Huntington’s newest eatery features modern German cuisine with an Appalachian twist.
By Michelle Goodman
HQ 98 | SUMMER 2017
One of Huntington’s newest restaurants opened in April and has already received a warm “willkommen” from patrons.
Officially named Bahnhof WVrsthaus & Biergarten (Bahnhof for short) and located in the former MacReedo’s on the corner of Seventh Avenue and Eighth Street, the eatery has taken a contemporary, yet familiar, approach to traditional German fare.
“It is modern German cuisine with an Appalachian twist,” says Dathan Holley, general manager. “We have some of your traditional German dishes but with our twist.”
Executive chef Jeremiah Bowen created the menu to reflect many of the staples of German dining, such as brats and schnitzels. But, as the name of the restaurant suggests, Bahnhof is more than a simple wursthaus, or sausage house. It’s a “WVrsthaus.”
Construction on Bahnhof began in March 2016. It is co-owned by Black Sheep Burrito & Brews owners Patrick Guthrie and Jess Bright. The building’s interior was completely remodeled and expanded for more seating.
“It’s totally different,” Holley says. “It was basically gutted and started from scratch.”
BK Fabrication, Inc. of Proctorville did the steel work, which includes one of the more noticeable upgrades to the building — an awning and stairway on the revamped biergarten patio area. Inside the restaurant, you can see their work in shelving for beer steins, barstools and the long dining tables and benches.
Huntington-based design firm Ackenpucky did the interior. Those red, yellow and blue lines on the dining hall wall are not arbitrary. To give Bahnhof, which means train station, a German feel, train maps were added to the walls, as well as German license plate chandeliers and arch lights that resemble tunnels.
Even the lights over the bar pay homage to the theme of the restaurant. Four large hop-like lampshades hang above patrons as they choose from one of the 33 German or Belgian beers on tap, or Guthrie’s own Bad Shepherd Brewing selections. Liters and half liters are available on some brews.
If you head to Bahnhof during peak dinner hours, don’t be surprised to wait.
“Huntington definitely surprised us with the outpouring of support and it just continues to grow,” Holley says.
Also, once your party is seated, don’t be surprised if you are joined by other customers at a family-style table, which is common for restaurants in Germany.
“It’s something different for Huntington,” Holley adds. “You can be sitting next to your neighbor and start a conversation.”
The most popular menu items have been the Barley Malt Pretzel with Raspberry-Buckwheat Honey Butter, Bavarian mustard and Bad Shepherd beer cheese; Jagerschnitzel, a pork schnitzel with roasted crimini mushrooms, garlic, rosemary and lardon; or the Sausage Party, a choice of any three sausages, pretzel, bacon deviled eggs, cornichon, bread and butter pickles and mustards for dipping.
And everything, from the bread to the schnitzel and sausages, is made in-haus. While the menu selection is already large, a disclaimer on the bottom says new items will be added in the future. The second floor of the building will soon feature a traditional German pub as well as event space for rental.
Bahnhof is open from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with the bar closing at 1 a.m.; and closed on Sunday.
