Austria Hof Restaurant

vinaigrette with shaved parmesan, capers, red onion and mushroom slices
in the middle of the plate and a sparse amount of paper thin slices of
delicious Certified Angus Beef Filet Mignon around the edges. It really
seemed more like a salad than an appetizer, but a mighty good one I must
say. I wasn't crazy about the Stuffed Mushrooms which weren't the sinful
sort. These were under cooked and meager on stuffing, but I had to agree
with my fellow diners, who liked them very much, that the wine broth they
were baked in was very good, and a wonderful place for dipping the
complimentary bread. The Wild Mushroom Strudel needed more brie and
mushrooms and the Saffron Butter Sauce was too light to add much flavor.
It was the asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes that carried this dish. I
didn't care at all for the Potato Pancakes. They were dry and flavorless
and came with a side of applesauce that didn't matter. The best of all the
appetizers ordered on two separate nights was the Ahi Tornado. Crispy
fried wonton chips were piled high with wonderfully seasoned tuna tartar,
dotted with a great Chili Aioli and topped with masago. The plate was
additionally drizzled with more aioli, wasabi cream and came with
additional slices of simple ahi sashimi, lightly cooked shredded seaweed
and bean sprouts. This made me so happy! The bartender, Leon bragged
how their fish is overnighted fresh from day boats in Honolulu and sells out
the same day it arrives.

The menu offered Jaeger Schnitzel and Wiener Schnitzel, which, I didn't
know, are both veal dishes. Silly me, I thought a schnitzel was a type of
hot dog! Our entrees were a success enjoying an Elk Chop with a Port
Wine Cranberry Demi-Glace on one night and a Bratwurst Plate with Polish
and Swiss sausages on another. I preferred the lighter Swiss sausage
made with veal while the boys liked better the meatier tasting Polish
sausage. This was served with homemade kraut and German style
sauteed potatoes. With all this foreign fare an Apple Strudel seemed the
ideal way to end a meal. It was a hit with everyone else at the table, but
me. The soft layers of pastry was unexpected. I rather like my strudel
flaky.

Though the food was hit or miss for me, there was no denying it was high
quality, it was just a matter of preference. I love the place. It really made
our trip memorable, and I'll be back for that ahi, oh yes I will!

Open for dinner 7 days a week at 5:30 P.M.

Prices: Ahi Tornado $11, Stuffed Mushrooms $8, Wild Mushroom Strudel
$12, Bratwurst Plate $21

Located at 924 Canyon Road in Mammoth Lakes

Telephone (760) 934-2764

This authentic German restaurant had been
overlooked before the new chef arrived last
year, turning it into one of the best
restaurants in Mammoth Lakes. It's no
wonder, according to the bartender, the
new Chef Russell has worked for the likes of
Wolfgang Puck and McCormick & Schmidt.

The inside is dark and Old World rustic.
Though it's overdue for some updating it's
not necessarily a detriment, extending
more of a foreign flare. It's perfectly cozy,
just what is expected in these parts. The
main dining room seemed a bit fancier and a
great place to eye others, but after a rough
day on the slopes, comfort was a
preference, and the few booths grouped
together in a room all it's own seemed
cozier at the moment.

A basket of soft and crusty dill bread was a
nice start. The menu was a diverse
surprise, unexpected for these parts, mixing
traditional, foreign and gourmet cuisines, a
bit of something for every taste I suppose.
Beef Carpaccio was a surprise with piles of
chopped mixed greens tossed in a tangy