Where Have All the German Restaurants Gone?

quote:

Originally posted by Rex Allen

Any one of you know a good German restaurant on the left coast? The Only one that I know of is in cold,expensive San Diego!

And what is the name of that good German restaurant? I'll be out there end of February. Had dinner at Zum Stammtisch in Glendale, Queens NY for the first time tonight. It was excellent. I also see that today(?) is the last day for Niedersteins…

There is a charming little town about 1 1/2 hours northwest of San Antonio called Fredericksburg which has several German restaurants. We ate at one which was very good...sadly, I can't remember the name.

There is a pretty good German restaurant in downtown Fredricksburg called Linden or Linden Tree or something like that.

quote:

Originally posted by Fred Ferris

As for German, the Chicago Brauhaus is by far the best we've encountered anywhere in the country (and I don't say that simply becuase we just moved to an apartment literally a 90 second walk to their front door). Literally everything on the menu is perfect..from the lightly battered, tender veal to the best roast duck I've ever eaten.

Someday I want to get to Chicago to visit Frank Lloyd Wright buildings. I'll definitely stop by the Chicago Brauhaus when I do. Thanks, Fred

kimchee-

Couldn't read every response, so I don't know if these have been mentioned. It sounds like you're a fellow Chicagoan, so here's a few in town. Try Mirabell on Addison just east of I-94. Also, there's a corridor along Irving Park between Western and Lincoln Avenue with two or three well respected German restaurants along both sides of the street. I think one is called Laschett's, on the south side of Irving. There's another one on the north side of the street within a few blocks. We also had a wonderful meal in Ann Arbor at a place called the Ratshkeller. A little closer to home, up north on I-94 in Kenosha is a place on the east side of the highway specializing in "European Dishes". Good food, good atmosphere. Unfortunately, i don't know the name. Hope this helps.

Originally posted by sugarlander:
There is a pretty good German restaurant in downtown Fredricksburg called Linden or Linden Tree or something like that.
----------------------------------------------------

Just like that, only in German: Der Lindenbaum. Lucky Bishop and I have been through Fredericksburg twice while on road trips in Texas, and we ate there the last time. I enjoyed my lunch quite a lot, but Lucky didn't so much. (Don't remember what we got - I may have had some kind of rouladen.) I seem to remember that the Black Forest cake I got for dessert was pretty underwhelming.

The time that we passed through before we ate at the Auslander, which is a block or two away, also on the main street. It had more of a beer-garden atmosphere, and the food was decent - that time I think Lucky enjoyed his smoked sausage platter more than I did my sauerbraten. Both places were pretty good but not outstanding.

We have yet to be disappointed at the Student Prince in Springfield, MA, but I do really wish there were more places to choose from, especially here in the Northeast, and a wider selection of German cuisine than sausages and sauerbraten, delicious as those dishes are.

I agree--Der Lindenbaum was good but not great.

Charity and I discussed this over lunch this afternoon, and I seem to recall that what I got was cabbage rolls or something else in that general arena -- you know, something that you would expect a German restaurant in an aggressively German town (when Kinky Friedman ran for sheriff of Johnson City, his slogan was "I'll keep us out of war with Fredericksburg") to excel at -- but I remember it as being terribly, disappointingly bland.

I still savor the memory of that sausage platter at Auslander, though...one of these days, we're going to actually spend the night in Fredericksburg so I can have a couple beers there and not have to worry about continuing on to San Angelo right away.

Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood Queens (& Brooklyn) New York has long been know for it's German influence. As of 2/8 Niedersteins in Middle Village closed after 150 years, there are rumors that Durow's in Glendale has been sold and the restaurant may close. Gebhardt's in Ridgewood closed 3 years ago and moved to Floral Park. Zumstamtisch in Ridgewood is still very much alive.

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood Queens (& Brooklyn) New York has long been know for it's German influence. As of 2/8 Niedersteins in Middle Village closed after 150 years, there are rumors that Durow's in Glendale has been sold and the restaurant may close. Gebhardt's in Ridgewood closed 3 years ago and moved to Floral Park. Zumstamtisch in Ridgewood is still very much alive.

Mom just told me about Neiderstein's yesterday . . . I am seriously bummed. Where will we go after funerals now?! This was also where my family celebrated my 40th Birthday last June. Always a good time. Even the funerals were a lot of laughs. Where else can I go for the Bavarian Platter and a pint of Dinkel Acker. Germany I guess.

