You know that feeling of slight disappointment? Well, I felt a twinge of that after trying out Rolf's. Unlike my two other favorite Bavarian restaurants, Schnitzel Haus and Zum Stammtisch, this one is fairly expensive, with items that scorn the cuisine rather than embrace it. Sure, the Jaeger Schnitzel I ate is delicious, and the portion sizes for everything I order is plentiful, but everything else about this restaurant misses the mark. First, the music. The music feels so out of place. Too Gramercy if you ask me. For this kind of restaurant I figure you have to go all in or none at all. This is not an Italian restaurant. Everything about the decor and interior layout is a misrepresentation of how this restaurant should be. After awhile it got annoying (the lighting gave me a headache), and left me a little frustrated when the food came out. Second, is the food intended to be shared or not? I feel like no for the entrees, but yes for the appetizers. It all felt disjointed. I also felt jilted by the fact the potato pancakes only came with either applesauce OR sour cream. I should not have to choose. Give. Me. Both. Maybe if I had both I would have been able to eat more than just one. You are also given free bread upon arrival, but the bread tastes stale and dry. It offers nothing to the experience. Okay, now about the rest of the food (in more detail). The German Apple crepe is okay, but perhaps years of eating German Apple pancakes at The Original Pancake House changed how I feel about them. This tasted skimpy and dry, feeling a bit European to a fault. The crepe was fine, but the apple filling needs more sweetness to really make it feel like a treat. The schnitzel is the true star. I could hear the cooks hammering out the veal to flatten out the meat. That is how you do it. It tasted fresh and the mushroom sauce is the true hero of this entree. It also comes with spaetzle (German pasta) and green beans, both of which are cooked perfectly and work well to complement the veal. As someone who ate many Schnitzel in Switzerland (and has plans to visit Germany later this year), this works. They also offer Wurst (but I hope only the best kind), but I need a break from sausage. Getting the schnitzel is the preferred weapon of choice. Unfortunately the high prices and disjointed ambiance will not have me back here. read more

Rolfs - Jaeger Schnitzel - German Near Me - New York, New York

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Pretty poor food quality. Does not taste like German food. It's for tourists only. Only pro - decoration Service is unfriendly read more

Rolf's is pure holiday magic. The festive atmosphere instantly brought me back to old-school New York at Christmas--very much in the spirit of Luchow's--with warm lights, classic décor, and that unmistakable seasonal buzz. We enjoyed a great night with family! The food delivers just as strongly as the ambiance. I thoroughly enjoyed the schnitzel paired with spaetzle, both done beautifully and true to tradition. The potato pancakes are an absolute must--crispy, comforting, and perfect for sharing. Pair it all with a proper pour of German lager, and you're fully immersed in the experience. This is not just dinner; it's a New York Christmas destination. Reservations are essential, especially during the holiday season, and well worth the planning. A classic, festive spot that captures the joy and nostalgia of Christmas in the city. read more

Rolfs - Festive - German Near Me - New York, New York

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Definitely a festive place, perfect for the holidays. I had about 30 mins to kill so decided to check it out as it was off peak (2pm) - and I didn't see a line outside. Ordered a holiday cocktail which was very tasty and sweet. The place was nicely decorated and gets you into the holiday mood. Not sure if I would wait in line though as once you're in - it's tightly packed with not much room to move around. My recommendation is to come here off peak to enjoy the experience. read more

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Decor: 5/5 Food:3.5/5 Service: 3.5/5 Finally made it to Rolf's after a decade of trying. Mid-November Friday at 4:30 pm: no outdoor line, just 15-min wait for a table. The Christmas decor is insane and worth the hype; it's like walking into a German holiday explosion. Food was solid: big portions, crispy schnitzel, good sausages; way better than the 1-star reviews claim. Service is fast and no-nonsense (they're slammed). It's loud; not a date spot. Go early (right at opening) or very late, and avoid December weekends unless you love waiting in the cold. Come for the over-the-top vibes and decent German food; it's an experience, not fine dining. Worth doing once! read more

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Better than I expected. Not great, but really not that bad. The food was alright. It's a bratwurst, so can't be anything too crazy, but it was extremely expensive for what it was. Even the free bread wasn't great. Drinks were tasty but around thirty bucks each for basic hot cider, which is also kind of crazy. Service was surprisingly solid. Staff was friendly and moved things along smoothly. The decor really is pretty nice. It's absolutely beautiful inside, but the space is so cramped that it is hard to enjoy or take a pic. You are sitting in veryyyy close quarters. For how hard it is to get a reservation and insane pricing for mediocrity, Rolf's sadly does feel overrated. Fun to see once for the vibes, but the juice is not worth the squeeze. Don't think I'd come back sadly. read more

