Hildegard’s is a small German restaurant tucked away in the back corner of an tiny old shopping center at the corner of Bob Wallace and Whitesburg. Parking is a bit of an issue at this place. The parking lot is oddly shaped, leaving little spare room for parking. The spaces around the perimeter of the lot are set at a diagonal, so you have to drive one way through the parking lot to be able to pull into one of the spaces.
The front door to the restaurant was a little hard to find as well and wasn’t really where you would expect, but was sort of beside the partitioned-off courtyard area. The whole set up was a bit odd, but once we found our way inside, we were warmly greeted and seated within 10 minutes.
Bread ~ Dessert
Bread Basket
Before the main course of the meal was brought to the table, a small basket loaded down with a wide variety of different fresh breads was placed on the table along with an overflowing small ramekin of soft butter. Each of the pieces of bread were equally delicious and it was fun to sample each kind and compare the flavors.
(Jordan – “One of the rolls in the basket tasted JUST like my “Grandma’s Famous Rolls” recipe – I loved it!”)
"German" Chocolate Cake
We asked our helpful waiter what the most popular dessert was at Hildegard’s and he answered the German Chocolate Cake or the Blueberry Cheesecake. You should know: their “German Chocolate Cake” isn’t traditional German Chocolate Cake – it doesn’t have coconut or other nuts in the cake or frosting. The cake is made with a delicate and fluffy chocolate whipped cream frosting, making a perfect, light addition to a traditionally heavy German meal.
Jordan
I’d never been to Hildegard’s before today (Ol’ Heidelberg had always been my go-to German restaurant in Huntsville). After our experience today, I think Ol’ Heidelberg still holds first place for German restaurants in Huntsville, but I’m happy to know what Hildegard’s has to offer and I consider them a close second to Ol’ Heidelberg. The staff at Hildegard’s was very friendly and the atmosphere was light and airy, with big windows and not a lot of decorations cluttering the environment. The shape of the restaurant is odd, being set in a strangely-shaped parking lot, which makes the dining room kind of wind around to fit in the space, ultimately adding privacy to the environment.
WHAT SHE ATE:
Chicken Cordon Bleu Schnitzel with Pan Fried Potatoes and Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese - $14.50
Starting with my entree, the chicken was a little tough and the breading was just regular breadcrumbs, which was boring. The potatoes were cooked well, but I thought some of the pieces tasted overwhelmingly burnt and the side dish overall could have been seasoned better than it was. Saving the best for last, the smoked gouda mac & cheese was the best mac n’ cheese I’ve gotten at a restaurant. I was really impressed because most people are lazy with their cheesy pasta dishes, but Hildegard’s really knocked this one out of the park!
Bryan
I can’t tell you the countless times I’ve sat there at the red light on California Street (headed south, of course) waiting to turn right onto “Bob Walrus”. I’ve passed the Purple Peanut (or whatever it’s called) 1,000s of times and never thought once to swoop in and enjoy a meal at Hildegard’s. I had to apologize to myself for doing that to me.
WHAT HE ATE:
Meatloaf Sandwich with White Bean and Ham House Made Soup - $9.99
Grilled house-made meatloaf with Swiss cheese, seasoned tomatoes, and curry ketchup
Today, I ordered the meatloaf sandwich. I pictured a nice thick slice of my Mom’s meatloaf between 2 juicy pieces of German potato bread… so, doing what anyone would do, I requested it to be seared a lil bit… This one’s on me, I kinda burned the meatloaf. So I’ma skip that course for the review. The best part of the meal was the little cup of white bean soup. I burned my tongue pretty bad, but I’ve always like navy bean soup and this one was really good. TBH, it was just nice to finally get to discover this little place that had been hiding in plain sight for the last 20 years .
Audrey
Today Huntsfull went to a much loved and appreciated German restaurant in Huntsville: Hildegard’s. Nestled on the corner of Whitesburg and Bob Wallace, we got to eat some of their delicious food. I love how it is cozy, yet not dark, in there. With a party of six, we only had about a 5 minute wait before we were seated. Our drink orders were almost immediately taken as we sat down, and all service afterward was just as prompt.
WHAT SHE ATE:
Grilled Berlin Chicken with Pan Fried Potatoes - $12.99
Sauteed apples, onions, Swiss cheese
I absolutely loved what I ordered, which was the Berlin Chicken, grilled, with onions and apples on top, with a side of pan fried potatoes (which had real bacon in it!! YUM!). The only critique I have for the whole experience is that there were a LOT of onions on top of the chicken. Yet it was all very delicious and an overall great experience. Great as a special date night, or even just a dessert date, this makes a great spot for a couple or just a nice get together with friends and family! I recommend everyone to go at least once (and after once, you’ll probably want to go again), even if German food is not your favorite.
Michael
Today we dined at Hildegard’s. The service was really good, the server kept everyone’s drinks filled and was very attentive. I chose to eat the “Brat and Beer Cheese” for my meal. It was a bratwurst served on a pretzel bun with some sort of cheese on top. I was under the impression it would be beer cheese from the menu, but it just tasted like white gravy. The pretzel bun was warm and soft, and the bratwurst had a good flavor – kind of like a beer brat. However, whatever it was topped with ruined the flavor of the sandwich. I didn’t really taste cheese at all, just gravy.
WHAT HE ATE:
Brat and Beer Cheese Sandwich with French Fries - $9.99
Char-grilled German beirbrat with sauteed onions served on pretzel roll with Dopplebock cheese drizzle
For my side I got French fries, which were really good. They tasted a lot like fries I’ve had from somewhere – kind of like the cajun fries at five guys – and they were textured perfectly, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. For dessert, I only tried a small bite of the chocolate cake, because I was so full. The frosting was really good, though. It was light, like whipped cream, and it wasn’t too rich.
I’m not a huge fan of ham (which is in almost everything on their menu) so I’m not sure that I’d go back to Hildegard’s.
Give them a visit!
Hildegard's German Cuisine
2357 Whitesburg Drive
Huntsville, AL 35801
