Excellent food. Cooked to perfection. Service is just as good. I always get the Jager Schnitzel and it never disappoints. Would highly recommend to anyone in the area. read more

Bread was good. I had the rouladen. Was small and tough. The dumpling was mushy and not firm. The veggies were iced cold. Beer list was lacking. No Black Forest gateau but they had blueberry strudel? read more

We stopped in after a tour of the USS North Carolina Battleship. We thought it was a neat place and in a historic building in the downtown area. The service was great as we were one of three occupants. Our waitress was great and made sure our beverages stayed full. We ordered combination lunches which is a half sandwich along with a side salad. We ordered ranch dressing with our salads which had a little zing to it and made me think it may not be good. Its texture and the fact that it has a little zing gave me pause so I didn't eat it. We ordered Ruben sandwiches which were good but not great. I also ordered one bratwurst to share between us which ended up being just okay. We also had a cherry dessert and water to drink. Our bill after tip for two combos, a side bratwurst, and a cherry dessert which came to $55 bucks which seemed way too much for sandwiches for lunch. We wouldn't consider going back. Too expensive, small portions, and food was just okay. read more

Before shopping, one must have a full belly. Agree? Thus, I filled my belly with some good, authentic German food - wurst, kraut and German potato salad. Nothing fancy - just some comforting, hearty food served by very nice waitresses. Only regret - wish I left some room for their homemade streusel. :( read more

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Delicious food and the Napoleons are to die for. Tried the Reuben and bratwurst both were very good. Big plates. Definitely recommend.

My colleagues and I came here for dinner. It was the eve of the Azaleas festival and the place was empty! As a guest to this area, I'm thinking, am I at the right place? Would my friends take me to a terrible place for dinner? I can't speak to why the place was empty but it's not because of the food. Our group shared the cheese plate and it was wonderful. I had the chicken schnitzel and it came with red sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. I've never had schnitzel previous to walking into this restaurant and it was wonderful. I like everything and cleaned my plate! Also, my colleagues ordered the wurst platter, they loved it! We ordered the Napoleon for desert, which was a slice of heaven! Our service wasn't bad considering there was only one person. The atmosphere including the "German " music and the cuckoo clocks are awesome! Everything about this place is as good or better than other Downtown Wilmington restaurants. So I'm not sure why it not full. Do yourself a favor at least come for the desert! It's s slice of heaven! read more

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Always my favorite authentic Hessian food. Truly a German restaurant with a dark, cozy ambiance. Always interesting when our server speaks with a hint of a Carolina accent but the folks who work here are usually great and the service is relaxed and polite. They're several specialties, all good and the strudel is excellent. One of my favorites in Wilmington. read more

This place is awesome my mom and I drive an hour just for Rueben. It's so tender and flavorful it melts in your mouth. And the desserts so good. read more

The German Cafe - Rueben - German Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This is some of the worst food I have ever eaten. It tastes like cafeteria food. The pork schnitzel was soggy. My husbands food was soggy too. We both got different entrees, but they were both covered in the same brown sauce. They were also lukewarm. The potato dumplings were equally as bad. We were the only table and the service was horrid. We will never go back. read more

Food is awful. I make better German food at home. it's an Insult to German food. I would not recommend this place.

I really dug this place's old-school, Germanic meets Southern decor. They even had some vintage "singing bird" clocks just like my grandma used to have in her kitchen, with those strange fake pinecones. The staff was friendly and quick to bring out your order. The food was good - the Reuben had real saurkraut on it, a plus in my book, and the German potato salad was delicious. The place even has a resident ghost, apparently, though we didn't see it. I'd definitely go back for another go at German food and their delicious Baltic porter. read more

I very much enjoy this place; the ambiance & the food. I ordered the special occasion the day: sauerbraten. The presentation was so appealing--I had to take a picture of it! In the future, I will judge all strudel compared to this! read more

The German Cafe - German Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

We received excellent food and service for our group. Every step of the meal was perfect- we were taken care of- food delicious, wine pairings perfect- service excellent. This is an authentic, fun experience! Yes yes yes!!!! Tonight- yet another outstanding experience for our Wine Appreciation class! Well considered food and wine pairings, attentive yet relaxed service, a perfectly companionable, educational, low key evening for our happy group! read more