The word I hear on Durow's is that they sold the parking lot. Sadly, I think that was the last good thing about Durow's.

I guess we can't fight the fact that the demographics are changing in the area. Plus, real estate prices are sky high. Too good to refuse. I grew up in queens, that's how I know this stuff.

I have heard that the food @ Zummstantisch (can we please just say ZST from here on) is genuine enough to be excessively rich. Any input?

Any of you locals still remember the Triangle Hofbrau? Miss that too.

Your name says it all. Triangle Hofbrau (I'm 56 and I remember going there as a kid, but I have most vivid memories of Niedersteins) is now a medical building. It was once the oldest restaurant/tavern/hotel/stage-coach- stop in Queens till it closed, then Niedersteins got that honor and now it's gone. Durow's may be on the block not too. Did you know that Gebhardt's is no longer in Ridgewood? Three years ago they moved to Floral Park. Sammet's on Onderdonk Ave is now a South American place. Zumstamtisch is still there. Here's two links on Niedersteins

http://timesnewsweekly.com/Archives2005/Jan.-Mar.2005/021005/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html

http://timesnewsweekly.com/NewFiles/OURNEIGH.html

Note, the 2nd link may change, you may have to dig into the archives to find it. Interesting to find out that the owner of Niederstains (H Herink) and the importer of Dinkleacker (D Steinem) started Zumstamtisch.

BTW, Triangle Hofbrau was a favorite of Babe Ruth and Mae West, and the rumor is that the song 'When Irish Eyes are Smiling' was written there. Here's a link

http://www.richmondhillhistory.org/Hofbrau.html

On another note. Anyone not from this area may not understand what a funeral menu is. In the 1800 when they stopped all burials in Manhattan, the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx exploded with cemeteries. Many restaurants near these cemeteries had funeral menus to cater to the groups of people that would come to the restaurant after a funeral. They would seat 10 to 20 people and have a limited option inexpensive menu. It's been like this for a hundred years.

I'm just a local boy and I don't know if this is common in other places. Niederstains (especially) and Durows were popular for funerals in this area of Queens. I don't reside in Queens anymore and I hope at my funeral meal, no one is asked 'Fries with that?'. And they don't serve Manhattans at McDonalds.

Thanks for the great links Kozel! Love those old pix.

Here's my thing. I live down the Jersey Shore now, my parents are still in Ozone Park. Dad doesn't like to go far from home, especially since his first heart attack last September, so Neidersteins was a family staple for us. Now we're SOL.

What's the buzz on Chalet Alpina? I'd like to stick w/German food if I can. Not many choices left, and I can't stand Durow's.

BTW, I remember seeing a show on cable and they mentioned an outdoor Beer Garden. I think it was either in Brooklyn or Queens and I can't recall the name. Any ideas. Thanks.

Greetings all,

Tommy

I never did get to Chalet Alpina but I think it's still there. I was on Metro yesterday but didn't take notice. We moved from Glendale about 23 years ago and now live in Suffolk. We have a few German places out here but nothing like what used to be in Glendale and the places out here are losing their German identity. Smithtown Haus and Pine Grove Inn are now officially continental cuisine. ZST may be your best bet.

Oh, and that beer garden; I didn't see the show and I havn't been there but I have the link.

http://www.bohemianhall.com/home.htm

It's in Astoria, is the last remaining beer garden and is Czech not German. There's a big Czech population in Astoria. And let us remember that Pilsner beer is named for a town (Pilsen) in the Czech republic. Here's an interesting link to the Czech embassy that has a listing of restaurants. Competition for Roadfood?

http://www.mzv.cz/washington/general/restaurants.htm

Enjoy your dad while you can. In this past year we lost the last member of the 'older generation' in our family. We are now that generation. Being German, did anyone in your family have an appreciation for Liederkranz Cheese?

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

I never did get to Chalet Alpina but I think it's still there. I was on Metro yesterday but didn't take notice.
http://www.bohemianhall.com/home.htm

It's in Astoria, is the last remaining beer garden and is Czech not German. There's a big Czech population in Astoria. And let us remember that Pilsner beer is named for a town (Pilsen) in the Czech republic.

