In 1954, Frank Sterle founded a country-house restaurant with a few picnic tables, one waitress, and a small menu from his native country, Slovenia. The eatery’s hand-pounded schnitzel and performances by the likes of “Waltz King” Lou Trebar and “King of Polka” Frankie Yankovic soon drew crowds. Frank was able to expand the restaurant, modeling the addition after an alpine lodge where he lived as a child, and decorate the dining room with wall murals of Slovenian mountains.

In 2012, Rick Semersky launched the Szemersky Bier Garden, an authentic bier garden with picnic tables and green space, tucked behind the restaurant. The menu includes locally made sausages, kabobs and sandwiches cooked to order on the outdoor grill along with specially brewed beers. On Sundays, the garden hosts Bloody Mary Sundays with a wide selection of garnishes and condiments.

Chef Jimmy Gibson heads up a kitchen that is committed to classic eastern European cuisine, with a twist. On Friday and Saturday polka nights, diners can tap their feet and gaze at the roof’s exposed wooden beams, taking notes for the construction of their next gingerbread houses.