Chris Israel's downtown Alpine spot Gruner seemingly celebrates Oktoberfest daily — with its spatzle, bratwurst, and maultaschen offerings — but for the actual beer festival (still swinging right now), a special seasonal menu features a lot of faves that'll have you whipping out a German dictionary. On offer for the fest: sauerbraten with potato dumplings; a house-cured pork chop with spiced red cabbage, apples, and schupfnudelm (potato noodles); obatzter (cheese spread with caraway and paprika); and plum kuchen (aka cake). Israel's Oktober menu is on until October 4.