This is a great place. I was tempted to give it three stars because I was comparing it to Betski's in Raleigh which is orgasmically good. No. Really - it is that good. But I have to be fair and judge the German Cafe on it's own merits, and it's merits are really good. I had a good German beer, even if they brought me the wrong one. I asked for a Warsteiner Dunkel (dark) and was brought a regular Warsteiner. I was not offended, because I enjoyed it anyway. I had a beef and potatoes dish with nice red cabbage. It was well-prepared, hot, served fast and our waitress was really attentive and polite. the bread was excellent and we enjoyed it. The decor is really classic German Rathskeller and this was a great draw. I will come back here and drink more beer and eat more food. I really like this place. read more

A cozy dark German restaurant located in the Cotton Exchange; this iconic place been around for many years. My husband and I went on dates here, and that was over twenty years ago. Back then,it was called the Naus Straus Cafe. I had my mind set on German food. We arrived at 5:30 and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. Since there was a big wedding party, most of the place was booked solid,so we sat at a two person table near the restaurant entrance. We usually get to sit it one of their cozy tables further back,but we were thankful to get in. We slid In just before the crowd came.Service was swift. We hurried up an got our order in before the wedding party settled down. Whew! My husband ordered a German beer and I ordered a German wine. That was a good starting point. I ordered the wurst platter( german sausages) with german potato salad and red kraut. I enjoyed every bite. However, my husband ordered the portabella sandwich. He wasn't very impressed; in the past it was on a Kaiser roll; this was toasted bread. The portabella was skimpy. I felt guilty that my dish was good. He did enjoy his beer! I certainly enjoyed my wine! The service was great! Glad we came again! It's been at least five years since we were down in Wilmington. Wilmington has changed so much; it's become very touristy. Thank goodness our cozy little German restaurant is still around. read more

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Nice little place by the cotton exchange. Got the Wurst plate. Sauerkraut, warm potato salad and your choice of several sausages. I would go again. I went on a Tuesday and by 12:00 it was getting full so go early. read more

The German Cafe - Nice little place by the cotton exchange. Got the Wurst plate. Sauerkraut, warm potato salad and your choice of several sausages. - German Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Have not been back awhile and not sure why! My veal schnitzel was delicious. Kraut was great and potatoes just like I remembered my aunt Inge making . German beer delicious and my husband lived his sausage plate. Very fresh food. Atmosphere and service was quick and friendly. Will remember to come back more often. read more

We always dine here at least once when we come to Wilmington. The menu is short but every entree is outstanding. The Wurst plate and the Schnitzel are wonderful. They have at least three German beers on tap and a larger choice in bottles. The draft beers were sold ice cold, exactly as we like them. The service is friendly and efficient. There when you need them but not an annoyance. Don't forget their homemade deserts; wonderful strudel and cakes! Always seems busy and we try to make a reservation ahead. read more

We are in town for our anniversary weekend and came here for dinner. Everything we ordered was delicious. We had potatoes pancakes, wurst platter and desserts: napoleons and bee stings cake... they are absolutely the best we ever had. read more

What a delightful surprise. All the restaurants on the main street were booked ,they were able to give us a seat and the food was wonderful. very reasonably priced and the service was top-notch. I would highly recommend this one in Wilmington. read more

The German cafe is a hidden gem in the Cotton Exchange in downtown Wilmignton. Parking is free and the parking lot usually has plenty of spaces. So parking is not a headache, unlike most other place in downtown. The ambience is great, too. I went during early dinner time on a normal Thursday. There weren't a lot of people dining at that early hour, so it was nice and quiet. The server, dressed in traditional German clothes, was very nice and friendly. I ordered the first sandwich on the menu, and wow it was great! They also offered free bread upfront. Perfect place for friends hangout and a causal family gathering. read more

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Very good German food close to the river, but no view. In Cotton Exchange. Good parking, get ticket stamped for free 2 hours. We split a salad. Dinners were very good. Don't miss dessert, cherry or apple pastries. For lunch don't miss the reuben. read more

