If you’ve been to the German Village, you’ve probably passed Valter’s at the Maennerchor and thought, “Wow, is this the house from Hansel and Gretel?” The homey exterior is matched by what’s inside: a welcoming owner and chef, Valter Veliu, and some pretty delicious German brews and bites.

While the feeling of donning a chef’s coat is unmatched for Veliu, he finds joy in cultivating a very down-to-earth sort of dining experience. Before Valter’s was born, Veliu was trying to decide what concept to pursue, with opinions coming in from everywhere.

“I wanted to do something different. I’m Mediterranean, so people always told me I should do gyros,” says Veliu. “I didn’t want that concept, so the next suggestion was pizza. I said no. Then, it would be tacos. I thought, ‘why is everyone telling me to do this?”

Though Veliu was born in Albania, his location in the Maennerchor lent him the idea of learning German cuisine. A menu filled with German classics dusted with Mediterranean spices, a historical location, and an eclectic chef running the joint: Valter’s is certainly an experience. 

The Maennerchor

For those who are unfamiliar with the Maennerchor, it’s a Germanic singing society and social club. It began as a men’s chorus, which later evolved into having a women’s and children’s chorus as well, but also serves as a social gathering spot. Whether you’re a professional singer or not, supporting the Maennerchor means supporting local art.

“(The Columbus Maennerchor) is the longest continuing German singing society in America,” says Veliu. “It used to be a big club with hundreds of members– it was the place to be back in the day. If you were in the Maennerchor, you were someone.”

Veliu noted that in 2016, when he opened, the Maennerchor had seen about 50 to 60 members. Now, with a growing interest from younger generations, the Maennerchor is bustling with over a couple of hundred active members. There are no prerequisites for skill, having a German background, or even being able to speak German, but for those interested in Germanic culture, the Maennerchor is the place for you. And, of course, so is Valter’s.

“My name is Valter, so a lot of people think I’m German. I can see that.” He laughs. “I do sometimes have people come up to me and speak German… I just let them talk, and then once they’re done, I respond back in Albanian.”

A Taste of Valter’s

Valter’s is special in the sense that you’ll be eating German food and tasting hints of Mediterranean spices. His Albanian roots influence the ways in which he seasons meat, prepares his dishes, and perfects recipes.

“Albanians are big on the basic spices. We don’t use sweet flavors on savory food; we use sweet flavors for dessert. We’re big on different peppers, herbs, garlic, and onion.”

Depending on your mood, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone. You’ve got the classic bratwursts and bavarian pretzels, but there’s also interesting picks like sauerkraut balls and “The Matterhorn”, a short-rib burger piled high on a pretzel bun.

A personal favorite is, easily, the Jagermeister wings.

“We grill our wings and then we flash fry them, just to crisp them a bit. We make the sauce from scratch, we call it the Jagermeister,” says Veliu. “For not being a wing place, we sell a ton of wings, non-stop.”

^{Who doesn't love pierogies? (Courtesy of Eat Local Ohio)}

Editor’s Eats

You can’t go without trying these 3 dishes, trust me.

• Sauerkraut Balls: hand-rolled with corned beef and served with a tangy horseradish mustard.
• Pistachio Crusted Lamb Rack: pistachio crusted goat cheese and lamb racks, served with sautéed fresh vegetables and a warm baguette
  • "My favorite thing on the menu changes, but the one dish I am very proud of and I will recommend because I know it will blow your mind would be our lamb rack," says Veliu.
• Original Reuben: thick slices of slow-roasted corned beef, smothered in saueurkraut, swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing.

Alongside the normal dinner menu is a fantastic breakfast menu, for which Valter’s has established a reputation in the area. With farm-fresh eggs straight from Veliu’s chickens, there’s a personal touch to the warm, welcoming weekend food scene.

And, with the German Village becoming the next hotspot for Columbus diners, Veliu weighs in on what all of these new spots mean for him.

“A lot of new restaurants are opening in the area, which is my favorite thing. I don’t see any bit of that as competition,” says Veliu. “You can only eat one cuisine so many times, so the amount of choices is a good thing. You can’t expect your guests to come back every day.”

Doing It Well

Since 2016, Valter’s has been serving delicious food in a welcoming atmosphere, and that’s not set to change anytime soon.

“Same old, same old. Do what you do, do it well, and don’t cut corners.”

If you haven’t stopped by yet, you’re missing out. Valter’s elevates casual dining and turns every meal into a visit with family, whether you realize it or not.

“One of the things I struggle with when I go out myself is that it feels like a transaction," says Veliu. “I’m very hands-on here. I meet the people that come in, and it feels like home.”

With warm, welcoming food comes an interior that feels like a gingerbread house. Valter’s isn’t a spot to miss out on. If you go anytime soon, make sure to leave full, have a good drink, and say hello to Valter.

 

 

 

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Visit Valter's at the Maennerchor!

976 S High St, Columbus, OH 43206

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