Like taking a step back in time in the best possible way. We were warmly greeted and seated quickly on a Saturday night, and somehow scored the coveted window seat, which turned dinner into dinner and a live episode of "North Side People Watching." We started with a couple of beers and worked our way through the bread basket while trying to decipher the menu and restrain ourselves from ordering one of everything. The basket came with assorted rolls, sweet cabbage, applesauce, and butter, basically enough to make us temporarily forget we still had entrées coming. I ordered the Kase Spätzle: spätzle noodles tossed in a creamy blend of chicken broth and melted Gouda cheese. It was supposed to come topped with buttered breadcrumbs, which sadly never made it to the party. Would they have elevated the dish? Maybe. Did I still scrape the plate like I hadn't eaten in days? Absolutely. It was basically German mac and cheese giving me a warm hug. I swapped the house salad for braised red cabbage, because balance. Hubby went with the Sauerbraten, beef marinated in a century-old family recipe from southern Germany and served with potato pancakes, because if you're going German, you commit. Nothing about the plate screamed "fine dining," but everything tasted hearty, comforting, and made with care. Was it fancy? No. Did we leave happy, full, and slightly considering lederhosen? Yes. Great night all around. read more

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My wife took me out for my birthday dinner tonight at Max's. Food excellent, I mean everything was so delicious! Pork chops and sauerkraut, best I ever had. Very few places can cook pork as well as Max's, granted nobody wants undercooked pork chops, but so few places now days can't get the perfect point between undercooked and dried out chewiness. Red cabbage, outstanding! German Potato salad OH MY Goodness! The ambiance makes you feel like you're in the early 1900s. There were so many different generations there. Mom and Dad's with early elementary age kids, young couples, 3 generations out for a family dinner, a dad and his teenage son and us. But the best part was the service. The hostess and our waitress were just so good it seemed like we were having dinner at home and these magical ladies made everything so comfortable. Yeah it was a great birthday dinner! read more

Finally made it down to try Max's Allegheny Tavern. I love German food so I decided to go with their sampler platter so I could try a few different things: Jäger Schnitzel: Best thing on my plate, so good. Kinda wish I just got the regular order of this. Very tender, gravy was good. Sauerbraten: Never had this before. Kinda like a slice of roast beef with a mustardy sauce on top. Was tasty but nothin too exciting. Bratwurst: Pretty standard. Sauerkraut: Some of the best I've had. Very good. Potato pancake: Wasn't a huge fan of these ones, but the other people at my table enjoyed them. Overall, very nice spot. The food was good and the beers were cold. Bonus points for the free popcorn/bread. Will definitely be back for more. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Sampler platter - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cute little whole in wall Pittsburgh staple in the North Shore. If you are a German food fan, this is the place for you. The meats and sausages are so flavorful and by far the best in the city. I love how cute and quaint it is. It used to be an old hotel before they changed it to Max's. The service is super friendly and they give you FREE buttery and perfectly salted FRESH popped popcorn. And it was AMAZING!!!! I got the Knackwurst and it was super yummy. Fresh cut fries and homemade ranch! Im not a kraut person but I actually liked there's too! My boyfriend got the Bratwurst and he said it was very flavorful and the most tender hes ever had. Its nice that they have a menu dedicated to people like me and him who are Gluten Free! read more

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From ambiance to service to food everything here was 10/10! Our waitress was so pleasant and friendly. She gave us lots of time to peruse the menu and our food came out nicely paced when we did order. Or drinks were consistently refilled and we were checked on regularly without feeling rushed. The food and beer were fantastic! Both of us agreed it's the best German food we've ever had, and my husband is confident it's his favorite soft pretzel of all time. I loved that they had a kid's menu and everyone was so welcoming with my toddler. Kids portions were very reasonable, as were adults - we all had leftovers! We'll definitely be back. read more

German food at its finest. But at a reasonable price. I was very impressed with the prices. The Max's sampler was $26.99. You were able to choose from almost a dozen different choices. I chose the Kielbasa. The Snitzel Lichtenstein and the Snitzel Royale. I chose the potato salad and sauerkraut as my sides. Everything on the plate was amazing. All items tasted great and were seasoned properly. I would give only one criticism. The portion size wasn't what I was expecting. Gina was my waitress. And she was a very pleasant person to deal with. She always had a smile on her face. And attended to my needs without any look of not wanting to be helpful. read more

