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

It's been yrs since I ate here but walking around Christkindlmarket just a few blocks away, we were in the mood for German. German food we could sit down and eat, instead of crowding around dirty tables outside. Without reservations and on Black Friday, we were immediately seated. Their sauerbraten is still my favorite. Even after all these yrs it was exactly as I remembered. I still love the sauerbraten, but the food I picked off of my kids' plates was pretty mid. Still fitting for a freezing cold night, so I'm not mad though. But it kinda reminded me of cafeteria food. An iconic restaurant that brought back a lot of memories. I used to eat here frequently as it was a family member's favorite. He moved away and my reason to eat here ended. But sometimes you just want German food read more

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

See all

After visiting The Berghoff a few times over the last decade, I finally made it there during the holiday season! It was the perfect beginning to a "World's Columbian Exposition"-themed holiday outing, followed by the Joffrey Nutcracker, which is set at the grounds of the 1893 World's Fair. I made reservations a few weeks ahead of time for an opening spot, hoping to be sat in the main dining room with all of the gorgeous, historic murals of the Fair. I appreciated the holiday window displays and the extensive Christmas decorations within the restaurant, including the large nutcracker and finely-dressed tree. The potato pancake appetizer was much more elevated than I expected, it was enjoyable but the pancakes could stand to be a little larger in circumference ;) A warm mug of glühwein was a nice treat. My absolute favorite is the Jager Schnitzel with an additional side of the very best red cabbage I have ever had! The Berghoff is known for German standards, and although they have a fairly expansive menu with more modern offerings, it's the classic dishes that keep bringing me back! Excellent, professional service that speaks to this restaurant's reputation as a Chicago institution. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dined here for our Christmas Dinner this year. Was NOT disappointed. Beautifully decorated AND Santa was there. #iknowhim !!! Of course, I had to snap a shot with my baby. He's 19 but he'll always be my baby. The food was good and the service as well. Definitely a great little night in my city. Downtown Parking IYKYK read more

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

We had a reservation here for a late lunch before heading over to Soldier Field for a bears game. We visited over the festive period and the decor inside the restaurant created a lovely atmosphere. We walked in and were seated immediately but even at 2:45 in the afternoon the restaurant was full. I ordered their own root beer and my other half ordered a beer, both drinks were very good. We ordered the Goulash and the Wiener Schnitzel for our main courses. The food arrived in good time and the portions were huge when they arrived. This is not a fine dining restaurant but the food was delicious. My goulash was probably the best I have ever had and was just what I wanted on a chilly December afternoon. We shared dessert and had the strudel. The portion size was perfect after such a large meal and was very tasty. The apples were nicely spiced and not too sweet, highly recommend if you can find room for dessert. The total bill came to just over $100 for 2 people and we thought this was good value given the size and taste of the food. We would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Chicago and am sure we will be back in the future! read more

See all

I was in town to see a show with my daughter at the Chicago Theatre and she booked us in for an early pre-show meal at the Berghoff. We had a very enjoyable meal! This is an old school, very large restaurant, serving up reasonably priced fare in the heart of bustling Chicago. She and I split the panko crusted goat cheese salad to start. It was beautifully dressed with a very tasty vinaigrette and came with two large rounds of the crusted goat cheese. She opted for fish and chips, upgrading from chips to fries for the classic pairing I had the roast beef sandwich and it was truly memorable. If we didn't have a show to go to, I would have taken half home to eat later. This sandwich did not stint on the roast beef and was delicious with its toppings of horseradish cream, tomato, pepper jack cheese and arugula and au jus for dipping. I swear I tasted aioli but that's not listed on the menu. A dunkel each to drink completed our orders. Service was discreet and attentive and there was no sense of rushing us. By the time we left (shortly before 6 pm), the place was jam packed. It was less than half a mile to the both the Chicago and Nederlander theatres, making this a great pre- or post-show spot. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Roast Beef Sandwich - delicious and very large - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We sent into the city for some shopppng and stoped here for lunch. They were busy but it's big enough to usually walking and get seated in about 30 minutes. We went to the bar for a few German beers while we waited. The bar help was attentive. We were seated hand started with the bread basket which is still a favorite of mine. My wife ordered thr sauerbraten and I had a sausage plate. The meals were excellent and reasonably priced. This is a must when visiting during the holidays. They had a Santa visiting with the tables. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was delicious!!! I had the molasses, bourbon, apple sauce covered pork chop. It was PHENOMENAL. You can taste why this restaurant has been in business for years. Our waitress was very attentive. She would not let me finish my glass of root beer before she brought me another one. Save room for dessert or order the apple strudel as an appetizer. The overall experience made me feel like I had gone back in time. The heavy wood decor and the 1893 pictures of the Worlds Fair were interesting. What a GREAT place to eat!!! read more

RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE ARE ESSENTIAL I messed up and ended up having to do a walk-in and their system for that was particularly bad at predicting the wait time that evening, and I suspect is more concerned with matching to exact chair availability than say, letting 2 sit at a 3/4 table. Thankfully an on sight Santa came to us when we did get seated and salvaged what would've been a lower rating. This visit strictly for small orders and drinks. Root beer: amazing. Hot potato salad: restored my faith in the German credentials (what's more, the use of pastrami instead of bacon may make it a kosher version of the dish. But double check that!) Pretzel very nice. GET A RESERVATION read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - German Potato Salad (HOT--as God intended) - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Rude service - very abrupt. Ridiculous prices for the quality of the food. Reuben was very gristly. Beet salad tasted like canned beets....and the dressing was just dumped on top. Lettuce had brown edges. Plates seemed dirty around the edges. read more

Good enough German restaurant that seems to be a staple in Chicago. All beers were made on site, but no marzen option. Menu was expansive and I picked the sausage trio plate with sauerkraut. Plate was delicious and the sauerkraut was outstanding. Service was fine but they had a lot of large groups. Note they close at 9 pm. read more

See all

finally... as a chicagoan it took me this long to finally try this relic. i mean, german food isn't typically my go to with my vegi/sometimes pesca diet but glad to finally pay it a visit -- for the pretzel alone! it was perfectly crisp and soft at the same time (but let it sit and it will harden!). oddly enough, the fried green tomato stack was one of the best as was the freshly brewed iced tea! love the atmosphere and definitely felt one young amongst my fellow diners (rarely happens haha). read more

Great place for authentic German food. Potato salad is vinegary as it should be. Loved all the sausages and schnitzel n pretzels. Locally brewed German style beers and friendly staff. Lots of tourists and perfectly fine with it. I'd take any visitors friends and family there read more

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

We sat at bar and had a pretzel and drinks. Service was great and pretzel (and dipping sauces) were great! read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was very friendly and fast! The food was very delicious. Tho as a German looking for German food, this was not very "German". It was very delicious for what it was. The decor was very warm and welcoming. I wouldn't go back for a German place, but I would go back for the friendly service and good food. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Jäger Schnitzel with spätzle and a side of sauerkraut. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I hate this place. I went there once with my coworkers and will never return here. The food was lukewarm not hot. No ones food was hot and I ordered rotisserie chicken. There is a real problem if you cannot roast a chicken. It is a basic meal. My coworker got a burger that was lukewarm also. Service was just ok. This restaurant closed for awhile and it should not have reopened. read more

Been there a couple of times, both times in the bar area. The prices are high but that's expected, it's a nice restaurant downtown. Service was friendly and quick (it was about 1/3 full). Burger was very good, sweet potato fries could have been crispier, apple strudel was quite good, pretzel was very good. No music, which I was very happy about. Not loud, but again, only 1/3 full on a Sunday afternoon. read more

