We went here to celebrate our 38th wedding anniversary while vacationing in Chicago from Baltimore. Finding legit German restaurants is harder than your normal Italian or Chinese fare but The Berghoff was it. I got the massive molasses pork chop dinner. Hubby got the sauerbrauten and a root beer. We were both happy with our food choices and the price was reasonable. My only disappointment was being too full to try their dessert menu. I would go back if in the area. read more

Old style wonderful Resturant with impeccable service. We arrived during lunch and had the stacked tomato plate and the beer battered COD. You have no idea how much we wanted the total German menu but since we only wanted something light. (Dinner next time for sure) Quality of food was outstanding since the last time we were there almost 5 years ago. read more

Arrived about 2:00pm Sunday afternoon with my family of 4. No wait. Walked in and seated right away. Waiter was professional and quick. Loved the history of the restaurant and enjoyed the wall art!! Wisconsin Fried Cheese Curds - Chickpea wasabi crust, apricot wasabi sauce Surprised by the dip being apricot but the taste was delicious!! Family loved. Would never know it was wasabi anything or chickpea crusted. Potato Pierogies (5) - Beurre blanc sauce, quinoa arugula salad, sour cream Very tasty. Definitely worth getting. I enjoyed the salad and the sour cream. Bread Basket - House-made rye, sourdough, wheat, lavash My family enjoyed the bread. 100% My son ordered and he ate it up. Disappointed it was not warm but still good. Wiener Schnitzel - A la Holstein - Pan-fried breaded veal cutlet, substituted fries instead of creamed spinach, pickle, house-made spätzle - German noodles, plus 2 fried easy side eggs, capers and anchovies Very good!! Family member could see why it was the most popular item on the menu. Enjoyed the spatzle as is that was underneath the breaded veal. Sauerbraten - Marinated roasted beef sirloin, sweet and sour gravy, asparagus, green beans, mashed potatoes Second most popular entree ordered on menu. Roast tender, gravy took some getting use to but was good overall. Went well with the potatoes and veggies - asparagus, carrot, green beans. Schlachteplatte - Smoked pork-chop, chopped bratwurst, knockwurst, smoked Thuringer, sauerkraut, fingerling potatoes Smoked pork-chop was smoky but a little dry per family member but other meats were tasty. I did enjoy it but I only sampled. Overall delicious. Ordered a side of spatzle - German noodles Disappointed spatzle was cold. Had them warm with butter elsewhere and was good. Lemon Tortellini - Spinach, dill, blistered tomatoes, roasted garlic cream. Very tasty!! Felt like the Tortellini melted in your mouth. read more

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Good German food, a few other options on menu and didn't fit German food, all sausages are good with a really nice spicy mustard, potato pancakes were smaller and tasted like hash browns, missing flavor that should be in them, beef was nice, potatoes and veggie's tasty and cook well, desserts cheesecake and strudel topped my list of desserts. With Adams street brewery, lots of good beer selections, I had Da Dizzy a juicy sour that was just right, my server had good recommendations and service was fast and humorous. Make it reservations we arrived at 5 to empty tables 10 min later the place was full on a Thursday, read more

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Visited on a Monday for a lunch reservation for two. The restaurant was not busy, but the atmosphere was great. We started with a flight of beers, which offered a nice variety. For our main courses, we ordered the Reuben sandwich and the Pork Schnitzel platter--both were absolutely delicious. For dessert, we requested the German chocolate cake. There was a slight mix-up, and our waiter initially brought us the black forest cake instead. However, as soon as we pointed this out, he promptly and politely corrected the order. Overall, it was a very nice experience and a great restaurant we'd recommend. read more

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The Berghoff has been family owned and operated for more than 125 years. That means they are probably serving the same food they served your grandparents. This was decorated for the season with large Christmas trees and I even saw Santa walking around and talking with kids. There were a lot of groups (multigenerational) dining for the holidays. We started with the giant pretzel and ordered traditional dishes like schnitzel. The menu has made concessions to modern times -- I saw salads, paleo dishes, salmon. If you are looking for hearty dishes, beers, and a festive setting, do like your grandparents or parents did and eat here. read more

