Kreisfreie Stadt Koln
Toro Negro

Toro Negro

Salzgasse 1, 50667, Kreisfreie Stadt Koln, Germany

Cafés • Spanish • European • Barbecue


"I went to this restaurant early on a Saturday evening with my two children and, unfortunately, arrived just before another three parties. The waiter (just the one for a room which, by the time we eventually received our meals had over 60 diners present! proceeded to hand out menus to two other tables with adults who arrived after us and I had to get his attention as he was on his way to a third table. We ordered drinks and the food and then endured a long wait (just under an hour till the food arrived. No matter how busy the restaurant is, an hour is way too long. I don't know if additional service staff had called in sick, but one waiter to serve 60 diners is just not good enough. We ordered two medium rare fillet steaks, which both arrived somewhere between medium and well done and were rather dry. I'd normally send them back, but in view of waiting an hour initially and having a six-year-old with me I decided to just grin and bear it. The steak was accompanied by an unimaginative green salad and fries. Halfway through my meal I ordered a second Radler (shandy and was actually served a beer just as I was finishing my meal. By this time, I just wanted to get out of there so paid and left the beer on the table. To be honest, like other reviewers on here I decidedly got the impression the waiter (although friendly enough either didn't really care about his guests or was seriously swamped and unable to cope. I definitely had the feeling it was a bit of a touristy restaurant and will certainly not be back for a second visit."

ecco

ecco

Kartaeuserwall 7-11, 50678 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Kreisfreie Stadt Koln

