"Neighborhood Restaurant": Where the busboy carries a gun

Created: 04/11/2022, 18:08

Enjoy your meal: the policeman on site, Andreas Wagner, serves the food together with Anica Mihetec.

© rüffer

After a two-year Corona break, the "Restaurant im Viertel" in the Nieder-Eschbach district of Frankfurt is once again a place for a wide variety of encounters.

Frankfurt - Regular guests have known for a long time that surprises can always be expected at the "Restaurant in the Quarter" in the Nieder-Eschbach meeting center.

But at this sight, many a visitor should have flinched: In the most recent edition, one of the helpers wore a pistol over his red waiter's apron, as reported by fnp.de.

Is there a threat of murder and manslaughter at this otherwise peaceful event organized by the Frankfurt Association?

No, Andreas Wagner smiles, that's just his service weapon.

Wagner, in normal life a policeman on site in the 15th police station in Frankfurt, supports the team of volunteers that take care of the guests of the "Restaurant in the Quarter" that evening.

To get in touch with the people in the neighborhood, he says;

also as a sign of appreciation for the work of the volunteers.

And because he's on duty that evening, he's wearing his uniform and his pistol.

Nevertheless, none of the visitors showed any reservations, thanks to Wagner's relaxed manner. "Good evening, gentlemen," he greets the guests to whom he serves the first course, and in the same breath admits: "I don't know exactly what that is .” But the people at the table are all the better informed - thanks to the menus on display.

Sweet potato soup with parsley pesto is sloshing in the bowls, they instruct the temporary waiter.

"Really?" he wonders.

"I was told this is pumpkin.

That's enough, now I'm going home.” A joke that triggers hearty laughter.

"Restaurant in the district" in Frankfurt: "It's nice that it's starting again"

In general, there is a lot of laughter at the white-clothed tables, on which candles provide atmospheric lighting.

The joy that the "Restaurant im Viertel" can finally start again after a good two-year break due to Corona can be seen in the guests.

"It's nice that it's starting again," says Linde Ens.

She has been there five or six times - "it's always cozy and tastes good".

This is not only thanks to the volunteers, but also to chef Joachim Sturm, head of the kitchen at the Frankfurter Verband.

Since 2012, he has spoiled visitors to the meeting center five times a year with a three-course menu.

At an unrivaled low price: visitors have to shell out just four euros for sweet potato soup, venison goulash with herb dumplings or mushroom ragout as a vegetarian variant, as well as orange crème brûlée.

Exactly the same as before the pandemic.

"We left the prices as is to send a signal that not everything is becoming more expensive," says Jeannette Nold, head of the meeting center.

Frankfurt: Furniture manufacturer supports the facility

This is only possible thanks to the help of sponsors such as the neighboring Ikea market, which has always supported the facility.

By the way, not only financially.

Ikea marketing manager Theresa Nonn brought three large bags full of gift bags.

And instead of being served, she spontaneously mingles with the volunteers and helps with the serving.

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There are also many other new faces in the volunteer team.

Many of the previous helpers would have stopped during the pandemic, says Jeannette Nold.

Instead, others have joined.

For example Birgit Neubauer, who came into contact with the Frankfurt Association through the volunteer fair.

With practiced movements, she clears the empty soup bowls from the tables: "This suits me because I did my training in the hotel industry."

Chef Joachim Sturm also has expert help that evening.

He is assisted by Andreas Eggenwirth, founder of Slow Food Frankfurt and husband of Annette Rinn, head of the regulatory affairs department.

His wife "conscripted" him for the event, he says with a laugh.

Not that that would bother him, on the contrary: "It's brilliantly prepared.

It's really fun.” And obviously wanting more.

Eggenwirth: "It may happen that I will turn up here more often now." (Brigitte Degelmann)

The meeting center Nieder-Eschbach in Frankfurt not only has a restaurant to offer.

The association also creates opportunities to make contacts with sports offers.