Marty After Dark - Almost Live...From New York

Entries in German Beer Halls (1)

Friday

Jul152011

July 15, 2001

All night long I’ve been craving a fresh pretzel and a beer. I decided that tonight’s destination would have to feature both. So naturally I thought of a German restaurant and/or bar and briefly considered returning to Zum Schneider in the East Village. But then I realized it’s Thursday night and it’ll probably be a zoo in there and I hate crowded bars. And then I thought of another stop from last year's bar crawl, a German place called, Lederhosen. I really liked it there and it was a little more laid back, the night I went, so hopefully it won’t be packed. Only one way to find out!

And through the magic of the internet, we're magically transported to Grove Street in the West Village. It's a perfect summer night out. Summer in the city!

And here we are, they're working on the block, so a metal awning is obscuring the sign a bit, but this is the place.

There's a familiar face behind the bar...

It's Uli, the pretty bartender who was on duty when I came in here for the 365 bars night. She remembered me and it was fun to catch up with her on what we've both been up to.

A birds-eye-view from my perch at the bar.

A long shot of the dark wooden bar.

Some of the beers on tap and the Lederhosen logo logged in wood.

Bottled beers and German mugs decorate the back of the bar.

Here's Selma with a beautiful smile behind the bar.

Gisbert was seated next to me at the bar and he was in town from Fort Worth, Texas. He's a true German though and was born and bred in Karlsruhe, Germany. I asked him how he rated Lederhosen as a German restaurant and bar and he said it's the best he's been to. Cheers to that!

He got the apple strudel for dessert, which looks great and makes me think of Sgt. Schultz.

My mouth was watering watch Gisbert eat the strudel and in the nick of time Uli shows up with my pretzel.

Here it is in all its salted glory. It's freshly baked with homemade mustard. Köstlich!

Ladies and gentlemen, The Coasters!

Great vintage cash register in here.

There's a cozy front room up here at the front of Lederhosen.

Let's go check out the back room of the bar. The wall opposite of the bar is adorned with lots of pictures and fun memorabilia.

The back room really feels like you're in a German beer hall with its wooden tables and chairs and the colorful mountains on the walls. It's closing time, so it's emptied out.

Fans spin overhead from the wooden arched ceilings.

Framed vintage beer ads decorate the walls back here.

Closing time and a parting shot with the lovely and friendly Uli.

I appreciate the "watch your step" warning on the wall, but I'm fine, I don't trip anymore. I stopped doing acid in the '80's. (Rimshot) Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.