Frank und Frei, Sternschanze, Hamburg

Gut :)

UPDATE 8/6/2010:

Well, this makes me sad. Look at that review! I had a lot of love for this place. Turns out that the baskets of bread are just to distract you from...well, everything else. I think they may have instigated a new recruitment policy of "Got an attitude problem? Apply here!" Never before have I been into a restaurant and chosen the location of my table based solely on the waitress serving it. There are a couple in here who are literally morons. One of my friends tried to order the soup followed by a burger and she refused him as "it would be too much food" (surely that's his decision to make??!) and the same waitress also famously makes up restaurant policies that essentially involve us never being able to have what we want. To top this all off, last time we were here we waited over an hour for food to find that one of our meals didn't come at all.

Frankly, I'm probably an idiot for giving it three chances but, as they say, three strikes and you're out. I'm going somewhere else. As should you. They can deal with it, it's always rammed - don't put yourself through it.

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ORIGINAL REVIEW:

For some reason I feel a bit guilty about literally loving this place so much but I can't help myself - turns out all it takes to impress me is some free bread with your meal and literally massive portions. The Weizenfladen (some kind of wrap thing) with beef are exceptional and the staff are lovely even if sometimes a bit stressed as it does get very busy in there. Couldn't recommend this place highly enough though, and you can have a really good meal out here without spending a great deal.

It was very quiet when I came in here for a late lunch, but it had a very pleasant atmosphere all the same, laidback and mellow. I especially liked the sort of soothing, warm brown colour on the walls that just makes you want to sit back and relax for a few hours. Great food; very tasty bratwurst, and excellent coffee.

Two tips for enjoying this place to the max:

1) go on a nice day and sit outside
2) order a steak or burger, not a schnitzel

When I visited we sat inside (at first) and I ordered a schnitzel because I felt I should try "something German". It was nice enough like, but the steak the guy next to me got looked amazing. They say that "the grass is always greener", but this time I'm certain that my food envy was correct.

The beer was excellent (though I forget what it was) and once we went to sit outside the place took on a whole different air. I guess if it was actually busy inside it'd be quite different, but this was a Sunday lunchtime and it was pretty dead.

Frank und Frei was nice and cool inside - a welcome break from the Sunday sunshine. Comfy seating, relaxed lighting level and remarkably low numbers of cigarette smokers stood it apart from other bars we visited. I had a schnitzel because it sounded hilarious, but the sad reality of the breadcrumbed flat-meat soon arrived, accompanied by an enormous pile of very nice chips. The mayonnaise tasted strange. The service was attentive but easily confused, and I was amazed to learn they work out individual contributions to the bill by visiting each person in turn with a calculator.. great if you're a student, but a touch intrusive and quite agonising when you're not. The seating outside uncomfortably backs straight onto bushes and bike paths, but benefits from a good deal of sun and shade, so you take the rough with the smooth. Beers were nice, but warm. Overall good for the money.

Having only being in Hamburg for a mere two weeks I guess the fact that I've already eaten in this place three times further proves the point that this is one great joint to grab some grub, have a beer and take a load off.

The pub always seems to be popular with punters, the staff and helpful and friendly too.

They let me park my bike in the restaurant near our table when I explained I didn't have a bike chain yet for it.

Yummy Argentinian Rump steak, nice and red and cooked exactly how I like it :-) So if you don't like your meat with a little blood I'd be ordering it a little more well done then you'd normally have it.

Steak and beer on a lazy afternoon...what more could you ask for really...

This bar has a certain allure - I always feel drawn to walk in here when I go past. I only last night discovered that the food is excellent too - I'd previously spent time drinking out on the pavement and watching events unfold in the Shanze. So I echo the comments of previous reviewers, and say, it's well worth a visit... if only for the view...

A cool little bar with great high ceilings near sternschanze train station. This place is very popular and seems to be full most nights of the week. The food is good and they have menus in both German and English. I'd recommend trying the Argentinian rump steak. It comes with an enormous baked potato (I couldn't finish it!)

1 rump steak, 2 wheat beers and a cup of coffee only 15 euros! What a bargain.