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Old school tavern atmosphere and some of the best food in north side! Our server was very nice and knee a lot about the history of Max's. The burger and fries were excellent and my friends enjoyed their meals as well. read more

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I am reviewing this restaurant because I really hope the owner sees it. On May 9 my family and I went to the tavern to celebrate my daughter's college graduation which took place earlier in the day. When we arrived we were seated at a very nice table. All seemed to be good until the server showed up. She pretty much ruined the entire experience. Her attitude was crappy right from the start. Not only did she act like she was doing us a favor but she was nasty and flippant. When we asked her about a certain dish she snapped at us and said, "I don't eat here I'm a vegetarian!!" So basically she could tell us nothing about the food. Because she could tell us nothing about the food it took us a little bit to decide what we wanted and we could tell that was making her mad. She was just terrible. No help in picking a beer.. when I asked her she responded, "It's all in the menu!" She made us all very uncomfortable and put a real damper on our celebration. Even when our dinner came out it was like, "Ok, who got the schnitzel? She was so rude!! Not to mention the restaurant was out of sour kraut... how can u on a Saturday night run out if one of the most German foods there is... and she didn't even tell us they were out if it until about 15 mins after we ordered. About 5 mins. before 9:00 pm unexpectedly we had another couple join us. The first thing out of her mouth was, "They can't order anything because the kitchen is closed." We asked if they could just get one of their large pretzels and she said no. it was a terrible experience... just really put a huge damper on our celebration to the point that my daughter ended up in tears. This was a very special celebration for us and the server really was very nasty, unfriendly, rude, and unkind. She seemed like a very unhappy person. So this is a message for Sierra ... you suck!!! And I really regret giving you a 15% tip that you didn't deserve at all! Your disposition not only ruined my daughter's graduation celebration but we didn't even enjoy the food because you were so unpleasant. We were so disappointed because the tavern was recommended so highly. one side note my husband did enjoy his liver so I'll give the restaurant that much. What it seemed like to us is the kitchen staff and our server were working together to not have to do anything they didn't want to. You blew it Sierra our family has owned restaurants, I lived by the tip for many years. Had you just been somewhat pleasant and helpful you would have been given a generous amount of money. read more

Grabbed a takeout order from here on a work trip. The roasted veggie salad with grilled chicken was fresh, hearty, and delish! Would def go back. read more

This is a nice place. We sat in the tavern area, in a booth. The bar itself is amazing and they have lots of fine spirits. We ordered Jaeger Schnitzel, roasted pork, spaetzle, and a dumpling soup. Everything was very good yet not the best, even in US standards, not comparing this meal to "Deutschland" itself. Service was decent, considering the bartender was taking the booth orders and managing a full bar with people who consider this tavern a visitor center, or a tourist attraction. In hindsight, if you come here, make sure to visit the area. I didn't notice any weird or paranormal activity, neither did I inquire. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I feel a little bit of shame that it took me this long to stop at Max's Allegheny Tavern for the first time, after living in Pittsburgh for over 20 years. But this place oozes character, from the beautifully maintained bar (with original iceboxes?!) to the decor and everything in between. While I just stopped in here for a few drinks, my mouth was watering with every plate of food being dropped off at the neighboring tables. The bartenders all seemed like tenured vets but we're all warm and welcoming and the prices are right. read more

This restaurant is very old! They've been around forever! German food. Many rooms and a big bar. Efficient servers. Try it! You'll like it! read more

On a downhill slide. We used to go here almost every month for dinner. After Covid, though, it's changed. The menu is limited (they took off a lot of the more interesting choices). The food has become so-so. The atmosphere is still there, though. So if you want to hang out and have a drink, it's great. If you want some variety, it's a crapshoot. read more

Such a great place. Welcoming and genuine. Sausages were great as was the smoked pork loin chop and the Wiener schnitzel. I was so happy to find the perfect spot to introduce an old friend to the best of Pittsburgh! read more

we stopped by max's allegheny tavern on a weekday night and had a great experience. a highlight we almost missed was the cinnamon cider special ; i didn't see it on the paper menu, but my friend spotted it on the board near the door! it was perfectly spiced and incredibly delicious. max's sausage platter was also fantastic. quick tip: the soft pretzel is absolutely massive , so plan on sharing it with your table! our waiter was also super nice and friendly. read more

