They had been open only a few days, and this was the first Friday. There was a line. I suspect they…read moredidn't quite expect that much pent-up demand for them. The bartender was good but in the weeds. Beer was great. (Try the double bock on tap--rich beers, served from very clean lines, in a half-liter glass. Take that pint ;) This made the wait run smooth. I had a farmer's plate, which was well over a pound of pork in various guises. As the waitress said, "It's good for more meals". Wife's schnitzel under a mildly spicy tomato sauce is good. Glad we didn't get appetizers, as the portions are generous. And very delicious. The bartender worked very hard to keep up. Another bartender to run the service bar and another waitron on the floor, and things would have run more like they used to when they were on Fifth Avenue. Even as they were running around, everyone was friendly. Still, wife and I had a very good time, and do not pass up the smoked beer. (Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen, I'm fairly sure: aka liquid bacon.) Several beers on tap, and the bottled selection can't be beat around here. An impressive comeback that can only get better.

I finally got to visit here, and it only took a trip to a foreign country to do it…read more Coming off the heels of a trip to Switzerland, I decided to stop here because in case for those that do not know, Switzerland and Germany share important and similar cuisines and cultures. After all, Switzerland and Germany share a border, and a language. Most Swiss speak German, so I figure this would be a great spot to try after spending six days in one of Europe's underrated gems. I am here to break it all down for you to tell you what I got, the rating, and then conclude whether or not you should spend your cash (yes, this is a cash only restaurant) here. For this restaurant to have a create your own Schnitzel option is one that I took seriously, and I am happy that I have the opportunity to do it. I got three cutlets of each variety, pork, chicken, and veal, then smothered it with mushroom gravy (rahmschnitzel style), then topping it with an egg. Since it comes with two sides, I chose the pretzel and the spaetzle, but those will be discussed separately. For dessert, I got their apple strudel because no true German dinner would be complete without be ordering one of them. ---- Schnitzel: The Schnitzel here is as delicious as I had it many times over in Switzerland. Lean cut, lots of flavor, good breading, and a character reminiscent of its European brethren, I was happy to eat it and I told my server that this was delicious. The veal one is probably the best, then the chicken, followed by the pork, but either of the three work well in a pinch. The mushroom gravy is spot on with plenty of mushrooms and the gravy is deep, and rich. Getting the fried egg on top gave it all a nice texture and though it costs extra, definitely get the add on. Eating all three had for a moment wanting me to turn around, and get back on a plane to Geneva or Zurich. Star rating: 4.5/5 Spaetzle: Spaeztle is German pasta, like a soggy noddle, but can be made either with meat, cheese or left on its own. It very much is like its cousin, gnocchi, as it is a potato pasta, with starchy flavor and needs to soak up its contents or the whole thing tastes lousy. Fortunately, the cheese here makes it like a European Mac n cheese. The cheese to the pasta make it quite the salty dish, but I enjoyed this a lot and really felt that this was a surefire side that I must get if I were to return. Star rating: 4/5 Pretzel: A Brezel, as it is called here, works well on its own. The cheeses they provide you give absolutely no character. I would also like it if the pretzel were saltless. The pretzels in Europe contain very little, to any salt, they let the butteriness and the bread do the talking. I had to scrape most of it off to save the taste, but it was still tough. To make this work you need at least to try the mustards once, but it only made it work just slightly. This is where they drop the ball, at least to me, on some authenticity to concede to American tastes. Star rating: 3.5/5 Strudel: The strudel here comes in apple form, which is not a surprise considering that was something I noticed as well while in Switzerland. The cream it comes with is delicious (because why else?), however everything else sends it downhill. It is tough, chewy, and was borderline burnt for about 80% of the pastry. I tried to cut it with a fork and knife but it only made the matter worse. Not the ideal way to end things. It is also quite expensive. Star rating: 2/5 ---- The food on the whole is absolutely delicious, but they also offer entertainment. Because the restaurant is small, it creates an issue hard to hear anything but the instruments and an uncomfortable environment to enjoy a meal. As the band that night was continuing to set up and prepare, the meal became less enjoyable because the acoustics in the restaurant are poor and made it harder to think straight. Once able, I paid my bill as quickly as possible got out of there before the band was able to really start performing. There was ringing in my ears for a time after I left as well. Lousy acoustics and dessert aside, this is a great way to try some authentic Alsace cuisine without having to fly to the region.

