Bottom Line: The Jalapeno Schnitzel from Schobels Restaurant delivers an excellent and authentic schnitzel that is kicked up with some heat Texas-style.
While driving along the highway, you will see plenty of local diners trying to lure you into their establishment with the temptation of authentic, home-style cooking. And while some of these may be nothing more than tourist traps, quite a number of them are actually quite good and worth considering if your stomach is rumbling for a meal. One of those in particular is Schobels Restaurant in Columbus, TX, which is about one hour west of Houston off of I-10. That place has been serving some good country cooking and German food since 1979 and has become somewhat of a landmark for the area.
Now, this might not be the place you would expect to find much in the way of spicy food, and you would be generally correct. But I recently stopped in while traveling between Houston and San Antonio for a nostalgic visit, and the Jalapeno Schnitzel caught my eye. That is a lightly battered pork cutlet that is covered with jalapeno gravy and served with red cabbage and two sides (I got the German potatoes and salad bar). It sounded like it would satisfy my hunger and need for something with a kick, so that is what I ordered.
They have several other German dishes on the menu like the sausage plate and the Jaeger Schnitzel, and the Schobels name apparently has ties back to that country, so you would expect them to do a pretty good schnitzel and you are quite right. The breading is lightly coated but crisped up well in the cooking process so that it delivers a nice crunch. The cutlet is a little thicker than you usually expect from a pounded-down schnitzel, but that works out quite well. They apparently use good quality pork (possibly procured from a local farm), and it is so tender that you can cut it with a fork. It is lightly seasoned but still quite tasty, and this is definitely a superior example of schnitzel.
As for that jalapeno gravy, it is very smooth with a slightly yellowish tinge. That comes from the chopped, pickled jalapenos that are added, and I’m going to guess they also add some of the brine that those are pickled in. The gravy is quite creamy with a nice boost of flavor from the chilis, and it works perfectly with the excellent schnitzel. This is German food kicked up Texas-style, and this schnitzel alone is worth a stop.
Heat-wise, most of your burn is coming from the gravy, but this is not going to set your mouth on fire. I would put it close to Mild on my scale, but it delivers a nice tingling of heat while you are working your way through the cutlet. You wouldn’t expect a place like this to be pushing the boundaries of the Scoville scale, and that’s okay. But they do deliver one hell of a good schnitzel, and that extra kick of heat takes it to the next level.
I would be remiss if I forgot to mention the sides, which deliver yet another dimension to this plate. The red cabbage is done German-style, as you would expect, and it brings plenty of vinegar pucker with it, but it is balanced out with a nice sweetness. The potatoes were done differently from what I have received at other German restaurants–which are more like vinegary potato salad–and I would say they are pretty close to home fries. Not that I am complaining, though, because these were perfectly cooked and went quite well with the schnitzel. As for the salad bar, they have plenty of fresh veggies along with pasta salad, potato salad, and more, and you will be tempted to fill up on that, but go easy because you have a big plate of food on the way.
Nutrition-wise, they don’t have the number of calories for the meal on the menu, but I can tell you this ain’t diet food! I saved half of my schnitzel and potatoes for the next day, and I was still stuffed. And to put an even bigger dent in your diet, there’s no way you are getting out of there without a slice of their house-made pies. So when you make a stop, you should be ready to eat!
Schobels has been a fixture in Columbus since 1979, and it has passed to various members of the family over the years. And if the Schobel name sounds familiar, that is because it has produced three NFL football players: Matt Schobel, Aaron Schobel, and Bo Schobel. If you can’t decide what you want from the menu, they also have a buffet, and the options on that change daily. You certainly will not leave this place hungry, and you are pretty much guaranteed to get a meal that satisfies. And as a bonus, there is a rest stop just up the road where you can take a nap before continuing on your way!
Address: 2020 Milam Street, Columbus Texas 78934
Phone: 1-979-732-2385
Website: www.schobelsrestaurant.com