Set adjacent from AZIA and The Bad Waitress, the Black Forest Inn is sometimes overlooked. With its humble no flash exterior this restaurant may not be the place to be seen, but if you want good German beer and food then the Black Forest has everything you need. Don’t expect any lederhosen or gimmick. It’s just a laid back place for fun with friends.

The inside looks very…um…German? I’ve never been to Germany, but it has a pub feel, something I might expect to find if I was to visit Germany. There is a dining room in front, a bar area in back and a semi-enclosed patio off the back. I particularly like the patio during the evening. There is a fountain and the whole area is decorated in light. It is closed off and private from the street, but you still feel like you’re outdoors.

They have a decent selection of beers on tap. Some local, Strongbow cider, Grosser (light or dark), Pilsner Urquel, Stella and of course German beers. Averaging about $3.00 a mug, this is a good price for good beers. There is also a large selection of bottled beers, wines and ‘libations’ which include things like the Krautini (I’ll let you guess what’s in that one).

They serve daily specials during dinner time along with salads, side and apps and other specialty entrees. Everything looks awesome. Super hearty, meaty and potato-e. We just had some apps last, but I plan on going back and getting a full dinner soon. We had some soft pretzels to accompany our beer, but what really ended up being delicious was the ham and sauerkraut balls. The menu raves that they are ‘a best-selling appetizer for many years’ and I can see why. Not only daring, but also really really good. The balls are a blend of ham, cheese and sauerkraut breaded and deep fried. Crunchy, warm and interesting. The favors and the textures are something you won’t find anywhere else.

The Black Forest Inn is fun and interesting with out trying to be. There is obviously a reason why it has been around for over 4 decades. If you are passionate about good beer and authentic German food then Black Forest is sure to please. I will definitely be back for the pork shank.