In business since 1886 and located in the heart of Columbus, Ohio's historic German Village, Schmidt's Restaurant and Sausage Haus is without question one of the finest German restaurants in the United States. If you haven't had one of their brats, you haven't experienced what makes Oktoberfest Oktoberfest (besides the beer, of course).

Schmidt's Menu

•    Bratwurst
•    Bahama Mamas
•    Jumbo Frankfurters
•    Jumbo Cream Puffs
•    Sauerkraut
•    German Potato Salad

Der Braumeister is considered by many the last true German restaurant in the City of Cleveland. Marked by exquisite dark woodwork that appears to've been cut from the same Black Forest where they get the cake, and a near life-size mural of Neuschwanstein Castle, Der Braumeister just feels German. In other words, this is no converted Taco Bell. It's the genuine article.

In fact, the restauraunt itself has been situated on the corner of West 130^th and Lorain since back in the days when it was a roadside stand. Over all those years, restaurant ownership has only changed hands once (some may remember when it was called Herzog's).

The question is, how has Der Braumeister managed to survive where so many other traditional German restaurants have perished? Try their food and you'll realize that the answer goes beyond atmosphere. It is traditional German fare at its finest, with the occassional signature twist that makes it distinctly Der Braumeister's. Ever had a Black Forest Parfait or a Potato Pancake Reuben Sandwich? Probably not, but they do sound good... and they are!

Der Braumeister Menu

•    Sauerkraut Balls
•    Hungarian Goulash Over Spaetzel
•    Potato Pancake Reuben
•    Landjager Platter (Smoked Sausage & Cheese)
•    Sausage Platter: Knackwurst & Bratwurst, German Potato &
     Sauerkraut
•    Chicken Paprikash over Spaetzel
•    Sausage Sandwich: Bratwurst or Knackwurst Topped with
     Sauerkraut
•    Black Forest Ice Cream Cone
•    Bavarain Cream Ice Cream Cone
•    German Potato Salad
•    Potato Pancakes
•    Sauerkraut
•    Red Cabbage

The Oktoberfest Planning Committe would like to note that we consider it our duty to test out all restaurants before inviting them to take part in Oktoberfest. It requires a great deal of intestinal fortitude, but after our meal at Seven Roses, it seemed like all that eating had finally paid off, and we just wouldn't take no for an answer (even if it meant being a thorn in Seven Roses' side).

Located in the heart of Slavic Village on Fleet Street, Seven Roses (Siedem Róź) is a bright light in an area long known for fine ethnic cuisine. Fortunately, this Polish delicatessen is not only surviving, but flourishing amongst stiff competition, thanks in large part to a combination of exceptional food and a wonderful atmosphere. The building itself is classic Cleveland, with a stunning interior, high molded ceilings, 15' library shelves with sliding ladders, marble tiles, etc. And like many such impressive feats of local architecture, were it not in Slavic Village, it could have been left to decay and eventual blight. But fortunately for us, and the city of Cleveland in general, the people of Slavic Village are fine stewards, fiercely committed to maintaining their community. Seven Roses took over the building, polished the place up, packed the shelves with ethnic goods and spices, set up a deli counter overflowing with a miniature Westside Market's worth of exotic meats and delicassies, created a cozy seating area, and suddently you're worried about lines at lunchtime and hoping word doesn't spread too fast. It just goes to show that exceptional results come from delivering exceptional products. And we couldn't be more thrilled to announce that Seven Roses will be sharing those products with us come Labor Day Weekend!

Seven Roses Menu

•    Potato Pancakes
•    Stuffed Cabbage
•    Kielbasa
•    Sauerkraut
•    Pierogis

The Happy Dog is a neighborhood corner bar in the best sense of the term. They've got hot dogs and beer, and lots of live music, from rock and country to punk and polka. The bartenders are friendly and the bar itself is open and inviting - a racetrack oval wood bar, with plenty of old chrome barstools. It's not retro because it's pretty much unchanged from the time the Socotch family built the place back in the late 40's (they even have the old "Mom Socotch's Restaurant" sign hanging in the back of the bar).

Five friends got together back in August of 2008 to preserve the unique character of the place and to build on the work that the previous owners had done to make the Happy Dog one of the most welcoming live music venues in the city. With the help of many of Cleveland's best musicians and the good people of the Gordon Square Arts District, they booked a bunch of great gigs, showcasing local bands and pulling in some really cool bands from across the country.

With the music moving in the right direction, they figured it was time to do something fun in the kitchen, so in October 2009, they brought a new friend into the mix. Momocho chef and owner Eric Williams came on board with an idea to strip the menu down to just hot dogs, veggie dogs, tater tots and french fries, but with a dizzying array of toppings, all made in house. Co-owner Sean Kilbane suggested printing the menus to let folks pencil in their picks and create their own tasty hot dog combinations, and they were off and running.