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I have nothing bad to say! The food was absolutely amazing, the service would fill up my drink without needing to ask and the old timey atmosphere is amazing! Overall 10/10 (5.0 stars)! (my review from Google Maps) read more

Nice neighborhood atmosphere with a great wait staff , my rueben with fries was very good !!! read more

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My wife and I stopped in around 5:00 on a Friday for a bite to eat. This was our first visit. We were immediately seated and a few minutes later our waitress brought us a basket of fresh popcorn. Our drink orders were then placed (we both ordered a beer on draft). Shortly after we order a bread basket appears. I ordered a knackworst with potato pancakes and German potato salad. Both were delicious. My wife ordered bratwurst and enjoyed hers. Location, venue both scream stopping you to visit. Epic venue, I just wish they gave you one more sausage. Beer is crisp, service is strong, venue is vintage, food is delicious, I'd definitely go back again! read more

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We used to go here for their Sunday brunch, but during Covid the stopped offering it. We have been back several times since they discontinued the brunch, and their menu is loaded with good German cuisine, a very good choice for lunch on the north side. read more

Decent German pub. This was actually my first time ever having German food, so I wasn't too sure what to expect. Personally, this just isn't my favorite cuisine, and I'm not too knowledgeable in German food, so take my criticism with a grain of salt. I tried their kase spatzle (German Mac n cheese), potato pancakes, and bread pudding. The Kase Spatzle was my main meal, and it was pretty disappointing. There just was not much flavor to the dish at all. Bread crumbs, cheese, and macaroni. The macaroni had a strange texture, almost cotton like, where it felt weird to eat. Cheese was stringy, not flavorful. Wouldn't really recommend, but portion was good. The potato pancakes were also just mediocre. I can't quite describe it, but there was a rough sort of flavor to them. Not bad, but I've had many potato pancakes that I enjoyed far more than these. Price was fine. The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was by far my favorite part of the meal. It's got lots of raisins, a nice sweetness, and is pretty soft, like I like it. Would definitely recommend. All in all, okay spot. Not really my style. It's worth a try to understand a different cuisine but ill have to try out some more items to really see if I like it. read more

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I love this place; the food is great the beer is cold and the potato pancakes are awesome. Every time I come to Pittsburgh I go there to get dinner. The wait staff are welcoming and its the best German food I have had in a long time. read more

This was the second stop my wife and I made on our tour of movie locales from the film, "A Man Called Otto". This particular place is where the protagonist had a dinner date with his future wife. As in the movie, the place is beautifully furnished the moment you walk in. Dark cherry wood greets you and it has that lived in, lived long look that many places in this part of the country have. The entrance are has some seating for dinner, but it's beside their nice looking bar. We sat in the back, at the first of two dinner seating areas. What surprised us was that the food served here is not the usual bar or American fare-type food. Instead, it is German - what a great surprise as I do love German food. For the appetizer, we chose the stuffed pretzels with a delicious mustard sauce to dip in, and for dinners - my wife enjoyed their calf liver while I had the Sauerbrauten. All of it was cooked perfectly, and the sauerbrauten was tender and tasty. For sides we enjoyed spatzel(sp?) as well as chunky applesauce, and a sweet and sour cabbage mix that had a spicy kick to it. Service was friendly, not as attentive, I suppose given she was the only one in that room, but she still did a solid job. We ate so much we couldn't enjoy their desserts (and they had some good ones like black forest cake), maybe next time. read more

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Have not been here in years, but it's still a great casual spot with great food and service. While not a traditional German staple the stuffed pretzels are insanely delicious. read more

Clean the tables, the floor is SO STICKY I had to hold onto my shoes and a thousand legger in the wine. Not planning on going back!!! Disgusting!! Can't post a negative star, if I could I would!! Server was very good, the issues weren't her fault. read more

Stopped in tonight for dinner, on the recommendation from a gentleman sitting next to us on the airplane. The service was great and the food even better. Great flavor and large portions. So glad we stopped. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Bavarian Peasant Platter with Potato Pancakes Hot and German Potato Salad - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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What a great place! We found this on Trip Advisor and it did not disappoint. We sat at the bar. Bartenders were happy, friendly and attentive. Food was authentic and came quickly and hot. Ambiance was intimate. Dimly lit. Bar is old school gorgeous. Beers were yummy as was the food. We will be back whenever in town. read more

