Geisel's Vinothek

Frommer's Review

The Excelsior made a deliberate choice when it decided not to compete with the grand chic restaurants of hotels like the Bayerischer Hof with its superupscale Garden Restaurant. Instead, this government-rated four-star hotel opted for a gemütlich (cozy) enclave of rustic charm that evokes an unpretentious trattoria high in the Italian Alps. It's known for its assortment of Italian, French, Austrian, and German wines, dispensed by the glass. You can sit at the bar or, if you want a meal, at one of about a dozen tables. The menu is meant to be a savory foil for the wine: Examples include carpaccio; mozzarella with fresh basil and tomatoes; vitello tonnato (veal cooked in tuna sauce); platters of assorted grilled fish, veal, and chicken dishes; and pastas whose composition changes with the season. The fare is well-prepared Italian cuisine, but with the superb wine list as a backup, everything tastes good.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.