Came here for a friend's birthday party a few weeks ago and loved it!! I got there a little early so the hosts just had me sit at the bar and the first thing I noticed was the laid-back, friendly vibe - welcoming to families with kids or a squadron of 30-somethings who just wanna yap. Spoiler-alert, we were the chatty millennials. The menu is pretty expansive and just about everything we had was delicious. Wings, pretzel, sausage - all of it! Also there was tons of space and given the rain that day, it was lovely to be in a spacious interior with still plenty of daylight from the skylight. I would love to come back here again and it seems like a great place for sports-watching! read more

Black Forest - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We came into Black Forest on a Tuesday evening for Trivia. If you want to be sure to participate, probably wise to have a reservation though there are still options to play while not seated in the main room with bar seating options available as well as outside on the patio (though you probably won't be able to hear that well.) Black Forest on Smith Street is a very cute German bier garden. It has the rustic vibe and community atmosphere down pat to keep it feeling like a neighborhood watering hole with traditional German fare. We ordered our German pilsners (which tend to have a maltier taste) and I also had the Grapefruit beer which was a little too sweet instead of tangy/sour for what I was expecting though I still enjoyed it. We came hungry so ordered the pork tenderloin schnitzel with spicy kale and potato salad, a pretzel, and a couple brat wurst with fries. The bratwurst were personally my favorite, and I loved the German mustard they came with. The portions were well sized and the sausage meats were juicy. The pork tenderloin schnitzel was good, but nothing for me to immediately write home about. I enjoyed the spicy kale and pickled potato salad maybe more than the schnitzel itself, though next time would come in just for the brat and the beer alone. This is a great neighborhood spot I hope to return to soon. Oh and we got 6th place in trivia! (Not much thanks to me on that one...) read more

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Good food. Love the forest burger. I think the fries can be better. It's too thin. The beer is the key food. Service is slow cuz it's Oktoberfest. Atmosphere can be great. I love the wood table. read more

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We came back for a date night since the fiance had been wanting to get the boot of beer. Unfortunately, they were all out of stouts, so he didn't end up getting the boot anyways. For food, I ordered the Weisswurst ($16) and the fiance got the Black Forest Burger ($18). The food was incredibly disappointing. The burger was bland while the fries were overly salty. As for the weisswurst, this was partly my mistake thinking I was getting a bratwurst. But let me warn you if you have no idea like me, the weisswurst is a poached sausage, which is so bland and mushy. I took a bite and left the rest because I couldn't even eat it. I hate wasting food, but this was not for me at all. I'm kind of disappointed that the waiters saw my untouched meal and didn't say anything either. Maybe they knew it's awful too. The old fashioned is nice and strong. Just come for drinks, but pass on the food here. read more

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Do you like beer, sausages, giant pretzels, and other German specialties? Do you live in Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, or Boerum Hill, and are much too lazy to walk over to Fort Greene on a regular basis? Yes?* Well, you're in luck, Black Forest is still here on Smith Street. Since they opened back in 2017, I feel like they've grown and improved into one of the best spots on the strip. One thing I didn't appreciate back then (because I didn't have any kids) is how stellar a spot it is for kids. It's brightly lit with a couple excellent tables in the windows (a couple outside during the warmer weather), and large tables in the back under the skylight that are great for bigger parties. The service is friendly and accommodating of little ones, they have excellent chicken schnitzel (just better chicken fingers, really) and fries, and they have delicious German beers available by the half liter, liter, and boot. The latter is because parents need large amounts of strong beer to deal with their children. If you're more into liquor, they've got a full bar, and AYCD brunch on the weekends. And of course, they have tasty sausages like the käsebratwurst, served in kaiser rolls with shoestring (think McDonald's in a fantastic way) fries and sauerkraut. They have potato pancakes, spaetzle, giant pretzels, jerk wings (for some odd reason), flammkuchens (flatbreads), schnitzels, and more. All these things are tasty, and I recommend you order one of each per person. If you drink enough, you'll have a better shot at finishing all that food you ordered. (A little excessive, if you ask me.) ______________ *Wait, are you me? You sound like me, but you're clearly so much better looking. read more