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Our group of 5 stopped in here on a Sunday night for a late dinner, which was a great choice because of so many menu options to make everyone happy. Service was great and food was brought out very quickly. Noise level was mild and we enjoyed being seated at our round table which allowed for easy conversation. The food was divine. I had beef liver and onions served over a huge portion of creamy mashed potatoes. Roasted carrots and asparagus also rounded out the dish and overall a very lovely presentation. This was enough food for two; however, we tried our best to make a dent. Would love to return when we visit the city again. read more

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Delicious German foods and a wide array of beer offerings. Wood interior makes for a warm atmosphere. Friendly service too. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Potato pancakes - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Years ago, we used to dine in The Berghoff Restaurant in downtown Chicago very often when we were actively attending Broadway shows.  Its location makes it such an ideal restaurant to have a pre-show dinner.  A couple of days ago, we played it a visit again as we were going to a show in The CIBC Theatre, which is only a 4-minute walk away.  We parked at the Adams Wabash iParkit Garage, which is a mere 2-minute walk to the restaurant. The Berghoff has more to offer other than its ideal location.  The restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Chicago, but it is maintained really well, clean and beautiful.  When we visited, it was festively decorated for St. Patrick's Day. They serve delicious authentic German fare.  As we were in a hurry, each of us just ordered a drink and an entrée.  Berghoff must have tons of experience serving food for show goers, as the staff were efficient and the food came out quickly. Daughter had a In Cold Blood ($13) and a Reuben Sandwich ($21.95), hand-carved corned beef (or turkey), Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, on house-made rye.  She ordered it without Thousand Island dressing which was included in the menu.  Hubby and I each ordered a Wiener Schnitzel ($27.95 each), pan-fried breaded veal cutlet, creamed spinach, house-made spätzle.  He had a Root Beer ($3.6) and I had an Iced Tea ($3.4).  The Wiener Schnitzel was piping hot, nicely cooked with a crispy light batter and rather tender veal.  It even brought back good memories from our respective trips in Germany and Austria. I enjoyed the house-made spätzle a lot. Daughter liked her Reuben Sandwich too. There is a 3.5% surcharge to every check, as specified in their website. Good thing that it was not a surprise for us. Actually, the service stood out the most this time.  When we were caught in very slow traffic in the expressway on our way to the restaurant, I called The Berghoff and spoke to Brian on the phone, and told him we would be 15 minutes late.  He was very kind, assured we would have our table, and thanked me for telling him.  When we finally arrived 25 minutes late, Brian was still so welcoming, cheerful, and friendly.  As he was leading us into the dining area, he let us choose either a booth or a table.  Fortunately, it was still early for dinner, around 5:30 pm, there were still a few tables available.  When we were eating, the restaurant became packed. Our server, Isaiah, offered flawless service too.  He's also very kind, friendly, and professional.  I informed him that we only had an hour before we needed to leave for the show.  He assured us that he would make sure we leave on time, and he delivered his promise.  Actually, it only took us about 52 minutes from sitting down to finish!  Our dining experience at The Berghoff was delightful and perfect! read more

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Wow! What a cool and historic place. Family owned and operated for over 125 years! Huge place! Many rooms for dining. Oktoberfest was going on in one area, and down below in the lower level was a wedding reception. Festive decor and excellent German food. I had the Ragout from the Oktoberfest menu and it was delicious. My boyfriend's goulash was very flavorful too. The cocktails are tasty too. Wonderful service from Chris. Lovely experience! read more

