Hofbrau
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Hofbrau is a cafeteria-style food service found in the United States, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the namesake for various restaurants and restaurant chains in the United States that feature this kind of food service and/or German food. The name is derived from the German term 'Hofbräu', which originally referred to a brewery with historical ties to a royal court. Such breweries often have beer gardens where food is served.[1]
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[edit] Food
The choice of meats offered at most hofbraus includes roast beef, corned beef, turkey, ham, beef brisket, and sometimes buffalo. Sandwiches are often served on sourdough rolls that are first dipped into a beef jus and then topped with freshly sliced meat. Dinners often come with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy, with gravy also ladled over both the potatoes and the meat. In addition, a dinner roll with butter plus a choice of a hot or cold side is included. Cold sides often include macaroni or pasta salad, potato salad, or regular iceberg lettuce salad. Hot sides often include corn, macaroni and cheese, rice, and green beans.[2]
[edit] Layout and characteristics
Restaurants are laid out cafeteria-style: customers take a tray and utensils, place orders/requests at the beginning of a long steam table, adding on side dishes as they move down the line, pay the cashier at the end of the line, and then seat themselves. Beer, and a bar in general, is a common characteristic at most hofbraus, with the beer often served on tap. Liquor is sometimes available and most alcoholic drinks are generally inexpensive. Another characteristic of many hofbraus is that they are meeting places for large groups of people who gather to eat, watch sports on television or have parties.
[edit] Californian Hofbraus
- Tommy's Joynt (San Francisco)
- "Lefty" O'Doul's (San Francisco)
- Brennan's (Berkeley)
- Harry's Hofbrau (various locations in the Bay Area)
- The Silver Dollar Hofbrau (Fresno)
- Old Fresno Hofbrau (Fresno)
- Sam's Hofbrau (strip club & hofbrau - Los Angeles)
- Clifton's Cafeteria (Los Angeles)
- Sam's Hofbrau (formerly Plaza Hofbrau; Originally Sam's Hofbrau) (Sacramento)
- Old Fresno Hofbrau (Fresno)
- The Chick-N-Coop (Parkside, San Francisco) CLOSED & (Daly City)
- Bogy's Hofbrau (South San Francisco)
- Europa Hofbrau (Orinda)
- Oaks Corner (Emeryville)
- Hofbrauhaus, Pittsburgh
- Jerrold Market Place (San Francisco)
- Hof-Brau Roast Haus (San Rafael and Novato)
- Narsi's Hofbrau (Santa Rosa) CLOSED
- The Red Steer (Merced)
- Noah's Hofbrau (Modesto)
