Situated just beyond the gardens of the Karlsruhe Palace is this hidden gem of a restaurant. Holzhacker or "Woodcutter" specializes in classic German dishes that are freshly made with local ingredients. The drive (or bike ride as my friends did) down the tree-covered lane is a preview into a wonderful outdoor dining environment.
Continuing my tradition of having a German bier with each meal, I ordered the seasonal offering by the local brewery, Hoepfner. The waiter mentioned that the Carls bier was not well-known by locals but it should be: the lager had a pleasant sour twist and was the tastiest brew I had during my entire trip.
For my entree, I had my German friends help me translate the menu and went with the 2 Schweineschnitzel (pork cutlet breaded and fried in butter with fries and sauce). It was the tastiest schnitzel I had ever consumed, coming nicely breaded and not overly greasy. The accompanying dipping sauce (reminiscent of Au Jus) complimented the meat nicely. The fries were mediocre but filling.
The real MVP of Holzhacker is the large outdoor dining patio that is the ideal place to sit and take in a beautiful summer evening. I was so relaxed out there and wished the meal could go on forever... read more