I thought I liked German food but haven't had a ton of authentic dishes. The decor was old German fine restaurant. We didn't have reservations but they found a table for us in their full house. My niece ordered the reuben sandwich, she was pleased. My sister and I were more adventurous. The pretzels were good when hot. I had the Sauerbraten "Rheinischer Art" sweet and sour German pot roast. It was tender and had a good taste. The German Potato Salad was my biggest disappointment. It lacked any kind of acid which I'm used to. The red cabbage was the best part of the meal. I ordered an apple dumpling for dessert. It wasn't completely cooked. I would have eaten the apples but had a hard time finding any. read more

Well we lived in Germany for 7 years, so we are often looking for a good German meal. We did not find it here. It was one of the most disappointing meals I have had in recent memory. Goulash Suppe was not like any I have ever had, let alone enjoyed. Kaese Spaetzle! Kaese Spaetzle! The simplest most basic beilagen in a German restaurant. Spaghetti noodles with cheese sauce! Apple strudel was yummy and the Spaten was cold which is why they get 2 stars from me. read more

We stopped in for lunch, excited to have found a German restaurant, they are few and far between. I'd had a big breakfast that morning so we decided to split an entree, sauerbraten $22.00. Our waitress informed us that we would have to pay an extra $4.50 extra plate charge, purchase a dessert, or salad, since we were only ordering one entree. She was apologetic, the charge was "policy". We left bewildered, without ordering. Every time we related our experience with Richard's arbitrary upcharge (for sharing an entree ) at other restaurants, we were always met with "I have never heard of that, and why would they do that?" As I write this I realized we were the only guests in the restaurant.... read more

This place is authentic and traditional, a rare find among the foodie situation. My friends and family feel the staff and atmosphere are a delight. Good food and great service never lets you down! Nice work, Richards!!! read more

Richard's restraunte is one of my wife's and my favorite places for a relaxing meal. Everytime we go it takes us back to our trips overseas to Germany. The ambiance is that of a quaint German restraunte, with a freindly and helpful staff. We enjoy the stuff mushrooms as a appetizer, though the Caesar salad prepared at your table is fantastic. We have never found a meal we didn't like. If you are traveling in the area, looking for great food in an European setting you should visit Richards. read more

This place seemed to be as authentiy German restaurant as I could imagine. Te only thing missing was German folks dancing in lederhosen. The food was a wonderful experience of flavors. It started with moist rolls and soft pretzels served with butter and a delightful mustard that complemented both. I got the tour of Germany and the waitress was kind enough to "give me the tour" when it was served. It had a variety of flavorful and perfectly cooked meats including sweet and sour pot roast and bratwurst . It was complimented with multiple side dishes that continued to please the taste buds including red cabbage dumplings an sauerkraut . The service was a little slow but very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu items. It has a unique selection of delicious looking desserts I was unable to even attempt to eat because I was too full. read more

After reading the excellent reviews, I was excited to try eating in a German restaurant for the first time while I was working in Bath. Unfortunately, I was not impressed at all. The restaurant decor was very tired and dated. I commented to my husband that Robert Irvine from Restaurant Impossible would absolutely hate the way the restaurant looks! The waitresses and other diners also seemed to be on the elderly side. We were not impressed with our waitress at all. She didn't spend more that 15 seconds at a time at our table. After I ordered a drink, my husband was going to ask her which beer she recommended between the two he was trying to pick from. Instead of listening to his question, she seemed annoyed by his indecisiveness and walked away to get my drink. When she came back with my drink, she then took his order. We heard other tables being told the specials, she didn't bother telling us. Although my husband and I are both in our 30's, maybe she mistook us for cheap college kids? We certainly weren't impolite or rude. (And we do tip very well for good service....) The food was also disappointing. I ordered the brauenwurst and my husband ordered the jaegerschnitzel. The sausage and pork were yummy, but all of the sides were disappointing and lacking in any type of seasoning whatsoever. I would not recomment this place to anyone, and I will never go back. Although maybe if I go back when I'm in my 60's I'll get better service. read more

