FEATURED RESTAURANTS
German Hospitality in the Heart of Texas
New German Restaurant Opens in New Braunfels,
Texas
Founded in 1845 by German immigrants, the city of New Braunfels
in Texas is home to approximately 11,000 residents claiming German
ancestry, around 25 % of the total population of 45,000. With its unique
blend of Old World culture and modern daily life, a 2005 listing as one of
America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust
for Historic Preservation and its beautiful hill country and stable
climate, New Braunfels was an obvious choice for new German immigrants
Günter and Cornelia Dirks and their family. Seeking a new chapter in their
lives, the Dirks chose to leave their homeland and like their adventurous
ancestors before them, they journeyed to the Lone Star State to find new
challenges in the “Land of Opportunity.”
With a desire to work closely with people in the
community and with their backgrounds in business, the Dirk family took
over the former Krause’s Café in New Braunfels. After renovations were
completed, they proudly opened the Friesenhaus Restaurant and Bakery
complete with authentic beer garden, wine bar, meeting room and ice parlor
(selling such typical German specialties as “Spaghetti-Eis”) in
March 2005.
Freshly cooked, healthy food has always been a priority for the Dirks. The menu at Friesenhaus is varied and the dishes are prepared authentically, in keeping with the desire to preserve German heritage in the area. Says Cornelia Dirk, “Germany is a small country, about half the size of Texas, but the kitchens are as different as the landscape”. As such the dishes at Friesenhaus have their roots in Bavaria, the Rhine country, Northern Germany and of course, Friesland from where Günter Dirk originates.
The Friesenhaus restaurant caters to hungry customers all day
long, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as introducing the
German tradition of “Brotzeit” (snack time) and “Kaffee
und Kuchen” (afternoon coffee break) to Americans unfamiliar with
German gastronomic customs. Prices are very reasonable, ranging from $
4.90 - $ 8.50 for breakfast to $6.90 to 14.90 for lunch and dinner.
A traditional German breakfast is served at any time of the day. Guests
are offered a choice of traditional continental breakfast consisting
of “Brötchen” (bread rolls) freshly baked (and sold) in the
Friesenhaus bakery, served with jams, honey, cheese or meats, a more
hearty cooked breakfast or a light, healthy option for those watching
their waists! For those just wanting to enjoy a light snack, the
“Brotzeit” menu offers a number of German “pub grub” specialties
and a delightful array of desserts and cakes accompanied by a steaming cup
of coffee are a tempting excuse to while
away the afternoon enjoying the exquisite
German tradition of “Kaffee und Kuchen.” Tea drinkers can sample the
signature Friesenhaus traditional tea ceremony, named after the region in
Germany where a quarter of the tea consumed in Germany is drunk. And last
but not least, there’s the dinner menu that is as authentic as you can get
with menu offerings such as “Jägerschnitzel”,
“Sauerbraten” and “Thüringer Bratwurst”. Add a
“Mass” of German beer and you might as well be sitting in a
Gaststätte (pub) in the middle of Munich!
In the authentic Biergarten attached to the restaurant, a smaller snack menu is available and guests can choose from 7 German draft and bottled beers. If you’re daring you can order the two-liter “Boot Beer” and play the “Boot Beer Game” with your friends, but be prepared to pay up at the end of you’re the last one left with the boot! As a thoughtful and responsible gesture, the Dirks have added a “Please do not drink and drive” message at the bottom of their Biergarten menu.
The Dirks feel that dining is not only about nourishing the body but also gathering together with friends and family to enjoy a meal together. With the additional Biergarten at the back of the restaurant, the Dirks say they wish to make their establishment “ a friendly place for the people of New Braunfels and the tourists who visit from all over the world. ”
You can visit the Friesenhaus restaurant at 148 S. Castell in New Braunfels Tel: 830-625-1040. (click here for directions). The restaurant is open from 6.30 a.m. to 10.oo p.m. seven days a week and the Biergarten stays open until midnight. Live entertainment is offered almost every evening.
You can read more about the Friesenhaus Restaurant and the Dirk Family on their website.