Bratwurst Bliss at Carle's - A Bucyrus, Ohio Meat Lover's Must-Stop When you're in Bucyrus, Ohio--the Bratwurst Capital of America--you'd be doing yourself a serious disservice if you didn't stop at Carle's Bratwurst. This small, no-frills butcher shop is big on flavor, hospitality, and quality, offering a wide range of fresh and frozen meats that'll have any carnivore grinning from ear to ear. A Local Institution of Meaty Goodness Carle's is more than just a place to grab a pack of brats--it's a family-owned tradition that's been serving up high-quality meats and hand-crafted bratwurst since 1929. You can taste the care and craftsmanship in every bite. On my visit, I picked up some truly mouthwatering selections: * Swiss & Rye Bratwurst - a classic twist that's as comforting as your favorite deli sandwich, but better. * Cheddar & Jalapeño Bratwurst - the perfect balance of creamy and spicy, with just enough kick to keep you reaching for another. * Cheddar & Garlic Burgers - juicy, flavorful, and bursting with bold taste, these patties are destined for the grill. All of their meats are fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared, with frozen options available so you can stock up for future feasts. Not Just a Butcher - A Full Deli Experience Carle's may be known for their brats, but don't overlook their fully stocked deli. Whether you're craving a thick, made-to-order sandwich or want to grab something hot and ready to eat, they've got you covered. Their ready-to-eat meals are perfect for lunch on the go, and the staff will treat you like family while you browse. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming--small-town friendly with people who are passionate about what they do. Ask them for a recommendation and you might leave with a few new favorites (and maybe a snack or two for the car ride). So if you're traveling through Bucyrus or just looking for a reason to fire up the grill this weekend, Carle's Bratwurst is a must-visit. From bratwurst bursting with creative flavors to perfectly seasoned burgers and a full-service deli, it's the kind of place that turns a meat run into a memory. Take the Trip. Your next adventure--and your next brat--is waiting. read more

See all

Best brats in the world, standard or spicy, these have a great taste that you will be happy to have gone out of your way for....

Carle's is known for it's bratwurst and meat market. But it is really a specialty grocer in many ways. They stock things esp. pickles and german cooking items that are hard to find and rarely stocked. They also carry local products like Ballreich chips, Tofts Ice Cream and Dairy, frozen seafood. My weaknesses are their hot bar where you can get a hot lunch or dinner to eat there or carry out...love the reuben panini and bratwurst casserole ...they have a variety of sides potatoes and veggies along with soup besides a fruit cobbler...they also have a deli cold bar...i typically leave with a lb or 2 of german potato salad..(nice and tangy) love the green pea salad with peanuts, too plus the chicken salad with grapes and ham salad. There are more options ie potato salad, bean salad, pickles...i have been known to sample on the way home. They do post the menu and weekly specials on their website. I get the specials by email on Sunday so I can plan a visit. Great place to shop, get a hot meal or meet a friend...also great to pick up soup or a meal for a friend under the weather. read more

The bratwurst sandwich was not what I would say good it was a lot of bread and a skinny bratwurst in it. Mac salad was a little dry but it filled my stomach and I don't think I will go back unless I'm desperate. read more

Service was fantastic, staff was kind. I'm not sure I understand the hype about the brat sandwich, it's not that great. Two sandwiches and a bag of chips, with two pops was $18. It was just okay. read more

I'll continue to go back for their bratwurst cabbage rolls. So amazing. The store has things you wouldn't find..definitely pricey but sometimes you pay for what you get. Love this place for sure read more

One of my favorite places to find and visit are small local markets as they always have what's good and sometimes something unique to the area. Coming here was all about the bratwurst Sammy for me as that just sounded scrumptious and needless to say it was as it was a flavorful bratwurst with a yummy wheat bun that I asked for some sauerkraut and spicy mustard on the inside because that's just the way I like them! Besides the yummy bratwurst sandwich we also shared some macaroni salad which also had a good flavor to it and was definitely some of the better that I've had. This market has a good variety of items in their deli with some hot items and then a bunch of cold items too that are just what would be perfect for grabbing to go for a picnic or a bbq. The market was a good mix of things in a kinda small location I was decently impressed by this and what was even better was they have a variety of their meats packaged and ready to go so I grabbed some to take home for one of our grill times this summer. Overall yummy Sammy and everything you could want in a small local market with all that said I hope I get back here again at some point for what was totally good! read more

