Chef Klaus’ Bier Stube

The past few years we have really embraced my husband’s German heritage and we love the fall season when we can attend a variety of Oktoberfest celebrations. We even dress up now - he in is lederhosen and me in a dirndl. This past year we attended 3 local Oktoberfests. And at one, we were pretty disappointed by the food choices. There were some good beer options, but the only German food we found was bratwurst and really - I can eat bratwurst anytime I want. I can grill it at home or get it at a variety of eateries in the area. Other goodies like potato pancakes and schnitzel and spaetzle are harder to come by. That's the kind of good stuff I'm looking for when I go to an Oktoberfest.

We ended up leaving the festival after taking in a little music and having a beer and we decided to go to a restaurant not very far from where we were at so we could enjoy some good, authentic German cuisine.

Chef Klaus’ Bierstube is a family favorite. My husband is a second generation German-American. His father immigrated here in his late teens. He unfortunately passed away five years ago, but he really passed on an appreciation of the cuisine of his homeland - long before I was doing a food blog and even before we got married.

We had made serveral visits to the former Peotone location and even took my husband’s aunt from Germany there withi us for lunch when she was visiting. That location closed, but we continue to visit their location in Frankfort.

Schnitzel has been one of my favorite dishes ever since I first tried it as a teen at a restaurant in Elmhurst called the Heidleberg which has long since closed. Chef Klaus’ is just as good as that first plate I tried way back then. And it’s just such a good comfort meal when you pile on some spaetzle or German potatoes and a scoop of red cabbage with it. And don’t forget the slices of dark rye bread and maybe some potato pancakes or a big Bavarian pretzel dipped in düsseldorf mustard for an appetizer.

Chef Klaus’ Beirstube is probably as authentic as you are going to get in our area. Besides several options from the Schnitzel Bank, there are other German specialties like schweinebraten (Bavarian pork roast), beef rouladen, Kassler Ripchen, sauerbraten (beef roast) and lots of sausages.

There’s a lively atmosphere with lots of German decor on the walls. We were there on a Saturday afternoon in early October when they had a live band - a duo of brothers - playing lots of German beer drinking songs.

If you love German cuisine or if you haven’t had it and are looking to give it a try, I highly recommend Chef Klaus’ Bier Stube. Get the schnitzel and a liter of Hofbrau and tell them the Chicago Foodie Sisters sent you.

Chef Kaus’ Bier Stube

20827 LaGrange Rd.

Frankfort, IL 60423

815-469-0940 

Chefklausbierstube.com