The Alternative Press

STANHOPE, NJ – Diners swung their glasses back and forth, sang, and got up and danced on Saturday night at a special German Heritage Festival celebration at the Black Forest Inn.

“This is our annual event we do this once a year to celebrate our German Heritage,” said Barbara Koster, the restaurant’s manager. “It’s nice, we had such a great response to kick off our Oktoberfest season as well.”

Koster, who said her restaurant has been a destination restaurant for almost 35 years, runs it along with her father, brother, and nephew.

The menu for Saturday night consisted of German and European Specialties.

Marinated German Sauerbraten in Red Wine and Ginger, traditional Wienerschnitzel, braised Wild Boar in Riesling, roasted Duck a l’Orange, poached Filet of Salmon in Dill Cream, free range roasted pork, and house-made Bratwurst were among the entrees served up on Saturday night.

There were customary sides served up with the entrees such as Potato Pancakes, Potato Dumplings, Spätzle, Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut, or a vegetable.

Many enjoyed a glass of German Wine (and also California, French, Italian, Chilean, and Australian), or Beer (Hacker-Pschorr, Spaten, Paulaner-Salvator, and Hofbrau were among the German choices, and there were selections as well from Belgium, Mexico, England, and The Netherlands) with their meals, and some indulged in a beer sampler.

Each artfully presented and flavorful dish was laid down on the table with friendly and attentive service, and the wait staff dressed up in German-style garb.

“When I point at a person, you start ringing the bell,” Werner Goebel, the popular German folk singer and entertainer instructed the diners on Saturday.

Random guests held cowbells in their hands, waiting for the cue to start.

Goebel would point to each person with a bell, and throughout the room, so a tinkling melody was formed, and once the next person was signaled, the previous bell would stop. At the end, all of the bells played in unison.

And Goebel had his own turn at showing off his cowbell ringing talents, where he stood over a table full of them, ringing each in a particular order, amazing guests who were watching him perform.

The Black Forest Inn has festivities throughout the year. In addition to meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas, Koster said the restaurant also hosts a game dinner, Mardi Gras event, and a May Fest.

On Friday nights, the Black Forest Inn is home to a special buffet with German and European Specialties, as well as a carving station with roast beef and pork.

The first Fridays of every month, they feature a fresh seafood and fish buffet with shrimp, lobster, steamers, roasted fish, and more.

The Black Forest Inn is also open for lunch, offers catering and party services, and an early prix fixe menu on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 4:30pm to 6:00pm.

The restaurant is gearing up for their annual Oktoberfest, starting on September 15, and running every weekend through the beginning of October.

The Black Forest Inn is located at 249 US Highway 206 in Stanhope. For more information call: (973) 347-3344, or click here for their website.