Steak at the Naschmarkt.
At Block House every cut is spot on.

If you walk along the Naschmarkt towards Karlsplatz, you almost inevitably pass Linke Wienzeile 4. This is where Block House is, the first house of the Hamburg steakhouse brand in Austria. Since 1968, everything at Block House has revolved around one thing: good beef, grilled short and hot. In Vienna, this promise has been kept since 2017.

The editorial team was there twice, on two very different occasions: once at lunchtime with a larger group, once in the evening as a couple. Both visits convinced us so much that we immediately booked a third. At the end of November we are holding our company Christmas party here.

Visit one · lunchThe €13.90 lunch menu

We had often heard about the lunch menu at Block House, but had never tried it. So we arranged to meet three friends for lunch on a weekday. The lunch offer is available every day from 11:30 am to 3 pm, and it really costs only €13.90. In this location, a few steps from Karlsplatz, that is a price that makes you look twice.

The dishes change constantly. So it is worth checking the board on every visit, because what is on offer today may be something quite different next time. Fresh salad comes with the main course, and the choice is so wide that at our table of four everyone found something for themselves, without compromise.

What we especially liked at lunchtime: it is quick without feeling rushed. If you only have an hour for your lunch break, you will be back at the office on time and still have eaten properly. For people working around the Naschmarkt, the lunch menu is a real recommendation.

Visit two · eveningT-bone and Mr. Rumpsteak

For the second visit we chose an evening and came as a pair. This time we wanted to know exactly how good the steaks at Block House really are. The answer begins in the kitchen, or rather before it: the meat comes from the company's own butcher's. This way Block House itself controls which beef goes on the grill, how it is matured and how it is cut.

On our table were a T-bone steak and a Mr. Rumpsteak. Both came exactly as we had ordered them. The cut was first-class, the steaks were perfectly grilled, with strong roasted flavours outside and the desired doneness inside. That goes for both plates equally, and that is exactly the point: consistent quality is harder with steaks than it sounds.

We also had a lovely red wine that went well with the meat. And at the end of the evening came a bill that is nothing to be ashamed of. In terms of value for money, Block House is clearly ahead of many other steakhouses in Vienna. If you want a good steak without spending half a month's budget, you're in the right place.

The serviceAttentive, friendly, unfussy

On both visits the service stood out positively. We were welcomed warmly and seated quickly, the order was taken without detours, and the food arrived at a pleasant pace. At lunchtime, when it's full and many people are short of time, just as in the evening, when you want to sit back and relax.

The team knows the menu, answers questions about cuts and doneness confidently and takes its time without being pushy. You feel in good hands, and that feeling is often the reason you come back in the end. For us it meant that we immediately planned our next celebration here.

Visit three · coming soonOur Christmas party in the club room

After the second evening the decision was quickly made: our company Christmas party takes place at Block House on 27 November, and the room is booked. The deciding factor was the two club rooms. Both are closed-off rooms with their own seating, just for your own group. No partition in the dining room, no neighbouring table listening in.

The club room on the ground floor offers 30 to 35 seats on around 40 m² and is reachable without steps directly from the entrance, with comfortable bench seating along the wall. The club room in the basement, with 35 to 40 seats on around 50 m², is the larger and quieter of the two. A projector and screen are available, so it is also suitable for a company meeting followed by a meal.

The team agrees the schedule, seating plan and food with each group; guests can choose freely from the menu or a set menu can be fixed in advance. If you are planning for December, you should enquire early: the club rooms are well booked in the run-up to Christmas.

The locationRight at the Naschmarkt

Hardly any steakhouse in Vienna is better located. Linke Wienzeile 4, directly at the Naschmarkt, 150 metres from Karlsplatz with the U1, U2 and U4. The U4 station Kettenbrückengasse is also close, and if you come by car, the TU Wien car park is just around the corner. For a company party that is a big advantage: everyone can get there, and everyone gets home again easily.

In summer a beer garden in the courtyard beckons, not visible from the street at all and pleasantly quiet, although the market is only a few steps away. Inside it is cosy, with wood, warm light and checked placemats, exactly as you imagine a steakhouse.

Block House am Naschmarkt is looked after by our publisher Eura Media. Photos: Block House am Naschmarkt.