Meet Our Neighbors: Brotzeit Lokal Brings Bavarian Flavor to Oakland's Waterfront

Great food, waterfront views, and a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere are always on the menu at Brotzeit Lokal, a beloved Bavarian-inspired restaurant and biergarten just moments from Caspian at Brooklyn Basin. Since opening in 2013, this locally owned Oakland favorite has brought people together over traditional German specialties, house-made sausages, fresh seasonal dishes, and an impressive selection of German and local craft beers. We caught up with Krista, co-founder, owner, and general manager, to discover what makes Brotzeit Lokal such a treasured neighborhood gathering place.

“The menu is made fresh from our scratch kitchen by chef Neftali Perez and his team of amazing cooks. Our sausages are also house made and include special game sausages and seasonal specials. We have one of the best brunches in the Town, and I dare say, one of the best burgers.” Krista also shares a few personal favorites: “Brotzeit Lokal’s Benedict sits on a German potato pancake instead of an English muffin making it uniquely ours. Our German menu items include the best traditional items found in German biergartens and fun updated versions. I just had a schnitzel sandwich for lunch a couple days ago and it was so good! It's a whole breaded pork schnitzel on a brioche bun with aioli and a pile of hand-cut french fries. I paired it with a Blind Pig IPA.”

Looking for insider recommendations? The Brotzeit team has plenty! Chef Neftalí suggests the Schweinshaxe (pork shank) with an apple shrub mocktail, while front-of-house manager Stephanie favors the tomato basil chicken sausage with a Früh Kölsch. Bar manager Kristjan recommends fish and chips with a Veltins Pilsner; Brianna loves clam chowder with a Mai Tai; Alejandra pairs Caesar salad with extra anchovies and a mezcal sour; Tanya recommends mussels with a Schönramer Gold; and Rosa's pick is the schnitzel sandwich with a citrus tamarind spritz mocktail.

The beverage program is equally impressive, as Krista explains: “Tony has been curating the beer list since we opened in 2013. Our top three tap beers are usually Veltins Pilsner, the German wheat beers and the local IPAs, like Pliny the Elder. We also serve great cocktails created by our Bar Manager, Kristjan Vaca. He is truly an artist and was instrumental in elevating our cocktail program with house made syrups and garnishes.”

Beyond its delicious menu and picturesque marina setting, Brotzeit Lokal celebrates the spirit of community that makes Oakland special.

“We are definitely a place with a lot of regulars, many of which have been coming here for a long time. Our goal was to create a place for local Oakland folks to enjoy and get a bit of the feeling of gemütlichkeit, a sense of warmth, friendliness and belonging. It is a state of mental and emotional peace that comes from being comfortable in your surroundings and connected with others.”

It's exactly the kind of neighborhood connection we love celebrating at Caspian. Whether you're gathering with friends, enjoying a leisurely weekend brunch on the patio with your pup in tow, or unwinding with waterfront drinks watching the sailboats pass along the Oakland Estuary, Brotzeit Lokal is a local favorite worth discovering.

Visit Brotzeit Lokal: 1000 Embarcadero, Oakland
Explore the menu in advance at brotzeitbiergarten.com and book a tour of Caspian to discover why so many have decided to purchase and call our community home.

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