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Absolutely beautiful decorations. Unfortunately waited in the cold over 20 minutes and then it was absolutely packed in there. read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

I'm so glad my coworker brought me here after insisting I "had to see the bar where it's Christmas all year!" We didn't get to stay long as it was just before closing on a Monday night, but just long enough to enjoy a warm glass of Mulled Wine and snap a few photos. Everyone in here was lovely, and we appreciate the staff being so accommodating even though it was right before close. Can't wait to come back here! read more

Rolfs - What a view! - German Near Me - New York, New York

Please excuse the lack of pictures but as much as we wanted to see Xmas decor that day we had been to 3 bars before we got to this one haha !! But , I must say the decor here is definitely breathtaking , however we feel like the place was way overcrowded and overpriced . $47 for 2 drinks is absolutely insane . !!! read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

Rolf's is a holiday dream -- wall-to-wall Christmas lights and decorations that make the whole place feel magical. The German comfort food is hearty and delicious, though a bit pricey. Come for the vibes, stay for the schnitzel. Perfect NYC holiday spot. read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

Festive ambiance makes you feel happy especially if you came during the holiday season. Unfortunately, we did not make it during the popular season. Reservation during these time should be done as early as September to be in. We settled for February, in time for Valentine. Food was delivered to our expectations. The taste is just to what we wanted. We tried their food specialty, the sausages, the duckling, the appetizers. The family style serving size is just perfect to our group. Pricing is right . Happy that our waiter did not get tired in refilling our tea with hot water. A good spot to visit if you will be around the area during holiday season. read more

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Rolf's is a German restaurant located in Gramercy Park. The restaurant offers a unique holiday dining experience all year long. Rolf's menu specialities are from the Southern German region or Bavarian cuisine. You will enjoy specialties that consist of Wiener Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, Potato, Pancakes, apple strudel and more. I was not ready to end the Christmas holiday nostalgia. What better place to enjoy an extended Merry holiday weekend, than Rolf's. Rolf's feature a wide selection of imported German Beers on tap such as Hofbrau lager, Radeberger, Weihenstephaner Weissbeer and Dunkel Dark. They have a full bar that features a wide variety of high end bourbons, whiskey and scotches from around the world. I tried the Christmas Smoothie cocktail, featuring Merrys vanilla cinnamon and a splash of Goldschlager, or the Rolf's Holiday Martini, made with Merry's Irish Cream Liqueur, vodka and Meletti Choccolato Liqueur. The staff were absolutely wonderful, service was nice. Very pleased, and will visit again. read more

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Rolfs is one of those places that just brings you instant joy. The Christmas decorations are over the top and somewhat obnoxious, but that's the whole point. If you're in the city before the Christmas tree goes up, but still are longing to have a festive experience I would stop by Rolfs. read more

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I used to frequent this place 10 years ago before social media turned it into a seemingly unattainable reservation and extremely hard bar to grab a drink at due to the hype around their Christmas decor. As others have noted, getting a reservation here is near impossible, which is fine since the food is nothing to write home about, you're here for the ambiance. Drinks will set you back $30 a pop no matter what you order (a beer might be slightly cheaper, but I'm talking slightly), so might as well partake in one of the seasonal concoctions they have, sip slowly and enjoy. The Christmas decorations here really are better than anywhere else you'll find in the city as far as Christmas bars go, so if you really want to take this all in my recommendation would be to come here on a weekday during the day if you can swing it. On my last visit here I showed up around 1:30 pm on a Monday (on the first Monday in December) and while there was a bit of a bar crowd it was manageable. They've done away with their bar stools so its standing room only, which I assume is to help with turnover to move the line that forms to get into this place along as much as possible. Bartenders and staff are still as nice as I remember them to be, which is shocking considering the sheer volume of people they serve around this time of year. Pro tip: Their decor goes up in fall and stays up through spring, so if you really want to see it without the crowds, come in late January or early November. read more

