We ended up doing dinner at Ludwig our first night in Innsbruck, as we did not have any plans, and Ludwig seemed like a pretty chill, casual spot that did not need to be booked in advance. Alas, when we showed up to have a burger on a Friday evening, it was quite crowded, with the host telling us it would be nearly a 30-minute wait for a seat. We ended up taking the option requiring us to wait less and sat at the small bar at the front. The fixtures give the spot a cross between a ski lodge (with lots of wooden finishes) and a trendy spot that used to be a warehouse (given the industrial-looking fixtures, along with the lights). While the folks here are pretty pleasant and can manage decently in English, they were severely understaffed - only 2 waiters for the entire restaurant - and it didn't make sense that the bartender could not serve us our drinks, and we had to wait 10 minutes or so for our waiter to bring them over. I had a local IPA (solid), while my wife's mango-infused iced tea was nice and light without being overly sweet.
While I did enjoy the ambiance, Ludwig's food was a mixed bag. The best item was the onion rings, which were lightly fried and had a nice oily finish to it - a contrast to the heavily fried versions often found in the U.S. While I did have high hopes for the mac and cheese, I was most disappointed by this dish...the cheese was already dried out, and the 3-cheese mix had a very generic flavor. I went with the regular burger, and while I liked that there was a nice crisp to the surface of the burger, the meat itself was pretty average. That said, it was one of the better burgers I have had in Europe based on recent experience.
Overall, Ludwig is a solid place to grab a bite. The prices are reasonable, the food is solid, and it has a nice atmosphere. It may not be the best burger or food in town, but it's a nice casual place to have a meal. read more