175. Dale's Essenhaus
Central Texas abounds in German heritage. After Anglos, Mexican-Americans and African-Americans, the ethnic group with the largest impact on Texas has been the Germans.
By 1930, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, persons born in Germany
or whose parents where born there made up a full 36 percent of "foreign
white stock" in Texas. The next largest group was from Czechoslovakia
at 11.5 percent.
The German-Texan culture started in 1831, when Frederick Ernst
acquired land in Austin County near Industry. Within a couple of years
his neighbors included other German families, such as the Klebergs, a
family later to become associated with the King Ranch in South Texas.
The largest immigration of Germans came in the 1840s when the
Adelsverein (The Society for the Protection of German Immigrants in
Texas) organized at Biebrich on the Rhine near Mainz. It assisted
thousands in coming to Central Texas and establishing such settlements
as New Braunfels and Fredericksburg.
A wave of anti-German feeling began with WWI and predominated into the period right after WWII. It was not until the late 1950s and early 1960s did German-Texans again boldly
celebrate their heritage with the emergence of annual Octoberfests in
various cities and towns of the state.
Walburg is a great little community just northeast of Georgetown where a number of German families settled. Dale's Essenhaus or "eating house" began life in the German farming community of Walburg as a bar. Dale Cockerell bought the bar in 1997 and converted it into a family friendly restaurant and added a biergarten, converting an old barn into a stage for musical acts. The stage has been a platform for many musical performers such as Gary P. Nunn, Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes, Johnny Dee and the Rocket 88's and many more.
Now, Dale's has a banquet hall that is a perfect venue for weddings, reunions, birthdays, graduations, retirement parties, company parties and other private events. Well known for home-style cooking, people come for miles around for the famous "Walburger" made of 1/2 pound of quality ground beef from Taylor Meat Company and piled high with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, with mayo and mustard on a toasted bun. Yum! They now offer three new burgers: Baja Walburger, Texas Walburger and Mushroom Swiss Walburger. Be sure to check out the MENU. Be sure to save room for the peach or blackberry cobbler.
This weekend there is no cover charge for entertainment in the biergarten. Should be lots of food and fun!
Location: Dale's Essenhaus
3900 FM 972
Walburg, TX
512-819-9175
When: Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.
www.dalesessenhaus.com
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