Enjoy a German Christmas at Bavarian Bierhaus

It’s an unfortunate reality that you’ll probably end up spending at least a little time fighting the crazy crowds in a mall sometime during this holiday season. But if you have to brave the masses, you might as well treat yourself at the same time. Opry Mills is one of the most popular shopping centers in Middle Tennessee, and its unusual ring design means that once you get started making your way around around the circle of commerce, there are no easy shortcuts: You’re in it for the duration until you get back to wherever you started.

Fortunately, there’s a bit of an oasis hidden down a hallway from the main thoroughfare of shops, boutiques and kiosks. The Bavarian Bierhaus is a locally-owned replica of the traditional biergartens of Bavaria with a huge dining and drinking area filled with tables filled with happy patrons enjoying traditional Teutonic foods and huge steins of German beer. While there’s no huge sign marking the entrance from the main section of the mall, there is a small stand with signage to point you down the hallway, plus an entrance from the parking lot if you don’t want to join in the holiday shopping fracas. Think of it as adult day care for husbands where you can drop him off with the first load of shopping bags while you make another lap.

Visitors can actually do some of their shopping in the restaurant thanks to a small shop filled with a great selection of imported German sweets, apparel and gifts. In addition to exotic food items, you can buy fun Bavarian cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers and hand-painted steins. Or just pick up a gift card for that special beer lover on your list!

Christmas is a big deal in the Alpine region of Germany, and The Bavarian Bierhaus will celebrate the holiday season with a special three-course German Christmas dinner on Sunday, December 23 from 5 until 9 p.m. The menu will feature traditional German Christmas food and even some items that are not available on the restaurant’s regular menu, like Black Forest ham and the classic Stollen Christmas cake. If you’re looking for a fun way to entertain out-of-town guests without having to do the cooking and cleaning yourself, this is a great affordable option. The prix fixe menu costs $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12. Reservations are encouraged and can be made at bierhausnsahville.com.

The Bierhaus knows that every gift under your tree might not be perfect, so you’ll probably find yourself having to brave the malls again after Santa has departed for the year. They want to help soften the blow, so from December 26-30, guests can bring in their gift return receipts from Opry Mills Mall for a free dessert with their meal. Finally, as the calendar turns to 2019, The Bavarian Bierhaus invites fans in on New Years Eve for a little early celebrating. At 5 p.m., as the new year arrives in Germany, they’re throwing a little party in Music City. Instead of dropping a ball off a building like they do in New York City, they will tap a special keg as the clock strikes mitternachtin Bavaria, and all of the beer in that keg will be free to patrons until it is tapped out. That should make for a very happy new year. Prost!