The Berghoff Restaurant Reviews

Booked a table as coming here is apparently a ‘must do’ when in Chicago. Have to say, not sure what all the fuss is about. Food and beer were really good, but the service was rushed. Water glasses were slammed down on the table and we were asked if we were ready to order minutes after sitting down. There was no real ambiance, unless you consider noisy food hall a good vibe.

My husband and I enjoyed this restaurant very much. We haven't been to a truly German restaurant in years and were looking forward to Berghoff Restaurant. We weren't disappointed. My husband had three different sausages and I had veal. Both dishes were very good. This is a friendly and loud restaurant but that just adds to the fun. It was Octoberfest when we ate here so that might have added to the noise level. We would definitely eat here again on another trip to Chicago.

Food and service was good BUT I will not go back because they add a 3.50% surcharge to your bill! This is just an additional money grab! I will take my business elsewhere.

Few restaurants have reasonable prices and an ambience as well. Berghoff's is the exception. I went with my sister the second week of December when business was overflowing at lunchtime. Nonetheless, we were served within 15 minutes. My sister ordered pot roast, while I ordered sauerbraten and a reddish stout, brewed on the premises. The meats were tender and the sauces quite delicious.For vegetables, we had mashed potatoes, green beans, and a few spikes of asparagus. All was served promptly and warm. Next time I am in town, I will definitely visit Berghoff's. When my plane was delayed, I checked out the cafe--where excellent sandwiches are served. I had a turkey sandwich. Many other wraps or sandwiches are available.

this place has an extensive menu and great food. we had the schnitzel and their own root beer to drink. Our server, Deborah , did a fantastic job and the water server was around frequently filling our glasses. there is plenty of room in this restaurant and you won't be disappointed with anything on the menu.

My work colleagues and I used to have lunch at the Berghoff weekly before the pandemic. Sadly, it has not recovered since. We’ve returned several times and have been disappointed each time. At this last lunch, the spaetzle was burnt, the chicken was greasy and the potato pancakes cold. I miss the old Berghoff.

I was very satisfied with the German food. I lived in Munich for 2 years and just returned from a visit. The Berghoff food tasted like it did in Munich. Good beer also.

We had a great experience! This was really close to the theater we were heading to and I’m really glad we saw this place. We ordered the pretzel and the cheese sauce was great. Both of our schnitzel (veal and chicken) were delicious. We loved the spätzle and potato pancakes and the root beer had a nice spice to it that cut through the greasiness of the food well. I would love to come back.

The place was packed, was lucky to get a seat at the bar of the Adams Street Brewery. Very good selection of beers. Considering how busy this place was the service was prompt and friendly. No complaints about the food either.

Always the best date night out. The staff here is friendly, the food is great, and the desserts are killer. Highly recommend.

Historic Location. Made reservations for lunch and were seated upon arrival. Not too busy; however, only one server for that side of the restaurant. The Pretzel starter was plenty for two and quite tasty with the cheese sauce or mustard. Lunch plates were plentiful and the homemade root beer was great. Server was a bit impatient and stood over us while we completed the check and paid.

This is THE BEST place for great German food and beer in the city. We got great big liter steins of their beer during Octoberfest and a large pretzel to keep the stomach happy. They have the best creamed spinach and the best weiner schnitzel in town.

Growing up with German family, for years we enjoyed the fresh and authentic food before moving from Chicago. Assuming it was the same place years later, what used to be a family favorite is now only good for a German beer or wine in the bar if there's live music. I typically only write positive reviews, but the food was so terrible that we will not be returning.

What a fantastic place to dine on some great food. My wife and I had meals here 48 years ago when we were dating while we both were in the Navy. This was a flash back to those times. My wife had Cedar Plank Salmon, and I had the Wiener Schnitzel. For dessert, she had Black Forest Cake, and I had the Carmel Cheesecake.

What a lovely place to have lunch! With timeless decor, very attentive and efficient wait staff and absolutely delicious food, The Berghoff is the restaurant of choice in the Loop. I had spinach knodel and my partner had schnitzel and spaetzle. The menu has a wide variety of meals available.

My brother requested we have dinner at Berghoff’s while we were in Chicago, he had eaten there probably 30+ years ago…. Anytime someone remembers a meal from that long ago, I think it is a good sign! I am happy to say he was right! Esther our server was extremely helpful with both our beer & menu choices!

Heard about the history here and I'm always on the lookout for old establishments with a history, so we went here for a late lunch/early dinner. We did make a reservation as it is suggested but not required for this time of day in the mid afternoon. Inside it was causal and interesting with the high ceilings and decor. Our server Allen was excellent, very attentive and efficient . We started with the Stuffed Mushrooms which came quickly and were excellent. Nothing really exciting for our mains as we ordered the Berghoff Bacon Burger and the Roast Beef Sandwich. Both were really good, nothing special but then again that's hard to do. I also had their in house Berghoff Root Beer which was really tasty. If you're in Chicago this is a good place to visit.

Went there for lunch on our last day visiting Chicago. We had a reservation which I’d recommend. We got seated quickly and ordered beers before choosing our meals. Our beers were all great. I’d never had a dampfbier and recommend it. We both ordered jägerschnitzel for lunch. I was surprised when our meals came out within a few minutes. Once I saw them I know why. Our meal was not what I was expected based on eating at other German style restaurants in other cities. I felt the meat was overcooked and the vegetables were a bit bland for my taste. When we left I noticed other meals that looked better than what we ordered. I would definitely have Adams Street beers again but would seriously consider my choice if I ordered food. I would likely opt for a sandwich.

The old-world atmosphere of the grand dining room combined with the fantastic service, extensive selection of beers, and delicious food makes this place a wonderful experience to add to any Chicago trip. We loved the "build your own flight" option to try a lot of the different beers. The Goin' Plaid Scotch Ale and Steam Engine Kentucky Common were our favorites. The potato pancake starter is much fancier than you might expect because of the toppings like lean cubes of smoked sausage, diced apples, and fig preserves among others. For entrees, my husband went for the Wild Game Sausage served with spaetzle and root vegetables, and I chose the Spaetzlenoedel, which were spaetzle mixed with chicken, cheese, onions and seasonings, then formed into dumpling balls, breaded, and fried. Honestly they looked like arancini and the presentation was on point by serving it over a colorful and absolutely delicious arugula & spinach salad with quinoa and cherry tomatoes. The dressing was a lemony vinaigrette of some kind that was tart and complimentary, not sweet. For dessert, we had apple strudel and Black Forest cake, which were both very good, but would definitely choose the strudel as the favorite. I am not German so I can't really say for sure, but it seemed like a lovely and authentic experience. I did notice the people at the next table drinking margaritas and eating fish tacos and a buffalo chicken wrap, so there are options that have nothing to do with the German theme as well. I think that's part of staying relevant throughout the generations and being a place where people go to eat more frequently than just to say they tried German food, so I respect that too. A place that stays in business that long has to be loyal to the locals on an ordinary night out as well as providing a unique experience to tourists.

Berghoff’s is a true Chicago gem, seamlessly blending old-world charm with exceptional dining. From the moment you step inside, the historic ambiance transports you to another era, with its warm woodwork, vintage decor, and a sense of timeless elegance. The menu is a delightful homage to classic German-American cuisine, offering hearty, flavorful dishes that never disappoint. Their famous schnitzels, sausages, and pretzels paired with a house-made beer are simply unforgettable. The service is warm and attentive, making every guest feel welcome. Berghoff’s isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience and a must-visit for anyone looking to embrace the culinary and cultural heart of Chicago!

