Erika's Eck - Hamburg

What a strange but most enjayable evening. TA directed me to this dining “institution”, a bit off the beaten track, but not too far from my hotel. It’s a curious little place, very basic but quite cosy, with a pair of quite surly waiting staff,...who took no interest in me as I entered and stood at the side waiting for a table to free up. Luckily one cleared after a few minutes, and I sat myself at a large table. Inevitably, in such a busy restaurant, I was asked if I minded if another party sat with me, so I ended up eating a meal perfectly affably with a group of strangers! The owner’s gruff manner gradually subsided too. Variations on the theme of schnitzel are the main fare here, and portions are plentiful and inexpensive. I actually ordered a rump steak, which was also perfectly acceptable. House wine only, also decent enough. Service is slow, as I think it is usually very busy and under-staffed. Uniquely (I believe), they serve all night! The restaurant has been around for many years, and the all-night opening was originally to benefit the local workers in the hour food markets/distribution warehouses nearby, who could get a solid meal when they came off shift. I had some (actual) friends join me later, around midnight, after the departure of my impromptu dinner companions, so I was able to introduce a new set of people to this weird but wonderful restaurant. The staff had changed by this point (I have to say they were a lot friendlier and personable) for the night shift. I was too late for dessert, as they stopped serving these at but they curiously introduce open sandwiches to the menu at this point, for those who don’t want to eat a huge meal in the wee hours. We left at one in the morning, the place just as busy as when I’d arrived at nine. A real experience!

Its a good sign, when taxi-drivers are eating in a restaurant! And this restaurant ist well known by this guys. One easy reason: really great portions of delicous roastbeef with baked potatoes (Bratkartoffeln) for example. Fabuless steaks, an always friendly service and something special...in Hamburg an open kitchen the whole night long .... Ask your cab-driver! Its the best!

Traditional German restaurant especially for meet lovers! crowded, simple and quiet interesting, this place offers many varieties of well cooked meets (the schnitzels are the best sellers of course the shares are big, the list of beers is satisfactory, the staff a little bit slow...and the prices seem normal. it's worth a visit.

We got here very early on a Friday, and whilst most tables were empty they all had a reserved sign on them. We were ready for grumpy service (sort of Fawlty Towers), and certainly got that. I'm guessing it is part of the show . experience. We asked if they had a table for two, then stood in silence for probably minutes while the (owner just stared silently at his bookings register as if trying to work out how to fit us in. Eventually I made a comment about something else to my husband, and was told to be patient . I reckon it was a game of chicken just seeing who would speak first. Once that ritual was out of the way, we were given a table (big shared table), and ordered the schnitzel. It was large, tasty, simple, tender and exactly what we were after. Prices were good, and the place was still pretty empty when we left.

This is definitely not your ordinary place. Though the main room is dank and dark, they have small “dining room” off to the side which is only a bit less dank and dark, and then bright, clean, new bathrooms. I ordered Schnitzel “Wiener Art” mit...Bratkartoffeln and my husband had Zigeunerschnitzel paniert mit Bratkartoffeln – which meant we basically both got the same thing but he had a sauce on the side – and not a very good one, at that (probably poured out of a can). But what left a truly bad taste in our mouth was when we were paying the bill which was My husband gave Monica (not our waitress) a note – and she gave him change, shorting his change by He held out the change and said, “We have a problem,” at which time our waitress said something to Monica and she very reluctantly added a coin. Our waitress looked embarrassed and apologetic – not her fault but Monica's actions certainly left a bitter taste in our mouth. We will not return!