I knew it would be highly tourist; after all, what can one expect in the middle of Grinzing? I did not expect it to look that nice, however – Gerstenrs features a Heuriger, a couple of wine cellars and a rather beautiful and quiet garden, which was blessingly empty when I arrived. All that quickly changed with the arrival of a French-speaking couple with a screaming baby and a group of noisy Russians, but for a couple of minutes, it really looked like a hidden gem.
Their Landhausbrettl is hardly anything to write home about (which tourists undoubtedly do, on their silly little postcards). The website’s description of the dish is actually pretty complete: air-cured ham, pepper salami, alpine cheese (Bergkäse, that is) and capers. The only things they forgot were a tiny picked cucumber, some salad leaves, a bit of butter and two slices of bread.
As a quick snack, the Brettl is OK – all three main ingredients have some taste, and combined with the butter (while it lasts) are absolutely edible. However, at the end, you are neither full nor satisfied, and at 12 Euros, this is frankly a rip-off.
If you manage to visit Gerstners at a tourist-free time and with no prejudices about spending some money, it is actually quite a pleasant place, especially compared to some even more tourist places in Grinzing. As a Brettljause place, it’s completely forgettable.
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