In Black Hills, North Carolina, you can be sure to find a warm and welcoming German Restaurant named Berliner Kindl. If you’re planning a trip to the mountainous state anytime soon, you’ll definitely want to stop by.
Background
One of our very own teachers, Mrs. Mangone, who teaches US history here at Santaluces, is one of the owners of restaurant Berliner Kindl. She told me the amazing story behind the restaurant, and it’s one that touch your heart.
She explained how it all began in 2017, when hurricane Irma hit. The hurricane worried many Floridians, including Mrs. Mangone and her family. She chose to evacuate to the North Carolina Mountains, an area in which she fell in love with. Ever since that day, she and her family have visited as often as they could. Mrs. Mangone told me that she specifically felt drawn to the quaint town of Black Mountain.
Mrs. Mangone is a mother of 3. Her youngest child is Sal, who is a junior at Santaluces. Sal has down syndrome, and Mrs. Mangone explained how his overall future is very important to her.
“I want a secure and meaningful life for him. To have a career he is proud of, a community where he is appreciated and respected,”she said.
She began looking into communities in the town, and found a German restaurant for sale. Having opened in 1987, the restaurant grew into an important aspect of the community. However, the owners had grown older and were looking to retire.
“It all just kind of clicked,”she said. Last April, her and her husband Roger purchased the restaurant. All the previous staff chose to stay, and they continued to receive help from the previous owners. She recalled how she and her husband Roger had no previous restaurant experience. Their doubts eased as the community took them under their wing, reassuring them that they ultimately made the right decision.
Mrs. Mangone expressed how the hardest aspect of owning the restaurant has been living separately from her husband. She says she wants to wait until her sons finish school until joining him. She is excited for Sal to begin working in the restaurant. She told me about how he has already begin working in the kitchen and as host during their visits.
When I asked her about what she planned on doing once they moved, she expressed how she couldn’t imagine not teaching.
“I belong in the classroom,” she said. However, she did say that she would take charge of the restaurant’s desserts. I’m sure her stroodles and carrot cake will be a tasty addition to the restaurant’s delicious menu.
One thing she told me everybody had been looking forward to was the upcoming fall season. Locals and other small business owners described it as fun and super busy, with hundreds of tourists coming to witness the beautiful scenery and notorious Oktoberfest.
But, Hurricane Helene threw a wrench in those plans, and proved to be truly devastating.
The county of Buncombe had been one of the hardest hit areas. Cities and towns experienced unprecedented flooding, and countless other restaurants were destroyed. Berliner Kindl lost power for a week, and damaged pipes in the nearby town of Asheville left no running water for 6 weeks. Thankfully, the restaurant didn’t sustain much damage, but the process of recovery was difficult.
“It was shocking and upsetting. As new business owners, we were looking forward to a fun time in the area,” she said.
After a while, the city allowed restaurants to re-open. They had to have limited menus, and were only allowed to use bottles of water. However, after thanksgiving, things started to turn around. They were finally able to resume most of their normal operations.
She expressed to me how grateful she was to have the support of the community, telling me that, “We know that we were fortunate, and watching the community come together to support each other was truly encouraging.”
This story was truly inspiring and it touched my heart. Mrs. Mangone and her family are so hardworking, and it is shown in how great of a restaurant Berliner Kindl is. If you or anyone you know are willing to support, they currently have a GoFundMe page set up. All the funds are going to the continuous recovery of the restaurant.
The Menu
At Berliner Kindl, you can expect to be served some of the most delicious, authentic German cuisine. One of its most popular dishes is the Schnitzel, which many customers have described as tender and tasty. Customers can order this with a German Potato Salad, Home Fried Potatoes, Red Cabbage, Sauerkraut, Cucumber Salad, or Spaetzle.
You can also try other famous German entrees like Kassler Rippchen Chop (pork chop), Bratwurst (sausage), and weisswurst (veal sausage).
If you’re not looking for a full meal, you can also try German liver or potato pancakes.
Customer Reviews
Berliner Kindl has over 1,000 reviews, contributing to its 4.6 star rating. Hundreds of people can all agree that this restaurant is truly one of a kind, including one of our teachers here at Santaluces. I interviewed Mrs. Harms, who teaches ELA, about her experience at the restaurant.
She began by telling me that she went with her family, and that her and her son ordered the Schnitzel Sandwich.
She told me how she loved how the restaurant served very authentic German food. She highlighted how it had a “very nice and comfortable ambience.” She also described the service as fantastic and pleasant.
Would you recommend it?
“100%, if anyone is in the area they should definitely stop by.”, she told me.
If I haven’t made it clear yet, Berliner Kindl is run by some of the kindest individuals you can ever meet, who put love and effort into everything they do. Their hard work and delicious food touch the hearts of their community, and all those who stop by it. Be sure to put this German surprise on your must-visit list!
