REVIEWS of St. Louis Gast Haus
Copy from St. Louis Magazine
We've never gotten it. So much of St. Louis culture and history is as German as umlauts and grown men in funny leather shorts. Nevertheless, there's been a dearth of German restaurants here for decades. Acting on the assumption that a day without schnitzel is like a day without sunshine, an intrepid family of entrepreneurs has opened the Gast Haus.
The atmosphere is gemuetlichkeit--friendly and inviting, though happily much more formal than the raucous beer hall we unfortunately now associate with German dining in the Midwest. Those who know their haehnchenschnitzel from their liebfraumilch will appreciate numerous authentic dishes on the menu here: Beefy pinwheels of rouladen, the meat delicately browned before a long simmer.
Scallopines of veal or pork schnitzel, pan-fried with a crisp golden crust. The allegedly edible sauerkraut, served here with pork as a dinner or alone as a side. Speaking of sides, several are splendid: Carmine-red Rotkohl cabbage simmered with apples and onions, fragrant with bay leaves. Peppery, vinegary potato salad. The beautifully simple Bavarian approach to dumplings of potato and breadcrumbs.
The Gast Haus offers three kinds of pretzels, including the Bavarian twists that go so well with mustard dips, all perfect for a light snack. Cheese and apple and cherry strudels make for sweet, flaky desserts.
With any luck, this fine new restaurant will inspire a renaissance of German food in a city that surely can appreciate it. WORTH THE TRIP ALONE: The spaetzle, magnificent little dumplings that are Germany's most significant nonviolent contribution to Western civilization.
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St Louis Gast Haus
4.5 on scale of 5
based on 3 reviews
Category: German
Neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Downtown, Peabody/Darst/Webbe
1740 Chouteau Ave
St Louis, MO 63103
(314) 621-4567
Urbanspoon
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/28/322189/restaurant/St-Louis/Soulard-Benton-Park/St-Louis-Gast-Haus-St-Louis
"OUTSTANDING!"
August 21, 2008 - Likes it - My family was visiting St. Louis and came across the incredible restaurant.
Everything was home made and beyond belief. The sampler platter featured a tender rouladen with spaetzle. The sauerkraut with pork was tender and done to perfection. The creamed spinach was out of this world!
This is a MUST NOT MISS restaurant.
Authentic German? You bet!”
St Louis Gast Haus
Traveler
Chriss, Overland Park, Kansas
Oct 27, 2006
9/9 found this review helpful
German food isn't as popular as Italian and Asian choices, so they're not as common to find. I really like German food, so when I find a German restaurant, I like to give it a try. My ancestry is German and I travel to Germany regularly, so I consider myself a good judge of German food. Too often, the German restaurants I find don't make the grade, which doesn't help improve the perception of German cuisine.
The St. Louis Gast Haus is owned and operated by two European immigrants and their family. The menu includes the traditional German favorites of schnitzel, sauerbraten, rouladen, knoedel, spaetzle, potato pancakes, sauerkraut and more.
I had the jagerschnitzel (breaded pork cutlet in mushroom cream sauce) with spaetzle and creamed spinach. My wife had the cabbage rolls, potato knoedel (dumplings) and spaetzle. Both entrees were delicious and prepared perfectly.
The restaurant, located at 18th Street and Chouteau, is off the tourist path, and not always listed in local guides. It's not even under German Restaurants in the Yellow Pages. Don't miss the chance to experience a real taste of Germany in the heartland. Make the trip the St. Louis Gast Haus and discover how tasty German food can be. (CS)
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member
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