What People are saying

Beautiful setting near a lake and an ancient abby, excellent food

relaxed53on 03/05/2017 17:26

I was a solo female guest visiting a friend who lives nearby. I felt comfortable and safe the whole time, and greatly enjoyed hearing the church bells on a regular basis (beware they do go off shortly after 5AM to call the monks to mass, and they ring for quite some time, my room faced the church -- I liked it, but some may not).

We had an outstanding regional food dinner with a view of the lake, with appropriate luxury service and wine advice by the waiter. The breakfast room also has a view, and a buffet that caters to both German and western basic breakfast tastes.
The complex also has an organic food store with many temptations that put Whole Foods to shame, a wine and spirits store, a store with tasteful gifts and religious and "spiritual" literature and items, (no kitsch) and a more casual restaurant for a quicker bite. My room was basic and clean with a comfortable, soft bed, and had a very large soaking tub. There is a "pillow menu".

A few small negatives that may or may not bother some people:
1. there is no in-room coffee machine, and no room service, so to get morning coffee, you have to go down to the breakfast room (there is a big breakfast room sign advising not to remove anything from there to the room)
2. there is no in-room mini-bar/fridge
3. the grab bars at the tub are oddly positioned and there is no irregularity or grip in the tub, so you have to be careful not to slip in it when getting up or even just standing showering, especially if soap residue is there (would be good to offer rubber mats)
4. the hotel also caters to bigger groups (63 rooms total)
5. the staff repeatedly played a pop/rap radio music station, with commercials, broadcast in the breakfast room. I find such loud annoying radio music with commercials in such a serene setting annoying at 6:30 in the morning, especially pre-coffee, and would rather listen to either the birds chirping, "wellness" music, classical music, or nothing, which would be more appropriate to the setting. The waitress did, however, turn the music off when I asked her to.

I hope to return in the future.

This is a rating ONLY of its restaurant. We did not stay at the hotel.

sateldegamanon 08/11/2016 16:47

We did not stay at the hotel but had lunch in their restaurant. The food is excellent, the service impeccable and there is a great view from the main dining room. Our lunch was not inexpensive(about 73 euros) but we had two of the most expensive items on the menu and wine and desserts.

Lovely setting and excellent dining.

CharlotteKelownaon 15/09/2016 01:34

We visited Maria Laach Abbey and later had a reservation for lunch. They have a lovely patio which offers a beautiful view of the Laacher See( a crater lake). The menu offers very tempting options, and we chose the trout fillet, which was excellent. Everything was fresh, nicely presented and obviously prepared with quality ingredients. The place seems to be well known, as the dining room inside was busy as well at lunch time. Reservations are definitely recommended! I cannot comment on the hotel, as we did not stay there, but we highly recommend the restaurant!

Fine eating at the Seehotel Restaurant at Maria Laach Abbey

Gary Oon 07/09/2016 19:26

I ate here with my partner on Saturday, 13 August 2016 at approx. 18:00 in the evening. This restaurant is located near the Maria Laach Lake in Glees, Germany and just outside the town of Mendig, Germany. We arrived at the Benedict Abbey early, so we could visit the Abbey’s Book Store and Garden Store before dinner. We walked over to the Hotel/Restaurant and sat down at approx. 16:50 and had a drink before dinner. Between 14:00-17:00 the restaurant is open for cake, coffee, tea, soft drinks, ice cream and then normally they close the restaurant between 17:30-18:00 to prepare for dinner. However, they allowed us to stay and we just had to changed tables, prior to 18:00. Luckily we had called ahead for a table; otherwise we would not have obtained one; since all the tables were reserved for the evening. Since it was such a nice summer day and evening it seems everyone had the same idea that we had and wanted to enjoy the summer evening at the Seehotel Restaurant at Maria Laach Abbey. So making a reservation is a must, if you want to eat at this restaurant on a Saturday night on a nice summer evening.

The Cuisine at this restaurant is German. The menu is a Fine Dish Limited Menu with set meals. The Menu (in German) despite being written with flowery wording is easy to read and understand. The Menu while limited had a variety of meals, to include vegetarian meals e.g. soups, salads, or fish dishes. However, I did not see anything on the Menu for the ‘Small Guest’. There is also a Wine Menu available, but one must ask for it. The Menu changes from time-to-time. The non-alcoholic drinks are not listed on the Main Menu and they are also but not posted On-line. There is also separate Desert Menu, with has several tempting deserts listed, which was offered to us after we finished our Main Entrée.