Fish • Meat • Pasta • Coffee


"A family day was announced: breakfast, lunch, cafe, cinema were planned. To Cologne. In the southern city (Vringsveedel the gastronomic offer is quite large and diverse. We were looking for a restaurant with brunch and also for allergies and intolerances. There seemed to us to have the “ecco” restaurant the right concept. The homepage includes the keyword “CLEAN FOOD”. Everything that is “clean”, that is, as natural as possible, is unprocessed and without additives. For over ten years, the restaurant is already in existence. And you don't want to follow a fashion, but to continue developing with the guests. The application to vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free was due to customer requests; but also the usual is on offer. Ambience Outside there is a larger area for guests – certainly very pleasant in beautiful weather. Input area Inside is tightly chaired. Each meter room is used for tables. Theke and the containers for the buffet are also well placed. It was placed value on a factory-like facility (sight concrete ceiling – functional, something retro look etc. . This seems to be a good thing for the audience – it says less to me. But it is also practical to maintain. Place Cleanliness In the break time (10 to 3 p.m. a day, the places are occupied several times and are created quite quickly for the next guest. That's what the overall impression is. The area is not very well maintained in my eyes. But soap and hand dryer are already present – many guests go there and leave their traces. Service The people in the service give themselves great effort to create the whole work. Guests can use the buffet themselves, but drinks are brought and the used dishes are removed. Many customers had registered, but also other potential guests also flow to the local. There had to be mediated or embroidered. Some people only book the fast buffet (an hour of power food; most want to eat in smaller or larger groups and chat with friends and be together. The map at the brunch On the homepage stands (here there are plenty of information of all kinds: Sunday to the scene “Schlemmerbüfett: 17,50 including an O juice” ... We make brunch every day, always from 10 a.m., always until 3 p.m. So far, so good. Always the one side of the buffet is completely vegan, always there are many gluten-free foods, always there are many warm foods, many salads, homemade bread, incredibly many desserts, dips and naturally celiac rievkooche. Let's talk about the word VIEL. An accurate statement of what will be on the buffet is not possible. This is due to different facts. ... That's why our cook has a lot of free hand. ... we mainly buy regional products and therefore follow the market conditions and can decide so clearly for quality....” Then a small sign with a description was always attached to all stations. For the breakfast part there were some cut cheese and Camembert. Salami and cooking ham were in the race. In another place there were scrambled eggs and Bacon. Several types of bread and small rolls gave enough possibilities to vary. The scrambled egg was for me the best from this area. rolls, cheese, sausage, egg, bacon The selection of vegetables and raw bar was sufficient. Everything was fresh and crisp, the dressings were well tasted. Looking back for me the strongest department of the house. Noodles, vegetables, bread In a warming bowl there was a chili sine carne. I was curious. Now it was a high proportion of corn, some paprika and some beans. Sud was too sweet to me, the sharpness kept within limits. Chili sine Carne The pork was cut into quite small cubes and heavily smoked. Typical cashier taste. The Sauerkraut was suitable. The potato dishes were numerous. Unfortunately, the fresh pieces were usually not finished and relatively raw. However, the potato corners were crispy and therefore the most successful variant. The three kinds of rubbish cakes were a bit greasy in my consistency and little spiced, but cooked, though not thin or crispy. In a plate with fish, I was at least done. Now in the warm-up box with lid, he's pulling. So the nautical laughter was a bit tough, overgart, little spicy. The dough plates were accordingly. Even the late zle was not better, but here the pieces of vegetables were still easy to eat. Cashiers, pumpkin, potatoes, sauerkraut spinach, chickpeas, gnocchi, mushrooms, paprika were each prepared in sauces and pastes. The vegetables had a typical taste. Some were still solid, others were very soft again. vegetarian or vegan The cakes were partly very tasty in the mouth, but always slightly crumbling. The waffle hearts were however crispy, with warm cherries and some sauces being added. Something dessert I hope it doesn't sound too negative; because I almost tried to taste everything. And there were many pieces that were tasty for me. I've eaten more of that in the end. Satt can be anyone here, even if you are limited to some offers. We drank a well-cooled prosecco (4.10 € for 0.1l and a lot of mineral water (Selters 6.90€ 0.75l). The card also has a wide range of liquids of all kinds. Conclusion 3 – if it may arise again. On this day, the offer did not appear as huge as we were engaged; but it was quite extensive. Some of us were prepared to be negligent. Bread and cake without gluten or Lactose seems to me to be rather cheerful and dry. But the effort is to be praised. The cuisine seems to me as a whole modest; because I'm sure I can do all this myself and sometimes better. But I don't need to buy the ingredients, sniff, stand in the kitchen and bake and cook, clean and rinse etc. It is a place with a lot of life and mood at guests and friendly service. (1 – certainly not again, 2 – hardly again, 3 – if it results again, 4 – happy again, 5 – absolutely again – after “Kuechenreise” Date of visit: 06.11.2016 – Brunch – 5 people"

