Celebrating Oktoberfest in the Bay
Oktoberfest celebrations are already well underway in the Bay Area with many more in the coming days and weeks. Here are a few spots on both sides of the Bay that are doing things up for the German celebration.
Jasper’s Corner Tap – Served nightly until the end of October, Jasper’s is offering a venerable pupu platter of treats: a spicy beer sausage with house-made spicy mustard, whiskey fennel sausage with whole grain mustard, warm soft pretzels and smoked cheese fondue. Top that off with a Paulaner Oktoberfest – all for only $19. Jasper’s is located at 401 Taylor Street.
Rosamunde – Rosamunde’s two San Francisco locations always offer a huge selection of great beers on tap and by the bottle to go along with sausages galore. And although the restaurant’s official Oktoberfest celebration has passed, the Oktoberfest “Tap Takeover” is still taking place. Draft selections include: Erdinger Dunkel, Franzikar Hefe Weisse, Hofbrau Oktoberfest, Kostritzer Schwarzbier, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Reissdorf Kolsch, Schneider Aventinus, Spaten Oktoberfest, Weihenstephaner Hefe Weiss and Weihensteohaner Korbinian. Special bottles will also be available. Rosamunde has two locations in San Francisco – 2832 Mission Street and 545 Haight Street.
Stein’s – The German sports bar is honoring Oktoberfest but also celebrating its one year anniversary. On Friday, October 5, Steins will be hosting a night of beer games ( Stein hold, one liter beer pong tournament, flip cup and rock, paper, scissor shoot) with teams of five competing for various prizes. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with tickets $20 in advance and $30 at the door. The price includes unlimited food and a half liter or glass of wine/champagne. The final team sign up is at 7:30 that night. Steins is located at 731 Clement Street.
Cafe Prague – The restaurant is throwing a Friday night block party in celebration of Oktoberfest. Held on Friday, September 28 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. in the alleyway near the restaurant (a block from the Transamerica Pyramid), Cafe Prague will be offering German grub (all $4) including grilled sausages, schnitzel, potato salad and pretzels. They will also be offering $4.50 half liters and $8 liters of Spaten Oktoberfest, Lowenbray, Staropramen, Pilsner Urquel and Dunkel. Admission is free. Cafe Prague is located at 424 Merchant Street at Battery.
Photo Credit: Simon Aughton/Wikimedia Commons
Drake’s Barrel House – Can’t forget the folks across the Bay. On Friday, September 28, Drake’s in San Leandro is hosting its annual Flocktoberfest. Drake’s will be releasing its seasonal HausFest Oktoberfest beer. Fatted Calf is also preparing two kinds of Drake’s beer sausage made with pork or duck. There will also be a vegan option provided by Rosamunde. A limited number of 1/2 liter Drake’s beer steins will also be available and servers will be filling them with HausFest throughout the evening for $4.50. Pre-order tickets are $16, which includes a reserved stein, your first fill of beer and a sausage of your choice. The event is from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Drake’s Barrel House is located at 1933 Davis Street in San Leandro.
Camino – Chef Russell Moore loves to experiment with different cultural foods throughout the year on his Monday menus. And for the month of October, he is offering a special three-course menu each Monday featuring German-inspired dishes. The menu changes weekly and is priced between $28-35. Menu items could include: Beet Suppe mit fresh horseradish, Grilled duck breast mit duck und pork jowl Wurst, Spätzle, Sauerkraut und einer Pretzel or Roast pork leg, crispy pork belly und pig’s head fritter mit roasted Karotten, sauerkraut, spätzle und einer Pretzel. Camino is located at 3917 Grand Avenue in Oakland.
Of course, there’s always Oktoberfest by the Bay, which is being held September 28-30 at Pier 48, three days of food, drinks, music and entertainment.. Never a boring time in the Bay Area for Oktoberfest.
Photo Credit: senator86, via Wikimedia Commons
