I always find this restaurant to be great with a side of historical nostalgia. It feels connected to the history of the area - especially to the Germantown/Deutschtown neighborhood on the northside. There is a large menu here with a lot of German specialities. I got the fish sandwich this time. It was good, but needed a little more spice. The sides here are great -- I'm particular to the einlauf soup (similar to Jewish matzah ball), the homemade chunky applesauce, and the potato pancakes. I have had a stuffed cabbage entree here also when it was offered as a special. This might be a harder restaurant to come to if you are a vegetarian, as there is a lot of meat on the menu -- also a lot of pork and pork sausage, etc for anyone who doesn't eat this. I found there are many other options though for those who eat chicken, fish, or beef. There also is a full bar here and the bar itself is the most nostalgic looking element to the restaurant. Prost! read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Fish Sandwich and Potato Pancakes with applesauce - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We tried it a few months ago and the food was just ok, but we thought we'd give them another chance. I got reminded I wanted to try it one more time after the last review Their hostess needs some training. We got there, she said that they had tables but she was "trying to give the servers a break." I kept asking how long of a wait there would be and she said, "I don't know." We took our chances and waited for about 20 minutes watching her braid her own hair and 3-4 tables leaving before another wait staff finally came out and asked hostess, "have you given them a time?" She told her no and then the woman said, "it's going to be 45 minutes to an hour." We left after having wasted enough time. This place used to be great and we went about once every other month, but now their staff doesn't seem to know what they are doing and we didn't even get a chance to try the food it again. read more

In the summer of 2023, a good friend of mine and I looked for a place close to the convention center, but not so close we'd run into colleagues. The menu sold us - and we had an evening we've been reminiscing about for the past three years. We were able to return this year - with a larger group of friends - and it was worth the wait (though I hope it won't be another three years before I can come back!). I made a reservation for a dozen of us, from around the country, various ages, various palates. We had a nice table set for us, with a WONDERFUL server who could not have been kinder (and shame on me for not remembering her name - Friday the 28th, you were GREAT). The drinks were fantastic and I think we could have stuffed ourselves with apps alone. Every single one of us was both excited to share our dish but also hopeful we'd get the last bite after it made its way 'round the table. Dinners were FANTASTIC. I will be dreaming of my corned beef and cabbage sandwich for weeks and even months. People raved about their herring and their potato-pancake-reuben and their spaetzle and sausages... it's hard to take a large group out to a place and have every person leave incredibly happy *and* wanting to return on our next trip to Pittsburgh. LEAVE ROOM FOR DESSERT! It's hard, but it's worth it. This is just such a great-little old-school, neighborhood-restaurant, everything-is-tasty, magical-night-out. Five stars? Yes. Not because it's a Michelin dining, formal, stuffy, dress-up place. But five stars because the food and service is WONDERFUL. Again, pretty fantastic to satisfy a dozen people who will all gladly return next time they're in the city for work. Thank you for taking such good care of our group and for being even better than I remembered. A trip to your restaurant is worth a return trip to Pittsburgh! read more

I went to Max's Allegheny Tavern for a late lunch with a group of old high school friends and it was a pleasant surprise! The German food was far better than I had imagined, and I dug into it immediately before I could take any photos. The einlauf soup was delicious! The service was superb! I started off with the margarita and then ordered my famous Reuben on potato pancakes, which I highly recommend! read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Cheddar spaetzle and the famous Reuben on potato pancakes. - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Was craving a Rueben and theirs hit the spot! Everything about it was perfect. We did take out and the service was quick and efficient. When I went in to grab it, I couldn't stop looking around the bar area. It has a cool antique/dive/tavern vibe and you just know it's the spot to be on the Northside. read more

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

We went to Max's Allegheny Tavern located in Pittsburgh's Deutschtown neighborhood for some German food! The inside is on the darker side with old fashioned wood paneling and there's a bar along with booths and quite a few tables in different rooms. Our server was very kind and patient. The prices here are very reasonable; we spent about $200 total with tax and tip for six people including drinks and dessert! Everything we got really hit the spot and my favorites were the beer sampler, stuffed pretzels, käsespätzle, sausages, and schnitzel. We had to finish our meal with a sweet treat and we all enjoyed the black forest cake! read more

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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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Fantastic bar and restaurant. I believe it is 130 year old building. The urinals are the gigantic ones only found in turn of the century pubs. Service was outstanding. Food could not be beat for the price. Mom and I split the combo, had some beers and the fantastic pretzels stuffed with cheese. I will never forget my trip to Max's. read more

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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

We had a great, authentic experience in Pittsburgh. Kind and quick service, a cool old school tavern atmosphere, and good German food. I appreciated this place, reasonable prices, great food and very unique. We had potato pancake Reubens and kielbasa soup, outstanding and really hit the spot. read more

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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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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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

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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Excellent food at very reasonable prices. We had the peasant platter and the weiner schnitzel . Service was very good. Nice decor in a heritage neighborhood. read more

Max's Allegheny Tavern - Schnitzel, red cabbage, potato salad. - German Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Food was good, but my bratwurst was white and I thought it was knack wurst. The waitress assured me it was bratwurst. I didn't know it ever came in white. Prices are quite reasonable and our waitress was good. The bread pudding was average. read more

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

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

I was excited to try Max's Allegheny Tavern because I love German food and I've heard great things. We had a reservation for six people's and they first took us to a table for five. they did have to scramble and get us another chair, and we were then crammed together in a corner. One member of our party did not get her food with the rest of us, but she was assured that it was "on the way." It wasn't. After waiting a good twenty minutes, we finally had to ask the waitress about her food. Turns out, it was never "on the way," and after another wait we were told that they could make her food for her to take home if she wanted. (!) The rest of us had cold food due to slowing our eating in an attempt to be polite and wait for her to be served. The only thing they offered her (us) in return for this experience was a free meal voucher when she returns, which she will not be doing due to this poor experience and the distance that we traveled for this birthday meal. in addition, the food mediocre and the portions were too small for the price. 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

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

My husband and I are visiting from Arizona. He is a lover of German food, and while we stopped for a few beers and a large pretzel at the Hoffbrauhaus so my husband could check it out, we decided to try this place for lunch in the hunt for a local treasure. Big mistake. This was the worst schintzel we've ever had, and the German potato salad tasted as if it came from a can. One of our friends who lives in nearby Hubbard, Ohio fought heartburn throughout the who Pirates game we went to tonight. Next time, we'll stick with the Hoffbrauhaus. 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

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

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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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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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