Restaurant mini-reviews

Restaurant Der Vierte König: Interesting combination of wine shop and restaurant. They have a "whatever you don't drink from your bottle of wine, we'll rebottle for you for you to take home" policy that has the interesting addendum that you only pay the wine shop price for the leftovers. We didn't test that out though. Nice selection of game on the menu, and I was very happy with my Gemse (chamois) Gulasch. Andrea liked her spaetzli pfanne with wild mushrooms. Since we were with company, we didn't do the usual plate swap, so there are no second opinions. Our wine, a Blauburgunder from Graubunden, was acceptable.

Johann: Very modern setting, good service, very "California" influenced (e.g. fusion) food. We did the "surprise us" three course + amuse bouche meal and ended up with some very nice food. The amuse bouche was venison terrine with apples served with a ginger sauce. Starter: seared tuna crusted with black sesame and served with a quick-pickled cucumber salad. Main: some kind of sea bass, sauteed and served on a bed of lentils and root vegetables. Dessert: "Saffron poached pears" with white chocolate mousse. The wine pairings suggested by our waiter (a Riesling from the Mösel with the starter and a "Monica" from Sardinia) were reasonable matches. This place was a bit more expensive than our usual going out fare, but it was mighty good.