Brotzeit German Bier Bar and Restaurant

My dining companions and I were deciding between French, German and Japanese cuisine when one of them commented that he had not tried German food before. With that, we decided on Brotzeit – literally translated in German as "bread time", a typical Bavarian expression referring to a cosy meal complemented by fresh beer. According to its website, the German Bier Bar and Restaurant opened in 2006 and offers authentic Bavarian dishes with a wide selection of world-famous German beers all day long. In fact, all its beers are made using pure spring water according to time-honoured German beer-making traditions which respect the Purity Law of 1516. As I have been to both branches at Raffles City Shopping Centre and VivoCity (that leaves The Star Vista as the only I have not been to after this), I suggested visiting the one along Discovery Walk at 313@somerset beside JiBiru Japanese Craft Beer Bar and opposite Oriole Café and Bar at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites.

Right smack in the heart of Orchard Road, the place was bustling when we reached on a weekday evening. Went up a staircase on the right to its 2nd floor (where a door leads to the shopping mall's mezzanine level) as there were no more seats available on the 1st floor. Shared the recommended daily evening special – tender Slow Roasted Beef marinated in red wine sauce and vinegar, done just nice so it melted in our mouth. This was served with red cabbage and napkin dumplings. Also ordered its Pork Knuckle, a crispy-looking hind shank of grain fed pork with a skin too hard for our liking. It was thick and came with an equally thick layer of sinful fats. But the meat was tender and went well with the sauerkraut and potato salad. We could not identify what the accompanying homemade sauce, which did not accentuate taste of any items in the dish, on the side was. Could neither rave about nor fault any of its sides, except for the pickles so sour it made us cringe.

Nothing goes better with meat than beer, especially at a drinking hole. Had the limited edition Paulaner Original Münchner Märzen, a strong and smooth brew made from dark roasted malt. Crafted by one of Bavaria's oldest breweries, this Paulaner special brew is supposedly one of its best. Named after March (Marz), which was historically the last month of the year to safely brew lager beer before it got too hot in summer. And the summer-long fermentation lends the brew its light caramel hue. No different from my experience at other branches, staff here was friendly and the ambience was relaxed. The same contemporary yet chic décor with familiar-looking wooden bar counter, benches and tables in an open-concept setting. While every branch has a characteristic signature mural showing the history and development of German beer culture, they distinguish from one another with a unique one-of-a-kind design for a fresh outlook.

Update: The branch at The Star Vista has closed.