The Bier Garden, Portsmouth, Virginia

The Bier Garden
438 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704
Phone: 757-393-6022
Fax: 757-393-6021

On a recent afternoon, the AMW family headed to downtown Portsmouth for lunch. A few choices were debated until the Bier Garden's German fare was chosen.

The Bier Garden has a down to earth, welcoming entrance. There are three seating areas: outdoors, a heated area surrounded by a tent and indoor seating. The indoor seating, which is where we ate, had old wooden floors, wooden hutches, brick walls, a shelf of beer steins and various signs (old sayings, beer ads, etc).

The wait for a table was very short. We were offered a seat in the tented area until a table was vacated. Our drinks were brought while we waited. Our meal order was also taken at that time.

Once a table was available, we were moved to the indoor area. Here's what the AMW family thought of the meal:

Crusty white rolls and butter

The rolls were hot, warm and fresh.

Goulash Soup: Hungarian Beef Soup

Two people had this soup. The broth had a nice tomatoey flavor. There was plenty of tender beef in both bowls. However, only one person had vegetables in their soup.

Lentil Soup: Lentils, Carrots, Celery

The lentil soup was served in a glass mug. It was brown, thick and peppery. This soup was perfect on a chilly day.

Potato Soup

This soup was highly recommended to us by various people. However, it was not available that day.

Brotzeit Teller: Appetizer plate of bread, German meats and cheeses

The Brotzeit Teller was very large. It consisted of gelbwurst, bloodwurst,ham, turkey, salami, bologna, 2 spreads, Swiss, cheddar, tomato, onions, lettuce and 4 triangles of marbled bread on a wooden board.

The bread was soft and delicious. I was pleased with the amount of cheese.

The amount of meat was enough for several people. I didn't care for the bloodwurst and gelbwurst. Both had a jellied, overly soft taste. I liked the other meats, though.

I'm not sure what the two spreads were. One was orange, with a tomato flavor. It was delicious on the marbled bread. The second spread had the color and flavor of mushy, uncooked hot dogs. I did not care for it.

Over all, the AMW family was pleased with the Bier Garden. The decor was cozy. The servers were friendly and brought the food in a timely manner. The food itself was hearty and filling. A return trip is definitely in order.