Stammtisch German Restaurant
“The true enjoyments must be spontaneous and compulsive and look to no remoter end.”
--C.S. Lewis
We are incredibly lucky to live where we live. For many reasons but one because we don’t have to travel far to find good food. One such gem in our area is Stammtisch German Restaurant in Seaside.
I picked up my friendMaryann who lives in Seaside the other day in search of Mexican food for lunch.As we drove down Fremont, yacking away, she asked if I felt like having Germanfood. I know German cuisine is not anywhere near Mexican cuisine but I amalways open to spontaneity. “I’ve always wanted to go there!” I said. So, wewove our way back from the end of Fremont to Echo Ave. and found Stammtisch.
We walked in and weregreeted by Erwin, dressed in traditional Austrian embroidered white shirt and avest. He seated us and asked if we would like to have a beer. We both said nothank you but looked at one another. “Come on,” he said with a smile in hischarming Austrian accent. “OK, fine,” we both said. The table where we wereseated was in the middle of the main dining room, next to the pot of theumbrella plant that is growing perfectly out of control around the room withone branch supported by yellow yarn on the ceiling. I commented on thebeautiful plant and Erwin told me about once a month he wipes the leaves downwith a mixture of water and beer, just like his mother taught him. “That wayit’s always drunk!” he proclaimed.
Two slices of rye breadalong with butter appeared in a gold-rimmed black basket lined with a napkinand then two steins of German pilsner beer from the tap. Next, we were eachbrought a bowl of the daily soup, cream of asparagus. We chatted with Erwin,who was very hospitable and charming, and we found out is married to the chefand owner, Claudia who is from Berlin. We ordered our lunch, Maryann, thespecial of the day—the cabbage stew with slow-cooked pork on top—and me, thecurrywurst.
The décor and vibe felt soGerman. The wooden tables and chairs, the wall clocks, and the Underberg: theiconic German herbal digestif. Traditional German music played in thebackground and it was raining outside. When our main dish was served, Claudiacame out and we introduced ourselves. She gave me a stiff handshake andwelcomed us. The food was presented so beautifully and we immediately dug in. Claudia’sgoal is to serve traditional German food, old-fashioned home cooking. “I haveachieved my goal if someone says this is how my mom or grandma cooked,” shetold me. Now I don’t have a German mother or grandmother whose cooking I cancompare to but I do know that even for me, a non-German, it was comfort foodand I certainly felt comfortable.
After the meal—which we each took half home for the next day—we ordered two desserts to share, the lemon dessert and the apple crumble along with two cups of strong German coffee. The desserts were delicious and with the rain pitter-pattering on the roof, I sat back drinking my coffee contemplating my happy, full belly and how content I was with our spontaneous decision. I encourage you to check out Stammtisch, spontaneously—if you find yourself in Seaside, or if not…plan a trip.
