Places to feel the Zeitgeist in New York!
No matter how many Pan Asian Fusion restaurants open in New York, there will always be those who yearn for the joy that can only be brought by a good goulash, schnitzel, or even a potato pancake.
Lederhosen at 39 Grove Street, near Christopher St and 7th, has a small downstairs entrance that really makes the large eating area and biergarten in the rear take you aback! www.lederhosennyc.com. I had the pleasure of experiencing the great food here during a meeting of the New York City German Meetup group. There's nothing like over 100 German speaking people downing large Spaten drafts and speaking in ten syllable words to add a dizzying party atmosphere to a place. And the food, in a word, is Wunderbar! Anyone who thinks German food is bland needs to come here at least once. A friend was having the Rindergoulasch ( beef stew) and garlic mashed potatoes across from me, and just smelling the spices made me want to drool like Pavlov's star pupil. Even the sauerkraut soup I had (they make SOUP out of that?), was amazing!
Alphabet City on the East side boasts a smaller, more intimate place called Zumschneider's, at E 7th St. & Ave C. It's smaller than Lederhosen, but the intimate design goes with the more downplayed atmosphere of the area at night. You feel like you've discovered something when you go there www.zumschneiders.com.
I went to see friend Sara Woolley who did work on some of the costuming for Karnivale this past February; an extravaganza dedicated to the long lost Muppet Show. There were a lot of laughs go to with my delicious potato pancake. And hey! Grownups in animal costumes and booze, and no one got hurt! Germans are fun!                