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We swung by Black Forest while we were touring apartments in the area and had to kill time between appointments. It's a really cute little beer garden! It has a great outdoor area where you can hang out on a nice day, as well as a massive screen inside where you can watch soccer or other big games. They have a great German beer selection and well as some decent food options to pick from. Since we just wanted to snack, we got two beers and shared a smaller pretzel. The crew here is incredibly friendly, and I appreciate that we never felt rushed despite not ordering a ton of food. We'll be back when we move to the neighborhood :) read more

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(3/5) Black Forest Brooklyn Brought my dog, brought my laptop, brought my appetite, left with mixed feelings. The backyard space is a win: shaded umbrellas, long wooden tables, a no-frills German beer garden feel. Easy to settle in with a cider and a book (or in my case, Slack and Jira ). Dog-friendly too, my pup was chilling while I ate, which always earns bonus points. Food: I ordered the Käsebratwurst: spicy pork + beef sausage with New York cheddar, sauerkraut, and fries. Fries were killer: golden, crispy, salty in all the right ways. Sauerkraut was shockingly good--balanced, not too sour, actually enjoyable (and I'm usually a kraut skeptic). Mustard? Excellent, tangy, and sharp. The sausage itself? Eh. Fine, but not memorable. They call it "spicy" but it barely whispered heat. Cheddar gave it some body, but overall it was more "okay drunk food" than "come back for this again." Drink: Wolffer Cider Rosé, reliable, light, refreshing. Honestly, it probably outshined the food. Overall: Great place if you want a casual backyard drink with your dog at your feet. But food-wise, Brooklyn's got too many heavy-hitters to make this more than a "one and done." read more

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Stopped in today with my gf (10/5/25). Sat a hi-top by the bar. The bartender brought us menus quickly, but then never came back. We finally left after 15 minutes. That said, it was crowded, and the bartender attended to two other tables in the area, but then went back behind that bar, avoided eye contact with us and ignored us. Forget the revenue for the bar, if he had served us, looking at a minimum bill of $60-$70. We would have ordered liters of beer at ~$20 a liter. I will pretty much tip 20% for even average service. Even if he assumed 15% he basically lost out on $12 and likely closer to $19-$20 based on what we'd eat. Have been here before and service was much better. read more

I like this place, good food, good beer, [FOUR stars!] but the French fries are AWFUL [1 star] !!! How can they be so bad? Really difficult to make such bad French fries. Please make them edible. Thank you! read more

I should have broken my routine to include this place earlier. The vibe here adds to the experience. What's more, staff displayed both friendliness and accommodation. Nothing adventurous about the taste experience. I'm certainly visiting again. read more

Black Forest's Smith Street location is a great spot for German fare! I've had the schnitzel a few times, and it always hits the spot. The wurst hasn't blown me away when I've ordered it before, but still a hearty dish that goes well with the many German beers on tap. Sides have been great, too. They've consistently had great fries and spatzle. Prepare for massive portions that will definitely leave you full! If you like German cuisine and beers, you can't go wrong with Black Forest. read more

Black Forest - Chicken schnitzel - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Fun place! Friendly and attentive staff in a cool atmosphere. Great beer - good food - reasonably priced read more

Pros Cute , warm, cozy aesthetics Friendly & accommodating staff Trivia nights $$$ Comfortable bar stools High traffic area Large screen televisions Good for groups Large seating area Impossible burger Cons No spatlese Riesling Few vegetarian options read more

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The crowd at this location made me want to know what was good. Employees were both prompt and sincerely pleasant. The restaurant's appearance will impress you. The flavors work together, service feels appropriate, and food standards never drop. May your visit be pleasant. read more

I had a great lunch with my friend here. Employees provided superior care. They serve substantial portions, and I had extra for later! Everything was well executed. The environment feels naturally welcoming. read more

The dinner plans with my friend didn't end up happening so she took me to this place to hang out, drink a beer and have a snack! We both ended up having a wonderful time - little did we know we walked in on a night where they were playing live music. My friend and I ordered the huge beer and a LARGE fry. We were curious why there was a large fry on the menu, we love fries. But it was honestly just a huge plate of fries. My friend and I love fries so it worked out for us! There was a guy playing live music for us - it was his birthday on Easter so he mentioned it a few times. He occasionally looked in our direction and called us the "fry crew" because he was surprised that we were just snacking on a huge plate of fries. It was so funny and he was an amazing musician. This place just had a great vibe. The bartender was also really friendly in helping us choose which beer we wanted. Overall, it was an incredibly fun time. Would recommend this place to get a beer and snacks! read more