Outstanding!! We enjoyed delicious food, wonderful service, drinks, and dessert. American as well as German dishes (I had the Jaeger Schnitzel [awesome]). Hefeweizen and Dunkel on tap. They still serve Bergoff root beer, and it is delicious. I hadn't been here since late 1990s still the same as I remembered. All male servers and the dessert was the Yule log (enough for two) rolled cake with raspberry inside and chocolate icing...yum. highly recommend going there. Relaxed atmosphere and in a safe area in Chicago.

Very interesting place. Old restaurant, but the atmosphere is nice. The menu is simple and delicious. Drinks too. Nice service.

I've been to the Berghoff many times. When I am in Chicago I stay at the Palmer House Hotel which is close to the Berghoff. However, I'd make a point to visit the Berghoff regardless of where I'm staying. The Berghoff Bar recently changed its name to Adams Street Brewery. Regarding the name change; On one hand, I can understand this name change, because they recently started serving the beers from their own, onsite microbrewery. On the other hand, why on earth would they abandon the well-known and well-established Berghoff’s brand? Who Knows? The bar area is lively, beautiful murals, excellent bar-food choices, and excellent service, with weekday, live music. Of course, many memorable beer choices. The restaurant area looks a bit old and tired. Kind of a bar overflow area. The restaurant service is set-up for quantity, not quality. The food is good, but the food presentation is sorry to say, awful. Kind of hurry-up-and-go-we-need-the-table food. I know to avoid the restaurant area. I'm still a Berghoff's bar area fan.

My date and I visited ten days before Christmas on a Thursday evening after visiting the Christkindle Market in Chicago. Upon entering the bar area we were excited to see a live band performing, However when we opted for a table that appeared open in the bar area we were told the entire bar area was reserved for a corporate holiday party that evening. This was despite a number of tables being vacant and with one table having only a briefcase on one of the chairs. Instead we were told we could be seated at a table around the corner located in front of the window that contained the microbrew equipment. This was more like an aisle for people to walk through versus an actual dining or bar area. Obviously the entire bar area was reserved for a corporate party so we opted for this table. Throughout the course of the next hour we observed a number of tables in the bar area were never utilized by the corporate party and sat empty. The band played the same style of music during our entire visit - a mix of loud jazz and rock. It would have been nice to hear a holiday themed song or even a German song given the fact this is a German themed restaurant with a long German history. Definitely understand that corporate group parties are important but why couldn't they have been put in another location in the restaurant instead of blocking off the entire bar area? We ordered potato pancakes as an appetizer. We were expecting a traditional German potato pancake but instead received 4 bite size pancakes that were topped with bacon. The rest of our meal was ok however we had at least 3 different waiters so we were never really sure who our waiter was. Would suggest they find a place in the restaurant that would be better suited for corporate parties instead of the main bar area.

We stopped at the Berghoff before attending concert at Chicago Symphony Center. Had eaten here before but the experience this past Friday was awful. Seated next to brew vats even though there were comfortable booths adjacent to our table. Waited 20 mins to place dinner order and we were still waiting for our dinner over an hour later. We were told the computer was down but service was negligible. Could not get water refills. Ended up leaving, without eating dinner, in order to get to concert on time.

Had the best pretzel outside of Germany. The rest of the meal was excellent, the staff were friendly and efficient. Not the cheapest restaurant in town, but money well spent. Highly recommended. Thank you.

If you want authentic German food, this is the place! The sauerbraten is fantastic. Being celiac I have to have gluten free dining. The wait staff is very knowledgeable and can recommend two options for dessert. The flourless cake is my “go to” favorite, but my husband also shared a taste of the sea salt caramel cheesecake. Both are top notch gluten free. You won’t go wrong choosing this restaurant. We had symphony tickets which was only steps away! Perfect location downtown.

We were so looking forward when we arrived in Chicago to go to dinner at Berghoff. The restaurant is very old which can be charming. the Waiter David H was very good and very busy. However we were disappointed in the food. I had Chicken Cordon Bleu which I found to be dry. The vegetables were very good. My husband had the Pork Schnitzel which was Ok. Our reservation was for 5:30pm. Shortly after we got there the restaurant got very busy. Seems like there are a lot of regulars so maybe we just did not pick the right menu choice. The bread basket on the menu contains delicious bread.

We walked up the street from Club Quarters for dinner - excellent choice. All of us enjoyed our meal - from drinks to desserts! Among us we had the stuffed sole, grilled molasses pork chop, scallops and apple strudel, salted caramel cheesecake and a rhubarb dessert - all were delicious! Waitress was outstanding.

Fancying German food we were advised to go to Berghoff’s. As it was Memorial weekend we were unable to book for dinner but a large lunch/early dinner suited us well as the time difference with London meant it was dinner for our stomachs. The food was very good. The German sausages were excellent with the usual accompaniments of potato salad and sauerkraut. This may be ordered as a starter or main. The stuffed mushrooms were very good. The stuffing was creamed spinach, a speciality. There are a number of different schnitzels from which to choose. The ones we chose were excellent. Portions were more than satisfactory. Not surprising beer was a feature. There were many types on tap/draft. The origin varied. Service was very good. We enjoyed the meal.

Classic old school restaurant with excellent service and very good food. Can highly recommend the schnitzel and spatzelknodel.

Very good food and service. Large portions.Reservations are recommended at this very popular place; although, it seems that they reserve a few tables for walk-ins. Good house-brewed beer.

The Berghoff is a Chicago landmark. No one should leave Chicago without going there. It is actually three spots—the restaurant specializing in German fare along with a great menu, Adam’s brewery with great weekend entertainment and wonderful food and appetizers, and the cafe down below for lunch sandwiches and pizzas. We especially like Adams brewery for the ambiance and great selection of appetizers—including barbecued shrimp, perogies, and sausages and sauerkraut.

Our experience with wait staff at Chicago restaurants has generally been very good. Unfortunately Adams Street is a dismal exception. On both visits the initial greeting has been gruff and rude. Table service is spotty and indifferent. Bar service is even colder than the beer - especially if that's all you're having. The beer is varied & decent. In my weighted score book a 1 for bad beer and a 4 or more for good people equates to at least a 3. On the other hand, as here, a 4 for beer and a 1 for unfriendly people gets you a 2.

I stopped here for a beer whilst in Chicago the restaurant was extremely clean and well presented and staff very friendly and polite although I didn't eat anything the food passing me looked delicious

Very tasty German meal. Good beer options. Reasonable prices. Service from seating to check was efficient and friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant.

First time in Chicago and found this restaurant on line. They are celebrating Oktoberfest with a special menu. The goulash and German meatloaf were wonderful. Try the three sausages or the smoked pork chop. They brew beer on the premises. I enjoyed the dunkel very much.

Had dinner on a Friday night. Make reservations, otherwise you will be waiting for awhile. The main dining room was packed at 6. We had an intimate table off the main room so the noise was fairly minimal. My wife the beef sauerbraten with mashed potatoes. She said she cut the beef with a fork; it was that tender. The potatoes were amazing. I had the game sausage platter which was a duck, venison and wild boar sausage with spaetzle. The spaetzle is house made and was also very good. Make a stop before a show, you won’t regret it.

We ate hear before a show at the Auditorium Theater. We had reservations and when we arrived, the place was packed. I am very glad we made reservations. I had deep fried cod, spaetzle, dill pickles, cole slaw. Others had sauerbraten, gravy, spaetzle, roasted vegetable, and pulled pork sandwich with homemade chips and pickles. All very good. We all had the homemade root beer to drink. We really enjoyed our dinner and will definitely return. Service is friendly and efficient. I recommend dinner here!

One of our go to restaurants in downtown Chicago! Just had lunch. I had the Reuben sandwich and my wife had the bacon wrapped shrimp. Again, phenomenal flavors and great atmosphere. They have a good variety of food, but definitely get some authentic German food!

I can’t believe anyone would give this place a bad review for German food. The German food here is top notch in the bar is Awesome with tons of history look it up!! The atmosphere is awesome.

