Himmel Haus serves up German fare at opening party

By Linda Fine Conaboy

A nearly perfect location at the site of the old Christiana Inn coupled with unique menu selections promises to be a winning combo for one of South Lake Tahoe’s newest restaurants.

Co-owner Zach Latzka and Megan Arneson, director of marketing and sustainable operations, work the bar during the preview party at Himmel Haus. Photos/Linda Fine Conaboy

A bevy of beers from Germany and Belgium, some with hard-to-pronounce names, flowed at the preview party thrown by co-owners Zach Latzka and Matt Eastling to introduce their new Himmel Haus restaurant located at 3819 Saddle Road, just across from Heavenly’s California Lodge. Partiers quaffed their frosty brews in the spacious bar and then drifted to the dining room where delicacies such as wild boar, rabbit and buffalo sausages awaited.

Besides the sausages, we feasted on chicken and pork schnitzel, dill shrimp salad and black forest cheese cake—and this was just a small sample available from the ample menu.

The Himmel Haus fun bus will soon become a familiar sight as it cruises around town advertising the new restaurant.

The fare, while simple, features traditional German recipes with, as Latzka said a modern California twist. “Himmel Haus aims to offer fresh, high quality, hearty comfort food at a reasonable price,” he said.

The restaurant is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 4:30pm-midnight, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4:30pm-2am. A special after-dinner menu will be available in the bar from 10pm-2am on weekends. Regular hours start July 10.