See all

Service was excellent. They have some menu items as well as some that are just concoctions and tasteless. The bratwurst are amazing. Best I can say is there's too many things to try to list the ones that are good, and the ones that are bad. That's sad. You'll just have to go and try them individually. Me I'm gonna stick with the bratwurst. read more

Never been there yet but have had their bratwurst. It is the bomb! My wife and I are planning on making a trip over there soon because we like to grill all year round. read more

i loved the food, i had meatloaf. you definitely should like what your eating and have that in mind when coming here!! i'd go back!

Everything here is home made, hot ,and ready. My favorite lunch spot. Good food that didn't come from a drive through. Always good specials daily. read more

Just awesome prices are average. Lunch bar great. And there hours are good people are very friendly

I had a chance to visit last Thursday. I was pleasantly surprised at the choices. When you first walk in there are pies from Troyers home pantry in Apple Creek. There was a freezer section with all kinds of delicious goodies. Soft pretzel bites, roots shredded chicken along with Roots buffalo chicken dip and seasoned beef. Assortment platter of cheesecake and also had a two piece package of cheesecake. There was a interesting selection of wines. Next I came across an assortment of dry dips that you add sour cream,mayo or cream cheese for the sweet dips. There was a large selection of choices. They had a nice meat counter. The meat looked fresh and something I would buy. Next I came across the deli salads. They do offer free tastes if you want to try it before you buy it. I was reluctant to try the chicken salad I have been disappointed in the past by other Chicken salads and have not wanted to try any others. But I decided to try a taste and it was the best I have ever eaten! Top notch prize for chicken salad. So if you are a chicken salad fan and have been disappointed by the lack of a great chicken salad. This is the place to come and you will not be disappointed! If I owned a restaurant I would get my chicken salad here! I also tried the fire and ice salad, German potato and regular potato salad and they were all delicious. The chicken salad was my favorite though. The next display had desserts you could buy by the slice which they had a large delicious selection. Next counter was the hot food which they have a different special daily. The day I was there they had cabbage rolls. They were the perfect blend of ingredients. They tasted great and I would get them again. In front of the display cases they had bakery items. Cookies, pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting which I bought and they were heavenly delicious! They had a freezer selection of different hamburgers. I bought the one that had horseradish in it. It was delicious and I would buy it again. It wasn't hot like I expected it to be with the horseradish in it. It was a perfect blend. They had the maple creme cookies that are boxed plus an added flavor which I haven't seen before pumpkin. They had popcorn kettle corn chips which I bought that were delicious and addicting. They had a wide selection of all kinds of different interesting foods. I bought a bag of ginger chews. This is a must stop for anyone that likes something different and unusual! Of course they had all kinds of bratwurst. Even had seafood! The food is delicious. I am so glad I stopped! read more

This is a low-key market with a hot food counter. The brats were out of this world...I spent like a drunken sailor and bought enough Brats for 8 months. I suppose everyone knows what they're getting for Christmas. Don't expect a posh atmosphere, but you will be greeted by very nice people and good food. read more

The food is good and you can choose from any of their deli items. The sauerkraut is usually dripping wet which makes the bun soggy so I ask for it on the side. My wife loves the pea salad. read more

Passing through town and stopped hoping to have some brats for lunch. Sadly they only had one on the menu which my husband ordered. I had the ribs entree with soggy boiled veggies and western beans. The ribs and beans were ok but the veggies were awful. My husband said the brat was nothing special, a surprise considering the name of the restaurant. We browsed around the grocery store a bit and picked up some individually wrapped chocolates which were good. Overall the food was barely average, service was efficient and the atmosphere was small town local (not meant as derogatory at all). Hopefully the lack of a brat selection was a one time thing (but DEFINITELY skip the boiled vegetables!). read more

