Unbelievable quality and VALUE
We have eaten here for several years and always had outstanding food and service. You must try one of the draft beers, and any of the German entries. They are more then happy to satisfy your personal wishes. If the weather is nice try the beer garden. Save room for dessert.    [02 Jul 2004 09:55:27]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Filet Madellions mit Schalotten

     ­A Bass   

Best German Restaurant in Maryland
I have to comment on the gentleman above who thinks that the beer is pricy and that one should save their money for the real thing in Deutschland. Phooey.

The Schmankerl Stube is an excellent German Restaurant. My wife is German and I lived almost eight years in Germany. I have been throughout the country and my favorite German food is by far the Bavarian basic country style of cooking. In many ways, it reminds me of the cooking found in the "Deep South" of our own country. Unchanged for centuries, these basic German dishes have pleased kings and queens for the past millemnium.

Charlie, who owns the Schmankerl Stube, does an excellent job of creating a true, yet simple, German atmosphere reflective of his home country. This is very much what one would find in restaurant in a small town in Germany, should one wander in for a meal and a brew. Charlie's original beers are the real thing, and are imported in kegs from Germany. This is not the Americanized version of a foreign beer. A Typical German beer carries an alcohol content of 4-6% and some are higher. Charlie carries real German beer.

My suggestion is that you call ahead for reservations and reserve the Schwein-Haxen. My German wife swears that Charlie has the best Schwein-Haxen she has ever eaten. I would say they are equal to the best I have ever eaten.

As for the price of Charlie's beer, they are less costly than what you would pay at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich. I pasted the Munich Hofbruahaus beer menu, which I found on the web, below for your Reference.

Hofbräu Original (light beer) 1,0 l € 6,20
Hofbräu Dunkel (dark beer) 1,0 l € 6,20
Münchner Kindl Weissbier (wheat beer) 0,5 l € 3,30
Radler (light beer and lemon soda mix) 1,0 l € 6,20
Dunkles Radler (dark beer and lemon soda mix) 1,0 l € 6,20
Ruß´n (wheat beer and lemon soda mix) 1,0 l € 6,60

Right now (February 14, 2006), one Euro is about $1.19. As you can see above, one "Hoffbrau Original" at the Munich Hofbrauhaus costs about $7.38 US today. Knock $1.00 off the price for the Hofbrauhaus being a tourist trap and you have about the same price at the Schmankerl Stube as the common folk pay in Germany. Charlie is not ripping anyone off. In fact, the Schmankerl Stube is an excellent value if you do not mind spending moderately on a meal.

I recommend it highly.

James Knight
Knightsj1@aol.com    [14 Feb 2006 19:22:58]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Schwein-Haxe

     ­James   knightsj1 at aol dot com