Jason V.
Yelp
Bavarian cuisine is the foundation of an entire Germanic subculture, with its own bizarre array of music, dancing, clothing and cuisine. The latter of these is where Rhein Haus truly shines. This is the exact type of place you would expect to find in a Bavarian-themed town like Leavenworth: a titanic, three-story wooden beer hall, serving sausages and schnitzels, brats and brews, pretzels and pilsners. You know what you're in for here; it's what you came to Leavenworth for!
Whether you're lucky enough able to snag a table in the warm and inviting interior, or one of the many canopied, firelit picnic tables on the upper deck outside, you're in for a little bit of a wait, during peak times. Trust me, it's worth it. Keep in mind that, once seated, no one is coming to you: peruse the menu, order at the counter, and await the arrival of many delicious cheeses, breads and sweaty meats. Oh, and beer, wine and cocktails, too, if those are your thang.
As is our tendency in Leavenworth, we guzzle and graze from one bar or restaurant to another, sampling various things along the way. Thus, my wife and I split the habanero cheddarwurst between us...a decision we both regret. Mein Gott! It's so juicy, cheesy and delicious, neither of us wanted to share with the other! Only our binding, eternal love spared us from what otherwise would have been a bloody fork and knife shanking frenzy! Unfortunately, only one comes per order, which, if you ask me, is a travesty. Can we get them a la carte in the future? Because I'd like a half dozen, thank you very much!
To drink, I also ordered the Spiced Old Fashioned, which is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, it is "spiced", in the same way a "spiced" apple cider differs from a regular apple cider, but what the name fails to impart is the subtle sweetness of the brown sugar that gives the beverage its signature twinge. It understates its magnificence, and it shouldn't, because this is a five star cocktail, hands down! Wunderbar!
We've always allowed the queue of people, shivering out in the cold and snow, waiting for a table (as we usually visit Leavenworth in December) to intimidate us into finding somewhere more instantly accessible to eat or drink. Not anymore. Rhein Haus is an absolute must visit for us now in Leavenworth, and it pains me to think it'll likely be another year before I can tear into another cheese and habanero filled sausage. That, my friends, is truly the WURST punishment imaginable!