzel, as I hear it's phenomenal. And will plan on sharing both (but not my cocktails- hands-off!)
Service is absolutely perfect. Our attentive waiter made sure to outline what items are gluten-free for my friend, and what items are meatless for me. In addition, he did describe the dishes perfectly where we had questions.
And, so... overcome by the miasma of deep, deep regret, I leave my first review of Grünauer a mere two weeks before leaving town. Possibly in my top five dining experiences in Kansas City, I might add.
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