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    Black Forest

    3.9 (144 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 11:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

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    BLACK FOREST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Black Forest

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    Reviews With Photos

    Pretzel
    Peter D.

    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.

    Pretzel
    Aude L.

    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 :)

    Käsebratwurst
    Max B.

    (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."

    Chicken schnitzel
    Cyrus A.

    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.

    Honor G.

    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

    Albert H.

    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.

    Chicken bratwurst basket with fries
    Kirsti H.

    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.

    Outdoor seating with partitions
    Zuobin T.

    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.

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    8 years ago

    Great addition to Smith Street. The food is authentic and they have great beer. Feels like a legit german beer hall, super fun time.

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    6 years ago

    The food is always really good. Served quickly and warm. They have a great beer selection and friendly staff.

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    7 years ago

    Worst Currywurst I've ever had. Basically a wrinkled, rubbery hot dog in a huge bowl of ketchup.

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    7 years ago

    Worst meal I've ever eaten and the service was little to nothing - can't believe they serve food!!!!

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Wonderful schnitzel and incredible service! A truly authentic German spot. The staff was great, as well

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - Black Forest

    Is this place kids friendly for a Friday night family dinner?

    Absolutely!

    They have rice?

    Hi Jennifer - no, we don't have rice...

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Strong Rope Brewery was a fantastic find…read more We stumbled in on a cold December afternoon and immediately loved the vibe. Sitting right on the water, this place clearly shines year-round, but it is easy to imagine how great it would be in warmer weather posted up outside by the river. Seating is well thought out, a mix of outdoor and indoor picnic tables along with traditional tables and chairs, so it works for everyone. If it had been warmer, we definitely would have been outside. Inside, the decor is playful and welcoming, with quirky wall art, a great keg wall, and clear views into the working brewery. The beer lineup was solid across the board. I had their Pubkin beer, which was a pleasant surprise, and my wife enjoyed a hot toddy that hit perfectly on a cold day. We stayed for a couple of drinks before heading to a nearby reservation, and it was the perfect afternoon break between distillery hopping. Prices were very reasonable, and the biereria taco truck outside made grabbing food easy without breaking the flow. Friendly for both locals and visitors alike. If you are in this part of town, it is absolutely worth the stop.

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    Black Forest - beergardens - Updated May 2026

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