The ambiance of this restaurant takes you back to. pub in Germany! their selection of beer is extensive. The food was delicious i had the pirogies then chicken schnitzel but the sauerbraten looked good too with tender beef. The service was attentive and friendly. Also their rootbeer is delicious. This is an iconic place and a must visit when in chicago. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Chicken Schnitzel side of marinara on side - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Overall -- this place has a cool atmosphere, the dark wood with the art on the wall. Very old-school. A little dingy, but that's okay. Our waiter who took our order and everything was very nice and patient. The beer list is decent. There is a lot on the menu which I don't think is a good thing. It was fun to read the menu though, trying to pronounce the german words. We started with the pretzel, and it was pretty good. It is hard to screw up a pretzel. Unfortunately, the other food just wasn't all that great. I got the Wiener Schnitzel. The schnitzel itself was good because it was deep fried -- anything deep fried is good, right?? The sides were... interesting. I understand that it's classic German fare and I think that's not typically in my preferred flavor realm, but I think the issue was more quality...? The creamed spinach was slimy. When I didn't finish the worker clearing the plates accosted me. It was incredibly uncomfortable and for that reason I don't think I would ever come here again. read more

We've been coming here for decades - one of the Chicago eateries that we simply never miss when we're in town. On the menu here is German food, and theirs is simply the best. Over the years we have stolen their concept of small potatoes with parseley and butter, and made it at home. What we cannot replicate on Long Island is most everything else. Their bratwurst, gnocchi, and schnitzel. Only problem here is choosing what not to order. The decor looks like it was remodeled in 1950, and we wouldn't have it any other way. They are not to be missed. read more

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I came here with my two boys for lunch during the week. My youngest son had the chicken tenders meal from the kids menu and my oldest wanted the Bavarian Pretzel. He really liked the mustard and cheese dip that came with it and you can't really mess up chicken tenders. I ordered the soup of the day which was asparagus soup and it was hot and flavorful which was welcome on this chilly afternoon. What I really wanted to acknowledge in this review was the service we received. We were in the city for an emergency and I stopped at the Berghoff because it was near our hotel and the hospital. Our waitress was phenomenal. She kept our refills coming and was beyond friendly. She didn't rush us but was attentive and polite. If I can remember her name I will edit this post and add it. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Soup of the Day- Asparugus soup - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My mother in law had been going to the walnut room for decades and we can no longer get into there as easy. So I vowed to find us another place to maybe become our Chicago Christmas tradition. After much research I picked the Berghoff. We are so pleased with EVERYTHING to Announce we will being going back each year moving forward. We got off the train early in the day so we made it to the Berghoff around noon. December weekends in Chicago are very difficult to find anywhere that takes reservations. We only had to wait 40 mins. As the oldest restaurant in the city, it did not disappoint, especially in character. The German American food was absolutely done perfect. Very fresh. The drinks were all very tasty and the homemade root beer was a hit. The krampus brandy wine was Christmas in a cup, and the service was fast, efficient, and friendly. They ran it it like a well oiled machine.! Thank you to the Berghoff for saving our family Christmas tradition ! Good luck trying to decide from all of the tasty food options! We don't have pics of our entrees as they were so delicious they were gone! read more

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Another classic: Chicago's oldest restaurant. They have homemade rootbear that's always compliments of the house. It has no carbonation and no bite so nothing so great. But the goulash is Devine and perfect. Just a fun old place that delivers fresh, well prepared food if the fatherland when that urge hits you for some spetzel or a giant pretzel or perfect German French onion/green apple soup. This last dish is a must not miss as weird as it sounds. Enjoy!! read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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April 2022 was my first visit to the Berghoff during Chicago restaurant week. It was an exciting visit for me however not so much for my husband as this was one of his regular lunch/drink spots during his time at the Board of Trade. We were in the area on a Saturday running errands and decided to lunch here. We waited outside in a line 15 minutes prior to their noon opening. Seeing a line prior to opening tells me that the restaurant is popular and that I was in for a treat. As for the food, I would say it is average. We've visited several German restaurants over the years and if we had to compare, their food is very middle of the road. It's not terrible but its not amazing either. Even during restaurant week, lunch set us back $70. The ambiance is great and picture worthy. There's rich history within. It's worth a visit especially if you're a tourist but I wouldn't come here regularly. There's no free parking nearby unless you pay in the lots but it's a decent lunch option during the week if your job is close to it. read more

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Good food, great atmosphere, a classic Chicago restaurant. One of those things that make Chicago Chicago.

