Tldr: Ludwig's cares. Ludwig's always hits the spot. The portion is always great in consideration for the cost of the dishes. I've come multiple times, solo, and with friends, and I've never had a bad experience. The service has always been consistent in the way that this establishment always take care of their guests. Every guest around you is always having a good time. This is a key component that you want to experience in a restaurant setting. Masha took care of me today (and multiple other customers at the same time.) I observed and received nothing short of what is expected in a restaurant setting in Mountain View on Castro Street: Quality service, and great suggestions. I think guests sometimes overlook the novelty of being able to enjoy your time in the establishment you choose to dine at. Folks seem to be in such a rush these days. It's nice to slow down and enjoy the sunshine and hustle/bustle of the world around while enjoying a quality meal and some sunshine or indoors while letting the wind sweep your table top. P.s. if you ever have some issues with your experience--talk to the staff. Don't leave a low quality yelp review. It doesn't help anything besides, perhaps, one's self esteem. read more

Fun beer garden with a nice outdoor area, a popcorn machine, Happy Hours, and trivia on Wednesdays! I arrived with my gal pal during happy hour to snack on some bites and have a beer. It was a sunny day and the weather was beautiful (but slightly hot), luckily we got a table as there were reserved seats around us. For happy hour, we got their happy hour sampler which included, 2 spaetzle cheese balls, a pretzel with sweet mustard, pickled veggies, and a cheese sausage/brat wrapped in pastry dough. We also ordered some jager fries (fries with mushroom gravy/jager sauce, cheese, and green onions). The wrapped sausage was the standout! We also ordered two half liter beers - I love the selection of German beers and local beers. This being a biergarten, of course we went German. Overall, a beautiful way to spend an afternoon! I would definitely try non-happy hour menu items and try to make my way down their beer list. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Überbackene Pommes - Jäger Fries, Happy Hour Sampler, and .5 L beers! - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

This is such a great place for food and drinks! There is a lot of outdoor seating and tvs to watch sports. The service is really friendly, attentive and inviting. The ambiance is cozy and relaxing. Highly recommend to stop by if you're in the area read more

Came here for Wednesday night trivia. Trivia was super fun and very casual. Lots of the teams seemed to comprise of coworkers. Plenty of time to talk between questions. The patio was a great place for it, it was warm with all the heat lamps and had a really cozy vibe for hanging out for a couple hours. One heads up, the website says trivia runs from 6-9, but it actually went from about 6:30-8:30. Drinks were solid, beer selection was plentiful and can't go wrong with it. Food not so much. We ordered the cauliflower wings and the German mac and cheese. The cauliflower wings were buffalo-style and decent, but they were pretty light on sauce. The German mac and cheese was a letdown, bland and kind of dry, with most of the flavor coming from black pepper. The crispy onions sounded good in theory but were soft and soggy. Overall, this is a great spot for trivia and beers with friends, but just don't come here expecting the food to be amazing. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - German Mac and cheese - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I feel pretty neutral about Ludwig's. It scratched my itch to grab a drink and sit outside, but the selection seemed hit or miss. We ordered two Almanac IPAs and in my opinion, it tasted lightly of grape-flavored medicine. I know it's a German restaurant but I was surprised that there was only one IPA option. We also ordered the salmon potato pancakes and sausage bites. The salmon bites hit the spot for me; the potato pancakes were crispy and there was a good proportion of salmon and sauce. I normally love sausage, but the flavor of this one wasn't my favorite and the outside wrap was a little soggy. I'd still come back to grab a Hef and try some schnitzel! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Sausage bites - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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German beer garden in downtown Mountain View is legit--even my friend from Germany says so. 4.5 Food: 4.25 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4.5 Cost to worth it rating: 4 ($18 for 2 sausages w sides, $30 full schnitzel with sides) Opentableable: no Return worthiness: yes Highlights - Sausages: SO good. Get to pick from a few. My faves are the Ludwig's Fränkische which is like a thicker bratwurst and the Käsekrainer that has little cubes of melty cheese inside 5 stars - Pretzel: warm and great version, bit smaller than expected. Like the flavor of the beer cheese sauce but it's a thinner versions 4 stars - Burger: my son has had it and it's good with good fries too. 4 stars - Schnitzel: large and flat breaded pork but not so much flavor. Nice with spetzel. Cool they have options for a half portion or veggie version if that's your thing. 3.5 stars - Lots of beers to choose from: including the oldest brewery in the world - Mulled wine in winter: very tasty with great spices 4.5 stars - Friendly new female owner who appreciates her customers - Open outdoor seating with some coverage and traditional picnic tables. Also some tables indoor for a different vibe. Lowlights - Bit of a wait for food: when we went they were open but the kitchen wasn't yet - Qr code menu has an order button but you can't order Fun place to hang out and we'll be back. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Pretzel and sausages. Love the Käsekrainer with cheese inside for 5 stars - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Service was really slow and clearly not enough staff to cover a dinner crowd. The food was subpar tasted microwaved versus fresh. The only saving grace was the beer selection. A good Happy Hour place but lousy for a sit-down dinner. read more

