German Restaurants in Wilmington, NC

“We came with our dog and the staff was so friendly! The outdoor seating was shaded and felt wonderfully cool for a 90 degree day! I had the smash burger. The Black Forest ham set this smash burger off to the next level! So good!“

“The German Cafe is located on the lower level of the Cotton Exchange in Downtown Wilmington, NC. There is a parking lot, and they do validate parking.

The restaurant opened back in 1985 and has been open ever since. The historic building and German theme add to the experience. The restaurant has seating on three levels, with a bar and some tables when you walk in, and two smaller dining areas on the other levels. The staff even dress in traditional attire.

The architecture itself is incredible, showcasing the original 40-foot hand-carved pine beams from the 1860s cotton warehouse. Even the foundational stones holding up the restaurant space are repurposed from old ship ballast stones left behind at the 19th-century port by passing trade vessels! I chose to sit on the middle level because it was decorated with beautiful cuckoo clocks, which fondly reminded me of my own trip to Germany's Black Forest region and of visiting a clock factory there, where I saw the massive cuckoo clocks.

For my meal, I ordered the pork schnitzel, which came served with warm German potato salad, sweet red cabbage, and a crisp cucumber salad. The pork schnitzel was cooked absolutely perfectly and tasted so good. I knew German potato salad was traditionally served warm, but I wasn't quite expecting the strong tang of the vinegar, though I thoroughly enjoyed the cabbage and cucumbers. To finish the meal, I debated between the German chocolate cake and the apple strudel. I ultimately chose the strudel for a more authentic experience, as German chocolate cake is actually an American creation rather than a traditional German one. The strudel arrived warm and was incredibly tasty!“