We got reservations as The Berghoff prior to seeing Hamilton. Our table of 7 tried quite a variety of food options and the votes are in. Here were our favorites: The root beer - we've never had anything like it and that sweet bubble drink will forever be part of our dreams now. The best entree that we tried was the Stuffed Sole. - It was seasoned perfectly. The Duck Meatball Stroganoff was also a great second choice for an entree. For dessert our table tried and shared ALL of the desert options. Everyone agreed that the Apple Strudel with Ice Cream was the best. My ONLY complaint about the almost perfect night was the service: our table of 7 spent a LOT of money on our meal. We all had drinks, appetizers, entrees and dessert. Despite that, the service of our waiter was mediocre at best. He didn't seem to care that we were there and was just 'doing the job.' My husband asked for a one-sip sample of a beer when he was trying to make his beer selection and the waiter refused. My husband makes his own beer, and we often frequent various craft beer establishments. This was our first experience where a customer couldn't sample a beer choice. - Wow! Having said that, the host at the front of the restaurant was amazing! We watched him jump into action when tables needed to be cleared and when mentioned something about how hot the restaurant was, he immediately and kindly took action. We were so appreciative and thanked him immensely. The food was great, but the service provided by the wait staff probably the worst we have ever had.

Great food. A good assortment of gluten free options but would have loved More German options that are GF. Had the bbq salad recommend. So fresh! Tried GF German potato salad very nice flavor. For dessert the GF caramel cheesecake yummy!

We were so glad the Berghoff reopened, as we love to dine there every time we are in Chicago. The beer is very similar to that we've had in Germany and the food is always a treat!

We were so glad we chose this restaurant to have dinner. Then we went back the next day as we were leaving town for some lunch. So enjoyed the food both times. Great food, great beer, even great root beer! We got a hot pretzel, and wish we could enjoy this treat again. The Octoberfest atmosphere added to our experience.

We headed here for the Brewery, not realizing it was part of the Berghoff Restaurant. Now German food is not necessarily my thing, but I could make a whole meal out of Gretchen’s Potato Pancakes……so different and out of this world! The service was friendly, and we learned a lot about the history of this old family owned eatery. Definitely recommend!

Had lunch there on re-openning day. While the service was a little rusty, the food was just as good as it was in the past. It was so nice to be eating there again. Highly recommended.

Visited tonight for dinner and drinks. The bartenders are typical Chicago style; poor service and not interested in their work. Wanted to order food, but seeing as it took 20 mins to order a beer, I’m gonna go ahead and pass on the food. It’s a shame...

We were thrilled to find this place few years back as there are no good German restaurant in the area. We are everytime delighted with their food and service. Anytime we are in Chicago downtown we visit this place.

My wife and I went to the Berghoff on our second date 39 years ago. It was good then and good now! The Jaegerschnitzel and wienerschnitzel were great. The Bavarian pretzel made a nice appetizer. Service was wonderful. The Berghoff was awesome.

We enjoyed classic German sauerbraten and schnitzel that was perfectly prepared and served by wonderful staff. Having an attached brewery with a great selection of beers made it even better.

Had to give it a try based upon the reviews and a recommendation from a local. We were not disappointed. It is truly a family restaurant based on the hours and set up. Cool place inside but not what we expected. The food was outstanding. The Potato Pancakes appetizer was tremendous. I really enjoyed my Jaber Schnitzel. My wife had the Wiener Schnitzel which said also said was very good. The Creamed Spinach was better than most as well. Really quick service and they get you in and out so not a relaxing spot but a good spot for a great German style dinner.

Came here in the 60's and 70's. Interior looks the same. Service was fast, food excellent. Unfortunately, the large breadbasket with wonderful dark, light rye, rolls, etc. has been replaced by a semi good bread funnel. Otherwise, if you like German food, this is the place for excellent sauerkraut, weiner schnitzel and sausages.

If you’re into history, this place is worth a stop for its long and storied Chicago history alone. This place must be doing something right: employees stay for decades and many are multi-generational. We reserved the main dining room and they made moving the reservation easy when our train was late. Josh liked the Adams Street Brewery red and I paired Pinot Grigio with dinner, which was the Berghoff family recipe for white fish. My husband had the 3 sausage dish (duck, boar and venison, I think) and really liked it. The stuffed mushrooms were outstanding. Service is thorough and attentive. I think we would have enjoyed the bakery too if dinner didn’t fill us up. There’s a photo in the beautiful bar of Berghoff’s getting the first liquor license in Chicago after Prohibition if you have time to roam over. Cool spot: worth making reservations!

We love to try German restaurants whenever we travel and this one did not disappoint! The food was excellent, the service was a little spotty, communication amongst the staff was tense. I had the spatzleknödel and could eat it every meal for the rest of my days. It was that good! My family loved their food as well, probably some version of schnitzel but I wasn’t paying attention. Desserts were also to die for.

Service was phenomenal. The food was even better. Definitely eat here when in Chicago. It’s one of the best meals I’ve had here.

So glad a friend suggested was we in city from Boston. Beautiful layout and so much history. Menu and beer offerings are spectacular and pretty decent pricing. I recommend considering reservations. EASILY would come back if in Chicago again!!

My last visit to Chicago was about 5 years ago, and I dined at The Berghoff twice. I couldn’t wait to return! Well here I am back in town, and sure enough I made a bee-line to The Berghoff the first chance I got. I guess the one big change since my last visit is the addition of the Adams Street Brewery operation within the restaurant. The branding is a little confusing since it’s all the same place, and you can get Berghoff food and Adams St. beer on both sides of the restaurant. Anyway, it made no difference to me. I got to enjoy an authentic German-American meal in this charming historic location once again, and it did not disappoint. The food was delicious, inexpensive, and came out of the kitchen lightning fast. Service was friendly and professional, and the atmosphere, especially at Christmastime, was delightful (even though the weather outside was frightful). I hope my next trip to Chicago is sooner than 5 years, because I can’t wait to return to The Berghoff!

We visited here a few times a couple of years ago. So we wanted to go back and it was still the same, great venue, great staff and amazing food. They still offer great choices for Coeliacs / Gluten Free. I can not recommend the salted caramel cheesecake enough,

Operating since 1898, The Berghoff Restaurant has undergone several generations of ownership, many changes and renovations of property - and today, it is still a very popular restaurant, offering its famous brand of beers, and tasty German food. I came in The Berghoff's at a lunch time, and the only place they could seat me - fairly soon - was at the bar. The restaurant was absolutely packed with holiday shoppers, families and friends, small kids and grown ups, visitors, locals - all enjoying the weekend and the lunch time. And sitting at the bar turned out not a bad idea after all - bartender/server Andrea was very attentive and friendly, Wiener Schnitzel I ordered came in timely. The veal cutlet was huge, tender and tasty, as well as cream spinach. Home-made spatzle however, was quite dry and far from even being warm. That part was made up for having a pot of hot tea, since I wasn't into the cold beer drinking that day. The restaurant had a pleasant, festive ambiance - all decorated in bright winter colors - creating a nice and warm feeling of anticipating great holiday times.

What a great find this restaurant was! After walking and site seeing all day we stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant. We got seated right away and had just the best time! Our waiter Danny, was knowledgeable, fun and entertained our crazy girl group. The food and drinks were all fabulous! Drinks first of course. The favorite beer was the Milk Stout. They even make their own Rootbeer. Best drink we had – the Colorado Bulldog which had vodka and Kahlua. The menu was full of so many choices we had a hard time making a decision. Since there were three of us, we try to have completely different things so we can share. I had the Beer Battered Fish and Chips. The chips were homemade and amazing. The next meal was Beef Medallions with the best little roasted potatoes. The last items we had were stuff mushrooms (which were huge) and spätzle. It’s a very good thing we were doing a lot of walking because we were stuffed! Definitely will have to come back here again next year!

