In "The Spotlight" I focus attention on some of my favorite travel and dining spots. I cover unique and interesting restaurants with a special emphasis on great food and terrific dining experiences.
Dining and Dancing at Sengelmann Hall
It goes without saying that I adore a good restaurant but it is an extra bonus when it is situated in a historically intriguing setting.
Roy Harper, a Houston artist, purchased the building and undertook its restoration. The result is a meticulously restored dance hall, saloon, restaurant and biergarten. Sengelmann Hall reopened in June 2009 and is once again the feature attraction in historic downtown Schulenburg. Today, good food and drink, live music, and top entertainers make it a great place to gather with friends.
There is a lot to like about the food at Senglemann Hall. First of all, they keep it fresh, using local meats, produce and fresh farm eggs whenever possible. The menu includes a number of exquisite Czech and German specialty dishes. Whether you order Pork Schnitzel with garlic mashed potatoes, a Two Brothers Burger and fries, or any one of their many other selections you will love the food. But remember to leave room for dessert. The baker prepares fresh desserts each day that are delightful.
As I sit at a table enjoying a delicious dish, the surroundings stir my imagination. The plank floors, the ornate columns, and the tall ceilings with their pressed-tin tiles all take me back to a simpler time. If I listen closely, I can almost hear the sound of a train's whistle as a locomotive slowly steams into town. That's the cue for the piano player to take his seat at the upright piano and fill the hall with a lively tune. Any minute I expect to see a throng of new arrivals pour through the giant double doors and make their way to the enormous mahogany bar where Gustav Sengelmann, in his white shirt, vest, and bow-tie, answers their call for refreshments. When the band upstairs begins to play, there will be a crowd on that huge dance floor.
There's a lot of history associated with this wonderful old dance hall and it has touched a lot of lives along the way. There's no question that the romance of the past is alive still, at Senglemann Hall.
Senglemann Hall is located at 531 North Main Street in Schulenburg, Texas. Schulenburg is located on Interstate 10 in the beautiful rolling hills of Fayette County, an hour and a half from either Houston, Austin, or San Antonio. You can check out Sengelmann Hall's hours, menu, music schedule, purchase advance event tickets and more at www.sengelmannhall.com.
Posted December 20, 2010
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