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Visited again and went for the schnitzel. Comparatively, I would suggest sticking with their sausages. They have a wonderful knockwurst and bratwurst. The schnitzel was average. Also, TRY THE HOUSEMATE ROOT BEER. It is complex and flavorful. The Christmas decorations are quite beautiful and German. If you find the pickle ornament on the tree, you get a free drink. Our server was attentive and recommended the goulash for my partner, and it was rich and comforting. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Sausage appetizer with German potato salad - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Stumbled in here to escape the cold for a beer and some live music but couldn't find a seat so went over to the dining area after seeing that giant pretzel float by... Not typically the dining menu I would go for but it is BIG. We did only get the Bavarian pretzel and beers- both were average. I did really like both the beer cheese and the sweet mustard though! The service in the dining area was slow, I objectively had a bad seat because I was in a square table about 4 inches from a full round table in a corner so the waiter couldn't get to them without bumping into me, and the hostess was rude. Honestly, I likely would have given it 4 stars if we were in the lively bar area because that's what we came for but maybe in a bigger group the dining area would provide better service. read more

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We came here for dinner to use a gift card we'd received. My boyfriend likes German food and this is about as German as you can get! We started with an order of the potato pierogies. They were very tasty, but for $13.95 you only get 5 of them. I had the Jäger Schnitzel (served with root veggies and spaetzle) and he had the Weiner Schnitzel (served with creamy spinach and spaetzle) ala Holstein (adds 2 over easy eggs, capers, and anchovies). All were very tasty and enjoyed! Their root beer (which our server said is made in house) is also delicious and refillable! Our server was a young man (late 20s-ish) and was very friendly, attentive, and good at explaining their different beer variety. Overall, I would come back here. The bar next door, Adams Street Brewery, is owned by the same people and connected to the restaurant. That looked like a really nice space worth coming back for. I also made friends with a very sweet little pup waiting with its owner inside. woof! ;) read more

I haven't been back at The Berghoff in a while and so glad to have tried it during restaurant week. Such a chicago tradition, the decor and layout has an old world charm about it . Our server Sandra was very polite and attentive. I had the potato perogies and salmon salad both were delicious. Will certainly be back soon. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Sesame Seared Salmon Nicoise Salad - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We haven't been to The Berghoff in decades but we were headed to a concert at Symphony Center and it's nearby. The dining room is beautiful. our waitress was pleasant and attentive. The service was fast. There seemed to be a lot of other concert goers there. My husband had a Czech Pilsner which he enjoyed. We had traditional German food, Sauerbraten and Jaeger Schnitzel. Both were delicious. The sauerbraten came with lots of beautiful vegetables. Especially appreciated the handmade spaetzle. If you haven't been to the Berghoff in a while, or if you've never been, I encourage you to give it a try. We had a lovely dinner that ended with chocolates in celebration of my husband's birthday. We'll be back! read more

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I have meant to come here for years but between work and their limited COVID hours it took me a while! As a big fan of Breweries and beer brewing in general I was excited to visit this historical monument to the craft. Upon arriving for lunch we were quickly greeted and seated. Immediately I noticed the variety and quality of the beer offered was far above average! The menu was filled with predominantly German and UK inspired meat based dishes with few offerings for vegans, vegetarians, or pescatarians. The ambiance was very much a older, touristy, kitschy vibe similar to what you might feel at somewhere like the Walnut room. Service reflected a similar kind of "tourist hospitality worker" vibe and not in the overly performative happy way, more in a - "I'm on hour 13 of my Bubba Gumps shift down at Navy Pier" kind of way. Not to say it was bad or anything, everyone was super kind but definitely had an exhausted/burnt out feel. We had the Fish and Chips and the French Onion soup. The fish and Chips was what you might expect from an upscale pub, but the soup was absolutely phenomenal. I honestly would go back for just the soup alone! Beer was great! In short: -Food was amazing -Drink was great -Ambiance was touristy, elderly, supper club vibe -Pricing = Tourism premium However the big drawback here is prices. Listen I understand it's expensive operating a business like this in Downtown Chi but at some point fried bar food and sandwiches; is just fried bar food and sandwiches - and paying $20+ per plate is crazy. Similar feedback on the beer pricing. Overall I don't like the idea that their repacking traditionally low cost, working class food and drink and selling them back to people for premiums which rival a mid-tier steakhouse. Come here once if your enticed by the locations history but beyond that I can't understand why anyone would come back here. (Except for maybe the decent priced cup of soup!). Would love to see owners take this place in a different direction which focuses less on serving high spender tourists and instead appealing to Loop workers looking for great happy hour spots that won't break the bank. Make it a true spot loved by Chicagoans. read more