Visited during October Fest Special dishes for the week. Friendly and efficient service. Food very good. No booking so had to just turn up and hope for the best. Thoroughly enjoyed the food and music

We came in and were seated in the bar area. Mediocre service from the start. Basic German food. Nothing extra ordinary. They were advertising octoberfest but nothing special for the occasion. The black forest cake was also nothing special and seemed partially frozen.

I had not been to the Berghoff in years. I went there for dinner before Christmas with a friend. We used to be regular patrons. We were delighted to find the atmosphere and food as good as decades ago. We both had versions of schnitzel and liters of good beer. We were delighted. Berghoff is back Jon my restaurant list!

After probably three decades, had the chance to eat at the iconic Berghoff in downtown Chicago. One of their signature items is their Reuben sandwich, and it was better than I remembered. You can actually taste all the elements of the sandwich because it isn't overwhelmed by the dressing like most pretender sandwiches elsewhere. This place is a great find with reasonable prices and close proximity to many Chicago theaters, making it ideal for pre-matinee lunch.

If you are looking for a German restaurant with great service and awesome food - this is the place. Great Root Beer. Overall, it was a great experience and the meals...Wunderbar!

It has probably been 15 years or more since I have been here. Tried a couple of times but could not get in. We finally got in for lunch on this trip. It was just as great as I remember. It was very busy on that Friday. Service was great and so was the food. Just a great place to eat with family or friends. We will definitely be back again.

Our group enjoyed a delicious German dinner with knowledgeable, attentive service. Appetizers: bacon wrapped figs, mini sausage buns, potato pancakes over apples. Green salad with a light, refreshing vinaigrette. Sausage trio, warm potato salad, sauerkraut. Light, flaky apple turnover dessert. Berghoff's own non-alcoholic root beer with free refills. Good selection of beers. Generous portions: we took leftovers home! We purchased a Berghoff's root beer stein as a souvenir.

The atmosphere in the dining rooms of this historic building and restaurant is amazing-- almost worth a meal here to experience it. That's good, because the food was just OK, and the staff seemed indifferent to whether or not we felt welcome and/or enjoyed ourselves. They have an extensive list of German-style beers, and the menu is similarly expansive. So lots to choose from. Between my wife and I we have only two meals on which to base this review, but neither was memorable or delicious. The giant soft pretzel was served hot and delicious. We had tried to come on Friday just after 5:00 pm, but it was already packed and with a 45-min wait for a table. So we came back for lunch on Sunday instead.

Decided to try this place based on menus and reviews. Made a reservation which may or may not be necessary. Arrived and were greeted and seated. Water materialized and the waitperson came by and asked if we were ready which we were not as we had just sat down. This was a theme for the meal. We ordered some drinks while we looked at the menu. Everything sounded good but we decided to order a smaller meal based on the portion sizes we saw. We placed an order for an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms followed by the Wiener Schnitzel. We asked that the courses be spaced out. The mushrooms were delicious. As soon as those plates were cleared our main course arrived. The schnitzel seemed a bit heavy to me compared with those I make and have eaten in Europe. Service was just fine. The problem was that we were done with dinner in 45 minutes, not the leisurely dinner we were hoping for.

Great bartenders, the place is really cool looking. Only stopped in for drinks after hours of walking the city. The restaurant was celebrating Oktoberfest and had two gentlemen dressed in traditional wear and played authentic German songs, it was a blast. The drinks were nice and reasonably priced.

Plentiful stuffing of mashed potatoes in 5 pierogies makes the difference. Comes with a small salad of arugula, quinoa, tomatoes. Add a selection of many good German beers and you have a nice light lunch or dinner. Downtown location perfect choice for visitors. If you have also been to Germany, like me, you will feel right at home. It not, you will have a "taste" of a visit. Good choice.

The Berghoff is a Chicago landmark, a restaurant, bar and cafe that has been family-owned and operated since Herman Joseph Berghoff, who immigrated to Chicago from Germany with his three brothers in 1970, opened the doors in 1898. They were brewing and selling Dortmunder-style beer at the time--they sold beer at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893--but soon were inspired to a expand their bar to a full-service restaurant. Located at 17 West Adams Street, steps from the center of the Chicago Loop, The Berghoff covers 45,000 square feet and serves traditional German cuisine and steins of beer in an old-world setting. Today, long-time chefs Matt Reichel and Javier Avalos carry the torch in the kitchen while a host of friendly bartenders work the bar that has carried Chicago's Liquor License No. 1 since prohibition was repealed in 1939. This is a lot of Chicago's history with good food and drink tossed in. Open from 11 to 9 Monday through Saturday, The Berghoff is a go-to destination for beer lovers. Since 2018, it even brews its own brand of beer on site. My wife and I don't drink beer. But we love The Berghoff's German cuisine. It's one of our favorite lunch stops. We usually start with deep fried Wisconsin cheese curds with wasabi dipping sauce, Applewood bacon wrapped shrimp topped with BBQ sauce glaze, a Bavarian pretzel with beer cheddar cheese and sweet mustard, a bowl of Alsatian onion and apple soup, beef broth with Granny Smith apples, rye crostini and baked Muenster cheese, and Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, croutons, shaved parmesan cheese and cherry tomatoes tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing with grilled chicken. For an entree, I usually order the Wiener Schnitzel, breaded veal cutlets served with the Berghoff's famous creamed spinach and house-made spatzle. My wife usually opts for the Cedar Plank Salmon, salmon grilled over a cedar plank and topped with lemon oil and micro greens and served with roasted fingerling potatoes, grilled carrots and green beans. For dessert, we shared a large portion of apple strudel and a large slice of German chocolate cake. Lunch doesn't get any better than that!

The food was very good! There food bought was the sausage , the cod, the meatloaf, the duck meatballs, & the game plate. The duck was ok, not a lot of flavor. The game plate was very good but more sauce would be good. The beer was great!

Went here on a recommendation, maybe should have done lunch and sandwiches but dinner was really basic. My teen will eat anything but its basically Sysco food you can find better almost anywhere. Had to send mine back - the bacon was undercooked and the waitress basically said "that happens all the time" yuck. Got the job done but can tell they are riding on their old reputation.

The German beer hall thing is a fun concept, and the decor is authentic from top to bottom. Members of the staff are friendly, competent, and attentive; they definitely make you feel like you're welcome there, and they seem genuinely focused on providing patrons with a great experience. But the food....ughhh......mostly bland and forgettable, made from seemingly low-quality ingredients. The mashed potatoes have the taste and texture of instant. "Sourdough" bread was suspiciously similar to Wonder bread. Corned beef mimicked deli meat rather than freshly made. Potato salad lacked the richness and depth that is characteristic of truly authentic German potato salad. Best part of the meal was the sauerkraut, and even it was just ok. Not sure if this place ever intended to be anything more than just a fun experience. But it could be so much more than it is, if they just paid a little attention to the food.

As the title states. We were referred to this restaurant while visiting Central Camera at 230 S Wabash. This was our family’s first visit to Berghof Restaurant. It should also be noted that this was our family’s first try at German Food. The first thing you notice prior to being seated is that there are murals all over the restaurant celebrating Chicago circa the Columbia Exposition of 1893. It is worth a visit if you love art and/or history. The beer is top notch and I was pleasantly surprised by the Anniversary Bock. That brew is smooth. As an appetizer we ordered a giant pretzel that was so large that it was hung on a banana rack to allow it to cool. It is served warm. Cheese and mustard are provided for dunking. Although I preferred it with just plain butter. It was delicious. The Duck meatball stroganoff was delightful and can be shared with other members of your party. The spinatknödel is a vegetarian dish that uses spices traditionally found in meatballs. That was a pleasant surprise and also shared around the table. The desserts such as German chocolate cake, white vanilla mouse and root beer float are all worth a try. We will be back. Oh and if you have a chance and love all things cameras from antiques to film development and camera repair, stop by Central Camera and talk to Don. After all, he gives great restaurant recommendations.

