The Best German Restaurants in Boston

Photo by Justin Hamel for “Dining Out: Bronwyn”

Sad to see Oktoberfest go? There are still plenty of ways for you to enjoy bratwurst, schnitzel, and German beer all year round. Here are some of our favorite restaurants for German food in Boston.

Bronwyn

It’s no coincidence that we created a “Best German Restaurant” category shortly after Bronwyn made its debut. At this hallowed hall of Germanic cuisine, enjoy the giant 16-inch “Haus Bretzel,” or a two-pound pork Haxe slathered in butter and sauerkraut, at one of the biergarten-style wooden tables, designed for sharing its extensive menu of German-imported beers. But even in a room replete with ornate chairs and lederhosen wall hangings, don’t expect traditional German cuisine at Bronwyn—chef Tim Wiechmann offers a unique take on Germanic street-food. And the empire just keeps growing. Keep an eye out for his new venture, Playska, a Balkan sandwich shop.

255 Washington St., Somerville, 617-776-9900, bronwynrestaurant.com.

Karl’s Sausage Kitchen

Those seeking the perfect German hotdog should look no farther than Karl’s Sausage Kitchen, which offers 15 varieties of fresh sausage, and 14 types of smoked sausage, alongside a wide array of imported European meats and cheeses. Owners Bob and Anita Gokey have made their sausages the old-fashioned way since 1958 by trimming and chopping up the meats and spices by hand and never using a grinder. Overwhelmed by choice? We recommend the weisswurst slathered with sweet mustard, lightly smoked knockwurst, or the famed double-smoked bacon.

1 Bourbon St., Peabody, 978-854-6650, karlssausage.com.

Saus

Want to get a taste of Karl’s Sausage Kitchen without trekking all the way to the suburbs? Luckily, you can find its fare right in the Faneuil Hall neighborhood, at Saus. Even though Saus is best known for its Belgian-style fries and waffles—and 15 different, made-from-scratch dipping sauces—it also does a brisk trade in meaty sandwiches. They recommend you dip their frankfurters, made from Karl’s sausages, in their “Colonel Mustard with the Wrench” sauce, a zippy mix of Night Shift Somer Weisse beer, yellow mustard seed, and honey.

33 Union St., Boston, 617-248-8835, eatfrites.com.

Jacob Wirth schnitzel photo by sushiesque on Flickr/Creative Commons

Jacob Wirth

One of Boston’s oldest restaurants, this 147-year-old German beer hall hardly needs an introduction. Nestled on the edge of Chinatown, Jacob Wirth has been serving up authentic Bavarian-style food for the greater part of a century and was even declared a national landmark in 1980. A place that maintains its old-school vibe while managing to draw in hordes of Emerson students, Jacob Wirth overhauled its menu in 2003, incorporating modern American fare alongside its roster of such traditional German dishes as the classic lemon-butter-sauce-topped wiener schnitzel with sauerbraten and dill spaetzel, or “Jake’s Nibbler,” a sampler platter of knockwurst, bratwurst, and other Teutonic delights.

31-37 Stuart St., Boston, 617-338-8586, jacobwirth.com.

Cafe Polonia

While Cafe Polonia focuses mainly Polish gourmet and Eastern European cuisine—it is in the Polish Triangle neighborhood, after all—the place offers the occasional German flourish. Try Cafe Polonia’s grilled kielbasa sandwich served on a sub roll with caramelized onion and sauerkraut, potatoes, and cabbage. Its kielbasa shish kabobs, made with grilled peppers and onions, are well worth the trip to Dorchester.

611 Dorchester Ave., Boston, 617-269-0110, cafepolonia.com.

Euromart

Add some additional Eastern European flair to your sausage quest by stopping in at one of our favorite Dorchester take-out spots. Just a stone’s throw from Cafe Polonia, Euromart offers such Polish-style eats as kielbasa, pierogis, fresh and cured cold cuts, smoked sausages, and pickled vegetables in the signature German sweet-and-sour style.

808 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, 617-825-1969, Facebook.

Baltic European Deli

Get your fix of Eastern European smoked sausage and Polish delicacies at Baltic European Deli in South Boston, which carries more than 50 varieties of kielbasy and cold cuts. While you’re there, stock up on all-natural smoked bacon, Polish ham, pierogies, and kielbasa.

632 Dorchester Ave., Boston, 617-268-2435, balticeuropeandeli.com.

Savenor’s

Don’t expect the everyday, run-of-the-mill deli meats at this family-owned butcher shop, founded in 1939. Savenor’s exotic offerings include everything from camel and kangaroo, with plenty of international fare as well. Try the Pimento cheese brat or horseradish beef smoked sausages.

160 Charles St., Boston, 617-723-6328; 92 Kirkland St., Cambridge, 617-576-6328, savenorsmarket.com.