Vielen Dank! und schoenes Wochenende.

Thanks again. On a separate matter: while I will be with friends for most evenings, I will have many lunch hours as a solo diner. Am hoping to visit Rudi's, Heidingers, Schilling, Gasthaus Sperl, etc. Would you recommend reservations for a table of one? Also, I speak fairly gut Deutsch, but what's the best way to ask for a table of one upon entering the restaurant when it is crowded? "Haetten Sie einen Tisch fuer eins?" Oder?

Thanks, Sturmi. I see at their website that Cafe Drechsler reopens on September 3, so my timing is perfect.

Are there any cafes in the Innere Stadt which are still TRULY worth a visit? I've read so many mixed reviews with regard to value and service. I went to Cafe Hawelka several times on my first and only previous visit to Wien back in 1988 and would like to visit some of the others, but would like some specific guidance if possible.

I will be on vacation in Wien beginning 31 August - 13 September, off to Budapest in the morning of the 13th, then returning to Wien for a day on 22 September before flying back to SFO on the 23rd. I will need to do some work, which mainly involves reading e-mail, but no more than 30-45 minutes each weekday. I'd like to do this in the morning, fairly early (8:00 am) and would appreciate advice on which cafes to visit and which to avoid. Good breakfast venues especially preferred. In my own, personal research on this subject, I must say that I have found a lot of disparate advice. Thanks in advance!

P.S. Will be staying in 1060, but location is really not an issue. I am an early riser (generally by 6 am) and enjoy walking or taking public transportation to other districts.

Thanks so much! I've been to NE Thailand and Laos several times and am very familiar with (and a fan of) Isaan cuisine, so will definitely check them out.

Vielen Dank! I'll be staying in an apartment in 1060 (Stumpergasse / Liniengasse). If you have any suggestions for that immediate neighborhood, I'd welcome them. I've read probably all of your posts on Wien over the last 2 years and consider myself very well-prepared thanks to your contributions. I'm really excited about this trip - haven't been there since 1988 when I was a poor college student.

I'm anxious to read the responses to this post, as I'll be in Budapest from 13 - 22 September, staying in an apartment just off Andrassy utca (Rózsa utca).

Sturmi der Grosse: I'll soon be in Wien for 2 weeks (31 Aug - 13 Sep) and will be following your suggestions from over the past few years.

Nur eine kurze Frage: at which restaurant can the best Tafelspitz be found?

Believe me: from reading this thread and others, I have a very long list of Berlin's best. I was hoping just to sneak in one lunch or dinner with some Bayerisches essen, but I'm confident that I won't miss it if I don't!

I'll be in Berlin from 3-14 September, staying 5 nights in Mitte/P-Berg and 5 nights in Schoeneberg. I really appreciate this thread.

I was a student in Muenchen in 1988 and am craving some Bavarian food. I did a Google search and came up with Maximilian's on Friedrichstrasse. Can anyone say ANYTHING about it - good or bad? I'd be appreciative.

Lately, I've been using the smoked ketchup sold by Big Paw Grub (www.bigpawgrub.com) which I pick up (when available) at the Saturday Farmers' Market in downtown Berkeley . . . great stuff. Unfortunately, it looks as though their online ordering system is down at the moment.