Great service, excellent cuisine, friendly pub vibe. We had such a lovely dinner out with friends. We all enjoyed our respective meals. The full bar was a great complement to their extensive beer menu read more

Richard's Restaurant - Shrimp and scallops on a puff pastry shell with lobster sauce - American Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

After living in Brunswick my whole life, I decided to give Richard's a try, and I was impressed! I tried to get as much German cuisine as I could, so luckily for me they have a German Sampler with a little bit of everything on the menu. Everything was delicious! They have flights of German beers as well, which made the experience that much better. The restaurant has a very classic German pub feel to it, and lots of cool decorations and historical pieces. I don't know how I haven't been here prior to today, but I will be coming back soon! read more

Hurrah, delicious German food in the area! We were so excited when a friend recommended this spot to us for Schnitzel, spatzle, and everything in between. We made the reservation (highly recommended!) and took the 35 minute drive all the way to Brunswick to give them a try. SO SO happy we did! The space is cozy and lodge-like with German steins, maps, and decorations lining the walls. The staff is friendly and treats you like family right from the get-go. Our server was so wonderful and happy to answer any questions or make suggestions as needed, which included offering to bring a bottle of the Pinot Noir Rose instead of just 2 glasses. Oh, twist my arm! The bottle was a steal at $32 and the rose was light and fruity and delicious. We started our meal off with the snails over puff pastry. Let me just say... these were the most tender, plump snails I think I've ever had! The sauce was pure garlic butter, which was soooo good when soaked up by that perfectly crisp puff pastry. Flavor bomb! A bread basket was also brought out with pretzels (which my daughter said were exceptional) and fluffy little biscuits. Then the entrees - special of the day, Chicken Berliner Art, was a delight with the mushroom tarragon sauce and green onions. Lots of flavor just in the sauce! Hot potato salad was tasty and tangy, and the sauerkraut was SO GOOD - incredibly tender and loaded with flavor. There was not a cabbage morsel left by the end! The breading on my partner's Jagershnitzel was so light, so crispy, so perfect, as was the pork itself. Jager sauce had more of a lemon kick than I'm used to, but that was nice and added a good brightness to the dish. Spatzle was perfectly cooked but needed a hit of flavor, maybe a toss in some butter in herbs. Garlic mashed potatoes were creamy and garlic-y and to die for! My daughter tried the bread dumpling which was fun to eat - it reminded me of the ones my mom would make for chicken and dumplings, dense and spongy and yummy when dipped in some kind of sauce. We clearly had no room for dessert, but the brandy-filled chocolates that were brought with the check were a very nice touch and satisfied my sweet tooth. This is without a doubt the best German food in the area, authentic and comforting and so very tasty. We can't wait to come back! read more

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As self proclaimed German food and beer lovers, we decided to try this place during our first night in Brunswick, ME. We were staying close by and walked over and were fortunate enough to grab a table on a Saturday evening, as we noted upon arrival that reservations were strongly encouraged. We were greeted and seated in minutes in the front dining room area (there is a back area as well behind the bar area) and provided with water. Nice. Our server was friendly and accommodating and promptly asked for our drink orders and answered our questions. We did not see most of the beers we are familiar with at other German establishments we frequent or have (including in Germany and Austria) but we were quite pleased with our selections. The cucumber salad was fantastic. The Jager schnitzel was different from what we are accustomed to and have had and made at home, but none the less very tasty. The red cabbage was outstanding. The pretzel and popovers brought in a basket to accompany the meal were super. Wonderful homey and relaxing atmosphere, great service, clean restrooms, nice decor. We would recommend a stop in. read more

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We had a really good early dinner here tonight! We were happy to see most of our German favorites on the menu - schnitzel, wurst, spätzle, goulash, sauerbraten, wines, beers, etc. FYI - this wouldn't be a good place to bring a vegetarian for dinner - every entree is meat or fish based. For an appetizer we had the mushrooms which came with 4 and tasted fantastic! They also gave us complimentary rolls and hot pretzels, served warm and with a peppery mustard for the pretzel - Delicious! For dinner we split the German Sampler, which filled up both of us! It had a little bit of everything on it! Prices were reasonable, service was quick and courteous. Warm atmosphere. I would highly recommend checking them out! read more