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Overpriced Germany "diner food" with a vibe. Rolfs' busiest season is around Christmas time. There is always a line of people outside waiting to enter through its tiny doors into a winter wonderland of magical bright lights. And these lights stay like that all year round. Don't come here when it's around the holidays, you won't be able to get in without a reservation. This restaurant is partly so popular probably due to its recent years of social media influences. Popular TikTockers and Instagrams brought them tons of tourists and some locals alike. The food is not that impressive as it tastes like American diner foods - potato pancakes are hash browns like, but at avg $20-$25 for appetizers. And burgers and fries entrees at $30+. The food is average and it is priced unreasonably. Most people are there to experience the lights. The music was nice. At some point, I really thought I was in an Italian restaurant. PS: their bathroom is cold and dark. Honestly, some part of me thinks that their decorations may be inspired by the popular Indian restaurants near 6th and 2nd. But that might be an insult to the owner and the Germany population... But that's how I feel when we were served mostly by Indian waiters (they were amazing!!). My family ordered beers and mixed drinks, and a pear alcoholic beverage (forgot the name of it) but it tastes like two shots of fireballs. It burns from throat down to your the bottom of your stomach. It was so strong. Other places don't make it like that. A lot of the food may be German based but it is very Americanized. From the potatoes salad (cold and served with half slices of pickles) to the burgers and fries to hammered chicken slices. It's nothing impressive. This may be a place to come once but probably not again afterwards. read more

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GORGEOUS Christmas festive decorated restaurant/bar. 2 drinks from the bar will cost over $60 w normal tip and they pack the restaurant area to the brim with tables almost on top of each other, and the bar area is also packed like a sardine can. I came around 3pm on a Sunday, I recommend coming here before then on a weekend to see the gorgeous decor and potentially avoid the over packed space. If you are claustrophobic I would not recommend coming at all. People can barely walk around inside.. Cute spot, glad to see it, but I think the establishment should not have as many persons as they did in there as it seems like a potential fire hazard... read more

We waited in line for half an hour to get into this restaurant. Once inside, we couldn't even move or get anywhere near the bar. It was just chaos. While the decorations are amazing, not really worth the wait. Check it out in may, you'll be much happier. read more

the food was delicious! as someone who isn't a big fan of german food, it was so yummy! the ambiance so great. Omer was our server and we couldn't have been any happier having him wait on us! def a great spot to check out! can be pricey but def worth it ! highly recommended mint a recreation weeks in advanced ! read more

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This is more of a spot for the decor and photos than the food. My friend's dishes weren't bad, but everything was pretty pricey. The holiday-themed cocktails were decent, though, and more reasonably priced. They also forgot our appetizers, which didn't help. I ordered the roasted pork loin for $38, but the meat was so dry it was almost inedible. Most of the menu is in the same price range, with entrées averaging over $40. I did try the salmon, and that was pretty good. But unless you're okay with spending $43 on mashed potatoes, two bratwursts, and some cabbage, you're better off grabbing a drink at the bar and enjoying the atmosphere for the photos. read more

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Love the ambiance and Christmas decor, really got us in the holiday spirit! Service was fast and easy. The food was super delish, beef stew was very tender and fell right apart! read more

Rolfs - Decor - German Near Me - New York, New York

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We had a 7pm Reservation. We waited in line. Then they brought us to the bar. $25 for a glass of flat prosecco, $300 bar bill and by 8:30 still no table was available. Awful service and poor attitude to accommodate. Felt like a racquet for tourists. No Germans running the place. All India which was strange. Would NOT recommend. Tourist trap for sure! Boo! read more

Thank you so much to all the staff, front door bouncer and our server Dave! Amazing customer service, great atmosphere and delicious food. A must try in NY!! read more

Rolfs - Jager schnitzel - German Near Me - New York, New York

We came in for the Christmas decorations, which do NOT disappoint. What a wonderful way to get into the season! The service was excellent. Not a fan of German food so won't comment on the quality of the food. read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

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Has been on my bucket list. Surprised my mom and took her for her 76th birthday. It was everything I had hoped for and more. One of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever been in. Food was delicious and service was amazing! The lights, decorations, artwork and pictures were mesmerizing. Highly recommend Rolf's,but definitely recommend making reservations in advance. We went on a Wednesday in early November and there was no wait at all. Christmas time is definitely harder to get in. read more

Rolfs - Rolf's German restaurant - German Near Me - New York, New York

Loved the beautiful lights and decor of this restaurant but had higher hopes for the food which we found to be average and overpriced. The service was OK, although we ordered iced tea which came with no ice. It was apparently hot water and a tea bag in a glass and they added ice to it which promptly melted. They'd be better off stating they don't serve iced tea as it really didn't work the way they offered it to us. We enjoyed the pretty lights but probably wouldn't have reason to dine here again. read more