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Class from the bottom to the top! When I went with family from out of town, it was all excellent. We felt catered to, from our drinks to our desserts. The ambiance is stellar, service great, and food amazing. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We ate at the Berghoff on a Thursday evening. We chose Thursday because right now they are celebrating Oktoberfest in the bar area. That was fun! There was a Duo playing a very long horn and a euphonium. They were dressed in traditional German folk outfit and played traditional German music. We were seated in the dining room for our dinner reservation and ordered the appetizer of potato pancakes, which was delicious! My husband took the first bite and declared that it tasted like Germany on a plate. And he meant that in the most positive way possible. I ordered Jager schnitzel, which was a little disappointing. I've usually had Jager schnitzel served with with a breaded and and then pan fried pork cutlet. This was a thin pork cutlet which appeared to be pan fried but was not breaded before it was fried. Small distinction, but for me, an important one. Sauce was okay, although not terrific. Sometimes I have received Jager sauce that is creamy, rather than brown. This was brown sauce, with what I think were wild mushrooms in it. Good. Just not great. Hubs ordered the Austrian meatloaf, which was on the Oktoberfest special menu. This was a fabulous dish! Everything about it was delicious! The meatloaf was interesting and flavorful, the potatoes were mashed and tasted as if they had emmenthal or gruyere cheese in them, and the accompanying sauteed spinach was done just right. Still green, but wilted. Would order this dish again in a heartbeat! Beers were fantastic as expected! Apple strudel was okay. I felt like it was too much like phyllo dough rather than choux pastry and I didn't think there was enough extra flavor in side. The apple strudel, like raisins and cinnamon. Also, I really missed having a bit of whipped cream on it. Not sure I would order this again. The dining room is great! I recommend a stop at the berghoff just to see what old restaurants look like. I recommend eating there also. read more

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The food was great so was the beer. Service was excellent. The dining area was roomy.

Oldest restaurant in Chicago. Service - good Food - good Price - competitive Taste - good Quality - good If you like french onion soup then try the onion/apple soup! read more

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Went before a show at the Auditorium theater. It's walking distance. Had the veal schnitzel which was excellent. Is it as good as the original 30 I used to eat at 30 years ago? Maybe not. But still tasty and great service. read more

The Berghoff has an impressive history, definite charm, top-notch service, and good German food. However, I was much more impressed with some of their offerings than several others. Overall, my larger party enjoyed the evening very much. We were well taken care of, checked on regularly, and all of our meals came out quickly and all at the same time. I was not a fan of their interpretation or presentation of several of their entrees. That include my own, the chicken schnitzel. The cutlet itself was delicious. However, it was served with marinara on top. For me, that just looked and tasted wrong, I would have preferred some type of white sauce or gravy, similar to the other schnitzel offerings (but yes, I did finish it). Another was the goulash, which is served on mashed potatoes, again unexpected to me. Some of their desserts were presented in unusual fashion as well. I certainly appreciated the opportunity to dine here. If I have more opportunities, I'll simply learn from this experience and will select items prepared closer to what I consider traditional. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - The chicken schnitzel is topped with marinara, a presentation I thought was ... peculiar. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tried this restaurant during my time in Chicago. Was very happy that it was open, since a lot of the nearby restaurants closed at 7pm that night. I had the tortellini and added a salmon while my friend got the Reuben. Both of us liked our food but thought it could have been seasoned a little more. The waiter was very nice and attentive and even made my ridiculous ginger ale and lemonade drink lol. read more

Could have sat at this place all day. Beautiful interior that takes you back in time. It was close to Christmas and they had a Santa on hand. Tried pierogis that were delicious. Reuben was great. Homemade chips tasty. At the time of writing this if you pay in cash they wave the 3% charge all the restaurants were tacking onto bills. A classic that did not disappoint. read more

