- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Alpenland Delicatessen
Categories: Restaurants Delis Restaurants German Delis, German [Edit]
2707 78th Ave SEMercer Island, WA 98040
(206) 232-4780
- Hours:
Mon 9 am - 3 pm
Tue-Fri 9 am - 6 pm
Sat 9 am - 4 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Alpenland Delicatessen
Review Highlights
-
"Get them buttered and be sure to grab the mustard sauce." In 3 reviews -
"Sold on Thursday and Friday mornings only, and make sure..." In 2 reviews -
"...a few of my favorite Germany candies and snacks while I am..." In 4 reviews
Loading...
27 reviews in English
-
Review from Hanna L.
3/15/2012
Condensed review:
Pretzel roll- amazing
Rueben, I've had better
Chocolates- Always good ANYWHERE
Price?....owie.
I walked in because my coworkers (and yelp) were raving about this curious pretzal roll. Lemme tell ya, it's pretty darn good. This will make Aunty Anne's hang her head in shame. SHAME.
Other than that, I wasn't too impressed. The regulars seem to be 60+ years old, and so is the grandma who made my sandwich. (It could have been left on the panini press for much longer.) The bread on my rueben was soggy, and the corned beef itself wasn't that great.
People have been talking about the soups here, so i might just have that with a pretzel roll some other day.....
$16 got me 2 pretzel rolls, the sandwich, and 3 pieces of chocolate @.75/piece. -
Review from Anonymous B.
Honolulu, HI
5/15/2012
Alpenland is a provider of kitsch Bavarian candy & like Items; a butcher-shop; a mom&pop restaurant and the makers of the most extraordinary baked good I have ever tasted: The pretzel rolls w/ house dipping sauce is a truly phenomenal palette sensory experience you shouldn't miss if you find yourself on island.
-
Review from Adrienne R.
Mercer Island, WA
5/15/2011
When we first moved to Mercer Island, the Island folk all said we needed to check out Alpenland. They are only open for lunch, which is very inconvenient. We finally managed to get there.
We were disappointed. There is nothing on the menu we could not make at home, better and for less cost. I did have the specialty soup of the day. It was excellent. It's the only redeeming part of our visit.
The clientele were no younger than 30 years older than us. When you hear snide comments about "living on the Island," we got that vibe here.
And we did not feel this locale had the authentic German feel. We have German-town North Dakotan roots, so our familiarity with German food is deep.
Overall, this isn't worth the trip. -
Review from Dave R.
Seattle, WA
4/9/2011
A home away from home. If you are German and feel a yearning for your Heimat, this is the place to buy German foods, tchotchkes, and have some German lunch or small dinner.
The employees speak German and while the place seems like a time-capsule from 1950, it's in its way oddly authentic. -
Review from Conner W.
8/29/2011
I'm a torn while writing this review because I grew up with Alpenland Delicatessen and it is a bit of a staple in my community, yet I have really never had a great experience there.
I'm going to start with what I like: Pretzel Rolls and the Barley Soup
I've never had anything like the Pretzel Rolls at Alpenland and they are just amazing. A pretzel roll is a baseball-sized roll with a thin, delicious sea-salted pretzel crust outside and soft inside. I highly recommend getting them buttered. Be sure to get 1 dipping sauce per 2 rolls. The pretzel rolls are the only reason I come back to Alpenland. On occasion, I ask them to slice some salami or other cured meat and I make a sandwich which I dip in the sauce - awesome!
When I join someone for lunch at Alpenland, I order the Barley soup. It is delicious and would make any ill person feel better almost immediately.
Unfortunately, there are many things about Alpenland that turn me way off.
- They have no website so I can't see their menu.
- The service is really poor and always slow, even at the to-go counter. Only one or two low-ranking employees ever seem to know what is going on.
- The Owners. They are elderly, extremely slow and although they bring an authentic Bavarian feel to the establishment, they can't communicate well with customers. Honestly, most of them are just RUDE. The older gentleman will give you looks if you're in the way (it's a VERY small restaurant), bump you, and make comments under his breath. They need to go (and I hear they are).
- What you see is what you get. If you ask them to make something a little differently, or do something in a new way, or even do something they don't do on a regular basis (such as slice meat), you will get a weird look and some push back.
-They charge too much for the Pretzel Rolls and sauces. They realized that the rolls are like crack for the local high school kids and pushed the prices way up. Poor form, Alpenland.
After years of dissatisfaction, I am very happy to hear that Alpenland is for SALE! I can't wait to see if someone buys it and breathes new life into this stodgy establishment. Fingers crossed that I'll be writing a better review this time next year. -
Review from shauna y.
Mercer Island, WA
2/27/2012
this is a mercer island institution- so yummy and authentic. usually the crowd is more "seasoned" and they are mostly regulars who have been going to alpenland forever. I went there as a child and i will continue to take my kids there. it is quiet, affordable, delicious and predictable. so yummy!
-
Review from Jim C.
WA
8/6/2007
I would have thought that, having a German mom, I would know something of German food. It turns out I don't know a bloody thing.
