I've been to "THE" German places in Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and other cities with a German history and population and The Student Prince is as good if not better than any of them. It's been in the same location for 75 years and has been owned by the same family the entire time so don't expect a new and creative menu or decor. This is your classic, dark wood, steins and antlers on the wall kind of place. The menu is classic old world German with all of the standards. The Veal Medallions with Blue Cheese and Mushroom caps in a brown gravy is great as are the Tornado's Neptune when they have them on special. The house salad with homemade french dressing prepared table side is a staple and must try as is the Fried Cheese with Beaver Mustard on the side. Don't forget to ask for a twist of fresh ground black pepper on your salad. Home made spatzle, red cabbage and some great potato and vegetable sides can customize your entree to your liking. Their meats, poultry and seafood are all top shelf, their shanks are fall off the bone and they have a great bar with a varied beer selection. The "house" beer is a Spatan 1/2 and 1/2 which pairs perfectly with German food. I have not found a dessert that I love there but that's OK. The have a dessert ice cream and liquor drink called a Chavinez that comes in both chocolate and vanilla so if you still have room after a very hearty meal you should try one of these. At Christmas, the place goes all out for the holidays and they put a huge Christmas tree in the main dining room and hire a small chorus to sing Christmas Carols in all of their dining areas. If your lucky enough to get seated in the main dining room, they dime the lights every 45 minutes, the tree illuminates and everyone sings a few versus of Silent Night. A must try for anyone coming into town or if your a local and have not turned onto this place yet. read more

My friends and I have been going to the Student Prince for our annual Christmas dinner for the last 10 years and the food was always great. This year we went December 12 and we always enjoy the Christmas Carolers. Our reservation was at 6pm and we arrived at 5:30 to enjoy a drink at the bar. Our party was for 5 people and we were seated at 6:15 by our choice because the restaurant was not overly crowded. Once seated we ordered our usual apps and enjoyed them as always. Our waitress has waited on us before and she is tall and has black short hair and reminds me of Olive Oil on Popeye. Another server brought our food and our waitress checked back with us periodically and refilled our drinks. The food was discussed at the table and we all felt it was very bland and subpar. We got the bill and split it 5 ways for a total of $75 per person. I paid the bill with my credit card and took everyone's cash. Due to it being Christmas I decided to tip the waitress in $75 CASH. I checked my credit card statement a few days later and to my SURPRISE she tipped herself another $72.00. I was shocked. I immediately called my credit card company and checked my receipt and they opened an investigation. I then called 3 times and left my name and phone number for the two managers (Bill Porter & John (UNLN) to call me. Go figure no return phone call. I have just been notified by my credit card company that the issue has been resolved and I will be getting a credit of $72.00. I still can not believe that this happened to me because she has worked there for a number of years. Totally DISGUSTED and will never go back. read more

Great old Springfield political haunt that has been updated. Fun people, great chance to socialize with lifetime Springfielders. Drinks are reasonable, the food isn't bad. Great place to go after work. read more

I Was in the Springfield area and have been craving some real German food having spent 6 years in Germany. I started with a Franziskaner Weissbier which was good. We ordered the Potato Pancakes for an Appetizer which was also good. I ordered the Bratwurst with Spätzle. I love Bratwurst but this was terrible. The worst I have ever had. The Spätzle was flavorless. We also ordered the Hungarian Goulash and Pork chops which were OK but not great. For desert we ordered the chocolate cake with Orange filling which was excellent. Definitely the best part of the meal. read more

I love this place. Try going near Christmas. Nobody does Christmas like the Germans. I hope the new owners don't change a thing. When we have guests over, we always head over to the prince. read more

Welcome back Old Friend, we had the pleasure of getting reacquainted tonight. While the restaurant was always a favorite, the changes are welcome and wonderful. A few of the old timers might balk at a few of the changes, but the good out weighs the different. Look forward to seeing you again in a few weeks for a magical night of Christmas cheer and caroling. read more

The only thing more special than a meal at The Fort, is a meal at The Fort around the holidays! We come from the Cape for dinner whenever we can. There is no place like it. The food, the service and the atmosphere are all amazing! Each time I mention that I have been for dinner on FB, I get multiple comments on how "jealous" my friends who live too far to get there are! The last time we went, we brought my 6 year old daughter. We were serenaded by a man with an accordion and will never forget it! Now she refers to The Fort as "That place with the accordion man" and lights up at the thought of returning!- So do we! read more

I strongly advise against a visit. This was the worst German food I've ever had. In all fairness, the Eisbein was decent, as were the homefried potatoes. The sauerkraut was mediocre at best, way too sweet for my taste. My wife had the German sampler, which was outright terrible. The pork loin had the consistency of leather, the bratwurst was a disgrace. I think it was cooked in the microwave, I almost threw up right on the table when I tried a bite. The only edible thing on her plate was the goulash, but even that was dry. read more

