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.
