This place is the best. Klaus, the owner, greets you at the door and the experience has started. This place has fun Bavarian music, great ambiance and delicious food. If you like Bavarian beer, this is the the place to get it. They serve it in normal sizes or in steins (or in das boot if you want to go crazy). I recommend making a reservation. Although you can almost always walk in and get a table within an hour, you may get seated at the shared bench seats in the middle. It's still a fun and authentic experience at the long table but if you want to just sit with your group, make the reservation. Oh and one more thing, if you like mustard, Leopold's mustard is the best mustard I have ever tasted. I like it so much I always ask them to bring more. To Klaus and the whole staff, great job making such a great dining experience. read more

This was our third trip to Leopold's. We got there at 5, and started out with beers at the bar, with an engaging bartender, Paul. He has an understand and welcoming way about him that makes Leopold feel immediately welcoming. Beers are varied, and nice & cold, right out of the tap. Don't be afraid to ask for a little sample of something new, be adventurous! When table service started at 5:30 we grabbed a table. It did not take long for the place to fill up, and not long before the beer hall atmosphere to develop. Having been to Germany a few times, including the most recent Oktoberfest, I can tell you that the beer hall atmosphere can get energetic, but it is always friendly and positive. Everybody at Leopold's was just like that. People brought kids and there was even one birthday-group at the center long table. The food at Leopold's is authentic German fare. It's not American imitation German food. The flavors are distinct and the portions are hearty. Believe me, you will not leave here hungry. My friends ordered a few different items, just to "smorga" the whole experience. There's lots to like about the food. I mostly hoarded my Wienerschnitzel, I love it so. And the spaetzle.... so authentic, made right there in house. Wonderful. And, no, we did not have room for dessert this time, but the Apple Strudel sure looked good. Well, next time .... Hint: The later it gets the louder it gets. That's why we came early, so we could enjoy our conversation along with our meal. Also, good German Beer, and authentic food, are not cheap to make, so be mindful, the whole thing can add up on you while you're not looking! read more

This is a cute neighborhood spot, with a unique (Bavarian) menu for the area. The decor is on theme, and the staff is welcoming. I usually enjoy the beef goulash with spaetzle: the meat is tender, and the sauce is delicious. I've also gotten the cured salmon apperizer. The flourless chocolate cake comes with two sweet sauces, since it's bittersweet; I liked it, but I know some folks prefer sweet only. I expect to keep coming here. read more

first time coming here and there was a wedding party going on- the ambiance was one of the best i've experienced. every time someone got a glass boot of beer they rang the bell and the whole restaurant cheered. the brown butter pappardelle pasta was to die for- will definitely be going back read more

Klaus, the owner, greets you with a warm smile every time you enter the restaurant. The vibe he creates makes it feel like you're having a home cooked meal. The beer is mostly from Europe and it is fantastic. The food is traditional Austrian fare and it is also incredible. Having had half of the entrees, I can assure you that anything you choose will be great! My favorite is the pork tenderloin. The pretzel is amazing to start with as well. Can't say enough positive things about this spot, check it out, you won't be disappointed. read more

This place is fantastic, great food and beer! I had a chicken dish and it was really nice, the potatoes that came with the dish were absolutely fantastic. Pros: - Excellent food - A good variety of beer - They offer beer in a variety of glasses - Great service - They take credit cards - Nice decor Cons - The space is small and waiting for a table can be awkward - The bar area doesn't offer much space to move - A bit on the pricey side read more

I now understand why I can never get a table here. This place is good! 1. Large beers (read: 2 liters) - check! 2. Delicious food (try the duck crepinettes) - check! 3. Fun atmosphere - check! Danke for the experience read more

Amazing authentic/traditional food and atmosphere. If you want meat, potatoes, and beer come here. It isn't crowded on Sunday brunch. I highly recommend the house specaility: Goulash with egg and a Frankfurt wurst. It's very hearty and tasty. Service is very friendly and fast. read more

