Royal Bavaria Restaurant and Brewery
by Andrew | November 14, 2007 | 19 Comments
(votes: 12, average: 3.50) 
Loading ...Royal Bavaria is located in Moore at 3401 S Sooner Road (map), and is open Tuesday through Sunday for Dinner. Visit their website.
I recently posted about how I wish I could find a decent wiener schnitzel in this town and then it dawned on me that I had been told to visit Royal Bavarian Restaurant and Brewery in Moore. I loaded up the wife, the kids, and a friend from Switzerland (to help interpret if need be) and took the long drive to Moore. Actually, if you live in the heart of Oklahoma City, I guess a drive to Moore is only 10 minutes or so.
What we found when we arrived was a neat, old world structure, with brew kettles that could be seen from the road. Really a pretty cool building. Inside it is a European cabin-style layout with bench seats, large wood tables, and a hint of hops and yeast in the air. The walls were decorated with cuckoo clocks, antique steins, and various German trinkets and signs. The first thing you notice on the menu are the fairly high prices. What was strange is that the clientèle didn’t match the dollar. When you are spending upwards of $20 per person you might expect to see people that are put together in business casual attire with a sophisticated demeanor. What I saw at Royal Bavaria were guys in OU hoodies, backwards caps and flip flops. I’m guessing they were there for the home brews which were flowing quite freely.
Now for the food. The menu is written in both German and English, and has quite a few offerings. Probably the most disappointing thing is that the bread is not complimentary, you pay $2.50 for a basket of three pieces of bread that includes a hard roll, a pretzel stick, and a pretzel. It was served with a slice of what appeared to be homemade butter. It was all very good, but to feed 5 people you need a couple baskets which adds up pretty quickly. We tried several things: schnitzels of a couple varieties, oven roasted chicken, frankfurters, spatzle, and salads. They also offer several varieties of sausages, a few cuts of steak, roast beef, veal schnitzel cordon bleu (which I wish I had ordered), several varieties of potato, and pork chops showcased in a handful of different ways.
If you have never had a wiener schnitzel that is quite unfortunate. It is an Austrian / German dish consisting of a tender cut of pork or veal pounded thin, dredged in bread crumbs, and sauteed until golden brown and delicious in a generous amount of clarified butter. I felt their schnitzels were done pretty well. They were crispy, golden, and tender on the inside.
The jager schnitzel pairs this butter-fried goodness with a creamy mushroom gravy for a real rustic feel, then serves it with a generous portion of spatzle noodles. The spatzle was a little overcooked for my taste, but they were homemade noodles which I definitely appreciate. I thought the jager schnitzel was pretty good, but my wife did not like it at all. Part of the problem with her is that my father-in-law makes the best wiener schnitzel on the planet and she grew up eating that her whole life so her expectations are impossibly high. The other thing is they have bacon in their gravy which she was quite angry about. It wasn’t the best gravy I’ve ever had, but I thought it was pretty good.
The frankfurters are an imported German-style sausage that I’m 90% sure are the same ones you can buy for yourself and take home from Oma’s Pantry. They feature a little tougher casing than we Americans are accustomed to (thanks to Oscar Mayer) but they have a great flavor. My Swiss friend was not impressed with the rotisserie chicken and fries he ordered. He said it was OK, but felt it was under-seasoned and dry.
Overall, I thought the food was good but overpriced. In fact, Rene remarked in his thick German accent, “these German’s are still mad about losing World War II so they steal all your money in revenge.” He says the same meal in Germany is a third of the price. My $90 bill was a bit of a punch to the gut, and the food wasn’t worth the price, or the drive. If it were in the middle of town I would go back several times and try different offerings, but I probably won’t make the half hour drive again when I can make a schnitzel at home that is better. Although you can’t find decent veal in Oklahoma City’s pathetic excuses for grocery stores. My guess is the college frat boys that followed us in were there for sausage and beer. If that is your hankering, I don’t know of another place in town.
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So far, 19 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?November 14th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Have you tried the place in Choctaw?
November 15th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Keller in the Kastle…Yum! Although…must admit, the beer and apple schapps @Royal Bavaria is wonderful!
November 15th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
You are right,there are good things about this place, its just too pricey for what you get. And haven’t made it too Choctaw yet. Plan to.
November 16th, 2007 at 10:15 am
You should try the Sunday brunch at Ingrid’s Kitchen (36th & Youngs). A bit pricey, but it is all you can eat! Freakin’ delicious!
November 21st, 2007 at 7:49 pm
i’m not a huge beer geek, but their 3 beers are each worth the drive. the food is sometimes not quiiiiite what i hoped, but it’s usually on the money.
December 27th, 2007 at 11:16 am
You should try Old Germany (the original German restaurant in the metro that also has an annual Oktoberfest). It’s out in Choctaw. There is also a nice and unexpected German/Bavarian restaurant on N. MacArthur, just 2 blocks south of NW 10th called Jutta’s Keller at Castle Falls. Well worth the trips. Jutta is closing her place for a short while in early 2008 to return to Germany to visit family and to refresh/learn new German cooking techniques and then she will return to OKC. Her restaurant is neat because its in a castle.
February 15th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
The Royal Bavarian was better than I expected. I got a big boot of the home brewed beer. And the food was great. All the food was really fresh and not dull at all like expected from a German restaurant located in the middle of Oklahoma. Meals 20$-25$ great place to eat with 2 people or even a big group.
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I RECENTLY CALLED FOR A RESERVATION. NO ONE COULD ANSWER A QUESTION AND WHEN THEY DID IT WAS VERY RUDE. I RECENTLY TOOK A PARTY OF 14 TO INGRID’S KITCHEN FOR BRUNCH. WE RECEVIED EXCELLENT SERVICE AND OUTSTANDING FOOD. INGRID’S DESERVES A 5.
