When David Allen mentioned a German joint in nearby Upland, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist for long. I've dragged poor Meg to any number of German restaurants, from the elegant, hipsterish Suppenkuche and the comfy Schnitzel Haus (conveniently located next to the X-rated bakery) in the Bay Area, to the uber-kitchy Red Lion Inn and gone-but-not-much-lamented Lowenbrau Keller in Los Angeles. I was dyin' to check out the Upland German Deli.
As David suggested, it was a little tough to find. Google Maps managed to point me at the wrong side of the street, which complicated matters a bit -- it's on the north side of Foothill, back in a little tiny strip mall, impossible to see from the street. Argh.
It's mostly a deli, as the name suggests, chock full of everything German. There were a few dozen German magazines and a German-language California newspaper (who knew!?), and a zillion different German products, most of them unfamiliar to us. I guess I've led a sheltered life, but who knew you could get ketchup and mayonnaise together in a squeeze tube?
To our delight, they had not only sandwiches, but also some dinner specials. Meg had Kassler (smoked pork) and I had cabbage roll; both came with a side of speatzle (funky German egg noodles) and a complementary dessert. It was hearty and comfortable, if not amazing; nobody there is trying to make it a fine dining experience, and that's just fine by me -- it's a deli. I particularly enjoyed Meg's sauerkraut, although I'm not sure it's really supposed to be nearly so sweet.
The service was authentically German, with a very reserved kind of friendliness -- "I like you okay, but don't expect me to crack a smile." I enjoyed the little dining room, with blue-and-white checked tablecloths, a kind of faux brick wallpaper and some hangings on the wall, although, again, it really isn't trying to be anything it isn't. I couldn't ask for more.
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7 comments:
what a coincidence, My friend was just telling me about this exact place last night while we were at DBA's I've got to check it out! I am half German after all. Koreans and Germans love that cabbage!.
There's a great joint I go to in Anaheim called Jagerhaus, I go there primarily for breakfast, they've got the best German Pancakes, the ones the size of a plate stuffed with fruit and baked instead of fried. the BEST stuff EVER. They're on Ball and the 57. just did a quick search and found they have a website now! http://www.jagerhaus.net/
jagerhaus is good, red lion is better, but does anyone out there remember Berliner Kindl in POMONA!!!!
We went to Berliner Kindl right before it left town. We were the only customers but the couple was really nice that ran it. The food was ok to good (it was like we surprised them) but for desert they had a plum kuken ( I know i'm getting the spelling wrong) that was so good we bought all that she had to take home.
Two words: Tip-top Meats. In Carlsbad, just of the I-5. http://www.tiptopmeats.com/Photo-Gallery.aspx?gid=4&pid=55
I've always wanted to go in there but I'm just afraid I wouldn't be able to get the smell of kraut out of my hair.
But seriously, what should I try there?
I think you'd probably be good with just about anything. My smoked pork was pretty tasty, and the spaetzle was very good (if not the best I've ever had). The kraut was a little sweet for my taste -- I love kraut, but I prefer it sour (or saur).
The one thing I wouldn't get is an American-style sandwich. I mean, it's possible that they put some kind of cool Hunnish spin on it, but why take the chance, with all that German food on offer?
You bever went to Walter's TRains, the best combo German bakery/train shop Pomona ever had in what's now Albertson's Cemter @ Foothill & Garey?
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