Photo by Clancy Nolan.
Hartmann’s has been turning out German-style baked goods from its hilltop shop in the Bavarian heart of Greene County since 1959, and its repertoire is wide and deep. Cookies, pastries, tarts, cakes and pies beckon from glass refrigerator cases, brimming with fruits, nuts, frostings and jams. Stollen and strudel are sure bets, but it’s worth experimenting with less familiar dishes, especially the bar-style cookies that come in a variety of flavors, including a stand-out coconut version.
Hartmann’s is a trip back in time, featuring authentic, traditional desserts in a kitchen helmed by owner Diane Giacomino, who bought the place 12 years ago, vowing to continue producing its Old world delicacies with the same commitment to authenticity. Goodies are available by the piece and slice, as well as in whole units and by custom order. Giacomino designs elaborately detailed cakes for weddings and other special occasions, from traditional white tiers to grooms’ cakes decorated with Catskills woodsy motifs. The café is a perfect stop for a sweet-tooth binge and coffee, but it also serves breakfast and lunch, where the menu encompasses conventional egg dishes and sandwiches accompanied by sides such as bratwurst and German potato salad.
Hartmann’s is open Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional attractions nearby: At Reidlbauer’s Resort just up the road, you can practice your golf swing while you drink beer and sample schnitzel, bratwurst and other German specialties from Nussy’s Bier Garden, an outdoor eatery. For an evening’s entertainment, the 65-year-old mountain brauhaus at Crystal Brook Resort offers Old Country polka music and dancing in a Bavarian beer hall setting.
1507 Hearts Content Road, Round Top, 518-622-3820. Visit them online at hartmannskaffeehaus.com, or on their Facebook page.
This article originally appeared in the print version of the 2014 Catskills Food Guide, our annual publication covering local farms, restaurants and food purveyors. Find a copy near you here. Find a farm, market, restaurant or other food-related business in our searchable, sortable online database here.
