Love this quaint German restaurant in the heart of Indianapolis I lived in Germany for many years and of German heritage. This place takes me back! They have a bar with delicious varieties of drinks and a lovely cozy atmosphere read more

The Rathskeller is a charming old world German restaurant with a large Biergarten. Our server greeted us quickly with menus and promptly took our drink orders, it was a promising start that after ordering our entrees fell off. I ordered the Schnitzel and my guest ordered the Jagerschnitzel. Both looked good, unfortunately the meat was either tough or overcooked for both orders. The potato pancakes and applesauce sides were good. The highlight of the meal was the large soft pretzels and mustard that was provided instead of bread. Perhaps we caught them on a bad night, and are giving them the benefit of the doubt. The Biergarten had quite the crowd and would be worth a visit during Oktoberfest. read more

This place is really cool and has been around quite a bit! What I loved is the different areas that all have a different type of vibe/mood to it.. there's the formal type dining area, the outside that feels like a German Biergarten, the mid-space that is indoor/outdoor. There are sooo many types of beers to choose from, a lot of them that you could only find in Europe. The service was great and attentive. The food was delicious and authentic German which is always fun, and they give you sooo much food! I got the roasted mushrooms has an appetizer and it was delicious!! I would go again! read more

The Rathskeller - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

German restaurant/ beer garden located in or close to the Mass Ave / Mile Square area of Indianapolis. If you are looking for authentic Bavarian food and a list of beers that adhere to German beer purity law, this is the spot! Mind you, I was a tourist in town for a weekend. First of all, the space is very unique and interesting. Like one of those places where I don't think you could re-create if you just made it today - like it felt genuinely historic or worn in. When I first walked in, I thought it was in the wrong place because it felt like a cultural community center or private club or something. I kept walking through and headed downstairs where I then saw a bar where I was greeted. I was told to go find a table and a server would come by shortly. When my server finally came, she was very friendly and helpful. I wanted a delicious meal similar to what you might find at a tailgate without going to an actual tailgate. Because I was heading to a Colts game after this. I ordered the Bavarian Platte - combo of kielbasa and bockwurst served with sauerkraut, German potato salad, and a variety of mustards. The meal also comes with a large pretzel with sinus clearing hot mustard. It's seriously no joke. This meal seriously hit the spot. And with my limited knowledge or experience with German food, I felt like this was very authentic. I really enjoyed everything including the sides. I also ordered a refreshing German pils to wash everything down. It was more relaxed and felt like a quiet morning spot when I went. But I can imagine this place gets pretty crowded and lively in the evening. read more

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The Rathskeller is in historic building with lots of character. The venue is huge with a traditional dining room, outdoor biergarten, and an in-between kellerbar for those wanting a more casual indoor dining experience. I really enjoyed the oxtail soup, which was hearty and perfect for a cold night. The pretzel was quite salty and more dry than I would prefer. Would definitely reorder the soup next time but pass on the pretzel. read more

The Rathskeller - Kellerbar - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We ate in the bar, and the service was excellent, the saerbraten was perfect, order the small plate as an appetizer and red cabbage, and it will match perfect perfectly with the dinner. Then the Black Forest cake. read more

The Rathskeller - Black Forest cake. Amazing. - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

It is so comforting to know that a long time established restaurant continues to deliver high caliber food and service. RATHSKELLER has accomplished that over many years. The old Bavarian charm remains throughout the restaurant. Our visit this time was prior to the MJ MUSICAL at Old National. It's right across the street. The staff is well aware of their diner's itinerary and backs certain you can enjoy cocktails, wine, and dinner in time for the 7:00 pm start time. I applaud that courtesy. It was evident that our server, Cindy was a seasoned employee (20 years). Her attention throughout our visit left us wanting for nothing. I noticed many times her surveying our table for refills, empty plates. Her big smile and friendly personality only added to the exceptional experience. The food is prepared in the traditional German style. It is rich and very filling. The portions are enormous. Our party enjoyed an appetizer of Brat & Kraut balls and entrees of Schnitzel Parm., Jäeger schnitzel, spinach dinner salad with hot bacon dressing and my favorite "Oxtail Soup". Just the item for a cold winter night. Patrons of OLD NATIONAL CENTER shows should start their evening off right with dinner at THE RATHSKELLER. You won't be disappointed. read more

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The Rathskeller is historically interesting, but the young people helping our server were less than capable, spilling water on members of our party. The food is likewise over-hyped, it's good and not all the usual fare, but expensive and small portions. The rooms feel like untended museum displays. read more

