What the heck is Katzenjammer?
I found the place by accident one day while merrily strolling down Southwark St. Their bold black and white posters, which could have easily mistaken for posters for a Hard-Fi tour, caught my eye. In the graphical simplicity of the perfectly formatted helvetica type were the simple proclamations of Bierrs, Schnapps, Sausages and Mains. Simple, straightforward and almost pleasantly abrupt.
My reasearch on this spot on the internet was unfruitful, I diid however find the following definition for Katzenjammer:
1. A loud, discordant noise. 2. A hangover. 3. A state of depression or bewilderment.
How can a restaurant that is associated with those three things be any good?
My daily ritual of gazing at the menu while passing lasted just shy of a week before I bolted through the doors. I was salivating with anticipation as I ventured down the stairs to the vaulted brick catacombs of London's newest Bavarian Bierrkeller & Restaurant.
First impressions of Katzenjammer it that it's a loud and bustling space. Heavy oak tables and benches fill the space between the white painted brick walls lined with over-sized prints of German merriment. I was a bit confused by the logistics of the restaurant because it looked like a free for all, so I asked at the bar how the set up works. The lovely bar wench (in a loving way) said take a seat and we'll do the rest. The place was filled with the suited after-work brigade and I have to say that it's loud!
Before I entered Katzenjammer's I knew what i was going to have. A pint, a pretzel, Mischwurstplatte & Jager Schnitzel. A big butch manly meal was on the cards, I sheepishly asked the waitress if I was going to be able to eat it all? She said 'you look like you know how to eat, give it a go!' let's just say she hit the nail on the head i do know how to eat! My apéritif of choice was a stein of the bright and refreshing Keltenberg Hell with a bronzed pretzel on a crafty wooden holder. The pretzel was just as I would expect, dense chewy chewy with a deliciously dark, rich toasty flavour. To be honest I could have eaten a dozen, because I know how to eat, but I refrained!
The Mischwurstplatte arrived, you clever gourmands probably figured out that it is a mixed sausage plate. Yep, four little sausages on a bed of sauerkraut. The sauerkraut had a well rounded astringint flavour with a subtle caraway note. On the wurst front it maxed out on the flavour variation from the little Bratwurst, Kasebeisse, Rohpounische & Franfurter. The standout was the Kasebeisse with it's smokey flavour exploding with emmental cheese. Next up was the Jager Schnitzel, a butterflied pork steak breaded fried, smothered in a creamy mushroom sauce served with golden thin cut frites and a endive laden salad. Straightforward and tasty, lived up to the promise from the menu.
The waitress returned to see how every thing was, I proclaimed that it was a great and proceeded to ask if I would regret not ordering the apple strudel? Unfortunately they did not have it. I was lulled into a state of depression. OK drama queens have no place here, but I'm sure that with the previous dishes I would have loved it.
Seeing that Katzenjammer have been opened for less than a week, it has the potential to be a uber-fantastic stop for dining carnivores that like it butch and straightforward. This place will do great with the after work trade as they have 9 Bavarian beers on drought and over 30 types of bottled beers. Katzenjammer would be a great place to go and have riotous conversations with a group of friends get tipsy and filled with the Bavarian love that the Katzenjammer can give out!
Like a Yorkie, this place is not for girls, saying that ladies if you can hold your own when downing steins of the bavarian finest, this is the perfect man rich haven for you!
So it was loud, the perfect place work up to a hangover, and only depressing if they don't have the strudel. Would I return? Of course, great food, butsling atmosphere and the promise apple strudel is enough reason to go back!
