Alte Reederei - Heilbronn

This year's Bundesgartenschau in Heilbronn is only a few days old, but now I want to announce a gastronomic favorite place. At least in terms of the situation – because there is no greater experience yet, but at least there are already first impressions of the well visited Easter weekend. The long-drawn terrain is located directly on the Neckar with its side arms. The restaurant Alte Reederei is centrally located in the area, on the banks of the Alt-Neckar. Celebrity, beautiful, more spectacular it is no longer possible. And the absolute highlight: The place has its own dock, which is regularly served by the shuttle ship "Willy Schneider", which runs between the entrance campus park and the entrance Wohlgelegen, during the entire opening hours between 9 am and 7 pm daily. This circumstance alone already purifies enormous crowds. The rest comes on foot over the terrain – or with the Boller Auto, the Rollator, the E-Scooter. I was on Easter Saturday at 2:00. The well-visited and magnificent view terrace can be seen from the ship. If you want to get a place at this time, you need patience and, if necessary, the use of elbows and strong nerves. For example, further aspirants remain on the railing or on the already circulating flower beds in order to place a free table as quickly as possible. After a short start with two competitors we agree and sit together. Menus are already on all tables, including cutlery and napkins in beer cans. The most popular are the tables in the first row, with direct view of the water and under umbrellas. But even in the second row, it is still quite funny, not so shady. The old shipping company, an ornamental, long-drawn clinker construction, is housed in the former workshop of the Schwaben-Versandgesellschaft, very tired, renovated and styled. Old elements such as the outlet windows or an old ship crane combine harmoniously with new ideas. In good weather, the two terraces entice: one to the front with a view of the water and the boat docks, the other with a view of the garden show and the flowering green. At the summer temperatures and a fine breeze in Easter there is a quite maritime feeling – and with the guests around me it seems to be an extraordinary number of fish heads. Large families are not rare. Two dozen people in a clan are distributed over three tables in front of me. When the places are changed more frequently and reorders are run through, the service personnel are turned completely. Yes, the service is really not to envy. The youthful, sporty serviceman, who often runs continuously, who has the main responsibility in our corner, loses the overview very quickly, but not the intention and good will. Besides constant apologies, he is running on cancellation, clearing, rum. Finally, my bill also contains the drinks of my table neighbours and I have to ask for a new document. Probably there were also some grain trees at this Easter weekend. The old shipping company feels obliged to the Swabian cuisine, while in the early afternoon I mainly saw mules and stray cakes on the side tables. Through the brittle heat, I choose a salad with not quite sponge feta cheese (12.50 euros) and a pepsi (3.50 euros). After 20 minutes the salad is delivered: leaf salads, peppers, tomatoes, feta. Everything is quite taste-neutral and rather fade, so I must quickly ask for pepper and salt. Five minutes later. From the four different dressing variants, I unfortunately choose very pitiful raspberry dressing, in the guess, it would be a Vinaigrette with raspberry vinegar. What then appears looks more like dessert or berry mousse (and tastes like that too). You can spoon as dessert or whistle the baguette in it. Culinary so not so the hit and perhaps the wrong choice. All thin ladies around me leave food all the way and seem to be fed by Aperol Sprizz. It's like a piece of bread. I have to ask three times for the bill, my wish is always in chaos. Anyway, you shouldn't have it here. Since the toilets are distributed loosely on the premises of the BUGA, it is definitely worth a trip to the toilet facilities of the shipping company. They are quite atmospheric in old styles, but are operated eagerly by a specially set toilet woman and regularly refreshed. And be careful with the crib of the water toilet: Please pull carefully!