Went here last weekend with my partner's family and had a grand time! Definitely the spot to be if you want classic German food for Oktoberfest :) The restaurant is located in Mountain View and there's parking everywhere, very easy to drive through. The restaurant itself is very lively, with cute decor and friendly service. The servers are always helpful and cool to talk to :) As for the food itself, our party was pretty big so we ordered a couple appetizers. Everything was so yummy! Especially the battered cauliflower and the charcuterie board. For my main dish I had the six mini bratwurst with a pretzel, and I paired it with #12 which is their paulaner Oktoberfestbier. It was a super yummy combo!! Definitely one of my favorite Oktoberfest spots, and am looking forward to going again with friends and family :) read more

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Oktoberfest!! What a great enclosed outdoor patio! It has much more privacy yet was refreshing yo be outdoors with the hustle and bustle of multiple big parties enjoying the time, the space, and the good weather. The outdoor setup was spacious and provided lots of shade. The fresh food made a big difference! I have not had freshly baked pretzels in a decade, and these were very good! The sausages were good in the savory broth too! I see why the sausage platter was popular as I just wanted more! It was like an Asian hot pot experience! Several tables were there chilling and vibing for hours, and we felt comfortable including interactions with the waitresses who were super nice and attentive the entire time. The draught beer was also refreshing! We had Oktoberfest beer elsewhere, and this one here was stein over stein much better! The Paulaner - munchen was also very good. Note for our future visits: the half schnitzel was enough for 2 to share unless you want more! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Brunch special - King's breakfast includes beer! Also, schnitzel! - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Super fun. Tasty food and good beer. Music was great for this event. It was quite busy so we were lucky to have a seat outside. Slow service but it was super crowded so it get it. I'd come back for it again for sure. read more

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Pretty good service and drinks. Love the shaded and spacious patio seating. This place has a variety of cocktails, beers, and food! Great spot to hangout with friends. I ordered peach margarita, mango margarita, and AMF. All the drinks were well made and easy to drink.... Uh oh. Food looked good but I didn't order any. A coworker ordered a pretzel and it looked ok. All in all, I would come back! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - AMF - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Could you please open a Ludwig's in the East Bay? Asking for a friend It's actually a shame that today was the first time at Ludwig's for me. I might get my Bavarian card revoked after this faux pas. But to be fair, it's almost 50 miles from where I live... I totally enjoyed the food (pork knuckle, sausages, sauerkraut, pretzel dumpling, potato salad...) , the nice atmosphere and the fast and friendly service. I will be back read more