I came to Black Forest for a friend's birthday party and really enjoyed the space and food. We went around 6pm on a weekday and there were several tables open in the back. My daughter enjoyed playing the games - Jenga and connect four which kept her busy. For food, we got the sausage platter which was quite a lot of food. The highlights were the bratwurst, potato salad, and mash potatoes. I will definitely come back for a drink and solid German food. read more

Black Forest - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The hub and I were craving a sausage, likely since all the local breweries were doing Octoberfest celebrations, and we decided to give Black Forest another try. It had been years since we'd been -- we went for the lunch special -- but we remembered liking it. The man who greeted us and led us to a table was lovely, welcoming. We were offered outdoor or indoor seating, but the former was pretty loud as it was packed for Octoberfest. Our waitress was not friendly -- neutral at best -- and service was slow. We weren't upset about the latter as it was clear they had a lot of people to serve. Both of our sausages were delicious -- what's not to love about a sausage on a soft pretzel roll? -- as were the fries (and there were enough to share). If you're craving a sausage, give Black Forest a try. And if the weather is nice, I suggest sitting in the backyard area if it's not too crowded. read more

Black Forest - Chicken bratwurst basket with fries - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I absolutely love Black Forest. They have an incredible menu of German beers and food. They have both an indoor and outdoor seating area. Their backyard is lovely and is pet friendly! Instead of giving you a menu, they ask you to scan a QR code where you not only see the menu but you can also order there too!! The waiters serve food but all orders are through their TOAST ordering system. Great food, drinks, atmosphere, and staff. read more

I'd rate Black Forest four and a half stars. I've been missing Europe late. I've been seeking on doner kebabs. We were walking down Smith Street and felt compelled by Black Forest. Walked in and you seat yourself. They have a fancy ordering system through Toast where you scan a QR code and can order and pay through an app. I had the Hofbrau original and the Hofbrau dunkel. I also ordered a Lange rote wurst on a pretzel bun with shoe string fries. Served with sautéed cabbage and onions along with mustard. Snappy dog with ultra crispy fries. They had formula one on the TVs. There were a bunch of fans and they pulled down a projector so more people could watch. Service was friendly and super quick. The ordering system is less personal but they staff is attentive and engaging. read more

It's been a long time since we last had brunch as a family at a restaurant. We stopped by on a sunny afternoon and were promptly directed to our preferred seating location outdoors. This location has more outdoor space than its first location in Fort Greene. We chose to sit at a table under an umbrella for some shade. It was surprising that the waitress asked for proof of vaccination even when we sat outside, but I guess it's better to be on the safe side. The menu is available via a QR code on the table and I like that it included photos so we can actually see what we are ordering. We ordered the nurnberger, the eggs benedict with smoked salmon, and what turned out to be my favorite, chicken and waffles. I love how you get two kinds of chicken with the chicken and waffles, a wing and a drumette as well as chicken schnitzel. The wing and drumette had a spicy but not overwhelming kick to them. The schnitzel was crispy and moist. The waffles were thinner than Belgian waffles but were just as satisfying. If you are hungry, then the nurnberger might be a good choice. It included five small sausages (a couple were a bit burnt) sitting on top of sauerkraut and mashed potato. It also came with a medium size bowl salad. The eggs benedict was perhaps my least favorite. I expected the smoked salmon to be more flavorful. read more

