First night in Maryland (mix business and visit family). Stopped by for dinner. About a 15 minute wait which was perfect to browse the menue and beer list. Spent a few years in Germany in the service and this place gave the guesthouse feel. Down in a basement, decorated as such, with tight seating and a fun atmosphere. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Made us feel at home. Ordered potato cakes as an appetizer (no photo, ate them too quickly). Dunked and a Fastentbeer beer were great. Jagarsnitzel and a burst. Both fantastic. Authentic fries and curry ketchup. Even the Spitzer brought back memories. Looks like outdoor seating is available when it gets warmer. Really enjoyed our experience! read more

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Enjoyed the party platter. The latkes were good and enjoyed all the sauces that came with the platter. The German beers were also really good. Very casual vibes which we enjoyed and was baby friendly. read more

I've dined here twice and both were delicious experiences. I first came in the summer and got a plate of schnitzel with a salad on top. My two sides were the German potato salad and the spätzle. All items were delicious. It's also a very generous portion. My second revisit was yesterday. I came for lunch with a friend. While it's not listed explicitly on the menu, you can request a half pour of any of the beers. I had a half pour of the Hefeweizen and the Debrezener (spicy pork sausage) on the pretzel bun and German slaw. I had tried to order the sauerkraut, but unfortunately they were out. The plus side is that I tried something I wouldn't have otherwise tried. The sausage was lightly spicy. The pretzel bun was the perfect vessel for the sausage. The slaw was slightly sweet and crisp. I was surprised at how perfectly it all came together, but I would order this again. Service is really helpful. The weekday vibe in the basement is not very busy. read more

The Rathskeller - Ceasor schnitzel special with späzel and German potato salad - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

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This restaurant is located in the cellar of the building, parking can be difficult during busy hours. The waiter was prompt and polite, he was knowledgeable about the menu and told us what is popular. The food was great with good seasoning with the sauces adding to the meal. The platter had a good selection of food so you aren't missing out on the popular stuff! The restaurant was small and intimate with touches of German aspects. read more

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Pita was cold and so were the chicken schnitzels. Don't think I've been served a cold pita and it definitely bummed me out. Good sauce and salad though. Definitely don't miss the salad. Ice cream sandwich had good texture. Choc cake is too rich for me. Closer to fudge than cake imo. Sat outside by the entrance so missed out on the noisy basement indoor dining. Seems like a popular busy spot so don't expect quick service not to the fault of the servers. Menu was a bit limited but I'm guessing people come here more for the drinks than their food. read more

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Bier Pressure The German word "Rathskeller" refers to a bar or tavern located in the basement of an old 1880s-era house. This is actually a very apt description for this establishment, as the main dining area is in the basement of shared commercial building. The Good: *This is definitely one of the more, shall we say, unique restaurants we've had the pleasure of visiting. I'm not sure what a German Beer Hall looks like in reality, but I'm guessing this place is a very reasonable facsimile. *Huge draft beer list of US and German craft brews. *$1 Jägermeister shots during Late Night Happy Hour (M-F 7 p.m. - closing) There's also a whole menu of specials, as well. *Free street parking as well as a free parking lot at the corner of Main & Railroad (very short walk to the restaurant) *Fantastic outdoor area *Service by (Super?!) Mario was amazing. We felt like we made a friend that night, as well with the table next to us that did Jäger shots with me. *Roasted broccoli side was fantastic. Cooked and seasoned to perfection. *I koved their Red Cabbage (aka Rotkohl), altho Carissa found it too sweet. *Blueberry Torte was delicious and I really enjoyed the texture, but my better half did not concur. She didn't like the flavor nary the texture. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The Meh: *They have their own parking lot but it was completely full when we arrived. *Interior is beautiful but VERY LOUD!!! *Kartoffelpuffer (German Potato Pancakes) were dry and stodgy *Sauerbraten (think German pot roast) had a great flavor and the gravy was delicious, however the beef was dry and overcooked. The Ugly: *Some kind of mechanic shop nearby, and the boiz hanging out front look sus af. I'm 95% sure they're harmless water heads, but lock your car jic. Conclusion: Great atmosphere, fantastic service and beer, but divisive food. 3.5* but I'll round up cuz Mario is da man! read more