They keep making small changes to keep things fresh - from hanging new pictures and recovering the old booths, to fixing up the stage and adding a new tap system - but their goal is to keep the Happy Dog what it has always been - a great neighborhood corner bar where everyone feels welcome.

Famous for its sauce and generous helpings, Hot Sauce Williams serves up the finest southern comfort foods in town. Like Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, DC, Hot Sauce Williams is something of a local landmark. As such its fans include everyone from Michael Symon to Anthony Bourdain. In fact, when Bourdain visited Cleveland to shoot a spot for the Travel Channel, Symon made a point of taking him to Hot Sauce Williams where the two happily gorged themselves on some of the best soul food in town. See the video below to watch the episode.

Voted the top Hungarian restaurant in the greater Cleveland area by Scene Magazine, Balaton Restaurant is most famous for its superb Wiener Schnitzel and a variance of that, the Chicken Schnitzel. Other fine offerings on the menu include: Stuffed Cabbages, Langos, Goulashes, and the Hungarian Lecso, a yellow paprika and tomato based summer stew, and of course Chicken Paprikash.

Dinner then culminated with a delightful dessert, not too sweet... just right.... the home made blincess, or Crepe Suzette, or Palacsinta with apricot, walnut, sweet cottage cheese, or poppy seed fillings. There are other deserts making dinner complete.

Special Highlights!

TOP RATINGS awarded by both reader choice polls as well as many accredited food writers for publications including: Cleveland Magazine, Northern Ohio Live Magazine, Ohio Magazine, Buon Appetit, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, Scene, Free Times, Connections, Shaker Magazine and more!

Oktoberfest will have its own stand offering a variety of favorite German dishes. John Roberto, owner of Roberto's Restaurant, will be preparing a host of items to keep Oktoberfesters' mouths watering.

Oktoberfest Menu

•    Hand Breaded Wiener Schnitzel
•    German Potato Salad
•    Potato Pancakes with Applesauce
•    Sauerkraut
•    Bratwurst
•    Bread
•    Chicken Paprikash

L ocated in Cleveland's historic West Side Market, Frank's Bratwurst was established in 1970. They have since garnered a reputation for serving some of the best brats in the Cleveland area. Their brats are so good, in fact, that Scene Magazine voted them the Best Brats in the Cleveland area.

L

ocated on Clifton Boulevard on the near west side of Cleveland, Asian Grille brings you the most authentic tasting Thai food in the greater Cleveland area. They are committed to making sure that your meal not only tastes great, but will also be healthy for you. They take pride in using only the freshest ingredients. They only cook with vegetable oil and never use MSG.

Thai food has become widely popular throughout the world. It blends the four flavors of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy harmoniously in a single entree. While Thai cuisine has a reputation for being hot and spicy, in reality, most dishes are not. Asian Grille's exquisite cuisine and colorful presentation will definitely excite your taste buds and please your palette, so if you're looking for something other than the traditional Oktoberfest fare, look no further.

T

here's just something about a fondue pot that invites conversation. Invites laughter. Invites coming together.

The Melting Pot Restaurant offers a unique, interactive dining experience like no other, creating memorable moments with family and friends. From the time the first piece of bread is dipped and the last piece of dessert is savored, you'll be graced with the time to discover new things about people you thought you knew. And, those you're getting to know.

The Melting Pot is the premiere fondue restaurant in the Cleveland area, and as such the Cleveland Oktoberfest is excited to have them as part of our event. Though they're only handling dessert at the Oktoberfest, note that if you go to one of their restaurants, you'll find that they've turned fondue into an art form, with savory selections for every meal course... whether appetizer, entrée, or dessert!

Oktoberfest will also feature outside vendors selling niche traditional foods as well as non-traditional foods. On the traditional side, you'll find Helmut's Strudel and German baked goods from Michael's Bakery. On the non-traditional side, you'll find Honey Gourmet Frozen Custard and Maple Side Farms' farmer's market featuring fresh fruit and veggies. See below for a full list.

If all that wonderful food makes you thirsty, we can take care of that. Event Co-Sponsors Hofbräu & Budweiser will be offering a variety of different flavors of beer, and for the teetotallers / designated drivers among you, we also have gourmet coffee, fresh cider, lemonade, soda and other beverages. See detailed list below.

Beverage Menu

•    Hofbräu Dark
•    Hofbräu Original
•    Hofbräu Oktoberfest
•    Warsteiner Pilsner
•    Warsteiner Dunkel
•    Warsteiner Oktoberfest
•    König Ludwig Weissbier
•    Budweiser
•    Bud Light
•    Jägermeister
•    Red Bull
•    Oktoberfest Microbrew Competition (more...)
•    Wild Bill's Root Beer
•    Gourmet Coffees
•    Schloss Zell German Wine
•    Fresh Cider from Maple Side Farms
•    Grilled Corn
  
•    Lemonade
•    Coke
•    Diet Coke
•    Sprite
•    Water