Enjoy your dad while you can. In this past year we lost the last member of the 'older generation' in our family. We are now that generation. Being German, did anyone in your family have an appreciation for Liederkranz Cheese?

So I got real sentimental tonight and made pork cutlets and spaetzel.

... It was my first attempt at spaetzel, so it was a bit like eating buckshot, but the pork was good.

One of the articles about N-stein's demise mentioned the Alpine Chalet, it's still open apparently.

A czech beer garden . . . hmm . . . in a phrase containing the words "beer" and "garden" everything else appears secondary. I must czech it out. . . . sorry.

Koz, dad's doing great thanks - I told him he was my best Christmas gift. It's funny you mention losing the "older generation". When the last of my grandparents died 6 or 7 years ago, we were having the funeral dinner (where else) and my cousin informed our parents that they had all "moved up a notch".

Liederkranz Cheese sounds familiar, I'll have to ask. But dad's favorite treats were pickled herring, pigs feet, marrowglace, and saurbraten. And dad didn't like the saurbraten at N-stein's because it wasn't sour enough. Apparently when grandma made saurbraten she would just take a pot roast and soak it in vinegar for a few days. Yum. Dad's such a kraut. Course he can't eat any of that stuff since the coronary.

Thanks again for the links!

-T

quote:

Did you know that Gebhardt's is no longer in Ridgewood? Three years ago they moved to Floral Park.

Hey Kozel,

I missed this in one of your previous posts. Do you happen to know where in Floral Park, I used to live there. In fact I had my wedding (well, my first wedding) reception at Koenig's in FP. Incidentally, great German food if you haven't done yet. And a lot closer to you than to me. Check out the dinner menu:

http://www.koenigsrestaurant.com/restaura.html

I'd love to go there again, so long as I don't run into what's her name.

And you'd expect that I'd have a link:

http://www.gebhardtsrestaurant.com/frames.html

Ask about the Liederkranz, it's a terrific story. I'll post a link when I can put it all together. It's a soft ripened cheese you'd spread on pumpernickel add onion and DRINK BEER. How bad could it be with BEER involved?

BTW, this may be of interest. The Plattdeutsche is in Franklin Square and may be close enough. It's on this list

http://www.germanyinnyc.org/index.php?section=guide&sub=fooddrink&parid=1

I live in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and I go to http://www.ambryrestaurant.com/ , and http://www.oldheidelbergdeli.com/restaurant.html .

My paternal grandmother's maiden name was Koenig. My father used to eat Liederkranz cheese (as well as Limburger and Port Salut), pickled pig's feet and suelze with his Rheingold beer. I look forward to dining at Koenig's and Gebhardt's soon. We recently ate at Zum Stammtisch and enjoyed it despite some bad reviews over at Chowhound's. The sauerbraten was fine, as was my Reuben and Deutscher Salat…

quote:

Originally posted by MacTAC

My paternal grandmother's maiden name was Koenig. My father used to eat Liederkranz cheese (as well as Limburger and Port Salut), pickled pig's feet and suelze with his Rheingold beer. I look forward to dining at Koenig's and Gebhardt's soon. We recently ate at Zum Stammtisch and enjoyed it despite some bad reviews over at Chowhound's. The sauerbraten was fine, as was my Reuben and Deutscher Salat…

My wife put me in the cheese club for Christmas . . . they sent me Limburger last month. It's double bagged in the bottom of the fridge while I work up my nerve.

My dad was a big Rheingold drinker for years . . . I'm not sure if the stuff was good or just cheap. Grandpa always had Pabst or Piels in his house. He also had a bar on the corner that he could crawl home from if need be.

Kozel-
Yes, Pils is named after the Czech town of Pilsen, but it was formulated by a German- Josef Groll. He happened to be working in Pilsen at the time. He was from Vilshofen, in Bavaria.
I guess, if he formulated it when he was there, we would be calling it Vils!

I don't descriminate. I'll drink German as well as Czech beer. I use the handle of 'kozel' not for the czech beer but because it's my name. It is a Czech word that means 'male goat' but I believe my lineage is primarily German. Thanks for the hisory lesson.

Hey Koz,

I was the first to write a review of Niederstein's for Yahoo Travel. LOL.

I still can't believe that place is dark. It's like one of those constants in your life that is always there. When it goes it's like, "What can I rely on?".