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This was our 2nd time visiting the Rathskeller. The first time we visited, this restaurant was one of the first places we ate prior to moving to the state and area. So, imagine my surprise, when, a year and a half later, my husband made a reservation for us to celebrate Valentine's Day here. He made the reservation weeks in advance. I was impressed with his thoughtfulness and prior planning. He even kept it a secret until we arrived. We were very excited! When we arrived, we walked in (the establishment is small, in a basement, and cozy, but loud). We waited in line to give our names to let them know we were here (on time). The couple behind us cut ahead of us and before we realized, they were checking in first. The young host offered them the bar while they waited. He told them their table was on dessert and they'd sit in 10 min. The couple ahead of us had already checked in and were waiting on their table, which was also given 10 min. Once we realized that the host wasn't taking us in order of our arrival , we jumped in and gave our names. When we asked how long our wait was, we were told 10-ish minutes. We stood by the door next to a couple who was finishing their dinner and eating dessert. Every time the door opened, the cold air came in and I felt so bad for that couple with everyone hovering over their romantic evening as they ate, and the below freezing air making it uncomfortable for all of us. The host seated both couples, including the one who cut us, in two very cozy booths against the wall. Every table had a candle on it and was set for Valentine's Day. They even had a fireplace display on a screen on the wall. It was now 30 minutes later, and we eagerly followed the host to our seats. We were led to the back of the restaurant next to the bathroom. How ironic that this was the same table we sat at the first time we were here! But something was different. It was now isolated, dark, no table candle, the view of the bathrooms wasnt so romantic on Valentine's Day, and the paint on the wall all along the table was unappetizing to look at, as it was pretty damaged. The table was dirty and smeared with smudges all over it. We sat for a few minutes. No one came to our table with a menu or drink order. It really felt as though we were singled out. I've never felt this way in my life, but it just felt so disrespectful. Maybe my expectations were too high. But the isolation felt real. I completely understand last minute setting up a table for someone who is just walking in, but my husband made this reservation weeks in advance, and we had been waiting for our seat for quite a while. Two couples were seated ahead of us in an area with everyone else that was much more appropriate. We were kind of shoved off in a back corner in the dark near the bathrooms with a torn up wall and dirty tables. I can't imagine anyone putting their customers in a situation like that. It upset us so much, that we just got up and went to the host to ask for another seat. He shrugged his shoulders and told us we could sit at that seat right in front of the doorway with the cold air and everybody hovering over it. I told him we were going to go somewhere else and thank you. We ended up calling several places to see if we could get a very last minute reservation for 9:00 p.m. As expected, most places were already booked, but we ended up finding a very classy Italian restaurant who graciously made room for us. They sat us as soon as we came, despite the couple behind us having an earlier reservation (they were late for theirs and we were on time). There was much more room between the seats, and we felt very respected when we walked in. The host and the waiter took pride in their work and the evening was much more romantic. I'm so incredibly disappointed by the Rathskeller. We were not only treated disrespectfully, but we were treated as though we were the help. I can't even imagine treating my help poorly like this. The host and the management should be embarrassed to seat anyone where they did, and not to honor reservation times, especially when people are on time. Always seat people in order of reservation. In the past, we have spoke highly of this restaurant to others, but from now on, will not. I wouldn't want anyone I care about to be treated this way, as well. I am posting pictures to show our experience. read more

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It's a basement bar in the suburbs with pretty decent German food! Was pleasantly surprised by the chicken schnitzel and I'm not big into the cuisine but it was good for my first visit. read more

AMBIANCE & SERVICE: Came here for happy hour on a Wednesday evening and I definitely plan to return. They have a late night happy hour Monday to Friday from 7 PM to close on both food and drinks. We sat outside in their biergarten patio, which was dog-friendly. I think because we sat outside the service was a bit slower, but it did not take away from the good food and drinks. DRINKS: An Aperol Spritz was only $10 for happy hour and I appreciate that they added a dehydrated slice of orange. We also got the Sly Fox Coastal Quest IPA, which was definitely hoppy with the addition of crispy citrus notes. A can does cost $9 though. FOOD: Kroketten ($8): a limited special - 2 German croquette which was crispy and packed with flavor from the spinach, mushroom, and parmesan. Baltimore Schnitzel ($17): you can choose which type of schnitzel you want between pork, chicken, and eggplant. It comes with crab dip topping and crispy, well-seasoned to perfection, old bay fries - highly recommend this dish! Crab Pretzel ($23): at first it may seem a little pricey, but they are pretty generous with the crab meat. read more

