Christoph’s Wiener Schnitzel

Christoph’s was an accidental discovery as we were strolling through George Town, Penang, intending to head somewhere else for dinner. Instead, we stumbled upon this warm and quietly refined restaurant that specialises in Austrian cuisine. Tucked away on a quieter street, it had the feel of a hidden gem. The setting was cosy and elegant, and being a weekday evening, we nearly had the entire place to ourselves.

The meal began with a simple but satisfying serving of bread and butter, a traditional way to ease into the evening. We ordered the Gustav Klimt Salad (RM40), which was a salad with pork crackling in it. This was delightfully tangy and refreshing. This cold dish had appetite-whetting acidity, perfectly suited for building up the appetite for the main dish.

For our main, we shared a generous pork Wiener Schnitzel (RM68). This dish is one of Austria’s most iconic culinary exports—thinly pounded pork, breaded and fried until golden, often served with a wedge of lemon and potatoes. The schnitzel here was crispy yet tender inside, and the portion was enough for the two of us.

The dish came with a side of viennese potato salad, cucumber salad, lingonberries.

I paired the meal with a glass of red wine, which complemented the richness of the meat beautifully.

We had a creme brûlée for dessert.

The bill came up to RM206, which puts it in the pricier range, but the attentive and warm service by our host, Libra, made the experience feel personal and worthwhile. Christoph’s is listed as a Michelin Select restaurant, and it’s easy to see why. The food is rooted in tradition, executed with finesse, and served with a level of care that lingers in memory long after the meal is done.