I suppose I'm still hoping for an 11th hour reprieve. I probably won't accept it's demise until I walk through the debris field.

Funny how a place can get inside ya. Part of it was seeing my Dad in his element.

Boy I'm very philosophical this morning, aren't I? Let's talk about BEER again.

spaetzkboy-- trying to get in touch with you- i'm originally from brick.(mentioned that on the french toast frenzy thread too) figure if i leave it in enough places we'll hook up..
talk soon?
~~jerseygirl~~

Yes, good German restaurants. One lamented loss was the Old German in Ann Arbor MI, which closed about 15 years ago. They had a fire in the 80s which gutted the place and they reopened, but retirement beckoned by the early 90s. I always considered this "the best restaurant in Michigan" & anything I ever tried was prepared well; the "German fried" potatoes were to die for. There are a few Mennonite restaurants (do those count?) in eastern Ohio in the Amish area southwest of Canton and Wooster. The Old German used to have a stunning collection of beer steins along the ledges as well. Does anybody remember this place?

Durow's in Gendale Queens hass officially closed. The story here...
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14074357&BRD=1864&PAG=461&dept_id=152800&rfi=6

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

Durow's in Gendale Queens hass officially closed. The story here...
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14074357&BRD=1864&PAG=461&dept_id=152800&rfi=6

Wow . . . there's blood in the streets now man! I hope nobody got screwed out of a wedding. Hate to have to find a place with a few weeks to go.

Hey Spaetzelboy,

My son in Pittsburgh sent me this link. It may bring tears to your dad's eyes.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05069/468710.stm

quote:

Originally posted by spaetzelboy

.....

Here's my thing. I live down the Jersey Shore now, my parents are still in Ozone Park. Dad doesn't like to go far from home, especially since his first heart attack last September, so Neidersteins was a family staple for us. Now we're SOL.

.....

My mother, who moved to a retirement community in Pennsyltucky, longed for some food from Zum Stammtisch. They regularly pack dishes to-go. I took her some. If your dad doesn't want to go out to eat, bring it to him.

Hey gang:

Kozel - you do have all the good links, don't you. Sounds like the Pittsburgh crew is pretty hardcore. Hope they make it another 150 years. Dad will get a kick out of it, grandma used to read the German newspaper when he was growing up.

Big Bear - I think I have a better shot at dragging dad to ZST than entering the house with German take out. Gotta get past the border guard you know (mom). Dad has been talking about having an "I'm still alive" party with the family. Maybe when the weather gets a little nicer. Thanks for the thought.

Finally mustered up the nuts to try my Limburger cheese. Here's my take. It's not bad . . . has a very "barny" taste to it. That's barny as in barnyard, not purple dinosaur. I don't know that I like it enough to justify the obvious downside. Lately I've been digging Stilton, which has a strong flavor, but won't get me kicked out of the house. Also won't have you thinking something died in the back of the dishwasher.

One of the sites I haunt is forgotten-ny.com. The latest posting on old bars in NYC has some info on that beer garden in Astoria. You can find a link here... http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bars/oldbars.html

Hey gang,

My turn to weigh in on German food in my area. If you're heading for the Jersey Shore, may want to think about hitting the Hofbrauhaus in Atlantic Highlands. For the German beer hall/authentic dining/music/dance hall/well stocked bar, this is all we've got. Been there twice. Once with the wife, once with a tribe.

Pros: Great food. Great beer, including Weisse Beer. Nice beer hall feeling. Great view (manhattan skyline) I would go at dusk if you can work that out. Ample parking. Weekly music. Moderately priced.

Cons: Sort of lacks warmth. Would like wait staff to be more engaged. In other words, wait staff does not match the atmosphere if that makes any sense. They're not rude, but they could be more friendly. If you bring your own party, you'll have a good time.

In short, it is what it is. In my view, definitely worth the trip if you're in the area.

There are a few other German restaurants I have yet to check out. Be aware that many Jersey Shore restaurants are BYO, which is great if you know ahead of time. I love BYO.

Feel free to check in if I'm missing something folks.

