Stubbies & Steins: Neighborhood Bar Meets Exotic Restaurant

Friday, 13 January 2012 11:44

Walking into Stubbies & Steins downtown, you feel like you are walking into Cheers—with an international flair. Decked out with hand-painted trees, German state crests, chandeliers hanging from billowing drapes and a multi-colored Bartles & Jaymes surfboard, Stubbies makes you feel relaxed and comfortable with the luxury of trying something new.

Stubbies sticks to its dual-personality theme: German brauhaus (see: family-style dining table) and Australian pub (see: kangaroo and crocodile mural).

By Shamika Brooks
Photos: Tom Parsons

PUTTING THE ART IN BEER
With the slogan “No Miller, No Coors, No Bud,” Stubbies is home to more than 450 beers, representing six of the seven continents. Owner Berkeley Hoflund hasn’t found a beer from Antarctica—yet.

They focus on artisan-crafted imports, microbrews and small breweries. “It could be compared to buying a mass-produced Twinkie versus going to a small bakery where everything is homemade,” Berkeley says.

If you’re wavering on what to drink or eat, the staff can suggest something to your liking. Feel that winter chill? Try a dark Delirium Noël ($9.25).

“The only variation for trying any of these beers is your palate,” Berkeley says.

RELATED—Craft Beer Tour

THE FOOD
With a full-service menu and everything made from scratch, you can eat at Stubbies for dinner or a late night snack. On Sunday, try sweet and savory crepes for brunch.

We tried the pork schnitzel, pomme frites, red cabbage and potato salad. The Classic Wiener Schnitzel ($10.25 with a side item) was pan-fried and lightly breaded. A crispy, light and tender dish, it’s easy to see why the schnitzel is popular.

The pomme frites ($4.75), i.e. homemade fried potatoes, were lightly salted, crispy, crunchy—and highly addicting. Add Stubbies’ signature curried ketchup, and you won’t be able to put them down.

The Warm German Potato Salad was served with bacon, vinegar and beef broth ($3.25). The potatoes were soft, but the bacon gave them a crunch and the vinegar gave them a kick without being too salty or bitter. And finally, the Warm Spiced Red Cabbage, blended with onions, spices and apple cider ($3.25), was slightly sweet and crunchy. This was a perfectly sweet finale to counterbalance the potato salad’s tang.

RELATED—Cheap Eats 2011

INSPIRATIONAL ADVENTURES
Stubbies & Steins evolved from the adventures of Berkeley and her father, Gar. They opened Stubbie Shirt Pub in 2003 as a beer pub with six tables. After the bar’s wide range of beers garnered immense popularity, they later expanded the restaurant side in 2008.

A “stubbie” is the Australian term for a short and squat beer bottle, while “stein” refers to the German beer mug that can be found at Oktoberfest.

“People might come in with a group of two or three people, but by the end of the evening, they might end up hanging out with a group of eight to 10,” Berkeley says. “It’s a great place to make connections and know about the community.”

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