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This is the best German food in the Howard county area. I personally LOVE the schnitzel, cheese spatzel, pretzel, and potato salad. It is the perfect place to go with a group and order a few of the party platters. They have an extensive beer menu and true German delicious fun. Their patio gives it a real German beer garden feel. The place is small, but they somehow seat a lot for what the restaurant is. The service is always accommodating and home feeling. Feels like a friend is taking care of you. The only downfall I find is that it always feels pricy. The large sides at $12 and getting an individual meal, you're probably in for $30 a person. read more

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We ate outside and were pleasantly surprised with how nice it was. They had picnic tables and regular tables. The server was on top of everything we asked and was super friendly. He was also very good with my children. Now onto the food. Get the combo platter and eat everything you can. If you like sausage, schnitzel, curry fries, and everything else German.......including the ice cream cookie sandwich, then this place is for you. Every bite we took made us want to come back another time. read more

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German restaurants are always hit or miss. The food was not bad, but not great. We were seated immediately and service was great. The atmosphere is probably a step above casual, nice and cozy but I didn't feel like we were in a German restaurant. Snitzel was good, little tough, red cabbage a little too sweet for me, but it was yummy. read more

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Got here before the rush, and sat at the bar... took a recommendation and chose the JagerSchnitzel... crispy, tasty, potatoes were great but the broccoli was the star! For desert I went with the Strudel... not overly sweet, but a great texture! If you've read any of my reviews you know I'm in it for the brews, and this joint has a Great German beer selection! Tried 2 new ones and liked them both. Ambiance is garden apartment, service was friendly and helpful at the bar, and prices were slightly above expectation but everything was good. I'm not out this way often, so I can't commit to an encore, but I recommend this joint! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in the area! Affordable, GENEROUS portion sizes, and overall good food. I find their pretzels to be a bit underwhelming, but the schnitzels never miss. Even my picky vegetarian friend enjoyed it. Pretty good burgers too! Great, welcoming ambiance and friendly staff. I recommend visiting during slower hours, as parking is a nightmare; It's street parking on a narrow, short street, which can become very packed when there is a larger crowd. read more

Food was so great. Had the pretzel and it was soft and tasted so fresh not the reheated frozen one. I had the Reuben and it was grilled but not greasy. French fries were delicious. We didn't have beer even though there were enough to choose from. We ate outside and people brought their dogs who were very well behaved and due to mobility issues I was concerned about the steps but they have an outdoor elevator so wouldn't have been an issue but it was a lovely day and we sat at the picnic tables outside. Service was very attentive and we never had to look for assistance. Definitely will be returning. read more

The service and food are good. The indoor seating is a bit loud if the place is crowded. They have a good selection of beer with all of the traditional German brews. Knocked a point off as my second beer was warm-ish as I think the keg was new. Needles should be stored in the walk-in. read more

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Delicious food! I ordered through uber eats which I do not recommend because I was staying in a hotel and did not receive any utensils or have any access to a microwave and the food was room temp. However, the taste of the food was divine and I could tell that had I been in the establishment it would've tasted much better. The spicy sausage was great dipped in the mustard, the fries were cooked to perfection, and the pork schnitzel with mushroom gravy exceeded my expectations. read more

The Rathskeller - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

We had a Wurst platter that included 5 Wurst and 2 large sides. For sides the red delicious cabbage and German potato salad. We ate wurst until we couldn't eat anymore. All 5 Wurst were delish! It's worth driving out of your way. We were in the area to catch a BWI flight but I'm willing now to make this my final destination. A bonus is the excellent service and no rush attitude. We ate inside, kind of a chilly day. There is also a 6 chair bar dining area. read more

The Rathskeller - 6 Chair bar & dining area. - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

