Vienna is home to art, music, and a city rich with history. However, that’s not all that has created a buzz throughout the city. Steirereck Restaurant, located by the riverside in Stadtpark, has been ranked as Top 12 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2021. This two-star Michelin restaurant is a vision and experience that must be on everyone’s list to visit this European city.
Dining at a Two-Star Michelin Restaurant
I was fortunate enough to get reservations for myself and my husband while visiting Vienna in spring 2019. Taking the U-Bahn to Stadtpark from where we resided was a quick 15-20 minute ride. After getting off our stop, we made our way through the 19th-century park that included crossing over beautifully architected bridges and observing many statues and buildings. Upon entering the restaurant, you will notice a modern style to the front entrance. The uplighting from the outside landscape highlights the stunning mirror and glass windows surrounding the front of the building.
Once inside, the hostess checked our jackets and offered us champagne as we made our way to the table. Initial thoughts on the interior were that the restaurant had a clean, minimalistic style with light wooded panels, ceiling to floor windows, and white tablecloths. It was a full white glove service that made the evening more luxurious and everyone was dressed for the occasion. The aroma in the air was filled with delicious smells from the course meals and the artisanal bread cart that was taking turns in the room.
Once seated, the hostess took our drink orders and placed the Chef’s complimented appetizers down on the table. The appetizers were creative and beautifully plated. All the appetizers were delicately perfect for starting a one-of-a-kind dining experience. One appetizer even resembled a small plant, which was highly artistic and took me a quick second to figure out how it should be eaten.
After placing our order, the waiter brought us cards that educated us on the Austrian food culture and the background of what we ordered. It was a unique experience to understand that Austria developed its own identity over the centuries based on the influences of the Austrian people and region. Steirereck has kept integrating those highly sought flavors that influenced the culture.
I ordered the boar’s head appetizer and the duck dish to share for the course meal. The duck dish also included mushrooms on the side, which were flavorful and extremely tender. I am not big on mushrooms, but these were the best ones I’ve ever had! I also added a duck soup which was packed full of flavor and top-notch. After clearing the main course off the table, the cherry came next to finish a fantastic meal.
Just when we thought the night couldn’t get any better, the dessert came next to finish this fantastic one-of-a-kind dining experience. The waiter brought an elevated dessert to our table. Once again, the dessert was the chef’s compliments and was out of this world. The dessert was heavenly and of top-notch quality. A baked, flaky pastry that had a pleasant aroma of an orange fragrance with a scoop of gelato served on an ice block on the side to prevent it from melting. The chef and staff definitely hit this entire evening out of the park!
Dining at Steirereck was one of the top dining experiences I’ve ever encountered. Everything was well thought out in fine detail, from the building itself to the staff and food. I highly suggest making a reservation when you’re in town and checking this place out if you have ever wanted to dine at a Michelin Star restaurant that’s ranked on the World’s Top 50 Best Restaurant list. To explore Vienna and what the city offers, visit my 3-Days in Vienna blog.