If you're looking for a lovely high-end dining experience in Vienna, Steirereck is certainly the natural choice. Located inside a large park called Stadtpark, you feel a bit like you are getting away from the city (even though it's really quite centrally located).
As soon as we knew we were coming to Vienna, we prioritized booking this place. One of our friends who is a very experienced eater told us that Steirereck was his favorite restaurant in Vienna.
We came here for lunch because that's all I was able to book. During lunch, you can order a 4-course (155 EUROS) or a 5-course (175 EUROS) menu. There is also a la carte, where you can just pay per item. On the regular dinner menu, there's also a 6-course (225 EUROS) and 7-course menu (245 EUROS).
Since it was lunch, we just went for the 4-course it was plenty of food. As you can see below, there are still amuse bouches, the bread cart, and mignardises on TOP of the 4-courses. In a lot of ways, I like eating lunch better than dinner because I don't feel so crazy stuffed afterwards. (Plus, the light is better at lunch for photography!)
Steirereck received THREE Michelin stars just a couple months after we visited. I'm not surprised. Everything from the dining environment to the service and the food were excellent, and I'm so happy for them.
Amuse Bouche
Ahh, what a stunning display of small bites to start the meal!
The Bread Cart (and the Famous Black Pudding Bread)
The bread "sommelier" came by with an amazing cart of breads. Which to choose?? He told us that the Blunzenbrot, or black pudding bread (blood sausage), was by far the most popular bread.
Really? I don't like black pudding in general, but Bryan likes it so he requested a piece. I decided to pass.
Bryan was kind enough to let me try a bite of his.
OMG . . . it was insanely good. The slightly crispy brioche-like crust on the outside, the soft, slightly dense, moist inside. It's hard to describe, but I loved it.
I ended up asking for a piece myself!
The Menu Begins
For each course the server brought by a card to let us read about the ingredients in each dish. It really demonstrates their passion about showcasing so many diverse types of plants, vegetables, (even flowers!) from their own garden.
Tomato Diversity with Beef Essence & Verbena
This dish showcased different types of marinated sungold tomatoes served with a beef "essence" jelly, verjus, blossom honey & fennel pollen, dehydrated pineapple sage blossom radish, spring onions, plus herbs and flowers (verbena, cordifolia hearts, geranium blossom) from the Steirereck Garden.
Wild Broccoli with King Trumpet Mushrooms, Radish & Calamansi
Roasted wild broccoli came wrapped in radish & brown butter confit king trumpet mushrooms. On top, a green broccoli sauce, ginger oil, roasted almonds, radish preserved with ginger, and even calamansi from the imperial orangeries of Schönbrunn Palace.
Starters
Caviar & Lentils with Banana & Bacon
This is a signature dish and also has a supplemental fee. It sounds strange, but the dish actually works really, really well. I didn't opt for it because I don't like banana, although in retrospect (yes, Bryan let me try a bite), the banana flavor is not that strong, and overall the dish was brilliant.
The bottom layer is a creamy mushroom and banana puree. The middle layer is Beluga lentils cooked with mace and pine rosemary. On top is Osietra gold caviar, decorated with chive flowers. Served alongside is a flavorful broth made with caramelized pistachios, Neusetzer lardo, dried white fish, and air-dried ham, finished with banana vinegar and chive oil.
Alpine Char with Chervil Root, Golden Beet & Dill
This dish featured slices of crispy grilled alpine char. Alongside the char, we enjoyed golden beets prepared two ways - braised and glazed with suave chili and preserved with lemon. Roasted chervil root and a chervil root cream added earthy notes, while chicory, additional chervil root, and a drizzle of dill oil rounded out the plate.
Main Course
Sturgeon with Gin infused Cornel Cherries, Cauliflower, Romanesco & Pericon
The Cornel cherry glaze on this charcoal-grilled sturgeon is the most unique feature of this dish. These Cornel cherries come from the Steirereck garden, where they are are preserved in blue gin for 2-3 years before use. On the side sits roasted romanesco cauliflower tossed with diamante lemon and cashews. The plate is finished with cauliflower cream, koji beurre blanc, and pericon oil.
Pogusch Pork with Pointed Cabbage, Artichokes & Suave Chili
This main course features a grilled loin of free-range Pogusch pork accompanied by crispy grilled "piglet's tail". Braised pointed cabbage on the side is filled with a savory mixture of Madeira & thistle preserved artichoke, dried pear, and a mixture of preserved sprouted mung bean and suave chili. Finishing touches include pork jus and a lovage oil drizzle.
Cheese and Dessert
The bread cart was already impressive enough. The cheese cart was an even greater sight to behold. I'm not sure if I've seen such amazing carts since Joel Robuchon.
We have a soft spot for Cos d‘Estournel since we had found memories of visiting the winery in Bordeaux back in 2015. This wine was excellent.
A Flurry of Desserts
We ended with some refreshing granita, various "lollipops" of sweets, and other mignardises.
Normally I can't drink coffee at the end of a dinner tasting menu because I won't be able to sleep. The beauty of eating out for lunch is that I get to have my cappuccino at the end of the meal! Bryan always goes for a double espresso.
General Thoughts - Steirereck Vienna Austria
What can I say? We certainly enjoyed our lovely meal at Steirereck. I personally enjoy lunch a lot because there are more "smaller portion" options and the light (for photography) is amazing. Oftentimes you can still enjoy the same items that are on the dinner menu.
The service at Steirereck was great. It felt comfortable, elegant, yet relaxed at the same time. We took our time and just enjoyed the meal at our own pace. Afterwards, we walked around the garden and went off to do some more sightseeing. It's nice to walk around after a long meal!
All in all, I I highly recommend this place!
Official Website: Steirereck Vienna Austria
Other posts about Austria:
Mast Weinbistro
Mozart Cafe and Cafe Landtmann
Brasserie Palmenhaus