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Currywurst was delicious! Amazing sides and great prices. The ambiance is also very great. My problem with this resturant is that the food runner dropped ketchup on my boyfriend's white hat and they didn't do anything to try and make it right other than bring napkins. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We like Berghoff, a classic German restaurant in the loop. It's Chicago's oldest restaurant, and has been in the same family since it was founded in 1898. The food is good, quite rich, and the place is kid-friendly and loud. This time (Nov 2025) my friends went there and I asked them to bring takeout for me. I like their wild game sausages for their notable flavors. They are not overly strong, simply different enough that I can savor something unique in each. The Wild Boar was somewhat coarsely-ground, which I like because it cleverly adds to the sense of being game. It's rather lean, so I dipped each bit in the thick sweet Madeira sauce which is a good complement for the dark flavor and the mixed savory herbs which include the slight pine flavor of rosemary. The dark Venison sausage was also on the lean side, though not really in need of the Madeira sauce. It had a stronger garlic flavor and enough black pepper. I liked it with a sharp grainy mustard. The duck was rich and mellow, and more tender than the others, with mild flavors of garlic and oregano, plus something a little sweeter. Each of these had a distinct character, and none of them were "gamey" in flavor or texture. None of them were over-seasoned or greasy. They were a nice departure from pork and beef, and to me, they bring a sense of travel to some rustic country tavern. They were served with soft tender tasty caramelized carrots and potatoes vegetables. The house-made spätzle has a creamy feeling with a denser core, like a thick al-dente bite. The lush textures added dimension to the rougher sausages. The whole meal was rich and filling and satisfying. My friends said that their attentive server timed my takeout serving perfectly so that it arrived hot at their table as they closed out their tab. By the way, Santa visits the restaurant each December weekend through the 21st, and again on the 23rd! read more

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We took out little noe to The Berghoff this holiday season to check out the decorations. The wait for the restaurant was 1.5 hours for 3 people. Luckily, we were able to snag a table at the bar pretty quickly. The bar is open seating and you can order from the full menu. There are lot of tables with varying sizes. The decor in the bar was nice and sufficient. The room for the restaurant was a little more cozy and the tree was beautiful. I walked my little one over there to check it out and that was good enough! The bar tables were turning over pretty quickly, so I would defintely recommend trying the bar if there is a long wait! We had the potato pancakes, wiener schnitzel, and then reuben sandwhich. I wanted the Rahm schnitzel, but they were out. All the food was great! The potato pancakes were surprsingly good! Very nice texture and interesting balance of flavors with the brie and fig. They weren't very big, but I would still get them again. The wiener schnitzel and reuben was also very good. I would get both of these again. I usually don't love reuben sandwiches, but I really enjoyed this one! I also had their famous root beer, which was very yummy. I usually don't drink soft drinks, so this felt like a dessert! I'm glad I tried it, but I don't think I need to get it again. We finished with the old apple cake, which was the perfect ending to our meal. The food came out quickly and the server was very attentive. Everything seemed very organized and efficient, which is always apprecaited when you're dining with kids. I would love to come back every holiday season. It was a satisfying meal and a fun experience! read more

Even better on my second visit. I had the weiner schnitzel, Holstein style. It had two sunny side up eggs on top, anchovies and capers. Incredible. Fantastic beer, good service. My band mate (we were there on tour, musicians) got a wild game sausage plate that looked amazing. Love this spot. I'll be back, when I return to Chicago. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Wiener Schnitzel, Holstein Style. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our group of fifteen enjoyed a wonderful Thursday night dinner at The Berghoff, one of Chicago's most historic restaurants. Famous for being one of the first local spots to brew its own beer, this place offers great food and a real sense of tradition. I went with their signature Sauerbraten - incredibly tender beef in a rich, slightly sweet and sour sauce that practically melted in my mouth. For dessert, the Apple Strudel was the perfect finish, with crispy layers wrapped around warm, cinnamon-spiced apples. Their house-brewed beer, served ice-cold on tap, complemented everything perfectly. What really made the night special was learning about the restaurant's long history from our friendly server. You can tell this place has been a Chicago favorite for generations - the food is hearty and satisfying, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and you can feel the history in every bite. Whether you're a local or just visiting, The Berghoff is absolutely worth trying for great German food, good beer, and a real taste of old Chicago. I will definitely go back! read more

