Bingo
La Vie Douce in Glockenbachviertel
The charming bistro with the cheerful name belongs to Ella, André, and Corvin.
Right in the heart of Glockenbach, the trio of Munich locals has created a delightful mix of Bavarian coziness and French ease.
Here, they serve small plates made with regional ingredients and inspired by French recipes, accompanied by Bavarian beers or French wines.
The menu simply lists the ingredients, leaving the details to be explained personally at your table.
And “personal” may be the best way to describe the atmosphere at Bingo.
Everyone here takes their time with guests. Even the chefs come out now and then to chat and make sure everything is just right.
Bingo is truly one of our favorite Munich discoveries.
A tender yet crisp butterhead lettuce is for me a fond childhood memory, the essence of summer freshness.
It’s been pushed aside for years by simpler but far less exciting iceberg lettuce. Often it was replaced by romaine on menus.
A whole head of butterhead lettuce as a signature dish? We didn’t hesitate to book a table at Bingo.
And reserving a table is essential! The bistro in Glockenbach is tiny.
Its two adorable rooms have roughly plastered walls, about a dozen Thonet-style chairs, a natural orange bench around the corner and a few bar seats with an open view of the bustling kitchen.
Understandably, each guest can only keep a table for half the evening.
While we’d love to linger here for hours, dining and chatting, there are others eager for a turn, and a guest rotation is essential for any restaurant, especially in Munich.
So, we can secure a spot from 6 to 8 p.m. or from 8:15 to 10 p.m.
And about that butterhead lettuce…
We’ve been to Bingo many times and ordered it every time.
Whether winter or summer, it’s always perfectly fresh, with tender leaves and a crunchy heart.
We still can’t figure out how the kitchen gets it so pristine and perfectly whole.
Each leaf is dressed with just the right amount of Viennese dressing, as if by magic and sprinkled with fresh chives.
We’d already be thrilled with just this, but an extra bowl of reduction made from the lettuce core and outer leaves, served with buttery croutons, takes it to the next level.
A simple idea, executed perfectly.
The incredibly friendly team at Bingo encourages sharing. It’s almost unavoidable with the salad.
And I happily share a glass of orange wine as well.
But when it comes to the brioche hot dog with Kaskrainer sausage, I get a bit possessive because it’s just so delicious.
Then again, I haven’t yet had the Kimchi toast, which I also love. And the tartare or pickles with rich butter on good bread would be hard to finish alone.
As a reward for sharing, there’s still room for the mini Gugelhupf for dessert.
The espresso, with its homemade salted caramel popcorn on the spoon, though that’s mine to savor alone.
And too soon, the evening comes to an end.