Good German food. Don't care for the fact they cut the brats in half on a sandwich bun. The German potato salad is good and warm

Carlie's Bratwurst is with the trip! Their brats are some of the best I've ever tasted, and their brat patties are great to make too. When we lived in Indiana, we would take the "long way" and leave the Interstate to pick up several dozen brats. The bonus was always getting lunch from the counter. read more

Kind of pricey but well worth the price. They have the best fresh cheeses and bratwurst ever. They also have a dine in area with good homemade food made daily. If you can get there when they do there bourbon chicken, definitely try it it is the best of the best. read more

Great little store with different options than most. Always fun to go in and look around. You can also grab lunch.

I'm only giving this a 2 because we haven't tried the bratwurst yet. Carle's has the reputation for having authentic German bratwurst every brat I saw there including the ones that people were eating no different than a Johnsonville brat. To be completely honest about it I don't care if I taste this and it's the best thing I've ever tasted in my life they have the reputation and they put out the reputation that they have authentic brats German brats are much finer grind and we found the prices to be absolutely ridiculous things that we could have gone to our local aldies and gotten for a third of the price. read more

In town for a wedding. Asked a friend from the area where to eat and this Carle's is where he suggested. Got the Bratwurst sandwich with spicy mustard and kraut and a cup of the Schniedy soup. Bratwurst was very good as was the soup. They spicy mustard was as advertised and cleared out my sinuses. Overall great experience and would stop again if I was in town, read more

Absolutely worth the visit! A local recommended the bratwurst sandwich on rye bun with kraut and hot mustard. YUM!!! Delicious! Many sides to choose from - ours were delish (broccoli cranberry salad and potato salad). We will be back! read more

So now I have been here two days in a row - the first time to try the brats that they have for lunch - excellent idea and then to take some fresh sausages and brats home - also an excellent idea. The brat was served fresh and hot, split, with choice of toppings, on a rye roll. I went for sauerkraut and spicy brown mustard. This for less than $3.00. Charlie Sheen use to say 'winning'. Yep. Perfectly seasoned brat. I got some hot Italian sausage to take home and cook. This has to be the best I have had in years. Yearly I go to the Ohio State Fair looking for that perfect Italian sausage taste, and yearly I find myself disappointed. The sausage they call at this place far exceeds any I have had. Perfect mix of spices and heat. Not too hot to make it inedible, but enough to let you know your ordered the 'hot'. The store also sells the rye buns they offer, a variety of mustards, deli meats, etc. The staff - very cordial and accommodating. Just stop in and have a look at their daily specials, excellent products, and you'll be back. I'd go today for a 3rd day in a row, but I don't want the start any rumors, lol. Seriously, this place has 'good eats'. Go indulge. You'll be happy you did. read more

The food was sub-par at best. The mashed potatoes were from a mix (not real potatoes) and the chicken was soggy. The stuffing had no real flavor and we found several hairs throughout. The way the food was served was awkward, having to pass through several pairs of hands before your own. The brats were good, yet they were nothing special. We ordered desert, an apple dumpling and some "white cake." The server pulled the dumpling from out of the bottom of the cooler, rather than from the tray displayed while my colleagues had their backs turned. The apple was old and the crust was far from crusty (mushy, more like it). The cake was generic: just sugary and bland. The staff was impersonal and rude; and we got a lot of looks from other customers who were obviously local regulars and we were not. My advice? Find a Subway or someplace else. I've had nicer staff and better food at a McDonalds. Note: as of this review, the most recent review was a year ago. Not sure what happened since, but it has gone downhill fast. read more

Great and authentic bratwurst! My wife and I stopped here for lunch recently and it was really good. High quality food for the price.

