Benjamins Diner in Mannheim serves burgers and American favorites at its location on the edge of what used to be a large U.S. military housing area. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)
It’s been more than a decade since the U.S. military left Mannheim, but broken barbed-wire fencing, construction and overgrowth still mark the neighborhood where Americans once lived.
At its edge is a German-owned diner that survived the disappearance of its American neighbors. Named after the sprawling Benjamin Franklin Village that once housed U.S. military families, Benjamins Diner has been serving burgers, breakfast and barbecue since 2006.
U.S. service members were among the restaurant’s early customers, and its business catered to soldiers at nearby barracks until the last American military family moved out in 2012, leaving Benjamins behind.
Fortunately for fans of burgers, fries and American nostalgia, Benjamins remains a fixture in the community, drawing Germans and Americans alike with its red booths, American decor, friendly English-speaking staff and poppy American music.
On a recent Friday afternoon visit, one booth was occupied by two German workers, one wearing a T-shirt featuring American grunge band Soundgarden. Another patron, an American, appeared to be a regular, as the staff already knew his burger order.
Benjamins Diner in Mannheim serves classic grilled cheese sandwiches and a wide selection of burgers, including a quinoa burger. The diner is small with red booths, red plastic ketchup bottles and crayons and a fun menu for kids. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)
I was drawn to the four vegetarian burgers and chose the “Mexican” burger made of quinoa and red beans and topped with guacamole and taco seasoning. It didn’t come with french fries, so I ordered a side of potato wedges and sour cream.
My young lunch companion ordered a classic grilled cheese with fries. The food was simple and satisfying. I would have ordered a milkshake, but the website said the restaurant accepts only cash or debit cards, and I was low on cash.
As I ate, I soaked in the comforts of casual American dining re-created in Germany. There were plastic ketchup bottles and crayons for paper children’s menus.
A muted NBA game played on a wall-mounted TV, and neon signs advertised burgers and American brews such as Ice House and LA Beer.
On the way out, a sign from Checkpoint Charlie offers a fitting final note: “You are now leaving the American Sector.”
A former entrance to Benjamin Franklin Village in Mannheim is abandoned and overgrown with vegetation. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)
The former U.S. military’s Benjamin Franklin Village in Mannheim, Germany, is being transformed into a mixed-use urban district with housing, businesses, schools, parks and cultural spaces. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)
I look forward to going back to Benjamins for another dose of American culture and comfort food. Next time, I will order another burger or the veggie ciabatta sandwich and mix it up with sides like cheese fries or a baked potato.
The neighboring former military sites are being transformed into a mixed-use urban district with housing, businesses, schools, parks and cultural spaces.
Next time, I’ll bring a map marking the former U.S. military facilities for a deeper dive into the area’s history while it’s still recognizable.
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There is outdoor seating at Benjamins Diner in Mannheim, Germany. (Heather Benit/Stars and Stripes)
Benjamins Diner
Address: Gorxheimer Strasse 9, Mannheim, Germany
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: Burgers between 9.90 euros and 12. 90 euros; grilled favorites such as spare ribs and chicken steak, from 15.90 to 19.80 euros; kids menu, 6.50 euros.
Information: Online: benjaminsdiner.de
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