Cultural items decorate the dining room at West Berlin restaurant on Mountain View Drive in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo by West Berlin, courtesy of Facebook.
Mountain View is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the entire United States, according to CNN.
This diversity is reflected in the mix of restaurants representing various cultures. Along the main strip, Mountain View Drive, you will pass restaurants such as Hula Hands, Mekong Restaurant and Jamico’s Pizzeria.
Today, however, we will focus our attention on a local German restaurant: West Berlin.
West Berlin has been around for nearly a decade, and it is undeniable that its proximity to JBER contributes to its success. Many soldiers have spent time in Germany, but this delicious German cuisine is not to be exclusively enjoyed by soldiers and airmen.
When patrons enter West Berlin, they will immediately notice the cultural atmosphere, including flags, steins, beer, and other things that often represent Germany. The dining room is spacious yet still maintains a cozy vibe.
There is also a small bar with four or five seats tucked away in the corner for patrons who prefer a more casual experience. The low lighting and dark paint of the room help make the dining experience feel intimate. There was no music playing in the dining room, but the silence was not disruptive to the experience.
It would be out of place to discuss a German restaurant without mentioning its beer selection.
West Berlin has a wide array of bottled beers or on tap. On tap, they offer six German beers and one from Austria, each available in various sizes including in 300ml, 500ml, or a full liter.
They offer 11 bottled German beers and one nonalcoholic German brew. They also offer the typical local beers and more popular domestic and worldwide brews.
There is also a decent selection of wine by the glass or bottle.
The West Berlin menu offers patrons hors d'oeuvres to choose from when they are first seated. We chose to have two pretzels and the kartoffelpuffer.
The pretzels are soft and warm and come served with mustard and cheese for dipping. The cheese is a beer cheese and is sure to leave a lasting impression.
The kartoffelpuffer is a pancake-like mass of shredded potatoes and onions, served with apple paste and sour cream. In our opinion, it is best with sour cream.
The rahmschnitzel is a thin breaded and fried cutlet of chicken or pork with a mushroom cream sauce. We chose to order the chicken.
The chicken has a good balance of being both tender and crispy. The creamy sauce complements the cutlet perfectly. Not much more you can say about this dish. It's perfect.
The jägerschnitzel is similar but is covered in gravy instead of a cream sauce.
The wiener schnitzel is just like the rahmschnitzel and jägerschnitzel, but it is served without sauce and includes a lemon for flavor.
Each schnitzel comes with two sides. While each of the sides we tried were good, one stood out above the others. The spätzle is an egg noodle dish made completely from scratch by the in-house chef.
It is delectable, and you should use both of your side slots to double up on this choice.
The currywurst mit pommes is a pair of fried sausages with curry ketchup on top, served with crinkle-cut fries. It’s not too spicy or too sweet — just the right balance allows this dish to dance across your tongue.
For diners who may still be hungry after their appetizers and entrées, there is a dessert option.
The apfelstrudel is a warm and flaky pastry filled with cinnamon apples and cranberries, served with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Whether you are looking for a new cultural experience or are a fan of German food, West Berlin has you covered. The atmosphere is conducive to intimate conversation or jovial camaraderie, and the food is sure to leave you feeling satiated.
If you’re still unconvinced, name us another restaurant that will serve you a whole liter of beer at a time.
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