Kochschmiede Zipper in Gelsenkirchen

Enjoy without regrets, the motto of the Waldschenke: we regretted it... never again: the regulars' table for 10 people, which I had reserved weeks in advance with the boss: when we arrived on time, it was occupied, so another table in a corner with a view of the toilet entrance... waited 90 minutes for the food!! The food was then tolerable, at best just satisfactory. An apology from the landlord? None... never again Waldschenke

Since I wasn't traveling without a car and the hotel didn't serve lunch, I went in search of food – at Schalke. When it's not a match day, that's not so easy! After some searching, I finally found the Schalke Bistro and went straight in. The lady at the entrance looked at me and asked if I was a patient. In Viennese, this greeting would be "Hearst, eas Patzienten!" – of course, a ribald insult that would immediately result in a "Wickel" (a kind of slap on the wrist), in which the person who uttered this greeting would be "out of the mouth" so that their toothbrush would be left empty-handed in the future. But hey – different countries, different customs. I quickly realized that the "bistro" was actually more of a canteen for the attached rehabilitation center. Shortly after my arrival, the dining room filled up with actual patients. The selection was – let's just say – limited. I was given a sheet of paper wrapped in clear plastic with two dishes to choose from: fish or vegetables. The fish, however, didn't look very appetizing, and vegetables are an absolute no-go! My head was already turning gray again. But before I could get kravutic and start yelling "paho," a large glass of beer was placed on my table – and the good news was that they also serve currywurst! The day was saved! And the currywurst was actually really good – the potato wedges were nice and crispy. The food was okay, but hey, a bit more choice wouldn't have been bad. (Second course for non-patients)

The ordering process is terrible. Delivery is a disaster. You can't order by phone, only through two agencies online. You have to download the app and pay an additional monthly fee. Am I supposed to pay a subscription? I'd be better off ordering elsewhere. So, my conclusion is: order somewhere else.

Medium to small portions at a rather high price level.

It's always enriching to be there on Sundays. You meet new people, can pray together, and are even offered coffee and cake. It's a pleasant way to end Sunday.