Ständige Vertretung Hannover

Staendige Vertretung Hannover is a Rhineland-themed brasserie on Aegidientorplatz, part of a small German chain that takes its name and concept from the former West German government's informal nickname for its Bonn liaison office. The kitchen serves Rhenish and broader German classics, with Rheinischer Sauerbraten and Halve Hahn -- the Cologne rye-bread-and-cheese snack, despite its misleading name -- anchoring a menu built around hearty, unpretentious regional cooking rather than fine-dining technique. Koelsch is poured from the tap in the traditional small glasses and replenished continuously in the Cologne style, and it is the beverage centerpiece of the room rather than an afterthought; a short list of German wines and other beers rounds out the drinks menu. The dining room is lively and informal, with wood paneling, close-set tables, and a buzz that builds through the evening as the long hours -- daily from 11:00 to 01:00 -- draw both lunch and late-night crowds. It functions as much as a bar as a restaurant, and conversation levels can be loud, especially on weekend nights. Reservations are recommended for dinner and weekends, when the central Aegidientorplatz location and long opening hours bring a steady mix of locals and visitors.