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4.5 stars Hearty German fare and beers/drinks on tap in downtown Mountain View / Castro Street. If you love carbs (Potatoes, pretzels, spaetzle yummy!) and meat (sausage and shnitzel) - come here! They have an expansive menu - I noted that their vegan / vegetarian options are also very impressive! For Appetizers, we had the Salmon Potato Cakes ($15, so crunchy and amazing!) and Sampler Platter ($24 - pretzels and sausage rolls were nommy). For Entrees, we had the JaegerSpaetzle ($30.50, fried crispy with a delicious creamy mushroom sauce) and the Käsespätzle ($22, decadent and loaded with crispy fried onion). The Grilled Peach Salad ($16) was also summery and wonderful. Service was polite, and there was an outdoor patio as well as some indoor seating (the tables are squished pretty close together). read more

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My boyfriend treated me for my birthday back in late decemeber here as I never tried Gluhwine before and he had a feeling I would enjoy it. He was right :P The Gluhwine here was very tasty that my boyfriend, friend, and I all had 3 rounds of it. We also ordered food here as well and it was very delicious. We came here in the evening (around 6p), and the atmosphere was nice and relaxing, especially since our seating was outside (covered!) and there were were outdoor heating lamps so we weren't cold. Will definitely come back again for their gluhwine! read more

Great food and good drinks in a beautiful outdoor setting, what more could you ask for? I'll admit that my expectations weren't super high coming to Ludwig's Biergarten for lunch. I feared that a place specializing in beer might treat the food as more of an afterthought, allowing the drunkeness of its patrons to make up for any lack in the quality of the fare. I found myself pleasantly mistaken as we enjoyed an incredibly tasty multi-course lunch that left me excited to come back soon. We began with an appetizer of Jager Fries and Sausage Bites, both of which I would order again in a heartbeat. The creamy mushroom sauce on the fries was wonderfully rich and the flaky pastry on the sausage was cooked to perfection. A surprise winner was the German Potato Salad, a more tangy and refreshing variety than the typical mayonnaise-based one found at many a family barbecue or picnic here in the states. My wife enjoyed it so much that she insisted I try making it at home some time, always a good sign. The only slightly lackluster dish was the Apple Strudel we enjoyed for dessert, but even that wasn't bad it just felt very average. Take it from me, Ludwig's offers quite a lot to enjoy beyond the drink menu so definitely give it a shot. read more

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Came for HeadGames trivia on Wednesday night. Great friendly staff. Nice large patio. The currywurst mit pommes was saucy and delicious. The fries were served with mayo. All round great experience! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

I visited on a Thursday night with my coworkers and the beer garden was quite packed! Located in downtown Mountain View, the place was filled with good vibes with plenty of heated outdoor seating. I ordered the chicken sliders and I appreciated how light the schnitzel was while still being a good portion. The pickled vegetables complemented it perfectly. They also had a great beer selection. I got number 11 which tasted super crisp. The food did take a bit longer to come out, but nonetheless I think Ludwig's is still a great place to catch up with friends and grab a drink! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Chicken Sliders - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

I went to this restaurant for a team celebration back in the day. I think this place is a fun social spot for trivia night and all, but it took a while for the food to get out. Basically, even though people all came out at the same time, some people's meal took 5 minutes to 30 minutes to get out. It's not a huge concern, considering the party size was really big. In addition, the food wasn't as good as I hoped especially for the price. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

Was here with a group of about 7 people for a dinner Food 3/5 : it was decent, nothing spectacular. Would rate it on the pricey side Ambiance 5/5: The outdoor area is nice and warm(with heaters of course) . It's pretty spacious. You can chat and hear the people you are with, without having to ask them to repeat many times, which is great. It's not a fancy restaurant but pretty good for a Biergarten Service 3/5 : Service is iffy. The lady greeted me a big and friendly smile. She was really nice while taking our orders as well. One of the male servers was interesting, it seemed like he couldn't care less but maybe he was busy or having a bad day. I got water 15 mins after I arrived at the restaurant and then they never refilled our glass and didn't give us a pitcher for us to refill ourselves. Now that's the kind of service I don't like to tip for at all read more

