Biergarten Tucson plans to open at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 5, at 2320 N. Silverbell Rd., Suite 110.
The new German restaurant comes from married owners Silke Linke and Andre Linke. Together, they want to bring a traditional beer garden spirit to Tucson’s west side.
“As Tuson has enough sun, we thought it would be fun to theme it like that,” Andre said.
The restaurant takes over the former Famous Sam’s space. Inside, Biergarten Tucson spans 2,900 square feet with 44 dining room seats and 17 bar seats. Outside, the patio adds 26 seats, bringing the total to 87.
A German restaurant with roots in Neu-Ulm
Silke and Andre Linke grew up in Neu-Ulm, Germany, before moving to the United States on an investor visa.
Silke started in hospitality at age 16 through an apprenticeship as a hotel manager. Then, she built her career in hotels and restaurants, including high-end restaurants in Germany.
Andre studied digital film and animation and spent 15 years in Germany’s film industry. However, he also carried a long-standing passion for cooking.
Together, the couple sold their house in Germany and invested fully in the Tucson restaurant.
“We sold our house in Germany and [went] all in,” Andre said.
Building a taste of Germany in Tucson
The Linkes built Biergarten Tucson around the atmosphere of a traditional German beer garden. In Germany, Andre said, beer gardens often come alive during summer as people gather outside in the sun.
So, the couple leaned into Tucson’s climate and added a patio-focused identity.
Their goal also reaches beyond nostalgia. They want to introduce Tucson diners to traditional German food while giving German expats, deployed veterans and people with ties to Germany a familiar taste.
“[Our inspiration was] bringing a little green to Tucson and make people with German backgrounds to remember a taste of Germany,” Andre said.
Schnitzel, spaetzle and old-school German cooking
The menu draws inspiration from old German restaurants, with a focus on traditional dishes rather than American bar staples.
“No tacos, no burgers, but traditional German food which is not known by anybody,” Andre said. “So definitely need to be open to try something new.”
The restaurant expects Jägerschnitzel, also known as hunter’s schnitzel, to become its signature dish. The plate features schnitzel with mushroom gravy and spaetzle, a German egg noodle.
Andre described spaetzle as “kinda noodles, but the German version.”
The restaurant plans a $25 to $35 price range. It will also offer a dedicated gluten-free menu. However, vegan diners may find fewer options.
A long road to opening
The Linkes spent 12 months preparing the restaurant for opening.
That process included visa paperwork, construction, permitting and extensive work inside the former Famous Sam’s space. Andre said the couple applied for the investor visa from Germany with a business plan and foreign investment.
Then, they waited three months before they could see the restaurant for the first time.
“And it was a mess,” Andre said. “we put so much money into the building.”
He also said permitting and city codes extended the timeline. Lisa Bowers of Sonoran DC helped guide the process and speed up permitting.
“Getting the right permits is super complicated and you need to jump so many hoops and she was speeding up the process so much,” Andre said.
Hours and location
Biergarten Tucson plans to open at 1 p.m. on Friday, June 5.
After opening day, the restaurant plans to operate from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
However, the owners may extend hours if guests tend to linger.
Biergarten Tucson is located at 2320 N. Silverbell Rd., Suite 110. For more information, call 520-351-0500 or visit biergarten-tucson.com. Keep up with Biergarten Tucson on Instagram.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