Good stuff. A little Bavarian twist on a hot lunch counter. If I wasn't working, I'd have washed it down with one of the excellent craft or import beers they have in the cooler. If you eat in, you'll have to listen to the locals trade stories about ulcers and gall stones that they probably got from eating too many of these wonderful brats. read more

Best authentic bratwurst and I think their in dining niche is the bomb, can also just stop in and get your dinner to go. Great homemade deli food and meats!!!! Don't leave a fake review if you've never even tried Carles brats. Keep eating Johnsonville brats and keep your opinions to yourself, Kevin L., lol. read more

Best bratwurst! The only bratwurst I eat. The hot food for lunch or dinner is very satisfying.

This place has a little bit of everything! They have some of the best bratwurst around - period. In addition to the brats, they offer a full serve deli, fresh cuts of meat(I recommend a rack of ribs) and some of the best fresh lunches around. If you haven't stopped in, I suggest you give it a try - you will be glad you did. read more

We were a little surprised when we arrived at Carle's today! We were expecting it to be just a quaint little restaurant but it turned out to be a tiny grocery store as well. It was super cute and the food was delicious. Definitely try a bratwurst with sauerkraut while you are there! read more

Simple yet delicious. Got the reuben and wasn't disappointed. Took a little longer but they made up for it by offering a free side. Good service. read more

The best bratwurst I've ever had! Stopped in for a quick lunch and had a fantastic Reuben sandwich. Definitely the place to eat when your in town! read more

Amazing! Don't miss this one! Bratwurst & Italian sausage were excellent, along with their pasta salad & pickled eggs!!

When a person hears "Carle's Bratwurst" all they think about are the brat links and potato salad. Carle's offers much, much more than that! They have a full meat and cheese case. There are the various salads, sandwiches and desserts that they have in the salad/sandwich/dessert case (I don't know how else to categorize this food except my brother calls it "old people food." LOL (but hey, I must be old because I get stuff out of there like the delicious chicken salad.)) The final case is the hot food item case that has a rotating line-up of ready-made hot food items. Carle's added on a seating area a number of years ago so they didn't have the type of selection they do now. How many of us remember the old Carle's building (raises hand)?? It was soooo tiny compared to the store they have now! I enjoy the bratwurst casserole, stuffed chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, the various paninis they offer, and I really love the peach cobbler (oh and the strawberry cobbler). You never know exactly what they'll be serve except they put a list of specials in the newspaper once a week. The typical special is entree and two sides for about 5-ish dollars. The prices are reasonable, the food is good, and it's worth the trip because many times you leave with something more than you thought (like the Sahlen's deli ham). They don't offer many vegetarian items since they are mostly a meat-oriented business. I rarely feel ill after eating there (to any IBS readers-this can be an issue--they don't do much deep-frying, if at all, and they don't have oily food items.) Always check their frozen section, too, because they always have interesting items in the freezers! I would give this 5 stars, but sometimes when you are in a pickle and go there around 5pm, which is an hour before closing, the food in the hot bar looks like it's has been sitting there since lunch time. read more

Very disappointing. Carle's is a charming "restaurant" within a country store. There is a hot buffet window which you order from - which looks like the deli area in a grocery store. The food is hot, placed on a foam plate, placed on a tray and given to you. The food is inexpensive. The brat sandwich was ok and the side dishes (we ordered a variety for sampling) were over cooked and mushy and at best just ok. Our small group, being unfamiliar with the manner in which you order and receive food, was taken aback by the "huffs" and facial expressions of displeasure in our lack of knowledge. It made the experience uncomfortable. If you are seeking a cheap meal - this is the place. If you are looking for good food and pleasant atmosphere, I would look elsewhere. read more

This is my favorite place in all of the USA to get bratwurst, hands down, and I have sampled bratwurst in many places. While I like the traditional best, they also carry several other flavors. I usually buy already-frozen bratwurst to take back to Indiana for grilling at home, but I have "dined in" at their restaurant for lunch on a couple occasions. It is EXCELLENT! I highly recommend. read more