I have been to the Fort twice, before it closed for renovations back in July. I really like this place; it has a lot of charm of an old-style restaurant (especially its Stine collection, which is predominantly displayed in the main room).,..and the food was excellent both times. I look forward to going back very soon. read more

They ruined a good Rock 102 event tonite..Literally pushed us out the door..Took food away from us , I witnessed them tell Bax as he was trying to get food at 6 PM that they were closing the Rock 102 event down. Rock 102 had to end early..{ they NEVER had to do this before }.The event is ALWAYS 5-7PM and the Fort knows that..Very rarely do I have a Friday nite off , I like to attend The Work Release when I can. I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM THE $5.00.. My blood sugar was low,very hungry,no where to sit to order something to eat..Apparently The Fort booked another group to take over , so we had to leave..All I saw tonite was the evil eye of GREED..I USED to like Andrew Yee..But NO MORE...I will NEVER go to the Fort again !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Came with another couple.....about 7:45 on a Saturday. Very crowded but got seated quickly. Our table was too close to a very talented singer...music was excellent, but hard for us to converse. Service was dreadfully slow....we weren't in a hurry so it was fine....but it could have been very irritating. Food was terrific ....portions were a bit small. read more

Not what it used to be. German menu has been greatly reduced. A lot of the Student Prince "classics" are no longer offered. Food quality is also reduced. Recipes are missing from the website. The "Chefs salt" is no longer available for sale. read more

The service here is really, really good. The food is also pretty good, I may just not be a huge fan of German food. My hubby and his mother LOVE this place, though. The portions are certainly huge and well worth the price. This is a well-loved restaurant in Springfield. read more

We stoped in on our way back from Boston because we didn't want thru way food. Our server Debbie was amazing, the food was excellent, prices were extremely fair in comparison to the quality of the food. 83 year old restaurant is obviously doing something right. Pretzel, wurstplatte and Reuben were great, and their house Roquefort dressing was on point read more

Excellent restaurant. Wine selection was great and food delicious. The servers are very personable and make your evening special. Mike was very helpful and made our evening fun! read more

Best german food I've ever had. I had the sampler and one of their pilsners, both were delicious, as were the apps that we got- the pretzel and the potato pancakes. Will definitely come by here next time I'm in springfield. read more

My mom's favorite place. She recommended the fried cheese, which was good. We also ordered a giant pretzel, which was warm and salty. There was a variety of sauces. The recent renovations look really nice and we had a friendly server. Good meatloaf, too! read more

Very excited about the reopening. My favorites are still available and am looking forward to the menu changes as well.

The large pretzel was a hit with the kids. I would highly recommend the brussel sprouts and soups. I really like the red cabbage and cucumber side dishes. Mash potatoes are good too. Their German chocolate and carrot cake were just OK. But overall a good restaurant to take family members and friends from out of town. read more

Welcome back Rudy and the Student Prince! First visit since the re-open last Friday night w/ my bride and we absolutely love the new look. Hands down - the best bar scene in Western Mass! Look forward to many nights w/ friends in your establishment. Great drinks, great food, fun crowd and excellent bar/wait staff. Let's hope the casino doesn't create problems for the business. Maybe a year or two of casino diversion but back up to speed when people realize the wonder of this classic Springfield gem. read more

Very impressed. Best corned beef ruben in Western Mass. My new favorite restaurant in Springfield.

I've been coming here for 20 years! It's one of the best places around! Love the atmosphere and the food!

Was in town visiting, had scoped out local establishments beforehand and this one looked promising. Loved the decor, nicely done and well kept up-- saw it's been remodeled, and it seemed like a facelift that retained the spirit of the original. The service was terrific-- very attentive and fast, efficient and friendly. Refilled my glass often and asked if I needed anything else. Burger and Peach Melba were good, bartender made a solid gin and tonic, just how I liked it. My one meh is that when I walked in it felt like the whole place turned around-- all middle-aged white men. I asked if women were allowed.. laugh. Overall, a great experience and would definitely go back next time I'm in town. read more

My husband and I ate here twice two months ago. Both times the food and service were great! I took my daughter there tonight to impress her and was disappointed, mostly in the server. We ordered the beef kabob special. I asked for no additional spices beyond the teriyaki marinade and when served, it had been slathered with BBQ sauce. The chef re-prepared it for me. The beef was a bit tough but the rest of the meal was good. I especially like the fresh cucumber salad. We had arrived before the place got busy and we're the only guests in the dining room. I was disappointed that the server never checked or refilled our water glasses and when he brought me the check to sign, he included with the bill, a comment card- already filled out, with all perfect ratings! I guess he did not understand that it was not meant to be a self-evaluation! read more

