Monday, December 25, 2006
Schroeder's Since 1893 (www.schroederssf.com). My encounter at Schroeder's commenced with a soup joke. It's Germany, 1945, people are starving. Man walks into a hofbrau and orders chicken soup. Man shouts, "waiter, waiter, there's a MOUSE in my soup!" Waiter to patron: "Shhh! Everyone will want one!" I arrived at the shank end of happy hour at this German hofbrau & sampled the spicy paprika ("secret") chicken with Eileen, a recent transplant from Manhattan. She sang with Red Skelton (as a wee tot) & later acted out his comedy sketch of the "sizzling bacon" pantomime, with flute and orchestra. Eileen is zoftig and does electronic facelifts for aging boomers -- is that a wallet lift, too? After we finished our comfort food? A rendezvous with Peter, former Adman, ex-money juggler (does he have 2 nickels to rub together?), chess player, bon vivant & raconteur who joined us at one of the large oak tables in the back. Peter & Eileen cracked jokes the whole night while I got to know the owner, Stefan Filipchik ("Cook" to his grandchildren) who bought this hofbrau in 1997. He is from the Czech Republic & loves his "live TV" daily (except Sunday) at this place which has been serving copious amounts of Bavarian food, and sizzles with the best and the brightest SF has to offer.! Stefan's talent as master of ceremonies is equalled only by his generous spirit. Start your spritz with a pitcher of Konigsberg "Mad" Ludwig beer on tap & feast on the Herman Richter murals, beer steins & rosewood bar. Swap jokes with "Heinrich", the public servant barman, who swaps bon mots with Michael Savage, shock jock, who hangs here, but not tonight: he's in rehab!
Appetizers: German potato salad , coleslaw & brown bread accompany every meal. Start with a marinated herring or the exquisite smoked salmon (lemon with garniture).(7.95) Skip the salad & go on to a choice of the varied sausage plates that grace the menu. Eileen ordered the Kase Spatzle on this rainy night, and this unfortunately was an inedible cheese concoction. ($14.95) Bypass and choose from the Fish, vegetarian, meat entrees. I ordered the Gypsy Steak, a 14" New York Strip served with boiled potatoes, red cabbage & veggies. The spicy paprika (Stefan's secret) makes this my #1 choice. (24.95).
Peter wisecracked: Recipe for gypsy chicken? he asked. "First, steal 2 chickens." An old corny joke. He then ordered the Vegetarian platter (no! you cannot screw-up veggies) & we all dug in! (12.95) Extraordinary value here -- ask for a couple of doggie bags & don't forget to order the herbs liquor from Carlsbad Hot Spring, CZ to top off a great evening or pumpkin pie w/ ice cream (7.50). Polka Dancing on Friday nights? Include me in! Does anybody remember Yogi Berra's quip: "Nobody goes to that restaurant -- it's too popular?" My advice: Go to Schroeder's & wake up your luck (it's a Persian proverb)! Guten Appetit!
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