Classic German Food. Nice full bar. All the beer is made at the brewery next door. Potato salad is perfect. read more

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Obsessed with the salmon sandwich! Such a fun German atmosphere too! Also had a blue Hawaiian drink that was good.

Connected to Adam's Street Brewery, the Berghoff was a must-stop when visiting Chicago. We got 2 stein sized beers (for only $15 a piece!) and split a pretzel. The restaurant was decorated beautifully for the holidays, the staff was super friendly and the food and beer were great! read more

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A popular place for locals and tourists that gets very busy and as a result the service is usually pretty slow and not always friendly. It especially gets busy in the evenings and on weekends so avoid those if possible. The Berghoff Restaurant has been here a long time. Classic German style pub food and generally high calorie. Menu is mostly meaty stuff like Wienerschnitzel. It has a mostly meaty menu so it's not vegetarian friendly. Sadly in fact there's only a single entirely vegetarian item on the menu it seems. The menu is mostly German meats and things. A lot of traditional items. They of course have beer too. I had a Garden Salad the last time here. It's $10.95 for a pretty big one. This comes with a lemon vinaigrette on mixed greens, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. Basic tasting salad pretty much. This is sad it's only only thing for vegetarians to eat here but it's not a bad salad. Good place if you like German meat. It also has Adams Street brewery beer on tap. They have a pretty good amount of beer to pair with a food together. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Garden Salad - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant is connected to Adams Street Brewery so you get the best of both worlds! Delicious German food paired with quality beer. After Thanksgiving, this restaurant and brewery transforms into a winter Christmas wonderland!! The decor is gorgeous and elegant, AND THEY EVEN HAVE A SANTA. Very family friendly. Santa was wearing a face shield and walked around to each table to greet the customers and ask if we've been good this year and what's on our Christmas list. We had a pleasant quick chat about the Instant Pot and how Santa uses it in the North Pole. HA! Fun family Christmas vibes all around. Beer was fantastic. You can order it at the restaurant side. The chicken schnitzel was crispy on the outside and a good ratio of breading to meat. It sat on a bed of chewy tender spaetzl (I'd describe it was a free form pasta), and we had a side of creamy spinach. The creamy spinach had lots of positive reviews but it tasted okay. It didn't have much flavor to me and was more creamy than spinach-y. But my partner loved it! My favorite was the red cabbage side!! It was so delicious, like a vegetable version of caramelized onions, because it was sweet and had similar texture. So good! Can't wait to come back!! read more

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We shared the Cuban sandwich and the Gretchen's Potato Pancakes for lunch. Both were good. I was pleasantly surprised by the topping on the potato cakes. It was sweet and delicious. Would love to come back here more hungry and ready for dinner. The decor inside was nice, staff were extremely pleasant and friendly, and all the facilities were clean. read more

We got Stuffed Mushrooms ~$ 10.00 Mushroom caps, creamed spinach, Parmesan cheese ( 3.5/5) and then a Spatzleknödel read more

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What a shame that the only thing authentic anymore is the German beer and band in the bar. Mom was from Germany so it used to be a place for happy family memories but no more. The food is no longer fresh and the few mushrooms were canned or jarred in the signature mushroom sauce tasted like brown powder. Ambience is always nice and service decent, but the food has become so awful and overpriced I just can't give it more than 1 star and we will not be returning. read more

This is a historic but still lively German restaurant in the heart of downtown Chicago serving outstanding German food. Service is highly efficient and cordial. The beautiful wood paneled rooms add to the atmosphere. Great for locals and tourists alike. read more