Overall: unique spot for German food and drinks, fun menu that includes high end cocktails and mocktails, late night happy hour, indoor/outdoor seating, single stall restrooms (no changing table), delicious food, but pretty high prices and okay service As I stated in my previous review, we love the food here. We love that they have seasonal offerings (shout out to the autumn bon fire cookie sandwich) and are inclusive with mocktails on the menu. We love their outdoor seating that feels very kid friendly. It's not a cheap night out. I sometimes think the prices are worth it, but last time we went it was hard to get service. The table next to us got 3 rounds of drinks before we were served our only round of drinks and we found it hard to get the servers attention to order dessert and get the check. read more

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summary: tucked away in kind of a residential area within Elkridge, Rathskeller delivers a solid menu of German food options and a fun ambiance to boot. Rathskeller is kind of hidden from sight at first glance, but the more you look, the more there seems to be. The main indoor dining area is located in a downstairs area within the main building where they do their events (looks like they host events like Trivia, stand up comedy, etc). They do have outdoor seating as well with both an outdoor patio and a deck situation. They have a mini-elevator for accessibility to both downstairs/upstairs. The service was kind throughout, but I do think you're more likely to get more attention if you were seated in the main dining area. The deck/patio tends to kind of be tucked away and it might become an "out of sight, out of mind" things at times. The food was the main star for me. Rathskeller specializes in schnitzels and wursts and their menu is designed so you can do a bit of an a-la-carte thing especially with their platters. Their sides are also very solid from what we ate and their specials are not to be ignored. We had the autumn bonfire smore Ice Cream sandwich and it was so good and perfect for the Fall season. I almost forgot to mention their drink selection is also fantastic. All in all, Rathskeller is a local spot in Elkridge that is doing a lot of things right. From ambiance, to drinks, and a great food menu to boot, Rathskeller is a must-try for anyone in the area. read more

The Rathskeller - autumn bonfire smore ice cream sandwich - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

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Second visit to the Rathskeller. First time was for lunch, this time for dinner on a Friday night and they were crazy busy. Wait time for a table was 30 minutes and every table was taken and it was crazy loud. I definitely recommend the Rathskeller to anyone that enjoys German food. It's not the best I've had, but it's definitely flavorful, good quality, etc. However I do not recommend going for dinner on a busy night. They clearly were struggling to keep up with the number of customers. Food was good but not hot as if it had been sitting before brought out. They were out of Jagerschnitzel, which was what we came for. But the service is friendly and professional. Recommend going at lunch. read more

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6.28.24 Trivia Fact: Rathskeller is a tavern below street level featuring beer; originally a German restaurant in the basement of city hall. My German sister-in-law's family came into town so we decided to stop in to have dinner. We shared our food and loved everything especially the schnitzel and wurst. However we thought the braised beef was dry. They also ordered some alcoholic beverages. My SIL liked the Schofferhofer grapefruit beer. Service is friendly, but on slower side. They have an outdoor patio and my hubby said today was the perfect weather due to a nice summer breeze for drinking outdoors. read more

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Service was ridiculously slow. We were there an hour and never got our food. I'd rate the quality of the food but we never got it. And now I see the management has posted a reply saying we cancelled the order at 30 minutes. Wow. Just wow. read more

I was invited to this restaurant for a St. Patty day get together with a small friend group. The restaurant is located in the basement with outside steps to enter. There is a small parking lot however, it was full so I was able to park across the street. I ordered the crab pretzel which was huge and delicious. I was able to share it with the table. The late Happy hour was perfect to order the golden pear. This place is a hidden gem if you enjoy German dishes. The server Anna was very attentive and I will likely return if in the area. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants! I usually don't gravitate to German restaurants but Rathskeller has really opened my eyes (and I still have not found a German restaurant that is better). The environment is fun! I feel like whenever I show up, everyone is having a great time and enjoying the food, drinks, and their company. The staff??? The staff is awesome. The first time we went, they made our visit so fun and relaxed. And they've consistently been awesome and friendly every time I've been. The food??? 10/10. I love it all. Everything that should be crispy is so crispy. The flavors are always at their peak and exceed expectations. I usually try to split a platter and get spatzle, sauerkraut, and potato cakes because it's a little bit of everything. However, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

