Cumming Georgia isn't the first place that you'd expect to find really great German food with any semblance of authenticity but Gasthaus Restaurant isn't what you'd expect. While most other restaurants in Cumming are grilling steaks seasoned with mixes that were sent to them straight from "corporate", Chef Reinhold Weger at Gasthaus is carefully preparing authentic German meals from scratch and is making his guests extremely happy in doing so. Gasthaus Restaurant was rated the #22 German Restaurant in the country by GermanDeli.com but I'm giving it five stars. Er...chiles. Whatever.
Although it's not known for it's spiciness there is no denying that German food has it's roots in both my heritage and my childhood so it's quite special to me when I get a chance to eat it. The aromas of German food always inspire my parents to tell fascinating stories about what life was like when they were growing up. So when my uncle Frank came to visit, my parents and I jumped at the chance to take him to Gasthaus for some really great German food and some good conversation.
Gasthaus is one of those places that hides right out in the open. It's nestled on a hill surrounded by a sea of corporate restaurants that have been invading every other town across the United States. It's a small unassuming restaurant with an unobstructed atmosphere, indoor seating, a bier garden in the back, and an amazingly friendly staff. You absolutely will not find better service anywhere else. They truly care about your customer experience and it shows.
The great service is due, in part, to the fact that Gasthaus Restaurant isn't a corporate food mill. They're privately owned and so they provide genuine attention and quality simply because it's the right way to do business. You won't find plastic smiles here. So, I'm excited to give a shout out for a business that hasn't forgotten about the important things. And, Gasthaus hasn't forgotten about the origins of their beer either, which is pretty important.
Every time I visit a German restaurant and they serve Budweiser or Miller it's an automatic strike against them in my mind. Germans are very proud of their beer, it's quality and it's history. When you go to a German restaurant you'd expect that they stand behind their excellent breweries. So, I'm really excited about the fact that Gasthaus serves some of my favorite German beers, like Erdinger, Paulaner and Franzikaner - and they have them on draft. Cha-ching.
On the menu, you'll find the all of the German favorites; from Sauerbraten to Debrezina sausages and from Schnitzel to Spätzle. They'll even serve eggplant parmesan for vegetarian visitors or for those who want to stay inside their culinary comfort zone. I however, was there to try the Butchers plate; a dish comprised of a smoked pork chop, a choice of two sausages and two sides. I chose a bratwurst and debrezina sausages with potato salad and clove spiced red cabbage. I mean, c'mon!
Butcher's Plate = Awesome
A smoked porkchop, bratwurst (the larger sausage), debrezina sausages with potato salad and clove spiced red cabbage.
The smoked pork chop is like a cross between ham and a thinly sliced bone-in pork chop. If my palate didn't deceive me I detected notes of honey and cinnamon. The debrezina sausages have slight hints of kielbasa but are much more intensely flavored, have a darker color and are a bit smaller. And, the bratwurst...Well, I have a hard time NOT ordering bratwurst when I visit a German restaurant. Duh.
The side dishes are my personal German favorites. The German potato salad is served cold and the pickled red cabbage is spiked with cloves for that unique sweetness. It just doesn't get better than that. My father, uncle and I must be cast from the same mold - we all ordered the same side dishes.
Everyone was happy with their meal und we ate.
Rouladen = Amazing
Slow cooked thinly sliced sirloin wrapped around bacon, potato, onions and pickle.
Sauerbraten = Delicious
Beef marinated and roasted in a sweet and sour brown sauce.
Pork Wiener Schnitzel = The Bomb!
Breaded Pork Cutlet with a brown sauce, served with spetzle and mixed vegetables (pumpkin, tomatoes and zucchini).
You might not be spicy, Gasthaus...but you're the bomb! I'll be back for dessert.
