Philo-Mensa

On May 26, 1789, the day Friedrich Schiller gave his critically acclaimed inaugural lecture at "alma mater jenensis" (now Friedrich-Schiller-University) , he wrote into his diary: "Alas! Another rainy day. Students didn't listen to my lecture. Wish I could dwell some place warmer. Sole highlight of the day: lunch at Philo Mensa. What a heavenly delight!!! This should make my stay in Jena an agreeable one. P.S.: Need to write a poem about that delicious mushroom dish."

Alright - you got us on that one. The story is total bogus! But nevertheless, we believe, if Friedrich Schiller walked the earth today and came to Jena, he wouldn't find but poetic phrases for Philo Mensa (Philosophenweg 20). Philo-Mensa is one of the two university-run cafeterias in downtown Jena. It has more than 700 indoor seats and a nice terrace and garden with seating. There is also a smaller food counter and a coffee bar upstairs.

Lunch is offered between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can choose between four dishes, at least one of which is veggie. There is also a help-yourself pasta counter - always a good alternative. Look out for the Green Happy Face VITAL dish: it is basically a low-fat, good-for-your health meal which is non the less as yummie as the other ones. Prices range from 1,50€ to 2,50€ at student rates, employees and guest have to pay an additional charge of 1,40€ per meal.

As for the taste, Philo-Mensa proves time and time again to be an exception to the rule. The food is tasty and nutricious - all you need to take you through a tough university day. Feel free to ask for a bigger portion ("Männer-Portion") if you are extra hungry. Surprisingly, the menu (check online) hardly ever repeats itself. The Head Chef always comes up with a new treat. This is not usual business - a tip of the hat for that!

Our verdict: Yes, Philo-Mensa can!

5 Jena Towers out of 5

Supplement, July 2011: In this year's "Mensa of the Year" contest, organized annually by the German student magazine UNIKUM, Philo-Mensa was awarded the 3rd prize in the category "choice". Well done!!! See result

Restaurant Ratszeise

Restaurant Ratszeise is perfectly located on the Market Square in central Jena. The building which was previously the town hall has some nice history attached and the dining experience is equally as nice. Ratszeise offers traditional German fare in a cosy atmosphere. We found the “Klein und Kalt” dishes perfectly sized for a 3-4 person starter, while the main dishes were just as satisfying. The food was delicious and portion sizes, plentiful. Between us we ordered some quite meaty dishes and lighter dishes, and we each were happy with the depth of taste and quality of the food. A shared starter, three main meals and three drinks cost us around €35, which we believe to be great value for this dining experience (and let us not forget the Cheers review, and how much that meal cost!). Good food, service, atmosphere and location.

Don’t miss Asparagus season or the Maß on the drinks menu!

Our Verdict: Great dining at a great price!

4.5 Jena Towers out of 5

Cheers - American Sports Bar

Upon our arrival to Cheers American Sports Bar, located at Johanplatz 9, we were refused entry to the “reservation-only” tables inside. We sat at a table outside, which would have been fine had the outdoor heater worked. We ordered drinks and then soon after, food. We were advised there would be a wait for our main meal due to the restaurant being so busy, but this didn’t prepare us for the 80 minutes we waited. Too our disappointment, the tasty but sparsely garnished nachos starter arrived before the drinks, and the margarita ordered was less of a refreshing cocktail and more of a rather large shot of tequila garnished with a large lime wedge. When the food eventually arrived, we had been sitting outside almost 90 minutes, it was getting dark and cold. Consequently, after a few minutes with our meal, the uneaten food was too cold to eat comfortably, and much of it was put into a doggy bag. The “all you can eat Ribs” were a good investment and reasonably tasty but sometimes slow to be replenished. We found the service lacking in friendliness and speed. A night at Cheers with a shared starter, alcoholic drink and main meal costs approximately €45 between three, which by midweek Jena standards, is a little expensive.

Cheers offers typical American cuisine of burgers, ribs and sandwiches in a restaurant cum bar decorated with classic sport memorabilia. The bar is clean and the atmosphere is jovial and generally good. The food is basic to low quality, but if you order the right thing it could be quite tasty… If you are willing to wait a long time in the cold, that is.

Our Verdict: we don’t understand why this place is so popular.

2 Jena towers out of 5

Bel Ami - Karaoke Bar

Bel Ami Karaoke Bar is located in Johannisplatz 18, in front of the Currywurst Imbiss "Fritz Mitte". This Karaoke bar is part of the Restaurant Bel Ami and it takes place in a separate room called Buddha Lounge. The bar offers 15 000 songs in English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, as well as a wide variety of beers, cocktails and tasty finger food. On the negative side, the service lacks a song book and the sound quality and device has some minor failures. On the bright side, it is a place where you can have a lot of fun with your friends singing your favorite songs. Reservation is necessary as well as 10€ per person.

Our verdict: good fun with your group of friends

3 Jena Towers out of 5

Hai Long - Asian

Hai Long is located in Schloßgasse 2, a little bit off the beaten track and hidden in a small ally but nevertheless worth the 5 min walk from Neue Mitte. The restaurant offers a large variety of standard Chinese and Thai dishes. Don't expext fancy specials - this is solid take away cuisine for 4-6€ per meal. However, the food's quality and taste is way better than the usual average. The three dishes (among them a red curry) we tried were well seasoned and tasty. The gravy was particularly good, slightly watery but without the greasy and thickened texture you often get in Asian restaurants. Don't miss the additional hot and sweet&sour sauces on the table if you like it extra spicy.

Our verdict: good value and great taste for a student budget.

4 Jena towers out of 5