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We have not been here in a few years. My wife and I went tonight after receiving a gift certificate as a Christmas present. Admittedly, I am the bigger fan of German food so my wife tagged along as a good sport. I enjoyed the curry wurst I ordered very much! The sausage combined with a tomato-curry sauce is a great pairing. The accompanying red cabbage and sauerkraut were very good as well. The selection of German beers was excellent also. I wish I could remember the waitress's name because she handled 8-9 tables on her own and did an admirable job! Overall a good experience and I will be back! read more

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The warm pretzel that came with the rolls to start was nice and had a peppery mustard that was very good. The red cabbage and sauerkraut on it was delicious and similar to our favorite local German restaurant that closed a while back. The warm pretzel that came with the rolls to start was nice and had a peppery mustard that was very good. The red cabbage and sauerkraut were both good. The schnitzel was thin and tender. Wine and beer lists had some good German choices. read more

Great atmosphere in such a quaint downtown. Authentic German food with great service!! There is more in Maine than Lobster! read more

Richard's Restaurant - Oktoberfest! - American Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

returning customers from several years ag, made a trip to eat here because our last experience was so good. this time around it was not. The schnitzel was oil soaked and burnt in spots, very dry and unappealing. very sparce with the sauce but for $3 more you could perhaps get what should have been on it to begin with. spaetzle was very dry and not warm when served. they were preparing to close for 6 weeks of "much needed rest" perhaps they should have closed a week earlier rather than put out sub standard fare.... read more

It doesn't impress you upon first sight from the street. But were passing through Brunswick; actually on our way to get pizza at a place down the street when we noticed this "Authentic German Food" restaurant. We LOVE German food and decided to give it a try. They don't open until 4:30 and we had 45 mins to kill so we almost went to the pizza place after all. We walked in at 4:25 and were greeted by a cheery staffer and seated right away. BY 4:50 EIGHT of the THIRTEEN tables were seated with hungry diners. We knew we had stumbled upon something good! This place is GREAT! read more

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Made reservations for my mother in laws 91 birthday for last Wednesday. Arrived on time, was seated and drink order was placed. We waited a good 15 minutes and saw my drink order at bar. All the while our server would pass by the drinks and not bring them to us. I asked the hostess/bartender (who has worked there a long time) if I could take my order to the table. She brought them to the table and our server finally appeared. My wife asked if she was going to take our order. The server freaked out and said someone else needs to cover our table. I explained to the hostess/bartender that we had been waiting for over 20 minutes and she repied "unless you have been living under a rock you would know that everyone is short staffed" and walked away. She was rude and disrespectful. The hostess/bartender needs training in customer service and the waitress needs to find another line of work. I will never return, the food was their usual C+, and the only reason I went is because my mother in law is from Germany and it was her birthday. read more

Richards is right down town and there's plenty of parking out back. The place is nice, a bit on the dark side, but we felt welcomed and we were comfortable. Not that I ever left the country but from what I understand the food is authentic. I will say it's good, but given my undistinguished pallet the bratwurst's basically taste like the sausage you get at the sausage kitchen in Lisbon, (dare I say spicy hot dogs? Not like a pork sausage or even an Italian sausage). The Wienerschnitzel is good as is the German Sampler but my dishes have been limited. I will go back and try something different, but I got to say that German food is new to me so perhaps I'm not the best judge of Richards authenticity. Overall it is a nice place, seems pretty clean, friendly fast service and definitely worth a trip when you want something different. The prices are slightly elevated but that's true of most restaurants now a days. I will return and try Richards again. read more

Richard's is one of the few restaurants in Midcoast Maine that has authentic German cuisine. Am impressive "stein" collection on the walls. read more

Richard's Restaurant - German Sampler - A tasting of bratwurst, bauernwurst, gulasch, sauerbraten, both wiener and jägerschnitzel & all German side dishes. - American Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

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Another great spot in Brunswick for traditional German food. I mean where else can you get this stuff other than cooking at home or being fortunate enough to be married to a German LOL. I am so lucky there, but she doesn't always cook my German favorites so here comes Richards to save the day. If you don't know German food try the sampler. Explore the different options and specials. read more

Great food amid a nice, homey atmosphere. One of the best German restaurants I've ever eaten at in the States.

