This place was awesome. Some background first: I speak and read a bit of German, but am certainly…read morenowhere near fluent.
I wandered into this place because someone had recommended it, saying the food is really good, akin to home cooking. I walked in and realized I was COMPLETELY out of my element--I didn't understand a word anyone around me was saying.
The restaurant was crowded, every seat was taken. I kind of stood by the bar, where two men were running back and forth to the tables, taking orders, bring out food, etc. Finally, one turned to me and asked in German, "How can I help you?" In a small voice, in my broken German, I said hesitatingly, "A table for one, please." He stared at me, told me, "One moment," and ran into the kitchen to get his coworker who spoke English.
I got seated at a communal table--on one side were a group of men in their 50s and on the other, a couple of women. The server handed a handwritten menu. Now, I can read enough German to read a menu, but for some reason couldn't make out the handwriting. I stared and asked the server (the one who didn't speak English), "What's 'spargel'?" The women on my right piped up, "That's asparagus." I smiled and said thank you, and the server walked off while i perused the menu...
He came back and asked me what I would like. I asked for some more time, and he looked at me, told me to follow him. So I did...
And he proceeded to walk me around the entire restaurant, smiling and pointing at other patrons' plates, basically giving me a visual menu: "This is chicken! With potatoes!" "That's steak! With potatoes!" (There were a lot of potatoes. And asparagus.) The other diners, after looking confused for a few seconds, realized what was going on and sat back with benevolent smiles on their faces, amused at the lost American girl.
My face turned bright red, I smiled and hastily chose the steak and potatoes and sat back down, where i proceeded to have a great conversation with the group of men on my left, debating whether American or European politics were more messed up.
All in all, a great night at a place with great food and great people. I would definitely love to go back here if I'm in Frankfurt again.