My wife and I just came back from a German restaurant, Lemke's Crest, where we had an outstanding inexpensive dinner. This Milwaukke restaurant, open for 50 years, is a neighborhood restaurant, not a destination restaurant. My wife's saurbraten melted in the mouth; this was the real thing not a roast beef with gingersnap gravy. Her dumpling, a mixture of bread and potato, was as light as an angel's kiss. Her red cabbage, according to her, (I'm a diabetic) was in a reduction sauce. The meal started out with a small round of cheese, with crackers including seasoned rye crisp, which I hadn't had in years. Later hot sourdough rolls and some slices of a salt rye bread came out. Soup was a beef noodle and the salad had an assortment of lettuces. Pints of Berghoff beer were two dollars and the saurbraten was less than $14!!! Like I said this was not a fancy German place but a friendly neighborhood place where we plan on re-visiting monthly from now on. Located on Milwaukee's SW side where National Ave. and Oklahoma Ave. meet perhaps near 120th St., it would easlily be worth a 50 mile drive. Our waitress said they're quite busy on Friday nights with a large assortment of fish frys; they also have roast duck on Sundays only.

We have a nice neighborhood-type German restaurant in Lexington, KY, on Southland Drive called "Marikka's Restaurant and Bier Stube". They have a huge beer selection and I generally go for the schnitzels, red cabbage, spaetzle, and German tomato salad. The dumplings are quite good as well. They also have items on the menu for children and those who don't care for German food. If you enjoy German food and are near Lexington, it's well worth checking out!

Andrea

Hey Spaetzelboy,

Here's an interesting page on Glendale with some pic's

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/glendale/glendale.html

Had Easter dinner yesterday at the Sherman House, a 100 yr. old German restaurant and Inn in Batesville, IN. My party had saur braten, wiener snitzal, roast pork loin, assorted sausages, red cabbage, kraut, potato pancakes, german potato salad, fried biscuits with apple butter and other asssorted delights. The last time I was here was a friend's wedding rehersal dinner 25 years ago, but I don't think its changed a bit in all that time. And 2 days before that I was in Oldenburg (about 2 miles outside on Batesville) having peppery german-hoosier fried chicken at the Brau Haus.

quote:

Originally posted by Tristan Indiana

Had Easter dinner yesterday at the Sherman House, a 100 yr. old German restaurant and Inn in Batesville, IN. My party had saur braten, wiener snitzal, roast pork loin, assorted sausages, red cabbage, kraut, potato pancakes, german potato salad, fried biscuits with apple butter and other asssorted delights. The last time I was here was a friend's wedding rehersal dinner 25 years ago, but I don't think its changed a bit in all that time. And 2 days before that I was in Oldenburg (about 2 miles outside on Batesville) having peppery german-hoosier fried chicken at the Brau Haus.

Sounds really great!!!! Where in Indiana, is Batesville and Oldenburg?

I live in Niles, Michigan, 8 miles north of the Indiana-Michigan stateline? I was wondering how far, to see if it would be a day trip or an over nighter?

Thank You,
Garry

Batesville and Oldenburg are off of I-74, about an hour out of Cincinnati. Oldenburg is especially interesting with its German street signs and the large church spires that spring up out of the cornfields.

As far as the Lemke's Restaurant posting: They now have an online site at: www.lemkesonnatioal.com

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

Hey Spaetzelboy,

Here's an interesting page on Glendale with some pic's

http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/glendale/glendale.html

Hi Koz,

Love that old stuff. Forest Park was my old stomping ground too. Cracked my head open there when I was twelve . . . but there are good memories too!

I know there are MTA sanctioned tours where they walk the old RR tracks. God I'd love to do that.

Back in Queens this Sat. for dad's birthday.

William 44, There is a slight problem with that link. I found it missing a "n". It should be
http://www.lemkesonnational.com/ Thanks for it though as I would never have known.

I just noticed a German place in Oak Ridge, TN today called The Munich Haus. Anyone been there? I'd not heard of it before.

quote:

KimChee, if you want to drive just a TINY bit further, come on down to Texas and go to the place where I celebrate Oktoberfest every year; the Walburg Restaurant, not too far north of Austin, in Walburg, TX. EXCELLENT German food, and a great time overall:

http://www.walburgrestaurant.com/index.asp

I second Bushie's comments about Walburg. This place is the only game in town and has great food, great atmosphere and good cold beer. There's an outdoor Biergarten in back with live music on the weekends and should be a "don't miss" stop. It's about 10 minutes off of IH 35 pretty near Austin.

