Bites Nearby: Jack Pandl's a Blast from the German Past

It kind of smells like grandma's house here, and the old photos on the walls add to the blast-from-the-past feel of the place. Stout, antique lanterns are strategically placed in between each of the windows and a vast collection of antique steins are showcased in built-in cabinets.

, 1319 E. Henry Clay St., sits on one of the delicate curves along Lake Drive  and has watched the village grow since it opened in 1915. While the restaurant is known for many of its traditional German dishes, the menu also has more typical American entrees, such as roast pork loin, barbecued ribs, and North Atlantic scallops. You can find a larger list of featured menu items here.

Our table was set on the far east side of the room, in front of a small window. The table was quaint, with starch white table cloths and fresh carnations. Our waitress, Charmaine Hoffmann, offered her suggestions for the best of Pandls': the whitefish and for dessert, pecan pie. But like my prior column, the goal is to try something new so I opted for something called jaeger schnitzel.

I'll admit, my first question was if it actually had Jägermeister in the dish. I am not the largest fan of the licorice-flavored liquor, but it was Jäger-free. This was an entirely new flavor for me, but like most dishes, reminded me of another I have had.

Jaeger schnitzel are actually pork cutlet medallions, or in this case three, that had been doused in breadcrumbs and baked. Then it's smothered in what Pandl's calls a "hunter's style gravy," a medium brown gravy with mushrooms and tomatoes. Stuck underneath the third piece of schnitzel was a small, round dumpling. This wasn't as flavorful, I honestly wasn't quite sure what to think of it, but my German pallet is still being developed.

Prices were reasonable, depending on the dish. The jaeger schnitzel was priced at $21.95, fair for a full course that was also accompanied by a side salad.

Other dinner dishes range from $31.95 for a 16-ounce New York strip to between $10 and $12 for different renditions of burgers. Pandl's also features a Sunday brunch and is famous for its traditional German pancakes. Lunches range from $10 to $12.

Hours:
Monday to Saturday, lunch 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Monday to Thursday, dinner 3:30 to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday dinner, 3:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, 2:30 to 9 p.m.
Sunday brunch, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.