Gasthof zur Post - Herrsching am Ammersee

"You will read hundreds of reviews on Kaiserschmarrn in Bavaria, and most of them will be "the best I've evern eaten", "best in the world" etc... Read along to see why, next to a great local atmosphere, excellent valued Bavarian food, the Kaiserschmarrn would be worth the detour for anyone, tourists and Bavarians alike, wishing to try out a high level piece of traditional local dessert (well, it is actually Austrian/Tirolian, but well...)Pictures don't lie, so I added a few to document the report.Short version:1: Chef CHRISTIAN THIEL's decadently good Kaiserschmarrn, very "eggy", humid inside, crusty outside, sweat and fruity. For further details and pictures, see below!! incl. TRICKS ON HOW and WHEN TO ORDER2: good Bavarian specialities at very good value3: Nice service, good facilities in traditional Bavarian style and a great Biergarten4: Practical Tipps: Parking and surroundingsLONG VERSION1: THE KAISERSCHMARRNA big THANK YOU to CHEF CHRISTIAN THIEL (hope I remember the name well?..) who not only offered a delightful gastronomical moment, but even shared some of his recipe "secrets" when I asked for. And, NO, I am not going to disclose them - just go, try, and ask :)First things first: if you are a tourist and want to discover this traditional Austrian dish, always ask if they prepare it as you order, or if it is already ready and will probably be re-heaten for you. A very simple trick: ask "how long is the order time for Kaiserschmarrn". Not a single restaurant is able to prepare it freshly, cook, assemble in less than 20-30 minutes. As you can expect, when I asked in Gasthof Post, I was warned that "sorry, Sir, it would take at least 20 minutes, I hope it will be ok for you". Oh yes, dear, so completely OK. TRICK: order the Kaiserschmarrn before finishing the main dish, or even order both at the same time, asking for the Kaiserschmarrn to be served with a delay.Second : Since we arrived in Bavaria, we have now tried about 10 or 12 versions of Kaiserschmarrn. Until now, the very famous GASTHAUS RUF in Seefeld, really just 10 minutes drive away, boasted our favorite Schmarrn, but Post topped it thanks to a few details... Even before the first try, the smell revealed something I was hoping for for a long time, and which was confirmed with the very first bit: a very strong EGG TASTE, and I mean the "yellow taste". When I asked Mr. Thiel about it, he revealed a very simple but obvious trick, which confirmed the feeling and which I am now applying on my own home Kaiserschmarrn and which surprised more than one of our guests... This Kaiserschmarrn is NOT the big and fluffy version, which you get served in lots of other places and which you would expect in case you do consider (as so many do) this dish as destroyed version of the big German pancake put into pieces, and which fluffiness you would obtain by mixing white egg into the dough.The slices are thinner (remember the egg trick), but somehow the chef succeeds in keeping the interior humid, while the exteriors are deliciously crusty (I add a picture to illustrate this. I almost never see anyone succeed in this little so important fact)In this restaurant, not only do they cook the dough from both sides, they also, as it should be, sprinkle it with sugar and caramelize it by putting the pan into the hot oven for a few more minutes. They add roasted almonds and rum marinated raisins. YUM, YUM, YUM. A tiny little regret: it came served with apple compote, while I love the prune's compote even more. But: it was, as it happens often, VERY GENEROUS as well. Hence, my wife and I having not been exceptionally hungry before arriving in the Gasthof, and after having eaten the main dish together, got more than enough to do with the Kaiserschmarrn. Only real regret: not to have been there since !!2: GOOD VALUE TRADITIONAL DISHESGasthof zur Post offers a lunch special composed of Knödel, red cabbage and pork, great amounts for very competitive 10 EUR (? - approx. value, I dont remember exactly, this was 5 months ago :) ) . We ordered only one for two, as we had eaten not long before, but didn't regret it, as the portions are HUGE and we might have struggled to finish a full part each. And as we saw, lots of plates were taken from very happy customers at other tables, but with some remains on it. As the full meal gets served in less than 5-10 minutes, you realize they probably have large amounts of it ready, in particular as this is their advertised special. But fair enough: the food was well cooked, not as fatty and sugary as for so many other "special reheated tourist rip offs", well cooked. Very tasty. We didn't leave a piece of it!Check the picture to see.While the food was "very good", it wasn't outstanding (apart of the Kaiserschmarrn, you get it ..),hence only 4 out of 5 stars: as there are so many "5 stars" and "best in the world" reviews on this site, it is important to reserve the 5 stars to outstanding dishes. Note that a "Gasthof"'s ambition is not to produce haute cuisine, but solid regional food at good value, which objective is 100% reached in Gasthof Post. 3: SERVICE was friendly, and flexible, like accepting to take orders for the Kaiserschmarrn 30 minutes in advance (so that it was delivered when main dish is ready..) Quick, friendly, even if it took some time before we first got served and tried to get the staff's attention. Unfortunately, one of the staff made an a little grumpy impression, which reduces the general grade for service in this review.LOCATION: We sat on the terrace directly alongside the buidling, next to the flower pots displayed at each window. The Biergarten is located on the other side of a pedestrian only path (or is the Biergarten belonging to another location? - can't say for sure...). The TERRACE is lovely, not too big, ca 50 meters from the road hence far enough not to get stressed by passing by traffic. you might get a view of the surrounding hills, depending on your position on the terrace. The interiors are spotless and kept in the most local style. Lots of wood, red and white and blue fabrics... Flowers on the window banks... While walking around to check out the inside of the house, I got attracted to a little, ultra traditionally presented, alcove-like secluded room for about 10-15 (?) persons. Seemed to me the perfect spot for group gatherings of the special type..4: PRACTICAL TIPPSThe restaurant is located just about 10 minutes on foot from the train station, and not much more from the lake banks. The If coming by car, there is plenty of FREE PARKING around the place. Just read the signs properly :) If a parkign sign says "day and time", (for instance Montag-Samstag 10:00 - 18:00), then you do NOT need to pay your parking outside these times (for instance when parking on Sunday at 13:00...) even if there is a parking meter just next to your car :) and that parking is paying 7/7 and 24/24 on the other side of the street....We used Herrsching at a starting point to walk to KLOSTER ANDECHS, which is, at a "hiker's pace", 30 minutes away, what would be between 60 and 90 minutes for relaxed walkers, families... The well waymarked paths lead you through stunning prealpine landscapes, little marvelous forests, and finaly to the ultra scenic and historic cloister of Andechs. The lake offers plenty of other possibilities to enjoy the outdoors. Both the walk to Andechs and the lake shores are overcrowded, but this doesn't disturb most of people and shows how easy these scenic places are reachable from Munich. Hence, the restaurant is the perfect REWARD after a nice walk in and around Herrshing."