By Mary A. Flowers Can't get to Germany? No problem. Stephan and Melitta Bueschel have brought the finest German cuisine to Texas. Located on S.E. Loop 820 across the freeway from the Tarrant County College South Campus, this unassuming façade is your entry into the world of The Bavarian Bakery and Café in Fort Worth. Entering into the bakery area of the restaurant, patrons can choose to sit in this area or in the beautifully decorated dining room. We felt as if we had stepped into charming old-world Germany.
Offering authentic German dishes for lunch and dinner, they also sell a fabulous array of bakery items. They cater and have some of the loveliest special occasion cakes you will ever see anywhere. Stephan, a classically-trained German chef, came to Fort Worth in 1968 as pastry chef for Colonial Country Club. He and Melitta opened their restaurant and bakery in 1971. This visit was for lunch and we took some friends along who love German food. The lunch menu offers a lengthy list of sandwiches, salads, and several hot dishes. I chose the Chicken Schnitzel with Spaetzle at $7.95. My companion chose the German Gulash with Spaetzle, also $7.95. We both also ordered a bowl of their delectable Potato Soup. The Potato Soup alone is worth the visit. The Chicken Schnitzel is coated with a delicate walnut breading and pan-fried to perfection, laid upon a creamy chicken sauce and served alongside Spaetzle (egg noodles). The German Gulash, a hearty beef stew, is served over Spaetzle. Our friends also ordered a bowl of red cabbage, which was very tasty. A highlight of this restaurant is their bakery. The bakery offers a selection of coffee cakes, breakfast pastries filled with apricot, raspberry, poppy seeds, and more. Many different kinds of cookies were so tempting it was hard not to buy one of each. There was also a selection of fine loaves of bread and beautiful pies. I could not resist trying a beautiful pastry that was the very lightest whipped cream with just a touch of cinnamon on a luscious crumbly crust and topped with shaved chocolate. When we left the restaurant, we were very satisfied with our meal and had bags of goodies for the trip home and for later. We can hardly wait to take more friends to enjoy this excellent restaurant with us. When driving to the restaurant, if coming from the east, exit at Wichita Street. Turn left onto Wichita and continue through the intersection. Turn right into the second driveway. At the first stop sign, turn right and go a short way toward the access road and then left along the front of the businesses. The Bavarian Bakery and Café is located on the west end. If coming from the west, exit Campus Drive, stay on the access road and turn right into the parking lot before Wichita Street. The restaurant is open Monday through Saturday for lunch, Friday and Saturday for dinner, and the bakery is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. They also offer a fine selection of German beers and wines. Visit their web site at http://www.bavarianbakeryandcafe.com/
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