Grillteufel Imbiss

You would have to travel great distances to come across a sausage as long as the "Thüringer Rostbratwurst" (Thuringian Roast Sausage). With its origins dating back to the early 15th century, a recent European Union DIN-norm has recognized its cultural value and requires it to be at least 15cm long (among other features) to deserve its name and fame. On the streets of Jena, you can't miss the two red "Grillteufel"-booths selling this local speciality. Grillteufel (barbecue devil) is run by two devoted Bratwurst-Chef-businessmen who own several branches of it in the region. In Jena, they are located opposite the post office and right in front of Neue Mitte.

The concept is quite simple: They sell nothing but Bratwurst in a bun as well as drinks. As this type of sausage tends to get dry very quickly if left on the grill for too long, they are usually prepared freshly which results in a waiting period of more than 10min - a little bit to long for our taste, especially when you're really hungry as it was the case when we ordered some.

The sausages were good, not particulary spicy or seasoned, which - to be fair - lies in its nature, and can be compensated for by adding some mustard, two types of which are offered (one slightly hotter than the other). The sausages come in two sizes, normal and xxl. The larger one is probably more than 20cm long and costs only 2€. Nice!

Unfortunately, Grillteufel did not have any cold drinks nor ketchup available when we went there, which is why the number of Jena Towers awared is lower than it could have been.

Our verdict: Bite into it, and transform into a Grillteufel!

3.5 Jena Towers out of 5

Versilia - Jena

Versilia Wine Bar and Restaurant is located at number 5 on the popular street Wagnergasse. The Menu is modern Italian and offers a lot of variety. The starters are tasty and come in big portions, so share one if you want to get a main meal and dessert. The main meals range from pastas and pizzas to hearty salads and meats. We can recommend all of them! The wine list is good and offers a broad selection, but it is quite expensive for Jena. If you do happen to enjoy wine with your meal, the karaffe of house wine is just enough for two large glasses, at a much friendlier price than a bottle. The deserts range in quality: I ordered a crème brulee which I would not have recognised as a crème brulee had I not ordered it (However, I know from subsequent visits that the strawberry mouse is lovely). Versilia appears to be run by an Italian family and although glimpses of family atmosphere do shine through from time to time and increasingly every time I visit, the service is largely quite “matter of fact”, and you will struggle if you don’t speak either Italian or German. The atmosphere is modern. The décor, clean and candlelit. The star attraction of Versilia is the authentic wood burning oven and the delicious Pizza they produce. Visit here if you want a tasty meal at a good price in a modern atmosphere.

Our Verdict: We will return and we will order pizza.

4 Jena towers out of 5