The large pork spareribs at StadtBalkon in Mainz are two slabs of grilled, tender and juicy meat with a delicious barbecue spice rub and sauce. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
I’m not a big fan of social media, but it’s practically unavoidable nowadays and especially so in this line of work.
One thing it’s apparently good for, though, is targeted advertising, and recently falling victim to the algorithm led me to an exceptional culinary outing at a casual bar and grill overlooking downtown Mainz.
A “doomscroll” through my Facebook timeline resulted in the appearance of an ad for StadtBalkon, or City Balcony. The video lured me in with captivating visuals of juicy, slightly charred pork falling off the bone. Call me a sucker, but I was hooked.
I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to barbecue, having grown up in the suburbs of Kansas City, Mo., home to the world’s largest annual barbecue competition and classic molasses-based sauces like K.C. Masterpiece.
So while I was intrigued, I was also a bit skeptical, because as with quality Mexican food, barbecue isn’t ranked very high on my list when dining out in Germany.
The restaurant’s website recommends its reservation system, but my attempts to secure a table online proved fruitless regardless of the day or time I chose.
Could this restaurant be so popular that a seat for one was seemingly unattainable? Ultimately, I decided to just show up on an early Monday evening, figuring that such an off-peak time would be a safe bet for a walk-in meal.
StadtBalkon in Mainz, Germany, overlooks the old town shopping district on the Gutenbergplatz. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The spacious indoor seating at StadtBalkon in downtown Mainz provides a casual bar and grill atmosphere. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The spareribs at StadtBalkon in Mainz, Germany. The meat falls off the bone with minimal effort. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The bones of the signature spareribs at StadtBalkon in Mainz, Germany, leave little evidence of the double slabs of savory, smoky meat that effortlessly detaches. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
The outdoor seating at StadtBalkon, or City Balcony, offers a great view of the Mainz State Theater and the old town shopping district of the German city. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)
When I arrived, the restaurant was less than half-full. I chalked up the reservation failure to a glitchy system.
The weather was nice, so I opted for a seat on the balcony that provided a great view of the Mainz State Theater and the old town shopping district below.
The menu, with its extensive offerings of burgers, pizzas, salads, pastas and grilled meats, delivered a strong American vibe like that of an Applebee’s or Chili’s. It was a fair amount of information to process, but I was laser-focused on one item in particular.
Recalling the ad, I ordered the large rib entree and delivered the password “Ribs26” to earn a free beer. It was just a German domestic, but there are far worse things to drink, and I couldn’t argue with free.
The service was fast and friendly, and I was soon presented with two smoking slabs of grilled pork.
I grabbed my fork and knife — I know it’s a bit blasphemous, but living in Germany for almost seven years has admittedly changed my dining habits a bit — and dug in.
The meat nearly disintegrated upon being pierced with my fork, and the bone slid away effortlessly. I was excited for the first bite, and hot dang did the ribs deliver from start to finish.
The fatty bite melted in my mouth as the smoky, sweet and tangy spice rub and sauce tickled my palate. I also noticed a slight heat that was far from spicy but gave a pleasant little kick to my taste buds that I wasn’t expecting.
Each bite was balanced, tender and juicy, and I wasn’t compelled to stop until I had picked both slabs clean.
The second rack was slightly less tender than the first, having cooled off a little. But the meat still fell off the bone, making for one of the most effortless rib experiences I’ve ever had.
There was a fair amount of extra sauce served on the side, but it wasn’t necessary for the ribs. If anything, it detracted a bit from the rub and the sauce already seared into the meat.
Unfortunately, the sides left a bit to be desired. The small portion of coleslaw was too watery for my liking and a bit bland, while the bed of fries that propped up the ribs is best described as run-of-the-mill.
The spareribs were undoubtedly the highlight and were certainly worth every euro.
I’m glad the restaurant doesn’t offer an all-you-can-eat option, because my waistline and wallet would be in danger of taking a significant hit.
The restaurant touts the “lava grill” as the key element of its tasty offerings. I don’t know from which volcano they source lava, or if it really has an impact on the grilling quality, but they should certainly keep doing whatever it is, because it works.
I was intrigued by the dessert offerings but opted out, as I was short on time and didn’t want to be too stuffed ahead of the evening theater rehearsal I still needed to power through.
I can’t say StadtBalkon gave me the best barbecue I’ve ever had, because I’ll always be partial to beef ribs and burnt ends.
But it certainly scratched a culinary itch, and this place will sit at the top of my list for a future outing in Mainz.
StadtBalkon Lavagrill & Bar
Address: Gutenberg Platz 2, Mainz, Germany
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.- 2 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (kitchen closes at 11 p.m. daily)
Cost: 20-30 euros per person for entree and drink
Information: +49 6131 6987747 stadtbalkon-mainz.de
