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    Black Forest Tap House

    3.6 (161 reviews)
    ModerateGerman, Bars, American
    Closed 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Black Forest Tap House Photos

    BLACK FOREST TAP HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Black Forest Tap House

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    Fish and chips -- good but not amazing
    Patrick ..

    The Context: As the name denotes, Black Forest is a German restaurant and bar with a wide selection of alcohol, from craft beers to stronger liquor. The Food: My 3 companions and I ordered one jumbo brauhaus Bavarian pretzel to share, and jumbo it was! We split it 4 ways and it whetted our appetite perfectly. For my main course, I ordered fish and chips. My companions ordered the champagne salmon, the wurstenplatten (sausage platter), and the pork osso bucco (slow roasted pork shank on bacon and mashed potatoes). The Taste: My fish and chips were enjoyable. Though the batter was a little TOO batter-y for me, the white fish inside moist and flaky, just the way I like it. The fries were great. My companions dishes were great too. The pork shank was amazing, the salmon was top notch, and the sausages were good. The spatzle (noodle) that came with both the salmon and sausages was such an interesting side -- kinda bland, kinda chewy, but really enjoyable. Who would've thunk it? And the red cabbage that came with the sausages were surprisingly yummy. The Service and Setting: Our server was excellent -- friendly and knowledgeable; she made an excellent recommendation (pork shank). And she was quite attentive, refilling our waters quickly without us having to ask. And the interior had a subtle German aesthetic without being too guady. Plus, it has a live band when we came on a Saturday night. The Conclusion: Black Forest is a great choice if you want German food or a place to knock back a few beers while watching the game. While the prices are premium, it's definitely a "you get what you pay for" situation. I'll definitely return if I get the chance.

    Brauhaus Bavarian Pretzel
    Maren B.

    *3.5* Our family recently visited to celebrate a birthday, we were a party of 7 for dine in. The food items pictured were very good. Great cheeseburger, Wursteplatten was delicious as always. Love the red cabbage. The Bavarian pretzel was hot, soft, and delicious. My mom ordered the salmon and raved about how good the sauce was for the salmon and the generous portion of asparagus. All of these items I would rate 5/5. Our server whose name escapes me was attentive and friendly. Now for the not so great, my father ordered the special of the day which was the veal schnitzel sandwich. This dish needs some serious work- schnitzel is supposed to be pounded very thin/flat as possible before breading and frying. The schnitzel was about 1/2 inch thick and did not appear to be pounded at all. This made it difficult to eat and impacts the taste because it is not prepared authentically. My husband ordered the pork jagerschnitzel and his was served thick as well. My son ordered boneless wings in honey old bay flavor. Normally this is a favorite of his. however he did not care for the preparation at BFTH. The wings were dowsed in straight up honey that pooled on the plate and made everything sticky. I did not factor this into my rating because I realize this is more a preference than issue, but I do wonder if others enjoy this prep? Finally my brother had the chicken and waffles, also not pictured but it was fantastic and the plate was piled high with fried chicken, bacon, and delicious waffles. While some of the entrees may appear "pricey" the portions are always generous and I always leave full with leftovers for tomorrow. I do think BFTH needs to revisit their schnitzel recipe sine they are a German restaurant and the preparation needs to be true to the dish. Much like chicken parmesan, the taste and flavor are directly related to the thinness of the meat for the best result. We will return and avoid the dishes we didn't care for in the future.

    Menu
    Katelyn W.

    Starting off by saying the Bartender, Macy, was killing it while my friend and I were there. Making drinks, grabbing beers, and running food. She was great! I met a friend here and quickly realized we should have went somewhere else. I was made to feel uncomfortable and like I did something wrong and I will never go back to this locations. One of the servers is the brother of the girl my ex-husband was cheating on me with. I wouldn't have realized this until he walked out to give someone food and made a face at me, then every other young waitstaff member made a point to come out and see my friend and I. It was very obvious and at first I didn't say anything to my friend, but she made a comment to me when, either the manager or maybe owner, kept coming out by the bar and just hanging around the corner of it directly in line with us, as if he thought my friend and I would be an issue. We just came to celebrate her recent engagement and her asking me to be a bridesmaid and this treatment completely ruined everything. Macy was great, however, and even though she was busy she made sure to come and check on us and refresh our drinks. If this experience wouldn't have occurred, we would have ordered more food and I would be able to tell you how much. The onion rings and pretzel we ordered were yummy and the espresso martini my friend got was good as well. They have a massive menu with lots of options for everyone and lots of beers and wines on tap. It does seem to be an older crowd, but we also went on a weekday so that could be why. Could be a pro or con depending on what you are looking for! However, I will take my business to Das in Bel Air. I shouldn't be made to feel uncomfortable for things my ex-husband did, when I did nothing wrong. Just trying to sit at the bar with my friend and this just completely ruined the experience.

    Chicken and waffles with chicken tenders
    Sarah R.

