One question though - to order I used “Ich hätte gern” instead of “Ich mochte” or “Ich nehme” like some germn courses suggest. And every time I used that phrase, listing a main dish, a drink, and if/what I was interested in for dessert.. I got a “Jah..und..”..and a look and pause from the waiter - as if he/she was expecting something more.

Is there something else that is expected from a diner after you order your courses? Did I miss something?

However, if you ever go to Germany, you HAVE to eat at a butcher’s shop. I know, this does not even count as a restaurant, probably not even as an Imbis, but:
they are really keen on selling their meat. Not only are you going to get the chance on tasting all kinds of German dishes, they will also put so much meat on your plate that you are bound to be full once you are done eating. Of cause they hope you will buy more meat when you leave, in order to cook the same at home, but trust me: that’s a cheap and fast way to traditional German food. (Yes, most people I know are meat junkies. Myself included.)

And Torte… now you are making me hungry…
Have you ever tried “Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte”? There are enough calories in there to last you a week, but damn, that stuff is good…
And something typically german: Strawberry cake. Just some flan case, strawberries on top and seal it all with gelatin. Some whipped cream on top and it’s the best if the whole thing comes right out of the fridge.
That’s something tasty to cool you on a hot summer day… And you can get it in almost every bakery. ^^

thanks as always for all the cultural information !!! Though I must admit your account of german restaurants isn’t all that appetizing.

I love austrian cakes. There’s an austrian bakery just across the street from med school, and they have the best Apfelstrudel, Linzertorte, Sachertorte, etc…ever !!!

And one think that really annoys me is the vegatables you get to almost every thing. I mean, you can order a Schnitzel, Pommes and some “Leipziger Allerlei” (cooked mixed vagetables, like carrot, peas, cauliflower, asparagus and the like.). You order and you know right away that you are going to get a lot of fat, but no, they DO have to put some extra vegetables on their. I don’t have a problem with tomatos or cucumber, but aspecially in lower class restaurants you often get situated salad you can buy in every super market. It’s cold, not really yummy and it often has a slightly sour taste, not really going along that well with the rest of the meal. Or you get other green stuff you a) didn’t ask for and that b) looks like it had all day to dyhidrate and doesn’t really inspire you to live healthy.
Even as a German that annoys the hell out of me… >_>
Of cause that is not an issue in higher restaurants and you are free to just leave the green stuff on the plate, but it still annoys me.

And if you do eat out there are two things I can recommend.
The first would be the “Kartoffelhaus”. It’s actually a chain and you can find one in every bigger city. The main ingridiance for everything you get there are potatoes. No matter if you choose vegetarian food or a huge steak to go along, you will always get some well made potatoes.
And, if you stay in a bigger town, try to find a restaurant making their own meat. In my home town we have one, that not only brews it own beer, but they are also making their own sausages and the like. The serving you get is really huge and it actually is pretty expensive for food, but really worth it. Plus: there are some German restaurants - aspecially those that want to be traditional - that look like a flea market. You can find old pictures, candels, old bottles, pitchforks, old hot water bottles and the like, all nailed to the wall. You instantly feel like you made your way back three or four decades.
Those are really worthwhile, because you always see something new to look at. And you get an idea what people used one or two generations ago.