Without a reservation, my family and I were able to get a free-for-all table in the bar area. The service was quick and the food was good. It felt very traditionally German inside, with the decor and features of each German state. The service quality was decent, but I have been here before with a reservation, and it has always been good. I just chalked it up to them being busy. Two of my family members had an error in their orders. My mother ordered no cheese and extra sauerkraut on her reuben and received no cheese or sauerkraut. We were in a bit of a hurry, so she was fine without it, but was a little disappointed. My aunt ordered a canned beer without a glass, and her beer came inside of a glass. My order was correct, but my tenderloin was a little on the soggy side instead of crispy. Overall, I was a little disappointed after hyping up the restaurant so much. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision to come here, so maybe a reservation would have rewarded us with a better experience. read more

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The food here was delicious, and I loved the imported beer selection. I'm excited to come back - though with the smaller spaces (that aren't super sound-friendly), it'll probably only be somewhere I go when I can tolerate tight, loud spaces. But the food was absolutely delicious, and I loved to see a large building going to good use. PROS: -If you want to be transported into a German beer hall, welcome. This is your place. Located in an old, traditional church, small hallways and rooms and lots and lots of wooden accents await you. Unlike some of the commercialized German beer halls (like Hofbrauhaus), this one feels like it has been around for ages. -DELICIOUS food. All of the sausages came pre-cut and absolutely delicious. Our Braut-n-Balls were great too. Really cheap pretzels you can buy by-the-pretzel to add even more German to your life. Zero complaints about any of the food we got here. -I don't know why I assumed Rathskeller was their own brewery, but that was silly. They do, however, import a TON of German beers - including quite a few faves I had when I was over in Germany. They had some imported seasonals too, and I found one I loved (that I'm a little sad about since it'd be hard to find here outside of Rathskeller). -Service was around. I wouldn't call it attentive, but we had what we wanted shortly after wanting it, so it wasn't bad. They were efficient - not necessarily friendly. CONS: -I would be worried about the bathroom situation if coming here during an event or peak hours. The restaurant feels a bit like a labyrinth, so I'm not sure if I missed it, but the single women's restroom that was easily accessible only had a few stalls in it. There's seating for hundreds of people here, easily. For the outdoor area, there are 4 porta-potties in the alleyway. (There are quite a few homeless people in the area too, and I would assume those actually also serve a very helpful function for the community too?) -The "multiple menus" thing is really confusing. When we tried to pre-shop our options before coming here, we didn't know which menu to use. When we ended up coming here and they handed us 8 (literal) pages of different menus, it felt overwhelming. There's a lot of overlap between the menus, but they aren't exact copies. -Hallways and tables are TIGHT in here. You will probably prefer the outdoor picnic tables in the warmer months if you have mobility issues. There were multiple table-and-chair sets that were, simply, too tightly put to the table behind them that I literally couldn't get into them. We finally found a table that had a bit extra space (so I could get in), but my super-slender tablemate had to do a super-tight shimmy and take off all of his sweatshirts to get in on his end. -Women's bathroom access appears to be down some stairs inside, too, (at least the one I found), so this really may not be a good fit for people who have difficulty with smaller spaces, steps, or uneven flooring. I will note that they do have a handicap-accessible outdoor porta-potty though. read more

This place is a gem. It's really big with an old school rustic vibe. The food & drinks are fairly priced & delicious. Portions are generous as well. The service was some of the nicest I've experienced. read more

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Service was great and the staff were friendly, ordered a German bratwurst and Jäegerschnitzel. I think the cuisine just isn't for me as I wasn't a fan of the plentiful amount of sauerkraut on the bratwurst and on the side with the jäegerschnitzel. It's a good place for an ample meal, just not for me. The bratwurst was good without the sauerkraut in my opinion, it was a little too powerful on it. read more

The Rathskeller - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

You can't beat the ambiance of the outdoor area the has everything: a bar or 2, a stage with live entertainment plus great food. It's pretty much self serve so plan on walking. It was a very relaxing Friday evening in downtown Indy. read more