    This place is a GEM. The food was so good. We tried a few things: 1. Oysters - AMAZING, fresh, sized well, served with plenty of lemon and cocktail sauce. 2. Macaroni and cheese with bacon. - the cheeses they used were perfect and it was such a large portion. 3. Chicken and waffles - got it with chicken tenders instead of the bone in. Made it a lot easier to eat and was delicious. 4. Burger - cooked perfectly, and the fries were perfectly crispy but soft on the inside. We don't live near here but it's def worth driving out to, I wasn't expecting much but this is a new fave!

    Fried ravioli
    Karen C.

    Yummmm! We had a late dinner here on Saturday with friends whom also happen to be family! Everything was delicious! We had fried ravioli and pierogis to start. Great for sharing amongst four adults. I had the hunar jager schnitzel w applesauce and potato pancakes and it was very good. The DBF had the chicken and bacon and waffles and really enjoyed it. Shrimp and grits and pork schnitzel cordon blue were also ordered and enjoyed. Large portions too, I brought home leftovers. Service was a bit slow re seating, drinks and order taking; they seemed to be getting a late evening rush as we had to wait for the hostess for several minutes while she seated a group. The line waiting continued to grow outside the tiny entrance area. Odd that it was getting so crowded ~8:30/9 when they close at 11. I def plan to go back to check out some other food items! I'm a fan!

    Pork Osso Bucco
    Brandon T.

    Pretty good food. Service wasn't great at first but did improve. Always been a big fan of this place and the Osso Bucco on the menu was a huge portion and stellar. The rockfish bites appetizer was good not great.

    We had the best time at Black Forest while celebrating a birthday! Our server was wonderful and went beyond the call of duty! The food was great, the service perfect! I can't wait to go back!

    Stacy D.

    The food was great. The atmosphere was great. The service was not so good. Not sure why but just not. The masks by who looks like the owner was not in right at all. We're in a pandemic I'd expect them to be 100% on it. Food was great!!!!

    The sampler - wurst, shrimp, lamb, and crab balls

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    5 months ago

    Excellent service, great selection of draft beers. Food menu provides an appetizing selection at a good price.

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    7 months ago

    Awesome restaurant and friendly staff. Always get the rib eye it's fantastic! Prices very reasonable

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    4 months ago

    Observed the bartender/server sneeze on the back of her hand and did not wash her hands.

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    The Local - Mussels

    The Local

    4.4(185 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$$

    Yes, this is in my reviews again! Greta place to swing in for cocktails. Very crafty and tasty…read more Ordered the stepbrother and the blocked out. Both good. Also ordered cafe velvet with chantilly cream. All were delicious. Always terrific service!!! Great bar with wonderful service and great vibes. Happy hour all day Wednesday!!!! Definitely worth the stop!!!!

    First time here at the location in Fallston. Had apps one time with a customer at the White Marsh…read morelocation a few years ago. Decided to have a little "celebration" for a successful year end at our business. The good - attentive service. Called ahead and they held a table for 15 min until we arrived. Friday and it was packed. Cocktails good. Food, I've got some concerns. Appetizers - ordered cheesesteak eggrolls and octopus. Eggrolls were excellent. Octopus thought, I'm used to the presentation at Bacco's so I could do without it being cut into tiny pieces and buried in sauce. Salad - shared the kale salad. Great flavor but the ( wife's pet peeve when I serve it ), the kale was in very large chunks, could use a bit more chopping. Main Course - wife had stroganoff and I had the NY strip. I don't know what it is about Harford County but it's the last time I'll try to get a proper NY strip here. I should have known when it was only $52 on the menu. Steak & Main advertises "best steaks around" and serves the same 1/2" thin cut slice that looks like it came from Ponderosa but they charge $65 which is a ripoff. I like my steak rare and with a steak this thin, it's impossible but at least they were close. Again, stuff all over the top of the meat, a bit too much. Stroganoff - solid!! Dessert- Bananas Foster / solid!! My only gripe is the steak. We will be back for sure but I'm done trying to get one out and will just continue getting a nice cut from a butcher and treating myself at home.

    Photos
    The Local - Bar Area

    Bar Area

    The Local - Lobster fingers!

    Lobster fingers!

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    Fallston Barrel House - Fallston BYO Burger with fresh onions, cheese, bacon, fried egg, mayo and fries.

    Fallston Barrel House

    3.5(140 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I've never had a bad meal at the Barrel House. Their cream…read moreof crab soup is among the best I've had. The salads are great. And the appetizers are enough for a meal. The service is always personal and top notch. It's a hopping place with music and more on the weekend. I'm too old for all that noise but it's great for the younger crowd. I prefer lunch times.

    I see that a lot of people have had a great experience here but we did not. I am not sure if it was…read morebecause we were there to see a band or what, but our service was horrible. First let me just say, the band was incredible. No one can beat Fallston Barrel House for entertainment. We were so disappointed in our server. He waited on us promptly, which was good. However, once we ordered sodas and not bar drinks he disappeared quickly. Normally I would not have been upset, I used the be a server and hey, people that buy booze spend more. But I expressed a sincere interest in purchasing food, going as far as to ask what he recommended. He never came back to see if we wanted food. He came back an hour later to see if we wanted more drinks. I had been looking forward to eating there because it was our first time going and the reviews have been amazing. Also, I was starving. It wasn't even a matter of flagging him down, he just disappeared altogether. I am not sure if we will go back even though we want to come to the shows. If we do, we will just eat before we come here.