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Went in for a drink at the bar to escape from the rain. The decor caught our eye and we had to stop in! Service was friendly and drinks were consistent We didn't eat there but it was a fun spot to drop by for a drink read more

Rolfs - Insane decor - German Near Me - New York, New York

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Went there Christmas week2025. We had a family of 14 but had to make 3 separate reservations under three separate names? They didn't have a table that would accommodate all of us, hell they barely had a table that would seat five adults. So they tried putting families of five at a "4 person booth" that could barely accommodate four 180 pound adults, THEN add a chair on the end? That poor soul has to sit side saddle and weave his legs in between his brother-in-law's to even reach the table and avoid getting a an elbow to his dome every time someone walked by. Food ; Beef stew was dry AF, Yeager schnitzel was decent , but you could probably get the same schnitzel across the street at the diner and enjoy more comfortable accommodations and a friendly staff. Soooooo, it's a German restaurant, I saw one white server there. Everyone else was, well I don't know not black not Asian, certainly not white, some sort of Middle Eastern with a Caca attitude. Speaking of Caca, God forbid you should have to go to the bathroom, because it shares a hallway with the kitchen, the server station, and the back alley. Once you finally fight your way to the bathroom, you'll be greeted by one stall in the women's and a stall and a urinal in the men's room? In a restaurant that apparently has a 150+ capacity. I waited for at least 10 minutes. I asked the guy in front of me if somebody was in the men's room. He said he heard someone in there crying ! That's how sad this place is. The diminutive size of the restaurant along with the ridiculous overcrowding were so bad that two from our party walked out and went to the diner across the street. One of them had the best smash burger they ever had. They said the staff at the dinner was super friendly and the restaurant was comfortable and quiet. So if you live in NY city and like to post selfies with your f-kng tongue sticking out and other assorted ridiculousness on your Instagram, MySpace or TikTok do it! BUT DONT mislead the rest of the world in to believing Rolfs worth the effort. Gut the interior and the staff! Start over and Make German food great again! read more

I had read so many reviews about how the service is fast and furious. So I was expecting that. We went during an off time before Thanksgiving, so we did not feel rushed. Our server was amazing as he explained the history of the restaurant as well as how it long it takes to maintain the lighting and the atmosphere all year round. We did not come technically for the food, we did order just some basic food, which was very basic, but we weren't again expecting much. I love the experience. Everyone was very friendly. We celebrated my daughter's birthday. They brought out a cake with a candle we would definitely go back. read more

Celebrating early Christmas with my besties. Best Christmas theme restaurant. Reserving was easy, and uncomplicated. Bouncer was welcoming. The restaurant accommodated us even when we showed up 30 minutes before our reservation. David was our server. He was very professional and accommodating. Food was very good and big serving. My 2nd time here. Will be back next time I am in NY. read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

Not really an update, but stopped by there today and had a Radeberger Pilsner on tap. $15.00 Absurd. read more

Worth the wait!! Amazing to go to at Christmas! Try to go later if you can. It's very crowded so be prepared to be standing in tight quarters at the bar. read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

This place is a complete SCAM, both for tourists and locals. The experience was AWFUL due to the rude behavior of the staff. I went with a group of friends (there were five of us), and we sat at the bar. We ordered three beers and two special Christmas cocktails. At the end, when I handed over my card to close the tab, the server returned it with only the receipt, but no detailed bill. I politely asked for the bill to verify the amount charged, as I wanted to confirm whether the tip was included and to check the prices. Instead of addressing my request, the server told me I just had to "trust him" because, according to him, the beers were $17 each, and the cocktails were $21. However, after doing the math, the numbers didn't add up to the total charged. After insisting multiple times, I had to be more firm for them to provide the bill. When the server finally handed me a document after about 10 minutes, I noticed that the invoice number didn't match the one on the receipt I had been given. To me, it seemed like they created a new invoice to match the prices they charged in the end, which is highly suspicious and unprofessional. The experience was completely unpleasant. As beautiful as the decorations may be, they don't make up for the poor service or the issues with billing transparency. I DO NOT recommend this place AT ALL! read more

Rolfs - German Near Me - New York, New York

The decor is nice but they fleece you. Ordered two cocktails which were very nice however they then asked me for cash or card. I chose card not thinking twice about then got a credit card receipt for $55! No itemized receipt or anything! So with time, those two cocktails were $66, I would have been better off going to the Four Seasons! I suspect there were several secret upcharges. They don't even show their prices on their webpage so I suspect it's just part of their racket. I will not be returning. read more

