It is most fitting to find well-established German restaurants in the state of Michigan. Making up one-fourth of the population of the state, according to the Detroit News, German immigrants were heavily recruited to come to the state in the 1800s to work farms and settle the area. Many German settlers maintained their own communities by relocating to nearby Macomb County. Longtime German restaurants still serve the widespread German community in Michigan.
The Dakota Inn Detroit
Visiting The Dakota Inn is akin to stepping into the pages of Detroit dining history. Opened in 1933 and family owned and operated in the same building ever since, The Dakota Inn was transformed to its present day Rathskeller by Karl Kutz, who envisioned opening a restaurant in the heart of Detroit's German community. The former Chinese laundry facility is still open today serving traditional German fare for lunch and dinner and producing an annual outdoor Oktoberfest beer garden event. The building was added to the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites in 1988.
The menu consists of traditional dishes such as German style potato pancakes, Reuben soup, sausage and cheese boards and house specialty schnitzels served complete with a tossed salad and bread sticks. A beer menu is available for those who choose to imbibe. Bratwurst, knackwurst, sauerbraten, rouladen, cheese spatzel and a vegetarian plate can also be found on the menu. Order apple strudel or German chocolate cake for dessert if you can find the room.
The Dakota Inn is open for lunch Wednesday through Friday and serves dinner Thursday through Saturday. Entertainment accompanies your meal on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Dakota Inn
17324 John R. Street
Detroit, Michigan
313-867-9722
dakota-inn.com
Richter's Chalet Dearborn
Open Tuesday through Sunday, the award-winning Richter's Chalet has been serving traditional German food in a family friendly atmosphere for 38 years. Home to multiple kudos and rave reviews from the Detroit Free Press, Detroit Metromix, Detroit News, Detroit Times and the city of Dearborn, Richter's Chalet serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The Richter family is still in charge of the pastries but has trained house chefs in the preparation techniques of the rest of their German fare. House specialties such as beef stroganoff, veal goulash, schnitzel a la holstein, rindsrolade and fresh lake perch come with a slice of pie. Veal oscar, rahm schnitzel , grilled Bavarian chicken and knockwurst are all featured on the daily entree menu, which includes traditional American dishes and a children's menu as well. Accompany your meal with a large selection of German sides or potato pancakes, which are always on the menu. Leave room for dessert. A selection of German pastries made on site completes the menu.
Richter's Chalet
23920 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, MI 48124-1833
313-565-0484
richterschalet.com
Heidelberg Restaurant Ann Arbor
If you happen to find yourself in Ann Arbor seeking German food, look no further than the Heidelberg Restaurant. Open Monday through Saturday from the lunch hour to 2:00 in the morning, and for dinner on Sundays, the Heidelburg offers a dining room and rathskeller bar to dining patrons. Traditional German, American and kid's fare menus are served in the family friendly Alpine Dining room. You can order German marinated herring while other family members enjoy a choice house steak. Order a German beer or lager from the selection of 14 beers on tap in the rathskeller. It is the rathskeller with it's German wines, beer and cognacs that keeps the place open until the wee hours of the morning.
Heidelberg Restaurant
215 N. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
734-663-7758
heidelbergannarbor.com
Tags: Richter Chalet, Heidelberg Restaurant, Detroit News, family friendly, German community, German fare, German food