We came to Leopold's for a reunion, my friends and I all spent a semester in Austria, and we wanted authentic Austrian fare. The owner, Leopold is from Salzburg, Austria and greeted us with a big laugh and smile at the door, and a Guten Tag! They have these great big boots they fill with beer, and amazing sauerkraut, couldn't get enough. Our waiter Paul took great care of us, despite having a large party next to us. Highly recommend, will come back! read more

Leopold's - Leopold on the left! Paul on the right, great service :-) - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'd move to SF just for this place, among others of course. But this beautiful, homestyle, loud and fun atmosphere of a German gasthaus tugs on my heart strings. Right away, you are greeted warmly and with pride. The servers have huge smiles on their faces and have no problem answering any questions you may have. Their food was unbelievably delicious and full of such incredible flavor. I've never had a German dish in my life, and this by far has set me straight. The goulash, the schnitzel, the grilled duck crepinettes, all paired with large steins of tasty beer. Every single bite was truly divine and left me wanting so much more. We finished with the Apfelstudel (of course), which was right up there with the rest of the food we devoured. This will be a must have every time I go back to visit San Francisco. read more

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I may be crazy for saying this, but having traveled through Germany several times, I dare say that Leopold's has some of the best German food that has crossed these lips. There. I said it. We arrived on a breezy Friday evening and knowing there would likely be a wait, Klaus the owner (aka Jeff Bridges) greeted us with a warm smile and a booming voice. "Hello! Welcome!" he said brightly, as if we were familiar regulars. As the wait was exceeding 30mins for two, we opted for immediate outside seating as they were first come, first served. Fine by us, as it was a beautiful night and we love to people watch. Our friendly server quickly came out to greet us in the most adorable getup and took our order of crispy pork trotters (absolutely amazing), the wiener schnitzel, and a side of kraut (gotta get some veggies in) and potatoes. More than filling for two, especially since we were having beer. Didn't do the boot (who can finish those, seriously and NOT walk out completely bloated?). We watched a few neighboring couples do a boot per person and wondered if they were going to be able to stand up by the end of the night. Overall, a lovely place I would love to patronize again and try all the wonderful items on the menu. Warm and genuine hospitality, paired with delicious and well-prepared food. What more could you want? I've never found German food to be impressive in Germany, but I have to say I left Leopold's mightily impressed! read more

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The atmosphere is so welcoming here! Community tables in addition to booths. You'll receive a wonderfully warm welcome by the owner/manager and seated as if you were a family member. Love the boot of beer with the big noise of stumping! Not a place for intimate conversations but a great evening of fun and celebration! The food is great! Platter of salami, ham, prosciutto, pickles and other great cold cuts, schnitzels, chicken, Mac and cheese and smoked pork, pork ribs were all great with various dark and light beers. Only downside is it's so busy, unless you get here right at opening time, the wait is too long!! read more

We came here on a Saturday and didn't have to wait long for a table. We were able to grab a couple seats at the bar and some beers while we waited. This place is cozy with a really cool vibe and decor which isn't trying too hard. There are communal tables in the middle and regular tables on the sides. While at the bar we spotted pretzels and knew we had to have one with our beers. We tried finding them on the menu but didn't see them so just ask your server. The pretzel was brought out nice and warm with mustard. We also split the salumi platter for two which was a generous portion of meats, bread, cheese and pickles. For our entrees we ordered the Jagershnitzel and Choucroute Garni Platter. The portions for both plates were huge! The Jagerschnitzel was served with a creamy mushroom sauce and buttered spatzel. The pork loin was so crispy, tender and cut easily with a fork. Next time I'll ask for some lemon because I needed a little lemony kick! The bratwurst on the Choucroute Garni Platter was incredibly flavorful. This was our favorite meat on this plate. With such delicious food and delightful service we are happy that we can walk here and know that we are going to have a great time. read more