Em Altertümche

Em Altertümche

Ritterstraße 57, 50670, Kreisfreie Stadt Koln, Germany

Tea • Beer • Salad • Lunch


"We continue our small city tour – my buddy and I – through the new town of Nord from the Agnes district. At first we passed the Balthasarstraße to the Kasparstraße past “Metzger Marie” a restaurant with a decent German and Austrian cuisine. Then we moved to Krefelder Straße. There we stopped at the Catholic church of St. Gertrud. The decline of the popular churches is accompanied by the disappearance of the popular parties. There are fewer and fewer priests and therefore the churches are becoming bigger and bigger. Here are four churches belonging to a municipality: St. Agnes the second largest church in Cologne, St. Kunibert and St. Ursula two great Romanesque churches in the rank of a basilica minor and the small St. Gertrud church. Built by Gottfried Böhm. This modern construction was “reduced” as a parish church in the context of the mergers; for it has become a place of “church and culture”. So it is quite clear that there are no benches or furnishings other than altar and taufstein. Loud speaking or singing leads to a mixture of sound and hall that creates quite amazing sound experiences. But it also shows that few people in this newly educated city area are looking for church services: fairs hardly take place, the churches are more museums. But no wonder in the behaviour of the church leaders. In addition to the church, there are also “temples” of eating culture on Krefelder Straße. At first we passed the “construction site” from the new Eric Werner local. It should be called “astrein” and open in August 2019. I already expect something from this former star chef, how else is he supposed to say? Only a few meters further lies the highly decorated restaurant in the city: “Le Moissonnier”. But we bend over the Maybachstraße to the Ritterstraße to the inn “Em Altertümche”. Ambiente The beer and dining house is really still a relic from the time of the corner pubs. There's another bowling alley. Outside the house there are some outdoor spaces. Inside there is a hall for 50 guests family celebrations etc. and just the “normal” guest room. The setup is quite simple. At many corners there are furniture around. It looked disordered for me, but it certainly makes sense for the guest. In the front area, all tables were reserved and then a large group of ladies at the best age came, who made sure a trip and now consumed their “night meal”. Cleanliness Everything was tied up. The toilets were unfortunately once again in the basement. Service The host and the young ladies were friendly and supplied us with carols – even if we did not order large dishes. The map n There is a day map with reasonable prices and an evening map with bourgeois cuisine. The tasting food We only ordered “Halver Hahn” €4.50 for the little hunger. The plate was classically made: a thick slice of medium Gouda, half a rake, some butter, onion rings, a few fresh salad leaves and a bag of mustard lion from Düsseldorf! Beverages Here there is the herb Gaffel Kölsch at a price of € 1.60 for the normal bar in the Gaffel am Dom, the same drink already costs € 1.80. You have to take time occasionally to go to such magnificent old pubs. It's just fun in a sociable round. 