(photo from Yelp – but this is exactly the pic I would have taken)

There seem to be a handful of interesting, artsy restaurants and bars popping up around Frankfurt. They take a bit of effort to find (and coordinating schedules with friends), but once the planets align, it’s worth it.

Freitagsküche (translates to Friday kitchen). Every Friday night features a different chef who creates meals with local food.

I biked there with a friend who I had been trying to connect with for weeks. When we got to the address, we couldn’t find it, and kept going up and down the street. When we spotted some people going into a back courtyard, like any rational people, we followed them.

Tucked away from the busy street, in a quiet, ivy-lined courtyard, was Freitagsküche.

As soon as we entered, I knew we had made the right choice. This place was full of the coolest people I’ve seen in this city. It definitely felt more “Berlin” than Frankfurt.

I hadn’t realized the concept of the restaurant until we got there. It’s all communal tables, and once those tables are full, that’s it. The chef only comes prepared to serve 100 people, the same dish, and all pretty much at the same time. The chef rings a bell and you go to the counter and get your meal. You also get your own drinks from the bar.

The way I describe it makes it sound like In-n-Out, but trust me, it was upscale.

The music was great, and the crowd was laid back. I don’t go out to eat a lot, so when I have a mediocre experience, I get bummed. But when I have a great experience, it makes me enjoy it that much more.

Add to the ambiance the time I got to catch up with my friend, laughing and chilling, and it was a perfect Friday night.