Rathskeller Restaurant - Fredericksburg

 
​Lunch in the Texas Hill Country
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​There are tons of dining options in Fredericksburg. The Hill Country town, once settled by Germans, now caters to tourists. 

They've done a good job of preserving their culture and history and beautiful buildings, like this one. 

Lunch in the Old Memorial Keidel Hospital
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​This sturdy, limestone building has always intrigued me. 

When recently traveling with friends, they suggested stopping for lunch, in the old hospital.

​Lovely April Day

Pat and Susan had eaten before at The Rathskeller. I was excited about the idea of a basement dining adventure... especially since our friends had been told, the basement had once been a morgue. Intriguing!

But the spring weather was heavenly and we had to pause to take in the courtyard, before heading down the exterior steps.

Down We Go

​The sign at the bottom of the stairs flipped to CLOSED, shortly after we arrived

Coming through the door, we could see the thick, limestone walls. Who knows what the basement was used for in 1883, when the building was first completed. It opened then, as a general merchandise and hardware store.

​Still Serving
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​It was nearly 3:00 when we arrived, but they were still serving lunch. We were invited to sit anywhere. 

The table near the old window looked cozy and the giant utensils sort of amused me.

​Bigger Space
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There was a private room with a meeting table, if we'd brought along more friends. 

The sweet beast on the stone wall, would have kept an eye on us.

But we took another cozy corner table, with Grandma and Grandpa looking over us, from their frame. I sat near the Mercedes grill.
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More Curious Decor
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​I was pretty delighted peeking around. The nearby window view amused me, with its cocktail cart and flamingo display. 

The restroom had some interesting art. I don't speak German, but the antique piece was interesting.

​Chatting With Mary

While we studied menus, our server Mary, bustled about. She was fun and chatty and answered lots of questions. She said she'd been working at the Rathskeller off and on, for at least 18 years. "Since the owner's son was toddling around." she said.  

Mary however, didn't answer my questions about the basement once being a morgue.  She really did not want to confirm that at all. She said it had been the laundry room. 

​Photo on the Menu
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​The menu had some less eerie history inside and a great photo on the cover. In 1919, Dr. Victor Keidel bought the building and expanded, with the wing that looks over the courtyard. 

It opened as The Keidel Memorial Hosptial in 1938. Dr. Keidel's son in law, Dr. H. Perry also practiced and eventually bought the property. The building is still in the Perry family today.

​Cheers
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​Susan and I enjoyed some beer (German for me!) as we waited for our food. We continued to wonder about the morgue. I asked Mary if they had any ghosts sightings in the basement. She steered clear of that subject, just like she had the morgue. 

Then she reminded me that we were in a small town and there were residents who had family members who were born or died at the hospital. It was suddenly clear to me, why this kind of gossip was off limits.  

Yum!
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​I ordered the Daily Special, even though I clearly knew it was more than I could eat. 

Well, there was no Country Fried Pork Cutlet left on my plate when I finished. The beans, gravy and potatoes were packed with flavor! Crispy cutlet and fat mushrooms in the gravy! Yum!

​The Rest
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​The Almond Crusted Fried Dover and Turkey Ruebens were well received, also. 

But I think mine was best!

Fun Stop
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​We enjoyed some good food and fun conversation. It was a fun dining adventure,  even if we had no eerie encounters! 

This may  be the first "meal in a hospital" for the Dining Blog!
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