Buy your German Sausages here

One of the first things Jürgen did when we got to Savannah was type “German Restaurant” into Google. The nearest authentic place we could find bore the tongue-twisty name of Schnitzel Shack, and was a half-hour away in a town called Rincon (rhymes with Lincoln).

So far away, we eventually forgot about it. But on a rainy Wednesday afternoon, I came home to find Jürgen dressed in his lederhosen, playing the accordion and wailing “Deustchland, deutschland über alles” with tears rolling down his cheeks. The homesickness was terminal. Nurse! I’m going to need an injection of sauerkraut STAT! Let’s roll, destination: Schnitzel Schnack! I mean Shack!

Minutes later we were seated at our table in the tiny restaurant just on the Savannah side of Rincon. Color flushed back into Jürgen’s pale face as he read the menu with growing delight. “Jägerschnitzel? Goulash?! SPÄTZLE?! Ja Ja Ja! Wunderbar!” The restaurant actually offers a selection of both German and Thai dishes, an odd combination which owes itself to the homelands of the Shack’s owners — Pao is from Thailand, and Joe is from Germany.

We soon discovered that Joe’s not just from Germany, but actually from Jürgen’s home town of Darmstadt: a small city south of Frankfurt. Once that unbelievable factoid was unearthed, the night really got going. Joe came over and swapped stories from the Heimatland. Jürgen’s mom even worked at the same company as Joe! We stayed late after eating, and talked with him and Pao while trying out some of their beers. They’re a great, super-nice couple; Joe still works a day job, and comes into the restaurant at night. The Shack is pretty popular; the tables were all full and it seems to attract a crowd of regulars.

And the food! I almost forgot. Joe told us that when a couple comes in, the man typically orders hearty German food while the woman chooses a dish from the Thai section of the menu. Well, Juergen and I are both guys, so we went with Jägerschnitzel, Cordon Bleu, Spätzle and Sauerkraut (okay, fine: and a Thai Dumpling appetizer). Gott im Himmel, was it delicious. The Shack also offers fusion dishes, such as Ginger Cashew Schnitzel and Sweet & Sour Schnitzel.

So, yeah. Somehow, there’s great German-Thai cuisine in Rincon, Georgia, served by a cool guy from Juergen’s home town. It’s unbelievable how many crazy treasures are hidden right in plain sight. If we hadn’t researched the Schnitzel Shack in advance, we’d have driven right by without ever noticing it. But now you know: there’s no excuse to miss this great little restaurant in Rincon. Make sure to say hi to Joe and Pao from us.

Location on our map

- Visit Berlin

Our Adventures in Oviedo

During the cold snap that hit Savannah in mid-December, Juergen and I were caught completely unprepared. Part of the reason we had chosen to live in this city was because of the supposedly mild winters! We had no heavy clothing, let alone hats or gloves, so we spent one particularly freezing December morning on Broughton Street, outfitting ourselves and silently cursing God.

After we were done shopping, we stopped in at Goose Feathers Cafe on Ellis Square to warm up. With twenty-five years of history in the area, it was the perfect place to temporarily escape the cold. As soon as we stepped inside, I felt better… Goose Feathers bakes all their breads daily, and looking at the range of warm delicious treats in the display made my stomach glow. Made it hungry.

In addition to sandwiches and soups, Goose Feathers serves breakfast all day. For whatever reason, oatmeal sounded really good, and ordered the apples & walnuts variety. I don’t think I’ve ever had such rich and chunky oatmeal. In fact, I don’t think I’d had oatmeal since I was six. Juergen ordered the Breakfast Panini. Beth, the owner, came out to talk to us and explained that the panini was relatively new on the menu… the staff had been making it for themselves for awhile, so they decided to offer it to customers, as well.

It seems to be a popular place. Beth pointed out a few of the regulars, who’ve been steady customers for years. Goose Feathers is clean and comfortable, the people are nice, the coffee was excellent, and the food was delicious. And really, for a downtown cafe and bakery, what more could you ask for? If I lived just a little closer, I’d be a regular, too.

Goose Feathers Express Cafe
39 Barnard St.
Location on our Savannah Map
912-233-4683

- Savannah Restaurants

Southern Cooking

About a half hour south of Savannah, in the small village of Townsend, is one of the area’s best-kept secrets: The Old School Diner, owned and operated by Chef Jerome. A couple friends invited Juergen and I to the restaurant, and we had an incredible time which won’t soon be forgotten.

When we pulled into the Old School’s driveway to find it covered in carpets, I suspected we were in for a treat. The wooden building was painted in bright red with farm tools hung on the outside walls, and we entered cautiously. If I hadn’t known in advance that this was a restaurant, nothing would have immediately tipped me off. It felt like we were invading someone’s home — photos were on the walls, comfortable furniture was strewn about, and there was nobody to be seen. As we ventured further inside, a young girl came around a corner to greet us and lead us to our table.

The dining area is big, with room to seat a lot of patrons. We ordered beer and took a look at the menu. There wasn’t much debate about what to order — I mean, with a special called The Wheelchair Platter, you don’t have much choice — you are going to get The Wheelchair Platter. I suppose the name comes from the mode of transportation you’re likely to need afterwards. When it was brought out, my veins seized up in fear and my stomach shuddered in ecstasy. Mountains of fried food — oysters, shrimp, chicken. Clam bakes and ribs. We were five hungry people, and although everything was delicious, we couldn’t finish it.

The evening really got going when Chef Jerome came out of the kitchen to greet us. He does all the cooking, and clearly enjoys meeting the people who’ve discovered his little place. The first thing he did was give us all big bear hugs. “You’re family here”. And he meant it! He took us on a tour around the restaurant, telling us about his life and work. We saw pictures of famous people who’ve eaten there, including Ben Affleck and Michael Oher (from the Blind Side). He showed us love letters he’s written to his wife over the years (complete with drawings) and into his kitchen and its wall-to-wall deep fryers. The staff clearly love him, and were just as friendly and welcoming as their boss.

I think we spent about an hour talking to Chef Jerome, and he even walked us out onto the carpeted driveway to say goodbye. “Don’t forget now! This is your home, and you are family when you’re here!” And as I gave him a final farewell hug, I didn’t doubt it. It was an incredible night, and the Old School Diner is truly a special place.

Official Website

Location on our Georgia map

- More Restaurants