Local Guides World
Rick Lupert
4 reviews on 1 places
In our quest, on a whirlwind trip to Hamburg, to eat authentic vegetaran versions of German food we came across Heisse Ecke Grill in the super-busy Reeperbahn / St. Pauli area. It's a Bratwurst place and they have a DELICIOUS vegan Bratwurst served with your choice of sauce and potatoes (Steak, Curly or Swet Potato)! It was really delcious fast food. You order at one window, are given a beeper of sorts, and when it "goes off" you pick up your food at another spot.
There is plenty of room to sit (albeit it's mostly outside with lots of people smoking so that's a little unpleasant.)
The person who took our order was super-friendly and the menu has English "subtitles" so it was easy for us non-German speaking visitors to get what we wanted.
There is a full drinks menu with beers, cocktails, wine and juices, including lemonade too. My kid got a "Virgin Spritz Passion Fruit Basil" cocktail - non-alcoholic which he really enjoyed, especially after watching me drink a "real" Apérol Spritz earlier in the day.
The vegan bratwurst was really good and pared well with the potatoes, served altogether in a little box with a tiny fork. It felt like a perfect and authentic German food experience, and it really was yummy.
There is plenty of room to sit (albeit it's mostly outside with lots of people smoking so that's a little unpleasant.)
The person who took our order was super-friendly and the menu has English "subtitles" so it was easy for us non-German speaking visitors to get what we wanted.
There is a full drinks menu with beers, cocktails, wine and juices, including lemonade too. My kid got a "Virgin Spritz Passion Fruit Basil" cocktail - non-alcoholic which he really enjoyed, especially after watching me drink a "real" Apérol Spritz earlier in the day.
The vegan bratwurst was really good and pared well with the potatoes, served altogether in a little box with a tiny fork. It felt like a perfect and authentic German food experience, and it really was yummy.
Island's does a decent job giving you a burger and fries experience. My wife and I visited on a Friday night...It was crowded and we didn't have time to wait but found spots for us at the bar right away.
The star of our meal here is always the fries...among the best restaurant fries out there.
We also appreciate that they offer an Impossible Burger option as we're both vegetarians and that allows us to have as real-as-possible burger and fries night out at a place that's a step or 2 above fast food. I had the Big Wave, made with an Impossible patty. It was pretty good. I've had better, I've had worse...it did the job.
For vegetarians you can also have a "veggie patty" if you're not into Impossible. There are other options too if you're not into a burger and fries, including nachos, quesadilla, a unique Tempura Green Beans side, and a few other sides to choose from.
Also the island theme gives you a nice cocktail menu including a Mai Tai and others.
We'd come back occasionally.
The star of our meal here is always the fries...among the best restaurant fries out there.
We also appreciate that they offer an Impossible Burger option as we're both vegetarians and that allows us to have as real-as-possible burger and fries night out at a place that's a step or 2 above fast food. I had the Big Wave, made with an Impossible patty. It was pretty good. I've had better, I've had worse...it did the job.
For vegetarians you can also have a "veggie patty" if you're not into Impossible. There are other options too if you're not into a burger and fries, including nachos, quesadilla, a unique Tempura Green Beans side, and a few other sides to choose from.
Also the island theme gives you a nice cocktail menu including a Mai Tai and others.
We'd come back occasionally.
Italian food is kind of our go-to when we want to feel indulgent. Piccola Osteria fit this bill for date night and we were super happy with our experience and the food. We've also been to their other location and appreciated the more modern feel to this spot (and we actually liked the food better too.
We started with the soup of the day which was a Maize Corn Soup...this was truly fantastic in flavor and texture. A corn based soup done exactly right.
I had the Spinach Ravioli which came with a generous portion on the plate, topped with tomato sauce and I was absolutely not hungry after finishing it.
My wife and I also shared the Allegra salad...it was beautifully presented (actually everything was really well plated which allowed the feast to start with our eyes before we even picked up our forks.)
I think there was a newer staff member helping so our bread came kind of later than we wanted but it was worth the wait...house made and delicious with the oil and balsamic it was served with (just like back in the motherland.)
