08/17/09

perfect place for the best german food

by swedekay

I ate at the Chicago Brauhaus a couple of weeks ago while I was visiting my brother in Chicago.It was the best experience ever.The food was spectacular and perfectly German.When I visit again I will be sure to eat at the Brauhaus again.

• Pros: the food is delicious,service is great, and atmosphere is wo
• Cons: there are no cons

12/13/07

Fun European atmosphere

by uradel

This is a fun place to experience the folksy foods of southern Germany. My family is from wine country in the central area (Frankfurt/Main) and further north in Germany, but we still get a kick out of the southern Bavarian ways. I'm not a fan of smoked chops personally, but other family members of mine love them. They are not dried out shoe leather like some smoked meats. They look juicy and tender. The schnitzels are my favorite. You can order them in the style of Holstein or Vienna. (traditional Vienner schnitzel). You are served a whole portion whether it's a veal or chicken schnitzel. (schnitzel simply means medallion or cutlet). Our favorite appetizer is the Steak Tartare. They have some decent Rieslings on their wine menu too. It is a very happening place on weekends with live bands and this is one of the few places I can stand at a bar and speak German with just about everyone (although there is an amusing smattering of dialects) and the patrons and staff are very friendly. They will engage you and invite you to join in even if you don't speak German. Some nights there are whole teams of European soccer players and it really gets fun. They talk to you as if they have known you forever. Keep in mind that it is not an upscale German/European restaurant. It reflects the wholesome simple ways of Germany's southern region. It is the German southern hospitality that keeps us coming back.

• Pros: A fun place to mingle Euro style.
• Cons: You have to like southern German cooking

10/02/07

Good Beer...Service non existant

by vegitoboi

How many times have I frequent this place only to wind up drinking German style beer on an empty stomach? It's the same pattern everytime that lead me not to come back in. Needless to say, with the Berghoff in Downtown Chicago non existant anymore, if this was to be a successor, it failed in the first stage: service. First time I went in, I waited 10 minutes to be seated only to give up and stand at the bar only to be pushed around by Lincoln Square tipsy people trying to get their beer needs before mine. The polka band kept things interesting by playing familiar drinking songs and folk songs. On times I do get to sit at an actual table, the waitress disappears into oblivion and I just get up and leave. The place is nice, no doubt, and obviously great for group outings. But it's just not worth the never ending wait for food or a table for that matter. If you're coming for the beer, try Huttenbar just down the street (although be ready to stand even more).

• Pros: good for group outings
• Cons: parking, service, didn't even get to try food

07/24/07

Best German Food, Beer and Atmosphere

by rf666

Absolutely unbelievable - food was fantastic, beer was even better. I started with a cup of their Liver dumpling soup, it was basically a liver meatball is a delicious broth, doesn't sound great, but it was. For dinner, I ordered the Brauhaus Special, which was Two different sausage, a pork chop and potatoes. The pork chop was the best I had ever eaten - they basically cook (smoke) the whole loin, bone in, then slice them off to order. It was so moist and smokey - the brine worked its magic, thus allowing them to sell me more beer. The sausages were also excellent. The only problem I had at the Brauhaus was my stomach wasn't big enough. I hate leaving such delicious food on the plate...

Live German music playiing, people dancing - German conversation heard at the bar. What a great time.

Highly Recommend going!!!

• Pros: Great Food, Beer, People
• Cons: can't think of any

06/17/06

Yum

by emilyrn

What a German restaurant should be: hearty portions of great tasting food, ginormous beers, and inexpensive prices. Love the polka dancing, too. Not exactly light fare, but the Brauhaus should be an occasional treat.

• Pros: inexpensive, fun, tasty
• Cons: heavy food, noisy

05/10/06

German Food & Fun

by artcoo

The Brauhaus food is not the best German food I have ever had, but it is certainly good. I like the atmosphere here, as I spent many years in Germany. My 2nd son was born there, so I have been to many, many German restaurants. However, here in Chicago I feel this is the best German place to take folks. They will get great beer, good food, and a lot of fun. The musical entertainment is fun, and everyone in the place enjoys themselves. I would recommend trying some authentic beer! Vielen Dank Fur Alles!

• Pros: BEER, BEER, FUN

07/18/05

Music disappointment

by jessicaantes

Friends and family read reviews of this restaurant and went for dinner tonight, expecting to hear wonderful German music and enjoy German cuisine. The food was excellent; however, the music was a disappointment. We expected to enjoy the publicized 3-piece German band; however, were instead quite disappointed to be entertained by a one-man musician who played American disco songs, Caribbean music and anything unrelated to German music.

07/17/05

fun atmosphere but food is mediocre at best

by biesera

if you want to go back in time to the 50's and enjoy german ambiance, this is a place

to explore...but the food is not so great...the spaetzle were not real spaetzle and the sauces were very salty...

03/09/05

Crowded, but fun

by peterbehle_citysearch

This place gets jammed on weekend nights. when the small band starts playing and people start dancing, it can be chaos. Food is typical German -- meat and potatoes and lots of it. Plus, a great selection of German draft beers on tap.

• Pros: People-watching
• Cons: Crowded

German food, beer and live music abound at this convivial Lincoln Square restaurant.

by Contributor

In Short
The atmosphere is warm, with close tables filled with seniors and families, a full bar on one side and a tiny dance floor. Every night and all day on weekends, live bands play everything from Elvis to old-time German tunes. The menu features traditional German specialties in generous portions. A crowd favorite is the Brauhaus special: smoked pork loin, two sausages, potatoes and sauerkraut. Other entrees include beef roulade, Wiener schnitzel and hot sausages.

• Pros: Hearty food.
• Cons: Tables crowded together