We love going to this restaurant. We had time for lunch while waiting for our train. The restaurant is close to the train station and finding taxis was easy. The food is always good. I had a pastrami sandwich and my husband had the famous German Wiener Schnitzel which he loves.

The Berghoff is a Chicago instituation. The menu has a broad selection of authentic German dishes. We had lunch here, and enjoyed it. Great food!

I make it a plan to go to The Berghoff when in town! The food and the service is always excellent. Our server Dana was awesome. I really enjoy the Bavarian Pretzel and Root Beer!

I dined at this spot because I’ve never ate at a German restaurant. My meal consisted of the sausage trio, german potato salad, sauerkraut, red cabbage and black forest cake. Everything was really good. One of the best desserts I’ve had. The homemade root beer is awesome. Service was great too. Very glad I decided to eat here. Would eat here again anytime.

We had Weiner Schnitzel and Jager Schnitzel......both with Spatzel. Both meals were good We thought it strange that this restaurant didn't serve late on a Saturday night. You had to be seated by730pm to be served. The bartender called out "last call" at 745pm I would have liked to try another of their tap beers, but it was too late!!

A classic restaurant that transports you to the era of prohibition. The menu is extensive and suitable for all tastes. We ordered the Bavarian pretzel and the mini Brat & Knockwurst and as a main the Game sausage trio (wild boar, venison and duck meat sausages). Everything was very delicious and with spectacular service, very attentive and pleasant, which made our experience very pleasant.

Ordered a hunting cutter with m.a. champignons which was the reason for the choice over winersnitsel. But the disappointment was great as I did not find any champignons. The course was extremely boring (see photo)

Great family owned business for over 100 years. The food was excellent. The atmosphere is nice. The beer from the brewery was excellent. The service was excellent. We started with the pretzel which was incredible. Everything was excellent including the flight of beer.

Visited recently for an anniversary meal. It was a lovely experience! Beautifully decorated for Christmas! Staff was very friendly and attentive. Food and beer were delicious. It has been awhile since we last visited Chicago, and this was definitely our favorite meal from our stay.

We visited this restaurant three times in one week for lunch and dinner and found it to be superb on each occasion providing great beer and delicious food, the sauerkraut was exceptional. The bar is also a great place for a drink getting licence number 1 post prohibition. So interesting.

the food is great but the portions are very small for an entry the entry is more like an appetizer

My friend found this restaurant in a guidebook and said I have a good feeling about this. Boy did that good feeling pay off we love this place from the moment we entered the beautiful glitching neon sign on West Adams, and we walked into these lovely wood paneling‘s and antique lights and felt right at home. The beer flights were a delightful treat to start off the evening and each of our four beers were fantastic. The waiter was very helpful in helping us make selections of beers and also in our food selections. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms to go with our beer flight and it was divine one of the best stuffed mushrooms ever. I had the Wiener schnitzel and my friend had white fish that was served on a risotto cake. We also ordered a fantastic creamed spinach and sauerkraut. It was the best sauerkraut I’ve ever had in a restaurant or at home for that matter! The food was exceptional delicious, served hot and full of flavor. I love this place and would highly recommend it.

The Berghoff is what a German beer hall is supposed to be all about...lots of space, lots of beer, lots of wiener schnitzel and other German favorites and lots of friendly conversation. Located at 17 West Adams Street, in the heart of Chicago's Loop, it is the city's oldest restaurant, family-owned and operated since 1898, when a mug of beer cost a nickel and came with a free sandwich. Prices have risen over the years, of course, but the 45,000-square-foot building and the menu haven't changed very much. Open daily from 11:30 to 8, the Berghoff is thriving once again after closing in 2020 during the pandemic, then reopening 15 months later. I started with a bread basket with house-made rye, sourdough, wheat and lavesh, a Bavarian pretzel with sweet mustard and house-made beer cheese, bacon-wrapped shrimp with barbecue sauce glaze and cheese polenta and a Berghoff house salad with field greens, shaved fennel asparagus, tomatoes and lemon vinaigrette. For my entree, I chose the house special, wiener schnitzel, a pan fried breaded veal cutlet with creamed spinach and house-made spatzle a la Holstein. For dessert, what else? Apple strudel is to Germany what tiramisu is to Italy and profiteroles are to France. The Berghoff's version of apple strudel contains Granny Smith apples, pecans and golden raisins surrounded by a flaky strudel crust and topped with caramel sauce and powdered sugar. Sorry, I don't drink beer.

The good: - It was warm on a cold night - Staff was friendly - Pretzel was delicious - Schnitzel was okay - The beer was good The bad: - The atmosphere wasn’t welcoming. Maybe some German music or something to make it a little more festive. - The bread they brought out when we sat down was quite old and hard. - The sausages and sauerkraut was comparable to what we make at home. - About half of our food came out, and it wasn’t hot.

When we planned to go to Chicago, I told my wife we had to go to the Berghoff, which was one of my favorite restaurants when I worked in Chicago 40 years ago. I had my favorite - the weiner schnitzel platter - definitely not the same quality. The veal while tasty was tough to cut and the spaetzle was dry. Even the dessert - apple strudel - was not very good. The service used to be "career waiters" but that has also changed...for the worse.

We had reservations on a week night before a downtown event at the landmark location called The Berghoff. I have wanted to eat here for twenty years and finally made it. The legendary root beer is delicious. Riesling white wine was excellent. We had a Bavarian pretzel with dips for appetizer. Wiener schnitzel, spaetzle, jager schnitzel, grilled vegetables, creamed spinach, bratwurst on pretzel bun, homemade potato chips. All excellent and delicious. The dessert menu looks enticing. All are made in house and maybe we will stop in for dessert next time. I recommend. Friendly and efficient service. A scene from the film Dark Knight was filmed near the bar area.

We eat at Berghoff's every time we're in Chicago. There is usually a bit of a wait, but it's worth it. The service is quick and friendly, and the food is yummy.

Wide variety of german foods - all we had were solid. Excellent service. Nice walk to it in downtown. Would certainly return.

I had dinner at the Berghoff years ago and it was exceptional with great German food. Had a business dinner with a set menu and was rather disappointed that the options did not include traditional German food. The entrees were decent (salmon, pork, vegetarian) but I was not wowed.

Stopped in for an afternoon drink and appetizer. Bartender in Adams Street Brewery section(shaved head, full well trimmed beard) met us with attitude and aloofness. Pretzel was great, but his arrogance ruined the experience. With so many excellent bars in Chicago there is no reason to go here. Simply put, a jerk! Wife asked him a friendly question—a grunt. No thank you. Will not return.

We shared appetizers of Bavarian pretzel, and cheese curds. All of us ordered the root beer. It hit the spot on a warm day of sightseeing. Our entrees were Wiener schnitzel, sausage trio, beer battered cod. We shared desserts of German chocolate cake, apple strudel alamode. All were delicious. Service was excellent and friendly. I recommend a visit when you are downtown in the Loop.

We have eaten here before. German restaurant, good food at good price. I’d say it is”old school” waitstaff has probably been there for years. Highlight recommend!

Classic and superb German cuisine and house-brewed beers in an elegant and upscale setting. Exceptional service makes the experience even better.

This was my first time dining at the famous Berghoff restaurant. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays and we sat ourselves in the bar since we didn't want to wait for a table in the dining room. Ordered a rueben but wasn't impressed. The bread is made in house, but it was just limp flavorless toast. The dressing and the sauerkraut were bland also. Overall, disappointing as this was mentioned as one of the best items on the menu. They tack on a 3.5% service charge. It was $27 before tip just for the sandwich and soft drink. Lots of people eating and drinking there, so it’s very popular, but I wouldn’t go back.

