Einfach Brendel - Duisburg

Mediocre, overpriced food. Very disappointing. Cramped seating. I was really hoping that this would be a find. Sorely disappointed. I will never return.

I've been here a couple of times whilst on business in Duisburg and it is a welcome little home from home. Spending time in hotels and eating at the variety of places that you eat at whilst travelling with work gets tiring. However, this little...restaurant is almost familiar. The food is novel (at least to me) and the staff are basic in the approach to customer care. They ask you what you want, bring it and don't fuss about. They don't have English menus, which might put off some and they don't speak much English but when travelling that is to be expected and in my case appreciated. However, I'm mostly ordering in the dark as I've little to know idea what the menu items are. It's exciting and so far I've not been disappointed. Have a look, have a drink and if your keen they sell large gherkins in cans.

Cozy little place, just a couple of blocks from the opera house and city centre. Great food, huge portions and a warm atmosphere.

Used my TripAdvisor app to find a good restaurant. At the time of visit, they were ranked a little higher than they are now. The food is good, but unfortunately, our wait person was very rude. We were a mixed bunch, US, Chile, and India....One person ordered a coke with ice, and the wait person thought that was wrong. Our drinks came, but the waitress literally ignored us for about minutes, like we were being punished for not ordering the way of the Germans. I finally went to the bartender and she took our ordered, explaining that this older women usually upsets someone weekly.

Brendel is not the easiest place to explain. Let's start with the slightly peculiar menu, which everywhere else would be described as Spanish-German tapas. This would make sense, for example, of what is basically a very light (with an excellent yoghurty sauce) patatas bravas; whereas...ordering them as a starter' (as described) would leave you baffled. Other elements of the menu are a selection of Flammenkuchen (Alsace pizza) very tasty but large and sameish: best shared by a group rather than as a main course; and an increasing selection of classic German meat dishes: the ox cheeks were a delight. There are several excellent Spanish-inspired fish dishes (eg pulpo). The kitchen is excellent (the chef previously held a Michelin star) with a strong emphasis on ingredients, including show-casing the local produce. The odd dish ends up a fraction confused, but interesting nonetheless. The setting is basically wine-bar/cafe style: well designed clean lines, bustling, with some tables shared, and no reservation (come early and be prepared to wait). Service is attentive if a touch slow. There is an extensive wine list (including some new world, but mostly German) and a slightly small, but decent, selection of wines by the glass with some specials. If you think cafe' it's rather expensive; if you think modern European' it's good value.