Went to Richard's Restaurant for our Anniversary. My wife mentioned a few months ago she hadn't had a schnitzel in years and really would like to have one. Service was excellent, the food was fantastic. It was definitely worth the 45-minute drive. We'll go back anytime we have a hankering for great German food. read more

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Excellent variety of entrees in a traditional German restaurant located in Brunswick, Maine. I enjoyed the baked haddock with two side veggies being excellent German red cabbage and yummy grilled zucchini. One of our dinner party ordered Sauerbraten and declared it was melt in your mouth delicious. Wonderful service but highly suggest making a reservation. read more

Rare to find great German food these days. They have a variety of German beers on tap. As a German American I wanted to try everything. Ordered their sampler plate. Just great. Note that beer is served cellar temp like in Germany. Some Americans would complain that it is too warm. Not me. Had Sacher Torte for dessert. Really good. read more

I'm not a fan of German food, which I find too heavy and not very flavorful. And I've never liked sauerkraut. Until I went to Richard's, when I had the sampler so that I could have as many different types of German food as possible, some of which I really liked a lot and some of which I didn't like quite as much. But I'm very glad that I did the sampler and I came to Richard's, because I got the taste and experience a cuisine differently than ever before. And yes I really liked the sauerkraut! read more

Great family owned restaurant! Comfort food and affordable! Remember restaurants that ignore you? Well not at Richard's, they really make sure you are happy with your meal and service! read more

Traditional German food with no apologies, delivered in a distinctly bier hall atmosphere. They've been serving these same simple dishes for 30 years and they always deliver them done just right. I particularly recommend the red cabbage (rotkohl), their home-made sausages and any of the schnitzels. The home-baked strudel is decent and unpretentious. The beer list is excellent. This restaurant is a Brunswick staple, and has been extremely busy lately - which is a wonderful thing. I'm hoping for another 30 years of eating there. read more

The moment you enter, you feel right at home. Gorgeous dark wood surrounds you in this cozy, yet spacious restaurant. It was hard to choose what to order. So many delicious things on the menu. The schnitzel was perfect and the schnitzel was delicious. On tap beers are fantastic and come in beautiful glasses as well. The Apple strudel is also amazing. The service is also too notch as well. read more

I have never been to Germany. I have, however: A) been to the Biergarten Restaurant in Epcot Germany when I was a freshman in high school. Our server was a girl named Steffi. She offered us beer as polka hypnotically drifted through the sound system. And I ate my literal weight in hot potato salad from the buffet. It was amazing. B) lived in Ireland with a German woman, her son, and their Slovakian au pair. I'm sure there's a joke in there somehow. Anyway, I don't remember us eating anything really German-specific... we mostly drank. C) supposedly have some German ancestry. We pay homage to this by hanging a pickle in our Christmas tree. Obviously, this makes me an expert on all things German.* That being said, I think Richard's is an absolute gem in the Maine culinary scene. You want big ol' platters of meat? Some herring and sour cream? Some chicken stuffed phyllo? A slab of deep fried veal? YOU GOT IT!!! Unless you're a vegetarian... which I am. Then what to eat? Well, when I came - I knew full well that the menu was severely limiting. So I really just wanted four things: beer and pretzels to the sweet sounds of Bavarian "oom-pah" music while enjoying the great company I was with. And, ooooooooh boy, did I get what I asked for (in the best way possible). Big glasses of Hefeweizen and all-I-could-eat pretzels (which, by the way, are deceivingly dense - also, I can't believe the servers were okay with bringing us more and more AND MORE AND MORE pretzels like that... how amazing!) dredged in spicy mustard with accordion music and hearty laughter for hours. Yes, yes please. What I wanted more than anything was the hot potato salad, however it had meat in it. So, in the end, I ordered the Käse Spätzle - the only thing on the menu I could order. However, It was basically the most deliriously delicious mac and cheese I've ever eaten in my life (and I don't even like mac and cheese). Egg noodles sautéed in an uber creamy swiss cheese sauce topped with perfectly caramelized onions? Mmmhmmm, that happened. And I couldn't even eat my entire plate... that's how much there was on it. I would get this again. I would get this again and again! The ONLY thing I wasn't a huge fan of was the desserts (we tried both types of sacher torte and the apple strudel - which was cold and tasted like there wasn't any sugar in it). This is just not their forte, but honestly: you're probably going to be too stuffed to eat some anyway! I haven't been that pleasantly uncomfortable in a long time! Finally... the staff. Accommodating? Patient? Thoughtful? Kind? These folks had it in droves. I can't believe how perfect our evening of service was. Thank you, Richard's, for making our night out so easy and fun! (*This IN NO WAY makes me an expert) read more