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If you're shopping around for a toasty outdoor set up to get you through this pandemic winter, look no further than Black Forest Brooklyn, who has one of the best set ups of any restaurant or bar I've been to so far this season. Reservations can be made via Resy and on their website for one of the tables in their 'Chalet.' The whole area is covered with a glass roof to protect from precipitation and the elements, and the overhead heating on all sides was strong enough to keep my companions and I warm throughout our stay on a 30 something degree afternoon. What's refreshing for me to see is that while they took care to build an outdoor set up that keeps in the heat, it is also open on most sides to allow plenty of ventilation for safety. There are also partitions that separate parties between booths which don't feel effective in an enclosed space but makes me feel slightly better since the chalet is in the open air. The ordering system is also set up very well for pandemic times since you can just scan the QR code on your table to pull up their menu, pay, and order from your phone and a server will bring your order to your table. They do enforce the food requirement here but their kitchen is quite talented so you likely won't upset anyone in your party with an order of their fries, a hot pretzel, or some of their famous sausages. Take advantage of their extensive beer menu, which lists dozens and dozens of beer for every palate. They have cocktails, ciders, and even coffee, tea, and soda so there really is something for every predilection. Black Forest's great set up is no secret, so instead of testing your luck, make a reservation in advance, and be aware of their table time limits depending on your party size. In these precedented times (intentional word choice), we take what we can get, and I'll take 90 minutes of warm outdoor drinks over none at all! read more

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Great variety of beers and solid food menu as well. This particular location has both indoor and fully outdoor seating which is perfect when the weathers nice. Not a ton of TVs to watch games but there are a couple in the front. read more

HUGE portions but good! Probs would lean closer to 3.5 stars for me, the food itself wasn't anything special but the vibe and outdoor seating was nice. They asked us to move to accommodate a larger party after we were sat and we gladly did and they still brought Jager shots over for us as a thank you. Probably would go back but maybe not over trying a new place. read more

Amazing scene, albeit a little loud when there are kids there (6-8ish?) I got a sausage in a pretzel bun with potato salad, and everything was amazing and authentic! I also really loved their grapefruit beer. Blew me out of the water I recommend if you're bringing friends over, going on a date (maybe not first date bc the noise), or even just by yourself. read more

Great staff, food, and ambience, especially the GM. We drop in weekly for dinner and they always do their best to accommodate us regardless of the crowd. The chicken schnitzel platter is the best thing on the menu, followed by the Flammkuchen (either the butternut squash or the bacon), and any of the sausages really. Drink menu is wonderful as well. read more

The food and the drinkcome in XL portion in this restaurant. However the seating and the service was definitely something that we need waiting on. During rush hours such as weekend it is good to make reservations ahead as the seating get booked fast. And yes even in Brooklyn. read more

Black Forest - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Good filling food. They have a decent backyard space with plastic separators. I really liked my meal and it didnt break the bank. I had a lang rote with fries. The bun it came on was really fluffy and crispy on the outside. The fries were warm and perfectly salted. And they had my favorite summer beer- shofferhofer. It tastes like grapefruit juice. And my friend liked his chicken and waffles. Interesting part of the chicken was a spicy wing. The menu is online and you order on your phone from your seat. Which is nice, i liked not having to take out mt credit card. read more

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Good German cuisine and fun atmosphere. Seems very family friendly and relaxed, even with a bar! read more

Black Forest - Lange rote and spatzle - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Yet again, it took us a pandemic to find out a German beer garden just stone throw away from our home. We walk pass it few days ago and inquired if we needed reservation, at the moment they don't take one. We came around 6:30pm to beat the crowd but there were already many tables occupied when we get in we still able to snag a table for two with a huge umbrella . Make sure to download a QR scanner before heading here since they now have a contactless payment and ordering system which we found safe and efficient. We started with 0.5 liter of Radeberger together with their Jamaican jerk chicken wings our main entree was curry wurst served with fries and kaiser bun. The Sausage was great but the sauce is a little on the sweet side and I could have done without it. It was a fun Friday evening I can't wait to try their champignons and wurst platter next time around! read more

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Bratwurst sausage on pretzel bun was delish- bun was nice and soft, wished the sausage had little more flavor. Fries were nice and crispy. Chicken schnitzel was alright- fell apart really easily and flavor was a little bland. Nice atmosphere, heated backyard garden. read more

Black Forest - Sausage Basket, Schnitzel A La Meyer - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The food was very hearty and was absolutely delicious German Food . I went with a small party and we really enjoyed it . The beer was amazing . The atmosphere was very comfortable inside and out . Great service too . read more

Really great spot along the upscale Smith St, where we had a truly excellent takeout experience. Enjoyed the chicken schnitzel (super thin and tender) and also an assortment of sausages (the brat was most excellent). Also had some basics like salad and fries and sauerkraut which were done really well. Look forward to going back and dining in... just excellent. read more