My family of 4 went here over the holiday when we were in Chicago. I read the reviews and was not sure what to expect. We thought it was delightful! We all got something different and we were happy with our selections! I had sauerbraten and YES delightfully umami flavored. Husband ordered the sausage plate and no complaints and he finished his dish. The kids ordered Spatzleknödel (which was a pretty small entree but tasty) and the Rahm Schnitzel (a pork cutlet with a tomato sauce like gravy and again very good!) we also had potato pancakes ( we didn't care for them because they were more of the mashed potato and fried variety we like them shredded and fried). We also had chocolate cake for dessert which was Devine and obviously made in house. Our waiter was very attentive and the general vibe was warm and happy! The interior is kind of old world with wood everywhere very charming. I will say don't be confused by the German vibe, they have a pretty diverse menu with German entrees as well. I also was thinking Burghoff beer, but no they don't serve that but the beer they had was really good (I'm from Wisconsin so yeah I know beer). I have seen in the reviews that people thought it was pricey. What I will say is, yes it is a special occasion place, but if you look at the menu on line before you go, I bet it could be more economical. We splurged for the holiday and our bill for 4 was a little over $300. If you go during the holiday the main room has a lively Christmas Tree and it really helps the vibe feel even more festive. This isn't at all a stuffy atmosphere and many families with small children were there as well as couples. It was a really warm experience and we will absolutely go back sometime. Prost! read more

Experienced German food for the first time today. I had a staff meeting and one of the girls suggested that we go here. The ambience was OK it wasn't upbeat but it wasn't really dry it was kind of medium atmosphere. The waitress was a waitress. She wasn't really overly nice but she wasn't rude she was just taking care of the tables and that was it so It was really no personality at the place. The food came out rather quickly. The stuff mushrooms were probably the best thing that I had there everything else was OK it wasn't great but it wasn't terrible. The overall experience I can appreciate since I have never been to a German restaurant but the chances of me going back are slim to none. read more

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The Berghoff is an historic Chicago institution and I was happy to have the opportunity to visit once again. I'll just state upfront that this review is based only on a carryout of their Sausage Trio entree. For dining in, I'd probably add 2 stars just for the historic dining venue that it is, but we didn't dine in. We swung by here after the wife completed her very nearby jury duty at the Dirksen Federal Building and it was only 4:30pm, so we picked up that entree to go. I would have loved to have dined in, but it wasn't timely. I had a workday lunch here I think 35 years ago or so, but it wasn't memorable because I don't remember much about it except I know I was here, duh. Back then, I also know I didn't have the appreciation for historic venues that I do now. Anyway, it's a delightful and historic German venue as you can see from the photos. The cafe portion is now closed due to lack of traffic but the restaurant is in normal operation. The main ratings knock for the Sausage Trio is that for $20.25, it was a pretty underwhelming offering with 3 smaller sized sausages, some sauerkraut, and German potato salad. That's ok - it's still on my to-do list to dine in here sometime and I know I will enjoy it a lot. read more

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A prolonged closure during the pandemic was undoubtedly the longest interruption in the 125+ year history of this iconic restaurant. The Missus and I, along with a friend, were wary of dining here so soon (two days) after reopening. But apart from one issue, we enjoyed a glorious reunion with our favorite downtown restaurant. Seated in the Century Room, we experienced wonderful service. Our friendly and attentive server had been at Berghoff long enough prior to the pandemic to gain experience. She assured us that the small selection of dinner entrees will gradually expand as customers return and the staff gets back up to speed. The beverage menu offers 12 draft beers brewed in-house under the Adams Street Brewery moniker. I ordered a pint of Dunkel. This is quite similar to the Berghoff Dark beer which I've enjoyed in the past. And, yes, you can still order Berghoff Old Fashioned NA root beer. Our entrees arrived quickly. The Missus and I ordered Wiener Schnitzel. This was perfectly pan fried - crisp & greaseless on the outside, and juicy & tender inside, with no fat or gristle. The classic sides of creamed spinach and spaetzle were also up to par. Our companion ordered the Chicken Schnitzel. We concurred that the accompanying marinara sauce could rival any Italian restaurant's version. Everything was delicious and portions were ample. The dessert menu is also pared down for now. I ordered Black Forest cake. Instead of a slice from a larger cake, this was baked as a mini-cake. Our server assured me this was temporary. Hey, no problem, it looked and tasted great! Well, here's the only issue: Berghoff had been serving comp bread since the early days. But the current menu includes this little gotcha: "Our House Made Bread Baskets Available for $4.00 (Serves Two)." We wanted bread. Our basket "for two" contained ONE slice of rye, ONE slice of white (both cut into triangles), and ONE lavosh crisp. No refills were offered. And, yes, for this we were charged $4.00. I realize that every restaurant biz must keep up with changing trends and rising costs to stay afloat, but this was unacceptable. Admitting that mine wasn't the only complaint, the floor manager subtracted the $4.00 from our bill. I subsequently communicated with a manager, Colleen, who thanked me for my feedback and assured me that this matter will be addressed. Promptly, I hope. read more

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Ruben Egg Rolls in 1,000 Islands... wow!!!! Just go it was amazing! Love the stuffed mushrooms as well!

