1935
THE STUDENT PRINCE
CLAIM TO FAME: German food made from scratch and a retro atmosphere fueled by paneled walls, stained-glass windows, and hundreds of beer steins keep loyal patrons coming back - some for more than 50 years.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Locals call it The Fort. The site once held the only structure left standing after a fiery 1675 battle between colonists and Native Americans.
WHAT TO ORDER: A host of draft German beers, served in 10-ounce “shells” or 20-ounce steins, taste great with house-made sausages, Hungarian goulash, sweet and savory sauerkraut with pork, and green salad with Roquefort dressing prepared tableside.
THE REGULARS THEN: German-Americans who toiled at the local factories, including the Springfield Armory and Smith & Wesson.
THE REGULARS NOW: Everyone from local lawyers and executives to the man who delivers the restaurant’s beer.
LITTLE-KNOWN FACT: Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, often dined here with his father, a local government official (and onetime brewmaster). The national memorial to Seuss is just blocks away.