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I have dined in numerous brauhaus and family style German restaurants. And while I've always enjoyed sausages and beer, I've thought that the examples I've had were clumsy. Not so here. The bread and pretzel basket foreshadowed the exemplary evening ahead. Fluffy popover like rolls with softened creamery butter and pretzels that had a snappy crust and bagel like interior dipped into mustard that was coarse, tart, edgy and tinted with an elusive spice. Simply addictive--I had to buy another pretzel just to satisfy my curiosity and finish the mustard. We ordered a selection to try as much as possible at our table, and the sides were certainly inspiring--the red cabbage was earthy and comforting like cold pressed cider whereas the sauerkraut bright and refreshing. The bread pudding balls were unassuming, but they hooked me mid meal so that I kept cleaning up after my table mates who left morsels on their plate. The sausages were spot on. Snappy casing and mild to earthy seasonings. The schnitzels had interesting toppings, but it was the sweet and sour pot roast and smoked pork chop that held my attention and caused me to keep eating well after I should have stopped. Easily the best German meal I've had. read more

Amazing German restaurant in downtown Brunswick. Some of the best German food I've had since I lived in Germany when I was young. Have tried German restaurants all across the US, this is by far the best. Amazing service! The owner came by each table to check in and see how everyone was doing. The oxtail soup was the best I've had since I lived in Germany. The escargot app was phenomenal, flaky croissant with a massive amount of buttery garlic, snails were cooked to perfection, not too chewy, not too soft. Baked brie was outstanding as well. The German sampler platform provided a taste of 6-7 dishes (huge), great value. Goulash was my favorite in the sampler, next time I'll order that as my entree (flavor was so rich and had a ton of depth). Both brats were spot on. Highly recommended, great family run restaurant, adorable décor. Prices are very reasonable as well, esp for quality and quantity of the food. So glad we stopped in! read more

Richard's Restaurant - Bitburger pils, love! - American Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

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I'm not sure that I've ever had German food before, other than the sauerkraut that my mom used to make growing up. Somehow, I don't think that really counts. The atmosphere here was what I'd imagine - lots of wood panelling and beer steins. Apparently drinking your beer from the appropriate glassware is important, as the waitress noted that they try to carry one for most of the beers they offer. The menu was quite extensive with many dishes I've heard referenced before - making it all the more challenging for me to decide what I would try. I settled on the schnitzel and selected the German potato salad and spaetzel as my two sides (still thinking I should have gone for the red cabbage). It was all very delicious and I cleaned my plate. Oh, and while waiting for the meals, they provided baskets of fresh baked rolls AND PRETZELS! HOT PRETZELS! With some amazing mustard that was very peppery. I'd go back just for this and the lambics! We split a variety of desserts and have to say I liked the apple streusel best! It would have been a little better heated up - so I'd ask next time I visit. Lastly (but not least), I'd like to mention the service. I was there with a rather large party. They were very accommodating. Also, they kept waters filled, drinks coming, and plates cleared. All the while being kind and helpful with our questions. read more

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I absolutely loved this place!!!! The people were amazing and they helped figure out what kind of food to try. I loved the German setting and decor as well. I have never gone to an authentic German restaurant and having a German heritage was amazing. read more

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2 stars for the service. Had high hopes for the menu although should have paid more attention to the lack of locals (and even fewer folks visiting). Pea and Lentil soup was bland, strudel with ham and cheese was served pipin hot, and was ok. Brown Butter Haddock was one sided with scant lemon and parsley. Steak Tips with Spinach Spaetzle special of the day was flat - small serving of unseasoned steak tips (imagine it was barely more than 3.5 oz serving) although the homemade spaetzle had a nice bite. Perplexed this was served without any sauce/gravy... read more

