Friedhelms Bavarian Inn
Bavarian · 905 W Main St, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
★★★★★ 1 review(830) 997-6300
Menu Items
Reviews
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Hit or Miss, The Paprika Schnitzel Here is Worth a Try,
While I had initially awarded this restaurant a glowing 5-star review in the past, my recent experience left much to be desired. The paprika schnitzel, once a standout dish, and what I labeled "The best I've ever had" failed to meet my expectations on my latest visit.
Having eagerly anticipated revisiting this establishment since its reopening, I made the journey from San Antonio to Fredericksburg specifically for another taste of their paprika schnitzel.
Upon being served the bread and soup, I found the soup to be decent but lacking in temperature. However, the true disappointment came with the main course. As usual a basket with dark rye bread was brought out. The rye bread here is always a great start to the meal.
The paprika schnitzel, accompanied by pan-fried potatoes, had undergone noticeable changes. The once-bold flavors seemed muted, and the sauce appeared thinner than before. Additionally, there were bites where the meat exhibited an off flavor.
While most of the potatoes were satisfactory, some were overfried, nearing the consistency of potato chips and were dry. Despite my reservations, I opted not to send the dish back to the kitchen, choosing instead to eat the majority of my meal and voice my concerns to the waiter upon settling the bill.
Regrettably, the waiter initially proposed removing the item from my tab, which I felt was unfair to the restaurant. I didn't want them to bear the full cost of the meal as it wasn't horrible, but just wasn't as good as it used to be. I figured maybe they had changed cooks, or suppliers. The waiter went to ask what they could do, and returned to inform me that only a replacement meal could be offered, had it needed to be done at the beginning of the meal, per the owner's directive.
While I was waiting for the waiter's return with that information, I overheard local patrons expressing similar dissatisfaction with the inconsistency of the restaurant's offerings. Some mentioned a recent switch from steaks to schnitzel due to previous disappointments with their steaks, but had said the steaks this particular night were very good.
Inquiring about potential changes within the kitchen or during the closure period, the waiter revealed a mix of new and old cooks, adding further uncertainty to the equation, as Im not sure the difference was due to the kitchen or the ingredients.
Despite my fond memories and high expectations, this recent experience, coupled with increased prices and apparent declines in food quality, leave me hesitant to make return trips anytime soon.
While the restaurant still holds a place among the better German dining options in Fredericksburg, it no longer stands out for me as it once did. I had once rated this restaurant a nearly perfect 10 for this item.
The Attached Photos are from both (Old & Current Visits) Menu Photos were updated to reflect current prices.
Signage
Jager Schnitzel & Red Cabbage
Paprika Schnitzel & Spaetzel
Pan Fried Potatos
Soup
Paulner Beer
Creme Brulee
Paprika Schnitzel & Pan Fried Potatos
— Paul