1 – certainly not again, 2 – hardly again, 3 – if it arises again, 4 – happy again, 5 – absolutely again – after “Kuechenreise” My list Kölscher Kneipen primarily the ambience, less the beer: 1. Schreckenskammer near St. Ursula Schreckenskammer Kölsch – brewed in early 2. Sünner in Walfisch Sünner Kölsch Kalk 3. Päffgen Friesenplatz Päffgen Kölsch 4. Malzmühle Heumarkt Mühlen Kölsch 5. Bierhaus am Rhein Delfter Haus – Päffgen Kölsch 6. Lommerzheim Deutz Päffgen 7. Peters Brauhaus Altstadt – Peters Kölsch – part of Haus Kölscher Brautradition – brewed at Gilden in Mülheim, now at early 8th Em Scheffge Reissdorf Kölsch 9. Max Stark Päffgen Kölsch 10.Severin Dom Kölsch – part of Haus Kölscher Brautradition – brewed at Gilden in Mülheim, now at early 11.Brauhaus Pütz Mühlen Kölsch 12. Brauhaus Stüsser Agnes district – Sion Kölsch – part of Haus Kölscher Brautradition – brewed at Gilden in Mülheim, now at early 13. Em Altertümche Hansaring Gaffel Kölsch 14.Gilden im Zims Gilden Kölsch – part of Haus Kölscher Brautradition – brewed at Gilden in Mülheim, now at the early 15th Sion Brauhaus Altstadt – Sion Kölsch – part of Haus Kölscher Brautradition – brewed at Gilden in Mülheim, now at the early 16th Pfaffen on the Heumarkt Salon Schmitz near Rudolfplatz – Schmitz Kölsch – brewed at Sünner 18.Bierhaus en d ́r Salzgass Päffgen Kölsch 17.Gaffel am Dom Gaffel Kölsch – Local huge and quite loud 19.Früh am Dom Früh Kölsch – Local huge but completely angled and unclear Kölsch It is here only about Kölsch, the pipes were made from So not bottled goods. However, I must say that I prefer to drink the brands that are a bit rich. Kölsch is a bright mountainous slightly bitter beer. It should have a clear hop note and not have too much malt taste. 1. Gaffel As it has the most herb grades for me and acts harmoniously, I always like to try it again and again. It used to be brewed at the Eigelstein, now in Porz. In the glass is a beautiful foam, which also holds a bit of crumb is freshly drunk and offered in 0.2 l – glasses the bar. There is no creamy foam crown necessary. In the Antrunk I even find light sweetness, but then the hearty note prevails. The finish is not long, the sounds of fine bitterness remain. 2. Sünner Also Sünner has herb and structure and is for me my “beginner” in taste. I rarely tried it in Eion's restaurant where it's going well. In the glass, appropriate foam is formed, which also keeps short. The first swallow shows herb grades directly. There are fresh tones in the nose. The finish shows a balanced hop taste. Sweet is little in the game. The crumb is certainly not herb, but it tastes me. It was never brewed after World War II. The wages are changing, but the family recipe remained. At first it was brewed at Giesler in Brühl. Then it came to Dom and Zunft and now even early. It has a little more alcohol than usual and does not get any after-growth to get more carbonic acid. The color is golden yellow, fresh smell, slightly sweet at the start, later slightly bitter, foam quickly collapses, short finish: round and accessible. 4. Päffgen Päffgen is a very solid beer. There's only in the barrel. The family was still at the trunk house in Friesenstraße. They say that their beer doesn't always taste the same, but always good. The glasses have no advertising print. They are simple clear rods. The foam is medium. The aroma is mildly spicy. An aromatic crumb, quite mild but not sweetish and simply sweet. Also the inns that have passports in the sink are recommended by the bank. 5. Sion Hans Sion is considered the father of the post-war cereal. At that time, the small breweries in Cologne were almost all destroyed by bombs and the large Pils and export producers were able to conquer the market in Cologne. Sion realized that the mercenary brewers had to stop with their own beer to keep themselves in business. And it worked out: Kölsch again became the number one in the Cologne Bonn area. Even Sion didn't break himself. In the glass is beautiful foam, which also holds a little longer, fresh smell, pleasant bitter, hardly sweet, medium finish. 