It wouldn’t be a German weinstube if schnitzel wasn’t on the menu. At Weinstube Fröhlich in Stuttgart, homemade maultaschen, roast beef and more is also served up in a cozy setting. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes)
Axl Rose was an urchin on the street when he paid a visit to a cozy eatery in Stuttgart’s seedy red-light district.
The legendary Guns N’ Roses frontman made local headlines in August when he pulled up to Weinstube Fröhlich in a chauffeured Mercedes Maybach.
We’re a family of Gunner fans, and of Rose in particular, so it was on our to-do list to walk in his footsteps after learning of his Stuttgart visit.
Weinstube Fröhlich is one of the older eateries in the Leonhardsviertel district and is something of a city institution. It serves Swabian classics in an intimate setting with wood-panel walls and a warm interior that contrasts with the lowbrow street scene outside.
I’d been to the restaurant a couple of times in the distant past, but seeing Rose’s visit reminded me that it was a really enjoyable spot.
When we were seated during a recent visit, a family affair of six people, the first question I asked the waitress was what Axl ordered.
Veal liver in a dark sauce was on the menu at Weinstube Fröhlich, an eatery in downtown Stuttgart. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes)
She said he had the roast beef and also ordered an additional dish of spaetzle to go. I was a little disappointed he didn’t go for the veal liver, which would have made us simpatico.
While many people turn their nose up at the thought of liver, the dish was a real standout at Weinstube Fröhlich. The bites of meat were tender and mild by liver standards, with just a tiny hint of that signature metallic aftertaste.
The dark brown syrupy sauce it was served in also delivered the flavor. I had a side of roasted potatoes, and before that ate the beef tartare for an appetizer, which was silky and delicious.
The menu features the usual southern German standards, like homemade maultaschen, or large meat-filled dumplings, and the regional style of potato salad.
While the offerings aren’t extensive, everything is well-made, which probably explains the crowd. Reservations are recommended, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
One of my dining companions ordered Axl’s roast beef and gave it high marks. Others ordered schnitzel and maultaschen, both of which were met with approval.
The wine cart also has lots to choose from, with a heavy emphasis on varieties from the region. Nightrain, a flavored fortified wine and Axl’s old favorite back when he was “feeling like a space brain,” didn’t make the menu, though.
For us, the visit felt like a warm welcome into a cozy Stuttgart tradition, with the jungle right outside.
Weinstube Fröhlich, a restaurant in Stuttgart’s red light district, is a popular place for traditional southern Germany food. (John Vandiver/Stars and Stripes)
Weinstube Fröhlich
Address: Leonhardstrasse 5, Stuttgart, Germany
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 5:30 p.m.-12 a.m.
Prices: Between $25 and $40 for entrees.
Information: + 49 711 242471 weinstube-froehlich.de
