Buttermilk, banana and marzipan pancakes topped with creamy almond yogurt and chocolate biscuit crunch at Ennie's in Homburg, Germany. A scattering of tart Speculoos cherries spread provides a sharp, spiced contrast, evoking warm flavors of Christmas. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
When the late-year chill settles over Germany, it’s a pleasure to find a cozy spot to enjoy a satisfying breakfast or lunch.
In Homburg, about a 25-minute drive west of Ramstein Air Base, Ennie’s Deli and More offers that in an ambiance enhanced by a faux fireplace, wood-paneled walls and a comfortable hum of chatter.
Ennie’s menu changes with the season; one of the current standout dishes is a pretzel bagel piled high with lettuce, shredded pumpkin and a poached egg, smothered in a velvety hollandaise sauce. It’s called the Benadikts bagel. It’s savory and creamy without overwhelming the palate. A tangy side of red cabbage added a welcome burst of acidity.
The Benadikts Bagel at Ennie’s — served with shredded pumpkin and a poached egg, covered in creamy hollandaise sauce — is the culinary equivalent of a cozy sweater on a chilly morning. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
The “three types of pancakes” offered a twist on a breakfast classic, featuring two buttermilk, two banana and one marzipan pancake. Two marzipan stars lent a fun, Christmas-market touch.
Topped with almond yogurt, cherries and a scattering of chocolate biscuit crunch, the pancakes were sweet but not overly so.
Patrons who are sensitive to gluten are in luck, as many meals at Ennie’s are offered in a slightly more expensive gluten-free version.
A colleague who recently joined me for breakfast was familiar with Ennie’s thanks to the Find Me Gluten Free app, which has a pair of five-star ratings for the restaurant.
Ennie’s restaurant in Homburg offers a few different French toast dishes. The sweet French toast made with rice and buckwheat bread is suitable for those sensitive to gluten. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
He went with one reviewer’s recommendation of the sweet French toast, pairing it with a side of bacon, almond yogurt and a mango smoothie with cashew.
There was no need to add anything to the rice-and-buckwheat French toast because it came dusted in powdered sugar and with syrup embedded. The sweetness level was spot-on and the bread maintained its firmness.
While the yogurt wasn’t as flavorful as expected, he enjoyed both the bacon and the smoothie.
A year-round Ennie’s favorite is avocado bread. It starts with a slice of dense multigrain bread spread generously with cream cheese and topped with thin avocado slices and black-and-white sesame seeds.
Scraping aside some of the arugula on the avocado bread dish at Ennie’s restaurant reveals a layer of cream cheese and thin slices of avocado. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
An almost comically large mound of arugula crowns the dish, its peppery bite complementing the creamy avocado. A small pot of pickled cucumbers and peppers comes on the side. While tasty, the dish isn’t particularly filling.
For something more substantial, Ennie’s Rose breakfast is served on an eye-catching three-tiered platter. This vegetarian option includes a brown bread roll, thick slices of bread, cheese, avocado, a soft-boiled egg and a small pot of chocolate muesli with organic yogurt and fresh fruit.
Condiments like butter, a fruity red spread and a house-made hazelnut spread, like Nutella but with crunchy nut pieces, complete the meal. Meat eaters can opt for a version with salami and ham, while vegans will appreciate the hummus.
A small pot of chocolate muesli with organic yogurt and fruit is included with the Rose Breakfast at Ennie’s in Homburg. The dish comes on a three-tiered serving platter and includes bread, cheese, avocado, a soft-boiled egg, fruit and hazelnut spread. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
While the ingredients are simple and can easily be assembled at home, their freshness stood out to me. The Instagram-worthy presentation was also a plus. The friendly and accommodating waitstaff is happy to help English speakers navigate the German menu or customize their orders.
On weekends, there is a snack menu featuring fresh waffles from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. A selection of cakes and hot drinks, including roasted matcha chai and various lattes, is always available.
I took home two slices of carrot cake after one of my recent visits. The cake had a nice earthy taste, while its cream cheese frosting added richness. I saved one piece for the following day, and it was still soft and enjoyable.
Reservations are recommended on weekends, especially during this time of year. In the summer, the outdoor courtyard provides additional seating, which I look forward to checking out, as I’m sure the al fresco experience will be different.
Ennie’s on Zweibrücker Street in Homburg is often busy during the weekends and reservations are recommended. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)
Ennie’s Deli and More
Address: Zweibrücker Strasse 4, Homburg, Germany
Hours: Monday-Wednesday closed; Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The kitchen closes daily at 1 p.m.; on Saturday and Sunday there is a small snack menu from 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Benadikts bagel, 13.90 euros; avocado bread, 8.20 euros; rose breakfast and equivalent with meat, 15.50 euros; lattes between 4.20 euros and 5.70 euros.
Information: Phone: +49 6841 9733777; email: info@ennies.de; online: deli.ennies.de
