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Schnitzel sandwich at Duke's Grocery.

Where to Find Simple and Satisfying Schnitzel Around Town

Start with a fried cutlet, and go from there

by Laura Hayes May 23, 2016, 11:00am EDT

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Schnitzel sandwich at Duke's Grocery.

| Laura Hayes

by Laura Hayes May 23, 2016, 11:00am EDT

Most cultures have a glorious take on breaded and fried meat. For Germans and Austrians, it's schnitzel. The basic recipe calls for a cutlet of veal, pork or chicken to be pounded thin, breaded, and then fried. Traditional accompaniments include roasted potatoes or spaetzle — soft egg noodles with a name that's equally fun to say.

Within the world of schnitzel, there are age-old variations. Wiener schnitzel, for example, is the national dish of Austria and calls for veal, while jägerschnitzel features a pork or veal cutlet glistening in a rich, creamy mushroom sauce. The latter translates to "hunter's cutlet" (and involves no bad decision shots at the bar).

Trying schnitzel is easy to do in D.C. A few restaurants serve it in sandwich form; others offer it at brunch; and one beer hall even fries up a vegetarian version. Here are 15 places to indulge in one of Bavaria's greatest pleasures.

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Ambar Balkan Cuisine

Schnitzel at a Balkan restaurant? Restaurateur Ivan Iricanin says Austria borders Serbia and schnitzel has been wildly popular there for decades. He adds that many cultures and empires have left their mark on Balkan food. Ambar serves Vienna schnitzel, which calls for crispy veal, topped with creamy tartar sauce.

523 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

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Biergarten Haus

Vegetarians can get in on schnitzel at Biergarten Haus. In addition to veal, pork and chicken schnitzel, the Atlas District beer garden serves eggplant schnitzel with lemon caper sauce, achieving a similar flavor profile and all the naughtiness of something breaded and fried. Each schnitzel order comes with a side such as red cabbage, potato pancakes or hand-cut fries.

1355 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

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Bistro Bohem

Neighborhood spot Bistro Bohem says auf wiedersehen to the traditional club sandwich at lunch by subbing in pork schnitzel for deli meat. Come dinner, diners can try pork or chicken schnitzel served with a squeeze of lemon, plus mashed potatoes or fries. It gets better. Bistro Bohem’s brunch schnitzel marries breaded and fried meat with maple syrup.

600 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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Brasserie Beck

Schnitzel fans should target Thursdays at Brasserie Beck because that’s when Wiener Schnitzel Holstein is the plat du jour. The Belgian restaurant uses Randall Lineback veal from Virginia for the schnitzel and then tops it according to an age-old recipe that calls for an egg, plus anchovies, capers and a side of spaetzle.

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

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Cafe Berlin

The Hill’s Café Berlin has a tri-fecta of schnitzels: huhnerschnitzel starring chicken breast; jagerschnitzel with pork loin; and wiener schnitzel with veal. The chicken and pork iterations come with gravy and spaetzle, while the veal is served as is tradition with potatoes and roasted vegetables. During lunch, there’s a schnitzel sandwich, and brunch boasts a take on schnitzel a la Holstein with a fried egg.

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322 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

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Cafe Mozart

It would take a whole Bundesliga soccer team to finish all of Café Motzart’s schnitzel offerings in one sitting. Their dedicated schnitzel menu is ten lines deep, and includes the option to build-your-own by selecting your choice of meat and sauce. Popular picks include pork jägerschnitzel with tomato, mushroom, onion and red wine sauce or veal rahm schnitzel with champignon cream sauce.

Open in Google Maps

1331 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

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Dacha Beer Garden

Schnitzel and suds in a beer garden setting feels like Bavaria right here in D.C. Dacha serves their chicken schnitzel in sandwich form with dill-mustard aioli, purple kraut and Havarti cheese on an olive oil bun.

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

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DGS Delicatessen

DGS Co-owner Nick Wiseman says schnitzel belongs in his new school Jewish deli because of its Eastern European roots. They use chicken thigh meat that’s been brined for eight hours, which they crust in rye bread crumbs for a twist. Currently, the schnitzel comes topped with arugula, pickled ramps, radish and lemon dressing.

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

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Duke's Grocery

Chill East London eatery, Duke’s Grocery, serves their schnitzel on a bun. The mouth-stretching sandwich dubbed Munchener brötchen practically mandates leftovers with a stack containing Swiss Emmental cheese, spicy sauerkraut, pickles, mustard and bacon on top of double slabs of juicy chicken schnitzel.

1513 17th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

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Kafè Leopold

An afternoon at Leopold’s Kafe feels like an express trip to Europe with its secluded patio setting on Cady’s Alley and blue beer umbrellas even before the veal schnitzel arrives. They serve it alongside arugula, potato salad and a choice of mustard or sweet and tangy lingonberries.

Open in Google Maps

3315 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Lyon Hall

Planning to tackle Lyon Hall’s pork schnitzel? Come hungry. Piled high, it comes with the best of spring: asparagus, morel mushrooms, herb spaetzle, marinated cucumbers and whole grain mustard butter.

3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

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Also featured in:

Old Europe

Trust the recipe at Old Europe. They’ve been slinging schnitzel since the doors opened in 1948. While there are several varieties to choose from including wiener schnitzel and jägerschnitzel, the “Schnitzel Old Europe” is a best bet because it’s an original Lichtenstein family recipe.