We ordered two glasses of red wine (Merlot), a regular coke, diet coke and water. They only have coke in 0, 2 ml bottles. The coke, wine, and water were served cold; as they should be, and shortly after we ordered them.

I ordered the Rump Steak, with green beans and sliced fried potatoes that was served hot and was delicious. My partner ordered a Caesars Salad, as her Main Entrée and we shared the two plates 50/50. This was the first place, I have eaten in Germany were my medium steak was truly cooked medium. Beef and pork are cooked differently and it is hard to find a restaurant in Germany that can cook beef right. However, I was not asked how I wanted it cooked when I ordered and I forgot that in Europe the waiter/waitress, do not ask. So, I got it cooked medium. The sliced fried potatoes were not evenly cooked. Some of the sliced potatoes were cooked just right and others were fried to a crisp.

The ‘Seehotel Benediktinerabtei Maria Laach’ knows that the reason drinks, bread, salads, and soups are served first, is so the cook has time to complete the Main Entrée while customers are occupied and do not get bored waiting for their Main Entrée. So while we waited for our Main Entrée, we were served two kinds of bread with two kinds of butter, without having to ask for it. Wheat and sunflower seed bread with both regular butter and kräuterbutter (with what I believe were slices of orange in it). Plus, in the first bread basket, there were even number of bread slices, so there was no fighting over the bread between me and my partner. However, the 2nd basket had an uneven number of bread slices and therefore someone had to make a compromise. The only negative issue during the evening meal was that on the underside of one piece of bread was a metal wire closure or clip from a plastic bag. Luckily, my partner felt the metal clip, as she picked up this piece of bread and removed the clip before she ate the bread. Otherwise she would have either swallowed the clip or choked on it. What disturbed me about this incident was that even though we mentioned it to the waiter and he acknowledged it, nothing more was said about it. I was shocked that nobody, not the waiter/waitress or the manager came over and as a minimum said he/she was sorry. They did not offer us an apology, our drinks or our deserts for free; as any restaurant in the U.S. would have done.

If I had been here alone, the waiting time probably would have seemed a long time, however we did not have to wait longer than normal for our food. We had enough time for pleasant conversation, or drinks, and some bread before the Main Entrée was served. Plus, both meals were served together, as they should be. As I mentioned before, my partner and I shared our meals 50/50, so I can recommend both my meal and her meal as being delicious.

The price for both meals was above average, compared to other restaurants; however, the portions were fair. Also, once during our meal and also as the empty plates were collected, we were asked how everything was, as it should be.

As one enters the Hotel Lobby one first comes in through a double door system that could be a problem for the disabled but is designed to keep in the heat and keep out the cold air in the winter; which is very good. As we arrived both doors were open, because it was such a nice warm afternoon. Then one walks straight through the Lobby and the Hotel’s Restaurant is around a pillar and then to the right. The space between the tables and chairs inside and outside the restaurant is such that others do not have to disturb or push past others to get to their table. Only when the tables are pushed together for a large group, depending how the tables are set-up, can it be somewhat tight between the tables and chairs. The tables outside on the terrace are for 4 persons, but the tables can be pushed together to accommodate more guest. The table legs are straight not crossed under the table and therefore once pushed together the tables still allow space for ones legs underneath. While the restaurant can push tables together of the terrace dining area for large groups, parties or gatherings of more than 6 persons, they have limited space outside for groups larger than 12 persons. However, this hotel has other dining rooms available for larger groups.

The surroundings inside and outside are very pleasant with classy modern decorations. The outside terrace and gardens are beautiful in the summer. As we were there the terrace was decorated with flowered planters hanging from the terrace railing. The outside tables and chairs are sturdy solid black whickered plastic and each chair had a seat cushion. The lighting outside on the terrace was just right; either the natural light or as the evening progressed the small battery powered flickering light on each table was fine. I had no problem being able to read the menu with the light provided. The noise level outside the restaurant was also no problem. Since the hotel front doors were open because it was such a nice day, the temperature inside and outside on the terrace in the shade of the overhead marquee and/or the sun umbrellas above all the tables was perfect. And therefore the outside dining area was not only easy on the eyes but comfortable and made the meal more enjoyable.

