Carnal pleasure

Whether fillet, ribeye, flank, T-bone or porterhouse - the meat on the menu at Offenbach's only steakhouse is world-class. Australian "Grain Fed" Black Angus, Natural Prime Beef from Nebraska or the finest Irish fillet of beef from the Queen's court butcher end up on the plate. We order the steak lovers' favorite, a "grain fed" with a bit of fat on the edge. You can cut it off or eat it - just as you like.

Served with garlic bread, bacon beans, corn on the cob, baked potato au gratin with sour cream, truffle butter or tomato and date chutney? Which of the many side dishes, sauces, dips and chutneys for the Australian grain fed should we choose? The friendly waitress assists: "How about our homemade chips or potato wedges?" We go for the chips and homemade tomato ketchup. We also try the veggie burger, just in case a cowboy with a meat craving should stray onto Wilhelmsplatz.

Fleischeslust has two faces: if you make a reservation at one of the long dark brown wooden tables outside, you can almost smell the Provençal atmosphere. Inside, the stylishly lit ambience of wood, leather and glass and the well-stocked bar is reminiscent of downtown Chicago. "Nothing comes out of a jar or a can in the kitchen," says the menu. So the food sometimes takes longer. "If there is a large rush of guests, there may be a wait, so a small 'sorry' in advance," reads the warning on the menu. But a cowboy doesn't fall off his horse that quickly. We satisfy our first hunger with "Tartare duet of Yellow Fin and Black Angus to season yourself, served with avocado cream and quail egg" and a "Grilled chicken salad with fruity chutney and fresh pineapple from the lava stone grill". We can't wait to see whether the menu's lyricism lives up to its eloquent promise.

In any case, Fleischeslust is not known for bonsai portions à la "nouvelle cuisine". That's why the friendly waitress prudently asks if the chicken salad should be served as a half portion. We are grateful for the tip when the market-fresh salad appears on the table and marvel at the lovingly prepared starters. The aromatic, nutty tartare is not minced, but finely diced and decorated with red onions, sea salt, crushed pepper and sweet paprika - it's really something. The chicken breast is crispy on the outside and wonderfully tender on the inside, perfectly complemented by the mango chutney and a good baguette.

At the next table, a guest complains about his overcooked steak. The waitress expertly explains that burgers and steaks are cooked "medium" unless otherwise requested. If you want it juicy-medium, you have to order "medium rare". But the kitchen is happy to grill a new steak. The guest waves it off. The staff react confidently and always in a friendly manner, even in critical situations: for example, we were served the wrong side dishes with our grain fed steak - instead of a discussion, we are told "sorry", the correct plate is delivered quickly and later a drink of our choice.

Our rump steak is perfect, with a slight blood redness at its core, tender as butter and of first-class quality, the homemade fries are addictive. The hearty veggie burger made from vegetable rösti and crispy Parmesan cheese is hard to resist and a good suggestion for a barbecue at home. Although we are completely full and satisfied, we order dessert. Instead of the house specialty, warm chocolate cakes, we opt for a "trilogy of coffee beans" - but with two spoons please! The creamy, light espresso créme brulée, the airy, white coffee mousse and the semi-frozen mocha parfait are well worth the sin. It's a good thing we left the horses in the stables and made our way home on foot.

Price check:
Starters and soups from €6.50 to €15.50, salads and vegetarian dishes from €10.50 to €15.90, burgers from €11.90 to €19.90, meat delights (steaks and fillets) from €16.50 to €59 (800 gr porterhouse steak), desserts from €6.50 to €12.50.

Online form for reservations + confirmation by email

Tip: Fleischeslust also sells all types of meat on the menu raw for self-grilling, cut to order and vacuum-packed. It is best to order by telephone. Sale from 500 grams, restaurant sales price minus 30 percent.

Sunday is family day with a discount for children