I have avoided this restaurant for a very long time.  Lackluster reviews, regarding, food, service and cleanness has contributed to the decision. I recently learned one of Jacksonville favorite chefs Steve Rue Thurston, is  now at the helm, so that prompted a road trip.  The location, is a little challenging, the restaurant is located in the shopping center that house Fresh Market and Stein Mart.  It is on the side space away from the road by Fresh Market.

The new menu has been totally updated, to reflect the true German  experience, as well as lighter options.  The link at the top of the page will take you there, so check it out.  The beer menu is robust, offering the most popular German drafts as well as bottled choices.

Food wise, we started off with a house salad and the must have Potato Pancakes.

Spring mix with cucumber, tomato, red onion, cheddar cheese and haus made balsamic dressing. My friend commented on the notable freshness of every item in the salad.  This is large enough to share.

Shredded potato with onion and chives. Pan seared and served with haus made quark cheese and applesauce.  For those not familiar with Quark, it is a traditional creamy, vegetarian  unripened cheese found all over Germany and the Middle East.

Sweet with cinnamon apple sauce, Quark cheese

The quark was different from sour cream normally served with this dish,  I found it a compliment to  the apple sauce.  I am catching memories of my childhood here, and it was quite rewarding.

Up next main dishes, for my guest Pork Braten, (Schweinebraten)  and I went with the Beef Stroganoff and a side of Red Cabbage.

Marinated and slow cooked boneless pork butt. Covered with a homemade gingersnap gravy. This dish presentation was on target, everything appealed. The meat was tender with a sweet, spicy, sour flavor enhanced by the gingersnap gravy.  Now I am in my grandmother’s kitchen when I taste this dish.  To say I was blown away is an understatement.

Braised beef sautéed with mushrooms, onions and green peppers. Served on  spätzle.  Nice sized cubes of tender beer, thick sliced mushrooms  and an ample serving of spatzle, as good as any I have sampled in Germany.  I completely devoured this dish.

The red cabbage,  well flavored, crisp, an excellent choice on my part.

Finally finished we dared to tackle the dessert  Apple Strudel and  a Blueberry Cheese cake.

My friend found this a bit dry, and left it.  To the credit of the staff and restaurant, the server removed it from the check, nice classy touch.

Chef inspired Blueberry Cheesecake

As you can see someone was unable to wait for the picture to be snapped, the dish  was perfect when it arrived.  This not the cheesecake I grew up with, as a New York native, my experiences with cheesecake thick, dense creamy.  This was none of those yet it was most appealing.  One could taste the freshness of the berries, the texture, creamy but not the heaviness I was accustomed to. We finished this off with glee.

So I am already working on my next visit, and encourage you to make the trip.  If you need to read the reviews, please look at the posting dates, and don’t confuse old postings with what is going on now.    Bring your friends, the tables are set up for the bier garten  experience.