Kettner’s Kamota in Vienna: Michelin-awarded New Austrian cuisine

Kettner’s Kamota is located at Hufergasse 23 in 45239 Essen, right in the historic district of Werden,, in the middle of the car-free part of the old town with its narrow alleys, the ensemble around the Romanesque house and the Ruhr. Behind the restaurant are chef Jürgen Kettner, originally from Styria, and his business partner Wiebke Meier. Since Kettner's return to the Ruhr region, the establishment has pursued a clearly defined concept: Austrian-influenced cuisine, seasonally conceived, crafted with precision, and occasionally refined with Japanese influences. Instead of a traditional a la carte menu, a regularly changing four- or six-course tasting menu is served. It is precisely this focus on rhythm, produce, technique, and dramaturgy that makes the restaurant one of the remarkable Michelin-starred culinary destinations in the south of Essen.

Jürgen Kettner brings a career that carries weight in top-tier German gastronomy. Kettner lists stations including bean&beluga in Dresden, Schöngrün in Bern, and Esplanade in Saarbrücken, where he worked as sous-chef alongside Silio del Fabro. He subsequently gained attention far beyond the region in Wernigerode: the restaurant Pietsch by Kettner, which he helped shape, was awarded a Michelin star shortly after opening. Gault&Millau also recognized him as one of the young culinary talents in Germany.

In Werden Kettner translates this experience into a cuisine rooted in Styria, yet by no means folkloric. Instead, a style emerges that brings together alpine character, clear flavors, and even Japanese accents. The establishment relies on seasonal tasting menus that change at short intervals and are reimagined. As a result, a visit is not a static ritual, but a format with its own composed tension and a distinct signature. The menus are complemented by current specialties as well as a vegetarian option.

Special recognition is also officially documented: Kettner's Kamota is awarded one star in the Michelin Guide. In addition, the establishment points to a recommendation in Gusto. Guest reviews regularly emphasize the precision of the cuisine, as well as the balance of the menus, the stylistic independence, and the attentive service. The combination of technical finesse and a personal touch is frequently cited as a strength of the Restaurants described.

The Kamota cultivates an approach that conveys fine dining not through staging, but through attitude. The ambiance thrives on an interior with calm, contemporary lines, warm lighting, and an atmosphere that allows concentration on the menu without feeling stiff. The evening here is designed as a cohesive experience: not loud, not casual, but with a sense of tact, sequence, and enjoyment. Wiebke Meier brings her experience in managing and organizing various restaurant concepts, thus shaping the framework in which kitchen and service intertwine.

The address in Hufergasse places the restaurant in one of the most historic parts of the city. The surroundings are characterized by the historic old town, with short distances to cultural and architectural landmarks. Just a few minutes away are the Old Abbey Werden, the Protestant church on Heckstraße and the treasury, which are among the significant sights of the district. Also nearby is the Folkwang University of the Arts on the former abbey grounds, whose presence continues to shape the cultural profile of the city to this day. Also the Ruhrpromenade and the Brehminsel are a nearby connection for a walk from here.

The Baldeneysee itself is about a ten-minute walk away, but as a destination it certainly belongs in the context of a visit. Those who want to combine their stay with exercise can easily incorporate the restaurant into a trip between the Ruhrtal, [Baldeneysee] and the paths around the lake. Parking options, if a visit by car is planned, should be checked in advance in the designated parking areas in the surrounding area of [Baldeneysee]. The restaurant itself does not have its own parking spaces.

Kettner’s Kamota is one of those restaurant addresses that gives Essen culinary weight. Jürgen Kettner’s biography, the collaboration with Wiebke Meier, and the deliberate decision in favor of a focused set menu format give the restaurant its special profile. The Michelin star underscores that work is done here not just with ideas, but with consistently high quality. In reviews, the establishment is repeatedly praised for its precise, finely balanced cuisine and attentive service. This makes Kettner’s Kamota one of those addresses that makes the south of Essen visible culinarily beyond the region.