Friday night my husband and I decided to dine out and were trying to settle on where to go. Because it was a cold, foggy evening, we weren’t eager to drive as far as Ashland, where there are a number of interesting and diverse restaurants. We still wanted to try something new, though, and I recalled a review I’d read in the local paper some months ago about a German place in the historic town of Jacksonville, less than 10 miles from home. A quick Google search gave me the name and location of our goal: Frau Kemmling’s Schoolhaus Brewhaus. As the name implies, it is located in the beautifully restored brick 1908 Jacksonville Old School building. Set on a knoll surrounded by tall old oaks, the building, festooned with strings of white lights, shone like a welcoming beacon on that gloomy evening. The restaurant is located in the former cafeteria in the school’s daylight basement, but there’s nothing dank and dark about the gleaming pale wood floors, massive brick pillars, warm lighting and clean white walls of the space. The place was bustling — Jacksonville sees a lot of tourists and music lovers during the summer (the Britt Music Festival is located here),  but it can be pretty quiet in the off-season. Clearly, the locals have discovered and like it. Tables in the dining room were full (several cozy areas, actually, break up the large space), but we were offered a small table in the bar area which we readily accepted. Dirndl-clad waitresses and lederhosen-clad waiters offered cheerful, attentive service, and we quickly made our selections from the menu (schnitzel with spätzle for Harry, schweinebraten with knodel dumplings for me) and beer list (domestic microbrews and foreign options on tap). Our meals were satisfying, with the beer a perfect accompaniment. Even before we finished with a delectable apple strudel, we decided we’d have to return. The warm, friendly, service and additional enticing-sounding menu items will find us here again soon. — Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor