Das Louis is a family-friendly gourmet restaurant, bar and wine repository in Weiden, Germany. It opened last year. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

The owner of Steaklounge in downtown Weiden could have rested on her laurels after opening the successful meatery in 2019.

Instead, Annalena Hastaedt launched the family-friendly gourmet Das Louis in June of last year.

Das Louis, which is named for a beloved family dog and not the former kings of France, leans into the royal iconography with the sign above the door, but works to capture the easygoing playfulness of a bounding golden retriever. The affordable pricing certainly lacks pretention.

“He was a happy dog, so lovely, and we want to give this feeling back with the restaurant,” Hastaedt said. Our team is “all young people. We love what we do; we love cooking fresh.”

The focus is placed quality ingredients and a relaxing, visually appealing atmosphere that Hastaedt hopes feels like a second home.

Patrons can dine among the wine at Das Louis in Weiden, Germany. The restaurant also has outdoor seating in the summertime. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Das Louis couldn’t have a better location, adjacent to Weiden’s picturesque fountain. Hastaedt spared no expense on the interior, with varied materials like wood and brick, striking colors, elevated nooks and wine refrigerator seating.

The trendy restaurant, bar and wine repository, located approximately 15 miles southeast of Tower Barracks, offers decadent Mediterranean, Asian and Bavarian cuisine as well as an impressive selection of wines and craft cocktails, all at affordable prices.

In the summer, patrons can sit outside and participate in some expert-level people-watching.

The sesame-encrusted tuna tataki appetizer at Das Louis in Weiden, Germany, with sesame dressing and a hint of wasabi. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Chef Korbinian Braun’s menu is relatively short, but quality is clearly prioritized over quantity.

In early July, I dined there with my wife and two sons. We started with the tuna tataki appetizer, which has a sesame crust. The thick tuna steak, served with sesame dressing and a hint of wasabi, was nicely seared with the right amount of pink on the inside.

The thin coating of toasted sesame seeds added a crunchy counterpoint, and the seaweed salad on the side was topped with tart local berries.

The smashed cheeseburger at Das Louis in Weiden, Germany, is excellent. It's topped with thick-cut bacon, onions soaked in red wine and cheddar cheese on an artisanal bun. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

The smashed cheeseburger looked too good to pass up, topped with thick-cut bacon and onions soaked in red wine on an artisanal bun. The 180-gram (6.4-ounce) Angus beef patty looked like something out of a culinary magazine with its orange cheddar glaze, assortment of vegetable toppings and a heap of steak fries.

The burger was another example of expert execution by the kitchen staff. The patty was right in the sweet spot of being cooked thoroughly but still juicy and flavorful, while the bacon was both chewy and crunchy and the onions added a hint of glorious sweetness. The steak fries were crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside.

The short ribs at Das Louis in Weiden, Germany, were so tender and moist that the meat fell off the bone. They came slathered in a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

My wife raved about the short ribs, which arrived with a side salad and smashed potatoes. The meat is dry rubbed and slow-cooked for 24 hours before being finished on the grill, Hastaedt said. It came slathered in homemade barbecue sauce, sweet and tangy.

My oldest loved his schnitzel, which was tender, thin and crispy, with a hint of lemon. The staff generously allowed us to feed outside food to our youngest, who is a fussy eater.

The children's menu at Das Louis in Weiden, Germany, features upscale versions of kid classics like pasta and schnitzel. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

I plan to return to sample the wine list someday when my wife and I can sneak away. Das Louis has 125 different types from all over the world, from Chianti to Malbec, starting at 4.50 euros per glass.

We were too full for dessert, but the homemade chocolate mousse and tiramisu beckoned. Maybe next time.

Hastaedt has really created something special with Das Louis. It has the same quality of Steaklounge but is more relaxed and family-friendly. It’s great for that lazy Saturday after a bike ride, sipping some wine and watching the people walk by.

Das Louis

Address: Schulgasse 2, Weiden, Germany

Hours: Open every day except Tuesday; 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. to midnight, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Hot meals stop at 10 p.m. (9 p.m. on Sunday). Prices: From 2.90 euro for a bread and dip of the day starter to 39.90 euro for a rib-eye steak with gratin potatoes and a pepper cream sauce. The smashed cheeseburger was 19.90 euro and the short ribs were 26.90.

Information: Phone: 0151-70661975; email: info@das-louis-weiden.de, online: das-louis-weiden.de