Susan and Ishmael are the best! Out waitress Susan was just really only point. Perfect amount of attention, great timing, great personality. An exemplary specimen of how restaurant staff should be! Loved the history she gave us. We also got a lot of additional "tea" from Ishmael, a bus man who seemed eager to share a ton of little story tidbits as he cleaned tables and made sure everyone had what they needed. This place is steeped in history and the staff is happy to educate while you dine. The pierogi are so tasty! I wish I could just keep eating them. When I asked what dish Susan would choose if she knew it would be the last thing she'd ever eat at the Berghoff and she said the Rueben. Could not disagree with her, it was delicious! Very tender and flavorful. The house made chips were nice, but next time I'm going for the sweet potato fries! My friend had the black bean burger and it was HUGE! And it came with the most delightful, delicately thin sweet potatoes. Dang in getting hungry just thinking about them! My other gluten free had the sausage trio with kraut and was very happy! And my last friend had the potato pancakes which were very tiny like the size of a silver dollar. Luckily Susan did warn us about the size. But the little salad and other accoutrement that comes with it was a delicious combo and my friend wasn't super hungry so it was the perfect amount. The ambiance seems like a real special occasion. The murals and high ceilings and warm, polished wood all made me feel like I was really swanking it up. But I didn't have to be dressed to the nines and could still really just enjoy feeling special. Oh p.s. the sugar free root beer is out of this world! It does NOT taste sugar free at all! read more

Really wonderful if you like German food like my husband. If you aren't a fan, there's unlikely anything for you. I didn't like my meal, but I'm not a fan of German food, so didn't want to knock it. Beer was great as well as service. read more

The Berghoff is a Chicago classic! It's iconic. The food is all good, classic German food. The beers are good. And my girls love the root beer. The interior feels like you've stepped back into time. I think what I was most impressed with, though, is the service. My husband and I went a year ago - and the service was sadly lacking. We recently went as a family for dinner because we were seeing a show nearby. And, our service was fantastic! Our server was super attentive. She was great with the kids. And, our dinner was great! I'm happy to have another family dinner spot downtown where we know we can all get something that we will enjoy and the service will be great! read more

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Great food for a reasonable price! We wish we had been seated in the main dining areas rather than an alcove by the brewery tanks, especially because we had a reservation, but we were happy overall. We will definitely be back. read more

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First visit we were seated at a table. Service was quick and exceeded expectation. Beautiful dining room and bar. Every trip to Chicago we stop at the bar for a pretzel and beer before the gallery. read more

Doesn't everybody know the Berghoff? German restaurant in Chicago that's been dishing out big platefuls of food for decades? If you haven't gone, GO! I had friendly service and a terrific meal, with the sausage sampler plate, German-style potato salad and spatzl. The portions are large, the prices are modest. You'll find a welcoming atmosphere that won't empty your wallet. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Sausage sampler with spatzl and German potato salad - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here to celebrate a small reunion and ordered several dishes including the potato pancakes, seared white fish, and cedar plank salmon. The fried cheese curds were a little cold but the sauce was nice. Aside from that, the rest of our dishes tasted really good and had a lovely presentation. Our favorite was the cedar plank salmon which had such a good flavor and the roasted potatoes that came with it were really good. The restaurant gets pretty loud but quiets down as people leave but the staff were super friendly and efficient. Next time I come here I'm definitely going to try their apple strudel! read more

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Quintessential Chicago spot, definitely try the pretzel! This place was popping on a Saturday night, make sure you get a reservation in advance. Servings here are generous and pricing is moderate. I was doing dry January, but our group said the beer was great! Apps are on the smaller side, we had a group of 8 and should have ordered two of anything everyone wanted to try. read more

