The first day at Dresden, I needed to grab a bite and enjoy a local beer. Unfortunately, they closed the terrace at 6pm and I didn't feel like eating underground... At that point I didn't think that the underground part was that big, nor that it was filled with people from all over the city and beyond. The restaurant is located on a large square, a few meters away from the main mall where the Apple store is located.
Altmarktkeller, if I wrote the name right, seems to be a famous restaurant around here. Underground was a large, huge space under the arcade, filled with hundreds of customers and it was only 8pm. It seems everyone comes here for some good German food.
The next night we had been invited to this very restaurant, so it was a great opportunity to have a full review. But, prepare yourself to have to speak and read German since the menus are in their native language and the staff barely even speaks German.
What I understood from the 12 large pages is that the first page covers the week's specials, those are translated into English, and a selection of soups, starters and main plates, including pork and sausages. So let's eat typical German food.
Inside this huge space, tables are set up like in an ancient cantina. The ceiling is painted with a salmon color and decorated with metallic lanterns. Something that will grab your attention are the large pillars of grey stone supporting the ceiling. The floor covered with dark wood holds all the tables, brown painted tables surrounded by brown chairs. The walls are decorated with sculptures and paintings. But the best part are the windows, which make the space look well lit, making you forget you’re underground.
I couldn’t wait to eat... The aroma of meat and cooked food opens up your appetite before you have the chance to order and I was so excited to eat some local food hoping it will be good.
After ordering and starting to eat, a single English menu landed on the table. So yes, if you need to, you can order an English menu.
Food is good:
Ragout with pork, baked with cheese and served with toast: a porcelain cup baked as is, containing cubes of chicken and pork mixed with cream and mushrooms and topped with yellow cheese. Two slices of toast and there you are. A flavor of local food that tastes similar to lasagna or nouilles au poulet. Along with it I was offered oyster sauce, which added a touch of flavor.
Thuringian-style fried sausage served with sauerkraut with bacon and potatoes: great sausage, a flavorsome sauce, choucroute, mustard and potatoes. Exquisite! I wanted to eat a sausage so much and there it was, a wonderful one.
I loved the plates, a famous type of German china known around the region. I loved the food. I loved the ambiance. So if you're visiting Dresden, that's a restaurant I recommend.