Old style bar with German menu. Building from 1800's Bar opened in 1960's & I was served a brat that was in the fridge since they opened! Enough caraway seeds in the kraut to forget that there was kraut on the plate. The veal schnitzel was the only redeeming meal. read more

Love this authentic German restaurant in the heart of Deutschtown! Max's is a staple for those in the neighborhood and in-the-know, but most people won't come across this place by accident. My mom's family is German and there are so many menu items that remind her of my Grandma's cooking - most of them things that are hard to pronounce ;) I don't eat meat so admittedly there aren't a ton of options, but the potato pockets and other appetizers are great! Especially love the French onion dip that comes with the potato pockets - so flavorful and delicious. Also a big shout out to the staff who were super busy on a Friday night before a North Shore concert, but they were so kind and did a great job. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Potato pockets with French onion dip - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Max's is a Pittsburgh staple and a classic. If you have not been to this iconic tavern, get there as soon as you can. Amazing German food and a great staff! I guarantee that yinz guys will love it! read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Bar area - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Haven't been to Max's in a few years. Not much has changed however. Same interior, same staff (which is amazing). Only change I really saw was they are no longer open Sundays when h means no more Sunday brunch buffet which is a shame, we always enjoyed that. We stopped by after the Steelers holiday photos at the stadium. Max's is always super easy to get in and out which I appreciate. Started with a forgotten beer from Pittsburgh brewing. We had some apps and then entrees. I forgot to take photos of the entrees unfortunately. Food is solid, people working there are always amazingly nice. Place is clean inside as well. read more

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All of the food was delicious. Service is great. Cozy old time pub atmosphere. So glad we walked 30 minutes to get there. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Potato pockets aka pierogi, sweet and sour red cabbage, fried zucchini and peanut butter pie - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Super friendly good portions and delicious German food also half the price of Los Angeles which is worth the visit alone !

This was the worst Sauerbraten dinner and potato pancakes I've ever had. Of German heritage, I was looking for an authentic German restaurant. The thin-sliced meat came with a light brown gravy...it was not good. I've had a lot of sauerbraten and it never looked or tasted like this. The spaetzle was tasteless with a gooey texture. The potato pancakes were also tasteless and soggy. The red cabbage was ok. The hostess started things off on an off note with her lack of personality. If the dinner had been good, I wouldn't have mentioned this. The whole experience was disappointing. We had been to the Hofbrauhaus and the potato pancakes were delicious and crisp. I didn't try the sauerbraten there. Needless to say, I won't be going back and don't recommend it. (No atmosphere either.) read more

This place is a little difficult to get to, at least on foot from downtown. We had to walk under a pretty quiet underpass. However, it was worth it. The schnitzel and kielbasa were fantastic. However, I think the sides were even better. My husband is still talking about his Gouda spaetzle 2 days later. Note that there doesn't seem much else German in Deutschtown, but frankly, when Max's is so good, there isn't much need to go anywhere else for German food. read more

I just had a meal (?) at max's that was just awful. I have enjoyed their food for many years. Haven't been in a while so in honor of Oktoberfest wanted to have some Wiener schnitzel and potato pancakes with applesauce. An unappetizing plate of lukewarm food was served by a LOVELY bar waitress. A plate of gray mush. Tasteless read more

If you like authentic German food, Max's is the place to go. When in the mood for some schnitzel, this is a must. I always think I am going to just order one, and always end up going for the sampler and picking from there. I'm a big fan of the potato salad, and we always have to go with some spatzel, and my kids always get a reuben. Einlauf soup is always a must, as well. A visit always lets you feel like you're stepping back in time. Great service always. read more

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Great food for the giant menu. The service is perfect and you can play any music at any time. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Tex Mex. My favorite. - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ambiance is perfect; great Old World, German decor and feel. The food is delicious. I had the hot potato salad, the red cabbage and the spaetzle with gravy. Our waitress was very good and very helpful. I'm looking forward to the next visit. read more

Very good wurst! We really like the red cabbage and potatoe pancakes. I was especially happy they had Spaten bier.

Everything about this tavern is amazing The food, service and atmosphere. Absolutely highly recommend. We will be back when we are in thw area again! read more