After making a hasty retreat, we found the restaurant we were looking for just a few steps down the street. This time, the rich smells of sage and rosemary gently lured us into a comfortably decorated dining room. We’d spent the evening walking in Stadtpark, and we wanted to have dinner at this restaurant near the park which acquaintances had recommended.

Once the jovial waiters realized that my husband spoke "just a bit" of German, conversation began fast and furious. We decided to turn the menu selections over to our waiters and let them decide what we would eat that evening. They were flattered that we would allow them to select our menu and a wonderful dinner followed.

First they brought a drink that looked like champagne with a slightly pink tint. (I think it was called Schilcher sekt, but don’t quote me on that.) Shortly thereafter they brought half-carafes of both red and white local wines. A crispy vegetable salad for me and a bean soup for my husband worked well as our first course.

The main courses arrived, served with al dente vegetables. Two elegantly spiced roast chicken breasts and a huge platter of Rindsgulasch (Austrian beef goulasch). Coarse bread, boiled potatoes, red cabbage and pots of butter accompanied the entrees. We ate as much as we could possibly enjoy, but a large plate of leftovers remained. Of course, by this time the waiters had become great friends; therefore, we must have "just a bit" of their wonderful strudel with some Viennese coffee.

As we sat and enjoyed our coffee and dessert while listening to soft Mozart in the background, we realized that our second mistake, was not having come to this restaurant earlier in our visit. Since we would be departing the next morning, a return visit to Wirtshaus am Stadtpark will have to wait until our next trip to Vienna.

Complete price for this wonderful dinner, including tax and tip was about $52 US!! Now, how’s that for a bargain?