Description: The Café Especial is centrally located, namely in the immediate vicinity of the Köln-Deutz railway station. It is located on the corner of Constance Street / Neuhöfferstraße and before that there is a large parking lot. However I recommend to travel by public transport, after all, there are also cocktails, you should try if you're already there and for the many different varieties of Tequila Especial is also famous.
One can therefore easily travel by tram with lines 1 and 9 (stop: Bf Deutz / Köln Arena): traveling and is just near the Especial or the lines 3, 4, 14 (Cologne Messe / Osthallen stop). The Especial is thus located opposite the railway station and is not to be missed. In summer you can see from afar the tables and chairs with umbrellas, that is really easy.
About three years ago, my friend and I went for the first time in the Café Especial. At that time we wanted to go eat Mexican and went to this restaurant, because actually it is not a cafe. Since then it has given us liked the food is really excellent, we went again, the last time last Friday with a couple friends.
It should be noted that we should reserve because it is always very busy and you then have to wait at the bar until you finally get a table. Thus we have reserved one week in advance and get a cozy table on the terrace. Reservations are made on the first name by the way, so do not be surprised if one asks for it.
The Café Especial is divided, at least in summer, between indoor and outdoor, and even then there are time differences. A reservation for a table outside, so you sit in the more sheltered from the street area in which you only get when you have reserved. Here are just a few tables and the atmosphere is very cozy. The other is the large outdoor terrace, where there is more space, you also will notice the car noise from the street.
The interior is quite cozy with dark wood tables and chairs and lots of pictures on the wall. The entrance area is the large bar and the small reception desk. With or without reservation, I register here and ask for a table, before you settle down somewhere, because there are usually waiting lists. Those waiting to be entertained so long at the bar, but is also often full, so you can just wait outside. Therefore, reservation, especially on weekends, almost a must.
The Café Especial is very cozy and inviting, albeit sometimes crowded and warm. Even the aisles between the tables are sometimes rather narrow, so you should have no fears.
The menu is not very big but still big enough and varied. Welcomed with a bowl of nachos and dip free, each additional will cost 3 euro’s. The menu is divided into appetizers, salads, specialties, main dishes, fish dishes and extras.
Appetizers are typical snacks like nachos in different variations or dip of guacamole, of course, dishes made from wheat tortillas. There are also simple things like chicken wings. The starters all cost between 5.20 € and 10 €. Salads there are many different and delicious, in the area of 3,50 € to 10 €.
The dishes are large portions of meat-containing dishes, often very sharp. Our friend had ordered, for example, a dish called "degustación del Pacifico," which is a compilation of several Mexican dishes, and probably was very tasty but very rich. Specialties you get for 12 € to 16,50 €, not just a little but you get really tired.
Main courses cost between € 10.50 and 13 €. These portions are not exactly small, but do it right enough. For 11 € I ordered last time Tacos California, what a crisp corn tortilla filled with beef (or from chicken), cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and Tacosoße. In addition, it was still a keen bean, and I became really tired. Portions never look particularly great, but make the tortillas and the cheese pretty tired. Many of the dishes are vegetarian and some pretty sharp what you want to stop now. But the dishes that are not marked as hot, have a certain sharpness and pleasant background are really delicious.
Frankly, the service at Café Especial is not as exhilarating, at least he can be quite different. In a previous visit we were very satisfied, on Friday he was rather weak. This is perhaps because students here are working in their spare time and the staff changes often. Our waiterwas one of the rather unreliable type. One of the Kölsch glasses, which he brought to us, showed traces of whatever, it was filthy. So we asked politely for a replacement. Our food arrived fairly quickly and was really good
Anyone who likes Mexican food and cocktails, is the Café Especial just right. The prices are reasonable, since one is always really tired, but happy hour is a little small dimensions. On the whole I am very satisfied and we will certainly be back often, but I draw from for the service and not so great a star toilets. So I award four stars and a recommendation.
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