6. Mills The beer from the malt mill is certainly also anything but herb. But it is harmonious in itself and therefore tastes me. I like the little brewhouse on the Heumarkt. There's some foam in the glass, but it doesn't last long. The smell is fresh, the taste picant without many bitter notes, the light sweetness is well integrated; during a visit I noticed acidic accents that seemed unharmonic; the next visit tasted the beer again pleasant. 7. Peters Originally from Monheim. For traditional reasons, they were also allowed to call Kölsch after the Kölsch Convention. But in the meantime, the “Haus Kölscher Brautradition” is part of the Radeberger Group, which in turn belongs to the Oetker Group. The beer is brewed in Cologne Mülheim near Gilden just like Sion, Sester, Peters, Dom, Küppers etc. . In my nose I notice fresh malty notes. The first swallow was pleasing, but without a special touch. I lacked a character. But overall, the Kölsch was smitten with distant herb sounds. 8. Gilden The beer has always been brewed in Mülheim. Today, next to Sion, it is the premium brand from the Kölscher brew tradition. In the glass was clear foam, but it quickly passes. The first swallow was balanced in herb and sweet. But the aromas are very reserved. Also mild. 9. Reissdorf Reissdorf is the market leader in Cologne. In downtown they have fewer restaurants, but in the Severinsviertel they are home. Fresh fine foam formed in the glass, which quickly degraded. The smell is fresh, but also rather inconspicuous. No special sweetness or hearty tones. It's a bit boring, but it's pretty bad. 10. Dom Dom Kölsch was very skillful in marketing for a long time. In Germany, abroad and in the high-quality gastronomy, the cathedral was often to be found. But I never tasted it. The label color was green. Since the takeover by the House of Kölscher Brautradition one changed to “red” perhaps it should remember early. I don't know if the recipe was changed, but it tasted better when visiting the brewhouse than before. In the mouth there are no special notes of some sweetness and more hearty notes, at the finish there are some strange, unfamiliar hop tones. This light self-will makes it less sinful than early or Reissdorf, for example. 11. Schmitz Kölsch The local scene has opted for its own beer. It's brewed with sinners. Of course it has its own recipe. But it didn't convince me completely. The bitter notes are weaker than the sinner. 12. Early in the morning and Gaffel are somewhat equally strongly represented in Cologne and thus form space two and three in the amount during the ejection. Gaffel is my number one, and in the morning I only taste when I have a lot of thirsty and have not tried another cereal before. In the glass is foam that quickly disintegrates. The Antrunk shows neither sweet nor hearty accents. Other swallows show no depth but nothing disturbing. In the finish I find hardly any reverberation of Kölsch notes. The taste is quickly gone – what remains? Nothing. So another glass, or not? 13. Pfaffen Earlier the brothers sold Päffgen in their restaurants only Päffgen Kölsch there were at first only three houses: Friesenstraße, Heumarkt and Lommerzheim in Deutz. But there were disputes Max announced the contract and his son broke his own beer in Lohmar. It wasn't supposed to be Kölsch. Even about the name there were discussions. After all, it was called Original Pfaffen Bier. In response, the brother founded a slender next to the house with peepers Kölsch beer house en d ́r Salzgass. It is superb and bright, but it tastes kind of sour. In the first swallows, I find easily herb and spicy notes, also some sweetness. But then the sour sounds disturb me more than the joy of the other flavors. Date of visit: 31.05.2019 – Previous evening My enjoyable experiences are also at [here link]"