Some of my friends and I took German in high school together, so when we decided to get together for dinner, we thought it would be fun to go to a German restaurant. The restaurant's pretty small, so it was about a 40 minute wait for a group of 5 on a Thursday night. It had such a fun atmosphere...community tables in the middle, and private tables along the side. The owner (I assume he's the owner) greets you at the door, and the servers are dressed in dirndls and lederhosen! We ordered the following to share: crisp flatbread house-made sausage wiener schnitzel pappardelle apfeldstrudel ....and of course, a boot (2L) of beer! Everything tasted great, and I'd suggest sharing the food so you have a taste of everything. read more

If you asked me what the best German beer hall in the city was, I would have said Suppenküche followed by Walzwerk and Schmidt's. Well, after having eaten dinner at Leopold's last night it's now my new favorite spot. It has the great rowdy atmosphere you'd expect from a beer hall as well as a great traditional Bavaria gasthaus aesthetic (dirndls, cozy pine booths, etc). Top that with a super friendly owner and by far the best Wiener Schnitzel I've ever had (ask for it with the "Jäger Art" topping) and you've got a total winner. Also, a surprisingly decent selection of good vegetarian options (my girlfriend had the Pappardelle and loved it). It's an especially good place to start a night out because of its proximity to a ton of fun bars in the Russian Hill area, but be prepared for a pretty long wait on the weekend. read more

I would give it five stars just for the waitresses! Besides the waitresses, the food is fantastic. Try the salami platter, Braised Lamb Shank, Wiener Schnitzel and apple strudel. read more

Leopold's - Salami Platter - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beer boots and freakishly good German food. Word to the wise-Come early. Right when it opens if you can(5:30). They really try not to rush you when you get seated which is AWESOME but adds to the wait time for people who come after the first rush. 2 hour wait time? It's because everyone who is eating got seated at the same time and will be there a while. Beer is good. Braised beef short rib AMAZE. Do yourself a favor and visit Leopold's asap. read more

Leopold's - booting it - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was good and authentic to me. The portions was large. I was full after my appetizer pork trotters. They were a bit oily, as I expected, and crispy. The whole restaurant was fulfilled with beer smell. They also served a few soft drinks. read more

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Great happy hour- one of the better ones in the city I think Monday-Thursday 5-6:30pm! $6 .5 liter of good German beer! We also got a side of fries for $5 and they were delicious-came with ketchup and some kind of aioli. Try to grab a seat outside if you can! read more

Leopold's - Happy Hour menu - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

After kicking my ass down the street at the TRX training facility, my friend suggested Leopolds, and while yes, when you are exhausted, ANYTHING tastes good, this place lived up to the hype and I will return. (PLEASE don't tell the other German place I love in the city that I cheated)... ich fühle mich so schuldig... but it was SO worth it. The wait was just enough to finish off a Schneider Weiss (under 10 minutes) And sure, at first, I was reluctant to share my braised lamb shank. but when she offered her wiener schnitzel... I couldn't resist. ;-) Both were off the charts. This place is more Austrian though, especially the way they make their spatzle (which I like). But for more eastern style, I suggest Walzwerk on So.Van Ness. However unlike Walzwerk, they have Das Boot, which may exist at Suppenküche, but the food is better here than there, and also better at Walzwerk. Honestly though, I think we are blessed to have three such places within 12 minutes of each other. Helpful Tip: make sure you remember to specify the SIZE of the beer you want to your server or be prepared for a very tipsy walk home. read more

What a wonderful German experience right here in San Francisco! I went for brunch here.Izabel was our server.She was very polite and knowledgable. We had Zwick and g-albrecht Riesling to kickstart our drinks.Deep flavor. Then we ordered some soup of the day,vegetable strudel,pasta ,a side of dumplings and Pilsner Urquell which were all small items but really good. We finished off with yummy flourless chocolate cake. They had enough vegetarian options for a party of 2-4. Each time someone orders a glass shoe size full of beer,they ring a cute bell.While we were there,the bell rang at-least 5-10 times. Really lively ,loud and bustling place.Homely environment. read more

