HobokenFoodCritic

Here are a couple of interesting facts I learned about Oktoberfest, from the label on a bottle of Sam Adams Oktoberfest, one of my all-time favorite beers:

1. In Germany, Oktoberfest is actually in September.
2. The best selling Oktoberfest beer in the world is Sam Adams Oktoberfest (what a surprise they would write this on their own label).

Unfortunately, I missed the Helmers’ Oktoberfest Party on Thursday, October 18 because I was home studying for the GMAT. But after finally completing the grueling exam this past Saturday, Ashley and I wanted to go out for a celebratory dinner–not only for the fact that I scored fairly well, but also because I wouldn’t be bogged down by studying anymore (which, coincidentally, is why I hadn’t written anything for over a week). We chose Helmers’ because we thought its festiveness this time of year would be fitting for our occasion, and we wanted to make up for the night we missed there.

When we arrived, we grabbed drinks at the bar while waiting for a table. Helmers’ has an extensive beer menu, which is one of the main reasons why it is one of my favorite hangouts. I ordered a Paulaner, and Ashley ordered a of Framboise Lambic–a sweet, raspberry beer (although it doesn’t taste like beer) that Helmers’ has on tap. As we sipped our drinks, we surveyed the scene, watching the plates of food being served to the tables and trying to decide what we were in the mood for.

By the time we had nearly finished our drinks, we were called to be seated. As always, our waiter was pleasant and friendly, as were the bartenders who had served us.

Now, if you love to gorge yourself with fried onion rings, then you need to try Helmers’ Bavarian Onion Rings. This appetizer is nothing more than a huge mound of razor-thin slivers of fried onions. It looks almost like a funnel cake, and definitely has a “wow” effect when it arrives to the table. It is probably too much for just 2 people, but we finished it anyway. It would have been nice if they gave us something to dip them in, though we ate them so fast we didn’t notice at the time. When we finished, we noticed how soaked in grease the napkin was beneath the onion rings. Wow.

Ordering the main course was easy for Ashley, but difficult for me. It was easy for her because she knew she wanted the Bauernwurst and Bacon Salad after she saw someone else eating it the last time we were there. It was difficult for me because I am by no means an expert on German food, so deciphering the menu was a bit difficult. I didn’t think the menu was descriptive enough for someone who doesn’t know the difference between wurst and schnitzel, however our waiter was extremely accomodating and helped me decide on the Wurst Platter, so I could sample a few different things.

Ashely’s salad was hearty helping of mixed greens and vegetables topped with chunks of bauernwurst–which looks and tastes almost like keilbasa–each wrapped with a thin slice of smoked bacon. Although a salad, it was a full meal (though lighter than most other selections on the menu). Ashley said she would definitely order it again sometime soon.

My meal was a platter of 3 assorted wursts (which are German-style sausages): bratwurst, knackwurst, and weisswurst. I didn’t know which one was which, so I identified them as the white one, the grey one, and the pink one. The sauerkraut on the side was smooth and almost velvety–it was by far the best sauerkraut I’ve ever had. In the middle of the platter was a plop of mashed potatoes smothered in gravy–also excellent. We were also given three different kinds of mustard for dipping–one that was sweet and mild, one that was sweet and a little spicy, and one that was “hot” (though it really wasn’t that bad). All three were pretty good and it was fun to dip the different kinds of wurst in all the different mustards. In case you didn’t know, guys love condiments.

My second beer was a Weihenstephan, which is another great beer that I drink all the time (they also have it on tap at Maxwell’s). Although I have been drinking it for years, I only learned how to pronounce its name properly that night, from out waiter.

As for the different kinds of wurst, their flavors varied. The pink one, which I later found out was the knackwurst, tasted almost like a hot dog–it was good, but nothing I hadn’t tasted before. The white one (weisswurst) was a bit bland, but it dressed up nicely with some mustard, gravy, and onions. The grey one, which was the bratwurst, was my favorite–it was delicious, and I would probably order a meal that features bratwurst specifically next time I eat there.

As usual, our experience at Helmers’ was both fun and educational. I guess you could say that Helmers’ takes traditional German food and “jazzes it up” a bit–somehow, the restaurant has managed to put together a perfect mix of tradition and modernness.

It was a big, heavy meal, so afterward we had to go home to digest for a little while. Then, we walked down to 3 Forty Grill to have a few martinis. 3 Forty Grill is one of my favorite restaurants in Hoboken, and sometimes we also go there to drink martinis in their lounge area, when we are in the mood for that sort of thing. The atmosphere is dark and trendy, with the standard electronic lounge music setting the mood in the background. While we were there, I noticed that people who work at lounges always seem so serious–they don’t smile much. It was a sharp contrast from the atmosphere at Helmers’, where the lighting is bright and all the employees have smiles on their faces. Wouldn’t you expect the German restaurant to be the serious one?

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This entry was posted on Thursday, October 25th, 2007 at 10:12 pm and is filed under German, Uptown Hoboken. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.