As we drove around San Antonio, the highways meandered through many streets and cities with German names. Not exactly what I expected in the heart of Texas. Streets named Wurzbach, Hueber, Jones Maltsberger, and Weiderstein. Towns christened New Braunfels, Fredericksburg, Heidelberg, Pflugerville and more. The German influence lingered through these names related to early immigrants.
But did anything more remain? To find the answer, we decided to check it out by visiting New Braunfels, the town closest to us. After a 45 minute drive, a sign greeted us with decoration and letters like the Willkommen sign we bought for a friend when visiting Germany years ago.
With Yelp’s help, we found an authentic German restaurant called The Alpine Haus. My husband and I love German food. We used to go to a wonderful German restaurant called Gerda’s at home, but when the owner passed away, the family shut the doors. It has been a long time since we indulged our “schnitzel” cravings.
As we entered, the aroma of fresh baked rye bread, schnitzel and spätzle tickled our noses and taunted our stomachs. The restaurant was a historic home with exposed brick walls and three rooms with seating. An old bookcase now housed a nice array of German beers and wines.
After enjoying a sumptuous feast, our friendly waitress suggested we take a stroll through the town. The restaurant didn’t have desserts because they were in the process of interviewing pastry chefs. She suggested getting dessert in the nearby square where there were coffee and pastry shops offering a variety of delicacies, German apple strudel among them.
Our stroll was leisurely because each building had historic plaques on them. We read each one and gleaned a foundational history of this gem of a German town that had a renewed energy with the array of chic shops, theater, and bars.
Traveling never fails to teach us something new. Please take the time to visit if you are ever in San Antonio. Next time, we plan to explore Fredericksburg with its German heritage and wineries.
Love is All in German towns!
Find out more about German influences in Texas by clicking on the following links.
Texas: German Names and Connections
6 German Towns in Texas You Need to Visit (With Map)
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