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.

After two days of eating bland German food, we needed a kick to our palate. One can only eat…read morewiener-schnitzel for so long. A day of sight seeing in Köln rendered us tired and hungry. On the strip of Hohenzollernring where there is a different type of restaurants every 10 feet, Buon Giorno cafe caught our eye... mainly because of the vast outdoor seating and the enticing smell of pizza. There was no hesitation after looking at their menu, unlike the other places we walked by (what is that godawful Korean-Chinese buffet place anyway??) The man ordered a Quattro Stagioni and I ordered a Peperoni pizza. We devoured them like rabid beasts. Simply spectacular. A bottle of Chianti and two pizzas later these two hungry homos were happy and sated. Gut! Sehr Gut!! P.S Opens for breakfast at 7:00. One of the few places in that area that serves a full breakfast.

Pretty good Italian place with English menu…read more The Minestrone soup is not that good and far from authentic. The pizza is large and fresh and reasonably priced. The restaurant is very busy but they work fast. The menu is large with every type of pizza you could want on it. The location is great and easy to get to. There is a small dining room and large outdoor patio seating with good people watching. If you are looking for something familiar and don't want fast food, this is it.

The best Shawarma i have ever had in Germany and as if i am having it from Syria really good one…read more.. Enjoy

Great taste, great friendly people, and a nice environment. Does its job as a shawarma place!read more