Skip Europe This Summer: This Beer Hall in New York Is Just as Authentic and Delicious as a Munich Biergarten

Ah, summer. It's a perfect time for travel, and there's no downside to planning a vacation to Europe, until you check the airfares and lodging! Unfortunately, a blowout European getaway isn't in all our budgets, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a taste of the continent right here in New York! NYC is the most international city in the world, and you can probably find a store or restaurant dedicated to any culture you can imagine within the five boroughs. If you're dreaming of the beer halls of Munich this summer, I have great news: the best German food in New York is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.

Welcome to Reichenbach Hall, a sprawling German beer hall offering a wide variety of German beers, authentic food that goes far beyond sausages and schnitzel—although those are there too, and they're delicious—and an atmosphere that makes it feel like Oktoberfest all year round. The party's just getting started at Reichenbach Hall, and they're waiting to raise a stein to the newest arrival.

Reichenbach Hall is the kind of German restaurant you don't see too often stateside. This isn't a casual brewpub with a few German items on the menu—it's a sprawling, raucous beer hall that celebrates everything about the central European nation. It's also a must-visit for beer lovers—there are fifteen traditional German beers on tap here.

The menu is truly authentic, with many specialties that you won't find on too many menus, like sauerbraten, the intensely flavored, sweet-and-sour pot roast. It starts with the appetizers, where you can order the Brotzeit, a massive cold platter of German cold cuts and cheese

One of the signatures of German cuisine is sausages, famously known as wursts. You can try the bratwurst or kielbasa, which are more familiar, or indulge in the authentic currywurst or bauernwurst, which are rare to see on this side of the Atlantic. Or you can order a massive wurst platter and try a little of everything!

If Germany has a signature dish, it's the schnitzel: the massive, crispy-fried cutlets pounded flat. You can have them in pork, chicken, or even fish, with some surprising flavor combinations like the mushroom-and-onion-topped Jaegerschnitzel. Make sure to save some room for dessert and indulge in an apple strudel or black forest cake.

Have you gotten to dine or drink at Reichenbach Hall? If you haven't experienced the best German food in New York, tell a beer-loving travel buddy about this article and plan a visit! You can see the full menu on the Reichenbach Hall website, and the Reichenbach Hall Facebook page has all the updates on new specials making their debut on the menu. While you're in the heart of midtown, make sure to head a few streets up and visit the New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwartzman Building, a historic library and museum that's a must-visit for any New York book-lover.