New Jack City: Achtung, German Diners!

Not a week goes by without someone asking about a good German restaurant in Greater Kansas City…

There really hasn’t been one since several years ago when Nettie closed the doors to The Berliner Bear on Wornall Road. And to be truthful the last few years of the Bear’s operation were far from its best.

Today four restaurants in the market specialize in der Deutschen Kueche.

One is Grunauer’s at 101 West 22nd Street behind Union Station.

The food there is very good but in all fairness is really more Austrian and Eastern European.

Highlights of the Grunauer dinner menu include:

* Ungarisches Rindsgulasch (Hungarian style beef gulasch)

* Karlsleber Berliner Art (Sauteed veal liver)

* Schweinebraten (Roast pork loin)

* Zwiebel Rostbraten (Center cut strip loin with crispy fried onions)

* Paprikahuhn (Grilled chicken breast.)

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And then there is the Rheinland located at 208 North Main Street in Independence.

I admit it’s been a while since I dined there. But to the best of my German taste buds the Rouladen dinner was quite good.

Other German dinner entrees at the Rheinland include:

* Jager Schnitzel (Hunter schnitzel)

* Smoked Pork Chops

* Wiener Schnitzel

* Roulade with red cabbage

* Sauerbraten

* Cordon Bleu

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And let’s not forget Affare at 1911 Main Street in downtown Kansas City.

This restaurant specializes in Modern German dining—whatever that may mean.

I have not had the pleasure of experiencing Affare yet, but have been told by friends that entrees there are quite sumptuous in a modern German kinda way.

(I’m more into traditional German comfort food.)

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Which brings me to Dietrich’s Modern German Cuisine and Biergarten at 1313 NE Douglas in Lee’s Summit.

No, I haven’t been there yet either but its dinner menu sounds intriguing:

* Rouladen (Beef Rolls)

* German Pot Roast

* Schweinebraten (Boneless pork loin)

* Schnitzel (Breaded and fried veal)

* Sauerbraten Short Ribs

* Bier Glazed Brat and Sauerkraut (Carrywurst)

* Hackpeter (Steak tartar)

* Lachsbrot (Smoked salmon on toast with egg, oion and caviar garnish)

* Kartoffelpuffer (Potato pancake)

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My favorite German Restaurant in the Midwest?

Sorry, but that’s about 90 minutes away—via Southwest Airlines, that is.

It’s the Chicago Brauhaus in the heart of Lincoln Square at 4732 North Lincoln Avenue in the Windy City.

(Take the Brown Line train from the Loop and get off at Lincoln Avenue—but never on Tuesday’s when the place is closed.)

This famous restaurant has been in business for over 40 years and has been featured several times on the Food Network’s popular Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives program.

MY favorites at the Brauhaus include:

* Eisbein mit Sauerkraut (Boiled pork shank)

* Kassler Rippchen (Smoked pork loin)

* Schweine Schnitzel (Pork loin cutlet)

* Sauerbraten

* Rinds Roulade (Beef rouladen)

* Wiener Schnitzel (Vienna style cutlet)

* Kohl Roulade (Cabbage rolls)

* Brauhaus Chopped Steak

And my FAVORITE:  Gebackene Ente (Roast duck with potato dumplings and red cabbage)

Oh, and the Leber Knoedel Suppe (famous liver dumpling soup or yellow split pea soup which comes with dinner) – both are to kill for!

There you have it—a special edition of Jack Pigs Out bit Vaterland comfort food.