The Munich Oktoberfest, which was cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, is no stranger to hard times. Since it was first held in 1810, the two week festival was cancelled several times in the 1800s due to cholera epidemics and wars, and was again cancelled in the 1900s during the two World Wars.
Thankfully revelers can still celebrate the spirit of Oktoberfest on Long Island this fall with traditional German beer and food at local craft breweries and German restaurants.
Several of Long Island’s craft breweries are holding Oktoberfest celebrations, including Destination Unknown Beer Company (DUBCO) in Bay Shore, which will hold its 2nd annual Dubtoberfest on Sept. 26. Instead of the beerfest it held last year with more than a dozen local craft breweries, this year’s event will have two seatings featuring traditional German dinners from The Village Lanterne in Lindenhurst accompanied by Oktoberfest beers from DUBCO and other local craft breweries. Reservations are required and each session will also have a Stein holding contest to win prizes and bragging rights.
Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead will hold its 7th annual Oktoberfest on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 with the Bacon You Crazy and Geenas Weenas food trucks providing German dishes to pair with the brewery’s Oktoberfest Lagerbier and other brews. The brewery’s annual Stein Holding Contest will be held on Oct. 3, socially distanced this year of course. Reservations for tables of up to six people are required.
Plattduetsche Park in Franklin Square, Long Island’s premier German restaurant and beer garden, is open Wednesday through Sunday for outdoor dining in its Biergarten. Reservations are not required and the large beer garden allows for lots of social distancing while enjoying wursts, schnitzel, sauerbraten and other traditional German dishes along with a wide selection of Oktoberfest beers from Germany.
Rowdy Hall pub in East Hampton will feature a special Oktoberfest prix fixe menu during the month of October with traditional German dishes including schnitzels, wursts, kassler rippchen, potato pancakes and Bavarian pretzels. German beers including Warsteiner, Spaten and Paulaner will be on tap to accompany your meal.
The Oak Chalet in Bellmore, which has been serving delicious German cuisine and beer since 1981, took advantage of its large grounds and parking lot to set up an outdoor dining area with large umbrellas and a tent. The restaurant will celebrate Oktoberfest with German music from accordionist Frank Rapuano every Thursday night until Oct. 29. There is also limited indoor dining available in the charming chalet-like dining room.
For a complete listing of German restaurants on Long Island visit LIBeerGuide.com/german-pubs-and-restaurants.
Bernie Kilkelly is the editor and publisher of LIBeerGuide.com.
For more food and drink coverage, visit longislandpress.com/category/food-drink