Onion soup and chicken schnitzel with Hefeweizen beer. All schmeckts gut! Leisurely dining at this iconic restaurant. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Alsatian Onion & Apple Soup Grilled Molasses Crusted Pork Chop and Hefeweizen beer. - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Food was pretty good. A good quantity for the price. Really enjoyed the original root beer as well. Decorations were nice, but they put us in the back room which was slightly disappointing read more

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

See all

I went to the Berghoff because it is a historical Chicago restaurant and was in the mood for some wienerschniztel. I had the chicken wienerschnitzel with spaetzle and creamed spinach. The chicken was fried very well and crunchy without being oily or burnt ( a slightly larger portion would have been welcome) , the creamed spinach were good but could have profited from some spark, the spaetzle a great accompaniment instead of usual potatoes. For dessert I had the old world apple cake with gelato and whipped cream, it could have been much better if the whipped cream had not come out of a can, it tasted very artificial and, to me, just a taste ruuns the cake experience, I hope they will switch to home whipped cream, it takes a few minutes to make and the taste is a whole different thing. Service was average, location nice. read more

See all

Susan is amazing! Best server of our trip. She really knows her stuff and knows hot to talk to customers.

First time eating in a German style restaurant. It's HUGE in there. This restaurant was recommended to me before I made it to Chicago and luckily, it was right it the street from my hotel. I made a reservation just in case, and I'm glad I did. We were seated as soon as we walked in, and all of the employees were on a mission; refilling drinks, clearing dishes, etc. The food we ordered (pictures) was actually really good. * Gretchen's Potato Pancakes - definitely stood out to me but it was DELICIOUS! The apples mixed with the dig and bacon?!?!! *chefs kiss* * Reuben - the sandwich was extremely thick, they forgot to put my sauerkraut and thousand island, but I was able to get and put it on my sandwich myself and it was really good. Also, the fries came with curry ketchup. * Jäger Schnitzel - My coworker said she loved her dish and the pork chop was very tender! Her only wish was the gravy be a little thicker, but she enjoyed her meal. I definitely recommend this spot if ever in the loop! read more

See all

The Berghoff did close in 2006, but then it came back to life in 2007! However, it took me many years before I went back to dine in at the Berghoff again. I went there on a frigid late Saturday afternoon with my lovely wife for an enjoyable German dinner. We came at an off-hour (a bit after 4PM) so we easily snagged a table by the window (with an electrical outlet!). The crowd definitely picked up by the time we left the restaurant. The service was spot on during our meal, and our beers and food came out with minimal wait. I have enjoyed the Wiener Schnitzel in the good ol' days, and I enjoyed this classic veal dish again today, along with sides of creamed spinach and spatzle. My love savored her game sausage plate, featuring exotic duck, boar and venison sausages with spatzle and veggies. This was her first visit to Berghoff, but I'd say this will not be our last time here. read more

I haven't been to Berghoff is probably 20 years. An acquaintance was visiting and wanted to go to a place that represented Chicago. We were limited in location and he already had pizza. So I came up with Berghoff despite my better judgment. Sorry if I'm being harsh, but it is my opinion. It was decorated for the holidays and set a nice holiday mood. I noticed the menu was very eclectic and not only German focused. Worked out well since the person I was with wanted pierogis. I ordered a ruben. $19.99. It was small. Not much meat, hardly any sauerkraut and the bread was soft like untoasted white bread. It did come with a huge pickle spear and a generous amount of their homemade potato chips which wasn't seasoned. Service was good. They came around often to check in on us and fill our water. Unfortunately, I would not seek to come back unless there is no other choice. read more

This is a beautiful place with great decor and a Christmas theme right now and it's historical as they opened since since 1898. The Alsatian onion soup Was very good. The spatzleknodell was kind of disappointing because the description was a lot better than the actual food itself see picture. It was more like three deep-fried balls of flour and I could not taste the chicken at all and I like the salad, but there wasn't really much food there. it was more like an appetizer for $19. The Adams Street brewery is kind of inside the Berghoff restaurant. This is a family, friendly restaurant, and there are papers and crayons for the kids. The servers are really kind and friendly. read more

See all

I like it here! It's extremely casual and has options for dining, including a grab and go counter with self seating as well as a full dining room. - I love traditional German food. They do a great job of providing a wide variety of options yet sticking to a traditional preparation of the cuisine. - The ambience is lively. I enjoy seeing the decor as well as the staff fully emerged in the culture. Restaurants like this make Chicago the melting pot that it is. read more

Spaetzels to die for. German pretzel can't be beat! Home brewed wheat beer. What more do you need?!

