North Texas Daily

Courtney Garza

Staff Writer

On Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Dentonites can enjoy a variety of German specialties at Gerhard’s German Restaurant.

This all-you-can-eat buffet is served at 222 W. Hickory St. at a quaint and cultural spot. As a traditional Bavarian beer house, the restaurant primarily serves imported German beers and local meats.

Locals like former German resident Mark Shilling take advantage of the authentic brunch selections.

“The spaetzle noodles are just like what I had in Germany,” Shilling said. “The place has the German feel to it and makes me feel like I’m back again.”

Gerhard’s also provides a buffet-style, self-serve long table teeming with large and hot containers filled with an assortment of meat from mild-spiced Jaegar Schnitzel, a pan-fried pork schnitzel with mushroom-cherry sauce, to bratwurst skewers wrapped in bacon.

All of their food is made fresh the morning of and includes exclusive dishes like their own rich and creamy beer, as well as cheese and potato soup. Like any other buffet, Gerhard’s also has a salad bar with the traditional Rhenish potato salad and the option to build a personal omelet at their omelet station.

To finish off the meal, Gerhard’s includes a free bottomless mimosa with decadent German chocolate cake and homemade apple strudel, all-inclusive for $17 a person.

“It’s an interesting aspect to create a niche for different food than the standard chain food,” owner Gerhard Pelzer said. “That’s why we chose German food, because there’s not that many places that offer what we do.”

Namesake for the restaurant, Pelzer, takes pride in the restaurant’s authenticity and fresh food, with his German-native background. Pelzer and his partner Valerie Rosen started Gerhard’s in 2009 in Roanoke, but after two and a half years their contract was up and they both thought Denton was an ideal new location.

Being fairly new to the Denton Square after moving and opening in September 2012, Pelzer and Rosen have watched as Gerhard’s has flourished.

“There is a lot of German heritage in this state,” Rosen said “We love Denton for its character and support, so there’s no where else we’d rather be.”