Frau Mayer is not a restaurant and it is not a bar. Frau Mayer is a place that wants to bring people together to make and to listen to music, while serving food and drinks. That sounded like an interesting concept to me, so I made my way there to sample both the music and the food.
Frau Mayer @Vienna
The early evening programme featured a solo pianist who entertained the crowd with Wienerlieder, traditional songs from the region. Most of what he played was unfamiliar to me, but it became particularly entertaining when one of the guests requested a song and then started singing along. Still, it was not the best setting to catch up with an old friend, as too much talking would have felt impolite towards the artist. Beer and snacks were served in between, though, as Frau Mayer has to make some money as well.
Dominik Grafl on the piano @Frau Mayer
We nibbled on some olives and enjoyed a beer while the pianist was still playing his tunes.
beer and olives @Frau Mayer
To start, we shared the baccalà mantecato made from redtail catfish. I was not entirely sure what to expect. I knew baccalà as dried and salted cod from various dinners at Portuguese restaurants. This fish, however, was anything but dry. Mixed with sour cream and layered between blinis, surrounded by pickled vegetables and topped with fake caviar, it was quite a sight.
baccala mantecato @Frau Mayer
I was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted. Sometimes it really is best not to know what to expect. The dish was not overly fishy, but soft and creamy, with subtle fish notes throughout. The pickled vegetables added a welcome acidity, and the blinis provided a perfect base to hold the fish cream. It tasted fresh and new to me without being overly indulgent.
For the main course, both of us ordered Schulterscherzel, boiled beef from the shoulder, served with creamy Savoy cabbage, a slice of potato gratin, apple sauce with horseradish, and chive sauce. Boiled beef is a Viennese specialty and something you should try while in the city. Most restaurants serve Tafelspitz, a leaner cut, which in my opinion is not the best option for boiling.
boiled beef @Frau Mayer
The meat was incredibly tender and very juicy. I did not mind that the slice was thick rather than the usual two thinner pieces. Combined with the fried potato gratin and the creamy cabbage underneath, it made for a wonderful dish. The only downside was the sauces. Frau Mayer could have been a little more generous here. The small bowls were gone after two or three bites, leaving quite a bit of meat and potatoes to eat without them.
While we were eating our main course, a jazz band started playing in the back room. As we were focused on chatting, we stayed in the front room and listened to the music as a pleasant background accompaniment.
The whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable. The food was delicious, the service very friendly, and the atmosphere warm and inviting. All in all, this is a place I would happily visit again. Let’s see what events are coming up. Yours, Pollybert
Frau Mayer
1010 Wien, Rudolfsplatz 12
Tel: +43 660 5773817
Tue, Thu: 16:28-24:00, Wed: 14:58-24:00, Fri-Sat: 16:28-01:00
https://fraumayer.at/
