Gaststätte Watteler in Mechernich

I have eaten here many times and have always received friendly service and have always been satisfied

Too few staff, service takes too long, no drinks after 30 minutes, the food came after an hour of waiting. The coffee was only lukewarm, the cappuccino was weak and about an espresso in quantity, 1 Kölsch only came after over an hour, the fries were twice fried or kept warm for ages, they were crispier than crispy, too hard to eat and the homemade ones on the menu There was no bread from the open-air museum bakery, instead there were soggy slices of toast with the sausage. Used dishes are piled up on the tables and the waitresses walk past them empty-handed. Very disappointing.

We were there yesterday. Admittedly, yes, it was because. an event in the open-air museum was very crowded. We wanted to eat a little something and drink something with taste, preferably while sitting (we had enough water with us and had already drunk enough). The "Post" was already full, so we went to this restaurant. After a few minutes a waitress came and asked for the order. When we told her that we would also like to eat a little something, the answer came straight away: "The kitchen is closed. The restaurant is too full. We'll work through the food first." So we just ordered our drinks. There was an older gentleman sitting at our table who said that the food wasn't anything special anyway, that we should go to the meadow down by the "Niederrhein" where the support association would be and would also give out food. Ok, then we'll just drink our stuff and eat somewhere else. We placed the order at 2:05 p.m. At 2:35 p.m. there was still no drink. The waitress was told there was too much to do. There were 3 waitresses who took orders and 3 "runners", i.e. i.e. who were supposed to deliver orders and clear and wipe tables (that was apparently a long time ago). After waiting another 10 minutes, we left - without getting our drinks. At that point, new guests were already being sent away and the restaurant would be closed. So, something must be going really wrong. Yes, getting good staff for a restaurant is difficult. That's one thing. But the other thing is that as a host you have to ensure there are enough staff or you limit the number of guests. In addition, at large events you should calculate food and drink so that you don't have to eat at 2:45 p.m. "nothing left" has to close or because the staff is exhausted. In such a case, how about self-service in the outdoor restaurant. You get your own drinks and when it comes to food you are either beeped at or given a number that is called out. Works excellently in the Munich beer gardens and also on one or two alpine pastures. And in the Alps there are often only 3 or 4 people employed. If we go to the open-air museum again, I'd rather carry my backpack with sandwiches and drinks. The “Watteler” restaurant is definitely out of the running for us, as nice as the ambience is. You should really think about it. We then went down to the festival site, which was hosted by the support association. It took less than 5 minutes and we had a drink and bratwurst. Was self-service. And it was full there too.

On Friday, July 26, 2024, I went there with two grandchildren. The children wanted to try a "Toast Hawaii", which I had already told them about. I initially made do with a wheat beer because I thought it was possible that the two of them wouldn't be able to handle their dish. And sure enough, when the small dishes were finally served, the two stopped eating after one or two bites. I also took a bite and flagged a waitress over. The toast bread wasn't toasted. This wasn't "Toast Hawaii." A lengthy discussion ensued, first with one and then with two young waitresses. They would always serve the little dish like this. And I'll be the first to complain. A small discount was entered on the bill for the incorrect “Hawaii toasts”. However, I made it clear to the young ladies that I wouldn't pay a cent for it. At their request, I was happy to leave my name and contact details with them, saying that they could send my greetings to the head of the house and get a toaster.

Unfortunately, after the first dirty table, the next one wasn't clean either. The non-alcoholic drinks are 0.3L in the glass at €3.90 and €4.10 very well calculated 😔

We left without eating because the waitress simply didn't serve us (6 adults, 2 children). There were always new guests arriving and being served first. And we just watched. Then we told the waitress that we had been waiting for half an hour and that she was always serving the new guests who had just arrived. The answer we got was that this wasn't true and that those before us had been there. So we packed up our kids and children and left without food.

If you like the 70s and the food, you're in good hands here. Whether indoors or outdoors, a visit is worth it. Also very suitable with children of all ages.

Three of the four waiters were completely overwhelmed. Only two are allowed to collect, but apparently they first have to organize a calculator. Otherwise I can't imagine why you can't immediately cash in on two mixed ice creams with cream where the cream was missing...

Inn in the museum. There are simple dishes well prepared and served. The stew of the day was very tasty and appetizing.

The Watteler restaurant from Eschweiler above Feld is a successful culinary enrichment for the Rhineland market square and the Kommern open-air museum. A woman enters and is in the middle of a journey back in time to her own childhood. You can marvel at many of the details that made up the 70s: furnishing of the guest room, wallpaper, pictures, the in-house butcher shop, the toilet block with original tiles & the black Opel Admiral with original license plates, lots of photographs of the Watteler family & even a dress Mrs. Watteler in Gürzenich wore. On the upper floor you can watch a film about the project “Translozion Gaststätte Watteler Eschweiler over Field”. A very friendly museum employee showed us around this inn and told us its history. All of this is very impressive & also very exciting. It's really good that this inn and its history could be saved. The Watteler restaurant here in the museum is now very popular. You get culinary, classic delicacies from the 70s.