If you're in the mood for fabulous, authentic Bavarian cuisine and a great experience, the Rathskeller is the BEST place to go in Indianapolis. This iconic restaurant has been in business longer than I can remember and is located in the historic Athenaeum Building. I recommend reservations for dinner but, yesterday, we were able to walk in for midday lunch with no wait. We sat in the bar surrounded by deer and moose heads and stone walls. It does feel like an old German castle. Danke, our server, was friendly, attentive and efficient. Water and food was served quickly. The lunch menu has many German options and a few Indiana favorites such as Pork Tenderloin. Their German breads are phenomenal. We had a starter German pretzel, that was warm from the oven. The German mustard has an amazing horseradish flavor that wakes up your tastebuds. I had the tuna sandwich on marble rye. The sandwich is large and the marble rye absolutely delicious. The tuna is creamy and flavorful, by far the best tuna sandwich I've had in a while. The German potato salad is served hot and is FRESH and perfectly tangy and sweet. Portions are generous. My hopelessly Midwestern husband had the Pork Tenderloin which is served on a Kaiser roll. The tenderloin was perfectly seasoned and tender with a perfect breading. He gave it a rare "5" ranking it among the best in Indiana. He also had the wedged fried potatoes that he said were very good. We explored the building after lunch, which I highly recommend. The building was designed by Vonnegut and Bonn in the mid 1890's and is German Renaissance Revival style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rathskeller does events; I've been to weddings and work dinners and the food is always top notch. There is metered street parking nearby, but it's hard to find on weekends. The building is old and there are a lot of steps. There is an elevator and ramps for some accessibility. I highly recommend. Great food, great service, amazing architecture. read more

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Good food, huge portions for the price. We sat in the bar area which was a little bit awkward with ordering. We waited awhile to be approached and to put in our order but the food came out quick. read more

Great place to go for a St. Patrick's Day festival. Lasted a few days in 2024 and had a blast. We went on one evening and saw world class Irish dancers and bagpipers. Mood and ambience was very jovial. Excellent food options typical Irish fare. Naturally they have corned beef. I went for fish and chips. Plus a pint of Guinness. Only disappointment was the Guinness was in a plastic cup. We all know how it tastes better poured properly in a proper Guinness glass. In spite of that bar service was quick and lines were pretty short about 6 -9 people due to several bartenders . read more

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We made a reservation here before a show at Old National. It worked out nicely as we could park at the theater and walk across the street to eat. On show nights I would recommend a reservation as they were quite busy. We easily got waited on and served with plenty of time before the show. The inside of the restaurant makes one almost feel as if they are in a restaurant in Germany. It was beautifully decorated with lots of carved wood trim and stained glass. Our server was friendly and helpful with menu items. It's best to bring a large appetite as their entree servings are huge. The complimentary bread they serve is large warm pretzels served with two diffferent types of dipping sauce. They were yummy. I had the brat and kraut balls with my meal and it came with three different sauces. I also had the soup of the day which was tagessuppe. It was creamy potato with sausage and so good. They also serve cocktails, beer, and wine. read more

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Excellent service by Michelle with a fantastic meal made this dinning experience wonderful. read more

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We had great service and delicious food. We had a relaxing dinner and didn't feel rushed. read more

The Rathskeller - Warm Brie appetizer - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We ate lunch at the Rathskeller during their German Fest. We got seated right away. Their food is always amazing! We started off with the chicken cordon bleu fingers that are stuffed with cheese and ham and served with honey mustard to dip them in. My all time favorite app is their stuffed mushrooms. They are cheesy, creamy, and have such good flavor! Pretzels are served before your food comes out. They come with spicy mustard and it definitely has a kick! I asked for cheese and it was just alright. I got the schnitzel and it came with a lemon sauce to dip in. The sauce was not my favorite. It came with sauerkraut and their German potato salad. Both were delicious! read more

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Atmosphere, Atmosphere Atmosphere: 100! This is a must visit for the interior and exterior. That biergarten is so awesome! Beer: It's probably good, but I don't know how to judge. Food?? Meh. For some reason, the German entrees are all very pricey and not worth the price point. We did love the stuffed mushrooms app. The mushrooms are fresh, cream cheese and cheese were melted perfectly on top. I wished we had ordered two of these. I will definitely come back for the atmosphere and mushroom app. But I will stay away from the entrees and that worst wurst salat. read more

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A local suggested this restaurant to us and I can't recommend it enough- even if you're vegetarian like me! It's got a very cool German hunting lodge/bier garten vibe. The service was great (thanks to our awesome server Alyssa (sp?) ). And the food was delicious - but beware the spicy mustard! My husband had the rouladen which he said was good. The only bad thing about my Greek pasta plate was that I was unable to eat it all. The beer is good, the food is bettered and service was excellent. (Vegetarians beware there is ham and bacon in the sauerkraut) read more

