When a group of friends end a meal debating whether the restaurant is worth a Michelin, this usually means that it was a seriously good meal. This is how my Saturday night dinner end at Bidlabu.
Hidden in a dark alley off Grosse Bockenheimer Stasse, Frankfurt’s main shopping street, Bidlabu is at the intersection of casual and high cuisine. The small open kitchen creates a relaxed atmosphere, a good contrast from the usually stuffy atmosphere in high-end restaurants. The restaurant was bustling the whole night, with mainly large groups.
Their set menu option is the best value-for-money. You can have three courses for 40 or 50 euros, depending on whether you get the vegetarian menu. I was intrigued by the curry soup, so went for the vegetarian menu, while the rest of my party chose options from the non-vegetarian one.
Bidlabu’s elevator pitch is simple. Fresh ingredients and very distinct flavours. Starters we ordered trout with mango and avocado, the curry soup with very thinly cut vegetables, and the handmade ricotta tortelloni with beetroot, which received raving reviews from my friends.
For our mains, the beef onglet was tender and perfectly cooked with a side of roasted potatoes. My braised cabbage came with mushrooms, grains, and a sweet chestnut cream and the catch of the day was complemented with fried cauliflower and a herby sauce which added some nice tartness to the dish.
For dessert, we all ordered a chocolate pudding with an acidic buckhorn sorbet. The multiple textures of chocolate worked well together; I loved the crunch from the nutty milk chocolate tuile.
We paired our food with bottles of German white and red wines – the wine list offers many options from across Germany; ask the owner for recommendations. Successfully balancing between cosy and high end Bidlabu is a restaurant for all occasions, and according to a good friend and loyal Bidlabu customer it will never disappoint.
