Figlmüller Wollzeile

Figlmüller Wollzeile is the original branch of the Vienna restaurant that has served pork schnitzel since 1905, and its name is virtually synonymous with the dish across the city. The schnitzel here is pounded thin enough to overhang the plate on both sides while remaining tender inside a crisp, golden breadcrumb crust; unlike many other schnitzel houses, the original location serves only the pork version, not veal. The setting is a narrow, atmospheric alley just off Wollzeile, with cramped wood-paneled dining rooms across a few floors that fill quickly and are almost always crowded with a mix of tourists and Viennese diners. Service is efficient and no-nonsense given the volume of guests, and the classic potato salad on the side is a standard, unfussy accompaniment. Wine and Austrian beer are available, but this is a place people come for the schnitzel rather than an extended dining experience. The restaurant does not take reservations, so queues form at peak lunch and dinner hours; arriving right at opening or in the mid-afternoon lull is the best way to avoid a long wait.