I've been very excited to try this place and picked it for a colleague's birthday lunch today, but then felt very bad after leaving disappointed about the experience. While most restaurants are aware that lunch hour crowds are under time constraints, it took over a half hour for our food to be ready (in an empty restaurant with only a 4-top and us, a 3-top), causing us to bolt though our food and rush back to the office in 10 mins. Given the low volume of customers and relative simplicity in food preparation (2 portions of fries, 1 side salad, 2 pork schnitzel sandwiches, and 1 sausage), it is possible that the kitchen staff may have been asleep while preparing our meal. The server even got defensive when we expressed our time concern instead of expressing any urgency to help. Two of us went with the lunch special, which on the menu states comes with an entrée (sandwich), fries/soup/salad, and dessert. In case you were wondering what the included dessert is, it turned out to be "if you want, we can bring you a scoop of vanilla ice cream." Sadly, due to the time crunch, we were unable to receive said ice cream. It's a shame that the experience was so awkward because taste-wise, the food was good and the concept is nice as there isn't much German food around. I probably wouldn't dismiss this place completely, but two key takeaways to remember are: (1) do not have an afternoon meeting scheduled within 2 hrs of coming here for lunch unless you want to miss it, and (2) do not pick a place you haven't tried yet for your colleague's birthday lunch. read more

Black Forest - Pork schnitzel sandwich - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

If you want a laid back not noisy place, where you can have a conversation, this is the place to go especially if you want to try different beers. Came here previously for brunch which is great. This time my friends want I highly recommend you get the brezel (pretzel). It comes out warm with mustard on the side. So good. The bar is in the front. There is a cushion round nook right next to the bar. There are wooden bench with wooden tables in the back that reminds me of a German biergarden. Non-gender bathrooms are located in the back. There are about 3 single restrooms. Great place and worth coming back. read more

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Perfect spot for a really good German beer. Food is really nice and fills you up nicely

Black Forest is a solid spot, especially during the COVID nonsense. They have a wonderful outdoor garden in the back which is an excellent spot to hang and crush a couple of large German brews on a warm afternoon. While the heated lamps still leave a bit of warmth to be desired during winter, overall it's one of the better setups you'll find these days. Ordering is entirely digital. As for food, the sausage platter is a hell of a deal and is our go-to order - for $30, you choose four sausages and four sides. The sausages come out hot, flavorful, and grilled just right. What's better is that you can choose the same item more than once - if you prefer four bratwursts and four orders of sauerkraut (which, along with the fries, is quite tasty), go for it! They also have a nice selection of beers. Definitely suggest making a reservation, as they are understandably in high demand right now. read more

Black Forest - Rolled Omelette in the foreground with side sausage in the background. Omelette meal was very good. - Beer Gardens Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Food is great, but we were seated in the back for 10 min after ordering, they came back and told us we had to move (with a baby) into the loud freezing cold bar. No thanks. Because the patio was already booked... don't sear us then. read more

Tasty with huuuuge portions for the price, cute decor, and friendly service. I ordered the smallest beer they had, 0.5L and it was still massive for $8 which seems like a pretty good price to me for so much beer. My mom and I split two orders but really should have gotten one because they were huge! I got the Nuremberg sausages and they were tasty but I've had better and they also seemed a little bigger than usual? But - the mashed potatoes and sauerkraut under them? *Le chef's kiss* delicious. My mom's order of the pork schnitzel was also to die for - I liked her choice better than mine, so that's what I'd get whenever I return (because I will be). read more

[covid review] came for lunch at 1pm on a saturday afternoon with 2 others. I had made reservations for the heated chatlet in their garden space. I was honestly shocked at how crowded it looked when entering the seating area. Yes there were partitions up but there were a lot of people. tables were definitely not spaced 6 feet apart. We were quite close to the 2 patrons next to us. in fact, it was one table, separated by a removable partition. There was a birthday party going on behind us [about 10 ppl] and a big rowdy crowd in front of us. [8 ppl] I was glad that they had QR codes for menus and the checkout process was easy- all mobile. The food was decent. I had the schnitzel with a side salad + fries and a mug of grapefruit beer. Schnitzel was fried well, crunchy but the pork was very thin. Fries were crisp. overall a good place, but beware of the crowd in the back! read more