I have been dining at The Berghoff for many years. The Berghoff remains one of my favorite restaurants. My first visit to The Berghoff was when I was about eleven years old. I have loved and enjoyed this wonderful Chicago institution ever since! The food and service at The Berghoff are always excellent. The restaurant's atmosphere is richly appointed with classic Chicago themes and ambiance. The in-house brewery tour which I took many years ago was great fun! The Berghoff's magnificent mural of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair (World's Columbian Exposition) is my favorite part of the restaurant's grand historical atmosphere. The Chicago World's Fair mural possesses special importance and worth to me and my family, because my great-great-great-grandfather was the Chicago building contractor who built the World's Fair buildings that are beautifully and artfully portrayed in The Berghoff's dining room mural! Therefore, dining at The Berghoff with the Chicago World's Fair mural right there always adds another wonderful personal experience for me and my family at The Berghoff. The Berghoff is not only a great and historic Chicago tavern and brewery, it is a great ambassador for Chicago and for the State of Illinois. I recommend The Berghoff to everybody visiting Chicago. Thank you to The Berghoff and to the visionary Berghoff family of Chicago, and thank you also to The Berghoff's many wonderful employees. You all are grand and excellent ambassadors for Chicago and for the State of Illinois. My family has resided in and around Chicago for more than two centuries. The Berghoff will always be among our family's favorite Illinois restaurants. I look forward to a lifetime of excellent and sentimental dining experiences with you all. God Bless! read more

Had our first Chicago meal here and it's clear why it's been open forever. The space is huge and the architecture makes you feel like you stepped back in time. Food was good and server was very attentive. There was a lot of variety on the menu-very meat focused. The Alsatian soup (French onion with apple) and potato pancakes were the highlights. Corned beef Reuben was a bit dry and light on sauerkraut. Extensive beer and drink menu too-including home brewed root beer. Would definitely go back. read more

See all

The Berghoff is a German cuisine restaurant located in the Loop just a few blocks from Michigan Avenue. It's been here for a long time and I had dinner there recently. The interior has a lot of charm and Chicago decor and looks like a popular local eatery. I was looking at some of the beef entrees on the menu when my waitress recommended the Sous Vide Pork Shank ($26) saying that the meat was "fall off the bone" and very popular so I went with her recommendation. She also said that their homemade Berghoff root beer was also very good. I noticed that it was offered in regular and diet and she told me they tasted the same so I tried the diet version. The meal arrived less than 15 minutes later. Yes, the meat did fall off of the bone and was not only delicious but also plentiful. The pork shank had a savory taste that I enjoyed. Also the shank was placed on a bed of spatzle and again the shanks jus made it better. Grilled asparagus was added along with whole carrots and it was a filling meal. Finally the root beer was very good taste wise and I could not tell it was diet. I would order this meal again. My waitress told me the truth! read more

See all

I go here almost every time I'm in town because I love the beer and this is the only place in the states I think I can find curry ketchup. They also allowed me to replace the French fries with spaetzle. read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Curry wurst and spaetzle - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here to try out a classic Chicago restaurant with a good Christmas ambiance and certainly wasn't disappointed. The decorations are festive and full of holiday spirit. I wouldn't say the food is amazing, it's average - or at least the schnitzel was. You can get better schnitzel with potatoes at the German restaurants in Lincoln Square. Come here primarily for the ambiance and good conversation in a cool and classic location. If it's busy here (and it will be around major holidays), expect service to be a bit slower. This is a very well-known spot. Had a great experience though! read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Food and service were good. I really liked the ambiance of this place, being an older restaurant with murals and stained glass. Historic restaurant worth the visit. read more

