"Say you find yourself in SalzgitterBad...not exactly the center of the universe...and want a great place to eat dinner. Well, search no further than this absolute culinary kiss of a restaurant. Conveniently located on a main street, we walked easily from our hotel based on...a recommendation, and did so three evenings in a row very unusual for us, but we were that impressed. How such a super Italian chef ends up in a sleepy little German town like this never ceases to amaze us. Actually, SalzgitterBad is a convenient, accessible and more intelligentlypriced base for easy car travel to Hildesheim, Goslar or Braunschweig, so it's not as offthebeaten path as it feels. The restaurant caters to large groups for special occasions as well as casual diners. You can get there when they open at PM and take your chances as we did the first evening, but I'd still suggest making a reservation since it seems to be by far the most popular place in town with the locals. You can ask to sit in the sizable outside dining area under large, dark green umbrellas, or you can venture inside where the décor is tidy, but unexceptional. This place is about the food. So since it was summer and hot, we ate outside to catch the breeze aside customers in both jeans and nice party clothes. This is not your corner pizza joint. Upscale food is available, but nothing is overdone or pretentious, including the prices which were quite reasonable for the quantity and quality of delicious food we were served. Our bill never totaled more than Euros, including all the food, wine and liquor we enjoyed. Now, about the food: I seldom eat steak in Germany because it's a huge disappointment compared to midwestern American beef, but ordered the Bistecca ai Funghi twice and was absolutely floored. A thick, juicy, rare steak arrived, with a nice crust, but tender enough to cut with a butter knife, smothered with flavorful mushrooms tinged with fresh rosemary and thyme, along with roasted potatoes and the best baconwrapped green beans I'd ever put into my mouth. The delicate sauce, laced with oils, fresh herbs and sundried tomatoes, pulled the flavors of the dish together. Prior to that, we'd been served a complimentary appetizer as well as a basket filled with hot, freshly baked bread and a homemade spread garlic, fresh herbs and ?? and our wine. Be careful not to fill up on this!! Along with our entrée came a colorful salad filled with little goodies. Presentation was professional and perfect. The menu is quite extensive, so there is surely something there to please everyone in your party. My husband raved about all three of his meals: the first was a meltinyourmouth gnocchi special filled with steinpilzen, topped with little sheets made of truffles and a special cream sauce, etc. The second was a plentiful plate of pasta with scampi, and the third was a crusty seafood pizza. Everything was prepared to order and tasted like it came fresh from the garden, sea or butcher. By the way, if you like Sambuca as your afterItaliandinner drink, this is the place to order it. My husband was served a second one on the house each evening. I preferred to snarf an ice cream dessert, a significant weakness of mine. Service was attentive and speedy by German standards, even though the restaurant was very busy. The servers probably family were friendly, speaking some English when my limited German and Italian vocabulary failed me. When we're within km of this area again, we'll be sure to make a detour to patronize this excellent restaurant. We'd suggest you consider it, too. Buon divertimento"
