German food isn’t the most popular of cuisines.  Which, I think, is a real shame.  If you like well cooked meats and starchy vegetables, all washed down with a cold, frothy beer or crisp riesling, than get yourself to the nearest bier hall!  Atlanta is known for its food scene, and luckily there is a phenomenal German biergarten in Downtown Atlanta that specializes in classic and authentic German goodies, Der Biergarten.  I had to take my mom and aunt by this favored establishment so they could finally experience the food I’d been raving about for years.

  Belly Up to the Bar: The Beer

German beer.  Such a beautiful thing, right?  Germany is home to several of the world’s oldest continuous operating breweries dating back to before William conquered England (that’s history people).  One of those breweries happens to my favorite beer and in abundance at the biergarten, Weihenstephan.  It’s a beer that’s great on it’s own and even better when consumed with pretzels dipped in mustards.

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The Wurst Platter: Brat and Knack

For the German novice, the Wurst Platter is your safest bet towards food that is somewhat familiar but also authentically German.  Throw in a slice of rye bread and warmed potato salad (they’ll warm it on request if you want true German potato salad) and you’ve got a solid lunch plate.  Personally I prefer the Knackwurst, but hey, that’s just me.

 Jagerschnitzel

Everyone has at least heard of a schnitzel, even if they don’t know exactly what it is (fried meat, basically).  Der Biergarten has a traditional pork schnitzel, but I’d suggest venturing out of your comfort zone and trying their Jagerschnitzel.  What really sets this dish over the top is the insanely flavorful hunter sauce with mushrooms and bacon.  It has a bacon sauce! I think I’ve sold it right there.