Victus Members enjoy the following perk when visiting this restaurant:
Complementary Dessert w/ Purchase of Entree and Appetizer
Paulaner German Restaurant and Microbrewery is the perfect choice for beer aficionados and foodies alike. The decor mixes an industrial style with the warmth of a traditional German beer hall. Large restoration hardware light fixtures and exposed pipes share the space with long, wooden communal tables. The brewing equipment serves not only it’s primary function (making tasty beer), but adds a great deal to the vibe. There are two rooms –the main dining room, plus the bar, separated by the enormous , copper brewing machines. In addition, a downstairs room is available for private functions.
The menu is a full on Bavarian smorgasbord, with everything from Wiener Schnitzel to Spaetzle. We tried the Bratwurst & Sauerkraut, Fried Camembert Cheese (with Lingonberry Jam), House-Made Potato Pancakes (with Apple Sauce), and Strawberry-Rhubarb Strudel, and everything was absolutely delicious. It’s funny, whenever I’m planning to eat out, I never think “Gee, ya know what, tonight I’ve really got a hankerin’ for German/Austrian food,” but from now on my tune has changed. Though the fare surely isn’t health-conscious (come on, it’s fried cheese and potatoes), nothing was heavy or greasy; and whereas often fried options just taste fried, each dish was distinctive and flavorful. Plus, why don’t we eat more lingonberries with our cheese? Come on USA, get it together!
Other dinner items include things like Obazda & Baked Pretzel (a traditional Bavarian cheese spread with soft, house-made pretzels), Hungarian Beef Goulash (with Sauteed Sweet Peppers and Quark Cheese Spaetzle), and something called “Zwiebelrostbraten” (NY Strip, Caramelized Onions, Spinach, Fingerling Potatoes). Don’t worry about pronouncing it all, just worry about finding room in your stomach for everything.
Paulaner also has brunch every Saturday and Sunday, with dishes like Rosti (House Cured Salmon, Creme Fraiche, Herbs), Kaiserschmarrn (Raisins, Seasonal Fruit Compote), and Crepes (Filled with Apple Sauce). Additionally, you’ll get a complimentary Pastry Basket and mimosa or bloody mary (if you can tear yourself away from the beer, that is).
Speaking of which, let’s talk about the beer. Paulaner is the first brewery in the U.S. to brew authentic, centuries-old, Paulaner Brauerei recipes. The restaurant’s brew master, Andrea Heidenreich, actually hails from the original 1634 German brewery in Munich. Paulaner makes all five of its distinctive beers in-house –Hefeweizen, Munich Pale Ale, Munich Lager, Munich Dark, and Winter Bock. Order the flight ($10) and try them all (ps: even the sample glasses are ample). We enjoyed all five of the beers, though I have to say the Winter Bock was especially yummy. If beer isn’t your thing, never fear, they also have a selection of wines along with a full bar.
Paulaner also hosts a number of events, with changing menus for the occasion, so be sure to check them out next time a big game or St. Patty’s Day rolls around. Oh, and if you’re interested in whipping up some Weiswurste and Sauerkraut of your own, they host 3 hour cooking classes every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Prost!
Lauren is a New York based actor/singer/writer. She is a graduate of the American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater School Institute for Advanced Theater Training at Harvard University as well as the College of the Holy Cross. She’s a fan of beer, pasta, and academic establishments with unnecessarily long titles. Find her on stage, or online– she’s there often.
