Saturday, September 18, 2010

Endlich! Ein gutes Deutsches Restaurant in Seattle!

(That’s “Finally!  A good German restaurant in Seattle!”)

This is NOT a review for Feierabend “German” restaurant in downtown Seattle.  If it were, it’s say something like “the spätzle tastes like cardboard, the waitress can’t speak a word of German (nor does she care -- or try), and the ambiance seems phony.”

And this is not a review of our own German cooking.  If it were… well here and here and here and here and OMG – HERE!

(We have never found sauerbraten or spätzle that even comes close in deliciousness to our own sauerbraten and käsespätzle – not even in Germany!  And believe me, we looked, and tasted – all over Germany!  Conceited, perhaps --but oh, so true!)

This is a review of Bratz’s German Restaurant in Seattle’s University district.  In a word (or two), “Lecker schmecker!!” 

IMG_6950

The food was excellent, genuine German food, personally prepared and served by the very friendly owners, John, Robert, and their mother Veronicka, from Zweibrücken, Germany. 

IMG_6936

After we placed our orders, we we enjoyed the genuine ambiance of this relatively small, but very cozy place.

IMG_6937

(There’s a German TV feed on one TV and German soccer on another.  How can you NOT feel like you’re in Germany?  I like this better than Polka music playing over some Musak speakers.)

IMG_6934

Not too long after we ordered, Friendly John brought us our food…

IMG_6938

Aleks and I had the Jägerschnitzel which is referred to as “Hunter’s Schnitzel” on the menu, but hey John, I think you should be genuinely German and list it with it’s real name!)

IMG_6945

It was excellent!  The rotkraut was perfect – just like Mom’s.  The schniztel was perfectly crispy with a just-right gravy, and the spätzle was quite good.  Not like ours, because apparently no one on earth can make it like we do.  But quite good.

Kat had the Wienerschnitzel Pretzel (or as my mom used to call it, “Bräääääää-tzl”)…

IMG_6940

…and Tom had the Wienerschnitzel:

IMG_6944

(I just love the touch of the Bavarian paper!)

We all agreed that the whole experience – from the food to the atmosphere to the people, was first-rate!

IMG_6942

(How often do you see an expression like that on Tom’s face?!  Or like that on Kat’s face? “No more pictures, Mom… I want to EAT!”)

Next time (and there will definitely be many next times), I’ll have to try the rouladen, which my mom used to make at least a few times a month!

 IMG_6951

(Truth be told, I was afraid that would make me cry, because I haven’t had it since Mom died, and you know how taste and smell can bring back memories…)

Just like I did in my childhood, though, I’d ask them to hold the pickles.

IMG_6955

Bratz is at 4759 Brooklyn Ave NE in the University District.  Blink, and you’ll miss it. 

And missing it would definitely be a mistake!

Stumble Upon Toolbar

7 comments:

Margaret said...

It is really difficult to find a good German restaurant and this one looks great!! The first year my daughter was at UW, she lived on Brooklyn. I'll have to think of an excuse to go to Seattle--maybe Tonya, you and I could meet up there sometime. :)

Carol said...

Oh, Margaret, what a great idea!! Tonya, you down?!

Seriously, we should just MOVE to the U District, with my job there, Aleks and Kat both in school at UW, and Elisabeth living in Wallingford...

Kathrin said...

Oh Carol, this is pour torture for me!! That fuels "mein Heimweh". The food looks really good and you can tell, it is made from scratch.

Maria said...

My mouth is watering!

Jay said...

Thanks for the tip.
This is really close.
There were three German restaurants in Ann Arbor, where I grew up, and I do miss them.

Anonymous said...

Hmm, mouth watering... But, well, “Rolladen” and “Pomme frites” are slightly misspelled on the chalkboard. In my opinion it's ‘Rouladen’ and ‘Pommes frites.’ Anyway, “[d]as ist wunderbar,” as it says on the board, and it's good to read you guys had fun...

Goofball said...

I'm getting hungry

Related Posts with Thumbnails