Ratskeller
Ratskeller (German: "council's cellar", historically Rathskeller) is a name in German-speaking countries for a bar or restaurant located in the basement of a city hall (Rathaus) or nearby. Many taverns, nightclubs, bars, and similar establishments throughout the world use the term.[1]
The word had been used in English since the mid-19th century,[1] with at least one New York restaurant calling itself a rathskeller in the 19th century.[2]
Notable Rathskellers in North America
Das Deutsche Haus Ratskeller restaurant in Indianapolis, Indiana, received historic landmark status. Now called the Athenaeum, it has served Bavarian fare since 1894.
The Dakota Inn Rathskeller was opened in Detroit on August 1, 1933, by Karl Kurz, and is owned and operated by the Kurz family to this day, and is the city's only authentic German beer garden, complete with oompah bands and polka contests.
Campus dining
Many universities have pubs or student center dining facilities located in repurposed basements. To market these nontraditional eating locations to students, many of these are termed "Ratskellers" including:
- Boston College ("The Rat")
- Bowie State University
- Binghamton University
- California Institute of Technology
- Colgate University (in the basement of the Colgate Inn)
- Colorado State University ("The Ramskeller")
- Cornell College
- Florida Institute of Technology (also known as Florida's best)
- Florida International University (also known as Gracie's Grill)
- Fordham University ("The Ramskeller")
- Gallaudet University
- George Mason University
- Hofstra University
- Hollins University
- Kansas State University ("The Catskellar", in the Student Union)
- Kent State University
- Montclair State University
- Oberlin College
- The Open University
- Quinnipiac University
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Rochester Institute of Technology (RITskeller)
- Rutgers University-Camden
- St. Bonaventure University
- State University of New York College at Old Westbury
- The College of New Jersey (located in the Brower Student Center, referred to as "The Rat", a late-night dining hall also exists below two residence halls.)
- Transylvania University ("The Rafskellar", a nod to 19th-century professor Constantine Samuel Rafinesque)
- Union College (Opened on December 2, 1949 as the Dutchmen's Rathskeller)
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Cincinnati ("The Catskeller")
- University of Dallas
- University of Göttingen
- University of Miami
- University of Tampa
- University of West Florida
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Washington University in St. Louis
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Wheeling Jesuit University
Popular culture
Child actress Adele De Garde starred in a 1918 silent movie called The Rathskeller and the Rose. The 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds, features a prolonged sequence taking place in a Ratskeller in France.
See also
References
- 1 2 Your Etymological Queries Answered
- ↑ Menu of "Haan's Ladies' and Gentlemen's Restaurant, Cafe and Rathskeller" dated December 22, 1899.
External links
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