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Our plane was late so we barely made it before closing. But our server, Alex, was very personable and efficient! Some of us ate typical German food, and one had Lake Michigan Whitefish. Sausage trio with German Potato Salad and a typical Meatloaf with mashed potatoes rounded out our meals. Plus . . All entrees were served with perfectly cooked veggies . . Carrots, asparagus, peas, and steamed spinach! No wonder this family-owned business has been in operation since 1893 when the World's Fair was in Chicago! The family opened with a beer truck in the fair. Gorgeous, classy old world ambiance and delicious food. I'd go back again tonight if I could. read more

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I haven't been to German restaurant in a very long time. This experience was excellent. I love German food and this didn't disappoint. I tried a little bit of everything. I had potato pancake appetizer that was sweet and salty and wasn't overly filling. I ordered the Sausage Trio and all of the sausages were tasty with perfect amount of sauerkraut and potatoes. I also tried spaetzle and creamed spinach. The spinach was my favorite that I'll come back for next time! I finished it off with German Chocolate Cake- it was maybe a little too fancy for my liking compared to classic cake but it was good. The beers were great too! I recommend The Berghoff! read more

This is a touristy place that doesn't feel gimmeky. Loved the brewery decor and older aesthetic of this late 1800s establishment. We received good service and got apps to share - Potato pancakes - Cheese curds - Bratwurst - Pierogies Everyone was delicious with various flavor profiles but the sauces for the curds and pierogies were the stars. Great drink and beer options as well going with a stout and lager! The coffee stout tasted quite a bit like coffee which I really enjoyed and wasn't too bitter. read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch. It has a welcoming and casual atmosphere. Our server was outstanding. She was polite and made great recommendations. I had the fish tacos and potato pancakes. Both were 10/10. I absolutely loved the mixture of cod and salmon on the fish tacos. The two sauces that come with it are both good, too. I mixed them together for an extra kick of spices. Now what surprised me were the potato pancakes. The flavor was so yummy. They bring it with apple sauce and sour cream. Honestly, they are delicious on their own. My guest had the rueben egg rolls and soup. They said the egg rolls were a 7/10 but the soup was really good. Great food and great service. read more

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I went in for a solo dinner. I had their root beer, which is terrific. I had sausages with sauerkraut and German potato salad. It's very hearty and filling. There are many choices, and next time I'd try something else. For dessert, I had Apple Cake, which was exceptional. The service was quick and friendly. The restaurant is bright and great for socializing. read more

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Large menu. We were there just after their Oktoberfest celebration so not sure if the decorations are permanent or for that. A little tacky - pretzels and coasters and plastic hops bunches hanging from brass chandeliers.... Menu is large. Portions also large. Not sure if the sausages are locally made but the Thuringer was tasty. Seemed to cater to tourists which isn't exactly a criticism. House made mustard was good. read more

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We visited The Berghoff for dinner before a play at The Studebaker Theater. This is a great location for a great meal before catching a show at The Studebaker Theater, Auditorium Theatre and other venues in the areas. We arrived just in time for their Octoberfest kick-off, so pints were flowing and their special menu was newly underway. A beer maiden and a gentleman in lederhosen came through playing the accordian and fiddle and to honor Octoberfest as well. Unless that's normal. It was fun nonetheless. I'd be a fool not to get their corned beef sandwich on rye. So that's what I got. The corned beef was delectable. Very flavorful and not dry. I added a touch of stone ground mustard, but truthfully, it wasn't needed. We started with the Bavarian pretzel that came with house made beer cheese and sweet mustard. The pretzel didn't need either dipping sauce. The pretzel was delicious on its own. I also got a bowl of the chicken noodle soup. Everything was delicious and hot. I'd go back and it was a great place to go before the theater. They accommodate for your need for speed based on the play start time. read more