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A group of four of us had lunch today and the service was outstanding. I ordered the roasted beet salad and was disappointed in that the beets were simply canned/preserved and certainly not oven roasted. I was also surprised by the price as this simple salad cost more than their hearty Rueben sandwich with easily a half pound of corn beef. And, what's up with an additional 3.5 up charge? Change your menu prices and be honest with the costs you're charging. read more

This restaurant was beautiful inside! You could tell it's very established and there's a lot of historic decor scattered throughout the dining room. It was fairly loud inside, but that could have been because we were seated next to a huge table. The food was very delicious and came to our table at a perfect temperature. I ordered the Sausage Trio (pictured), which was absolutely delicious! My parents were also very pleased with their entree choices and I included a picture of those as well. They have a full bar, so lots of options for drinks. We also ordered the chocolate cake which was absolutely delicious! The only thing keeping this from a 5-star review was the service. It was challenging at times to get the attention of our waiter when we ran out of water or needed something. We definitely didn't blame our waiter because he was also taking care of the table of 20 next to us. I would suggest maybe having a waiter designated for just that table, so the rest of the tables still get great service & so it's not as stressful for the staff! read more

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Our server could not have been more helpful, friendly and attentive during our lunch. At his recommendation, we had a phenomenal Reuben egg roll with delicious chicken soup and a turkey blt. We learned the history of what is Chicago's oldest restaurant and some of the stories behind the building and ownership. A must-dine-here experience. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Exterior - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I wanted to try something more localized than the chain restaurants in the area. The Berghoff did not disappoint. I ordered the pastrami eggrolls with chicken noodle soap and a side of homemade potato chips. To top it off, had the Black Forest for dessert. I was stuffed. Thank you Chicago for the hospitality. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here for lunch before the theater matinee. I sat at the bar which is Adam's Brewery but still part of Berghoff. I started with the bacon wrapped shrimp. The BBQ sauce was really good with it. I followed that with the deconstructed corden blue. It was a chicken breast with skin covered with cheese and very little ham. The chicken was a little dry. Would not get again. I paired it all with a Mondavi cab. Service was spotty as I was left with my dirty plate in front of me for a very long time. My entree came out before i was done with my appetizer. Nice ambiance with the Christmas tree and a Santa stopped by. If you want German food and there is no other option then it is okay. read more

This one of those restaurants that my family has been going since its opening over a hundred years ago. My father's side is Southside Irish, with a German tint. So schnitzel was our family meal when we all got together back in Chitown over the years. The history to this place is amazing, the food is good, and service is top notch. The walls of this restaurant have revenant antiquity to experience. read more

Sooooooo delicious! I got the half chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies and it was amazing. I loved every bite and couldn't wait to be hungry again for my leftovers. We made a reservation and were seated immediately, greeted and was given great advice about the menu from the waiter. It wasn't too crowded and it was a nice environment for people to come to to have a good meal together. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Half Roasted Chicken - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Randomly stumbled across this when the place I was on my way to was closed. What a miracle! Das haus! Beer was good, vibe was quiet, food amazing. Fairly priced I'd say. Onion and apple soup is maybe the best soup I've ever had! Major old-time Chicago waves in here. Food 9/10 Staff 6.5/10 Vibe 7/10 Price 7.5/10 read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have been returning to the Berghoff during the last couple of years after a respite and are happy to find that it's more or less the same as it was in the good old days. After the restaurant closed and then reopened in 2006, the menu had changed a bit, with some nice refinements but with a little loss of teutonic heartiness. Today's Berghoff keeps some of those refinements but also brings back that old-time character, ample portions, and the energy that I remember. We like all the classic German dishes, appetizers, and the house beer. However this year, I have noticed a slight drop in the quality of the food. Last visit the sauerbraten sauce was a bit separated and overly sweet, the schnitzel was good, but not great, and the creamed spinach looked like it had been plated an hour in advance. The bread was also a bit cold and just not as good as it used to be. They now charge for it. Service was friendly and fast. However, it was a struggle getting a sample of the wine. The atmosphere is very charming, especially at Christmas. It's still an authentic Chicago experience that's worth visiting. read more

I recently visited Chicago and went here. It was exactly as I had remembered it as a child growing up in the area 50 years ago. The food still seemed very good to me. Everyone in my family enjoyed it. read more