Inn at Danbury – May Quick Look

Ragged Mountain may not be the Alps, but the Inn at Danbury nearby will transport you to the Old Country in short order. Owners Bob and his wife Alex run the 15-room inn and offer a taste of German food and spirits in the Alphorn Bistro.

Chef Bob makes a good schnitzel, pounded thin and deep-fried in olive oil that gives the breading a nice crunch and good flavor. Schnitzel, originally an Austrian dish, is served with a choice of wurst ($20) or topped with a fried egg, anchovies and capers (Schnitzel á la Holstein, $20) or braised in red wine with a bacon and mushroom reduction (Jäeger Schnitzel, $18). Marinated sauerbraten is served only occasionally, so ask ahead for that.

All entrées are served with a small salad of grated carrots and grated beets, each with its own unique dressing. Spaetzle, a tender dough in a butter sauce, and warm, red cabbage seasoned nicely with clove, apples and balsamic vinegar are side dishes.

Appetizers include potato pancakes made from grated potatoes and served with applesauce and fleischkase, a flavorful baked paté of pork and lean beef. Alex greets guests in her dirndl, while children Meagan, Zack (Bubba) and Daphne, also in authentic garb, wait on tables. If you saw their “Wife Swap” episode aired in March you may think the children are slaves of the inn, but the truth is they love meeting people and making money, and work less hard than children raised on a farm.

Imported beers are limited, but Alex is becoming a wine expert and offers a nice selection of crisp Rieslings and other white and red wines from Germany. Bob is a regular on WMUR-TV’s “Cooks’ Corner” and you can find his recipes on the inn’s Web site (www.innatdanbury.com).

On Memorial Day weekend the inn offers a Best of the Wurst Festival with German music and many opportunities to try German fare. Reservations for dinner are required.

– Susan Laughlin

67 NH Route 104, Danbury (603) 768-3318
Dinner Wednesday-Saturday, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.
Lunch served from May through October