Tuscan Treat in northern Germany Mr. and I went to celebrate…read morehis birthday. The gracious staff greeted us warmly and had even decorated our table with birthday cheer. Our meal started with tender and tasty baby calamari on field salad. For our pasta course Mr. chose gnocchi with sage and pepper sauce, I chose risotto with spinach and shrimp. The 2 dishes sound so plain and average when I write it that way; they were any but! The gnocchi was tender and had a creamy cheese filling with a smooth, balanced sauce that was just right. My risotto was fresh and bright, seasoned just right, with plenty of perfectly done shrimp. The correct mouth feel of the risotto was expertly achieved. These were "simple" Tuscan dishes at their finest. For the main course we had the filet with green asparagus and a roasted potato. Again, simple but expertly prepared. Finally, the pie'ce de résistance was the tiramisu and espresso. The traditional Italian dessert was fresh, creamy and light in spite of the rich ingredients. The espresso unusually rich and delicious. The dinner was pricey but not over the top. Our wine choice put us into the "very expensive dinner" category but there were many excellent choices on the list that were in the 30-50 euro range. The restaurant is small, seats maybe 40, but weather permitting they have a large delightful sun porch which I would guess is quite busy. The other guests the Monday night we went in January were a decidedly older crowd and dressed nicer than any place we have been in Cologne. Men wore jackets and often ties, ladies dressed up accordingly. Many guests seemed to be acquainted beyond their own party so we think this is a popular neighborhood haunt. Even though we are not their neighbors, we will be back! My birthday is coming up too.

The place is small but cozy, the service is really nice. If the weather allows for it, choose a…read moretable outside and enjoy the view. We had an excellent lunch with lots of different kinds of little dishes. You can choose between fish, meat, and vegetarian, served with rice or bread. The food and drinks are well-priced (lunch for two at €25.00 plus drinks). Enjoy the Persian aroma :)

Again, we've got in to this place occasionally, just walking by looking for some place for light…read morelunch with English menu. Considering that it's situated right on the bank of Rhine I guess they have a beautiful terrace open in summer. But since that was a cold October, it was closed of course. Nice friendly ambience. And thanks God they had menu with English translation. We took different Mezedes (small appetizers) to share: grilled octopus, scallops, aubergine (eggplant) roulette breaded with egg, filled with sheep's cheese and tomato sauce, and Calf's liver fried with onions and white wine. Funny that when walking around the city I was thinking that I haven't eaten liver for a long long time and since it's a rare dish on the menu of the restaurants (if not French), that coincidence that they had it was like a sign to go for it and order. It was a soft and tender one, not exactly the way I wanted it, but tasty too. They have a lot of various hors d'oeuvres to any taste: seafood, cheese, vegetables or meat. We wanted to try stewed rabbit and duck breast - but that would have been too much of food. Next time may be, if we ever come back to Cologne on any occasion. And no wine this time. Germany, lunch, mixed food; beer was a right selection here. For dessert they had pies, the cherry streusel was really good and the cheesecake, all house made. The waiters hardly spoke English, but we managed to understand each other.

If you're into Mediterranean food and a spectacular view of the Rhein, Limani is well worth a…read morevisit. Limani offers both seating indoors and outdoors. The seats on the outdoor balcony provide breathtaking views of the Rhein and all the activity which takes place on it. In the summer months a seat on the balcony can be hard to get (especially in the evenings). Make sure to reserve a few days in advance to secure a table on the balcony. Time flies by while sitting there, there is just so much to watch happening. During the winter months the atmosphere inside the restaurant is very warm and cozy. Here the challenge is to get a seat by the windows. Be sure to reserve a few days in advance if you would like a window seat (again, especially in the evenings). The food is excellent. The fish dishes are always a good choice. Whereby, I have also had excellent meat dishes as well. Selections from the daily menu (on the chalk board) can always be recommended. If you like Mediterranean food there will be something on the menu for you. I have taken business clients to dinner here and they have always raved about it. I have also dropped-in for lunch with the family on the weekends. The service is tip-top.