February 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Sorry to hear about rude service. I would concur that Ingrid’s is the place to go. In fact, you have talked me into heading there today for a bratwurst. Thanks!
April 11th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Royal Bavaria is one of my favorite restaurants. I’ve always recieved wonderful service. The food is excellent and the beer is out of this world. I tell all my friends that they have to try the beer! It’s the best I’ve ever had.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I absolutely adore Royal Bavaria. Every time my friends come to town, that’s the place they want to go. You really should go back and try all three of their home brewed beers. They are all fresh and delicious. The food is very very tasty too-while some things can be a bit expensive, there are other options for a smaller budget-one thing for sure is that you’ll never leave hungry.
In regards to the bread basket, I assume the reason they do this is because that’s the way it is done in Germany. They always charge for bread which I admit is a bit frustrating. I say skip the bread and go for a beer instead!
Go back and try the different sausages they offer (the frankfurter is by far my least favorite as it does not have much more flavor than a typical hot dog). Try the bratwurst, kasewurst (bratwurst with cheese in the middle essentially), the nurembergers and there’s one more i’m forgetting but try them all with their sauerkraut-you’ll love it.
The schweinsax(sp?) which is a ham shank is also very good, along with the cordon bleu, the trout, bratkartollfen(german home fries), i could go on and on…I’m salivating thinking about it.
P.S. Go Memorial Day weekend (saturday and sunday). They’re having a party in the newly renovated beer garden from 1-10 each day with live music. Should be a great time.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I’m a big fan of their sauerkraut and sausages, although the primary reason for going there is to play the boot game [http://www.realbeer.com/fun/games/games-178.php]with the loser buying the next boot. A soft punishment considering their beer is the best I’ve ever had. My favorite is the hefeweizen.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Yes, you must get to Choctaw for sure. If you speak German, you’ll get a chance to practice and the food is very authentic, especially if you’re wanting a good steak with kraeuterbutter (not on the menu, but if you ask for it, the chef will be delighted and will likely want to come talk to you).
In Austria, schnitzel is about as common as burgers are to us. It’s basically chicken fried steak, but it’s usually pork, but you can get turkey or veal, too, depending where you go. However, pork is always available and is the norm. Schnitzel does not refer to the dish but rather the preparation of the meat being pounded flat, but generally the way it’s eaten is without a sauce or gravy per se, but a generous squirt of lemon. It’s divine!! There used to be a place on Memorial near Western that served fried pork sandwiches, and if you just got it without the bread and asked for a lemon, it was the best darn schnitzel in town! I hear Ingrid’s isn’t too bad, but I haven’t made it over there just yet. I’ll have to go soon, though!
November 6th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I have been to the Royal Bavarian two or three times in the last six years, but this past four months I have been once a week.
I completely agree that the prices are on the high side, especially if you are used to the wonderful American plate with more food than one can possibly eat at a reasonable price.
I cannot comment on the taste of the food, as I am not a great fan of German or Bavarian food since to me it is rather bland. I like to taste the spice when I am eating something (I honestly don’t know how the Europeans did it with out spices for so long). The quality however I have been satisfied with. Also like you I am spoiled to home cooked version (my aunt is from Germany) and even her cooking I don’t do back flips for.
I do hope that you have were able to give Ingrid’s a try and the German restaurant in Choctaw. I also want to suggest that you try the restaurant in Lawton.
-tchuss!
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
After living in Germany for 4-1/2 years, I absolutely love German food and the beer. Since returning to the US (31 years ago), I always looked for a good German restaurant everywhere I would travel. I have been frequenting Royal Bavaria for the past 13 years. It is, by far, the most authentic – food, beer and atmosphere – this side of the Atlantic! Ingrid’s is a great place also, with great authentic food but the place in Choctaw just never did it for me. For the overall ‘feel and flavor’ of Germany in the US – Royal Bavaria can’t be beat!
May 25th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I wish this place was more affordable, because I loooove it. though I have never strayed from the rainbow trout with hollandaise dill sauce and wild rice- AMAZING.
June 22nd, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I’m sorry you didn’t like this place. Its right down the road from us and its wonderful. Its not cheap, but I certainly think everything we ordered was worth the price taste wise. I love the spaetzle and saurbraten.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:23 am
The food and beer are good but you feel that you get nickled and dimed and even screwed if you have kids. Kid’s meal are $6.99 and do not include drink which is additional $2.50. $9.49 to feed a 6 year old chicken strips. Also, even though we ordered an entree for an appetizer, they still charged us a $5. split plate charge because the 3 yr old didn’t get his own kid’s dinner but shared off the parents. (He had his own $2.50 drink). We eat out a lot and are used to high prices at places which doesn’t bother us. I just don’t like getting screwed on kid’s meal. We were party of 4 adults and 5 kids under 10. We had bread baskets, appetizers, wine and beer in addition to our entrees so wasn’t necessarily looking to pinch pennies, just not feel taken advantage of.
December 30th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
For good, authentic German food and a great atmosphere Old Germany in Choctaw is the place for lunch or dinner. The lunch special is great, the dinners are awesome and the people are friendly. The atmosphere reminds me of a typical German Gasthouse. I lived in Germany and found this place to be wonderful.
I thought the Royal Bavaria, with its brewery atmosphere was just that and not a good down home German restaurant I experienced while living in Germany. Royal Bavaria has prices that should have much larger portions and better cuisine. As far as the bread goes, Old Germany is very generous and will refill your bread basket with a variety of German rye and white breads … as part of the meal.
Drive the extra few miles to Choctaw.
Please tell us what you think.