German food and bar hopping in Hoboken
We started our night with a little red wine. Lisa made fun the small juice glasses I always use for serving wine. I have proper stemmed ones but I’m haunted by this nagging fear of them falling over. Having been around several clumsy people and clumsy cats in my life has made me skittish.
Following the wine we went for a couple of cocktails at the Goldhawk (936 Park Avenue Hoboken). Anyone who has read my site knows much I love this retro-hip, lounge-type bar that differs from the usual frat-party, meat-market. Affordable, strong drinks and decent music greet you along with the ever-gracious bar staff.
After a while we went to eat at Helmer’s Cafe & Beer Bar (1036 Washington St. Hoboken). I had never been there even though it is only a block away from my apartment. From the street the place appears to be larger than it really is. Once you get thru the side entrance you’re in a warm space filled with a mix of red carpet, heavy wood furniture and German décor.
Established in 1935, they take pride being ‘stuck in a time warp of sorts’ according to their website. And you do feel like you’ve stepped back to a simpler time here. The walls are lined with beer bottles, steins and sparsely accented with pictures. There are white paper table cloths and a telephone booth with no telephone.
The specials are displayed on an enormous chalkboard near the exit and the proprietors are friendly and attentive. I was amazed at how they kept track of who was up next for dinner considering that there is no real waiting area. Diners in the queue simply stand around drinking any one of the many, many beers on hand.
The service is unquestionably slow but I was not at all caught up in that ball of impatience normally associated with waiting to eat. I was over come with a feeling of ease that was quite comforting. I know a big part of that was the company as Lisa and I joked in our usual way. Poking fun at the kid who looked like he could have been part of N’Sync, this fat person or that and Lisa all the while now asking for hotdogs.
The closest thing I could figure for her to order was a Knockwurst Sandwich with Sauerkraut. I had expected it to be a sausage, but it was minced. Still she said it was tasty. I ordered a sandwich that reminded me of the toast I had in Austria, only bigger. ‘Schinkenbrot mit Münster Käse’ which is Grilled Black Forest Ham with Melted Muenster Cheese, Sliced Tomatoes.
We were so caught up in our good time that before we knew it the place was empty. It wasn’t late, only about 9:30 but now it was quiet enough to hear the music. Jazz in a German restaurant fascinated us. At some point, for reasons that only seem logical to Lisa and me in the moment, we began to talk about Tito Puente referring to him as Tito Puentwurst. And instead of his usual moniker of El Rey (The King), he became Mein Furor. Tasteless? Yes, but that’s the beauty of us.
After finally paying we walked down to Louise and Jerry’s (329 Washington St. Hoboken) for a nightcap. Lisa kept calling it Luis & Jerry’s to which I would ask, “Why must you insist on making it a gay bar?” And she would laugh.
It’s another favorite spot of mine. A true drinkin’ bar that happily offends the classier amateurs that crowd the downtown area. It is simply and wonderfully a place to go, get drunk, smoke, play pool, listen to the jukebox while the TV plays unrelated images and never have a bad time.
Though it was still pretty early, we had enough to drink and walked in the now misty night air back to my apartment. Along the way we stopped at Dunkin Donuts so Lisa could get coffee and a bunch of free munchkins. I never get free stuff. Then again I don’t look as good to the guys working behind the counter.
When we got to my place I made myself some tea. I’m not a coffee drinker. We watched some TV and just kinda relaxed for a bit. We needed the rest after our mini-pub crawl. This type of night reminded me of the reason for living here. Being able to mold and shape a night from one thing to another, never having to settle for a bad time.
See Also:
Helmers Cafe & Beer Bar
The Goldhawk
Louis & Jerry’s
