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This is one of the few times where I look at my computer's screen and am lost for words to start my review. I liked Schntizels and want to share my experience with you. I liked it on many levels and was disappointed on some other levels. So as not to be misunderstood or be unfair to this place, a different kind of rating is required here. Let's hope I make sense...
Located at City Mall (Dora) on level 1 between Roadster and BHV, Schnitzels restaurant has been around for a while now. Serving Schnitzels, hotdogs, beers and more - all imported directly from Germany, this place offers Lebanon a new idea and a new flavor. Every time I travel to Germany, Austria, Czech Republic or the Netherlands, I make sure to stop at any street trolly to savour one of their thick and rich hotdogs, served in a french baguette, ketchup and mustard. Many eat it as is. Finally this year, the same choices have been imported into the country by Schnitzels and it was time I go check out on them.
A Schnitzel is a boneless meat, thinned with a hammer (meat tenderizer), coated with flour, beaten eggs and bread crumbs, and then fried. It is a popular food in many countries and is made from veal, chicken, beef, turkey or pork. The original Wiener Schnitzel was always made from escalopes of veal and no other meat. In German speaking countries, the term Schnitzel means escalopes, not only bread crumbed fried escalopes like the Wiener Schnitzel.
A welcoming decoration incites you to come in:
- A typical German feel, look, wood, bottles and metal
- Ceramic tiles cover the floor differentiating it from the mall's white ones
- Natural wood tables fill the space. wooden chairs and soft cushions surround them
- Thick and pleasant red place mats decorate the tables as well as a box filled with the seasoning items
- An open kitchen decorated with pending cooking pans
- Wood and steel ceiling add a fine touch to the space
- 12 pending black lights, lit up every table
- Three high tables hosting four persons each occupy the right wall overviewing the sea
- A vitrine filled with a collection of bottles welcomes you on the left
Rachelle, Corinne and Hiba wearing German traditional outfits make sure to welcome you, greet you, serve you to the utmost of perfection making your experience a memorable one.
Last Sunday, along with my family, we decided to have lunch at Schnitzels. We were welcomed by the lovely Rachelle, who took all the time necessary to make us feel comfortable. Corinne and Hiba then took over, accompanying us through our lunch while explaining every single detail hidden behind this project.
We ordered:
- Green Mix: With fresh mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, walnuts and an aromatic dressing
- Trio Cheese: Mini schnitzels of Emmental, cheddar & Mozzarella served with a house sauce
- Chicken Nuggets This plate was ordered for my two year old daughter. Imagine, my daughter loves chicken in all its forms and for someone who's not really aware of the essence of good food, refused to eat the nuggets. Over cooked, super crunchy and oily on the outside and raw on the inside. It looks like it was a cheap inedible quality...
- Wiener Schnitzel: The original veal cutlet Vienna style. A good plate even though the bread covering is too prominent and too thick
- Kaseknacker: Emmental cheese sausage. Now we're talking! The sausages at Schnitzels are extraordinary. Tasty and fresh, the skin crunches pleasantly before the flavor burst into your mouth. A melting cheese stuffed inside the sausage make this a unique sandwich. As for the potatoes, they are fresh and tasty
- Feurige Paprikawurst: Chili Paprika sausage. Strong in taste, this hotdog is a must try. For the spice lovers, this is a good piece of eat. Choucroute, served on the side as good as well. This plate is a success
- Bockwurst: Smoked sausage. As good as the others, the smokiness is felt before even crunching the sausage. A rich smell awakens all your senses.
- Apple Strudel Pie: Served with vanilla ice cream: Heavy and too watery. I didn't like this dessert
- Black Forest Chocolate Cake: With the cherry on top. A watery piece of sweet like the ones we buy from a side road shop. A lot of calories for nothing
So, back to our ratings: The problem at Schnitzel is that things are perfect or mediocre and nothing in between. A place that has big potential, but lacks fine tuning. I was not shocked to learn that the owners are the same as those who own Shtroumpf.
Allow me to compare constructively: Schnitzel and Shtroumpf have the the same exact problems mentioned clearly in the last review. They are good restaurants but they lack that fine tuning and surely need a kitchen reshuffle.
Some things are perfect:
- Welcoming: 10/10
- Service and attention: 10/10
- Hotdogs: 10/10
- Beer choice and taste: 10/10
- Fries: 10/10
- Choucroute: 10/10
Others are mediocre:
- Starters: 0/10
- Desserts 0/10
- Schnitzels: 5/10 very average and don't deserve to have the restaurant named after them
- The place: 5/10 because of the frying oil smell all around
A restaurant like this one with the biggest and tastiest choice of sausages in the country, the best, widest and tastiest choice of beers in the country - should be continuously fully booked. What is the problem then?
Schnitzel has it all to succeed:
- Heinz, Amora and Tabasco: Three premium condiments brands used
- The decoration is pleasant and relaxing
- The waiters are superb
- The sausages are unique
- The fries are tasty
- The choucroute is exceptional
- The choice of beers and their tastes are awesome
- As a German restaurant with a wide choice of imported beer, the presence of Lebanese beer is not needed. If so, why should Almaza be available and not 961?
- The choices of appetizers should be widened and the choice available must be improved: That's the first impression after all
- Kids menus: A must! Our kids have the right to eat decent food as well
- Sausages and beers are the strong items: Why is the place named after an escalope?
It doesn't need much to become a talk of town... Schnitzels is worth trying!