First visit to this fine restaurant. I was told wait for 3 was almost 40 minutes. It was more like 4 minuets. I know that’s not normal. Service was great, food was outstanding even if I just had the burger. Will probably go back on future visits. Since it’s Christmas, Santa was walking around to each table.

The staff was so nice and the food was so good. I had a special that they had on the menu from Cinco de Mayo. It was something vegetarian-like squash boats with veggies and cheese. It was great. The building is really neat and the lady who waited on us knew so much about the history of the place. Very cool!

Good menu for German food, as well as people who may not be as receptive to German food. The setting was reminiscent of restaurants I have been to in Dusseldorf, Germany. Some good traditional style German beers, as well as local selections.

This fine dining stylish restaurant was originally opened in 1898 as a saloon and changed to a restaurant specialising in German cuisine during Prohibition. In addition to it's high quality food, the Berghoff is also known for its professional waiters with their smart formal cloth aprons remembering orders without writing them down. Fantastic restaurant, an absolute must-visit when in Chicago.

Established in 1898, this fine restaurant is a Chicago institution. The decor is wonderful and cosy. The menu is filled with German specialties and innovative variations you’ll find nowhere else. The service is outstanding.

We went in for lunch for a birthday and to see Santa for the grandkids. We had appetizers, Rueben’s, and Roast beef sandwiches. Along with a side of red cabbage. Susan was our server and was absolute wonderful. The food was fantastic as always .

I went here with a group of six. Two of us arrived a bit ahead to reserve a table. They wouldn't seat us until everyone arrived. They have comfy window seats for waiting. The others arrived shortly. Bathrooms are downstairs. Once we got seated, we were greeted by a pleasant woman who said she would give us separate checks. The menu has a lot of choice, not just traditional German foods. Our orders were from schnitzel to linguine to fish tacos and beer to pina colada. They have choices for almost every taste! Including nonalcoholic beverages. The place was perfect for a table of loud people having a good time. Our server, sorry I don't know her name, was just perfect. She kept us happy and served us with a smile. Well done, Berghoff!

Good German food with diverse options. We went here while staying in Chicago for a few nights. We had the Wiener schnitzel, Jäger schnitzel, chicken schnitzel and burger. All were great. The mean was topped off with Black Forest cake. Food was authentic and tasty. Worth checking out.

Excellent food! We had the pretzel, burger, sausage trio, and dessert. All amazing! Great beer too. Friendly staff, nice ambience

This German restaurant has been around for about 125 years! I went with a friend for lunch -- we enjoyed both entrees (shared a bit of each other's dish). Service was excellent; setting is a lovely old-time restaurant --- not hard to hear each other (i.e., not very noisy); not inexpensive but worth it. I would certainly return.

I was walking in chicago downtown and looking for a fast restauranta nd I foud this lovely place.Live music was on stage..The have their own brewery and had great beer between so many kind of beers..I also had my veggie burgers made of black beans

Went because of its storied name. Even with reservations had to wait over 45 mins. Food was so so, service somewhat rushed. Thanks to the waitress letting us know at 7:45 the restaurant closes at 8pm. Kind enough to get us deserts. Clso

Quiet bar and restaurant located in the business quarter. This was just down the road from our hotel so nipped in for an evening drink and found a couple of people playing jazz. Lovely relaxed bar but unfortunately it shut at 9 so we only managed 1dimk here.

The four of us (two couples) came to Chicago to celebrate my birthday and to see other sites, August 25-28, 2025. I had dined here in the bar area about 10 years ago and was impressed with the nice, friendly and lively ambiance. The food was good as well. This time, we were seated in the main dining room, early for dinner about 4:15PM on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. So the dining room was nearly empty and service by Mary M. was fast and efficient. However, the room had a bad smell, like moldy carpeting. I had the Whitefish entree which was a bit small portion for the price. My cocktail was a Daisy Santiago, served in a martini glass and did not seem to have any alcohol in it. More diners came in, at one table they were served a giant pretzel hanging from a metal hook. At another table an order of fish and chips smelled like really old fish, that bad fishy smell. I wanted a repeat experience of the last time here, but disappointed my wife and my friends with this choice.

After a hot January day spent taking in the touristy spots, the girl friend was hungry and needed gluten free food now! Pro-tip! Don't wait for a table - you can go right to the bar, skip the lines, and Andrea will take great care of you. The Beef Medallions were more than enough for 2 - split it, get some drinks and live it up.

We had a very nice celebratory beer (or two) today with great menu guidance and friendly service from Q, aka Quentin! It’s so great the Berghoff is open & just as warm, classy & lovely as we remember it from the 1990s!

Four of us went for dinner and rather than wait 40 minutes for a table in the restaurant section, we found a table in the bar area. There was live music which was very hard to hear due to the size of the happy hour crowd. Our service was excellent, especially considering how busy it was. All of us liked our food, three German and one seafood, and all the plates were cleaned. As we ate, the crowd thinned out and everything was much more calm. I also remembered eating here over twenty years ago, but that was TripAdvisor.

Old style classic dining! Limited but good menu. The root beer is often. I’m not a beer drinker but it looks like a solid selection! Must visit.

Reserve your parking ahead of time if possible through a parking-finder app, because you won’t find any parking on Adams Street where this famous restaurant resides. Reservations for the restaurant are recommended, but not mandatory. We went for lunch on a Monday and it wasn’t very busy. The food was amazing! We shared a giant pretzel with dipping sauces for an appetizer. Their house-made mustard has a wonderful “brown Dijon” flavor. Try some of their house-made root beer, or their Adam’s Street Brewery beer. They also carry a variety of imported beer that are all great! For the meal we tried the Spatzel, the “game” trio, and some knackwurst with a bratwurst. All came with sides like authentic German potato salad, sour kraut, or spatzel noodles. The “wild game” dish featured pork and duck varieties. Everything tasted fantastic. The wait staff was great, and the atmosphere has a “German hoffbrau haus” vibe. Very cool restaurant that s a “must try!”

I look forward to eating at Berghoff’s when I’m in Chicago. The food is good and it is an easy walk from any hotel in the loop. Tonight I had the beef tips and they were most excellent. The menu has a wide selection of entrees so there is something for everyone. While I know the beer is world famous, I’m not a beer drinker.

I really enjoyed my meal at Berghoff. The sauerkraut was delicious and this was the best German potato salad I have ever eaten.

Getting into the restaurant can be a little tricky if you have mobility issues, but it is worth making the effort. The food is exceptional, and we had great service. They were very busy on a Friday night during December, the food is so good that it was worth the long wait. We were excited to meet Santa, and enjoyed the atmosphere. Be sure to try the creamed spinach. It is phenomenal!

Good atmosphere. Good service. OK beer. Poor food. I had the game sausage platter that was flavorless. No spice. Spaetzele definitely homemade, but bland. I ate at the restaurant I would suggest that if you want to get an idea of the atmosphere, eat at the bar side. Same food, and they have sports in the TV

Was in Chicago for the weekend and saw this place had history and been around since 1898 so I had to give it a shot tbh. Never had much German food before but I like pretzels so I saw the big pretzel and had to try it. Really good pretzel. And then I had the Turkey BLT with chips and loved it. It was a little spicy but it had real good flavor. And then had the German chocolate cake to top it off. Was a good place to go for lunch. Never really had a BLT at restraunts. BUt their turkey BLT was very good and the desert was real chocolate and good as well. The waitress was ok. She wasn’t the best. But the food was hot and good so that worked out.

We were actually expecting a micro-brewery named Adam’s Street Brewery, not a Chicago landmark restaurant named Berghoff. While the bar area of the restaurant did serve their own micro-brew called Adam’s Street, that is where the similarity between Adam’s Street and any other brewery ends. This is a restaurant bar. We did like the mural behind the bar area..

