Cafe Zehntscheune has been my favorite restaurant in Germany for a few years now, and has quickly…read morebecome a staple of my visits to the region.
Cafe Zehntscheune is located in the village of Herrstein, which is worth the visiting alone to mosey around a charming village constructed in the Middle Ages (1300s). Then, you get the added bonus of a phenomenal meal at Cafe Zehntscheune (ahem, call ahead to make reservations as the dining room is small and will quickly fill for dinner service).
We always enjoy visiting with Hans, the father of the lady that owns Zehntscheune, as we have lots of "small world" connections with him back in the United States. He is always very pleasant and takes his time to sit with us for a catch up no matter how busy he is.
My favorite meal is Grandma's Dumplings, which is basically a casserole ball of potato dumplings and shredded pork. I am not 100% sure what is in the delicious white sauce that covers everything, but I would guess there's some kind of magic in there somewhere. It's one of the heartier meals you will eat in Germany (which is definitely saying something considering everything is hearty), and is perfect for a cold day.
We also shared a serving of Saumaugen during our last visit as well, which consists of pork stomach stuffed with sausage and potatoes, and then fried and cut into a loaf. Very tasty, especially with bread and mustard.
The servers kept the landbier flowing, which isn't a personal favorite, but is a simple, earthy bier that won't be winning any brewer awards, but pairs nicely with the simple, homely food served at Cafe Zehntscheune.
I can't say enough great things about Cafe Zehntscheune. We typically drive an hour one way to eat here from where we stay, which shows how much we think of it. Should you find yourself anywhere near Herrstein, I highly recommend you do the same. Prost!
