White Bear Lake has been enjoying JJ’s Bierstube since it opened in 1999, but this restaurant has a history going back more than 50 years. JJ’s Bierstube is actually the latest of a group of Bierstube Steak House and Grills around the Twin Cities area. Owners Jim McArdle and Jim Yanz added White Bear Lake to the list of Bierstube locations, alongside Hastings, Inver Grove Heights, Oakdale and Red Wing.
Although the name Bierstube might alert restaurant-goers to the type of food they’ll find at JJ’s Bierstube, McArdle says the restaurant has a lot of themes. After some pondering, McArdle settled on describing JJ’s Bierstube as a “German-influenced-with-American-fare sports-bar restaurant.” He says that while the signature Reuben sandwich and classic German food is a crowd-pleaser, a lot of people love the burgers and steaks, too. However, as fall approaches, the German food and Oktoberfest take center stage; the restaurant offers Oktoberfest specials on select weekends in both September and October.
JJ’s Bierstube has eight delicious authentic German dishes on their menu, including Hilde’s German meatballs on the first weekend of every month, which come from an original family recipe. Along with the meatballs, JJ’s Bierstube offers schweine haxen (pork ham hocks), sauerbraten, and for those who can’t choose just one dish, the Taste of Deutschland is a sample platter of all eight authentic German items. During Oktoberfest at JJ’s, diners can enjoy reduced prices on imported German beers, $2 off all authentic German dishes, and $1 off brats and the Reuben sandwich on select weekends. 2670 East County Road E, White Bear Lake; 651.773.5854.
