The bruschetta at Der Nudelmacher in Neustadt, Germany, is made with fresh tomato, onion and parmesan piled onto lightly toasted pieces of bread and covered with a basil dressing. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Online reviews describe Der Nudelmacher in Neustadt, Germany, as laid-back and cozy, with “cute decor” and “delicious pasta.” But is it worth traveling 20 minutes to have lunch there?
On a recent weekday afternoon, a friend visiting Kaiserslautern and I decided to find out.
The restaurant, whose name translates to “the Pasta Maker” in English, is tucked in a tranquil corner of the city’s pedestrianized Kartoffelmarkt area adjacent to the Stiftskirche, or collegiate church.
We arrived shortly after 2 p.m. to avoid the expected lunch rush, but even then, it was nearly full. Luckily, we got a table in the small outside seating area, where a tree and large umbrella provided shade.
For starters we split the large side salad and portion of bruschetta.
The salad was light and fresh. It was made with large pieces of lettuce, tomato and cucumbers and seasoned with salt, pepper and a drizzle of pesto.
Der Nudelmacher in Neustadt, Germany, makes homemade pasta with durum wheat semolina and eggs. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
The light green dressing had a slightly tangy taste — we initially mistook it for avocado but it was in fact a creamy parsley concoction made with mustard and other secret ingredients by chef and owner Jun Lee.
We both agreed that the bruschetta was the standout starter. Fresh tomato, onion and parmesan were piled onto lightly toasted pieces of bread and topped with a basil dressing. The simple dish was light and flavorful, perfect for eating outside.
As its name suggests, Der Nudelmacher makes its pasta in house with durum wheat semolina — a coarse, high-protein flour — and eggs. It offers three noodle styles: spaghetti, tagliatelle and penne.
While many of the pasta dishes are standard at Italian restaurants, the restaurant also makes a range of Asian-inspired dishes.
For my main course, I had the wild garlic pesto and parmesan spaghetti. Chicken, beef or shrimp can be added at an extra cost, which is the case for most other dishes as well.
The pasta was thick and thoroughly covered by the homemade sauce. While it was full of flavor, the garlic taste wasn’t overbearing, and I tasted mild herbal notes.
The spaghetti with salmon and herb cream sauce at Der Nudelmacher in Neustadt, Germany, can be ordered with extra prawns. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
My friend ordered the spaghetti with salmon and herb cream sauce with extra prawns.
About half of the bites had a fresh seafood taste. Like my dish, the sauce thoroughly covered the pasta and had hints of garlic. It was light but filling, although my friend would have preferred a bit more salmon.
If the pasta portions at Der Nudelmacher were slightly bigger, they could be described as large. Instead, they were just the right size to satisfy a hunger that grows from waiting until after 2 p.m. to have lunch.
If I had to use one word to describe the food, it would be “fresh.” So fresh, in fact, that my friend and I decided to return two days later.
This time, he had the fried beef with vegetables, homemade teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds on tagliatelle. The vegetables included zucchini, peppers, cabbage, leek and carrots.
The dish had a distinct Asian taste and was heavy and hearty. The noodles were slightly overcooked for my friend’s taste. Still, he enjoyed the flavor enough to say he would order the dish again.
I ordered the garlic and oil a la Franco spaghetti, another simple dish bursting with flavor. In addition to garlic and oil, it’s seasoned with pepperoncini, parsley, pine nuts and parmesan.
The garlic and oil a la Franco spaghetti at Der Nudelmacher in Neustadt, Germany, is made with simple ingredients but packed with flavor. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
This is one of my favorite pasta dishes, and I often order it at Glockencafe in Kaiserslautern. Der Nudelmacher’s version was garlicky and spicy but didn’t pack as much of a punch as Glockencafe’s.
But while Glockencafe’s version is slightly spicier, the pasta at Der Nudelmacher is superior, making both dishes equal, in my opinion.
Because of Der Nudelmacher’s popularity and limited amount of seating, reservations are always recommended.
Is it worth traveling 20 minutes to have lunch there? Absolutely. In fact, I’d say it’s even worth traveling there twice a week.
Der Nudelmacher
Address: Turmstrasse 5, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse, Germany
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, noon-3:30 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, noon-3:30 p.m. and 5:30-9 p.m.
Prices: Main dishes between 10 euros and 20 euros. Cards are accepted.
Information: 06321-1860080, www.der-nudelmacher.de