Had my first meal under the new ownership. Drinks were good, complimentary bread and butter okay. DO NOT ORDER the French Fries appetizer for $12.00. Tasted like the coated fries you can get anywhere, but sticky. Nothing at all like the real delicious Belgian French Fries I was so hoping for. I had lobster tails, pan-fried potatoes, and the cucumber salad. All were pretty good, but way overpriced. Lobster stuffing was questionable. read more

Service was horrible. Got a reservation for December at 6:00 in August and got there at 5:50 to wait until 7:10 to get a table. Food took forever and didn't have much worth. I don't recommend if you have a big family. Also very noisy, very crowded and overwhelming. read more

We were excited to find a German restaurant it had been recommeded. I walk and it took about 10 minutes before anyone spoke to me. My husband had to track down the hostess. They had a nice collection of beer steins I think that is th nicest think I can say about my experience at the Student Prince. The food was AWFUL if you have had real German food!!! Since we had spent a number of years in Germany and my mother-in-law was German and an excellent cook. We left feeling very disappointed. If you are looking for a sports bar with fake German food this is a place your you! read more

The best German food I have ever had served happily and accompanied by the strongest beer I have ever had, but I'll get back to that... We started with the appetizers, Nuremburg Sausage with red cabbage which was a little sweet for me but that aside very good.Then the crispy bacon wrapped scallops tender and delicious which offered a blend of flavors that made you want to skip the entrees and just order 6 more plates of. The potato pancakes with applesauce, delightfully light and crispy and never having had them with applesauce b4 my tastebuds were just enlightened. For entrees the classic Wiener Schnitzel - Hot crispy, tender on the inside and a taste that I hope to get to experience again b4 and if they close. Also the K Wurst Platte, grilled bratwurst, knockwurst & smoked sausage trio combo. Wow a trio of some of the best German Wurst's which were out of this world. Ok so here's the backstory, I went here with some very blue collar, very hardworking and very HARDDRINKING Polish customer's of mine whom can drink like fish... Really BIG FISH...We all just drank beers of which I remember the spaten optimator only but I think we had tried everyone they had on tap until I unwittingly settled on the optimators. I admit I tried my best to keep up with my now no longer customers but now new Polish friends although I doubt it but as they never made fun of me maybe I did. Things got a little blurry from there and I had a hard time finding my car which I parked on the street somewhere near the Prince however I finally found it and then the Spaten Optimizers or was that Optimators started creeping up on me, really creeping up on me and I had to drive back to Auburn. I made it to Auburn actually promising myself I will never ever ever do this again. I woke up the next morning with a jackhammer splitting headache and the most serious case of trenchmouth ever and for the first time ever rescheduled my morning customer appointment for the next day then drank about a half gallon of OJ, thanked Jesus for accompanying me home the night b4 and drove to Agawam and never mentioned any of this to anyone until now. My point in confessing my sins here is that you should not underestimate the power of the Prince's German Beers as they will creep up on you like the Central Park Mugger. Have a designated driver or get a Taxi and then you could really enjoy this place. Hopefully I will return here again to do it right with a Sams Club size bottle of Aspirin in hand for the next morning ready to self medicate with. However whatever happens with the Student Prince perhaps closing soon, it is one of my Top Five favorite Restaurants and I love the place and WILL ALWAYS love the place with its excellent German food, oversized collection of beer steins, Spaten Optimator's and all! read more

Phenomenal in every sense of the word. This place is a piece of Springfield history and I can see why. The atmosphere alone makes you feel like you're in Germany between the stained glass and the steins lining the wall. They definitely did an amazing job with the recent renovations as it looks a lot more polished. As for the food; excellent! Consistent quality and flavor and this is coming from a guy who typically dislikes german cuisine. The beer selection is extensive too with every variation of german and even local craft beer. Try the half and half; it's like a german version of a black and tan. This along with the giant soft pretzel is worth the trip alone. I wish I worked closer to downtown just so I could make it more often but I don't know if my bank account could handle that. read more

The first time I went to the Student Prince was 20yrs ago and I've been going back ever since. However I went last night, Dec,12-15. And it's a shadow of its former self. The eggnog was awful the staff was nothing compared to the staff of yesteryear basically uninterested and If you are looking for Good German food and a eager staff look elsewhere. Save your money. read more

Stopped going after 2 visits after the new ownership. Food simply isn't that special anymore. They took away too many of their best dishes. Worst part is, you always leave saying "what the hell did we just pay $150 for"? Love the historic place, but way over-priced and not that special anymore. read more

We went here with my entire family! The food is delicious and the menu is awesome! We as a family of course ordered a ton of food! And for dessert we had a chocolate moose cake which was probably the best I ever had! I am totally coming back! read more

