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Best German Restaurant in America: Bavarian Grill in Plano

That is what the press release from Inga Bowyer, president of Germandeli.com in Colleyville says. Let’s get the details.

Over 400 German restaurants, located throughout the United States participated in this first year of the search for the “Best German Restaurant in America.” Bavarian Grill, located in Plano, Texas, garnered almost one third of all the validated votes cast during the two-month online voting period. They also received the majority of positive judging forms from “undercover judges,” and the restaurant scored well with teams of expert judges who dined incognito at the highest scoring German restaurants. Health Department inspections were also reviewed to confirm a consistent “A” rating for the restaurant.

The goal of the annual competition, according to Inga Bowyer, president of GermanDeli.com, is to recognize German restaurants that serve up a truly ethnic experience. According to Bowyer, Bavarian Grill’s classic German entrees like schnitzel, sauerbraten, bratwurst, and roasted ham hock are complimented by a selection of over 50 different imported German beers.

Das ist alle! Lassen Sie uns essen!

UPDATE: We will be celebrating this Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm with a victory party where we’ll be presented a plaque by Inga Bowyer, President of GermanDeli.com.  We’d love for you, and any Side Dish readers, to join us for the celebration!

Hot Dogs in Dallas: Eddie’s Deli

Okay folks, I am filing this dining experience under “Weirdest of All Times.” InsideCorner’s Evan Grant and I set out the other day to check out Eddie’s Deli located on the southeast corner of Northwest Highway and Abrams. As you can see, it’s not much to look at from the outside, or the inside for that matter. As we walked toward the place, we detected the strong smell of mothballs. When Evan opened the door, we were flooded with fumes. As we stood looking over the menu, our eyes started to water and my throat tightened up.

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SideDish TableTalk: Three Jews, Zinsky’s Deli in Dallas, Six Opinions

We hope to start an occasional feature here on SideDish in which one of us adventurous eaters endeavors to discuss a restaurant experience with either some dinner companions or a couple of Dishers who might have expertise in the area.

For the first installment of SideDish TableTalk, I knew just where to go to round up a couple of fellow Chosen People to talk about Zinsky’s Delicatessen. What follows is the transcript of that conversation (or, if you prefer, complaint fest). We all seem to like Zinsky’s very much, but that doesn’t stop myself, “The Pastrami Kid,” and “Harry” from finding something to kvetch about. Below we discuss important Deli issues such as the one-handed sandwich, kasha knishes, and bagels. You don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate this, but it helps.

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SideDish Tasters Choice: Zinsky’s Deli Tasting Group Announced

Calling all kvetchers!

Liz Baron, co-owner of Zinsky’s Deli, has read all of the comments and made the selections for the Zinsky’s Deli Friends and Family Tasting from 5:00-8:00pm next Sunday at Bengal Coast. The list is below. Please e-mail your stage name and your real name to me (nancyn@dmagazine.com). Your name must  be on the list to get in. If you are one of the “winners” below and you can’t make it, please let me know so we can substitute. Remember, you must agree to file a report on SideDish next Monday. Congrats to:

1)    elena34
2)    Lisa Petty
3)    Margie
4)    borntorhone
5)    Michael
6)    Bob
7)    Dallas Deli
8)    Dubious Brother
9)    TLS
10)  Scagnetti

Another SideDish Tasting Opportunity: Zinsky’s Delicatessen

Calling all kvetchers!

Now that Salmon-gate has settled  to a simmer, I’m happy to announce a unique one-of-a-kind (for now) event: a behind-the-scenes look at how some restaurants use family and friends to test their recipes.

The other day when I was talking with Liz Baron about Zinsky’s Delicatessen, she mentioned they were planning a huge tasting. I told her if she was looking for people with opinions, I knew a few.  I asked her if they would consider letting ten SideDish readers into the private tasting. She just got back to me this morning and said yes. How great is that?

So if you have strong opinions on what a New York deli should be in Dallas, submit your name and “qualifications” below. If we get more than ten, we’ll draw from a hat.

