News came yesterday that chef Bernhard Mairinger's BierBeisl Imbiss would be closing on April 16, a surprising announcement given that the casual Austrian eatery opened in July last year. While Mairinger's Downtown restaurant wasn't without a couple issues—I was perplexed by the mandatory 15% service charge despite the mostly cafeteria-level of service—the sausages here are fantastic. I love the Kaesekrainer, a pork and beef sausage stuffed with swiss cheese, and the Hungarian andouille is a fantastic variation speckled with Hungarian paprika and chili.
Alas, business was not booming—in part, I'm sure, to a dearth in foot traffic through the Spring Arcade, a plaza that remains low in popularity despite some recent newcomers (like Garçons de Cafe, a French wine bar and shop). Downtown workers and residents seeking lunch seem to stop at the arcade's entrance, choosing Guisados over some of the other tenants.
Still, BierBeisl Imbiss is making the most of its final days. To say thanks to its customers and the neighborhood, they're offering specials every day until the 16th: $5 for sausage sandwiches, $3 for sides, $7 for other sandwiches (like the schnitzel or pork belly), $3 beer, $8 wine and more. If you've never been, now is the time to celebrate Mairinger's bratwursts—and maybe shed a few tears into a pint of really good German beer.