Really solid neighborhood joint. I first heard of this place featured from an episode on Eater with…read moreGeorge Motz saying he loved coming here, funny enough the day I went, which was 1/24/26, George was eating dinner at the bar. It's a cute place, nothing fancy but a place you really can come hang out any day of the week. If I lived in the area I could see my myself ending up here any day of the week. I guess that's why when I went with fellow Yelper Sara L she said she has gone many times and wanted to take me since she knew I would enjoy it. The food: Gebackene Champignons- Fried Mushrooms- OK to preface they are kinda plain and boring the first few pieces. But the more I ate it the more I was like wow, these are actually good and kinda addictive. I enjoyed these and I enjoyed they gave a nice big portion. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA&select=wXMnSOv4x6gNG-gHh3t40Q Potato Latkes- These were on the specials page and they were good, nice crunchy and fried well but these were mixed with something since the taste was a bit different and the color wasn't that nice golden brown color you associate with latkes. Goulash- This was a dish George had and honestly, they were amazing. Highly recommend. I thought the flavor but more importantly the texture was amazing. A lot of times when you have slow cooked beef, they could sometimes get stringy and chewy, no not here. Also the spätzle was a really great pairing. Mussels- These were some fat ass mussels. The flavor of them was good, the night I went they were spicyyyyyyy. This was a well made dish and i appreciate their creativeity but I do prefer a simple garlic shallot butter and white wine where I want to drink the broth afterwards. The broth on this was too spicy too drink. Roasted Boneless Pork Chop- Pork chops are always a gamble and the one here was just OK. The sauce it came in was nice, kind on the heavy side but a delcious cream sauce. The pork was cut super thin and unfortunely they came out dry and chewy. The fries were a nice shoestring fry which were nice and crunchy. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=Y_iTTjKvV5hLy-880SZzlA&select=14_-Katrn9Glu-wA65-CHg

One of my favorite local spots! 10/10 drinks and food! Also has one of the best burgers in the…read morearea! A lot of seasonal specials drinks and food wise. Great service and friendly staff, always cozy vibes.

This place is a long standing institution in queens and the interior reflects that. The decor…read more alone makes this place feel like such a special experience. I had a group dinner here for my parents and my boyfriend's mother to meet for the first time. This is perhaps not the perfect location for this type of thing, as it was extremely loud in the restaurant. Despite being very busy, the hostess made sure we had a comfortable table to sit at and were not too cramped. As expected, the beer selection is great and I enjoyed my Berliner Weisse very much. I ordered the goulash and kasespaetzle. The goulash was rich, well seasoned and filling. The spaetzle was soft and creamy, covered in lots of flavorful aged cheese with salty bacon bits and sweet onion. A very rich dish. Although I didn't technically order an entree, I still found myself pleasantly full at the end of the meal. The rest of my dining companions ordered either the schnitzel or the wurstplatte. All seemed very pleased with their food, and some even had leftovers to bring home due to large portions. This restaurant is certainly a fun spot to come, reservations recommended. There's a reason they've been open for so long.

Delicious German food!…read more We came here for lunch and the restaurant is adorable. Filled with German decor and beautiful stained glass windows, this is a great spot for lunch or dinner. I had Schnitzel Holstein and my husband had prime rib. The food and drinks were all great. The service was quick and the servers friendly. Great place!'

nice and surprisingly big/spacious restaurant and cafe. I initially came to do some work, and…read moretreated it like a cafe. unfortunately the coffee menu is pretty sparse and leaves something to be desired (just iced tea and coffee), but it seems like a wonderful place to hang out as a bar. there's lots of fun items on their menu, and I also tried the pretzels, which came out fresh and warm. I saw they also have bar trivia and would definitely come back to try more foods on the menu! the service was friendly and the space was nice, particularly the booth and corner seating by the entrance with large windows.

I ended up at Black Forest Brooklyn by accident. I had plans to drink and watch The Knicks play at…read morea spot nearby but that place was packed with people desperate to catch the bartender's attention. I wasn't in the mood to beg for drink service and I was also at "hangry" levels. Left out of there and I walked into Black Forest Brooklyn. Best decision I had made all day. It was cozy and dimly lit inside. The atmosphere was more like a pub than the usual loud, beer garden. They also had The Knicks game showing on the big screen at the bar but this place wasn't spilling over with people. I asked for a menu and decided on a burger of course! Out of pure greed, I requested a double. I did NOT need a double. My burger was sooo good. Patties were perfectly well done and the cheese was smooth and melted nicely. The sautéed onions added extra flavor and I really liked the shoestring fries. I'm more of a steak fries person but these were great! I asked the bartender to suggest a beer that had a Blue Moon quality since they don't actually serve that brand. She gave me a sample of something from the tap that was on point, so I went with a full glass. Whenever I'm craving the perfect burger and beer combo, Black Forest Brooklyn will be at the top of my list from now on.

Radegast is definitely THE place to go to in Williamsburg for drinks. It's one of those places that…read moreis "when in doubt go to radegast for a good time!" Great huge drinks for cheap as well and good vibes with live music at times

I'm kind of sad in just now visited for the first time. Really fun atmosphere that transports you…read moreacross the world. Crowd was really lively. The latkes are delish--I'd come back to try more dinner menu items, but this time I indulged in the casual snack foods. Really fun seeing duck sausage as an option. Tasted great too.