The Berghoff of yore was sit down and be served. I really enjoyed the Turkey with cranberry sauce for lunch back then. Less service and higher pricing points and smaller menu offerings.

We were very excited about the menu and the portions sizes were fine but the food really lacked quality. Plus even though it was not too expensive, it was still overpriced. The beer was great though.

Visited The Berghoff while in town on business. I had the Sauerbraten which was very good. The mashed potatoes were outstanding. The other two people with me had the Schnitzel and said it was very good also. The stuffed mushroom appetizer is worth getting if you like the ingredients in them.

My wife and I recently ate at The Berghoff prior to going to the theatre on recent trip to Chicago. I'm a sucker for restaurants with history. This one has been around for 125 years. My wife enjoyed the Reuben sandwich. Delicious corned beef on home made rye bread. I had the sourbraten. Classic german dish done well. Dessert was a delciious apple streudel. All washed down with house made root beer. Great place to go if in the Loop area, especially if going to CIBC Theatre to see a show.

We met up with a friend at Berghoff's while we were visiting in the area. I've been going to the Berghoff my entire life (since I was a child), and after all these years, it is still terrific. It seems the basement area is not longer open, or maybe not in the evening. We were seated in the upstairs dining room, which is classic. Our server was attentive and prompt with everything. The food was delicious, as was their local root beer. I had the jaeger schnitzel. My friend had the Wiener schnitzel, and my husband had the sausage plate. Everything was very good, classic.. The fried cheese curds as an appetizer were yummy. We barely had room for dessert, but we HAD to have dessert. The apple strudel was just as good as I remembered it. I left in a food coma, but very, very happy. This is such a classic German restaurant. You can't go wrong here.

This place sprung up while looking for iconic restaurants in Chicago on the world wide web. I am no connoisseur of German food and wasn't even sure what I was eating other than the chicken schnitzel on my plate. A person who ordered the same as me got a pickle and I did not. It was a last minute notice. The real draw here, for me at least, is the overall atmosphere of the old restaurant that is attached to a bar next door. 10 out of 10 for old-time ambiance. The big neon sign out from shone brilliantly.

As the oldest restaurant in Chicago, I had to give it a go. Wonderful. The interiors alone are worth a visit. This is not a Michelin-star type of food place, but the food we had was great. The pretzel for sure is a must. The cheese curds were excellent. The food is German and just fine. It is a downtown restaurant that seats its last guests at 7:30 pm. Nice place for families.

The Berghoff never disappoints, and this was a real pleasure. My friend had always wanted to go the Berghoff, but this was the first time he got to go. We arrived early for our reservation (yes, I’d make a reservation), and although the hostess offered to seat us, we chose to go to the bar instead. It was very busy, but we found two seats at the end of the bar, which put us away from the crowd, and it was easier to hear each other. The bartenders were very busy, but we got served quite quickly. We got drinks and decided to order an appetizer. We had the spinach stuffed mushrooms, and they were great! We eventually made our way back to the dining room (just a little after our reservation time). Our server greeted us right away and got us another round of drinks (They transferred our tab from the bar). He had the Sauerbraten, and I had the weinerschnitzel. Both were great - fresh and hot when served to us. The creamed spinach and noodles were perfect with the schnitzel, and his potatoes, carrots and asparagus complimented the beef quite well, too. We were joined by our spouses in time to order dessert. We had the salted caramel cheesecake and they had the Black Forest cake. Both deserts were easily shared between the two of us. The service was good, and I really love the “old Chicago” feel - wood walls/ceiling, pretty plain tables/chairs, but darn good food. Although this is not the Original Berghoff, it is very faithful to the original.

I have lived in Chicagoland for 32 years, previously being in the USAF in Germany for 7 years.. I’ve heard for years how great this establishment was… I ordered the jagerschnitzel .. what the heck, I got a plate with 3 unbreaded pork medallions.. you would be hard pressed to find a picture of a schnitzel on the internet that isn’t breaded.. the veggies and the spatzel was seriously flavor challenged and plain. very few mushrooms and a Heinz jar tasting gravy.. seriously terrible representation of a schnitzel.. chef klaus down in frankfort is 100% better.. don’t waste your time and money

Excellent food! Very good service. Very good drinks. A couple of recommendations. If you want to stay awhile, don’t order right away. Our appetizer came out in under 5 minutes. We ordered the entrees, and the were there in about 7. But the food is delicious. Also, need real knives , like a steak knife to cut our mushrooms and sausages. The knives were more like a butter knife. Very reasonably priced. Highly recommend!

I'm so glad I dined at The Berghoff Restaurant while staying in downtown Chicago. The exterior features a fantastic, vintage-feeling neon and light bulb sign, Inside, warm, friendly staff were professional and fast. I enjoyed the inviting, comfortable decor - dark woods and details you’d expect in a German-themed restaurant - feels like the best type of throw-back to another time - but also felt fresh and updated. The casual vibe was really relaxing, Where I was seated, tall glass walls allow diners to look in at the spotless brewery setup. Live music was coming from the larger dining room. For starter, I ordered the pretzel with cheese and mustard sauces and a house-made root beer. The pretzel was truly gigantic - I took 1/3 of it with me back to the hotel. Both sauces were quite good - the mustard was a little spicy and a little sweet … I only ate a little of it, but it was quite nice. The root beer was terrific - with a little zing at the end … sarsaparilla? My main course was Jäger Schnitzel with spaetzel … and I substituted their classic creamed spinach for the caramelized vegetables. The schnitzel was tender and moist … the mushroom sauce flavorful. I was happy with all of my choices. Dessert (ordered for carry-out) was apple strudel, served with 2 donut holes. Delicous. The entire meal, I was impressed by the speed of service, coupled with a very friendly staff. It's great to get to enjoy a restaurant with a long history that continues such a high level of service. I left very happy, satisfied, and comfortably full. I hope to dine at Berghoff’s again, the next time I’m in the Loop.

I stopped in to this venerable German dining hall for an evening meal before a nearby show. I was frankly anticipating disappointment in the food & service, considering the large crowd & my selective affinity for Teutonic fare. On the contrary, I thoroughly relished two courses & two wonderful in-house brews. The crowd was of the lively after-work variety, causing the barroom to literally buzz. I found a barstool & was quickly welcomed by the efficient bar staff, who took a team approach to service. I appetized with the onion and apple soup, which was primarily onion soup garnished with thin slices of Granny Smith – just fine with me as onion soup is a favorite, even with the substitution of Muenster for the typical Gruyere. Followed this w/ the sausage trio, each of which was tasty, but with the Thuringer sausage being the star of the group & the bratwurst a little too bland for my taste. These were grouped with sauerkraut & a good portion of German potato salad, not too vinegary. Needless to say the interior of the food hall was attractive, warm, & distinct. I could have stayed a lot longer than I did. I’d recommend the Berghof to anyone.

German immigrant, Herman Berghoff, began selling beer at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 for a nickel and even included a free sandwich. During prohibition, Berghoff kept his bar alive by brewing legal near beer and root beer, which is still popular today. The German food served here is seriously so good! And you have to try a famous Berghoff root beer, it is actually really good!

Great food, great desserts, great beer! great holiday atmosphere! a holiday tradition! Schnitzels, spätzle, creamed spinach! Excellent choice for children, finding the pickle on the Christmas tree gets you a discount on their homemade root beer, which is excellent!

