Royal Bavaria prepares for Oktoberfest

Royal Bavaria is gearing up for Oktoberfest, its biggest event of the year.

The entire brewery was imported from Germany in the early 1990s, and the team still brews beer according to the German Purity Law.

“We’re only allowed to use four ingredients: hops, water, malt and yeast,” said Andy Gmeiner, owner of Royal Bavaria. “No chemicals, no artificial flavoring, no nothing. It’s all natural.”

Royal Bavaria is an old-school German beer house, restaurant and beer garten. Gmeiner says it was designed to look like a traditional farmhouse from Bavaria, the southern German state known for its castles, Oktoberfest and comfort food.

The restaurant and beer garten have been open for more than three decades.

“We opened in January of 1994,” said Gmeiner.

He describes Royal Bavaria as a laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere.

“Most of our customers are here one and a half to two and a half hours. It’s just, you know, no TVs,” he said. “So the nice thing is people actually have a conversation.”

From pasta to salad dressings and sauces, everything is made from scratch. Giant pretzels, schnitzel, sausage, chicken, steak, pork roast and apple strudel all make the menu.

“If you’re not familiar with German food, don’t be scared. German cooking is home cooking. It’s all comfort food,” said Gmeiner.

Royal Bavaria’s story began when a man from Munich wanted to bring a Bavarian-style restaurant to Oklahoma. Gmeiner was brought in as a consultant, and never left.

“I was supposed to be here for six months,” said Gmeiner. “That was 31 years ago.”

He eventually bought the restaurant from its original owner in 2007, after falling in love and starting a family.

For Gmeiner, the best part of owning Royal Bavaria is seeing people gather around big tables, enjoying food and making memories.

“Oklahomans are probably the nicest people you can find in the United States,” he said. “It reminds me of Bavaria, kind of the same mentality. People are very welcoming. They invite you into their homes, and that’s how we are.”