Schmidt’s Sausage Haus, Columbus OH

Schmidt’s, located in the Columbus’ German Village, is one of my favorite spots to eat. It’s located on an old part of town with brick streets, and has been in the same family for a very long time.

I think this is my third visit (or is it the fourth?) and it just may be my favorite still-in-business German restaurant in the country (that I’ve been to so far). I opted to start with the Beer Sampler this time:

#1 is the one with the straw, and the rest proceed clockwise. Rather than talk about each one separately, I’ll just say that I’ve rarely ever met a German beer I didn’t like. Of these six, the only one I would not consider drinking more of is the Schmidt’s Gold, which struck me as too close to the Budweiser taste for enjoyment. After tossing several mental coins, I picked the Schmidt’s Dark for a follow-up 22oz glass:

Isn’t it a beautiful thing?

Dinner was the traditional Weinerschnitzel with Green Beans and Spätzel and German Potato Salad. Their Potato Salad tastes exactly like the homemade versions of the same I remember from my years going to potluck suppers at the German church we attended when I was a boy. If only I could hitch up a vat of it to the car to take home!

And finally, I took away one of their Vanilla Cream Puffs for later (perhaps over the course of TWO evenings, given its size!). These are amazing but easily weigh in excess of a half pound.

As I was leaving, I saw a t-shirt that I almost wish I’d bought. It said:

BIER = BEER

See, you already know lots of German!