Get this: Paprika beef goulash Jägerschnitzel Stiegl Goldbräu, Lager Lately, whenever I am thinking about where to eat, this place pops to mind. I love the warm welcome when I enter and the service is consistently strong, lately, whenever I am thinking about where to eat, this place pops to mind. I love the warm welcome from the owner, Klauss, when I enter and the service from Alice is consistently strong - personable and professional. My favorite dish is the beef goulash, which is expensive but the beef quality is outstanding and the dishes large enough for two meals. Danke schön to the folk at Leopold's for their warm meals and hospitality on these cool San Francisco evenings. read more

Wow. This place was so good. We were amazed. Little place, nothing fancy, but they really know how to do food. The sausages were made in house. Great beer selection and the wait staff was so welcoming. Save room for dessert- the apple strudel was nothing short of perfect. We will definitely be back. read more

AMAZING service, these people were meant for serving us food at a restaurant! The owner (tall big guy) greeted us as if we had been going there for years, even though it was our first time. Same with the other hostess! My bf and I first shared the sausage, which we both really enjoyed. However I wish the sausage were a little bigger. Once finishing it, we wanted a little more. For my entree, I got the short rib which wasn't the best idea. I guess I wanted to play it safe since I've never had German food before. It was pretty good, standard short rib with cabbage and mashed potatoes. But my bf's Wiener Schnitzel was delicious. It tasted like a type of pan fried pork with a sauce similar to cranberry sauce. I would order that next time! My boyfriend also loved the beer I got (I don't think I'm one to judge since I don't drink beer often). They also have those huge beers that go up to your chin when you're sitting at a table! The ambiance is very themed inside, complete with 10+ deer heads and antlers. I would say that the atmosphere is similar to something you'd see at Disneyland. As we were leaving, the owners and hostesses said bye and thank you as if there was no tomorrow. Can't wait to return! Tip: come early. Last time we arrived at 7:45ish and was told the wait would be 1 hr 45 mins (no reservations allowed). This time we got there around 6pm and snagged the last table for 2. There is also a big communal table for those who don't mind. read more

It took a year to make it here. Russian Hill, no reservation, no parking, the list went on but I always wanted to try this place. Mission Chinese was closed on Wednesdays, it was cold, my friend suggested it and so we went. Parking was relatively easy, no wait in a crowded restaurant, wait staff was friendly and the host seemed friendly enough. Service was good. Salad was tasty and the meat platter was surprisingly delicious. Potatoes not mustardy, which, I suppose, was the difference between German and Austrian? I tried an Austrian red, yep, it was definitely Austrian alright. Then went for something predictable like apple strudel, delicious but a bit too filo dough-ish. I was looking for something denser. Was quite engrossed in a conversation, in a non-date way, surprised by how nice the wait staff were as they left us alone and just poured water on occasion. True to European restaurants, it was water without ice. Since my friend and I were a little giddy and silly, we decided to check out the dining scene: lots of people chatting about tech work, a woman paid the bill for her date, an older Asian woman sitting cozily with her much younger White smitten man, a large woman with a skinny man, a group of coworkers at the long table, an older short man with his blonde date. Well, this is NOT a typical Russian Hill date restaurant but who cares when the food is this good? Would I return? Yes of course. Wait staff said to me as we were taking off, "Gute Nacht young lady." I responded back reflectively, "Gute Nacht." Then realized my tiny bit of German stayed with me for years, and my dinner partner, who was barely over US legal drinking age, started to burst out laughing, "she called you 'young lady' and she is younger than you!" Haha, not funny. I punched really good. He was hurt. I was stuffed and flattered. read more

Leopold's - Platter is huge! - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not as good as Suppenküche, but an OK german restaurant. Food is a bit pricey and they didn't seem to have too many beers on draft which was disappointing for a german restaurant I came here for brunch and had a better experience, they prices weren't as bad and the food was decent enough. read more

As promised (a few years later) - I have come back and ordered the Yagerschnitzel. It was better than my last meal here, and I would order it again. The meal was pricier than I remember - each of us paid about $45 for an entrée and 1 beer. We got there around 6pm on a Tuesday night and it wasn't even full of people when we left - so go on a Tuesday and get there before 7pm and you should be fine. read more