Hearty and filling meals! I got the German sampler and washed it all down with the delicious double bock beer. The sampler had several sausages and weinerschnitzel, spaetzels, and sauerkraut that I actually loved. This was a big deal because I had never enjoyed sauerkraut in the slightest until I went to Richard's. They cook it with wine and jasmine (I think). You'll be very happy trying it! The manager was very nice and the super wonderful Tina greets you at the door. Definitely going back on my next trip to Brunswick. read more

Went to this place about a month ago and could not have been more impressed. The food and service was beyond expectations. The soft pretzels they bring to the table are amazing and the mustard is also delicious. I had never had authentic German food prior to this dining experience but will be going back shortly. Headed there again this Saturday to celebrate my dad's birthday and hoping for the same quality experience as last time. read more

Excellent food, warm and friendly welcome, fresh and made from scratch. Reasonably priced. Will be back.

Have heard from many friends how wonderful Richards was . We did get to try it Saturday evening starting off was a little rough the Hostess at 5 pm was not the most pleasant but the waitress was very nice. We had bean soup which was delicious . The table made Cesar Salad was Ok nothing spectacular. We had Weinershnitzel which was good. We would come back but not in a hurry. read more

Step back in time, and step across the pond. German restaurants are not well represented anywhere in the northeast (well I suppose in NYC, everything is represented) - there were a couple in Boston for a while but they were expensive and missed the point - this kind of German food really defines "comfort food" with a Teutonic twist. Real Germans back there cooking real mainline German cuisine and getting it right. Nothing fancy, good portions, good prices. Before the beer craze of the last five years you might have said that this was also a destination for German beer, but that's kind of evened out now that Americans care about beer. I will note a couple of things that are a bit too authentic (I've been in Germany a lot) - the woman at the cash register near the door - a real throwback to Europe but even over there I'm not sure what the point was - you don't pay her, the waitstaff does it on your behalf. She doesn't seat anyone or provide any service that couldn't be handled in a back room, but I suppose that makes it all the more authentic (I always wondered if one of her jobs was to make sure no one bailed on the check :-). And the tables are very close together and it's loud - not so much like German places in the country, but certainly reminiscent of those in cities where real estate is at a premium and places are always crowded. But don't complain, a "cheap" round trip ticket from Boston to Frankfurt is about $1100 as I write this. read more

We have been wanting to try Richard's and finally decided today was the day. We had not been here before so I went safe with the bratwurst and it was delicious. We had dinner and dessert with alcohol for a very reasonable price. We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and you could easily converse without strain. Our server was very friendly but could have checked in a little more often which is why I only gave four stars. We will definitely go back again. read more

I found Richard's soon after arriving at Bowdoin and have been going back ever since. Everything is house-made, and they have a terrific selection of Bier straight from Deutschland. Get the Schlachtplatte or the German farmer's soup, or stop by during Oktoberfest for one of their seasonal specials...you'll thank yourself later. On top of all that, Richard, the owner, is an awesome guy. OM NOM NOM. read more

I've been going to Richard's since I was in middle school learning German. It's a unique gem to have here in Maine. Family style food that's going to bring you a taste of Germany at a good price. read more

This was one of my favorite meals in Brunswick. I ordered the special, pork schnitzel in a Gorgonzola sauce with a twice-baked potato and veggies (very fresh zucchini and carrots). I just loved every part of the meal and wished I had enough room in my tummy to eat it all! (It made great leftovers, of course.) read more

One of my all time favorite restaurants. The food is always prepared with love and care. The flavors are authentic. The schnitzel and spaetzle are out of this world. Try the Don Ricardo for dessert! read more

If you like German food, then Richard's is the place for you. The food and service were great and I'm glad we'd called ahead for a reservation. BTW, the deserts are incredible too. Highly recommended! read more