Even though i claim German ancestry and lived in W. Germany for 3 years and speak the language (poorly), i was never a fan of the food. However, i am in the area for business and there really aren't any German restaurants near where I live. I decided to give this place a try. I was excited to order a nice German draft beer... sadly, at the time of my visit, only one draft was German... the rest were German style... i ordered the jagerschniztel mit brocolli and potato cakes. It was all very well prepared and as I remembered. I am absolutely sure it was top quality, but it isn't really something that floats my boat. The service was great. The parking was not an issue, and the price seemed appropriate given the current economy. Trinkt aus trinkt aus trinkt aus! read more

I came here with some friends to celebrate St Patty's Day. I was happy to see it was actually in the basement like the name means in German. We tried an array of dishes and everyone really liked their food with not really many complaints. When my food came out, my wurst was not hot in the middle. Our waitress Anna, who was very accommodating quickly took it back and they remade everything. The red cabbage was interesting. I didn't want it and asked for a substitution but was informed you can't substitute with the happy hour specials. I ordered the potato pancakes so I could try them anyway. They were hot and I was surprised because they weren't made with mashed potatoes like I'm accustomed to but instead with shredded potatoes so it was different but I enjoyed them. My weisswurst was really good. So much so I was tempted to order another. They have a lot of different menu options and I felt like I was missing out. I didn't get to try any schnitzel so I would definitely come back with a group just so bad I could try a lot of different options. Oh yeah, and they have a late night happy hour! How awesome is that? read more

The Rathskeller - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

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Went here on a weeknight whim to meet some friends driving by the I-95 corridor! In the middle of a residential/industrial area but plenty of parking. Great service and I felt I was in Germany! Beers with matching beer glasses and legit German food! Friendly servers- made you feel like an old friend visiting. Basement/pub decor pretty basic read more

The Rathskeller - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

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This establishment was a pretty cool spot to meet up w some YELP friends. Awesome location, free parking, and great table assistance by Anna. Collectively, we ordered the following. Pork Schnitzel Roasted Broccoli Crab Pretzel Potato Cakes Debreziner Vienna Fizz Oh Hot Dang! (Shot) Golden Pear Everything came out plated well, hot, and ready to devour. They had good happy hour specials during our visit as well. Food and beverage. This was my first visit to a German establishment, and I would certainly revisit again. read more

The Rathskeller - 3'15'2024 Dinner w YES Gurls. - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

Great German food in a totally unexpected place. Service was on point and it is an actual cellar so the place fits the vibe.

This is the place you go when you need to experience German food at its best. Do not expect the pronunciations to be correct, do not expect a lot of German being spoken... do expect the authenticity at each savored bite and taste. I always pick something other than what I had in minds when I get here and it never disappoints. Have fun drinking som beers and eating schnitzels read more

Must go!! We were in town on business and came in for dinner when we saw the name. German roots here, and I'm always on the hunt for amazing German food, drinks, vibes. This does not disappoint!!! LOVE that you head down to the "skeller" aka the basement for us non-German speakers. Felt like I was in Germany inside, minus the music lol, but the music was great too. Service was exceptional. Melissa was our server and she was so sweet, and super knowledgeable. Love that the menu is designed to help you share and try new things! We started with a German Riesling and Bitburger beer on draft. Holy country club pour on the wine . Enjoyed a light dinner of weisswurst with sauerkraut topping and spaetzle with cheese. Also got the debreziner with sauerkraut on top and German potato salad as a side. It was a bit pricey but worth every penny. Cannot express how fluffy, fresh, and incredible the weisswurst was! And the spices in the debreziner were unbelievable. 110/10 would get the potato salad again. Spatzle tasted like Germany. We may not be back in the area for months or years, but whenever it may be we will be back!! read more

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I dont eat burgers often but ny wife mentioned her desire for one over the weekend. Got a recommendation from a friend who is a burger guy. Great burger and Clean and employees are friendly. read more

Came back a couple months later, and food is still some of the best German food I've ever had! Such a treat - and we brought more people this time who also enjoyed everything. We sat inside since it was raining. read more

The Rathskeller - Party Platter - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