Had a wonderful meal yesterday. Clams Casino were properly prepared, entree was a beautiful schnitzle with white sauce and mushrooms. Corn O'Brien was fabulous with tasty fresh corn and the cucumber salad prepared with local cakes was just perfect. A very nice meal indeed. read more

We were out with my Mom and decided to celebrate my late Dad's birthday with lunch at his favorite restaurant. The Fort didn't disappoint! Wonderful service and wonderful food. Rebecca even got the kitchen to make Mom a small French onion soup not on the menu. The (new) Fort is an institution in Springfield for good reasons. Love this place! read more

If I had one last dinner granted to me, "the prince" is where I would go. It is decidedly old school....rich with ambience that I know is probably largely unchanged since the 1940s....have never had a bad meal...but it is a an entire experience..the food, the decor, the service....an absolute throwback. Very down to earth, not stuffy but elegant in it's own way. Order the fried camembert cheese, oyster sampler, smoked glazed pork chops with spaetzle...don't forget the home made roqefort salad dressing made at table side. Start with a martini, order a glass of german white wine or a "shell" of spaaten dark fresh from the tap...and finish with a glass of their special Chauvenette desert cocktail...then call a cab and go home. I love this place. read more

While traveling through Mass the concierge at our Hotel recommended a German Restaurant Called the Student Prince. Although it had a funny name for a German Restaurant, we decided to try it out. We love German food and have traveled their many times and this place did not disappoint! The sausages were lovely, the schnitzel and dumplings were very well prepared and my husband loved the beer selection. The music and ambiance were spot on and the service was good. read more

Awesome food-great location. Probably one of the best restaurants in Springfield I was traveling for business and was told to go there. Old-school charm will definitely visit there again the next time I'm in Springfield read more

I went here with my husband and father in-law and was very impressed. The food was just excellent and the atmosphere was very calm, cool and relaxing. Also, they have staff that greet you at the door outside in a way that makes you feel like a celebrity; red ropes and carpet..although it is still a laid back, casual place. It was very cool. Can't wait to go back again! read more

We were a group of 9 coworkers celebrating Christmas on a Thursday night (5PM). When we made the reservation several weeks ago we were told we could have the table for 2 hours. Oh, okay. Several of us spent time during the day looking over the menu and making our selections only to find out when we arrived that they were using a limited menu that night because they were so busy. Several of us were not happy with that at all. This information should have been relayed to the person making the reservation or at least it should be on the website! There was nothing on this limited menu that appealed to me so I asked our rather confused server if I could get the chicken schnitzel that is listed on the standard menu - she had to check with the kitchen and she returned sometime later with a yes. We ordered 2 servings of the fried Camembert cheese to share, which was good. When our meals started to come out I was rather surprised that our server was the ONLY one serving a table of 9. Four of us got our meals and everyone told us to start eating which I was uncomfortable doing. I was raised to wait until everyone was served, then eat. Good thing we started without them, it took awhile for the others to be served. However, one person in our party had no meal...her order was not put in. After everyone had their meals she flagged down the server to ask where hers was. A few minutes later the waitress came running back with a salad and said the order is being rushed. Our friend was upset and said to cancel her order she was not going to eat alone as most of us were well into our meal. The manager came to the table to apologize and tried to get her to eat her meal, she refused and I don't blame her. He took a bottle of wine off the bill (the wine she was sharing with another woman) but when the bill arrived they took the cheaper bottle of wine off, not the one she was drinking, when we brought that to their attention they took both bottles off the bill. I can only speak for my meal - the chicken schnitzel - very disappointing. Piles of thin, fried chicken breast that was totally flavorless, some home fries that we just ok and red cabbage that was pretty good. I had a friend sitting across from me taste it, to make sure it wasn't me and he totally agreed...tasteless. Which, by the way, I did tell the waitress when she asked how was everything. The portion of chicken was more than generous but the sides were rather small. I took more than half home and will try to flavor it up in a sandwich! There were Christmas carolers and that was nice but we felt rude opening our gifts and finishing up our allotted time while they were singing but time was running out! Several members of our group were dissatisfied with the service and meals. It was very crowded, noisy and seemed chaotic. Needless to say, we will not be returning to The Fort. read more

This use to be such a great restaurant. Some friends and I went for dinner the night they reopened and were extremely disappointed. The waitress took 20 minutes to take our drink order. 10 minutes later our drinks came only to find out they were not what we ordered. So at this point we were understanding after all mistakes happen. We ordered soup and appetizers. Our appetizers came but the soups never came. We asked again for our soup and were told "I'll have it right away". 10 minutes later our meals came. We asked again where our french onion soups were and we were told " let me see what I can do". We made a complaint and were told they would not charge us for the soup since we did not receive it. Our reaction was "are you joking, of course we are not paying for the soup." Dissatisfied with the managers response we spoke to the owner. He was very condescending and rude. We will never again dine in that establishment again. read more