A major disappointment! We have always enjoyed eating at Richard's and it's hard to find German food (good, bad or indifferent) here in Maine. We went there last night (Thursday, August 13, 2020) with a good friend who is a good German from the Teutonic heart of the mid-west as this is / was her favorite restaurant in the area. We picked Thursday as that is the day when the "Special" was purported to be Rindsrouladen and this is also her favorite. We got there at 6:00 and found the place nearly empty. When we ordered, we were told that they were "out of the special" and if we had wanted it, we should have reserved it when we made the reservations! RESERVE A MENU ITEM!!?? A so-called "Daily Special"? Who has ever done that? Maybe if we asked for something exotic, but the so-called Daily Special?? When we recovered from that and placed our orders for other things, we were again surprised to see that the famous bread basket was adequately supplied for 2 guests, and there were 3 of us. We requested another pretzel and the waitress told us that guests usually shared the basket contents (implying "...so what's wrong with you?"). Someone should tell her that customer shaming is a losing battle when her tip depends on making them feel valued. Finally, when my meal (Sauerbraten) came and I tried it, I could barely cut the meat it was so tough. This is almost impossible to do to a piece of meat that has been braised for a long time, but Richard's somehow managed it. I left a tip that matched the effort our waitress put into making our meal an enjoyable experience. I know that things are more difficult with the Covid-19 restrictions, but if you are going to be open to serve customers, you need to try harder to at least provide what is on your menu. Needless to say, it'll be quite some time before I return to Richard's Restaurant, and by then I hope they have regained their ability to satisfy their customers. Meantime. does anybody have a recommendation for a good German restaurant in the area? read more

Pretty tasty authentic German cuisine...as a German major in college, I discovered this place when a professor took us there at the culmination of one of our classes. I also brought my extended family there on graduation weekend, since they have a large dining room great for acomodating groups, they're pretty family friendly, and they kept the then-bf and myself placated with large hefeweizen pours. You know, schnitzel, spaetzle, and all that good stuff. If you're looking for a solid, filling meal while spending some time in Brunswick, this place isn't a bad option. read more

Richard's Restaurant - American Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

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Both food and service are top notch. We've never had a bad meal here. Love the selections of beer as well.

Quality of food is excellent. The dinner rolls are heaven! The flavors of the dishes bring me back to my visits in Germany. Service is great. Ambiance is relaxing and reminds me again of the many restaurants in Germany. Don't forget to buy a few jars of Richard's mustard before you leave. We are locals and so grateful that we have a local German restaurant nearby. Not easy to find these days. As always we come back for more! read more

A gem. Who would imagine a top notch German restaurant hidden in Brunswick, ME? Great food, great service. Reservations recommended as this is a family venue and when they are done for the night, they are really done. Hoping to go back next year. read more

We have been customers with some regularity for a decade to this restaurant and have never experienced what we did tonight. I called in an attempt to order take out. I was not feeling great and opted for a take out dinner. I was told they were busy and it would be a few minutes before they could take my order. Then placed the phone on the counter where I could hear everything going on including acknowledging my still being on the phone. After waiting 20 minutes they hung up the phone on me! I called back and she fully acknowledged she had hung up. No apology! Just told me they were short staffed, had a full house and it would be quite awhile before they would even be able to take an order! I get full house and short staffed but that it not how you handle that at all!!! Poor form!!!! Just because I didn't place an order does not mean I am not a customer We have had take out more recently and Richard's is very much back to their previous levels of delicious and customer service. Can't wait for in house services to return. read more