The “SideDish Kvetch” will take place at Bengal Coast on Sunday, June 14 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Sneak Peek: Zinsky’s Delicatessen in Preston Royal

Zinsky’s the new New York-style deli going into Preston Royal is taking shape. (I love the fact that they blasted the back wall out and put in windows.) The crew hopes to open “in the beginning of July.” I caught up with one of the partners, Liz Baron, over the weekend. She files this report:

Jim Baron, Mark Brezinski (our partner), Lex Berlin (the chef) and I spent some serious deli time in New York City.  We visited the iconic NY delis – everything from Second Ave. Deli, Katz’s, Barney Greengrass, H&H Bagels, Artie’s, Russ and Daughters, Zabar’s, Carnegie, Stage and The Pickle Guys – to name a few!.  Our goal at Zinsky’s is to serve the best of everything – best smoked fish, pastrami, bagels, matzo ball soup, corned beef, etc., etc.  We wanted to go to the source to make sure we were choosing those items.  Some of our products will be outsourced (Acme fish, Eisenberg pastrami), some made in Dallas (Robert Ozarow [Empire Bakery] is working on a bagel for us), and some made by Lex.  We’re still in the process of tasting and selecting – and plan to test more in front of some small and large groups.

Here is my favorite part:

Because this is a New York style deli, we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from native New Yorkers about everything.  Relish in the tuna salad?  Onion in the egg salad?  Wide or thin noodles in the chicken soup?  I think more than any other type of food, people have strong feelings about how deli food should be prepared (like their mother did it, of course!).  In an attempt to respect and consider the volume of feedback we are getting and anticipate we will get, we’ve decided to have a “kvetch box” somewhere in the restaurant.  Best kvetch of the week wins a free sandwich.  I’m thinking the tag line might be “We value your opinion… maybe”.

Kvetch box? Nice. I say speak now, Dishers, or forever hold your kvetch.

(Hello? Did Liz say, “We plan to test more in front of some small and large groups?” I promise, no salmon.)

Great Deli News: Zinsky’s Scheduled For July Opening

Several Dishers have asked me about Zinsky’s Delicatessen and Catering Co. the new deli under construction in the old Jason’s Deli space in Preston Royal Shopping Center. I just caught up with Liz “Baroness” Baron, one of the owners. She has just returned from New York where she ate in “almost every deli you can think of.” She and her husband Jim are partnering with Mark Brezinski, a co-founding partner of Pei Wei Asian Diner, and currently operating Bengal Coast restaurant at the Centrum. “First of July,” said Liz. Baroness, we’re going to hold you to that.

Not Kosher: I Washed A Corned Beef Sandwich From Roaster’s New York Deli With A Bagel And Lox

Used to be my good friend Nancy would occasionally drop goodies off at my house, just because she was a good friend. Then she’d do it because we were neighbors. Now that we are colleagues, everything comes with a price tag. The price for the Puck Bunny leaving a care package in my fridge Sunday afternoon was this: “Well, you are going to blog about it.” Well, here I am, working for my dinner.

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Dallas, We Have A Real Pastrami Sandwich: Roaster’s New York Deli & Bagels

Hanging TVs and hanging salami hang with the locals at Roaster's.

Yesterday I hit Roaster’s (old Ed’s Deli space at LBJ & Preston) around 1:00p.pm. and the place was jumping. There was still a wait for tables but since we were the only deuce, we were seated quickly. The staff was flying around the room at dizzying speed thrusting jars of home made pickles and metal bowls of cole slaw on the table while they rearranged the condiments and slapped down the plastic (with pictures!) menu. Customers: kids a go-go, old Jewish ladies, young families, middle-aged foodies. I felt like I was dining on a Carnival cruise docked in Nassau.

Delicious cole slaw and pickles are free.

Anywhoo, I just wanted to tell you about the pastrami sandwich because it is worth the trip: hot and hand-sliced pastrami it’s packed and piled high. Mine was on toasted rye with melted Swiss and extra Russian dressing. I scooped the cole claw, which was light and slightly sweet, on top. I ate half and thought I would burst. Some serious foodies feel that the pastries and breakfast platters are super expensive but the sandwich ($11.95) was enough for two.

Looks like they’ve shortened their name from Roaster’s  ‘N Toasters to  Roaster’s. I don’t care what they call it– when my mouth was full of pastrami I could have closed my eyes and imagined myself sitting at Carnegie Deli in New York. (Then again, I was highly caffeinated.) Evan Grant will review the lox, bagels, and corned beef later. UPDATE: FYI, they are only open for breakfast and lunch.

The pastrami is way better than my photography.

Roasters’ n Toasters, A New York Style Deli, Opens Tomorrow

Get your fresh hot bagels and other New York style deli goodies starting tomorrow morning (Sunday) at 6AM. It’s all happening at the new Roasters’n Toasters opening in the old Ed’s Deli space at Preston and LBJ. 214-888-0300.