We stopped by Rathskeller on the way back from a trip since it was close-ish to BWI airport. I've had many fond memories of the German restaurants I've been to around NYC or in the suburbs and wanted to give this place a try. The waitress was nice and service was ok. The restaurant has a cute patio outside but indoors is a bit plain so it's a more casual place. I ordered the crab pretzel as an appetizer and was salty and tough! It was kind of hard to eat so keep a glass of water close! My schnitzel was crispy but a little dry. read more

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Adventure, Culture, and Experience! A few weekends ago my hubby and I took a cultural trip to Germany without even stepping foot on a plane. lol We stepped out of our comfort zone and tried something new for date night. And boy did we have a great time! Trying German cuisine for the first time was such a great experience. Major thanks to our amazing server Ashley , who was so sweet and explained every aspect of the menu to us and even taught us a few cool German words. The ambiance I believe had a traditional German flare and a beautiful quaint Bier Garden in the front of the property , with nice lighting if you visit at night. Great spot for summertime fun. Our favorite bite was the Weisswurst - a veal sausage blended with fresh garlic and parsley. It was so yummy. We paired the Weisswurst with the signature Onion and Tomato based gravy, thanks to Ashley's recommendation. I also enjoyed their famous potato cakes and even the broccoli tasted delicious. lol They even had a late night HH, which is really cool. If you are like us, and appreciate different cultural experiences , check out this spot for your next date night adventure. We will definitely be visiting again soon. read more

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Ok. First off the food was great. Absolutely no complaints there. My reason for three stars though boil down to grumpy customer. I asked the waitress if two items on the menu were the same other than the bread she said yes. Now maybe there was a misunderstanding but yeah no they were not the same. I asked for the jagger schnitzel and was told that was not usually served with that order but she could bring me the sauce on the side. Still clueless I agreed and asked for the pretzel bread. Thinking it was on the side because ya know I asked. What I got was a Kaiser roll schnitzel sandwich, despite the waitress telling me it was pretzel bread. No, no it's not. Different taste. OK fine. Still ate it. Good but not what I wanted with a side of a small container of mushroom gravy (a surprise charge of 4 dollars on the final bill). Some of this could be explained by miscommunication, some non communication. Either way I left full but definitely less than happy. read more

I was pleasantly surprised! Prior to coming I wasn't excited about the menu but once I got here our waitress was so accommodating answering all my questions explaining what each thing was because I didn't understand German food. And guess what? my food and drinks didn't miss. Everything was amazing! The parking lot attached is very small but if u keep going and turn left there's an additional parking lot. As I sat in the car and waited for my reservation time lots of people were coming in so I highly suggest making a reservation. I ordered a shot (OH HOT DANG) off the happy hour menu and a drink ( RÜGEN WINE MIXER ) they both were delicious. I decided on a wurst rather than a schnitzel.... That was the best spicy pork on a pretzel bun (hot dog) I've ever eaten. It was absolutely delicious. I didn't care for the German slaw. I did taste a friend's potato cakes and they were fluffy and delicious .... Reminds me of an elevated smiley face potato cake we ate as kids. I loved it in that basement! Cozy good food A staff full of great personalities I will be returning soon! read more

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We found this spot based on the yelp reviews and it did not disappoint! We sat at the bar and Max was our bartender and helped us with the menu. We settled on a party platter and the stand out favorites were the pork schnitzel and the veal bratwurst - also the house sauce and the honey mustard made me super happy! A ton of food for two, so we have leftovers to enjoy later. The Party in Rhine cocktail was fabulous, but if you like an old fashion, Max is the man to ask! We would definitely come here often if we lived here - Don't miss this spot! read more

The Rathskeller - Party in the Rhine - German Near Me - Elkridge, Maryland

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Came in for restaurant week after hearing some good things about this spot. It's a German themed restaurant that was built inside of an old jailhouse. The food and beverages are all traditional German fare. It's located in historic Elkridge on a small side street. The parking lot is not very large so be prepared. I would also recommend making a reservation in advance be issue the restaurant itself is also very small. Service was great. Waitress was friendly and explained the menu. She also recommended some of their more popular dishes. I went with an appetizer of the potato cakes. Nice and light with a crispy exterior. Then for my main I had the chicken schnitzel. Also very delicious. And to wash it all down I had a German Pilsner they had on draft. It was a great first experience and I will definitely return. read more

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