I went here with my coworkers and it was such fun vibes. We came here on a Wednesday during there trivia night and it created such a fun bonding experience. We shared a flat bread pizza and got our drinks really fast! The staff was very nice and friendly. I definitely want to come here during Oktoberfest! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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The place was very crowded, but the beer was great. The food, however, was overpriced and pretty mediocre. The atmosphere was excellent, and I'd definitely come back for the beers, but I'd skip the food next time. read more

IMHO We were in Mountain View for their annual Art & Wine Festival, a yearly tradition for us. When it came time to eat, most of the food vendor booths had long lines. We remembered visiting Ludwig's a few years ago and decided it would be much nicer to sit and relax at one of their outside tables and watch the festival goers go by. We snagged seats at a long table and scanned the QR code menu. We saw people walking inside the restaurant to order, so we thought that's what we had to do as well. Not so. While my husband was in line inside, a few waiters came by to take our order. I told the first waiter that my husband was in line inside. He said that was fine. I then asked if we could've simply ordered out here. He confirmed that. After a few more minutes another wait staff came over to take my order and I explained the same thing. She said it would be easier and faster if I ordered with her. Just as I was about to go inside and retrieve my husband, he came out looking exasperated and was ready to bail. He was glad to know we could order from her! It still took a little while for our food to finally appear, but it was worth the wait, and we didn't mind the time to people watch! We ordered a one sausage plate with choice of two sides. We opted for a Bavarian sausage with spaetzle and fries, and a mug of beer! This was the perfect size to share for two senior citizens, as we cleaned the plate and were very satisfied! Next time, we're going to order wiener schnitzel or try the pork knuckle! Thank you, Ludwig's! We'll be back next year! read more

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Came here with a group and we ordered the sausage sampler to share. It was fun to try different kinds, and the waiter did a great job explaining each type of sausage and how they were made. That said, the plating looked a little funny, kind of like a "girl dinner" vibe, just random bits on a plate. The food itself was fine, but I think I'm just not a big fan of German cuisine in general. It's a cool spot to check out once for the experience, but I probably wouldn't go again. read more

German pub in the heart of Castro. Tried a bunch of Sausages, loved the Spicy Bratwurst, Bavarian & the Chicken with Spinach. Schintzel is also a must try. European pub feel with lots of Beer. Service is quick & friendly. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Thringer & Bravarian Sausage - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Came for the trivia and it was a great time! The patio is warm and lively, and the staff are great at coming by to check in and take more orders throughout the evening. - Sausage bites, 5/5: Piping hot springy sausage that was super flavorful (I think it was filled with cheese?) and wrapped in flakey pastry -- basically an elevated pig in a blanket, easy hit! - Jaeger fries, 3/5: The fries themselves are solid, but the whole dish gets soggy really quick from the mushroom gravy, the cheese was served already solidified into one mass, and the dish overall was a bit too salty. Definitely a flavorful dish, but I'll stick with some plain fries next time. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Sausage bites - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

Sadly the food was very disappointing. Everything we had was rather boring and not much flavour. Not true German food. Some items like the Käsespätzle were like Mac and cheese with no taste. Schnitzel was too soft on the outside, salads very boring. All in all, no flavour at all. Service was also not good. Sorry! Ambience was medium. Everything looks slightly cheap. read more

This place you just find a table and sit. It took a little to find an open spot but when I did I was t disappointed. The service was pretty good with how packed they were too. There is indoor and outdoor seating and it looks really pretty lit up at night. It is right on the corner and the streets are blocked off with colorful designs and street performances. This place has different California veers but German food. I had the Mac and cheese and it was delicious I also had a sour which was good as well. Id definitely go back if I was in the area again. read more

