Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh Serves German Fare with Flair
by Lisa Clark

More than four centuries after the founding of the Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany, the same world-famous beer and raucous atmosphere have come to Pittsburgh.

Sprawled along the bank of the Monongahela River in the trendy South Side Works shopping and entertainment district, Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh offers guests a variety of drinking and dining options, delicious German specialties, and an infectious celebratory attitude.

Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh, which opened in March, seats 1,100 guests and is patterned after the original, says General Manager Tom Williams. There are quieter tables on the covered terrace overlooking the river; open seating and a limited menu below in the open-air Bier Garden; and a family friendly dining room. But nothing quite compares to the Bier Hall, with its high ceilings and long benches and tables filled elbow-to-elbow with people eating, toasting, and singing loudly along with an accordion player or full house band.

The drinks come from a long bar at the rear of the Bier Hall, just in front of enormous copper vats. Countless pints and liters of beer bearded with enticing foam float past on trays as servers dressed in German garb weave through the tables. Then a chant breaks out, “Shotski! Shotski!” — and a waitress hauls out a ski with four shot glasses affixed for four people to imbibe simultaneously, much to the crowd’s amusement.

All of the beer is brewed on the premises according to authentic Hofbråu recipes. According to the menu, “Our beers are brewed on site strictly according to the German Purity Law ‘Reinheitsgebot’ using only hops, barley-malt, and water.” Crisp and full-flavored Premium Lager, sweet old-style Wheat Beer, American-style Light Lager, and roasted malt-flavored Dark Lager are brewed yearround. An alternate “seasonal” beer is available monthly. There is a kegtapping celebration at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month.

What goes better with beer than a big, soft, salty pretzel, and Bier Cheese for dipping? The pretzels are imported from Germany, as is the Bavarian Apple Strudel dessert. There are plenty of other German favorites on the menu, as well as a few Pittsburgh-inspired options such as Blackened Tilapia Fillets and South Side Chicken.

For a sampling of appetizers including pretzels, try The Works Combo. Flavorful Lemon Aioli Sauce comes with long, crisp planks of Fried Zucchini. Large 4-inch Potato Pancakes served with applesauce are lightly crisp on the outside with tender shredded potato on the inside. Petite battered and fried Sauerkraut Balls have a hint of bacon and are surprisingly delicious.

Soups are both filling and satisfying. Beer Cheese and Broccoli Soup is creamy and rich. Hungarian Gulash has tender chunks of beef, tomato, and potato in savory beef broth accented with paprika.

Combination platters are also a great way to experiment with a number of enticing entrées. Schmankerlplatter — a Bavarian Sampler Plate — is for two and features Schweinsbraten, Smoked Pork Chops, three kinds of Wursts, Sauerkraut, Fried Cabbage, and Mashed Potatoes. Schweinsbraten is tender, thin slices of pork roast topped with a mild yet pleasant brown demi-glaze sauce known as Haxen Sauce. Of the three Wursts, Mettwurst, made of seasoned beef, is the strongest tasting. Bierwurst is a blend of pork and beef. Bratwurst, made of pork, is light in color and taste, and is the one most people think of as traditional German Wurst.

Entrées are big and reasonably priced. If that proves to be too much food for you, consider one or two selections from the menu of side dishes, including German Potato Salad and Red Apple Kraut. Buttered Spatzle will keep any child who craves homemade-style noodles happy. Bread Dumplings are giant meatless balls topped with Haxen Sauce — guaranteed to sop up the beer and anything else in your gut.

Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh is the third Hofbräuhaus in the United States. The first opened in 2003, across the river from Cincinnati, Ohio in Newport, Kentucky. A second was added in Las Vegas in 2004. The only better place to go for a taste of Germany is in Germany.

—Lisa Clark is a writer and restaurant reviewer whose articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines.

Hofbräuhaus Pittsburgh
2705 South Water Street South Side
412-224-2328
www.hofbrauhauspittsburgh.com

Hours:
Open daily at 11:00 AM

Dinner Price Range:
Appetizers — $7.49 to $12.99
Soups and Salads — $3.00 to $12.49
Sandwiches — $6.49 to $8.99
Entrées — $10.99 to $29.99
Desserts — $2.99 to $5.99

RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS

This website designed, maintained and hosted for Pittsburgh Point by

... when it's time to establish an Internet presence.