Full Disclosure: I’m not a raving fan of French cuisine. Sure it’s good, but I don’t get why it’s been elevated to the standing it has. Not that I’m at all qualified to make that pronouncement! It just seems over-engineered and fussy and in my experience doesn’t yield a culinary experience that makes my eyes roll back into my head like, say, most Italian food.
To each her own.
Never the less, my uncle and cousin are visiting this week and my uncle, an unabashed Francophile had a hankering for French food. We were on foot walking towards Sendlinger Tor, I had already decided to take us to Goldmarie when my uncle pronounced his preference for French. I had to think fast.
I’ve walked passed La Bouche several times and have always found the decor spare but charming. I also dimly remembered hearing good things about it. It was 5 minutes away on foot and close to their hotel. Done and done.
We walked in sans reservations. Kein problem, we were welcomed and told to sit wherever we like. Much to the delight of my American family members jug after jug of leistungswasser was brought to the table (without asking!) along with a bottomless bowl of delicious baguette slices. So far so good.
My young cousin kept asking me how to say ‘Can I have x’ we struggled a bit going back and forth with ‘Ich hätte gern’, when the waitress came to our table, looked at him and said ‘SO was hättest du gern’. Again, friendly and welcoming, which is surprising considering it’s a french restaurant in Bavaria!
The food was good. My uncle was very pleased with his grille Loup de Mer, my husband had a delicious (if not a little bloody) Entrecote with sublime pomme frittes. My cousin, who is 16 enjoyed is Coq a Vin and my rabbit in a senf-karamel sauce served with Quinoa was fantastic.
There was a substantial wine list that we made good use of as well.
Despite my statement above about French food I’m sure this won’t be my last trip to La Bouche!
P.S. I discovered on my way back from the restroom that there is an entire second room that runs parallel to the first dining room, so go look around the bend before you decide where you want to sit.
wahlmuenchnerin.com 