Celebrate Oktoberfest at these German and Austrian eateries.
Wursthall
San Mateo
Willkommen to Wursthall! With sausages made in-house, you’ll find superb choices ranging from the classic bier bratwurst to a more adventurous chorizo verde. If you can take the heat, introduce yourself to the Hot Italian, a spicy pork sausage with fennel and red pepper flakes topped with sweet-and-sour peppers, onions and a spicy brown mustard. Pair your wurst with sides like the thrice-fried potatoes or the bacon and sesame kraut. As for drink? Fill your stein with a crisp lager or go hog wild with pig-themed cocktails like the Porco Loco, Pig in Paradise or the Swine & Dine. If you’re the designated driver, you can always prost with a pretzel. 310 Baldwin Avenue. Closed Monday.
Ludwig’s Biergarten
Mountain View
Settle in at a communal table at Ludwig’s and soak up a traditional beer garden experience. Choose from a globe-spanning array of premium draft beers, including local brews from Barebottle and Del Cielo. Bittersweet Jäegermeister finds its way into several of the cocktails—Jäeger-Rita, anyone?—or opt for a fruity, beer-based radler or Almdudler, an alcohol-free Austrian herbal soda. Chef Nicole Jacobi calls upon her family recipes when cooking up authentic German dishes like jägerschnitzel with housemade spätzle and schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) in beer sauce. For a sweet finish, try the apple strudel spiked with golden raisins and brandy, topped with vanilla sauce. 383 Castro Street. Closed Monday.
Naschmarkt
Palo Alto
Craving schnitzel? Naschmarkt, named after a popular open-air produce market in Vienna, offers upscale Austrian cuisine, with more than one version of this iconic dish. The jägerschnitzel, braised in a luscious mushroom cream sauce and served with spätzle, broccolini and garlic confit, is a favorite. But the Wiener schnitzel, accompanied by a tart lingonberry sauce, Austrian potato salad and crispy parsley, comes in a close second. You’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t order dessert. Try a Viennese classic, the Sacher torte: a rich chocolate cake brightened by apricot preserves and whipped cream. 2323 Birch Street. Closed Monday.