We came into Black Forest on a Tuesday evening for Trivia. If you want to be sure to participate,…read moreprobably wise to have a reservation though there are still options to play while not seated in the main room with bar seating options available as well as outside on the patio (though you probably won't be able to hear that well.) Black Forest on Smith Street is a very cute German bier garden. It has the rustic vibe and community atmosphere down pat to keep it feeling like a neighborhood watering hole with traditional German fare. We ordered our German pilsners (which tend to have a maltier taste) and I also had the Grapefruit beer which was a little too sweet instead of tangy/sour for what I was expecting though I still enjoyed it. We came hungry so ordered the pork tenderloin schnitzel with spicy kale and potato salad, a pretzel, and a couple brat wurst with fries. The bratwurst were personally my favorite, and I loved the German mustard they came with. The portions were well sized and the sausage meats were juicy. The pork tenderloin schnitzel was good, but nothing for me to immediately write home about. I enjoyed the spicy kale and pickled potato salad maybe more than the schnitzel itself, though next time would come in just for the brat and the beer alone. This is a great neighborhood spot I hope to return to soon. Oh and we got 6th place in trivia! (Not much thanks to me on that one...)

Good food. Love the forest burger. I think the fries can be better. It's too thin. The beer is the…read morekey food. Service is slow cuz it's Oktoberfest. Atmosphere can be great. I love the wood table.

great ambience and a place to hang out with friends. i came on a weekday evening with a couple of…read morefriends and we enjoyed dinner. i tried the pretzel, which was a large size. great dipping sauces, and overall HasenStuble had a very cool, laid-back, chill feel. I would come back again. a little bit more on the pricey side. the food was brought out in maybe 30 minutes or so, reasonable for a party of six.

All the food (bratwursts, pretzels, etc) are very tasty! It is generally a great place to chill…read morewith friends.

Very welcoming place the bartender Danny was great and makes the place even better. All are…read morewelcome. You get the feeling you are in your neighborhood place. Food was good the beer better

German beer hall. Large space for private events. We grabbed a beer at the bar upfront. Mostly (if…read morenot all) German beers on tap. Big breweries like Hofbrau and Franziskaner were represented. I had their namesake beer - the Gottschee 1330. If I was forced to guess, then I'd probably go with it being Hofbrau original. It was a light and crisp beer. Solid head. Served cold in a half liter mug making it a great beverage on a hot afternoon. Service was quick. They had several TVs around the bar playing football. Pricing on the food menu was incredibly intriguing.

LOL Do not come here looking for grub (or planning to order just one dish) if ur hungry but theres…read moresomething abt the meager portions that adds to the vibe. The vibe being a school gymnasium where theyd host a post church lunch or somethin. The beers are delicious and the servers are all super friendly and conversational. I will always freak on a weird vegan sausage here. Just laughing again looking at this lentil soup w the sausages chopped in.... It looks like something i would have made at home and it kind of tastes like it too but i'm not mad about it? I have yet to try the pretzel, but am curious how it compares to black forest's (which i very much enjoy)

Cute German restaurant with outdoor seating. They have a decent selection of German beers on tap…read moreand the typical staples on their menu plus a few fun items such as LKW. We tried the Wiener Schnitzel, with potato salad, Le Presidente, and Truffle fries. The schnitzel was tad dark and the potato salad was rather sweet. The sandwich and the fried were great, though the sandwich isn't the most filling thing. Would be back for snacks and beers!

I read some of the other reviews and don't dispute the comments about stickiness, etc. But, IMHO,…read morethis place is 5 stars for what it is, which is a very large beer hall that's a super fun place to hang and gets incredibly busy. (If that's not your jam, don't go!) But, if that is your jam, here are some of the things I love: 1) The service has always been attentive and fast, even when they're crazy busy. This is hard to do, and is appreciated! 2) This is a great place to go during the summer with outdoor seating, or in the cozy winter. 3) I love that they have abundant jenga and big tables. We roll in with 6-15 people every time we go, and have always found a place to sit. We've probably been 15 times so far. 4) The beer selection is great 5) The food is surprisingly good, and super fast! All in all, a great, casual place to hang with friends, any day of the week.

I've visited this place a couple of times, including yesterday. If you're day drinking in the…read moreWilliamsburg area, it seems like the place to be. There is a ton of seating, and a large fireplace, as well as various games like Jenga four tables to play. It tends to get really packed in here and so it was a bit chaotic, however, the music was good and not too loud. This is a beer, forward place, with cider wine, cocktails, and some nonalcoholic drinks available as well as food. I had a Mezcal cocktail yesterday as well as a glass of Pinot noir, and both were pretty underwhelming. It's not somewhere that I would voluntarily go, as a crowd is a bit on the younger side (mid 20s) and it does give a "post college" vibe, but I can see why it's popular. One of the urinals apparently had vomit in it all afternoon which tracks. Service is generally quick but you have to go up to the bar to order. Crowded and a bit rowdy. Good for bar crawls.