You might want to try Lemke's on National, in West Allis Wi, they serve some good Schnizel's, great sauerbraten & daily Special's. Plus on Weekends they serve some of the Best Prime Rib Around. And Sunday only is Roast Duck with stuffing and Gravy, you can only make gravy for a duck on the day its served. They been around about 66 years and family run!

quote:

Originally posted by Will44

You might want to try Lemke's on National, in West Allis Wi, they serve some good Schnizel's, great sauerbraten & daily Special's. Plus on Weekends they serve some of the Best Prime Rib Around. And Sunday only is Roast Duck with stuffing and Gravy, you can only make gravy for a duck on the day its served. They been around about 66 years and family run!

Your first 3 posts in 3 different forums, all extolling the virtues of the same restaurant. You either only know one good place or are, maybe, the chef of this restaurant.

Kozel says it must b

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

quote:

Originally posted by Will44

You might want to try Lemke's on National, in West Allis Wi, they serve some good Schnizel's, great sauerbraten & daily Special's. Plus on Weekends they serve some of the Best Prime Rib Around. And Sunday only is Roast Duck with stuffing and Gravy, you can only make gravy for a duck on the day its served. They been around about 66 years and family run!

Your first 3 posts in 3 different forums, all extolling the virtues of the same restaurant. You either only know one good place or are, maybe, the chef of this restaurant.

NOLA Foodaholic

I thought the same thing as you did, but if this place is as good as He says, it must have really good food. It would be interesting to hear from other road foodis about this place!

I actually wouldn't mind it if he was connected to the restaurant as long as his post says so. I'd even go so far to say that there should be a forum for them to tout their places and get feedback; but if they can't take the heat they should stay out of the kitchen (as they say). They could even ploy me with a roadfooder discount.

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

I actually wouldn't mind it if he was connected to the restaurant as long as his post says so. I'd even go so far to say that there should be a forum for them to tout their places and get feedback; but if they can't take the heat they should stay out of the kitchen (as they say). They could even ploy me with a roadfooder discount.

Kozel

I mst admit that I agree with, you, that both aforum for them and a roadfood discount is a good idea!!!

quote:

Your first 3 posts in 3 different forums, all extolling the virtues of the same restaurant. You either only know one good place or are, maybe, the chef of this restaurant.

I posted the first "review" of Lemke's. Myself, I work in healthcare and know no one at the restaurant, which is what it is; an informal neighborhood restaurant that serves some very good German dishes.
I hate to speak for William 44, but this place doesn't strike me as a place where the owners or chefs spend much time online. I thought the food was extremely reasonable but the menu is much much smaller than say a Karl Ratzsch's; the standard for me for fine Milwaukee German dining. Still, prices may run half that of Ratzsch's and the dumplings may be better. If I want goose in Milwaukee, Ratzsch's is the only place I know where it is always on the menu.
We have a bistro/cafe informal restaurant owned by Milwaukee's top chef, Sandy D'Amato, called Coquette Cafe that specializes in Alsation + French home cooking. The Alsation dishes may prove familiar to lovers of German cooking.
Both Monroe and New Glarus Wisconsin are home to a number of Swiss restaurants, bakeries and butcher/sausage shops that too is closely related to German cooking.
A visit to Cedar Rapids Iowa and their Czech restaurants found me thinking that the food tasted really German.
Ironic that the growing popularity of German and German-style beers is accompanied by the closing of the German-style restaurants.

I have not read all the posts here so if this is a repeat please excuse. In West Virginia right on the Potomac River across from Maryland in the town of Shepherdstown is a nice German restaurant. The hotel has a German flair as well. The food is good and the staff is friendly and pleasant. After a hearty meal you can cross a short bridge and be in Maryland walking along the Potomac River on the C&O canal. The views are spectacular in the fall and the fishing is pretty good as well, if you have a bicycle all the better. Here are a few links to the some things in the area that can be seen.
This is the Restaurant I spoke of. http://www.bavarianinnwv.com/

B&B http://www.thomasshepherdinn.com/

We enjoyed a very pleasant and inexpensive week end for two under $500.00 including shopping!

