Ever wondered what it would be like to be the FIRST in something that 'historically' may be…read moresignificant oneday? Huh? For those who don't care too much about numbers and places, here is a place with a number that has value if you're talking about Location, Location, Location! - The Café Maingold located on Zeil 1.
At first I had mistaken the café's name to be the Zeil Café since I only looked at the text on the window that read, Zeil 1. Too bad this was not the name.
There may be many café's on the Zeil but there is only one café that can boast having the Zeil 1 address. The Zeil is one of Germany's famous shopping areas and dubbed by USA Today as, The heart of Frankfurt consumerism.
Café Maingold is a comfortable stretch away from the main pedestrian zone where most of the hip, trendy and high-end fashion stores are found.
It is located in a humble post war building whose entrance is quite modest.
I've passed by the café maybe twice before noticing it the third time. Then again, that's just me.
But now, you won't miss this café because you'll know where to look. Just look for the window that has Zeil 1.
The café has four eating areas or rooms rather. I call them rooms because it is almost as if I am walking thru someone's first floor apartment.
The room to the left appears to be the main room where a bar with seating is found along with the regular café table and chair scenario.
The large window allows ample lighting into the room and this is perhaps the room with the most light.
The room to the right as you come in reminds me of a victorian living room.
It has deep red walls, gold brocade upholstery, a set of old books on who knows what but the set appears to be complete unless there are more volumes after fifteen.
This is my favourite room. It's cosy with living room-style dining and only two other tables next to a large window.
This is the perfect room to sit and enjoy your meal or liquid concoction if you have a slight narcissistic side to you - one side is all mirrored.
I chose to sit on the sofa facing the window.
The other two rooms towards the back appear more private but I can imagine it can get a little noisy and claustrophobic if all the tables are taken.
There is also a garden courtyard that can be accessed thru one of the back rooms should one like to dine 'a la nature'.
There is a large selection of drinks that can comfortably get you in just the right amount of 'trouble' without really being in trouble and a modest menu of specialty plates.
You will need to flip thru to the end of the menu to see their list of appetizers and entrées.
I only had a bottle of water. I could've ordered my usual cappuccino but I didn't want to push it. I already downed two espresso's that morning.
They also have the Daily Special's or Daily Regular's neatly written on a piece of paper and photocopied. I thought this was most 'cool'.
You have to try their Frankfurter Grüne Soße (green sauce) . It is simply to die for.
Grüne Soße contains mainly herbs and is also known as Grie Soß. This Frankfurt sauce is made with oil (but not olive oil), vinegar, salt, and heaping amounts of seven fresh herbs, namely borage, sorrel, cress, chervil, chives, parsley, and burnet. Other substitutes include dill, lovage, lemon balm and even spinach.
Since the sauce is mainly an emulsion of fat and egg yolk, it may be classified as a kind of mayonnaise . Today, buttermilk, sour cream (schmand), quark, or yogurt is often added in order to reduce the oil content of the sauce.
The sauce is served with potatoes boiled in the skin and may be accompanied with hard boiled eggs. Rumor has it that his was Goethe's favourite meal!
So, after a day of loading up the credit card at the Zeil boutiques try to muster enough energy and lug your glossy designer packaged bags down to the beginning of the Zeil, order something and forget about how you will pay for the credit card damage that was just committed.
