Six times star cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere

Magic word casual fine dining

Do you love fine dining at the highest level? But feel most comfortable in a relaxed atmosphere? That's not a contradiction in Düsseldorf. Because the selection of restaurants that have earned and received a Michelin star is so large here that there is something for every taste. If your taste buds are spoiled, but you still fancy a relaxed meal without a tie and collar, these six restaurants are the right place for you.  

Type case 

The Setzkasten has achieved a sensation. Chef Anton Pahl and his 19-strong team were the first restaurant in a German supermarket to cook up a Michelin star in 2020, which they were able to retain in 2021. Admittedly, it's not just any supermarket, but Edeka Zurheide, known as a gourmet temple, where this miracle was achieved. The extended evening gourmet journey with a French twist has nine courses. With many accompanying dishes, there are twelve to 16 taste experiences, whereby the small greetings from the kitchen are generated from the various departments of the supermarket. "This collaboration always results in new and exciting symbioses," says Pahl, explaining the wealth of ideas. "We are also a young, creative team. Everyone can get involved, from trainees to sous-chefs." Despite the highest gastronomic standards, there is no trace of stiffness. The interior of the Setzkasten is clear and cozy thanks to warm colors and natural materials. Are you new to haute cuisine? Then try the lunchtime business lunch, a short culinary trip, so to speak, with four courses and three greetings from the kitchen. But you should bring two hours with you.   

Dr. Kosch 

"We are a restaurant away from attitudes," explains Volker Drkosch, who gave the restaurant on Roßstraße its name and put his culinary stamp on it. "You won't find starched tablecloths and shallow elevator music here," says the 52-year-old restaurateur. Instead, he and his dedicated team of five convey an urban, cosmopolitan attitude to life. The experienced chef had already earned a Michelin star for other establishments in 2000, 2002 and 2009 before venturing into self-employment in 2015 and succeeding here too. Together with his partner Susanne Schmitt, star-spoiled Volker Drkosch has been creating "culinary poetry" ever since. His chef's choice menu has four, five or six courses; there is no à la carte menu. The "Precious Little Diamonds" are particularly delicious: scallops glazed with lemon peel jam, bedded in quinoa and coated in almond milk. A poem! 

1876 Daniel Dal-Ben 

If Dr. Kosch is a bit like a nice bar, Daniel Dal-Ben offers a living room atmosphere in his restaurant. The establishment on Grunerstrasse in the Zooviertel has just twelve seats. You sit in an intimate setting in upholstered armchairs and enjoy the impeccable service at 1876, whose name is derived from the year Düsseldorf Zoo opened, which was located directly opposite until 1943. Daniel Dal-Ben is the son of an immigrant family from Veneto and has two hearts beating in his chest: he sees himself as a border crosser between local, regional and Italian cuisine, but also draws from the pantry of the seven continents. Fish and seafood are the main components of the evening menu - vacation feelings included.   

Yoshi by Nagaya 

A clear thing. The authenticity of the product, the clarity of flavors and textures are the focus at Yoshi on Kreuzstraße. This was worth a star in the 2021 Michelin Guide. Chef Yoshizumi Nagaya is no stranger to Düsseldorf. The Nagaya just around the corner on Klosterstraße has also been awarded a star. "Traditional kaiseki cuisine takes center stage at Yoshi," says Yoshizumi Nagaya, who returned to his roots with this concept in 2015. Kaiseki is the Japanese answer to French haute cuisine. The evening omakase menu, where the chef selects the dishes, impresses with its absolutely product-oriented and extremely precise preparation. Tip: Come at lunchtime too - there's a cheaper menu. Incidentally, the third restaurant of this exceptional restaurateur is very casual. The newly opened Roku in Derendorf is a mixture of bistro and wine bar.  

Agata's 

The location is unspectacular, but the food is anything but. In the shadow of St. Peter's Church - on the south side of the church square in Unterbilk - another gem of fine dining awaits you. Agata Reul, a native of Poland, welcomes her guests here in an interior characterized by warm earthy colors and lots of plants. Philipp Lange takes care of the culinary delights on the plates. The experienced chef celebrates modern, international cuisine with Asian influences, in which the particularly creative interplay of flavors stands out. 

Anthony's Kitchen 

Full of energy and yet deeply relaxed. With his open-heartedness and varied cuisine, 39-year-old Anthony Sarpong doesn't fit into any pigeonhole. The chef with Ghanaian roots was awarded his first Michelin star in 2017. In 2021, he also received the green Michelin star for sustainability, the only one in the region to do so. "We are the first restaurant in Germany to have our own certified organic cultivation. Our suppliers come from within a five-kilometer radius, including those for the plates and cutlery," explains Sarpong. Of the two menus on offer at the Meerbusch restaurant, one is completely vegan. His own favorite dish is rice with melted butter and his favorite shopping street is Kölner Straße, a multicultural shopping street in Düsseldorf, where he finds plenty of inspiration. The atmosphere at his restaurant is correspondingly relaxed: "We invite you into our living room, so to speak, with a view into the kitchen," says Sarpong with a laugh, describing the ambience of his Michelin-starred restaurant. So if you fancy the finest sustainable cuisine in a cozy place, you are in the best hands at Anthony's. 

Cover picture: Dr.Kosch ©Moritz Peters