Cheap eats: Germantowne Pizza Haus

Craig Brown's Germantowne Pizza Haus serves Latonia under the watchful eyes of two stuffed black bears. (Credit: Patrick Reddy | Metromix)

A part of the area dining experience since 1975, Germantowne Pizza Haus is nestled among several Covington homes, offering a neighborly flair to patrons within walking distance. Plus, it has a drive-through for those on the go. My girlfriend and I swung by for a quick dine-in bite before some costume party shopping.

The mood: We strolled in around 1:30 on a Saturday afternoon and were greeted almost immediately by a server who politely encouraged us to seat ourselves. We had a choice between the green plush seats at the counter and the more traditional tables topped in tomato sauce red.

The dining area was co-inhabited by a trio of off-the-clock postal workers, a young family of four and a couple of cool stuffed Canadian black bears overlooking the restaurant.

Capping off the establishment's cozy charm were the blue Christmas lights adorning the walls, the giant gumball machine in the corner and Tony Bennett crooning in the background in a way that was "relaxing but not distracting," according to my lunchmate.

The food: The menu offers a distinct mix of German, Italian and American cuisine, including Deutschland steak ($6.29) and smoked sausage ($4.79) hoagies, spaghetti and meatballs ($5.99), lasagna served with garlic bread ($8.49) and the ever-welcome cheeseburger ($4.79).

Other possibilities include warming up with a soup ($4.29), salad ($3.99-$7.89), homemade chili ($4.49) or some German potato salad ($4.79). Diners may want to consider topping it all off with a piece of German chocolate cake or New York style cheesecake (both $3.89), if you have room.

We opted to test out Pizza Haus' namesake and went with a large create-your-own pie ($12.99), with pepperoni on one side and ham and pineapple on the other at $1.59 a topping. Our pizza took about 15 minutes to appear and hit the spot by including just the right amount of zest while keeping the grease at bay. Our server was kind enough to slide the leftover slices into our to-go box for us, which was a nice touch.

The drinks: You won't have to spend too much time deciding on a beverage. Pepsi soft drinks, freshly brewed iced tea and coffee make up that portion of the menu. My dining partner and I opted for a Pepsi and Dr. Pepper ($1.69 each).

The damage: $18.98.

The verdict: Whether you're looking for a more intimate alternative to some of the more rigorously structured pizza places around town, an affordable menu that doesn't skimp on variety, or just a friendly place to meet and eat with your friends and family in a unique atmosphere, Germantowne Pizza Haus has you covered.

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