As I stated before, we sat outside on the terrace at a table for 4, next to the outside railing where we could see the hotel gardens. As we were there, a couple was having a 50th Anniversary party in the garden and so we had the added advantage of music from the German Bundeswehr for about 20 minutes.

Since it was summer and I did not have a coat or jacket, I did not look for or notice a place to hang up coats and jackets and so I cannot comment on whether there was one or not. We did not sit inside, so I cannot comment on the inside sitting area, either.

All tables are covered with a red table cloth and then another white table cloth, and have on them: a battery powered flickering light, salt and pepper mills, silverware, water glass, a bread knife on a bread plate, and a cloth napkin folded into a crown (While, I prefer paper napkins – I can adjust). Each place setting has a knife and fork, but no spoon. Luckily, I did not need a spoon with my food: If I had, I would have had to ask for one and wait or go looking for a spoon, while my hot food got cold. One should not have to go hunting for a spoon, when their food is hot, the spoon should already be on the table when the food is served. Plus since I had ordered the Rump Steak, my knife was replaced with a steak knife; as it should be.

It seemed that employees were wearing a simple white and black uniform, which provides a degree of professionalism and a team work atmosphere in the restaurant.

As we finished our meals and the empty plates were removed, we were asked if we wanted dessert and we were given the Dessert Menu, to look at. While the deserts sounded good, we chose not to order desert.

And as we left, the staff wished us a good evening.

Note: This Restaurant does not allow smoking outside during dinner.

I did not see anyone with a dog in the restaurant, so I can report whether dogs are welcome or not.

I do not know if they have take-out, so I cannot report on this either.

Parking is available across from the Hotel in either the parking lot or hotel garage. To park in the parking lot is free of charge for hotel guest, however for the garage there is a cost.

For the disabled there are no barriers to getting into the restaurant, except maybe the tow double front door system. One can enter either through the Hotel Lobby or the Hotel Gardens. The ground level from the parking lot or parking garage to the Hotel entrance is mostly level. Plus, there is a ramp in front of the hotel and the floor is level from the entrance to either the inside or outside tables in the restaurant area. So, someone in a wheelchair might need some assistance getting pass the front doors, otherwise there are few barriers. Plus, once inside the restaurant moving around the ground floor is no problem and removing a chair to provide access to a table is also possible. The restrooms are also located on the ground floor, the same floor as the restaurant; access for someone disabled in a wheelchair is possible. The restrooms were clean, which means the kitchen is also clean.

This Restaurant has its own Internet Site (in German and English). Their internet page has a lot of useful information. E.g. About the Hotel, the Restaurant’s open hours; the restaurant address and phone number; a map showing its location; pictures of the restaurant inside/outside; An On-line Menu and Wine Menu; there is an On-line Telephone number for table reservations and there is an email address but it is not easy to find and it is for group reservations. It states that they have Wi-Fi in the rooms, however I don’t know if their restaurant has Wi-Fi, because I did not need it and I did not ask.

Overall the management, the staff, and the waiter/waitresses were all very friendly, during our visit. The food was great, the portions fair, and the service was good. The only issue that concerned me was that metal clip we found on the underside of our bread and that nobody, not the waiter/waitress and not the manager, came over as a minimum to say they were sorry or offered us a free desert as they would have done in the US. Based on this incident, I am not sure if we will give this restaurant another chance and eat here again, or not.

Worth staying but ensure things are in place

Jiten1969on 04/09/2016 19:37

I had been to Wassenach for official work and my host booked me there for one night and promptly received an email from the hotel. I responded and corrected them that I would stay there for 2 nights and might checkin late as it was 2 flights and 2 trains to reach the hotel. My flight was delayed by 3.5 hours and when I reached by 1 am I was told j had no bookings as also the hotel had no rooms. When I displayed the correspondence, was time through they will allot a room since guests did not arrive. To me, this was shocking as a prior booking meant nothing.
Also, the room quality for a double room was good, breakfast for a vegetarian was poor.
I had to remind them for water in my room and it was delivered promptly.
Barring the checkin experience it was a good stay.
The Church - Maria Laach Abbey is bang opposite worth a visit. Ok the church bells do wake you up but not when one is tired.
I would go there the second time for sure.