What the Viennese eat today is heavily influenced by the traditional cooking of the populations that formed the old Austro-Hungarian empire: Hungarians, Czechs, Croats, and many others. If you want to try something typical, order a Wiener Schnitze (Wiener = Viennese; Schnitzel = boneless chop) with Erdäpfelsalat (Erdäpfel = Austrian word for potatoes + Salat = salad): filling and delicious!

Here is a list of some of the best places (ranked from "budget" to "expensive") where you can fill up on good Viennese cookery:

Budget

Centimeter - In Vienna the brand name Centimeter means huge portions of Wiener Schnitzel for little money: about 6 Euro for two large Schnitzel with lots of French fries and a salad! If you manage to eat it all, you are either outstanding or just insane. Since the food is cheap, quality is occasionally not the best. Yet, this has no obvious negative effect on Centimeter's popularity. The three locations of Centimeter also have a good selection of beer.

Centimeter I
8th district
Lenaugasse 11
Metro: U2 Rathaus
Tel: 4057808
http://www.tourist-net.co.at/lokale/centimeter/ (in German)

Centimeter II
7th district
Stiftgasse 4
Metro: U2, U3 Volkstheater
Tel: 5243329
http://www.tourist-net.co.at/lokale/centimeter/ (in German)

Centimeter III
9th district
Bauernfeldplatz 2
Tramway: line D Bauernfeldplatz
Tel: 3198404
http://www.tourist-net.co.at/lokale/centimeter/ (in German)

Open: Mon-Fri 10 am to 2 am; Sat 11 am to 2 am; Sun 11 am to midnight.

Medium-priced

Bieradies - Bieradies (contraction for "beer paradise") has good local cuisine and excellent beer. It is located in the beautiful Judenplatz, the focal point of Vienna's old medieval Jewish quarter. The service is friendly and in summer you can sit outside in the square.

Bieradies
1st district
Judenplatz 1
Metro: U1 Schwedenplatz; U1, U3 Stephansplatz
Tel: 5356611
http://www.bieradies.at

Open: Mon-Thu 11 am to midnight; Fri-Sat 11 am to 2 am; closed on Sunday.

Medium-priced

Brezl-Gwölb - This is the place for traditional Viennese cooking in a nice historical setting. It is especially nice to go to Brezl-Gwölb in summer: the small square where you can sit outside to eat is gorgeous and has a great feeling of bygone Vienna about it.

Brezl-Gwölb
1st district
Ledererhof 9
Metro: U1, U3 Stephansplatz
Tel: 5338811

Open: daily 11.30 am to 1 am.

Medium-priced

Salm Bräu - This could be the Viennese equivalent to Munich's Hofbräuhaus (the famous brewery-inn), although Salm Bräu is surely less touristy and can therefore be recommended. It is nicely situated in the wine cellars of a former Salesian monastery, neighbouring Schloss Belvedere. Salm Bräu brews its own (very good) beer and offers a typical selection of Austrian cuisine.

Salm Bräu
3rd district
Rennweg 8
Tramway: line 71
Tel: 7995992
http://www.salmbraeu.com/indexe.htm

Open: daily 11 am to midnight.

Medium-priced to expensive

Plachutta - One of Vienna's most famous restaurants, Plachutta serves excellent Tafelspitz (a typical Viennese dish of boiled beef with potatoes and horseradish sauce). Make an evening at the Plachutta the main culinary event of your stay in Vienna and you will not be disappointed: you will get superb quality and first-class service. It does not need to be a heavy burden on your finances either: main courses cost between 10 and 22 Euro.

Plachutta
1st district
Wollzeile 38
Metro: U3 Stubentor
Tel: 5121577
http://www.plachutta.at

Open: daily 11.30 am to midnight.

Expensive

Steirereck - By some restaurant guides called Austria's best restaurant, Steirereck serves Viennese "nouvelle cuisine". It has an elegant atmosphere, so don't forget to dress appropriately. There is also a winter-garden for up to 40 people. If you intend to be one of them, book ahead!

Steirereck
3rd district
Rasumofskygasse 2
Tramway: line N
Tel: 7133168
http://www.steirereck.at/pages/index_e.html

Open: Mon-Fri 10.30 am to 3 pm and 7 pm to 11 pm.