My wife and I met at Alpenland for lunch one day and were blown away by how friendly the staff were, how delicious the food was, and how huge the portions were. My wife's sandwich was far, far more than she could eat, and my pork chop had nothing to do in size, scale, or quality with my notion of a pork chop... it was unreal. And SO GOOD.
They also have a deli for getting fresh meats, cheeses, etc, and German food and chocolates.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Kristy H.
Seattle, WA
12/14/2010 1 Check-in Here
I kind of love this place. I had a hot corned beef sandwich on rye and it was great! A little pricey for the size, but I'm pretty sure they cure their own meats. That with the fact that it's on Mercer Island, where everything is 10x as expensive, makes the price slightly forgivable.
The homemade pickle they included with the sandwich was delicious!
Everything in the deli case looked great & I'll be back again. I also picked up some German cookies and, it's only been 15 minutes, but I think I'm an addict now. So I'll definitely have to go back to grab another stash. (Gingerbread & dark chocolate? YUM. I hope these things aren't seasonal.) -
Review from Paul G.
Kirkland, WA
3/19/2010
My dad's side of the family is of German ancestry and I actually lived in Stuttgart, Germany for 3 years growing up (Military Brat!) so I am always on the look out for local German restaurants, shops, etc.
Alpenland Delicatessen fills a couple of those needs for me. They have a small area in front with tables for the restaurant, a small store area with goodies from Deutschland (I love the fizzy cola gummy candies), and there is a small deli service case in the back with wurst, deli meats/cheeses, and behind the cash register the infamous Pretzel Rolls.
The Pretzel rolls are good but I was more accustomed to the normal large Germany style pretzels (which they also offer on towards the end of the week with the rolls all sent in from a local German baker). You can get a good German lunch if you want to stay and get a table, and I've also had a solid German sandwich to go made to order from the deli counter. I always make a point to pick up a few of my favorite Germany candies and snacks while I am there as well. -
Review from Katherine T.
Bellevue, WA
4/6/2010
Two words for you...
Pretzle. Rolls.
With a follow up two words...
Mustard. Sauce.
I feel like I have said enough, but will elaborate anyway. This place is great! The selection of random candies, strange looking meats, and the odd addition of gift cards makes this a must-see. I have had a couple of the salads but the real reason I keep coming back is for the pretzle rolls.
Doughy goodness, dipped in the bright yellow pre-packaged sauce can bring happiness into my life at any moment. I prefer my roll un-buttered, but both are good. The salty and tougher exterior of the roll plays perfectly off of the inside.
Unfortunately only offered on Thurs&Fri! -
Review from Erin B.
Seattle, WA
12/1/2010
The pretzel rolls here are awesome. Sold on Thursday and Friday mornings only, and make sure you get the mustard sauce. Worth taking the bus to the wretched east side for a taste.
They also sell German grocery items like canned things, baking mixes, chocolates and candies, jams and spreads, and things you wouldn't normally find unless you were trying, or were in Ballard.
It's a charming little place, and the pretzel rolls are SO WORTH IT. -
Review from Ethan W.
Seattle, WA
5/23/2011
Alpenland definitely has the ambience of a German family owned restaurant that really adds an element to your meal. Replicating the inside of a German cottage, the interior layout, while not very big, is restaurant, market and deli all in one.
While a downside being only open for lunch, Alpenland follows the European lifestyle of taking a break out of a day and really relaxing to enjoy your meal. Saying this, while I only have an hour for lunch, I still go here as the relaxing element comes while eating, not waiting. Besides a set menu (I highly recommend the hot lunches of sausage and sauerkraut), Alpenland offers daily specials which consists of soups, and homemade desserts. The smell of homemade rhubarb pie, or apple/peach cobbler always makes it hard to resist.
Famous for the pretzel rolls that are offered only Thursdays and Fridays, this one item is enough to justify a visit. Paired with the homemade mustard vinaigrette dipping sauce, this combination is absolutely phenomenal.
You'll find the customers to be mostly elderly, enjoying a nice brunch or afternoon tea. While a little more on the pricey side, the ambience and friendly staff offers an enjoyable experience. -
Review from Jamie F.
Bellevue, WA
9/3/2011
The food and service seemed more like 50s America than "alpine"... white, white bread ... mayonnaise ... cold pie ... I've never had bierwurst before - is it supposed to taste like bologna? And no refills on the $2.25 cokes ...
the gazpacho was good though. -
Review from Adam T.
7/30/2009
Man, this place does a bang-up job. Per everyone's recommendation, i jumped on the pretzel roll. It lives up to all expectations, crazy delicious.
I'm a pretty boring guy, so I went for a Turkey Sammy. Also, delicious. Definitely a nice change of pace from the standard sandwich shops around (subway, quizno's, etc).
The service was great, a real "at-home" feel. Like my grandmother was making a sammy for me.
I will certainly drop by again and again when i'm on Mercer Island. -
Review from Crystal D.