I had the rouladen. It was delicious. The best part of my meal though was the apple strudel for dessert. It was fantastic

I really loved the atmosphere, not just because I'm learning german. It's warm and friendly, the food was good. I got a pork schnitzle, it was amazing! And the cake I got, which was alright, I'm not a huge fan of raspberries. It's close to my school and the food is delicious! In all, I strongly recommend this place. read more

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I expected some good comforting German food. Place is typically old and out of it. Service was good but the food was mediocre at best. Schnitzel was tough and dry and the roughly cut large chunks of Romaine salad was mostly inedible. Red cabbage had very little flavor. Bland German potato salad side was about quarter cup in a little paper cup. The German Cafe has perhaps seen better days. Will not return. read more

What a delightful place. Hidden on the back (parking lot) side of the Cotton Exchange in downtown Wilmington. Everything is prepared on site, fresh and is incredibly delicious. Portions are generous and desserts are worth saving room for, even if you just share one!! We both had the veal and ate every bite!! Our waitress, Gina, was delightful and took excellent care in providing great, friendly service even as it got busier while we were enjoying our meal. It is not a large place, but is nicely decorated and welcoming. A truly good German restaurant is not easy to find, so don't miss this one!!! read more

$17 gets you ONE rouladen...that's messed up. Overall, a good experience, but expect small portions. Maybe that's a good thing, the desserts are scratch made and to die for...especially the napoleon... If I were to go again, I would start with the potato pancakes, do a reuben, finish with a napoleon. Oh, and gotta love the beer sizes, 20 and 24 ounce. read more

Decor is nothing special but I liked the German music in the background. Servers were personable and food came out of the kitchen fast. Small place so getting a table on a busy weekend may be difficult. Only two taps, both of which were dry today. Bummer. But a good selection of bottled beer and a good selection of wines by the glass. If I recall correctly a decent size pour of chardonnay was $5.50 and a large bottle of German ale was only $6.00. I went with the wurst platter - your choice of two selections - bratwurst, weinerwurst, knockwurst or keilbasa. I went with knockwurst and keilbasa - both were excellent - good flavor and good texture. Came with German potato salad (good), sauerkraut (nice) and a pickle. Most definately would go with that again. My wife went with the veal schnitzel which came with German potato salad and a small green salad. The schnitzel left something to be desired - it came out oily instead of nice and crisp - plus the "veal" tasted more like beef - but it was tender enough. I want to try it again but will stick to the wursts. read more

5 out of 5. Could not find fault with anything. Tasted like I was back in Germany. Enough said. Der authentische deutsche Nahrung finden Westen des Vaterlandes. read more

The German Cafe - Schnitzel - German Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This was my first time having traditional German food, and it was amazing. I got the knockwurst platter, and every element was awesome. The sauerkraut, potato salad, and wurst were all excellent. I am not normally a fan of sauerkraut, but this was so well done, the flavor was just right. I cleaned the plate. Unfortunately I had a cold so I passed on getting a beer, but I will be back here soon getting the same plate with a dark stout! It was a very authentic experience. Keep in mind that German food is by rendition somewhat plain, and all the flavors I experienced were "just right," in a good way. Not too much, not too later. A very welcome break from the sometimes over-flavored, over-seasoned, over-spiced foods that are more common in American restaurants. Lastly, the price is just right. I expect to be coming back regularly. read more

We love this place.. my wife and I eat here almost every week. I've eaten almost everything on the menu. From their perfect simple chicken sandwich, to the wurst plates, they are all great. The portions and perfect and the prices are right. Their deserts are excellent, true to German by not being over sweet... the strudel and napoleon are amazing. / es ist wie in Deutschland read more

Great food and service! Wonderful atmosphere and friendly staff. Love to dine here when I'm in Wilmington, NC.

