Weinheim, Germany — About 30 minutes from Heidelberg on the A-5 or the B-3, little Weinheim nestles into the hillside with way more than its share of goodies.
And one of my favorite places there is the Woinemer Hausbrauerie — even though, and I know it’s horrible to say — I don’t actually like beer.
The brewery offers at least four different kinds of beers — light, dark, wheat and seasonal special, made the old-fashioned way, whatever that is, on site. I do know gleaming brass vats are involved.
But what I go for is the food. And although it’s horrible to say, I’m not a huge fan of traditional German food, either. All that pork, so many potatoes, and that egregious purple cabbage.
But the Woinemer Hausbrauerie is different. The staff pays attention to detail, using only the freshest ingredients, cooking it just so and serving it immediately. I’ve never had a meal there that wasn’t delicious.
I usually order the rumpsteak with roasted onions. The onions are sweet, the big piece of steak is lean and flavorful, and if you order it "English," they’ll cook it medium rare. This comes with fried potatoes and a nice green salad, all for about $26. Still, it’s a lot of food, way too much, in fact, when I can’t resist ordering the salad plate "rustico" as a starter. It’s an entree salad, with roasted turkey, mushrooms and bacon. It’s incredible, and about $14.
On one recent visit, my stepdaughter had some of my salad and one of four soups on the menu; I think it was the Grandmother’s potato soup, about $5. They also have prime boiled beef soup with pasta, goulash soup and French onion.
The restaurants three rooms, usually bustling, were deserted when I visited earlier this month. That’s because everyone was enjoying the warm weather in the beer garden.
And to what did my wondering eyes appear as I entered? A giant red "hummer" or, as we say in English, "lobster." Yes, it was "Hummerfest"! Lobster, all sorts of ways! I ordered the surf and turf and a dry white wine.
Woinemer Hausbrauerie
Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight every day.Prices: Regular menu entrees start at about $13 and top out at about $29.Drinks: Wine, house beers, soft drinks, coffees.Specialities: Traditional German food with attention to best, freshest ingredients. Monthly events, with special foods, such as lobster and wild game.Dress code: Casual.English menu: Yes, and a kids’ menuLocation: Friedrichstrasse 23.Telephone: 06201/25 73 02.Web site:ww.woinemer-brauerie.de
