Schnitzel Fritz ~ Colorado Springs, Colorado

Latest visit: Nov 2022

First visit: Sep 2018

Schnitzel Fritz represents that rare breed - a German restaurant that sits in a suburban strip mall. Generally the German restaurants in America feel obligated to have you sit in a Festzelte (Beer Hall) with some ridiculous traditional music and waitstaff in costume garb. Not that these are ubiquitous either, but they seem to represent the German dining experience. Even Kuby's in Dallas gives you a mini variation of this. Not Schnitzel Fritz. This is a very humble grocery, with a kitchen in the back, and some bright yellow plastic booths to sit in. While you wait for your food, you can load up on German desserts (the best), deli meats and cheese's, sausages, and other packaged German goods. Or gifts.

On our first two visits (pre COVID), Mrs. RJG and I each got a sandwich. I remember it being excellent, but maybe not enough food? This time we each got a Weiner Schnitzel platter. Wow! This is the way it's done. Two large perfectly fried and breaded veal cutlets with seasoned super hot fries. And a little salad garnishment. Very filling and tasty. Weiner Schnitzel is actually an Austrian dish and serving it with sauce is considered unacceptable. Amen to that. It's a subtle flavor, and any kind of sauce would ruin the experience. The RJG's Official Mom is 100% German (heritage - born in New York), and she never cooked or ate Weiner Schnitzel. I asked why. Never even heard of it she replied. Her family were from the north of Germany, near the Netherlands. Bavarian and Austrian cooking were as foreign as Mexican food when she was a kid. Interesting that. When I travel Europe, I seek this dish out. It's prominent throughout the German speaking regions and Eastern Europe.

The owner is the cook and she is just a delightful lady. There should be a line out the door for food like this. I just wish there were more options, but German food remains an obscure culinary choice in the States. Pity that. Maybe they should just focus on the food, and leave off the gimmicky touristy stuff. It screams 60s kitsch. Schnitzel Fritz is the way to go. We need to come back more often, and will do so.

9/7/18; 4/6/19; 11/28/22 (new entry)