Who says Oktoberfest has to end? 16 Bay Area restaurants with year-round German fare
Oktoberfest season has been whizzing by — remember, it starts every year in September, not October — with just a few big outdoor festivals left this weekend in Campbell, Walnut Creek and Piedmont.
But this is not the end of Oktoberfest-style eating, by any means. Let’s declare this the start of a new bratwurst year.
Here’s a roundup of Bay Area restaurants where you can enjoy German specialties year round. Alas, Hardy’s Bavaria in Sunnyvale, The Junket in El Cerrito and Bierhaus in Walnut Creek have closed permanently, which makes it all the more important to support these restaurants during the “off-season.”
BERLINER BERLINER >> Sausages, vegan sausages, pretzels, German potato salad and Berliner style (with apples). Berliners (jelly doughnuts) on Saturdays. 545 Haight St., San Francisco. https://berlinerberliner.com
BROTZEIT LOKAL >> Schweinshaxe, traditional and seasonal game sausages, pretzels with obatzda, potato pancakes, apple strudel. 1000 Embarcadero, Oakland. https://brotzeitbiergarten.com
DAS BIERHAUZ >> Schnitzel platters and sandwiches, sausages with sauerkraut, currywurst, pretzels. 135 Castro St., Mountain View. https://dasbierhauz.com/
DITTMER’S GOURMET MEATS & WURST-HAUS >> Meat market is open with housemade fresh and smoked sausages, smoked pork chops, German salami and bologna. Deli counter remains closed. 4540 El Camino Real, Los Altos. www.dittmers.com
DJ’S BISTRO >> Jäger and Wiener schnitzel, Bavarian meatloaf, sausages. On weekends, apple strudel or German-style cakes. 1825 Sutter St., Concord. https://djs-bistro.com/
GAUMENKITZEL >> Organic, non-GMO menu. Pork schnitzel, spätzle, kartoffelsalat-style potato salad. Daytime hours currently. San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. www.gaumenkitzel.net
GOURMET HAUS STAUDT >> Konigsberger klopse (German meatballs), flammkuchen, sausages, schnitzel, spätzle. 2615 Broadway, Redwood City. www.gourmethausstaudt.com
GUNTHER’S RESTAURANT & CATERING >> Bratwurst, knockwurst for breakfast or lunch, schnitzel, stuffed cabbage, housemade apple strudel. 1601 Meridian Ave., San Jose. www.guntherscatering.com
LUDWIG’S BIERGARTEN and GERMAN TABLE >> Jägerschnitzel, smoked pork chops, spätzle, pretzels with obatzda, desserts including plum-almond streusel. 383 Castro St., Mountain View, and 261 N. Second St., San Jose. www.ludwigssj.com
MÜNCHNER HAUS >> German-style sandwiches, German potato salad, imported German products. 39212 Fremont Blvd., Fremont. https://ritasgermandeli.wordpress.com/
NASCHMARKT >> Kraut rouladen, Wiener schnitzel, sausages, spätzle, pretzels. 384 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell, and 2323 Birch St., Palo Alto. https://naschmarktrestaurants.com
SCHROEDER’S >> Bavarian crispy pork shank, schnitzel, roasted vegetable spätzle, sausages (including Beyond Bratwurst). 240 Front St., San Francisco. www.schroederssf.com
SPEISEKAMMER >> Schweinebraten, sauerbraten, rouladen, schnitzel, vegetable strudel. 2424 Lincoln Ave., Alameda. www.speisekammer.com
SUPPENKUCHE >> Leberkäse pork shoulder loaf, semmelknödel-style dumplings, schnitzel, sausages. 525 Laguna St., San Francisco. www.suppenkuche.com
TESKE’S GERMANIA >> Sauerbraten, schweinshaxe, smoked pork chops, desserts including Bienenstich (bee sting cake) and Black Forest cake. 255 N. First St., San Jose. www.teskes-germania.com
WURSTHALL >> Housemade sausages, sauerkraut “käsedillas” and oven-fired pretzels. 310 Baldwin Ave., San Mateo. www.wursthall.com