While the bakery offerings are no longer made in-house, the other menu items at Esther's German Bakery have remained the same. (Photo courtesy Esther's German Bakery via Facebook.)

By Kate Bradshaw

This story was prompted by a question from reader Larry Chow. In an email, he asked the Peninsula Foodist, "Do you know what happened to the bakery part of Esther’s? Yesterday I went to the Los Altos restaurant and the clerk said the bakery is no more. Breads on the counter were from a different bakery. I miss her cheese pretzel and seeded sticks."

According to the restaurant's owner, Alex Otero, the original owner, Esther Nio, sold the business in 2016. The person who bought it from her ended up selling the bakery to someone who just wanted the equipment, Otero says.

A longtime cook at Esther's, he says he stayed because he felt a responsibility to keep things running as usual in the kitchen, making food the way he was used to.

"I couldn't let it go," he says.

He says he found an outside supplier to provide bread, pretzels and some pastries and cakes, but other menu items remain the same.

“Part of the business is no longer what it used to be," he says. "I'm proud to say we were able to save the restaurant. (We're) still serving the German community."

They continue to offer music the third Thursday of each month, a time when the community comes together over beer and sausage.

"I think a lot of the good stuff we were able to keep going," he says. "We're happy to keep it going as long as we can."

Do you have a Peninsula food or dining question for us to look into? Email associate editor Kate Bradshaw at peninsulafoodist@embarcaderopublishing.com.

==I Esther's German Bakery, 987 N San Antonio Road, Los Altos; 650-941-4463, Instagram: @esthersbakery.==