I'm new to Brunswick. While exploring downtown, my girlfriend and I went in to Richard's. Turned out to be a fine decision. Firstly, I am a huge devotee of German beers. They had perhaps six taps, but people these days forget that six well-curated taps trump 100 unthoughtful ones on every occasion. We sat at a bar of maybe four or five stools, and the bartender was extremely friendly and informative. We ordered a sampler flight of most of the beers on tap, and all were fresh and in great condition; not all American places can boast imported beer that tastes so fresh. The Bitburger Pils was delightful. After the sampler flight, we ordered full beers, and all were served in the proper, traditional glassware. We were also advised that maßkrugs were available! If it hadn't been 2 in the afternoon, we would've indulged! We felt a bit bad--as vegetarians, one look at the meat-heavy menu let us know that we probably weren't going to order food. We searched in vain for a traditional pretzel on the menu but didn't find one. The bartender overheard us, and without asking, told us she would get a couple pretzels in the oven immediately. She didn't charge us for them. The pretzel was perfectly cooked, and the mustard with it was perfect. They were also very gracious when they had to clear the dinner setting they had put down' for us when we guiltily told them we wouldn't be ordering a meal. About halfway into our sit at the bar, we realized that things had died down except for one table in the back, where the owner appeared to be socializing. We asked if they were still open, and were told that they close down between lunch and dinner. We felt very bad and offered to leave, but they told us to stay and poured us another beer! All in all, everybody was friendly, real, and welcoming. The beer selection was to die for, and though we only each had a pretzel, we left feeling like it was our new favorite place. An honest, old-fashioned restaurant where you feel good spending your money. read more

I love going here for two reasons. 1. They do it up right, the place looks German and they have the right beers and the right music etc. 2. I lived in Germany for 4 years and I loved the food. This is nostalgic for me and therefore I am surely jaded. However being that there is a dearth of German restaurants in the Northeast, this is place you should try because I bet you won't find it anywhere else. The schnitzels, the Spaetzle, the sauerkraut will all leave you completely blissed out. If you have a couple of dunkels you will get a little tipsy and the rest is murky!! read more

I'll save skimmers some reading. The food is uneven in quality, the portions are meager, the food is overpriced, and the service was just average. This restaurant is overrated. We came on a quiet Wednesday evening around 6:30. There were a couple of other parties, but the place was quiet. The waitress commented that there had been a 'rush' earlier, which I note as a possible cause for the food issue I had later. The good: We had the 'Schellfisch Mulliner Art'. My German is poor, so I'm not sure to what that overwrought appellation for lemony pan fried fish gloriously translates, but it was absolutely delicious, and plentiful, the latter not the norm. The salad bar was freshly stocked, although they should have put some of the nice cherry tomatoes in the appetizer I was served, instead of the awful unripened defrosted slices that comprised the bulk of my bratwurst appetizer. The Gewürztraminer we enjoyed was very nice, although ungenerously poured. Again with the meager. The 'rotkohl' was wonderfully delicious. Not a lot of it, but it was an oasis of goodness in a desert of mediocrity. The dribbling of spaetzel was just 'meh'tzel. The not so good: the bratwurst app consisted of one small sausage, which was very well cooked, but lonely and laughably accompanied by the traditional sausage companions, sad store-bought defrosted tomatoes and a giant 1/4 of a pickle? Seriously, that's not an authentic German food pairing, it's a lazy cook throwing random items on a plate and trying to pass them off as 'authentic'. Authentic is not weird. Weird and random is just that. The 'rheinlische sauerbraten' was the most seriously flawed dish. I don't know how the folks along the Rhine like their sauerbraten. If they like it dry, sauced with a ridiculously over sweetened gravy mess, and NOT SOUR, then my apologies to these fine folks. My guess is they like it like everyone else, German and non-German, juicy, tart and sour, and accompanied by a gravy that complements the dish, rather than swamping it in a sickly sweet shroud. Also, maybe more than two meager pieces, although in this instance, piling more bad sauerbraten on top of bad sauerbraten would have been pointless. Here is what I suspect was the problem: the earlier dinner rush cleared out whatever supply of properly marinated meat was available (sauerbraten is typically marinated 2-3 DAYS, not the much shorter period this meat was obviously prepped). The chef threw some meat in a marinade and cooked it up, hoping no one would notice or care, then hid the crime with a ridiculous sauce. Blech. Service: Efficient, but a little sloppy. I almost had a mini-stroke when my bill arrived and my one tiny piece of bratwurst had jumped to $10.00. It was promptly and apologetically fixed, but what was odd was that I overheard one of the only other parties in the place also complain about incorrect prices for items. Check your bill for accuracy. Thankfully, there's a wunderbarische German restaurant right near me in Canandaigua New York. I now appreciate it much more and plan to go to it when I return. You know, my bad for looking for sauerbraten in the wilds of Maine. Maybe if they made it with lobster. Don't laugh, in this place, with its pickle/tomato/bratwurst combo, anything is possible. read more

