Midtown Happy Hour: Hallo Berlin Express’ Sausage & a Beer Combo
If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.
Time has passed since Hallo Berlin Express opened in 2008 extending the sausage empire created by the dearly departed Rolf Babiel. Though HBE lacks space and the Biergarten atmosphere of its predecessor on 10th Avenue it still offers a full selection of juicy, plump wursts and German draft beers. You might think, “Well big deal, I can go to the midtown cart for my sausage fix, why should I head over to the Express?” HBE offers more selection like schnitzel, spaetzle, peirogis and herring plus the main event: German Beer!
Their happy hour deal is perfect for those cold days when you need a sit down meal and a swig of ale. Additionally, the special runs all day. So if you’re a carnivore and you like a cold one to help diffuse the Hallo Berlin’s grease bomb then this is right up your alley.
Meal combos start at $10 with their Soul Food meal: any sausage topped with home fries, red and white cabbage, grilled onions in gravy plus a choice of draft beer. Other options include beef goulash ($13), pierogi ($11), pork chops ($14) and more. Wanting to stuff my face with sausage I chose the Bavaria Lite Wurst (veal) and my date opted for the Berliner Curry Wurst coupled with a Radeburger and Dab dark beer.
The Curry Wurst was delicious and very reminiscent of a Louisiana sausage but the curry aspect suggested in the name was absent. My veal sausage was not remarkable but the potatoes stood out with their crunchy coffee colored crust. On the side came a basket of sliced baguette that was dry, Wonder bread-like and inedible. Ignoring that, everything coalesced into a tasty satisfying meal.
Beers come in 14 oz mugs and it’s nice that your draft beer and sausage choices are not limited. If you were already a fan of Hallo Berlin then why wouldn’t you check this out for a happy hour treat? (Or maybe even lunch?!) Just be sure to grab an Altoid on the way back to work.
The + (What somebody who likes this place would say)
- I love sausage and potatoes!
- Some hearty food and beer is exactly what I need for this hangover
- More variety than the cart, plus BEER!
- There are wurst things out there for $10
The – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)
- I’m a vegetarian
- Food is swimming in oil
- If you don’t want a beer the cart is probably more convenient
Hallo Berlin Express, 744 9th Ave (btw. 50+51st) 212-333-2372
Posted by Zach Brooks at 3:00 pm, January 22nd, 2010 under Hallo Berlin Express, Midtown Happy Hour.
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2 Comments
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I love German beer and sausage and especially their potatoes. But you’ve got to prepare yourself for the absence of service. First time I went in at lunchtime, I sat at a table and waited — and waited. They had a helper bussing tables and stuff, so I figured he would eventually take my order, or something. Finally another customer took pity and very gently reminded me that I had to go up to the counter to order. And the counter guy was cooking one order at a time when, he easily could have been cooking a few at a time. On my second visit, couple arrived with their faxed-in order form in hand to pick up some dishes. Thdey were totally ignored, and when they asked the counter guy what happened, he said he never got the fax. They were incredulous — and a bit in shock because they were supposed to bring back a big order to their office. Needless to say, they walked out emopty handed. Maybe it was my beer, but I did feel a bit of Schadenfreude.
I went there once during the summer with some people from my office. I ordered one of the lunch specials which I saw was served chopped up and mixed together in a bowl. It looks like one of those horrendous KFC Famous bowls. I asked the man behind the counter when I ordered if he could give me the sausages whole rather than chopped up and he told me that it costs extra that way. We all walked out right on the spot.
It is not like they give you more that way since they chop up the sausages you get in front of you.
Joe