Essen Restaurant & Beer Cafe – Ultimo, Sydney
Clockwise L to R: Essen signboard outside the restaurant in Broadway/Ultimo; Cow bell hanging on the archway welcomes you as you walk in; dining setting with floral folk art; preserved peaches in jars are used for desserts
“Let’s meet at Una’s instead,” Peter G suggested. A meet long overdue.
I arrived early in Ultimo (or Broadway) and only realised the restaurant suggested no where to be found. I am 100 and 10 percent sure I am at the right address but the restaurant has a different name. I peek through the window and the chairs decorated with folk art are exactly the same as how I remembered it from Helen’s blog.
Peter G arrives minutes later and reassures me that I am at the right place. “Oh my stomach just settled after the trip to India. I was like in pain for 4 days but I am now craving for Schnitzel!”… That’s how Peter G greeted me on our first meet. Schnitzel it is, no more Una’s, but in the newly name changed Essen restaurant & beer cafe.
Clockwise L to R: complimentary Essen branded chocolate with the bill; special menu outside the restaurant; cabbage salad on the side; pickled gherkins in jars on the benchtop
We are greeted by a cow bell hanging on the archway near the entrance as we walk in. The specials menu is listed on a big blackboard hanging on the wall. First thing that catches my eyes are the jars of preserved peaches and pickled gherkins graced the wooden top, strikingly colourful in contrast to the monotone wooden decor.
We have chosen the table near the window with cushioned bench seatings on one side which is bit too high for the table. With my laps rubbing against the back of the table top, I feel like a Queen sitting on my throne; ready to summon my order.
“Slave! Bring the Schnitzel at once! And thou shalt spare your wicked life!”
Mango Weizen - 10.00
Peter G doesn’t want to jeopardised his misfortune Indian affair and stick to water when I help myself to Mango weizen. The 500ml of cloudy wheat beer looks just like a big glass of fresh mango juice and tasted like one too! The mango weizen is refreshingly sweet on every sip and slowly mellows down to a smooth ale.
Wiener Schnitzel - 18.00
The pre-cooked schnitzels arrive within seconds served with potato roesti and cabbage salad on the side. Mr G sticks to a simple Wiener Schnitzel, pan fried golden brown crumbed veal topside with a lemon wedge for the extra tang.
Jaeger Schnitzel - 21.00
I go for the Jaeger Schnitzel which is the same thing, but with creamy mushroom sauce. The schnitzel is in ‘sensible’ portion, they are not the biggest I’ve seen. (I think Bavarian Bier Cafe serves a bigger portion). The veal is tender, but disappointingly dry. I am glad mine comes with mushroom sauce which helps a little with the dryness.
The meal is not very exciting, but I am glad the flamboyant Peter G is a good company, keeps me entertained with more funny stories from his recent trip to India. The staff at Essen are also friendly and let me wander around the whole restaurant to take more photos of the interior. I asked the staff why the name changed, and only found out the business partners of Una’s are no longer, and everyone gone separate ways, hence the new name, Essen.
Essen Restaurant & Beer Cafe 133-135 broadway 2007 Ultimo Ph. 92113805 W: http://www.essenrestaurant.com.au
Mon - Sun: open for Lunch and Dinner
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
“Flamboyant”?…LOL! That’s the best description I’ve heard yet…it was a pleasure having lunch with you Billy and getting to know you!
Peter G’s last blog post..Wonderful Watermelon Salad
Your photos are always so inspiring. That picture of the Essen sign with the blue sky background is just gorgeous!
Mmm… stodgy food – lucky I’m going to La Boheme this week for their pork knuckle served with complimentary knife wedged in it.
Forager’s last blog post..March into Merivale – Mad Cow’s BYO cellar dinner
ha! essen means “to eat” in German. so i guess the name makes sense at least. sad re the schnitzel fail. no-one should have to gnaw through dry, precooked schnitzel.
shez’s last blog post..fresh lemon rind pasta
Oh booo! They normally have really good schnitzel! Why fail this time WHHYYYY *sob*
But I think I liked their roesti better when it was Una’s
FFichiban’s last blog post..Assiette – Surry Hills, Sydney
I use to go here during my UTS Uni days when it had it’s old name. Ah the memories! We use to go for the beers. Jaeger Schnitzel is my fav, but sucks that you had a disappointing one.
Howard’s last blog post..Sushi platter from Makoto, Chatswood
Ooh travesty with the dry schnitzel! Haven’t been to Essen since the change in management. I always thought the Jaeger schnitzels at Una’s Darlinghurst were the biggest and the best
Helen (grabyourfork)’s last blog post..Sausage factory video
I have dined there once and I hated it. Like you said, the schnitzel was dry and I found it to be totally flavorless.
@Peter G: It’s been fun! I am always up for another outing to op shop where u can put on anything on yourself and look fabulous!
La Boheme sounds like a keeper, looking forward to your post.
@Forager: Thanks.
@shez: Ahh good to know but I think in this occasion, Essen might be a town in German where the own came from? I googled it
@FFichiban: Yeah I saw your post about this place too and look alright. The schnitzel is definitely not the best I’ve had in Sydney. Maybe will give it another try.
@Howard: Yeah maybe is the business change. I don’t know, I still prefer Bavarian Cafe.
@Helen (grabyourfork): Hehehe I saw your post is like back in 2005! You need to go back to refresh your memory since your work so close
@amanda: Yup, that’s how I felt. Without the sauce, I am not sure I can finish it alone.
Not to sound too geriatric, but I remember (back in the day…) when this used to be a site for a Little Snail restaurant (now in Pyrmont, I think). I walked past the other day and did a double take. Essen? When did this happen!? Too bad the schnitzel wasn’t up to scratch. Gorgeous photos though.
Y’s last blog post..(Not just) A Chocolate Brownie