WEST GREENVILLE — Although he opened his German-style döner shop in excess of 4,000 miles away from his homeland, Gerrit Koelling wanted folks who came to his restaurant to feel as if they could be in Germany.
And even though the new Das Döner is unique in its possess right, the food items has a way of using you on a journey.
The döner sandwich is one of the additional well-liked meals in Germany, where Koelling grew up and in which his spouse and enterprise husband or wife, Natsacha, has family members.
It is typical to see a döner store on just about just about every street corner and exterior each teach station, Koelling reported. And while just about every has similarities, they all have their possess distinctive model.
Das Döner homeowners, Gerrit and Natascha Koelling, are bringing the common German street meals to Greenville. Lillia Callum-Penso/Team
The same can be said for Das Döner, which operates from the Growler Haus taproom in the Village of West Greenville.
Koelling prepares his döner with a combine of beef and lamb (common is 100 p.c lamb or veal). He has also tweaked the bread a little bit, serving his signature product inside of a break up sandwich bun as a substitute of the German regular of a Turkish-model flatbread.
As for the rest, Koelling has labored challenging to make similar what is discovered in Germany. All Das Döner döner meals occur with the regular pickled red and white cabbage, a tomato cucumber blend, clean onions, shredded lettuce and decision of sauces — tzatziki, a spicy sauce, a doner sauce and a curry sauce. Koelling’s tip — get all four.
Das Döner also provides feta, parsley and lime juice. The outcome is a flavor bomb of a sandwich that is at at the time vibrant, fresh and filling with out weighing down.
As is traditional in Germany, Das Döner also gives falafel for a vegetarian option that is available for any dish.
While the Das Döner sandwich skews more healthy than, say, a burger, the sandwich is fairly huge. If you are on the lookout for something a little significantly less significant, test the plate possibility or box, which packs all the substances atop both fries or lettuce for a transportable food. The döner can also appear as a wrap.


The few have been humbled by the response to their meals listed here, but specifically from Greenville’s German community.
“So many instances, I hear ‘it tastes like dwelling,’” Gerrit said. “Which is value additional than dollars to me.”
Gerrit grew up on a mix of classic German foodstuff and French and Italian encouraged, many thanks to a mom who is an outstanding prepare dinner. That early publicity lit a fire and a enjoy for food stuff. The moment he moved out on his own, Gerrit started cooking for himself, experimenting and perfecting his have recipes.
But his most loved foodstuff has generally been the döner. Gerrit estimates he’s in all probability eaten about 10,000 in his lifestyle.
The traditional Turkish-inspired dish combines spiced meat that is roasted on a spit and shaved to buy, then paired with veggies and sauces.
The döner has grown in attractiveness across Germany, for both of those its taste and its comfort.
“In Germany, you do a good deal of strolling and a whole lot of touring from residence by foot, so getting a little something to consider with you is effortless,” Natascha said.
Das Döner, with its house inside of Growler Haus in the Village of West Greenville, delivers a area to sit and appreciate the food or take it to-go. All in all, the foodstuff arrives out quite quickly.
Even though he did not know he’d start out a cafe, Gerrit normally had a hunch he may 1 day start out his personal company.
He researched organization and accounting in university, but knew he did not want to work in an accounting office environment. Once he achieved Natascha, who has a business diploma from the College of Southern California, destiny seemed clear.
But where to get started a small business?
When they satisfied, Gerrit was dwelling in Germany when Natascha was browsing household but nevertheless lived in Los Angeles.
It was on a cross-nation highway trip to pay a visit to Natascha’s pals, who lived in Greenville, that the couple identified their remedy.
Greenville enraptured them instantly.
“It felt like it experienced the European charm, that walkable downtown that we just cherished in Germany,” Natascha claimed. “It just type of felt ideal.”
The few moved to Greenville spring 2022. They married this earlier August opened Das Döner in March. The cafe serves lunch and meal Monday through Saturday.
Strategies phone for incorporating baklava, the traditional Turkish dessert, along with a hen döner selection as well. And, the Koellings have hopes to open up much more locations in the future — to start with all over Greenville and then, as Gerrit mentioned, “wherever the wind usually takes us.”
Das Döner is situated at 12 Lois Ave. in the heart of the Village of West Greenville. It is really open up 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For more information and facts, stop by https://www.dasdoner.com and follow @dasdoner_ on Instagram.