Good food and friendly service. Not an extensive menu, but it is what they advertise a German cafe. Enjoyed my Reuben sandwich and potato salad. read more

Love the German Cafe for both lunch and dinner! The food is legitimate German recipes. One of our favorite places to eat. And the deserts are simply AMAZING! read more

We FINALLY tried The German Cafe in Wilmington after living here for 12 years. I was pleasantly surprised how good the food was. The decor is dark and dingy but that is too be expected for this type of restaurant. During my meal however, I looked up and saw that all the black piping near the ceiling was COVERED with dirt and dust. Since I watch Robert Irvine on Restaurant Impossible often, I felt I was looking at it through his eyes. The sight of the dust and dirt really turned me off and I did not feel good about eating there. If there's dust VERY visible on the pipes in the ceiling, it makes me wonder about how clean the kitchen is. It's a shame because I thought the food was delicious but this kind of thing would keep me away. read more

We had Rubens that were very tender with German beer. Beer that tasted like real beer! The desserts were out of this world. Staff was excellent, very nice and helpful. read more

So where do you go when you are on vacation and it's St. Patrick's Day????...........a German place of course. By mid afternoon, everyone was greener than the corned beef and cabbage we've been having all weekend so we needed a change At Jungle Rapids we were told that there was a good German cafe in downtown Wilmington....so away we went. This place LOOKS like an old German restaurant ....good sized but cozy. The restaurant is laid out into small rooms where you eat, not one great big Octoberfest hall. So how was the food??? 1. Polish kielbasa: One of the best I have had. Tasty, the casing was tight and had a crunch to it when cut with a knife and eaten. The texture, taste and cooking was first rate. 2. Sauer kraut: Great. Wasnt overpowering, or too sour. The cabbage still had a cole slaw type of crunch to it. Balances great with the food. 3. German potato salad. Great again. Not too sour as most German potato salads are. You can taste all the flavors of bacon and sweet and sour balance. Potatoes were cooked but not mushy, still firm. 4. Schnitzel: Fried and prepared very well. The pork was tender and flavorful. 5. Veal Schnitzel: Very tender veal and tasty. Nothing overpowering in flavors but enough to make it a great meal. 6. Harvey's Ruben Sandwich. On pumpernickel, the flavors all blended well: Corned beef and kraut. 7. Grilled Chicken breast sandwich: Excellent sandwich. Prepared well. 8. Apple Struedel: Some of the best I have had since I was last in Solvang, CA. The struedel was not too sweet and still had lots of apple flavor. The pastry crust was light and crunchy... 9. Neopolitan: Custard was flavorful...the pastry light and airy....great dessert 10. Cream puffs: Whipped cream not overpowering and too sweet...pastry was just right for a puff. 11. Chocolate torte: Excellent. The cake was just right for a torte as was the chocolate creme filling. 5 stars. Great food and a great value. 6 entrees, 6 desserts, 3 drinks, and the bill after taxes and tip was about $110. Can't do that in DC. read more

Great food, the service was good and they have the best strudel I have ever tasted! I had the apple that was slightly warmed with the cold whipped cream and it was amazing!! My entre was the rouladin and it was as good as expected!! I was there with a group and there were no complaints at all. Quaint little place with an authentic feel and great food. read more

Terrible !!!! I went there on Saturday and was extremely excited because of the good reviews. What a disappointment. I ordered rouladen with knodel for whooping $18.95 and my friend a Jagerschnitzel. We both had the same gravy which turned out to be the sauerbraten gravy as well ! The mushrooms from the jagerschnitzel were watery and old . A jagerschnitzel supposed to have a mushroom ~ cream sauce not a sauerbraten gravy ! The meat wasnt even cooked right. The knodel are not homemade (plain package) and the red cabbage had no flavor as well . Schwarzbrot was just defrost and not daily fresh . We ordered and it took less then 5 minutes for our food to be served !!! That tells me alot ! And i definitely will never return to this place. By the way im a german citizen and its a true shame to serve such a meals to customer's with such horrid prices !!!! read more

My maternal side of family are of German descent "Ottnod" so believe me I am very familiar with the food and culture. This place is one of the best German restaurants I have been to ! Great decor great ambience, super waitress and the food and drinks were so good . I had the German roumadan and hubby had Wurst platter!! So very good. We will definitely be back read more