German Restaurant Changes to Bistro V

Peter Steinhart is expanding the menu at one of his Dickson Street restaurants to include not only German but French, Italian and maybe even Mexican cuisine. Along with the menu change, the name will change from Early Berlin to Bistro V. (That’s “V” as in the letter, not the Roman numeral for five.)

“We’re trying to lighten it up a little bit,” he said. “German is a bit heavy. We’re going to keep some of the German dishes and add some Italian and French dishes, maybe some Mexican.”

Steinhart said the restaurant will be an “international, eclectic bistro.” The change should take place by the end of September, he said.

Early Berlin seats about 75 diners. Steinhart’s restaurant next door, the 1936 Club, will remain unchanged except that it will benefit from an extended wine list that will be available to both restaurants — 140 different wines by the bottle and 70 by the glass.

Bistro V will be open for dinner only from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Steinhart said the new menu at Bistro V will contain about 15 entrees (the same number Early Berlin had) ranging in price from $10 to $12, slightly more expensive than the ’36 Club.

Steinhart is the chef for both restaurants, which share the same kitchen. He is still working on the menu at Bistro V, but he said it will include short ribs, a classic French pepper steak, spaghetti bolognese and pasta with shrimp. This restaurant’s menu also will change more often than that of the ’36 Club, he added.

Both restaurants are owned by Steinhart and his wife, Nancy Meyer.

Steinhart opened Early Berlin in November 1997 in a building that housed one of Fayetteville’s most historic hang- outs, the D-Lux Cafe.

Steinhart is a native of Freiburg in the German state of Baden near that country’s border with France and Switzerland. He trained as a chef for three years in Germany and two years in Switzerland. Steinhart and Meyer moved to Fayetteville in 1993.