American expat here who recently moved to Essen. I live nearby and decided to roll the Yelp roulette for tonight's dinner plans. I know there's great German food around, but couldn't resist a nice burger.
I'm from San Francisco, so I'm used to this foodie, hipster vibe that Tofino has going. It's got big open windows, unfinished wood tables, counters, and stools. It looks great.
What's not so great is the service, wait time, and food quality.
Service: it's okay. They were nice enough when I spoke English only but still hesitated to really help me. Not long after sitting down, I was asked for my order. Uh...I have to translate the entire menu first before I can decide what I want. Give me a minute.
Wait time: the wait for a table wasn't bad. It was full when I walked in, but a seat for one took five minutes after a bunch of tables left. However, the wait for food was excruciating. I sat at the counter with two couples. The five of us put in our orders at the same time. It took more than 30 minutes before our food arrived. When it arrived, the same guy who took our order mixed them all up. We were already tired of waiting, now he can't even figure out which food is whose.
Food quality: yes, it's nice that things are organic, but let me be critical of things that can be realistically fixed. First off, the cheese. I ordered my cheeseburger with blue cheese and expected crumbles. What I got was a blue cheese cream/spread that was very mild. Another woman at the table ordered hers with cheddar, and what she received was a cheddar cheese single melted across the top. They're advertising organic bread and meat, but then skimp on the cheese. Secondly, and most importantly, the burger itself was not that great. It was medium but much pinker in the middle than I'm used to. In addition, the burger was chewy and dry. Obviously it wasn't overcooked, so I think their meat is too lean. A good burger needs some juice in it. Lastly, the fries (pommes). The service size was ample, but the taste just wasn't there. Some of the fries tasted a little stale and others were just bland.
I'm giving Tofino four stars because it's unfair to compare it to an American establishment. We're in Germany, I get it. However, I certainly don't think it deserves five stars like so many others have awarded.
I'll return in the future and try another burger or salad. read more