We'd definitely come back here. The atmosphere was to our taste (again over the more traditional feel of their other location), the food was beautiful and delicious, and, as vegetarians, we had plenty to choose from.
We started with the soup of the day which was a Maize Corn Soup...this was truly fantastic in flavor and texture. A corn based soup done exactly right.
I had the Spinach Ravioli which came with a generous portion on the plate, topped with tomato sauce and I was absolutely not hungry after finishing it.
My wife and I also shared the Allegra salad...it was beautifully presented (actually everything was really well plated which allowed the feast to start with our eyes before we even picked up our forks.)
I think there was a newer staff member helping so our bread came kind of later than we wanted but it was worth the wait...house made and delicious with the oil and balsamic it was served with (just like back in the motherland.)
We'd definitely come back here. The atmosphere was to our taste (again over the more traditional feel of their other location), the food was beautiful and delicious, and, as vegetarians, we had plenty to choose from.
I was excited to try Way Station...a classic diner, very good prices, and just basic breakfast food, nothing fancy....just what you need every now and then! Unfortunately, my excitement to be here wasn't matched with the experience provided.
I came with my son and we were seated fairly quickly. Outside tables were available too (though it was a little chilly for our tastes so we opted for inside.) There's a big sign that says "wear a mask" at the front door and the staff who greeted us and took our order were all masked.
I had coffee and my son had lemonade. He liked the lemonade...generous pour with a full, separate cup of ice.
The coffee was, at best, browned water...This is the lowest possible standard for diner coffee...Warm? Yes. In a nice mug? Yes. Brown? Yes. Any flavor? None at all. A breakfast place, to be at all legitimate has to have good coffee. The coffee here is not good.
While sipping it I noticed neither of the cooks was wearing their masks properly. One had it around his chin with both his nose and mouth exposed. The other only had his mouth covered with his nose exposed. The first one had no gloves of any kind on and I saw him touch his mouth with his hand, then reach down to put food on a plate. He was also using his bare hand to add cheese to the dish.
I understand different people have different preferences and comfort levels when it comes to health and safety...but it's literally the law of the land that food workers have to wear masks. In the midst of a global pandemic that has killed almost a million people, there's no excuse whatsoever for a cook to not be wearing a mask while preparing food. Not to mention touching his face and then plating the food.
As much as I appreciate a classic diner, a dingy one even, I felt like I was taking a risk by eating food they would serve here. We left some money on the table for the drinks and informed our server we wouldn't be able to stay and left.
I can't imagine ever setting foot in Way Station again after witnessing such flagrant disregard for mandatory health protocols. (Not to mention the lack of common sense on display by the cooks.)
I came with my son and we were seated fairly quickly. Outside tables were available too (though it was a little chilly for our tastes so we opted for inside.) There's a big sign that says "wear a mask" at the front door and the staff who greeted us and took our order were all masked.
I had coffee and my son had lemonade. He liked the lemonade...generous pour with a full, separate cup of ice.
The coffee was, at best, browned water...This is the lowest possible standard for diner coffee...Warm? Yes. In a nice mug? Yes. Brown? Yes. Any flavor? None at all. A breakfast place, to be at all legitimate has to have good coffee. The coffee here is not good.
While sipping it I noticed neither of the cooks was wearing their masks properly. One had it around his chin with both his nose and mouth exposed. The other only had his mouth covered with his nose exposed. The first one had no gloves of any kind on and I saw him touch his mouth with his hand, then reach down to put food on a plate. He was also using his bare hand to add cheese to the dish.
I understand different people have different preferences and comfort levels when it comes to health and safety...but it's literally the law of the land that food workers have to wear masks. In the midst of a global pandemic that has killed almost a million people, there's no excuse whatsoever for a cook to not be wearing a mask while preparing food. Not to mention touching his face and then plating the food.
As much as I appreciate a classic diner, a dingy one even, I felt like I was taking a risk by eating food they would serve here. We left some money on the table for the drinks and informed our server we wouldn't be able to stay and left.
I can't imagine ever setting foot in Way Station again after witnessing such flagrant disregard for mandatory health protocols. (Not to mention the lack of common sense on display by the cooks.)