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2434 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

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The Airedale

The Airedale channels a European pub feel with its crush on Premiere League soccer and hearty food including pan-fried pork schnitzel with spring greens and a creamy mushroom sauce.

3605 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

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Where to Find Poutine Around D.C.

The Riggsby

The schnitzel at The Riggsby is currently served "a la lyonnaise," topped with such ingredients as a fried egg.

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

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Wagshal's

This deli, which expanded into a full service restaurant at its original location last November, serves a pork schnitzel dinner entree with lemon caper butter sauce and a side of spaghetti with Parmesan cheese.

4855 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Visit Website

Also featured in:

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Ambar Balkan Cuisine

523 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Schnitzel at a Balkan restaurant? Restaurateur Ivan Iricanin says Austria borders Serbia and schnitzel has been wildly popular there for decades. He adds that many cultures and empires have left their mark on Balkan food. Ambar serves Vienna schnitzel, which calls for crispy veal, topped with creamy tartar sauce.

523 8th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

Visit Website

Biergarten Haus

1355 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Vegetarians can get in on schnitzel at Biergarten Haus. In addition to veal, pork and chicken schnitzel, the Atlas District beer garden serves eggplant schnitzel with lemon caper sauce, achieving a similar flavor profile and all the naughtiness of something breaded and fried. Each schnitzel order comes with a side such as red cabbage, potato pancakes or hand-cut fries.

1355 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Bistro Bohem

600 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Neighborhood spot Bistro Bohem says auf wiedersehen to the traditional club sandwich at lunch by subbing in pork schnitzel for deli meat. Come dinner, diners can try pork or chicken schnitzel served with a squeeze of lemon, plus mashed potatoes or fries. It gets better. Bistro Bohem’s brunch schnitzel marries breaded and fried meat with maple syrup.

600 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Schnitzel fans should target Thursdays at Brasserie Beck because that’s when Wiener Schnitzel Holstein is the plat du jour. The Belgian restaurant uses Randall Lineback veal from Virginia for the schnitzel and then tops it according to an age-old recipe that calls for an egg, plus anchovies, capers and a side of spaetzle.

1101 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

Cafe Berlin

322 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

The Hill’s Café Berlin has a tri-fecta of schnitzels: huhnerschnitzel starring chicken breast; jagerschnitzel with pork loin; and wiener schnitzel with veal. The chicken and pork iterations come with gravy and spaetzle, while the veal is served as is tradition with potatoes and roasted vegetables. During lunch, there’s a schnitzel sandwich, and brunch boasts a take on schnitzel a la Holstein with a fried egg.

Open in Google Maps

322 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Cafe Mozart

1331 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

It would take a whole Bundesliga soccer team to finish all of Café Motzart’s schnitzel offerings in one sitting. Their dedicated schnitzel menu is ten lines deep, and includes the option to build-your-own by selecting your choice of meat and sauce. Popular picks include pork jägerschnitzel with tomato, mushroom, onion and red wine sauce or veal rahm schnitzel with champignon cream sauce.

Open in Google Maps

1331 H St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

Dacha Beer Garden

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Schnitzel and suds in a beer garden setting feels like Bavaria right here in D.C. Dacha serves their chicken schnitzel in sandwich form with dill-mustard aioli, purple kraut and Havarti cheese on an olive oil bun.

1600 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

DGS Delicatessen

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

DGS Co-owner Nick Wiseman says schnitzel belongs in his new school Jewish deli because of its Eastern European roots. They use chicken thigh meat that’s been brined for eight hours, which they crust in rye bread crumbs for a twist. Currently, the schnitzel comes topped with arugula, pickled ramps, radish and lemon dressing.

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Duke's Grocery

1513 17th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Chill East London eatery, Duke’s Grocery, serves their schnitzel on a bun. The mouth-stretching sandwich dubbed Munchener brötchen practically mandates leftovers with a stack containing Swiss Emmental cheese, spicy sauerkraut, pickles, mustard and bacon on top of double slabs of juicy chicken schnitzel.

1513 17th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

Visit Website

Kafè Leopold

3315 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

An afternoon at Leopold’s Kafe feels like an express trip to Europe with its secluded patio setting on Cady’s Alley and blue beer umbrellas even before the veal schnitzel arrives. They serve it alongside arugula, potato salad and a choice of mustard or sweet and tangy lingonberries.

Open in Google Maps

3315 M St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

Lyon Hall

3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Planning to tackle Lyon Hall’s pork schnitzel? Come hungry. Piled high, it comes with the best of spring: asparagus, morel mushrooms, herb spaetzle, marinated cucumbers and whole grain mustard butter.

3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

Old Europe

2434 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Trust the recipe at Old Europe. They’ve been slinging schnitzel since the doors opened in 1948. While there are several varieties to choose from including wiener schnitzel and jägerschnitzel, the “Schnitzel Old Europe” is a best bet because it’s an original Lichtenstein family recipe.

Open in Google Maps

2434 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Visit Website

The Airedale

3605 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

The Airedale channels a European pub feel with its crush on Premiere League soccer and hearty food including pan-fried pork schnitzel with spring greens and a creamy mushroom sauce.

3605 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Visit Website

The Riggsby

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The schnitzel at The Riggsby is currently served "a la lyonnaise," topped with such ingredients as a fried egg.

1731 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Wagshal's

4855 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

This deli, which expanded into a full service restaurant at its original location last November, serves a pork schnitzel dinner entree with lemon caper butter sauce and a side of spaghetti with Parmesan cheese.

4855 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Visit Website

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