Food: The food here is AMAZING. That's coming from a picky eater. I had the Pappardelle - it's the best pasta I've had. Better than any I've had from Italian restaurants. My boyfriend had the House Special - Paprika Beef Goulash. At first, he was hesitant cause he had no idea what it was, but he ended up loving it. He even mixed in his remaining salad in the leftover sauce so he could eat every last bit of it haha. Drinks: He and his friend shared and finished the DAS BOOT. The workers clank their glasses whenever someone orders a boot haha. Remember to tilt the boot sideways when you're drinking it or else you'll spill beer on your lap, like my boyfriend did haha. I'm not a fan of beer, so I opted for a more sweet beverage and ordered a Stiegl Radler. I enjoyed it a lot :) Service: Amazing service. The servers are very lively and their outfits are so cute! Ambiance is very homey. I definitely want to come back when I'm in SF! read more

Leopold's - Pappardelle (DELICIOUS!) - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

A little taste of Germany . The waiters in lederhosen and waitress are dirndl made you feel like you were truly stepped into a different country . Starters : House made Salumi Platter - pork pork more pork . This was a great starter and was more then enough for a group of 5 Dinner : Wiener schnitzel- this was cooked to perfection. Who would have thought a breaded veal cutlet would taste so good braised beef short rib - with mash potatoes and crispy onions full of flavor and the meet just falls apart so tender ! They were so welcoming our waitress was great . They even allowed us to bring in our own cake and they provided candles ! Wow now that is some hospitality! read more

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First time here-joined friends that had been before. Only had to wait a short time for our Open Table reservation booth. The wait staff was most helpful and courteous. Our beers and Rose were brought promptly to our booth. Our suggested meals arrived hot and edible. Portions so large we all took home the other halves for next days lunch! Our only complaint is the noise level was HUGE! Our friends had gone previously at an earlier hour and said it was not nearly as noisy as this time. So if we return, it would be at an earlier time slot for certain. If you enjoy traditional Austrian/Germany food and a HUGE menu of diverse beers, this is the place for you! Parking can be rough, so arrive at least 30 minutes in advance to your Res. read more

Well...after hearing many stories of this place, I thought it would be much bigger and darker, like a typical pub or whatever they call them in Germany. We somehow get a table for 6 just as we walked in (Friday 6pm) and had a great time. The waitresses were very knowledgeable on the food/beer and their outfits were nice too, which made it a great experience. The only mistake I made was not ordering the BOOT (2L) instead I ordered 2 1L Steins :( Next time bring your man card and get the BOOT! read more

I was invited to join my dear college friend's fiancee's family - in from New England - for a fabulous dinner & drinks here a few weeks back. Given my penchant towards all things German, I was most excited. I love Suppenkuche, and was looking forward to this comparison. In all areas of service, food, and overall ambiance, I'd rank it higher. I ordered: * Franziskaner, Hefeweizen * Allfigem, Strong Pale Ale * Choucroute Garni Platter: pork ribs, pork loin & house-made bratwurst, with sauerkraut and spaetzle. The decor was classy, yet rustic. The wait staff was friendly, whilst knowledgable - and in fine attire. And the food was exquisite! read more

My only gripe with this place is that it's just a tad way too loud. I know it's a German place with lots of beer going around but even I had a hard time hearing my friend right across the table from me. HOWEVER, the food is delicious and the service is so friendly. I ordered the schnitzel with spaetzle and that was so yummy. My friend got the spaetzle with cheese dish which is basically a German version or macaroni and cheese. We had a great time and the food was good. I will come back because I love the decor, the food, and service. I just have to come back with the mindset that I won't have a calm and quiet dinner but instead a loud and exciting environment. read more

