If you go
› What: Brewhaus, 224 Frazier Ave.› Phone: 423-531-8490› Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday; 11 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday› Website: www.brewhausbar.com› Price range: $6 for boiled peanuts to $14 The Spaetzle› Alcohol: Full bar
Raise your hand if after Volkswagen announced it was opening a plant here you said something along the lines of “We need a German restaurant” or “I bet we get a German restaurant finally.” More than a few folks even ventured so far as to say out loud how smart they would be to open such a place themselves.
Actually, it would likely be easier to find someone who didn’t say either of those things after the VW announcement.
Michael Robinson went beyond mere lip service, however, opening the Brewhaus on Frazier Avenue on the North Shore in September 2011, five months after VW started producing its first car. (He later sold his share.)
To be clear, and to be fair, the Brewhaus has always described itself as a German-American gastro pub, and it should be judged that way. It has never claimed nor tried to be an “authentic” German restaurant. I mention that because that seems to be an issue with some folks whether they want a taste of home or a dish like their dear Mutti used to make when they were kids.