German Restaurants in U.S.
Discretion being the better part of valor, I sadly canceled our trip to Switzerland at the end of September and I'm not really certain when we shall next be sampling the wonderful Schnitzels and Strudels I always look forward to. If there are others who are cautious about European travel just now, perhaps you might consider a new column which recommends restaurants in the USA where at least the food of Austria, Germany and Switzerland can be found if not the atmosphere. Your readers seem to be pretty savvy and willing to share their finds. As a start I offer three: Zum Stammtisch in Glendale, borough of Queens, in New York City, The Student Prince in Springfield, Mass. and Romy's Alpenhaus in Stowe, Vermont.
Joan Hawkins
Via email
Hotel on Chiemsee
Another way to do the drive outlined in the Bavarian Drive story (Sept. issue) is to make Prien home base and stay at the delightful Yacht Hotel Chiemsee (tel. +49/08051/6960, fax 5171, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). It has an excellent dining room right on the Chiemsee - just about a 10 minute walk south from the harbor - sidewalks all the way. Another advantage is that Prien is on the main rail line one hour from Munich and one hour from Salzburg. The trains run every hour day and night. You can leave your car in the hotel's free parking lot and arrive right under Marienplatz at 11:30am for the Glockenspiel. You don't need or even want a car in either city. There are several nice restaurants in Prien, mostly on the street that runs from the middle of the city to the harbor.
Bernie Dahlem
Louisville KY
Praise for Michelin
Another excellent issue, particularly the Bavarian Drive, which is of special interest to anal-retentives such as me.
It was nice to read your laudatory remarks about the Michelin guides. With few exceptions, there's Michelin and there are all the others who are trying to write useful guidebooks. Although we occasionally cross-check what we find in Michelin, their seal of approval is our gold standard and they've rarely misled us. We rely heavily on the 'Bib Gourmand' ratings, which are often pleasant surprises and occasionally are restaurants en route "to the stars."
The maps are great, especially those of the smaller areas that are available primarily where they are to be used. Ditto the Green Guides.
FYI, the website for hotels, restaurants, and routes is now viamichelin.co.uk/. One last item: There is no Michelin Red Guide for Austria, but the Red Guide for Deutschland does include listings for Salzburg, which is how we came across the listing for Obauer in Werfen, just south of Salzburg.
Russell Wayne
Via email
Hotel in Tirol
The November 1999 issue of your excellent publication had Austria's Tirol as its main subject. The article spoke primarily about Innsbruck but also included reviews of hotels outside the city. The Schloss Hotel in Igls was mentioned as a deluxe establishment above Innsbruck, sure to please any traveler expecting the best of everything. We've been guests there and agree with you - it's expensive but really fine. However, I want to tell you of a place that did not appear in the publication.
In August 2001 we spent two nights at the Landhof Wilder Mann (tel. +43/0 512/379696, fax 379139, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) just down the road from Igls in the small town of Lans. The Schatz family owns this fairly new inn of about 15 rooms, as well as the well-established restaurant in a separate building across the road known as Zum Wilder Mann.
This operation is a true delight and we enjoyed every minute we were there. There's something about smaller, friendly places that no larger hotel can ever equal. One gets the feel of the people and the countryside in a way that makes travel as interesting and rewarding as everyone hopes it will be.
We paid 1560 Austrian schillings (about $102) per night for a nice double room with balcony, new bath and a view of the village church and beautiful mountains across the valley. A breakfast buffet, for which Austrians are famous, was included in the price and was served in the lounge area.
We also had two evening meals in the dining room across the road. They were excellent and nicely served in a typical Tirolean atmosphere. The restaurant is older than the inn and has been known locally for some time for its fine food.
The city of Innsbruck itself is easily reached from Lans or Igls by an electric railway which becomes a street tram once it reaches Innsbruck's city streets.
No traveler to the Tirol area of Austria could be disappointed in this area as an alternative to staying in an Innsbruck hotel. The Landhof Wilder Mann, either as a place to stay or because of its fine local restaurant, is highly recommended by us.
Matthias Sheeleigh
Via email
We Stand Corrected
Enjoyed the issue with the feature story on South Tyrol. We have been vacationing there for the past 20 years and can attest to the areas beautiful scenery, tasty food, delicious wine, and reasonable prices.
I must question Mr. Linton's reference to Bolzan, however. In Italian, the city is called Bolzano, in German it's Bozen. We have never seen a reference to Bolzan. We too truly enjoy Meran and stop there each year for a supply of vinegar, pasta and mixed peppercorns to bring home to California. South Tyrol is truly one of life's great treasures.
Mr. & Mrs. L. Olstead
Redwood City CA
(Ed. Note: You and many other readers are correct, of course. The town is Bolzano or Bozen.)
November 2001
