Monday, January 21, 2008

German Food Matters at Matterhorn

Matterhorn Grill (4 peaks/5)
103 W. Birch St. (SW corner of Birch & Beaver)
226-7388
Tues. – Sat. 5pm – 9 pm












The Matterhorn Grill is steadily catching on in Flagstaff. Open for a year downtown near City Hall in a space that formerly housed a Mexican restaurant, the owners have done a nice job at changing the space into a comfortable, German-themed setting.

Open only for dinner, your experience promises to be warm and relaxing in a nice, yet casual milieu. The owners greet customers personally. At Christmas time, guests are treated to a complimentary glass of glühwein, a spiced wine served warm that is traditional at that time of year in Germany to ward off a winter chill. Such a thoughtful gesture sets the tone for this welcoming restaurant.

Klaus, the owner and master chef, takes great care and pride in this place and cuisine and it shows. (They also boast the cleanest bathroom I have ever seen in Flagstaff!)

The cuisine is German and is named on the menu in German with detailed descriptions in English. The staff is well trained and greatly knowledgeable and attentive. It is one of the best staffs in Flagstaff. If you need any recommendations, they will deliver.

In one word, the food is excellent. It is well-suited to a cold evening and is comfort food at its best, even if you may not be familiar with all of the offerings. It is a perfect après-ski meal.

There are a wide variety of schnitzels (breaded pork cutlets), several fish dishes, and beef or chicken selections on the menu. Entrees come with a choice of two sides and all are fine choices.
The starter salad is one of the finest salads I have eaten in Flagstaff; perfectly cold and fresh with a savory, kitchen-made dressing. The bread is quite tasty as well – soft in the middle with a good crispy crust.

A large selection of German beer and wines are offered, along with some California wines. The servers are proficient at matching the options to best suit your meal.

A huge bonus is the Matterhorn Grill has its own parking lot, (a rarity in downtown Flagstaff), and is conveniently located at the edge of downtown so it is easy to get to and get out of, yet still right in the middle of all of the action.

I can highly recommend the Matterhorn Grill for a lovely and personalized all-around dining experience.

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