It’s noon on a cloudy Friday and Norio, ViLO, and I are hungry. We hiked the misty trail of Folsom street to the Schnitzel Haus for some authentic German food. Our path took us past a couple authentic neighborhood Pit Bulls off of their leashes and I’m really thankful that I don’t smell like a German Hofbrau yet. We stepped into the shelter of the Schnitzel Haus and find the wooden room grandmotherly and inviting. The older German gentleman drinking multiple bottles of Riesling and playing dice hardly notice us as we walk through to our table.

The authentic feel of the room won’t make you believe that the honking from 9th street is coming from the Autobahn, but it may make you feel like you are in line waiting for the Matterhorn at Disneyland. Take that as a positive if you must.

I ordered the Stuffed German beef rolls served with vegetables and roasted potatoes. The plate came with either a soup or salad, so I went for the potato soup because it was a little damp and chilly outside. The soup was a pretty solid start to my meal, it is slightly creamy, smooth and just salty enough. The stuffed beef rolls were really good. The rolls are like a pot roast rolled up around vegetables that are wading in a delicious beef stew. The pickled cabbage was tangy and delicious as were the potatoes.

ViLO ordered the Schnitzel in cream sauce. The schnitzel was a perfect golden brown and the cream sauce not spectacular but did moisten up the dish nicely. The same vegetables came with all these plates.

Norio ordered the Schnitzel in anchovy sauce. Pretty bold choice, but not nearly as bold as ordering the Black Forest deer ragout in cranberry sauce. None of us were feeling venison adventurous, so Norio’s anchovy sauce would have to be our deep exploration into German gourmet.

When the waiter brought out our meals the Schnitzels were exactly the same. The conversation went something like this,
Norio: “Excuse me sir, I don’t believe this is the Anchovy sauce, I think it’s the cream sauce.”
Waiter: “No. That is the Anchovy sauce.”
Norio: “I don’t think so, it looks exactly like the cream sauce.”
The waiter had no rebuttal, but he removed Norio’s plate and took it back to the kitchen.
A few minutes later the plate of food came back with 3 anchovies laid across the Schnitzel. Norio: “Thank You.” When the uncomfortable chuckle amongst the table dies down we start to eat. To review Norio’s plate just add the pickled and salty-fish flavor of Anchovies to the Schnitzel in cream sauce.

So, it is with a heavy heart that I must report The Schnitzel Haus isn’t a good deal. Even though I have used the word delicious a few times in the review, the prices they charge eclipse the flavors. Without a doubt the plate of food I was delivered was not worth $19.50. The menu on their website has this dish listed for $17.50, I guess they have a $2.00 reality tax or something. It would be hard to delve deeper into the menu because I don’t really trust the connection between the menu, wait staff, and chef.

That being said, if you have a pretty good sense of humor and a few extra dollars in your pocket make your way down to The Schnitzel Haus, you won’t forget it.

The Schnitzel Haus is located at 294 9th Street at the corner of Folsom.