See all

Perfect wood paneled old world elegance here. Kind of a trip back in time since I used to go here regularly years ago when there were all male waiters in uniform. This time went with a German friend who was well pleased with the authentic German menu. However I had a smoked salmon dish that was like a sandwich with two potato pancakes on the outside and salmon, tomato, cucumber and a light sour cream dill sauce inside; interesting and a very tasty dish. We also started with stuffed mushrooms that included spinach and cheese and were excellent. We finished with Black Forest cake and went home well satisfied. So a trip down memory lane that was well worth taking! read more

We haven't been here in at least 20 years. Nothing has changed and it's even better than I remembered. The flourless chocolate cake is to die for. #iraeats #iraeats1 read more

See all

Went on a Saturday night with a reservation and was seated promptly. Service was friendly and nice! Restaurant had music playing and was decorated for Oktoberfest. I had the chicken schnitzel, but at the table was also Wiener schnitzel and the sausage trio. I thought the sausage trio was very good! My first time tasting German food so I don't have much to compare it to but wasn't blown away by the chicken schnitzel. They also have 8 oz, 16 oz, and a stein of beer! Thought the atmosphere was fun. Would return! read more

The Berghoff Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wunderbar! I've been coming to The Berghoff for many years and I can't say enough good things about it. This is the second oldest restaurant in Chicago, and it isn't slowing down a bit. My daughter and I were here for dinner on Tuesday December 19th 2023. We arrived at 5:30 and there was plenty of seating available. By the time we left the line was out the door! The line appeared to be moving quickly, and I assure you the experience is worth the wait. They don't take reservations, so if you don't want to wait, I suggest getting there early. The Berghoff is always very attractive; but even more so when decorated for the holidays. It looked beautiful and felt oh so festive. Through the years I have had many of their offerings. On this night, we started with a pretzel, and it was delicious. I had the Jager Schnitzel and it was prepared perfectly. Unfortunately, my daughter was not as happy with her entree. She ordered the Chicken Schnitzel. When it came out, we were both stunned to see it was smothered in marinara! She looked so crestfallen. I felt so bad for her. We did not see in the description that it comes topped with their house-made marinara! She said it was good, but would have been better with a lemon wedge instead of the marinara. It was our fault for not reading the menu better, and it won't impact my rating but this is extremely disappointing. Why not prepare it traditionally, and offer the marinara at no additional charge? I don't get it. Hopefully this public service announcement will save a future customer or two from the disappointment she experienced. A couple of quick side-notes: my daughter has declared the Whipped Potatoes among the best she's ever had; and I would say the same about the Creamed Spinach. Service is always great, and prices are in-line for what you get. In a time where Chicago has lost many of its great German restaurants (Chicago Brauhaus, Schulien's, Zum Deutschen Eck, and Golden Ox to name a few): it is good to see The Berghoff is still going strong! read more

See all

I was looking for a savory Octoberfest meal from the oldest restaurant in Chicago. I had the Jager Schnitzel which was not as savory as I expected. It had more of a breakfast flavor but I think that was the bacon talking. Anything with bacon is good. :) The spatzle on the side was your basic pasta flavor. The carmelized root vegetables were slightly raw. Not as sugary carmelized as I thought. They looked and tasted like a yellow flesh and white flesh potato rather than potatoes and carrots, or some other root vegetable. I could be wrong though. To wash it all down I had a Festbier which was crushable and an Oktoberfest, very crushable itself. Both were from Adam's Street Brewery, the only true brewery in downtown and all original Berghoff beers. In the end, it was the home cooked, savory meal I had been looking for. Sometimes you have to dive into a city's history and culture Toto really experience it. read more

See all