Gaumenkitzel
2121 San Pablo Ave. [Map]
Berkeley, CA 94702
Ph: (510) 647-5016
Hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am-9pm; Fri-Sat open 11:30am-10pm
Lunch 11:30am-2pm; Afternoon Menu 2-5:30pm; Dinner starting 5:30pm
Weekend Brunch 11:30am-2:30pm; Happy Hour Tue-Fri 2-5:30pm
Facebook: Gaumenkitzel
Twitter: @gaumenkitzel
Price range: Entrees ($11-$17)

If you're looking for an alternative to Alameda-based Speisekammer, head over to Berkeley for a uniquely Bay Area take on German cuisine. Hamburg ex-pats, the husband-and-wife team Kai Flache and Chef Anja Voth, have recreated their childhood favorites with an all-natural approach. Eschewing artificial additives, canned or processed ingredients, even microwaves and deep fryers, this solar-powered restaurant prides itself on preparing everything from scratch -- including yogurt and bread. They also serve sustainably raised fish and meat and use locally grown, organic produce.

Along with offering the largest German beer selection in the Bay Area, they also have plenty of sausage options available on their menu. A substantial starter is their platter of liver sausage and tangy north German butter cheese that comes with a small mixed green salad and orange-honey dressing, grated carrot-thyme salad, roasted beets, pickles and their housebaked Gaumenkitzel whole wheat bread with fresh unsalted butter. Or you could opt for a sausage plate and choose from three Nürnberger bratwürste sausages, two wiener knackwürste or one Bavarian white sausage with their housemade potato salad accented with dill. A delicious variation on the classic American combo of mac-and-cheese with hot dogs is the delicatessen wiener knackwürste on spätzle dish. This German gnocchi-like pasta is dressed in a housemade mustard and sharp cheddar sauce with slices of wiener knackwürste .

An easy way to sample their draft beers is through their tasting menu that's served on a map of Germany that indicates their region of origin, or just flip through their sizable beer menu to peruse their collection of bottled beers like the Schönramer Saphir Bock, a bright, 8% ABV ale with fruity notes. Or try one of their exclusive imports, the Grevensteiner Kellerbier (cellar beer) that's an unfiltered, unpasteurized 5.2% ABV pilsner that's reminiscent of caramel and honey. You can also get bottles to go; check out their small shop that's stocked with beer, wine, jams, chocolate and other German foodstuffs.

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