Please see my letter to Rolf's Hello, I wanted to reach out to share how disappointed I was with my recent visit to Rolf's. This restaurant has been on my bucket list for years, so I was really looking forward to the experience. I visited with my husband on Wednesday night--our first date night in six months--and unfortunately, it fell short. We were standing in the bar area, where the bartenders created an awkward and unwelcoming environment. They appeared to be whispering and talking amongst themselves about customers throughout the evening. At one point, I even noticed them talking about a young woman who was there with her mother, which was very uncomfortable to witness. Additionally, one of the bartenders approached my husband in a rude and aggressive manner, asking that we make room for others to order. We absolutely did not mind people reaching over us or stepping in front of us to get drinks, so the interaction felt unnecessary and disrespectful. I wanted to bring this to your attention because your restaurant is on many visitors' Christmas bucket lists. We traveled two hours to visit, and it was disappointing for our experience--and potentially others'--to be negatively impacted by poor customer service. The drinks were delicious, and I do want to acknowledge that. However, the overall service overshadowed what should have been a special evening. Thank you for taking the time to read this. read more

The staff is so unfriendly . They pack you into this tiny room literally on top of each other. The food we were warned about but wanted to make our own review. It was awful, the amount of money you pay for lunch and the food is so bland. Def not authentic German food. Definitely worth stopping in to see it decorated for Christmas but save you Money and dine elsewhere you won't regret it. read more

Decorations are a distraction, we had a reservation on a TUESDAY for 8pm guess time we got a table...9:20pm standing in the freezing cold for more then an hour is not ok. Food is ok but definitely not worth the price or the wait...again decorations are NOT worth the time, money, food, or experience read more

This is an extremely kitchy Christmas overload restaurant/bar. Our intention was to go and have a bite to eat . However, we were told you must have two entrées if you want to sit in the restaurant unfortunately, we had just come from a big lunch so we transitioned into the bar area and met some wonderful people chatted them up, had a great drink and just took in all of the Christmas abundance. " it's kind of like if Christmas got drunk, and threw up all over the place" I will say, I was very impressed with the fact that there was no noticeable dust on any of the Christmas bliss hanging from the ceiling . read more

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$20 for one common 16 oz. draft beer. The 32 oz pour is $35. Give me a break ! I have nothing else to say, except that if you want good German beer, go to Radegast or DSK in Brooklyn. read more

Rolfs - Helles lager - very fresh - yum! - German Near Me - New York, New York

Very cool spot to visit during Christmas. Too bad it's more crowded than Rockefeller Center in December. We were not able to make reservations but stood on line to go to the bar. As awesome as the Christmas decor was, the bar hardly had any room to stand. The cheapest drink was $30. The restaurant is nice for the crazy decorations. We might come back next year and make reservations so we can actually sit comfortably at a table. But then again, the price is most likely not worth it. read more

Rolfs - Bar area - German Near Me - New York, New York

As most anyone who has done even a bit of research of this spot, you know it is the place to take pictures around the holidays. Not really for anything else. When my mother-in-law was coming to visit us in NYC, we decided to take her there, as we thought she would love the ambiance and the atmosphere. She is a not a big foodie, so it didn't matter if the food was great or not. We went there 2 days before Thanksgiving, on a cold rainy day, right after lunch (around 1:40pm). We did NOT have a reservation, but it was almost empty so we had no issue getting a table. Before they seated us, the staff told us that there is a "one entrée per person minimum" required. I bet there are so many people going there just for the photo, and get a drink... The inside was decorated to the max, put you right into Christmas spirit. So beautiful and everywhere you look, there was something to see. It was a bit annoying to see some customers coming around with their devise and recording video all the time everywhere, but other than that, it was peaceful. We got one of the booth, and the seats were kind of small. We are not large in size, but it was still a bit tight for 2 people to sit at one end. And the table-to-chair-distance was tight too. Typical NYC restaurant that tries to place as many tables and chairs as possible in a small space. As for food, it was not bad, but it was a-ok. We all had different kind of schnitzel. The price was not worth it, but you know how it is at a tourist-spot. Service was not really existent. I wonder if they think that they will never see these "tourists" again, then they don't need to work hard for them to come back again? My in-law surely enjoyed the experience with the decoration, and no issue with the food. We had a fun time looking around. If you want to check it out, the best bets to go off peak, during the weekday. They only take reservation over the phone. We heard from a family of tourists who had to call around 120 times before someone answered the phone, before getting the 9pm dinner reservation, the only spot the restaurant had open... read more

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