Comfort food. We got the fish chowder, which should be marked as potato chowder. The special of the night was baked stuffed haddock which was very good. Lots of fried food. French fries were basic, the onion rings were better. read more

Delicious German meals at bargain prices. Love the wiener schnitzel. The bread and pretzel appetizers were also very tasty. Will definitely be going back again soon. read more

Authentic delicious German food! Full menu, great atmosphere & wonderful drink selection!!!

Incredible tasting food! Every piece was amazing. Extremely tender pork tenderloin. The red cabbage was very good as well. Very nice, cute interior. read more

Definitely worth the visit if you're in the area and looking for authentic German food. The mustard, served with the roll/pretzel is fantastic. We loved all the meals we ordered. read more

amazing german food - love the wednesday special (chicken kiev). Chris makes a mean martini. service is good no matter where you sit - busy or not. I try to go when i'm flying in from portland. read more

The classic Cesar Salad was made at the table all fresh ingredients. The fresh bread and soft pretzel were really good as well.

I have been to Richards on different occasions..the food and service is wonderful! I love the eccentricity of the place, it is warm and inviting! Will certainly keep going back! read more

This was our first visit to Richards. Even though we did not have reservations on a Friday night, they managed to seat us right away. It was very busy and the service was still exceptional. We started out with rolls and a pretzel. The mustard sauce for the pretzel was delicious! Our dinners were both wonderful. Everything was very fresh, flavorful and well presented. Another reviewer commented about the beer and how there is no better beer than German beer. After tonight, I am inclined to agree! We tried the beer sampler and my favorite was the Pilsner. Very smooth and mild. We will be returning again and will recommend Richards to everyone we know as well. read more

Every time my wife and I go up to Brunswick Me. we make sure to stop in and enjoy a meal . You couldn't ask for a better place to go to for german fare . read more

First time for my husband and I and certainly won't be our last!! Excellent service and even more excellent food!! Also have a gluten free dish that is to die for! Thank you so very much for an enjoyable evening! read more

Authentic German food. German portions too. Very friendly servers and a comfortable atmosphere. The brats are fantastic as is the schnitzel. The spatzel was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Apple dumplings for dessert were better than my grandmothers! Prices were very reasonable. Worth a visit and repeat visits! read more

Went in for dinner around 5:30 pm, service was horrible, hardly had anyone in the place. We had the portland dine around and went in for dinner. The owner refused to give us the discount, then had the nerve to put a 20% tip on our dinner for two. When she hardly earned 15%. Now I remember why I have not been to this restaurant in 20 years. Save your money and go downstairs to Pedro O'Hara's. Food was not the impressive for over $22 for a steak. read more

My girlfriend and I had a lovely evening at Richard's Restaurant recently. The breads and the pretzels (and the mustard for the pretzels!) were so good that we had to stop ourselves from having too much before the main courses arrived. We ordered the Käse Spätzle and the sampler plate, and we enjoyed both. We also appreciated the cozy atmosphere, and our waiter was polite, friendly, and attentive. We look forward to visiting again. read more

