Austrian cuisine has evolved over the centuries just like any other cuisine. It was partly based on Polish, Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Serbian and others. Many of the recipes and dishes that are considered typical Austrian specialities would probably never have come into being if it had not been for the cultural and gastronomic exchange between the countries. The local cuisine is not particularly famous, yet there are two specialities that are immediately associated with Austria - Wiener schnitzel and Sacher cake. Sacher cake was indeed invented in Austria (by a 16-year-old cook in the service of Prince Metternich), while Wiener schnitzel is associated with Austria by name, but its origins go back to Italy and the Byzantine Empire. Generally speaking, Austrian cuisine is not exactly light, being rich in very meaty, fatty and filling dishes.
It's definitely worth trying typical Austrian meat dishes in restaurants, but it's also worth sampling regional foods. Austria prides itself on its beautiful, clean, alpine countryside, which is why there are family-run businesses in alpine villages - cheese factories, dairies, bakeries and butchers. After all, home is home! A homemade bacon with real mountain cheese is sure to appeal to everyone.
What are the most common eating establishments in Austria?
- Wirthaus - country inn
- Gasthaus - a more refined restaurant
- Heuriger - wine bars - open during the vintage season and to bottle the year's wines
- Beissl - snack bar
- Imbiss-Stube - basic refreshments, somewhere you can get a daily menu
What dishes can you discover on the menu or order with gusto on the street?
- Wienerschnitzel - Viennese veal schnitzel
- Tafelspitz - beef/veal tip (cooked in vegetable stock) served with potatoes
- Tiroler knödel - bacon dumplings with smoked meat, sauerkraut and potatoes
- Spätzle - small gnocchi with sauerkraut and cheese
- Spargl - seasonal very popular asparagus dishes
- Rindgulasch - beef stew
- Schweinebraten mit knödel und kraut - roast beef with dumplings and cabbage
- Sachre Torte - Sachre cake
- Wiener Apfelstrudel - Apple strudel
- Kaiserschmarren - Tart with apple puree
- Dobos sponge cake
- Rehrücken - venison loin - chocolate dessert
- Krapfen - doughnuts with jam/marmalade/chocolate
- Topfenknödel - fried cheesecake dumplings with compote
- Nockerl - Salzburg speciality - Salzburg gnocchi - a dessert of baked snow mousse with hot jam/mixed fruit.
- Cheese - Bergkäse (mountain cheese), Almkäse (cheese from the farm)
- Leberkässemmel - a very popular quick handheld treat - warm meatloaf in a bun
- Wurst - sausages - Bratwurst = sausage in a bun
- Mozart Kugel - Mozart balls
- Viennese coffee
Bad Gastein is part of the Pongau region, which has its own traditional specialities such as:
- Fleischkrapfen - meat pies
- Bladln - puff pastry filled with fried onions, potatoes and bacon
- Ziegenkäse auf Blattspinat - fried goat's cheese on spinach leaves
- Pongauer Kasnocken - skewers with melted mature cheese with fried onions
Austria is a nation of beer drinkers - there are breweries with centuries of history and family tradition. Famous beers come from the Styrian brewery Gösser or Schwecht. Wine lovers, on the other hand, will also find something to their liking here: popular wines include Veltliner Green, Chardonnay, Burgundy White, Riesling and Traminer. Radler, a beer with lemonade, is gaining in popularity not only in Austria but also in other countries.
Austrian dishes boast honest flavours and are very similar to our cuisine, which is why many Austrian dishes have become very popular in Austria.
At Residenz AlpenHeart, we have not only prepared gastronomic bombs that will delight your palate, but if Austrian cuisine does not appeal to you, you can certainly switch back to Czech cuisine - choose from our menu or let our staff make recommendations. Get to know our pleasantly furnished restaurant, which will delight you with its mountain atmosphere and the sheer range of food, beers, wines and coffees on offer.
In our hotel you will find specialties such as:
- Kasspresknödelsuppe - beef broth with raw dumplings
- Leberknödelsuppe - beef broth with liver dumplings
- Tafelspitz mit klassischen Beilagen - beef stew with root vegetables, roast potatoes, creamed spinach and chive dip
- Kaiserschmarrn - typical breadcrumbs with jam
- Apfelstrudel mit Vanillesauce - apple strudel with vanilla cream
- and more according to the current offer.