The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 15 No. 41 - August 12, 2015

FEATURE

Old Hamburg: New owners, great food

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

LOUISE BOLGER | SUN

Gary Smolik & Chef Armin Rexter

It’s an old story, but as my father-in-law was fond of saying, it’s a good one so I’ll tell it again: Almost everyone who visits Anna Maria Island falls completely in love, and the new owners of an iconic Island restaurant are no exception.

Gerold Smolik and Armin Rexter have vacationed on the Island two or three times a year for over the past five years. They loved it so much they purchased a condo and a single-family home in Bradenton.

Smolik, who goes by Gary, is originally from Austria and Rexter is originally from Germany, but they both resided in the Black Forest region of Germany before relocating to Florida.

Gary Smolik had a long career in the hospitality services business and was the director of a full service hotel and spa. Armin Rexter was in hospital management in Germany but his real passion was cooking, something he did as a young man. When it was time for them to retire, they packed their lightweight shirts, Armin’s recipe books and got on a jet bound for Florida’s west coast.

In March Smolik and Rexter became owners of Old Hamburg Schnitzelhause, a well-established German restaurant in Holmes Beach since 1999. Keeping the same staff and basically the same popular menu made the transition to new ownership virtually seamless, something loyal customers appreciated.

Chef Armin has tweaked and improved some of the recipes while keeping the same authentic German menu in place. Every menu item is made right in the restaurant including peeling the apples for their Tyrolean Apple Strudel. They use the best quality ingredients without fillings and consider every dish to have the quality of home cooking.

Gary Smolik is the meeter and greeter extraordinaire, always at the front of the restaurant welcoming the “guests” to his restaurant, like you would welcome dinner guests arriving at your home. Smolik says he considers Old Hamburg to be fine dining in a casual setting offering a unique European level of service.

The traditional German cuisine Old Hamburg has always been known for is still available like; Wiener Schnitzel, Jager Schnitzel, Holstein Schnitzel, Cordon Blue, Sauerbraten, Potato Pancakes, Stuffed Cabbage and Bratwurste. In addition there is a weekly special and on Friday and Saturday nights you can order Bavarian Pork Shank with Dumpling and Sauerkraut (by reservation only) as well as Crispy Bavarian Haxen. Top off dinner with an apple strudel, Black Forest Cake or ice cream and berries. Old Hamburg still has a large selection of German and European imported beers like Oktoberfest, Kostritzer dark beer and Warsteiner pilsner, as well as wines. And the large bar is a comfortable place for a beer or glass of wine before dinner.

Smolik and Rexter have freshened up and energized the restaurant with new tablecloths, authentic German blouses for the staff and a warm welcome for all. They are also considering ways to expand but their primary goal is to continue the good service and food that Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus has built their reputation on.

New owners, great food and a cordial friendly atmosphere make an old story seem new.

Fall in love all over again with Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus authentic German food, on an island that everyone always falls in love with.

OLD HAMBURG SCHNITZELHAUS

The Anna Maria Island Shopping Center

3246 East Bay Drive, Holmes Beach

http://schnitzel.house

941-778-1320

Tuesday to Saturday 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Closed Sunday & Monday

Major Credit Cards Accepted


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