Eating breakfast at Rochus was not really my first choice. On this scorching Saturday morning I had actually looked forward to an indoor breakfast, but the place I had picked did not open until 9:30 am. Since I had already arranged to meet my friend at 9:00 am, it was up to him to find an alternative nearby, especially after I managed to take the metro in the wrong direction. Heat waves clearly do not help my state of mind. We eventually ended up on the terrace at Rochus, which was still mercifully in the shade at that time of the morning.
terrace @Rochus
Despite the high temperatures, I was in the mood for a substantial breakfast as I had nothing else planned for the day. I ordered the Rochus Benedikt, which according to the menu consisted of two eggs, brioche, spinach, bacon, and sauce Bérnaise. I love a good Béarnaise, as the flavour of tarragon is something quite special. Not that I had particularly high expectations here, but one can always hope.
Rochus Benedikt @Rochus
Thankfully I managed to keep my disappointment in check, because the eggs Benedict at Rochus were nothing special. The advertised sauce Béarnaise turned out to be cold, ready made Hollandaise without even a hint of tarragon. The brioche was nicely toasted and actually quite good. The baby spinach looked fresh, the bacon had a nice colour, and although the eggs were slightly overcooked, the yolks still held a bit of a runny center. On paper, that sounds better than it actually tasted. For such minimal effort, this dish simply does not deserve a good review. I really wish restaurants would stop relying on ready made Hollandaise. It makes the kitchen seem lazy and uninspired.
My friend ordered the English Breakfast with two fried eggs, two sausages, bacon, baked beans, and toast. The one slice of toast turned out to be the same brioche I had with my dish. The beans looked as though they came straight from a can, while the bacon and sausages were nicely browned. The eggs were well fried, just the way I like them, with no runny egg white left. My friend was perfectly happy with his meat heavy breakfast and had no complaints.
English breakfast @Rochus
Rochus might be a convenient place to stop for a coffee or a drink, but the kitchen failed to impress me. There has to be more to restaurant cooking than opening packages and frying bacon. I can make a better breakfast at home without any professional training, and that is never a good sign. For the kitchen, at least.
So, would I recommend Rochus for breakfast? No, definitely not. There are far better options in the area. If you are simply looking for a pleasant place to enjoy a coffee, however, the terrace is certainly nice enough. Yours, Pollybert
Rochus
1030 Wien, Landstraßer Hauptstraße 55/57
Tel: +43 1 9929929
Email: rochus@gastrogroup.at
Mon-Thu: 08:00-24:00, Fri: 08:00-02:00, Sat: 09:00-02:00, Sun: 08:00-24:00
https://rochus1030.at/
