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Introduction
Many people might think that the best German-style restaurants in Georgia are in the Baravian-style village of Helen, but The Vines European Cuisine at The Edelweiss Inn is in nearby Sautee, on Duncan Bridge Road (Georgia 384), the well-known shortcut to the village. Although the restaurant has a decidedly German style, the menu features dishes from Germany, France and Italy wine regions designed to work with specific local wine.
Breakfast and Brunch
Saturday morning is the only day The Vines serves breakfast. For the dedicated American palate The Vines includes pancakes with apples, pecans, or chocolate chips or omelets with your choice of ham, bacon or cheddar cheese with a side of Tyrolean potatoes and sausage gravy (a German twist on an old Southern favorite). Shrimp and Crispy Grits takes another Southern favorite (shrimp and cheese grits) and serves a crispy grit cake covered in Asiago cream sauce.
For European taste The Vines offers a large "Tyrolean Farmers Breakfast" with roasted potatoes, onions, bacon and sausage complete with eggs on tops, a delicious reminder of Alps-style dining in southern Germany. Tyrol itself has been a district in the early German state, part of the kingdom of Bavaria, an independent county, and part of Italy and Austria so Tyrolean food is also frequently associated with these countries.
Other European-influenced dishes on the Saturday breakfast menu include browned Potato Pancakes with bacon and applesauce, Eggs Edelweiss (picture Eggs Benedict served over Tyrolean Potatoes instead of English muffins), and Schnitzel ala Holstein, a fried egg, breaded cutlet, anchovies and capers of Tyrolean roasted potatoes. For a unique breakfast flavor try the Creme Brulee French Toast.
Lunch
For the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) The Vines offers Appetizers and small plated, two salads that can be turned into a meal with the addition of chicken or shrimp, and entrees and sandwiches. Made in the traditional Viennese style (Wiener means Viennese in German) their Wiener Schnitzel can be made with veal (the traditional meat for this dish) or pork. When the dish is made with pork it is called Wiener Schnitzel vom Schwein.
The lunch sausage plate combines two of the Vines most popular sausages, Bratwurst and Knackwurst, both made in-house, with traditional German potato salad. Both sausages tasted remarkably fresh, while the potato salad provided an excellent flavor enhancement. For a German sandwich, try the bratwust and kraut amde with wienkraut (hot sauerkraut with a slight wine flavor). Additionally, they offer a Alpine burger with smoked ham, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese, a Monte Cristo (ham and Swiss sandwich batter-dipped and deep fried) and a Reuben, also with weinkraut.
Dinner
Dinner, of course, is the major attraction at The Vines. For starters, try the potato pancakes or shrimp napolean, delicious butterlfy shrimp served in creamy Asiago cheese sauce. Salads and soups are pretty much standard fare, from a mixed greens House to a classic Caesar. Soup of the day can be widely varied, so check with the server.
For the main course there are selections of beef, veal, chicken, salmon and other fish, plus a group of chef-prepared Traditional German Favorites that first sparked my interest in this establishment. Having spent some time in Cologne, Germany, I had come to love almost all of the traditional foods closely associated with the Rhine Valley and Western Germany (Germany was still divided East and West when I was there).
King Ludwig's Bavarian Feast for Two is an excellent way to visit all of these traditional German favorites, but we easily fed three hungry folks from a single platter, so if only 2 people are dining you should expect to be able to take some home with you. Among the German specialties on the platter are Rouladen (also closely associated with Austria and Hungary, it is a slowly-roasted meat rolade filled with onions and bacon), Sauerbraten (beef marinated in vinegar and aromatics), Schwienebraten (sauerbraten made with pork), and Schnitzel, a bottom round roast marinated in vinegar and aromatics.
This platter, known as a Schlachtplatte (Slaughter plate) in Germany, is served with traditional accompaniments red cabbage, spätzle, potato dumplings, and weinkraut plus goulash soup or cucumber salad for each of the guests. Additionally, each of the meats in the platter can be ordered separately as an entree.
Among the American fare at the restaurant are Filet Mignon served with a mushroom brandy sauce, an excellent Eggplant Parmigiana (you can substitute veal or chicken for the eggplant if you prefer), and fresh "Sicilian" meatballs served in a sweet marinara sauce with capellini (a thin spaghetti) pasta. On Friday and Saturday night The Vines serves Roast Prime Rib with a wine-based vegetable jus.
Other things to do
If your sated on schnitzel or gorged on goulash soup, you can walk it off at one of the area's great hiking trails. Try Anna Ruby Falls for a short, moderate exertion walk in the woods. If you want something longer, at the Falls follow the trail to the right as it turns nearly 360 degrees and becomes the Smith Creek Trail. A warning, however, this is a total length of 10 miles, so be certain you have time, water and the ability to do the trail.
Contact
747 Duncan Bridge Rd., (GA Hwy 384)
Sautee, Georgia 30571
Phone: 706.865.7371
The Vines Restaurant at the Edelweiss Inn
Directions
From Atlanta: (note: this takes you on the popular shortcut to Helen, Duncan Bridge Road. Directions from a mapping site normally follows the tradition route to Cleveland which is shorter, however, because of traffic can take much longer) Take I-85 North to I-985(exit is to the left). Travel slightly less than 42 miles on I-985/GA 365 to Georgia 384, Duncan Bridge Road, and turn left on Duncan Bridge. Travel 15 Miles to the Edelweiss Inn, turn right into the driveway and drive up the hill to the parking areas.
From Cleveland or Helen: Take Georgia 75 to Duncan Bridge Road (right if coming from Cleveland, left if coming from Helen). Once on Duncan Bridge Road travel 0.7 miles to the Edelweiss Inn entrance on the left.
County: White County
The Vines at The Edelweiss Inn
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