I am torn about Richard's. I walked in to enjoy a dinner with my parents, who highly recommended the restaurant. Immediately upon entering, I was greeted with a dated atmosphere. I get the attempt at trying to replicate a German inspired decor, but this decor hadn't been changed in decades, and had seen better days. People are savvy enough these days where they don't need to be treated like they are sitting in an actual restaurant in Germany; just focus on having great food in a welcoming atmosphere. This isn't a huge deal, but I couldn't help but notice that 90% of the customers were over the age of 65. I don't think this is coincidence. The service we received was passable. The hostess was attentive and did her job well to find us a table on a night with a lot of reservations. I overheard her doing the same with other folks as they came through the door. Our waitress was competent, but kind of just went through the motions. We had to ask what the potato and veg of the day were, and when I asked what brand the gose beer was, she had no idea. It wasn't bad service, it just didn't lend to an enjoyable experience. And then there was the food....*sigh* Let me preface this with the good. The bread and pretzel starter was outstanding. My Dad and I agreed we could come in and just overload on carbs and beer, and be happy. My meal on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. I hadn't had German in a while, so I went with the classic wienerschnitzel (which was described as being cooked in a brown butter sauce), and chose the spaetzel and the twice baked potato as a side. The schnitzel was terribly overcooked and bland. I had to ask the waitress if the described sauce was available, to which she explained that this meal was served with no sauce, which was quite confusing. I ended up getting some of the mushroom sauce from the jagerschnitzel, which only mildly elevated the experience. The spaetzel was also incredibly boring, and the twice baked was overcooked. I tasted my Dad's sampler, and the wursts were delicious, and my Mom enjoyed her steak, so maybe my experience isn't the norm. Also, I paid almost $50 for my very basic meal and two beers, which was thoroughly overpriced. On a positive note, I had the gose and the Berliner weisse, and both were delicious, but I wish that they would show the brand of their beers and not just the style, for the more knowledgeable beer drinker. I have had German food on a few occasions, and this was the poorest of my experiences. If you want a modern take on German cuisine, do yourself a favor and check out Schulte and Herr in Portland. read more

Richard's Restaurant - Delicious gose - American Near Me - Brunswick, Maine

Unwelcoming restaurant and service. I know that reservations are customary but on a Wed the restaurant was only half full. We were sat immediately and were told there was only one waitress and to be patient. Hostess was rude and unwelcoming- after observing interactions with other patrons we left. My recommendation is not to seat anyone you cannot serve reservations or not. We will not be back. read more

Great value and great service. Wonderful beer selection. We visited for a birthday celebration dinner and really enjoyed the food. Best meals to be had this side of going to Germany. read more

Best German food in Maine! Must have German beers on tap with homemade pretzels with mustard !

tIf you wish to know the bottom line of this review, do not patronize this restaurant if you are a visitor/tourist and are from out of town! We have frequented Richard's since purchasing a vacation home in Mid-Coast Maine back in 2007. My wife and I, last had a dinner reservation about two years ago and had a similar experience to what we experienced on a recent Saturday night. We made a reservation for two, arrived on time and were seated in front of a serving area and next to the entrance to the kitchens. An employee stood behind us spending time spraying and sanitizing plastic menus while servers hustled by us with dinner orders. Some ambience! Twenty minutes passed before a waitress asked if we were being attended to. She responded that she would summon a server. Five minutes later, a waitress came by and stated that she had been ordered to take our drink order. We gave in our order, the drinks came and ten minutes passed before a waitress arrived to take our order. A complimentary appetizer arrived consisting of one medium size pretzel and two rolls with a side of hot mustard and no butter. We split the pretzel. Come on! How cheap can you get? Meanwhile, a couple arrived across from us and were obviously known to the owners. They were immediately served with the hostess and waitress hovering over them and attending to every need and request. That really drove salt into the wounds. Dinner arrived, the traditional classic sauerbraten featured on their menu. Sides of hot German potato salad, red cabbage and spatel are the only choices. No potato pancakes and apple sauce found in most good German restaurants? I'll give the food 3 stars. Meanwhile we noticed a special menu posted on a side wall. Our waitress never informed us of this choice. We never bothered to request a dessert menu or coffee. Finished our main course, paid the bill and left and will never return. The dining area was not crowded due to Covid social distancing restrictions and several set tables were unoccupied. Those that were, appeared to be local patrons meeting with friends. No excuse for the poor service and wait time and being ignored. Brunswick gets many visitors during the Spring, Summer and Fall and with parents visiting Bowdoin College. A change in attitude needs to come about as the old Richard's reputation no longer exists. read more

Richard's beer, food, and atmosphere were outstanding! We had a fabulous time enjoying authentic German cuisine. We were a party of 8 and everyone left thoroughly satisfied with their meal! Our waitress was wonderful. Definitely recommend! read more