    Photos
    Fallston Barrel House - Lower Level Bar

    Lower Level Bar

    Fallston Barrel House - Barrel Burger topped with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and bacon with mayo.

    Barrel Burger topped with cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and bacon with mayo.

    Fallston Barrel House - Lower Level Dining Room

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    Lower Level Dining Room

    Wargo's Restaurant & Tavern - Pit beef and fries

    Wargo's Restaurant & Tavern

    4.1(59 reviews)
    5.5 mi
    $$

    Great place to grab good food and drinks. This is a classic spot in the area. They have a retro…read morevibe as the decor is original. It adds to the atmosphere and I hope that they never remodel. It's like walking back in time. There is ample parking and an entrance for the bar or dining room. The bar area has lots of seating both along the actual bar itself, as well as other tables throughout and around the pool tables. The staff is super friendly and attentive even when they are very busy. There are lots of regulars and you can see that this place is a staple in the community based on the relaxed atmosphere and down to earth hospitality. They have pit beef/turkey/ham on weekends that are served on homemade rolls. They also have platter options. The menu also offers other things for lunch, as well as sides. The dinner menu has many other offerings as well. The bar has 6 beers on tap, as well as many other can/bottle options. The prices are very reasonable for what you get. Lots of items are homemade. The portions are good and the taste of what we ordered was great. Definitely a place worth the stopping by.

    Black Friday Lunch at Wargo's! Visiting friends in HarCo…read moremeans lunch at the Legion or Wargo's! Yesterday was pit beef day but an outside sign "Best Corned Beef in Harford County" (paraphrased) tantalized me. I followed my buddy's lead and ordered the Wargo's Reuben. Thin sliced, no fat and probably the BEST Reuben I've had not just in Harford county but Metro Baltimore as well. Amazing! Wargo's, I understand, sources from a butcher in PA and not the kosher houses near Baltimore. The accompanying potato chips and pickle slices made the Sammy more enjoyable. Service friendly and top notch. Prices on the menu are reasonable and competitive. Atmosphere warm and inviting. For me at least, Wargo's is worth the 25 mile ride. Why did they leave Parkville anyway?

    Photos
    Wargo's Restaurant & Tavern - Lovely atmosphere

    Lovely atmosphere

    Wargo's Restaurant & Tavern - Burnt ends and sweet potato fries

    Burnt ends and sweet potato fries

    Wargo's Restaurant & Tavern - Root beer

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    Root beer

    Rathskeller - Sauerbraten ($39)

    Rathskeller

    4.4(327 reviews)
    25.9 mi
    $$

    My wife and I have dined at the Rathskeller a few times now and we will definitely return; we even…read morebrought friends for their first experience. We started with Potato Cakes with crème fraiche, they had a nice crunch, a tender interior with subtle flavor. I'd never had them with crème fraiche, it was a nice change and the mild tanginess with the creamy texture complimented the Cakes well. I ordered the Main Street with Weisswurst, a Pretzel and plain Spätzle. It was my first, the veal's flavor is understated in comparison to Bratwurst or Knackwurst (not on the menu) and was a pleasant changeup. The Pretzel was little disappointing while it was a decent pretzel, it lacked the crisp crust and distinctive flavor I expected. As evident by the rating while worthy of note, it's not a game changer. I'd ordered a large plain Spätzle, which was two regular portions, but was served Spätzle with cheese I tasted it and it wasn't my thing, which is not to say it was bad, I just don't care for cheese in dishes like that. Our server swapped one cheese for plain (my wife had happily stolen the other) and enjoyed the replacement. I found that the grilled onions gave it a nice homey flavor. Mistakes happen and it turned out to be a win in the end. We shared a couple of desserts and by far, my favorite was the Black Forest Cupcake. It's on the large side, they might be able to cut on the weighty crème icing, the chocolate cake and soaked cherries were a delight. The cherries are a significant improvement over the Marchinos I had before, if only there were more. Rathskeller can get a little loud, as it is a relatively small space with hard surfaces so voices reflect, it wasn't packed this afternoon, so it wasn't an issue. Waitstaff dresses very casually, it pleasant and fairly attentive.

    Ratskeller is exactly what you hope to find when you're craving a true German beer hall experience…read more If you're looking for great beer, authentic German food, and a fantastic atmosphere, this is the place. The food is hearty, flavorful, and everything you want from traditional German cuisine. The beer selection is excellent, and the lively atmosphere makes it easy to settle in and enjoy yourself. One word of advice: come hungry. The portions are huge, and you'll definitely get your money's worth. Whether you're stopping in for a quick pint or a full meal, Ratskeller delivers a memorable experience.

    Photos
    Rathskeller - Downstairs Bar

    Downstairs Bar

    Rathskeller - Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes)

    Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes)

    Rathskeller - Roasted Broccoli

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    Roasted Broccoli

    Black Forest Tap House - german - Updated June 2026

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