Seattle, WA
2/15/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Best french dip, best liverwurst sandwich, best iced ted (seriously), best service, best pretzel rolls, best chowder, and best chocolates/candies. I can go on and on, but I don't have the time to. :) I love coming here with family. Too bad their hours aren't better. :(
-
Review from Tony W.
Baltimore, MD
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ice tea and service were great, came on a Monday so no pretzel rolls unfortunately . We got a French dip and a Ruben however that while good, were not something I would order again because they were great. If not for the cheerful service and small imported sweet shop attached to the restaurant I would give them a 3.
-
Review from Aaron B.
Bothell, WA
12/24/2008
My wife and her family love this place. I'm not sure what is so special. The pretzel rolls are about the greatest thing they have but it is only available on Thursday and Friday. My family always orders chef salads...I think it is the amount of meat they pile into the salad that they love. Me, I think it is a-ok.
-
Review from Regina A.
Mercer Island, WA
7/25/2007
I don't think many people who eat at Alpenland have REALLY eaten at Alpenland. They get pretzel rolls and that's it. There is SOO much more than the delicious pretzel roll, my friends! For instance, their sandwiches are wonderful! They have the most scrumptious corned beef on the best rye with of course, mustard (those Germans!). They have great German sausages, chef salad (with their house mustard vinaigrette), good soups, GREAT apple or any other kind of fruit crisp and like I've said sandwiches and pretzel rolls. The store also sells German treats like cookies, chocolate and other delights. They are wonderful and all the original servers and owners are great as well. Some of the servers there are kind of rude and stupid but it's okay, I still love Alpenland.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
-
Review from Honanana T.
Bellevue, WA
9/10/2007
Two words: Pretzel Roll. If you've never had one, get thee to Alpenland this Thursday and don't forget the mustard sauce! This little Bavarian restaurant is an island favorite. They carry sausages, cheese, and various other deli items along with a decent lunch menu. In the mood for chocolate or potato pancake mix? This place has you covered.
-
Review from Rachel T.
Mercer Island, WA
7/21/2010
This place sells German favorites like pretzel rolls, sausages, and chocolates. My husband loves this place because his family is German. I think its just okay, and would rather have his mom's cooking. They serve lunch, which consists of a fairly limited menu of weiners and sandwiches. Every time that we go here, I order a pastrami sandwich, but I have to ask for double meat because its fairly anemic otherwise.
The best part about eating lunch here is the macaroni salad. It is better than any other macaroni salad I have ever tasted and is tangy and dilly and yumtastic.
Finally, the presumed owners of this place are really kind and love to spend time talking to their customers, which makes up for their limited menu. -
Review from Christine R.
Bremerton, WA
3/25/2009
All I can say is the Pretzel Rolls are to die for!!! Get them buttered and be sure to grab the mustard sauce!! It hits the spot on a cold day!! There is always a line on Thursdays and Fridays, and parking is next to zilch on these days- but who can blame them... they have the best pretzel rolls in town. I haven't had the opportunity to try anything else on the menu, but they seem to serve a killer salad and their pork chops smelled killer!!!
-
Review from Michael C.
Seattle, WA
9/15/2010
After reading rave reviews, I decided to check it out. Being from NY, I can appreciate a good deli. It has a true deli feel, wonderful staff, but what I ordered was dreadful, and extremely overpriced, as is their entire menu. I had a roast beef sandwich which costs over $8. (4$ sandwich at best). The roast beef was extremely fatty and grissly, which caused me to have to trash have of the meat. I would go back, but order something different.
-
Review from Amy W.
Sammamish, WA
7/21/2011
Wow - found this place by accident. The pretzel rolls were fantastic. We had take-out and the line was out the door.
-
Review from Dave S.
Seattle, WA
9/13/2005
Bavaria on Mercer Island? Indeed. The most important thing you need to know about Alpenland is that Thursdays is Pretzel Roll day. Make sure to splurge and get the mustard vinagrette dressing with a bag of these fresh-made puppies. Oh, and get there before lunch to beat the swarms of local high school students that make this a regular thursday lunch destination.
-
Review from Lisa K.
Seattle, WA
2/7/2006
The pretzel roll and the chief salad! I can't say I have ever had anything bad here, and it is such a friendly environment. The same people have worked here for years, even when it changed ownership. Definitely try and beat the crowd, but they are generally accommodating if you don't.
-
Review from Peter H.
Issaquah, WA
12/1/2008
I was on the hunt for the Knorr Wiener Schnitzel packet that makes the ohh so perfect schniztel and was referred here by a German deli in Bellevue (Lake Hills Shopping area). My wife not only was able to get the schnitzel mix - but LOVED the pretzels. I popped in here to see why she was raving about the perfect German grocery that has everything - and was able to pick up the needed Austrian lingonberry sauce to go with schnitzel - even the same brand used by our friends from Villach (AU). The staff is helpful, selection is great - if only they served German dinners.
-
Review from nancy g.
Mercer Island, WA
12/5/2008
Best pretzel rolls and house salad dressing ever. I find myself craving this place quite often. Great staff, very friendly and fast. Gets crowded so come early, especially on Thursday and Friday when it's pretzel roll day.