My husband and I had dinner at The The Berghoff Restaurant in Chicago. I ordered the Sauerbraten, and my husband had the Sausage Trio with sauerkraut and German potato salad. The Sauerbraten was tender and flavorful, with a nice balance of sweet and tangy sauce, definitely a hearty, traditional German dish. My husband really enjoyed his sausage trio; everything tasted fresh and well-prepared. I'm not usually a big fan of German food, but I appreciated the quality and care that went into the meal. The restaurant itself has a warm, classic Chicago atmosphere, clean, welcoming, and full of history. The service was great, and overall, it was a lovely experience. Worth visiting if you want to try authentic German cuisine in Chicago. read more

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It's Oktoberfest in Chicago! We've been to Germany but would have to say the German food here is much better than the restaurants we visited in Berlin! Comfort food executed well in an enjoyable atmosphere. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Solid food in a nice atmosphere at not too awful prices. Service lagged a little but not too badly. I've been avoiding the Berghoff mostly because of its slightly mixed reviews and its inability to live up to my memories of Luchow's in NY and Hausner's in Baltimore. It doesn't come near matching my memories but it does of fine job of being itself. We had out-of-town guests who were excited about going to the Berghoff so off we went. The beer selection was extensive and well chosen and the house-brewed beers are worth ordering. Pierogis were great (Kasia's, maybe?) and sautéed in a lemon butter for a very tasty twist on the same old. Not many for the price, though. Entrees -schnitzel and sauerbraten - were done well and were solidly good. The schnitzel was crispy and the mashed potatoes served with the sauerbraten were excellent. The only odd thing, though, was that while I was able to substitute sides on dishes from the regular menu I was not allowed to do that with dishes from the Oktoberfest menu. Makes no sense to me but it is what it is. I rarely order dessert in restaurants but our guests wanted to so we got German chocolate cake (which has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Germany) and apple strudel. The cake was fine, nothing too memorable, but perfectly good. The strudel was distinctly underbaked and somewhat soggy. A little more time in the oven would have done wonders for it. And the house-brewed root beer, which took a ridiculously long time to arrive, was not quite as good as Culver's but not far behind. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Wiener Schnitzel - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Well originally I wanted to go to the Edelweiss up close to Norridge, Illinois but they were closed on Tuesdays after work. So I decided to go on Wednesday to this place before I did my research and it was very good. Surprisingly, it's an antiquated restaurant that's was established 1898 and is still operating .Anyways, in regards to the food it was your decent traditional German food. I had a hard time deciding since there where so many German dishes. I went to start off which was a substitute to French onion soup called the Apple onion soup. It tastes almost like a french onion but less salty and less cheesy it was delicious and the Apple was not too sweet thinking that the Apple would overpower the onion for a soup is an appetizer. It was a tough call between the German trio which was your traditional bratwurst,knockwurst and therringer sausage. The other was the game sausage platter which had duck sausage, venison sausage and pork sausage. I'll probably come back again for that one but was really wanting more of a common traditional German staple since I haven't had German food for a long time. I'm glad I chose what I chose the bratwurst was cook very well and tasted delicious the knockwaurst was tasty too. It is almost close to a Polish calabasa sausage which you have to cut in and the therarringer saugage was also okay it's a mix of veal and pork for that kind of sausage. It was served with a potato salad that was served warm which is hearty and German sauerkraut which was also good. they didn't make the sauerkraut too sweet or too saucy versus grocery store sauerkraut. Service was pretty quick and friendly. Ambience was very classy with a lot of these paintings of the city of Chicago and I guess the Columbia expedition of 1898 which they still had next to the chandeliers. Most German restaurants they use panel wood but this one despite being wood was more classy and not so dark in ambiance. Another thing that surprised me was I was expecting this to be a bougie place to eat since it's in downtown Chicago spending almost $100 on my spell but it's really not that expensive. For if you are in downtown Chicago and had a craving for German just come over here. I am ending my meal with the black forest cake hopefully it's as good as the bakery called Lutz up north to bed for another bakery called Dinkels that close 2 years ago read more

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