"First, a bit of backstory: my wife and I were hiking (on our first ever visit to the Wachau) from Weissenkirchen towards Spitz through the vineyards and forest; not a tough walk but as it happened, very hot, sunny and tiring. After an hour or...so I started feeling strangely dizzy perhaps a consequence of another long hot hike the day before and decided to cut the walk short by heading down to Wosendorf. By the time we reached the village I could hardly stand without reeling, and we asked a passing couple if they knew of a cafe or bar nearby. They simply pointed out that we were right next to a very good restaurant (which we hadn’t noticed). So we went in, mainly in search of rest and some kind of sustenance, liquid and solid. We had not expected to spend 115 euros for a bite to eat on our walk, but we never regretted our visit to the Hofmeisterei Hirtzberger for one minute. Notwithstanding our sweaty hiking attire, sticks and rucksacks we were at once made welcome in the shady garden terrace by the very efficient and friendly staff, and soon found ourselves enjoying a superb lunch that relaxed and rehydrated me and helped us forget about my unfortunate brief crisis. I started with a delicious white tomato soup; given the heat, I expected something gazpacho like but it was warm and no less refreshing for all that. We then both went for a venison dish cooked in two different ways: one roasted to perfection with a lovely accompaniment of shiitake mushroom, pearl barley and peach, the other a kind of mini casserole as a side bowl. Wow! So rich! Then we shared a dark chocolate, raspberry and coconut dessert which made for a perfect finish. Two glasses of very superior Gruner Veltliner, an espresso, a couple of soft drinks and some lovely breads before the meal a really fine summer lunch which revived me completely under the circumstances but which I’d have been exceptionally pleased with anyway. The garden is by a main ish road though not so you’d notice much. This is not a place for cheap eats, but for very fine food and wine it is wholly reasonable. We agreed we may never have had a finer venison main, and my soup was special. Wholly recommended, even though it doesn’t seem to appear in the local tourist leaflets. Is that because it’s not in one of the more touristy villages? Or because (despite using great local produce) it’s a little ‘adventurous’? Who cares? Check it out if you can..."
