Or, Burger Quest part ad infinitum.
Being October, it seemed reasonable to check out the burger that MN Monthly raved about in the unlikely setting of a local German institution: the Black Forest Inn.
We're a little late for Oktoberfest, but that's OK. After all, we weren't (sadly) here for the Schnitzel, but for the burger. Which, despite having Hamburg in the name, isn't strictly a German dish, more like an American evolutionary development of a German pounded steak dish.
The Black Forest has been around since 1965, and the interior is small and charming and highly decorative.
The ceiling, shown above, is bright and festive, and the walls full of murals. Even some of the furniture is painted.
The menu got the better of me. I really could not go to a German restaurant and order a burger. So the kids ordered burgers, and I ordered this:
The bratwurst lunch. Handmade brats, rye bread, homemade mustard, and hot German potato salad. It was scrumptious. The brats are perfectly spiced, the mustard is sweet and tangy, and the potato salad has a wonderful vinegary finish.
The burgers resulted in split opinions.
Youngest Son thought it was excellent, although still not quite as good as Lions Tap. Oldest Son did not like it at all. He thought it had an aftertaste. So I traded my brats to him (being a good and sacrificial mother) and ate part of the burger. I thought it was good, very dense, as if the beef had been heavily pressed; I didn't detect an aftertaste. Was it the best burger I've had? No. Better than Lions Tap and definitely ahead of the burger at the Monte Carlo, but not the best.
But it made me wonder--why a burger at a German restaurant? For kids who won't try German foods? Because you know what? The German foods at the Black Forest? Yum. I want to go back again, soon, and have more German food. Not a burger. Hmmm...maybe the sauerbraten...or the Alsatian casserole...
Note: in the summer, the Black Forest has a gem of a beer garden tucked behind the restaurant. It's small and cozy, and lovely and quiet.
And they have some of the best desserts that I have ever had!
Love your blog!
Posted by: Cathy | October 17, 2008 at 07:21 AM
You were nearly in my neighborhood!
Posted by: Chris | October 17, 2008 at 08:01 AM
It's been a long time since I had a good German meal....like 20+ years - when my grandmother officially retired her responsibility for large party cooking.
I sure could go for some hot potato salad...
Posted by: cursingmama | October 17, 2008 at 09:08 AM
You had what I almost always order there--love it! Perhaps this one should go on our list?
Posted by: Miss T | October 18, 2008 at 07:56 AM