TerRafino im TC 82 e.V. in Erkrath

A very unassuming shop with surprisingly good food, friendly staff and a nice owner.

We've eaten at Merk.mahl several times and have always been delighted. The food and especially the service have consistently been outstanding. That's why our experience at my mother-in-law's birthday party was so disappointing. We booked three months in advance, and it was known that we were celebrating a birthday. Then a group of 15 people arrived, even though they had reserved eight tables, and five more tables were occupied by hotel guests. This is certainly not ideal for the staff, but it can happen in the restaurant business. The manager – who served us personally that evening – also made a planning error and didn't have a dishwasher in the kitchen. We ordered a mix of appetizers and desserts. Of course, this takes time, especially when the restaurant is full. We understand that things can go wrong or get mixed up. However, that doesn't justify the way things were handled. In total, we were there for over three hours. My father-in-law tried to hand the manager an unused glass and was told not to touch it – otherwise, it would go straight into the dishwasher. We weren't even able to order any more drinks. We even had to get a bottle of water from the temporary worker – the manager eventually remembered, but that would have taken at least half an hour. The other guests received drinks several times. We were sitting next to the bar, and it was quite noisy because of the bottles being put away. But for me, the worst part was the unprofessional reaction to the criticism: my father-in-law calmly remarked that we understood the stress, but were generally rather dissatisfied with the service. The manager then explained the situation and asked us to give him a second chance – when we asked how he would ensure that something like this wouldn't happen again, he became agitated and said it wouldn't work if we didn't give him a second chance. Finally, he literally told us we should pay, as he had other guests to serve. When he didn't receive a single cent in tips, he stormed off in a rage without saying goodbye, loudly exclaiming, "To close a room like this without a tip is the ultimate punishment!" We've never felt so uncomfortable. Apparently, this man actually thinks, "Work could be so wonderful if it weren't for the guests!" What a shame. The food is fantastic, and we would have loved to try the spa. But such outrageous behavior from a manager? We won't be back.

5 out of 5 stars for our dream wedding at the Lokschuppen! We celebrated our wedding at the Lokschuppen, organized and catered by the Hopmann family (Genussküche Olive), and couldn't have imagined anything better. From the first conversation to the last napkin, everything was perfect. Excellent advice, an attentive service team, and an all-around harmonious celebration. Highly recommended!

Nothing to say except super delicious food

The food is made with love from fresh ingredients. The team is very friendly and attentive to their guests. Even after a long absence, the owner knows what we want and how we like it prepared. The ambiance is also friendly and cozy. :) Simply awesome. :)