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The outdoor patio on a nice day, which is almost always, is clutch. I stopped by for Happy Hour. 1.5 L of dopplebock, a mashed potato, a pretzel w/ cheese and a giant pork knuckle. I recommend you try a Knuckle, and share with friends. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Pork Knuckle - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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After my first visit, I left frustrated (slow service, bland schnitzel, and that "future price increase" surcharge that felt sneaky). The owner responded personally, explained the fee, and invited us back... and to their credit, we decided to try again. This time, we had a mixed but better experience. Food: I ordered the Jägerschnitzel. The schnitzel itself was still bland on its own, but the gravy and mushrooms really helped- it made the dish good overall. Crispy, cooked well, and tasty with the sauce. The Spätzle though? Big letdown. It had so much potential but was so bland it needed salt at the table to be palatable. My wife had the Flammkuchen (Alsatian flatbread) and enjoyed it. Dessert was a miss... we ordered the Nectarine Dream since they were out of berry compote. The ice cream was good, but the nectarines were strangely flavorless for peak season. Service: Chase was our server and did a great job overall. It took a little while for him to acknowledge us after we sat down, but once he did, service was friendly and attentive. One odd thing: when we mentioned the disappointing dessert, he admitted the nectarines have been "less and less good" and might be removed from the menu... but didn't offer to comp it. Atmosphere: Still the same. A great outdoor setup, shady and comfortable, right on Castro with a nice vibe. Pricing: I'm happy to report the surcharge is gone. Prices feel more transparent now, which I appreciate. The only awkward thing left is that they still don't present the bill before handing over the payment terminal, which makes for an odd checkout experience. The owner's offer: We wouldn't have come back if not for her outreach, but we didn't take her up on the freebie she offered... it didn't feel right to take from a small business or our server's tip. Still, it was a thoughtful gesture and showed she cares. Overall? Three stars feels fair. Some dishes were better, some still underwhelming, but the fact that the owner listened and made changes (like removing that surcharge) earned back a little trust. It's an average experience now- and with a few tweaks, it could be even better. read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Jägerschnitzel - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

The people who work here are super rude for no reason. Literally have tried coming atleast 5 times and it's the same weird guy bartender coping an attitude like he's mad you're ordering a drink (at a bar at 6 pm on a Friday, and there wasn't even a line) read more

mostly outdoor, communal table seating, but that's the authentic biergarten vibe for sure. Staff is super friendly, which isn't always easy since it's a popular hangout after work with large groups. Plenty of beers (great variety) and lots of munchies options too. It's a great option in downtown Mountain View! read more

Worse service Food was late for over an hour By the way did I mention I only orders sausage I asked everybody to check no response I should of walked out without buying for the drinks But I was the better person paid They didn't even ask to avoid since I waited more then an hour Please done worst your time read more

Came here for a last lunch with a colleague who was leaving. They had a very nice cozy outdoor seating. The service was super friendly and on point. The food to me was just ok. I had a bit of the pretzel, jager fries, and spazel(cheese balls). The pretzel was good, but the fries were a bit too salty. I used the berry mayo that came worth the cheese balls to balance the flavor. My colleagues each got something different, one said the turkey sandwich lacked flavor, while the buffalo chicken Sandwich was a bit dry. The salads I heard were good. The agreement was although the food was decent the price was a bit steep. read more

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Came for a team happy hour! They were flexible and let us move inside even though we booked outside because it ended up being much hotter than expected. They have some deals for happy hour. The food was decent! read more

Great spot for some beers and food before a movie, concert or event. Loved the outdoor patio space! Service is honestly a bit slow. We had to seat ourselves and order via a QR code. We enjoyed our drinks! I wasn't feeling beer this night, so I opted for one of their specialty cocktails that I enjoyed. Now about the food. I definitely had better German food. The goulash while pretty, arrived basically room temperature. The meat was good, but not as robust in flavor as it appears. Loved the potato croquettes texture, but flavor was lacking and got boring to eat. Would definitely recommend maybe their smaller dishes over full entrees here. The curry wurst was much more enjoyable. Would definitely still give this spot another shot! read more

