For over 50 years I have been hearing that the best soup is made at German’s, a restaurant that was begun in a modest shop in the Tiger Bay, Georgetown neighborhood in 1960 by its Hubert “German” Urling. Urling created flavorful and unique recipes from local Guyanese dishes. However, it was his legendary cowheel soup that created a buzz and became popular with the working-class crowd in the area. Fast forward six decades later, the restaurant still has the reputation for the best Guyanese creole dishes anywhere to be found in the world and has grown into a 30-seat restaurant, where there is a constant throng of very satisfied repeat and new customers.
German’s soups use fresh local ingredients and natural meats and produce that are never stored or frozen but are purchased daily to ensure the freshest and yummiest soups anywhere in the world. They boast in their advertising that they don’t skimp on ingredients and use only the highest quality ingredients to ensure the soups are always first class.
Although this establishment has been around all my life, I never seemed to find the time, perhaps because subconsciously I thought it couldn’t possibly live up to its hype.
I decided this past weekend to see for myself. Along with a cousin, we made our way to the restaurant. With just 45 minutes to closing the pleasant young lady taking our order let us know there was only chicken soup left from the menu. We both ordered the “small” chicken soup which was served with the correct utensils and in the “largest small soup dish” I had ever seen. I ordered a small glass of Mauby, again the small was served in a 14 oz glass, and my cousin had a coke.
The smell of the soup was mouthwatering and inviting, and the first spoon was extra-ordinarily exquisite. The seasoning was perfect and the salt level just right. In my opinion for everything about the soup to so spot on, the chefs must be using laboratory measuring equipment to achieve such perfection. I could not help myself from telling my cousin and later the young lady who took our order how delicious the soup was. I have tasted soup in several parts of the world, in a multitude of restaurants and other eating houses, but none tasted as good as German’s soup. The texture was perfect and the vegetables, dumplings, and chicken were cooked just right.
There was only one huge problem with me having soup at German’s, I had to call my wife to reveal that there was someplace where the soup tasted nearrrrly as good as hers. She took the news pretty well and is looking forward to checking on this for herself. I pondered the decision and then sent via WhatsApp a photo of the soup along with the disclaimer, “the soup was fantastic but did not surpass your one-of-a-kind, none to compare soup.”
I would without hesitation recommend that anyone within a hundred miles of the German’s restaurant in Guyana should make a detour to partake in the best soup on the planet. Those who know me know I am Mr. Persnikity when it comes to food and so this story is not written lightly.
If you have a bucket list of significant things you want to experience make room for this experience. I will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu.
