When in Germany, one should not only drink beer like the Germans do, but eat as well like the Germans do!
Introducing, the all-time favourite by tourists to try, haha – the ‘Pork Knuckle’ rather the crispy pork knuckle. Well, I am sure as well that the locals love this meaty and fatty dish because the traditional fare wouldn’t have stayed long on the menu if people are not ordering anyway.
Germany is a meat country, and I love my vegetables you know…. but if you can’t beat em, join em =)
So we had this lunch plan covered very well. We really have to try this! The goal is to eat the crispy pork knuckle (Knusprige Schweinshaxe) for mid-day so that we have the rest of the afternoon to digest the meat. I find this very heavy to eat in the evening so lunch is the best option.
I remember eating this many years ago in Berlin. Bad decision to eat it in the evening and another bad decision to order the non-crispy. This time around I did not take any chances.
And of course, the best place to eat this is at a traditional cellar restaurant. I read about the Altmarkt Keller Restaurant und Bierhaus that specializes in Saxon-Bohemian cuisine and their menu, of course, includes the pork knuckle.
We came here after a visit to the Neustadler Markthalle (a food market hall), Pfunds Molkerei (beautiful and traditional dairy shop) and a bit of shopping in the Innere Neustadt. It was raining, in fact, the whole day, so we were quite glad to be in this underground cellar protected from the bad weather upstairs. Rain is really a bummer during travels, you have to live with it and make the most of what you can.
So we finally found the entrance to the restaurant which is located on the Altmarkt (a big square one cannot miss in the city). The restaurant is basically in the underground of the square.
The place wasn’t busy when we arrived but I am sure it will be a different story in the evening. It sounds like a very popular local hangout place, nothing like tourist-inclined, although I am sure many tourists flock here for the same reason we came. It’s a typically German restaurant and beer house.
We went ahead and ordered our pork knuckles and beer. We did not have to wait long before we were served by waitresses in dirndl period dresses. Cool.
This pork knuckle is very similar to the pork knuckle in the Philippines, which is called “Crispy Pata”. However, the Filipino crispy pata version is tastier in my opinion, as it is seasoned with spices and marinated, sometimes for several hours while some let it sit a night over in the fridge. The Filipino version is also crispier because Filipinos would not want to eat it any other way.
So this pork knuckle here at Altmarkt Keller was quite okay. It surely isn’t the best there is out there, but doable. The beer we had was quite good though.
Another thing I liked about this restaurant is the interior and the atmosphere. Typically Bavarian-style cellar restaurant, which reminds me of the restaurants and beer houses in Munich. The vaulted ceilings, arches and large pillars, there’s medieval scenes paintings on the walls, the waitresses are dressed in traditional dirndl costume dresses, and the whole eating happens underground which I guess makes it really special, unique and interesting.
Tip: The restaurant has a “Meal of the day” which usually is more economical than the other items on the menu. They also brew their own beer here.
Travel Period: April 2017
Destination: Dresden (Saxony), Germany
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All pictures were taken by a point and shoot pocket camera or a smartphone.