Ate here for dinner one night. Enjoyed our dinners. Schnitzel was very good and really enjoyed the spinach. A little loud but not terrible. Definitely recommend

We have been going to The Berghoff for over 40 years. Always loved their sauerbraten. We dined there this week and were disappointed. The beef in the sauerbraten did not taste marinated and was dry and tough. Normally it is tender with a wonderful tangy taste. Three of us had it and it was the same disappointment. My wife had their bouillabaisse which was good but the broth was overly salty. It was, however, full of a good supply of delicious fish. Maybe we hit it on an off night, but I expect better with the sauerbraten which is their signature German dish. Maybe we will try there again.

How sad to see this historic restaurant fallen. Its more a bar with bad expensive food now. They've sold the stained glass windows (I could see the hooks and wires left.) The wooden tables were sticky. But mostly the food. I chose the wiener schnitzel plate for $23, a Berghoff signature dish. The creamed spinach was food service gummy instead of the great dish it used to be. The schnitzel had a grainy coating like frozen fish sticks. The spaetzle was precooked and heated on the grill (and brown on one side). It was tough and tasted like whatever had been grilled last--hot dogs? And, bread costs $3 extra. Service was swift and attentive. The beer was good. Skip the food. In fact skip the restaurant.

We have just had dinner in this well established restaurant, and it was wonderful. Our server, David, was very attentive and served our meal exactly as we asked for….brought our gins and left us for twenty minutes before taking our food order (European rather than American way of having a meal). When our meal arrived, it was excellent, and we were both glad we had passed this restaurant earlier today and decided to book for this evening. If you’re reading this review, don’t hesitate to book…it really was very good.

The Berghoff is a great restaurant and has been a favorite for many years. It has a comfortable atmosphere and great food.

My wife and I ate here a number of years ago and decided to return for good, authentic German food. We split the Sauerbraten with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables. We thought our service was very good and the food was delicious. This is about as authentic as I’ve had for German food in the U.S. For desert I had the apple strudel which was very good. My wife had the gluten free cheesecake and thought it was also very good. We will return to the Berghoff when back in Chicago.

Ok so the Wienerschnitzle is essentially a fried veal cutlet. No sauce. None. It comes with spatzle. I would give this plate 2 stars out of ten. We had the large pretzel… decent. The potato pancakes (6) are the size of a cookie. They should be the size of a hockey puck. The beer is made onsite… the beer is the best thing on menu…. This is a restaurant

We’ve been fans of the Berghoff for many years, so always love returning to it. Quintessential old Chicago. Packed on a Saturday afternoon lunch. That delicious warm huge pretzel hanging from the stand, with mustard. Great potato pancakes; and delicous smoked pork chops with nice caraway seeded, but light, sauerkraut. Excellent wursts. The Adams craft brewery is part of it now; so excellent beer selections along with the usual German brews. Excellent service.

Beer selection was great and food very well prepared. Very busy but very efficient. Started with the freshly made large pretzels which was amazingly good. Several Schnitzel choices, all was good.

A nice German dinner for my wife and me. I had the Chicken Schnitzel. She had an interesting Spätzle dish on top of salad. We both enjoyed the German beer. The place is loud but comfortable. The service is friendly. We both liked what we ordered.

Chicago is one of my favorite cities to visit. As food people we always have one spot we hit, then of course always try new ones. Well we found one that is on our new must eat at on all future visits. Locals, don’t make them depend on us tourists give this OLD Old Chicago restaurant a try. But be warned, it is addictive. Yes the food is great, but it’s more than that. It’s a decor that is sharp and classy and a staff that is attentive and professional.

Still a landmark restaurant - great beer and excellent food in large servings -= wiener schnitzel was just right

The Berghoff never fails. My family has a tradition of heading down here every year before seeing the Goodman Theater's "A Christmas Carol," and I have never been disappointed. This time I ordered the Smoked Salmon Napoleon, which is basically a sweet potato pancake sandwich with dill cream cheese. I loved it! The appetizer and side game at this restaurant is strong as well. I enjoyed the delectable and unique red cabbage, and the giant German pretzel and cheese curds were a prefect way to whet my appetite. (Tip: ask the waited to bring bread to your table as soon as you sit down. They will not do so otherwise.) For dessert, I absolutely adored the Yule Log filled with strawberry-vanilla cream and frosted in chocolate fudge. From the Christmas-ey atmosphere to the reasonable prices and attentive service, I honestly would not have changed a thing. Until next year, thanks for the great meal!

We always eat here when we come to Chicago. The service is always top notch, the food is delicious. My German grandmother made the best German potato salad ever and Berghoffs is as good as hers, which is saying a lot. My son who lives on Printers Row agrees. Portions are plentiful and always good. You would be doing yourself a favor by eating her.

Stopped for German delight of sauerbraten and Wiener schnitzel that was started with a giant pretzel with beer cheese. The meal was so good we ordered sandwiches and pirogies for dinner.

We came here for lunch and were not disappointed. My kid had the pretzel which was massive and came with a couple of dipping sauces. I had the Reuben sandwich which was super. Great flavor but wasn’t messy. Washed it down with some really clean crisp Czech style beer. The interior of the restaurant was really nice and the service was extremely prompt and competent. I’d come back here anytime.

Sauerbraten as good as it was 25 years ago when working downtown. Old classic restaurant with outstanding German food and courteous service.

We walked on State Street when my husband spotted this restaurant . As it was already evening we went there for a dinner. Entering you can find a panel telling you about the Berghoff beer which is brewed here. The restaurant is decorated in a style I saw in Munich. Marsha, the lady who served us (the name was mentioned on the bill) brought straight away glasses of water. Then my husband ordered also a ASB dark beer ($8). As a starter we both had Alsatian onion/apple soup ($15.90 each) . As main meal I ordered Jager schnitzel ($25.95) and my husband game sausages ($23.95). We ended with slice of black forest cake ($18 each). In total we paid $102.59 incl. tax of $10.79. Everything was very tasty, meals arrived warm and not at once as it happened in some other restaurants but Marsha did check if we finish starter and then she brought our main meal - exactly as it should happen. We have been happy with our choice, service and atmosphere there and would recommend visiting it.

Amazing atmosphere good bier and okay grub. We are out of towners that love a good german spot. That being said we still had a great time and enjoyed speaking with the floor manager. I personally wish they had more german food but we did find curry wurst and Jäger schnitzel on the menu. We went in speaking german and were met with English responses, take that for what you will.

We had been to the Berghoff in 1996 and enjoyed the meal. We returned last week despite the recommendations of friends who had been to the restaurant recently. Eventually I "overruled" the friends' statement because of the reviews on Trip Advisor. I wish I hadn't. The schnitzel was overcooked and dry, the bread and the house-made root beer were very unimpressive, the creamed spinach was very average. The only good feature of the meal was the mashed potatoes. We won't return to the Bergoff.

My family eats lunch at The Berghoff every year for our annual holiday trip to Chicago. It never disappoints. The ambiance is so comfortable, and the terrific ginormous Christmas tree with the pickle is a favorite. We so enjoy the reubens, burgers, and root beer! Thank you, The Berghoff, for all the years of holiday memories!

The Berghoff is always a nice place for a good, predictable meal in the Loop on Adams Street. It feels like old-time Chicago with the dark interior and preserved surroundings. You feel you might spy Dreiser's character Sister Carrie at the next table! Take in the historic menus posted in the stairwell to marvel at some of the early options. Service is quick. Be sure to save room for dessert.

This is my second time at the Berghoff Restaurant. Last year I got the Sauerbraten and it was very good. This year I got the Stuffed Sole and oh my was it delicious!! I would definitely order it again! We had a large party and were seated fairly quickly mid afternoon. Decorated beautiful for Christmas.

Beer battered cod entree was just ok… chips just weren’t my thing… cold and maybe cooked in old grease? Slaw was good… just not much of it there! Nothing I would come running back for any time soon. Should’ve gone with server’s recommendation of the Reuben sandwich!

It's good to find a restaurant that offers something other than junk food. A large selection of beer. Impeccable service