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Ludwig's Biergaten!! I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful the food is. The sausage, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes were very good. The sampler was tasty. I dined outdoors. There are tables and picnic tables with benches outdoors. The only downside is that after ordering the meal, it took one hour and ten minutes for the food to arrive. The staff are friendly. read more

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Great Spot for Drinks, Bites & Big Groups Ludwig's in Mountain View is always a solid go-to--whether you're grabbing a drink with friends or catching a game. I've been here several times over the years, but my most recent visit stood out for the exceptional service. We came as a group of 25 for some drinks and light bites. Even though the place was packed, the staff reserved a large table for us and handled everything smoothly. Super impressed with how well they managed such a big group! Their beer selection is fantastic--lots of variety including sours and ciders--and they also offer a full bar. I had a couple beers and an espresso martini, which was surprisingly good. I ordered the pretzels, which were just right: crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and served with two mustards--one spicy, one mild. Great vibe, great service, and an ideal spot for casual get-togethers. I'll definitely be back! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Beer - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Solid place, delicious food and fun ambience! I recently dined here during Happy Hour with some co-workers. It's been here for a long time and I've been in the area so many times and never stopped here so I'm glad that I did! We are looking at this place for our office Oktoberfest party and I will be back with another review once that's done. I have a feeling it's going to be a good one! We ordered off the happy hour and my favorite was the dumplings. They were vegetarian, tasted a bit like thanksgiving stuffing and the mushroom cream sauce is to die for! I also loved the Jager fries in this amazing curry sauce. Both of these dishes are a must try. They have a lot of vegetarian options and I love that; even though I'm not technically a vegetarian, I often go for vegetarian type dishes and so finding a place that has a lot options is always a huge plus! Especially as German food can be pretty meat heavy. Looking forward to coming back soon! read more

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My friends and I went for Wednesday trivia nights and it was so fun! The trivia lasts an hour or so, and the host and servers are so friendly. The overall vibes of the place are cute. I'm not much of a beer person but my friends liked the beer here. We got the veal schnitzel, mashed potatoes, and raspberry dessert. I would 100% come back for the dessert alone- it was super refreshing and creamy at the same time. The schnitzel was pretty good and the mashed potatoes were standard. If you love trivia, come on Wednesdays!! read more

Ludwig's Biergarten - Mashed potatoes and raspberry whipped cream dessert thing - German Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Let Ludwig's die a natural death. My party of four adults had dinner there last night and it was pretty bad. For starters, the indoor portion of the restaurant was wide open with all doors open to the cold (55 F or 12 C) night air as we arrived just after sunset. Not accustomed to dining in such cold air I asked that the doors be closed and the heat be turned on but I had to ask three times before one of several doors was closed and no heat was ever supplied. The other doors left open. The servers didn't mind as they were moving around delivering food and beer and the cook in the kitchen was warmed by the stove. We are Americans of German descent and looked forward to a good meal. The food was flavorless. I had a pork Schnitzel, another had a chicken Schnitzel, another goulash, and the fourth sliders. No one liked their meal. No one commented that anything was good or tasty and we normally discuss our meals. Lack of enthusiasm for our meals resulted in us getting boxes to take home food perhaps for the dog. Service was very spotty as the wait staff seemed to give priority to the patrons outside who were warmed up with propane flamed outdoor heaters and were dressed warmly as though they were repeat patrons and knew what to expect. Mostly beer drinkers on the patio. To survive in the restaurant business in the Bay Area you have to be good because there is so much good competition. I've eaten hundreds of restaurant meals on Castro Street as I worked nearby for years. Always good food until Ludwig's. This place will die a natural death as customers fail to return and the word spreads about the poor quality of food. After the meal we kept looking for a waitress to give us our check so we could get out and warm up in the car. Eventually I approached someone at the cash register and learned that we "are supposed to know" that we go to the cash register at the bar to pay our bill. I know something about German food and I don't think Gisela, the owner, would approve of what was cooked for us. We won't be back. read more