Summer is the time of barbecues, but why not skip all the work and fuss for a grilled meal carefully prepared by professional chefs? We headed to the Kempi Brauhaus to do exactly that.
Thursday evenings at Kempinski’s Bavarian restaurant mean it’s time for the Kempi Brauhaus Brew & BBQ Bonanza. While it sounds like a rowdy beer-guzzling event, what we found was actually a comfortable, relaxed restaurant with the feel of an authentic Bavarian eatery. It is located inside the hotel, but you would never know it once you’ve entered, except for the friendly service that was up to a high international standard.
Due to a bit of rain, we sat inside at a wooden table with a green and white checkered tablecloth. From there, we could see one of the large screens projecting a football match. But, the restaurant also has a large terrace where you could sit in nice weather to enjoy a real summer atmosphere.
On barbecue nights, the restaurant prepares a buffet-style selection of warm side dishes, fresh salad fixings you can get creative with and a tasty selection of cheeses. Outside, a chef attends a large grill and offers hungry visitors a selection of beef, lamb, chicken, tuna, salmon, shrimp and sausages.
After asking the cheerful server what the normal procedure was and getting an enthusiastic tour of the buffet, my dining companion and I each made a selection of meats for the grill and were told that our food would be brought to our table. We then headed over to select among the potato salad, Austrian potato dumplings, stewed vegetables and a fantastic selection of fresh vegetables and garnishes to top a bed of green lettuce. Within a few minutes our grilled items arrived at our table. The sausages were particularly tasty dipped in brown mustard and all of the meats were tender and flavorful.
One thing that really stood out to us were the homemade pretzels brought to the table in lieu of bread. They were a fun touch, adding to the atmosphere and were excellent as far as pretzels go. Next to a cold German beer from the bar, this small touch completed the Bavarian feeling.
Having enjoyed the opportunity to taste a little bit of everything, we decided to have a peek at the dessert menu. In addition to a few warm cakes and strudels, the restaurant offers a whole selection of ice cream sundaes. Unable to resist, we settled on sharing a creation called “Chocolate Fashion.” Complete with a chocolate spoon, we agreed this was an excellent finish to a tasty meal.
Meg George