No I just think places like Maders are way over rated, Karl Ratzsch's is the other very good place I would mention in Milwaukee. As far as the menu goes, while they don't run a number of pages of German foods, they do run special's during te week, of which a few are German, Like Kassler Rippchen!. Also the soups they run are sometimes real differant, not like I've found some other places.

Anyone living near the water in Ft. Lauderdale realizes the keen competition that exists in the food business. Many restaurants fail in their first season! Since the area has a strong German heritage, it's no wonder that there are flourishing "German" restaurants due to this influence. The Ambray on East Commercial is just one of of these successes.

Just browsing, better late than never. Resi's Bier Stubbe, Chicago Irving Park Road just west of Damen ave. Small w/beer garden. Lots of different imported beers. A kitchen not much bigger than a closet that produces great food with large portions. Come with a group and you can order Family style.
Worth looking up!

Here's a nice little German Restaraunt in Glendale Heights, IL that my wife recently tried while visiting Chicago. It gets busy on the weekends, so reservations are recommended. The guys playing the bass and the accordian were great. Here's the link.

http://www.schnitzelplatz.com/

Mark

Just got back from Vegas and ate at the HofBrauhaus there (on Paradise across from the Hard Rock hotel). What an authentic Munich Beer Garden, it is an exact replica of the HofBrauhaus there in Germany. 3 of the head chefs are from Germany, the 4th is from Belgium. The Beer & the Food were excellent.

Here'e the link http://www.hofbrauhauslasvegas.com/

Recently we had a new German restaurant open in Cleveland, ohio. It is called the "Schnitzal House", I haven't gone there yet but someone from work has and said there food was good but they didn't have potato pancakes. Are potato pancakes a German food?

Well it is quite sad that there are so few german restaurant in the US. I havent ever had really excellent German food in the US but I keep trying to find the best german stuff nonetheless. The Restaurant "Helga's" mentioned in this thread is now called old Heidelberg. It is far better than Helga'a which was really poor. The owner also has done a valliant effort to bring German culture to his place by having several events throughout the year. He also has done his best to get a huge beer list. His prices are on the high side of reasonable but all in all its not too bad.

However There isa great revival of german restaurants in NYC. From the Upscale to the casual New York has a host of decent German restaurants.

http://www.germanyinnyc.org/index.php?section=guide&sub=fooddrink&parid=1&PHPSESSID=247ec9ae457673d36d882a9a3894ce26

Check this list out. I realy like zum Schneider which is very Greenwhich village meets "klein dorf Gasthaus", Lederhosen is cool and has a better (fuller) menu. Lorely - is chic and great. The only poor one I have been to is Rolfs which was very expensive the decor was interesting but not german and the food was just marginal.

Ted Murena

"Months ago" now, I opined that in my opinion, the best German restaurant I've been to on the West Coast is in Portland. It is Horst Mager's Rhinelander. Second place, IMO, might go to Shroeder's in San Francisco.

In Portland, there are a couple of more casual offshoots of the Rhinelander called Gustav's. There's one in Clackamas (Eastside) and one on the Westside. They have a family style dinner which is both good and a good deal. For about $11.00 per person, you get sauerbraten, red cabbage, sour kraut, spatzle, sausages and a chicken schnitzel (sp?) which is outstanding.

I have a - let's just say "healthy" - appetite, and there was plenty.

Niederstein's - still standing.

OK we talked about this a few months ago, and I was in the neighborhood so I thought I'd drive by.

Went last night. Expected to see a giant smoking hole in the ground, or a Wendy's.

What I found was a large construction fence surrounding the entire property, and Niederstein's. Still there, as yet untouched, not a shingle missing. Now, it's been closed for a few months . . . wonder what's happening ??!

Still not holding out much hope, but it's curious. If you're going to tear it down, get on with it already.

For crying out loud . . . how am I ever going to have closure?

The old inexpensive German "Student Prince" in Stone ridge, NY sold out to new owners last year and we now have a new releatively expensive French restaurant "The French Corner". I hear the food is very good, but have not yet tried the place.

However, We do have, in Kingston, NY, a new German Deli/butcher market that is excellent. "The Smokehouse of the Catskills" is an offshoot of a German deli/butcher that has been in business in nearby Saugerties ,NY for many years. We've recently had great cold cuts (yum, Labercasse), hot dogs, and a Porterhhouse steak from the place and everything has been first class.

Cheers, John