In Brunswick for Business, Staying at the Parkwood. Had spent 2 years in Germany in the Military. This was like a time warp sending me back 20+ years! The Schnitzel was awesome. I was brought a pretzel and fried dumpling to start followed by my Okttober fest Bier and schnitzel, spaetzle and sweet red cabbage. This is the BEST German food I've had since my time in Germany. The atmosphere is old world in a pleasing way. My server was wonderful keeping my water full and checking up on my plate. As Arnold would say "I'll be back". I just wish this was closer to my home:-) read more

I'll go with four stars, with the desire to give more. The food was all delicious, don't get me wrong, but there are some issues. First, I will add a disclaimer: Ingredient quality varies. That is, food tastes different here and there because of differences in ingredients. The jagerschnitzle was delicious, but the sauce had a slight bite to it that shouldn't have been there. The mustard was amazing, but the pretzel was lacking. Every self respecting German food fan knows a good pretzel, I'm pretty sure this was a frozen when from a grocery store. The Bratwurst I had though, was the best Bratwurst I had since I ate one at Carnival this winter in Koln. The sauerkraut and red cabbage was also delicious, and had a more German than American taste to it, so I did really enjoy that. Overall, I would go back, I just don't think people going there should expect it to taste like something you'd eat in Germany. read more

So long as the owners of Richard's Restaurant in Brunswick Maine are the proprietors, this dual menu German restaurant with traditional American cuisine will likely remain one of my husband's and my favorites. We enjoy the comfort of eating in what was once the paneled lobby of an old Brunswick hotel, now restaurant. There's a full service bar located in a cozy lounge behind the restaurant seating, creating two distinct places where families can dine or a couple can simply sit, enjoy a few drinks and appetizers. My favorite value added at Richard's is the bread basket which always includes amazing hot pretzels with delectable mustard dip. Portions are likewise nicely sized as the diner can order small or medium menu selections. We enjoy the German wine and beer at Richard's; but most of all, we enjoy the nice milieu and consistent quality of the food preparation. My favorite menu item is the German food sampler, although it's always difficult to pass on the seafood offer of the day, especially if it's Haddock. Richard's is a good Maine Street Restaurant, a little retro in ambiance because very little has been done to modernize the interior, but the homemade entree selections are worth the trip; the pricing is modest for the quality. read more

When we combine excellence with value, we go to 5 stars. We are full time RVers, travel coast to coast and border to border; Richard's is one of our favorite restaurants. Ambience: German background music is appropriate and delightful and not too loud, walls decorated with beer stein collection. Food and service excellent. We began with a dark & delicious tap beer, STATEN OPTIMATOR, which comes in a large half liter stein. Bauernwurst with yummy hot potato salad and red cabbage--wonderful. Paparikaschnitzel similarly outstanding. Value: dinner menu prices in range of $12 to $15 on the wurst menu, $14 to $18 on the schnitzel munu, and we took enough home to have lunch the next day. The most expensive item on the dinner menu is a filet mignon at $24. Open for lunch and dinner. We come here every time we are in the area. read more

It is always amazing when you are traveling and are not sure where to eat. I had no intention on eating German Food the night I dined here. I had traveled all day from Lehigh Valley, PA with my brother while on vacation and Brunswick, ME has always been a great stopping point. We arrived into town on a Monday night about 8:00 PM and were not sure where to eat. I had my heat set on Italian food and just stopped by the front door of Richard's to look at the menu. Most of the meals are listed in German with an English translation. My brother is a big fan of the Reuben sandwich they had on the menu. We enjoyed a couple mugs of the Pilzen Oktoberfest beer on tap. My brother had the Reuben sandwich and I enjoyed a veal dish in a traditional German Sauce with spatzle and red cabbage. This turned out to be the best dinner we experienced on vacation! The service was attentive, friendly and prompt and the quality of the food was simply outstanding! You will not leave this place hungry. All this on a Monday evening in wonderful small town Maine! I might expect to see this level of food and service on a Monday night in Manhattan. I was simply blown away! I have to admit sometimes I plan vacations based on where to find good food places, this place is on the list. I will definitely return here with friends. Thanks Richard's for making our Maine vacation most enjoyable! read more