La Difference

La Difference

Hansaring 131, 50670 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Kreisfreie Stadt Koln

Fish • Soup • Meat • Beer


"General The first gourmet dinner for our small gourmet club (only two members in 2020) was held. We usually meet in Cologne. There are a lot of places that still want to be discovered. However, a lunch date is often a hurdle because there is often only a limited card or a small simple day menu. But the “La Difference” was warmly recommended to us by an acquaintance in exchange for good Cologne restaurants. A cooking style is promised on the homepage “French-Mediterranean cuisine with magical accents”. That was quite interesting. Almost ten years ago, the Cologne city scorer published a very positive review. But that's been a long time. The assessment portals mainly show good and some negative reports. So a table was reserved. Ambiente The corner house is so simply decorated from the outside that we have been passing by for years without recognizing it as a restaurant. However, the interior is also simple and objective. Blank small tables with ordinary chairs or Benches are relatively narrowly distributed in space: Eben ein Bistro. Paper napkin and simple cutlery – but equipped with different knife types depending on the gear. On the walls are some pictures or Art works as exhibition and also to purchase them commercially. Cleanliness Everything seemed tidy. The toilets can be reached in a flat way. However, when the tables are full, you have to “throw” past other guests. The rooms are small and economical and relatively cold. Service The young man convinced us with kindness. He was happy to provide information. But didn't know the ingredients of the food very well. But he liked to ask in the kitchen and then gave precise answers. The map(s) There is a wine and a menu. Simple din-A-4 sheets are each attached to clamping boards. There is a lunch table of soup and main course changing daily, which has also been ordered by almost all guests and can already be seen at the counter on a note. But – Gottseidank – there were other dishes listed on two leaves – and in the end a surprise menu was also offered. It serves about six courses and can determine the main course itself. Incompatibility or wishes are taken into consideration. The surprise menu (45,00 €) we chose twice and searched for different main courses. My buddy put on safety and chose the beef fillet. I wanted fish and took the daily offer: a tuna steak. On the way, I have to say that you really have to be tired after these courses. Bread is also on the table. The dishes were also all clearly and clearly arranged and looked visually good. The ingredients were also fresh. Unfortunately, however, we did not like all components equally well at each gear. This may be high-level stools, but I will not mention the strengths. Especially if the relatively favourable prices are related to this. It can also be in the understanding of the cook and owner (Baber Eltahan comes from Egypt: after all, the food should have North African elements – in any case it seems to be cooked longer there. At first there was a soup cream soup. It contained sour wort, potatoes, pumpkin seed oil, parsley and chives (the waiter said on demand. I mainly tasted the pumpkin seed oil and the chives. She was fine. Then gratinated goat cheese followed on figs. The cheese was baked, well warm and had strong aromas of goat. The figs were cooked or cooked, but cold. They show the typical taste. The syrupy sauce was relatively spicy and spicy. Some pomegranate seeds complete the image and taste. In almost all corridors the cores also appeared. The gang was also tasty. A lobster sauce formed the basis on the plate. She had been transformed into a golden yellow paste with some saffron or with turmeric. There was a piece of the terrine of fish and vegetables. Light lobster tones and even more powerful fish notes could be seen. There was another dough cover. A small shrimp was formed at the top. She was soft because the lobster sauce was additionally poured over the whole dish. It was too pale in my mouth. But the taste itself was not bad. As the next gear, duck came on fruit salad The cut breast pieces were certainly well cooked, because they had still light pink tones to the middle. But the skin was rather stubborn. Overall, the meat was more tough than soft. Some juicy pieces were still. The salad consisted of fine pieces of pineapple, melon and herbs. As decoration were again pomegranate cores in the game. In dressing there was no sweetness, but it was rather sweet and sour. A very aromatic dark sauce had been partly applied to the duck and also formed a small lake on the plate before it. She told me very much. Now the main courses came. The ordinary large piece of beef was also fried as desired: inside still slightly pink to medium. It was juicy and tender. The sauce was again very well advised and delicious in aroma. This time the vegetables were very good at bite and not too soft. Möhre, Broccoli, Kohlrabi and Rosenkohl were still quite natural. So by then everything is very good. But the potato gratin was then dismissed in my eyes. The potato slices were soaked and the crust was also not cherry, but stubborn. The pomegranate cores could no longer save anything. The tuna had been cooked for a longer time on small heat; for the outer surface was not cherry and the interior was rather gray than pink (the waiter had responded to my question, how the fish prepared, that the boss likes to burn through – but he wants to forward my wish for a short cooking time. I like tuna and therefore I felt the taste and gentle seasoning as neat. The bright sauce was good for steak. But the sugar-chods were once again cooked to me. And I also found the sweet potato strudel too soft in the filling and dough for too thick and rubbery. Pomegranate cores were also applied. The beef fillet was therefore successful, the sauces were tasty and the vegetables were properly cooked except for the sugar chops. As a supplement, I'd rather want to have salt potatoes, pommes or also a puree than the grape or the strudel. The best thing comes to the end today. Three bowls were served to us: mint pudding, crème brûlée and chocolate mousse. The mint speise was creamy and loose. The cream was strong in the pudding part and had a crusty caramel layer. The best thing for me was the mousse: she was fluffy and had herb cocoa notes. In addition to the Brûlée, fresh fruits and a kind of grütze were also present in the pots. I would have left the two mint leaves. In the end, a grappa was placed on the house. Beverages We have asked the waiter to select matching wines in 0.1 l (on the map stood 0.2 l . Since he filled the glasses at the counter and we had not studied the wine map, I only noticed the grape varieties or the area. In any case, we were calculated for the six glasses together only €16.20. At first there was a Grauburgunder, which had round and harmonious notes. The red Bordeaux was relatively young likely because he showed a lot of tannin and seemed somewhat unharmonic. The Merlot, on the other hand, was very pleasing. The second white wine for Thun was strong and suitable; but the Grauburgunder told me more. For the bottle of Apollinaris there were probably €5.30 (the expression on the invoice was not good to read everywhere as there were “print strips” on the note. The Grappa was clear and had strong good aromas. Price/quality ratio We found the complete invoice quite cheap. Conclusion We were all very tired at the end of the menu. Many elements have promised us. Others were not entirely our taste. 3 – if it results – I would then simply choose three courses from the overall map. (1 – certainly not again, 2 – hardly again, 3 – if it arises again, 4 – happy again, 5 – absolutely again – after “Kuechenreise” Date of the visit: 15.01.2020 – midday – two people My pleasure experiences are also at [here link]"