Special thanks to Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant for extending this food review invitation.
Update: This business has ceased its operations.
Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant is a Singapore-based German restaurant chain. There are currently two outlets in Malaysia: in Mid Valley Megamall and Sunway Pyramid. The restaurant specializes in authentic German food with emphasis on Bavarian cuisine. The German word “Brotzeit” literally translates as “bread time” – referring to a traditional Bavarian meal that consists of bread, cheese, sausages, smoked meat and pickles.
The Mid Valley Megamall outlet is located at the exterior section of the mall, facing The Gardens Mall just across the road. The restaurant presents a lively ambience with wood as the primary theme. Customers may also choose al fresco dining, or opt to be seated at the bar where a wide range of Paulaner beers flow from the tap.
Adapting to the modern lifestyle of Kuala Lumpur, Brotzeit offers a breakfast menu which is available around the clock. One of the most popular choices from this menu is the Brotzeit Signature Breakfast (RM32.50). Although meant for one person, the portion is remarkably huge for most people.
The main highlight of this breakfast platter is the Nürnberger Bratwurst. A renowned delicacy from Nuremberg, the pork sausage is served over a bed of kartoffelpüree (mashed potatoes). This wholesome potato dish is made by hand. On the side are two fried eggs that are cooked sunny side up.
Ham, cheese and cherry tomatoes are prepared over two slices of multigrain bread. Streaky bacon and fried onions are presented on the side. The platter is further garnished with chopped scallion, lettuce and arugula (rocket salad). On a separate saucer are 3 types of sauces: mustard, ketchup and honey mustard.
Each breakfast meal includes a hot cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of chilled fruit juice. Coffee is brewed from Caffè Vergnano beans from Italy. It comes with a butter cookie on the side.
Schweinshaxn (RM105.00) is undoubtedly the most recognizable dish from Bavaria. The name is spelled in Bavarian slang, for the proper German word is “Schweinshaxe“. This dish calls for the hind leg of the swine; the front limb is seldom used because it is way too lean.
The pork knuckle needs to be marinated upfront to allow the flesh to tenderize. Then, pork is roasted at a low temperature to allow the surface to become crispy without getting burnt. Once cooked, Schweinshaxn has an interesting combination of crispy fatty layers, soft lean meat and jelly-like cartilage. The overall taste is simply heavenly. Scrumptious dishes like this are few and far between.
As per tradition, Schweinshaxn is typically served with sauerkraut and kartoffelpüree. Lettuce, arugula and pickled cucumber are used as garnish. The pork is best enjoyed with gravy. Two types of gravy are presented. The former is the traditional one that is usually served in Germany; the latter is more flavorful and therefore more suited to the local palate. This popular pork knuckle dish is meant for 2 or 3 persons, but half portion is also available for RM68.00.
Germans are known for their affinity for beers. Biermischgetränke is a popular choice among casual drinkers. These beers are mixed with carbonated water in order to reduce their alcohol content. Nevertheless, they still maintain their refreshing character.
Interesting choices of Biermischgetränke (RM33.00 for 500 millilitres) are Apfelbier (Münchner lager with apple juice), Affensaft (weißbier with a mango juice), Russ’n (weißbier with lemonade) and Radler (Münchner lager with lemonade). Radler means “cyclists” and was originally formulated for cyclists.
Brotzeit has an affordable lunch menu which is available from 11:00am to 3:00pm every day – except on Sundays and public holidays. Daily Roasted Pork (RM22.00) is the bestselling dish from this menu. Dressed with delectable gravy, juicy slices of pork are gently rested over a bed of sauerkraut. Sauerkraut, or fermented cabbage, is a traditional Eastern European food that originally served to preserve vegetables over winter.
Each item from the lunch menu comes with a bowl of tagessuppe (soup of the day), which turns out to be pumpkin soup today. The soup’s flavor is quite balanced and does a great job in drawing appetite. A slice of sourdough bread on the side goes well with the soup. The meal also includes a glass of ice lemon tea.
Meanwhile from the dinner specials menu, Quarter Ribs With A Twist (RM57.00) is a great choice for pork lovers. The delicious pork ribs, 5 or so pieces, are marinated with honey and grilled to golden perfection. Thanks to the fine balance between lean and fatty flesh, the ribs are succulent down to the very bones.
The pork ribs are served with schwenkgemüse (sautéed mixed vegetables) and kartoffelhappen (spicy potato wedges). The accompanying saucer of pork gravy is meant to go with pork ribs, but I feel that it also works well with the wedges.
Brotzeit has a wide selection of Paulaner draft beers – all imported from Germany. At Paulaner, beers are brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot, commonly known as the German Beer Purity Law of 1516. According to this regulation, beer must be produced from malt, hops, yeast and natural spring water only. It is difficult to find a drink more natural than this.
For novice drinkers, the Paulaner Bier Sampler (RM35.00) offers 4 types of Paulaner beer to begin with. Served on a wooden sampler tray are chilling glasses of Original Münchner Urtyp, Hefe-Weißbier, Original Münchner Dunkel Lager and Dunkel Hefe-Weißbier. Paulaner beers contain around 5% alcohol content, which is sufficiently low to appeal to casual drinkers.
Should customers prefer salad, Backhendlsalat (RM52.00) is a sound choice. The bowl of salad comprises of crispy chicken fillet, kartoffelsalat (potato salad), arugula, lettuce, cucumber, semi-dried tomato and sweet corn. This chicken salad is held together by pumpkin seed oil and tangy dressing. Finely-chopped rosemary helps to elevate aroma. If the serving size is too big for comfort, ask for a smaller portion for RM37.00.
As for alcohol-free beer, try a bottle of Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier Alkoholfrei. Using de-alcoholization techniques, alcohol content is reduced to trace amounts without affecting the taste too significantly. This alcohol-free beer goes particularly well with soups and salads.
Moving on to desserts, Weißer Lavakuchen (RM25.00) is the chef’s interpretation of chocolate lava cake. Made from white chocolate, butter, eggs and sugar, the cake enjoys soft texture with a subtle layer of crisp on the surface. Meanwhile, the interior of the cake remains runny. Viscous liquid chocolate oozes out as soon as the outer layer is punctured.
The chocolate lava cake is served with chocolate sauce, icing sugar, blueberry sauce and juniper berry sauce. Overall, the individual components integrate well with one another, presenting a scrumptious treat after a satisfying meal.
Name: Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant
Address: G(E)-018, Mid Valley Megamall, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-2287-5516
Business hours: 10:00am-12:00am (Sunday), 11:00am-12:00am (Monday-Thursday), 11:00am-1:00am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: http://brotzeit.com.my
Coordinates: 3.11878 N, 101.67734 E
Directions: Brotzeit is located at the Ground Floor of Mid Valley Megamall. The restaurant faces The Gardens Mall and is sandwiched between Grand Harbour and Reminisce. Mid Valley Megamall provides parking at the Basement levels.
