Gasthaus zur Linde

Stuttgart

It seems only fitting that the taxi in which we make the short journey out of Stuttgart to the elevated Möhringen village setting of this 300-year-old post office-turned-restaurant is a Merc. Famously home to the Mercedes-Benz Museum and factory, Stuttgart is also a hotbed of city vineyards producing both Lemberger and Trollinger wines, and the place to go to experience hearty Swabian cuisine at its finest. A favourite of local dignitaries and visiting A-listers, the ‘Linden Tree’ is a true family affair. Opened in 2015 by the Trautwein brothers Ferdinand and Maximilian – who earned their stripes cooking in some of Germany’s most high-flying restaurants – their father also works behind the scenes while their mother is on the payroll, too. Their ethos is very much one of tradition married with contemporary flair. A pretty garden terrace is the setting for substantial portions of golden Wiener schnitzel with a rich potato salad, and fried steak and onions with Spätzle (noodles) and gravy, along with a simple yet memorably well-dressed plate of greens. Desserts are worth saving room for: a Swabian bread pudding with apples and vanilla ice cream, plus a heady glass or two of apricot schnapps. We will be speeding back.