The Ratskeller occupies the vaulted cellar of the town hall on the Marktplatz — a classic setting for a classic Saxon meal. Stone walls, wooden furniture, and a menu that concentrates on the regional canon: roast pork with dumplings and red cabbage, Sauerbraten with potato dumplings and pickled vegetables, grilled sausages, and the occasional venison dish in season. It's unpretentious and reliably good, the kind of place where locals eat lunch on weekdays and tour groups eat dinner in summer.
Portions are large. The beer is Radeberger Pilsner on draught. If you're arriving after a long day of walking at Bastei or cycling along the Elbe, this is where you want to be. Prices are reasonable by German standards — a main course with a beer comes in well under €20. Worth booking ahead on summer weekends when the Marktplatz fills up.