HJ German Corner — Restaurant in Fort Myers

I am going to try to be objective here although, truth be told, it may be a challenge to remain cold, calculating, and as aloof as required to be a REAL restaurant reviewer. I visited this business while visiting a friend (brother) from my home in Chicago. In all fairness I have to disclose that I come from German Stamm (Heritage), have lived in Germany, and, also, would never, ever avoid an opportunity to listen to Franzl Lang yodel his arse off. In short, German culture just makes me happy and the food and Bier, forget about it! If I had my druthers, I would have a pool full of Franziskaner Weissbier and a giant pretzel and a Weisswurst to lounge upon whilst floating in my Bier pool and listening to a mixture of Rammstein, Die Toten Hosen, Eisbrecher, Peter Fox, and of course Herr Franzl Lang. Now, to the meat of this issue, Sauerbraten. I have one thing to say about my plate: Perfectly authentically rendered. [Little known fact: The German food that you get in your usual American German restaurant is not really usually legit. It seems often times to lose something in translation, like a translated Wim Wenders movie.] As my brother put it, this experience was unique to him and his gal since the proprietor was cooking and delivering his food with what was clearly great care and pride; when he asked a bit later how the food was he was clearly walking an emotional tightrope, with a light sheen of nervous perspiration on his brow and deep concern in his eyes. He was trying to be a cold and calculating German man but, nope. His heart was on his sleeve as Americans say and that heart was beseeching us to run out to our truck, grab three lidded steins (Bier mugs), run back in and hang them on our designated hook in the ceiling over the bar, and add a stop to HK German Corner to our daily regimen ad infinitum, or as long as we all should live, whichever comes first. Honestly, if I lived in Cape Coral (instead of visited Cape Coral annually) I WOULD be one of the Stammgaeste here. I support local, family-owned businesses that are working hard to "make it" following a dream and this definitely fits the bill. I ate Sauerbraten mit Spätzle und Rotkohl (Red cabbage). I also drank almost TWO Hefe Weizen beers. I also ate the Black Forest Chocolate cake AND I did not die from this gluttony, I felt like a million bucks and went "home" and did a three mile run walk with a ton of knuckle push ups which I named "The Hotter Than Hell Run", after which I was not dead but, because of my Zaubertrank and excellent meal, I STILL felt like a million bucks! At our table, we also enjoyed the Zigeuner Schnitzel and the Roulade. My brother's meal had been torpedoed before we got there because I had been singing a Wagnerian opera about the miraculous, wonder of roulade and how it wipes away all cares and concerns and cures all kinds of chronic and recurring illness and... it turned out to just be inventive, fresh, delicious German food. Our table service was fantastically functional and the room's accoutrement made for a ton of fun discussion about young Monarchs with deeply sad psychological problems and interesting methods of committing Selbstmord. That is one topic I am sure Franzl Lang has not sung about; I think...

We were so lucky to get the chance to eat here. My partner is from Germany but grew up in the US, and when we realized that we were staying around the corner from HJ, he would not rest until we got a chance to eat there. It was so worth it.

The second we walked through the door, another patron started telling us how great the place was. It was so busy that we had to sit at the bar, which we loved, and we got to see the owner work up close. He is so kind, so hospitable, and he clearly cares about his food and his guests so much.

My partner got the Jägerschnitzel, which is his favorite, with the red cabbage and the Spätzle, and I got the Roulade with fries and potato salad (potatoes on potatoes, and I regret nothing). Both were absolutely delicious, and my partner couldn’t have been happier. The beer we had was fresh and delicious, and the meal honestly couldn’t have been better.

Please come here. It is so worth it, so delicious, and even more than that, it matters so much to the owner that you come share his hospitality. German food is comfort food—do yourself a favor and give yourself some comfort....

It is hard to find real Bavarian/German cuisine. Coming in inside reminded me of my Oma wagners kitchen! Right down to the Jagd horn, Oktoberfest shakers, and steinzeugs on the wall!! Hans had that family like humor, gentle smile that made me feel like I was at home! Same gentle smile my father gave before he let out a good joke!! Everything was clean and neat! The jägerscnhiztel and spätzle, with rotkhol was simply amazing!!! My son finished his with haste!! The Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte and strudel to finish was absolutely divine! The fassbier was ice cold and delight! And I normally don't take draft. Unless German style comfortably! I will be back to have more!! Danke Hans!! I take that he is alone in kitchen, but that made it worth it! I love to eat relax and enjoy a stay! I felt home. The bad reviews you will see have no idea of German hospitality do not listen! This...