The story
Restaurant Zwölfender serves regional Harz cuisine right outside Wernigerode, drawing its menu directly from the surrounding forest and farmland. The kitchen prioritises seasonal availability, building plates around locally sourced pork, river fish, and wild game. Every dish reflects a straightforward approach where quality ingredients take centre stage rather than heavy sauces. This commitment to honest cooking earned the venue two ladles from the Schlemmer Atlas for 2026.
Diners frequently return for the Wilder Brockenblick Grillteller, which pairs venison sausage, wild boar steak, and roe deer loin with bacon beans. The local kitchen also prepares a hearty Rinderroulade braised in a rich Schwarzbiersoße alongside crisp red cabbage and boiled potatoes. Lighter options appear through the week, including pan fried trout fillet served with cucumber salad and buttered new potatoes. Sweet endings lean heavily into regional themes, featuring wild blueberry crumble and poached pears folded into chocolate cakes.
The main room holds one hundred indoor seats while a separate terrace provides sixty additional spots for outdoor dining. The layout easily shifts between casual weekday lunches and organised events like weddings or team meetings. Staff handle full event coordination so groups can focus entirely on conversation rather than logistics. Visitors seeking convenience can order meals over the phone for fresh pickup straight from the kitchen.
Recognition
Ambience
Location