Soon it will be fall, which means Oktoberfest-type events and celebrations of German cuisine and, more importantly, beer!
PGN started celebrating early at Bierstube, 206 Market St. , and was pleasantly surprised to find that the food could more than hold its own against the extensive beer selection.
The appetizers at first glace appear to be textbook standards, but they excel in the flavor department. The Winzig pretzels ($4.99) were hot, fresh nuggets accompanied by some great dipping sauces including beer cheese (our favorite) and an exceptional spicy mustard. The smoked paprika pierogies ($6.99) were nicely done, crispy and spicy. They were easily one of the best pierogies we’ve had in the city.
But Bierstube is all about the meat and the suds. Vegetarians have some token dishes on the menu but we implore them to convert for just one night. If you want something leaning toward traditional fare, the schnitzel sandwiches are a great way to go. We had the black forest ham schnitzel ($9.99; chicken and veal are the other options) and it was more than a respectably tasty sandwich. By comparison, the German burger ($10.99) was a monster — not in size but attitude. The burger is topped with fried knockwurst, sauerkraut and Muenster cheese. You inner health-nut is going to be screaming bloody murder at the sight of this burger, but shaving a few hours off the end of your life is so worth it when you taste it. Also, the Belgian fries are flawless — the type of perfect fries we conjure up in our dreams.
If you absolutely have to eat healthy, there is a damn good grilled tuna steak ($17.99) on the menu, perfectly cooked and seasoned with a bright mango salsa. It’s almost as crave-worthy as the German burger.
Bierstube gets a big “ya vol!” from us.