Our final night was spent at Vienna Hotel Marriott. This is a modern area of the city with construction being done and just across the street from a beautiful park - Stadtpark. The tram does not run as close to this hotel which required more walking.
Stadtpark · Vienna
We set out on foot in search of the Jolly Ox restaurant that has great reviews. Unfortunately, when we arrived, we found it was closed. We decided to cross over the river and have a look around. We knew we would have about 15 more minutes walking and we were pretty hungry at that point. Jolly Ox's closing turned into a stroke of luck for us when we stumbled upon Wild. The restaurant has been in business over 100 years. It has a casual atmosphere and the staff was superb.
After a long, chilly walk, we had been ready to settle for the first open door, and we were immediately captivated by the staff's passion once we were inside. Gasthaus Wild is at Radetzkyplatz 1 in Vienna's third district, Landstraße. Gasthaus is the German word for a traditional inn-style restaurant, and the casual, welcoming atmosphere fit that tradition perfectly.
The Steak
Now the important part - the STEAK! Wild serves local, in season, fare. The menu is set daily. Breads and pastas are made in-house. The steak served at the time of our visit on October 4, 2016 was not what you would expect.
Wild boar carpaccio · Gasthaus Wild, Vienna
We had one of the best carpaccio dishes we've ever eaten and it was made of wild boar! It was topped with arugula and shaved parmesan. It was succulent and melt-in-your-mouth thin. Served along with the house-made bread there was little room for a main dish. However...
Ostrich filet · Gasthaus Wild, Vienna
The staff highly recommended the filet and of course, we could not say no. If you have never had an ostrich filet and the opportunity presents itself, try it! There is nothing resembling fowl in the flavor of this meat. Ostrich steak is lean and rich. We ordered the temperature at chef's recommendation and he seared it just a tad below medium-rare. It was served with roasted vegetables and wild berry compote which added a perfect tangy sweetness. Our stomachs forgot they were already full!
This was one of those dishes that you just never want to end. Every bite was savored and chewed with relish. Thinking back to it over two years later my mouth still waters!
Undoubtedly the menu will not be the same the next time we are in Vienna but the flavor and quality of the dishes make it exciting to try something new and unique. This restaurant is highly recommended!
Gasthaus Wild was our dinner on the last night of a short Vienna trip that also took us to Plachutta, the Vienna State Opera House, Schönbrunn Palace and a Schlumberger sparkling wine bar. Fully satisfied with our meal, and our short time in Vienna, we made our way back to the hotel — in a taxi! The contrast between the traditional Tafelspitz at Plachutta and the ostrich filet at Wild summed up the city for us: strict, deep tradition alongside exciting, world-class modern refinement. You can read the full story of our days in the city in our Vienna review on ReviewTrip, Vienna: Our Imperial Itinerary.
Visiting Gasthaus Wild · Vienna
You can find the current menu and opening hours on the restaurant's website. Because the menu is set daily, we suggest doing what we did and asking the staff what is best that day. Come hungry, but pace yourself: between the house-made bread and the wild boar carpaccio, we nearly had no room for a main dish. And if ostrich is on the menu, order it.
Back to our Vienna steak guide — or read about Plachutta Wollzeile for the traditional Tafelspitz experience
Originally published 2021 · Redesigned 2026