Houston isn’t my number one choice to celebrate Oktoberfest, but this year it will have to do. Just down the street from our humble abode is Houston’s most popular German restaurant, Rudi Lechner’s. And as far as authenticity, it’s pretty good.
We went on a Saturday night, meaning live music and a full restaurant but no wait. I don’t know if there’s no wait because it’s a little expensive, or because Houstonians don’t appreciate yodeling as much as they should. We had potato pancakes (a little too soggy) with applesauce, and they compared pretty closely to the wonderful potato pancakes we used to get a German festivals and outdoor markets in the fall in Frankfurt. I chose a quiche plate, because I wasn’t very hungry, but sampled my date’s weisswurst and bratwurst with spicy mustard. Delicious. I only wish it came with a brotchen as well! The pork steak (Rippchen) was perfectly cooked and thickly sliced, just like it came from our smalltown butcher in Martinshoehe. They have a reasonable selection of German beers, and you can indulge yourself and say ‘bitte ein Bit’ if you like.
The music was quite good, with typical favorites, German toasts and the whole restaurant was smiling and singing along. The crowd was very friendly, just as you would find in a beer hall somewhere in Bavaria. A tear almost came to my eye when the whole room rang out with “Ein prosit, ein prosit die gemüdlichkeit”
If Germany isn’t quite in your budget this October, try it. www.rudilechners.com
Practical Travel 