Very friendly owners, servers and bar staff! Good, tasty food. Smallish portions compared to other German/Austrian venues. Good value. We loved the Pork Trotter appetizer and veggie Strudel. The Goulash is excellent and the Schnitzel was crisp and juicy! Tremendous selection of draft German beers. Wait times are epic. But, this is to be expected. There are a few bars/lounges nearby to enjoy the wait! read more

I stopped by here this past Wednesday night with three other dining companions for dinner. We were walking up Polk street and happened upon this place and since everyone in our group loves German food decided to stop. The inside is not large and sits maybe 40 people? There is a bar on one side, a German beer hall type table in the middle and then booths around the outside. Whenever we got there around 7 there were not many people there but by the time we left at 8:30, the place was packed and people were waiting at the bar and outside. It got so loud in the restaurant that my party was all shouting just to be heard. Our dinner started off very oddly as we made a request to all have separate checks. We explained it was needed for us since we were on a work trip and needed our own receipts. After some coercing he eventually acquiesced although not happily. I decided to start off my meal with the duck crepes. It wasn't what I had expected and while it was ok, I thought it was missing something. For my entree I ordered the beef short ribs which came with some red cabbage and gruyere mashed potatoes. The short ribs themselves sort of reminded me of pot roast. That's not to say that they were bad as they were tender and decent tasting. The potatoes had quite a bit of cheese in them and I could see it stretching whenever I pulled some off. Finally the red cabbage was also just ok. It's normally my favorite part of a German meal so that was disappointing to me. The bottom line for me is that I would give it another try in the future. The guy who I assumed was the owner, spoke with an accent and stayed in the front of the house was awesome and genuine. It's too bad the server didn't have the same attitude as I did not care for his. I enjoyed the atmosphere although thought it got too loud near the end and thought the food was ok at best. read more

Authentic Austrian food and beer. Especially like the seasonal German draft rotations. Linzer tart and apple strudel dessert were freshly made and spectacular. Owner is Austrian, jovial and friendly! Went out of his way to find a table for us without a reservation at a packed house. read more

Leopold's - Linzer tart dessert. Home made and delicious! - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Awesome place, great food great service... I haven't had Dutch cuisine in a while and this place more than filled that void. Thank you Leopold's. Until next time San Francisco. read more

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We were visiting SF and decided to try this place. It was Saturday night and it was busy but we found a table as it was still a little early. The host was friendly and the server was very attentive. We started with a beer of course. They come in different sizes and fun glasses. We tried Leopold's IPA and a Hefeweizen and then we ordered sausage and sauerkraut, and a platter with ribs, pork loin, bratwurst. The sausage and bratwurst were seasoned with yummy spices, and the fall-off-the-bone ribs and pork loin were melt-in-your mouth tender. The sauerkraut surprised me. I have never really been a sauerkraut fan but I actually found myself enjoying it and wanting more. This place brings together a wonderful combination of flavors with a fun vibe. read more

Leopold's - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is one of my favorite place to go and get very full with very delicious food, and of course REAL GERMAN BEER service is amazing , interior decor is taking you to Germany) highly recommend to those who like to id gooooood read more

Leopold's - German Near Me - San Francisco, California

Third time is the charm for Leopold's!! I came here on two different Fridays with my boyfriend around 7 and the host told us that given the wait list, it was unlikely that we could get a table. He was very gracious and apologetic about it, but nothing he could do. I came on a Wednesday with a friend and decided that we'll just eat at the bar. The bar was super crowded too and I had to wait 10 minutes for a stool. The bartender was super friendly and brought our beverage orders quickly. I decided on the choucroute garni platter (pork ribs, ham and bratwurst). The ribs were my favorite, with the sausage a close second. The butter caraway seed potatoes were fantastic too. For dessert, we shared the apple strudel. The vanilla cream was super yummy, but the strudel itself wasn't all that great, I thought. The pastry was super tough and hard to cut through with our forks. The apple filling was almost mush. I love the friendly service at Leopold's. The food was good and hearty, but pretty pedestrian. I would come back, but not until the place is less crowded. Definitely not worth the hour wait. read more

Leopold's - German Near Me - San Francisco, California