(COLORADO SPRINGS) — What happens when you combine old-world recipes, authentic German beer, and just enough accordion music to make your heart do a little polka? You get Edelweiss German Restaurant, a beloved Colorado Springs institution that’s been serving up gemütlichkeit for nearly 60 years.
In this week’s Foodie Finds, FOX21’s Krista Witiak takes us back inside this family-run favorite, where schnitzels, steins, and tradition come together.
Family-run since day one, Edelweiss is the kind of place where hospitality runs deep. “We’ve been here 58 years,” says owner Dieter Schnakenberg. “My mom was with it from the beginning, and about 35 years ago, we bought it and made it our own.”
The family has put a lot of love and care into keeping Edelweiss running strong.
“We’ve done two or three major remodels, added different wings, kitchens, bakery areas… they really poured everything into it,” Dieter says. “Even our parking lot is cobblestone, like in Europe. You know how many schnitzels we had to sell to do that?”
Featuring generations-old recipes, Edelweiss dishes up options like schnitzel, rouladen, and bratwurst based on recipes from Dieter’s own Oma. Even the sauces, such as the creamy rahm, savory jäger, and Zigeuner sauce, which is like a gypsy schnitzel, are all made from scratch in the kitchen.
And it doesn’t stop at the food. The beer list boasts names like Weihenstephaner (the world’s oldest brewery), Warsteiner, and König Ludwig. Most wines are imported, and the desserts? Also handmade with imported ingredients.
In the warmer months, the biergarten becomes a major draw, featuring water features, flowers, a koi pond, apple trees, and pergolas.
Add in a little live music, and you’re stepping into a true German experience. “We have our strolling musicians — accordion players — here most Thursday through Sunday evenings,” Dieter mentions. “They’ll play out on the patio, move through the dining rooms, and even head downstairs.”
Edelweiss also hosts a monthly “Stammtisch,” a casual meetup for anyone interested in the German language and culture. “It’s not just for German speakers,” said Dieter. “We do it downstairs in the Rathskeller, by the bar. It’s just another way to keep the German community going here.”
So grab a stein, make a reservation at edelweissrest.com, and experience Germany right here in Colorado Springs.
Scan the QR code or visit fox21news.com/deals to grab a $50 gift certificate to Edelweiss for just $25. Only 100 are available — don’t miss out!
