Rating: 88/100 pts…read more
100 Patates--or, 100 Potatoes, if that wasn't obvious from the many pictures of potatoes. What's less obvious is how awesome this place is. I walked in just before noon and found the place almost empty, but by the time I was putting in my order, every seat in the restaurant was filled with locals.
Expect a cross between French and German cuisine, but a stronger lean on the German side. The menu is quite extensive, including many dish names I wasn't familiar with, but what WAS certain was that regardless of what you order, your meal will most definitely include some combination of 1) Potato + 2) Meat + 3) Cheese. You'd be surprised at how many different permutations the Alsatians have figured out for this trio.
What I ordered included a baked potato covered in cheese, with 4 types of sliced meats (salami, pepperoni, ham, and prosciutto) on the side. Not to be outdone, the meal also came with enough sliced vegetables to ensure a day's worth of nutrition.
My friend got the Cheese Fondue--which also came with a baked potato, sliced ham, and a vegetable spread. I actually preferred this Cheese Fondue to my baked potato + cheese waterfall.
First off: the potatoes are fantastic. Flakey? Flavorful? Yes, yes. 100 Patates does potatoes right. The meats were delectable as well. Though I rattled off "salami" and "ham" above, these are not your standard grocery store cold cuts. Sure, they technically still are cold cuts, but these meats have more substance and more flavor. Indeed, this is real food, rather than your standard sodium + nitrate-fest. And lastly, the cheese. Hot damn, this is some good cheese! The potatoes and meat might make you think you're in Germany, but the cheese fondue reminded me I was still very much in France.
Portions are delightfully monstrous. I didn't even get a full course, and it was still way too much food for me. ...but seeing as this was to be my last meal in France, I sprung to the dessert menu and ordered what was the equivalent of a Chocolate Lava Cake. This was awesome as well! Soft, gooey in the center...it felt real, and not as if had been nuked out of a freezer.
Authentic, reasonable, and filling. This is not a tourist trap, but real food, catering to real locals, and a great way to enjoy some regional specialties.