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After an event downtown, my family and I had a recommendation to come here. The normal dining room was booked for the night, but we were able to catch a table in the bar area. Our food was great, and the portions are huge, just like you should expect for a German place. I am not even sure if spinach artichoke dip is a thing in Germany, but this was the best dip I have ever had. As the night went on, it ended up getting more and more packed with the bar scene. Our server/bartender was very courteous and helped clear the way for us to leave, as we had some older ladies in our group that needed some extra help to get through the crowd. Overall, it was a wonderful experience. The menu is extensive, and we are sure to come back to try more the next time we're in town! read more

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I hate to say this, but the food has gotten even worse. As a native German, I cannot endorse this place. While some of the food looks good, it is all lacking in taste. It is so sad. Especially since the prices went up too. No wonder America doesn't rate German food highly. The only thing I can enjoy here is the beer. It would be such a beautifyl venue inside and out. Enjoy the non German dishes, like the Krautballs or the pasta. Go to the Kellerbar or the beergarden for some great beer and leave it at that. read more

Stopped in for some very good German food. The jalapeño poppers tasted great, and the added Cajun chicken stuffed inside set off the great flavor. We also tried the Hot Wurst Plate. The four different sausages with the sauerkraut were amazing and cooked perfectly. If you're in the mood for some good German food, this is the place in Indy to visit! read more

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This is the real deal, when it comes to authentic German food. Every single sausage & beer were nothing short of excellent!! On my first visit today, I had the Hot Wurst sausage sampler plate that was wonderful! But watch out for the spicy mustard! It's eye watering!! & the "original 6" beer sampler was delicious! The only (big) thing that tainted my experience was the extremely loud waitstaff having very, very loud conversations (it really shouldn't involve constant yelling & screaming), behind the scenes. Their voices echoed throughout the space & were a constant annoyance to an otherwise wonderful meal. That was a real dealbreaker for me. If it's the same next time, I won't be revisiting. read more

Great experience. Huge lazy Susan in the center of the table made sharing fun. The pesto bread appetizer was delicious. read more

The Rathskeller - Sacher raspberry torte - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Enjoyed dinner before an awesome show. This place is so cute inside with mini rooms and dining areas, it's definitely old school German charm. Our server Jennifer was excellent she was full of so much info on the menu and made good recommendations. We celebrated National margarita day with top shelf margaritas that were delicious. Several different things were ordered. We all enjoyed the stuffed mushroom appetizer. I wasn't very hungry and ordered the French onion soup which is made in house the beef. The croutons are all homemade. I enjoyed a salad with homemade Ranch dressing. Other winners were the schnitzel, the salmon and the smoked pork chops. The band Woomblies was amazing so much fun here, they had a really good setup inside with a large area and big tables, a different food menu was available in the band area. Can't wait to come back! read more

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One of a kind and super authentic, cozy vibe! And the place is just huge. We went in the middle of the day and it was pretty chill.

It only took a minute or two to greet us. We arrived early for our 5pm reservation, but they were able to seat us right away. The restaurant was very busy, but being Valentine's Day we weren't surprised. We were seated at a table in a back room. My wife had to go around another table just to get to her seat though because another table was crowded near ours. The restaurant seemed very clean and brightly decorated in almost every room. There was soft German style music playing in the background and pictures on the wall of what the restaurant looked like in the past. I kind of liked the tiles on the ceiling too. Not sure why, just sort of added to the atmosphere of the room I guess. I went to the bathroom before we ordered. It was a little further away from our table than I normally like, but I needed the exercise, so I didn't worry about it. There's an initial inner room before you go into the room with the stalls. There was someone in that inner room applying nail polish that stunk up the place. I'm not sure, but I think they may have been an employee, however, I didn't exactly see a name badge or anything to confirm it. I went into the room with stalls and noticed that while it was very clean in there, it was also extremely cold in there. I saw a space heater and thought it was specifically to warm up the room, but when I used the bathroom again after dinner later, I noticed it was blowing under the bathroom sinks, probably to keep the pipes from freezing. Our server, Lacey came by to take our orders. I ordered one of their sweet Riesling wines and my wife ordered a dark porter beer. I enjoyed my wine, it was perfectly sweet and not too dry, just the way I like it. My wife enjoyed her beer as well. I ordered the Jaegerschnitzel with creamed spinach and red cabbage. I also got a small spinach side salad with hot bacon dressing. My wife also ordered the Jaegerschnitzel with red cabbage, but opted for spaetzle as her other side. She also got a small house side salad with hot bacon dressing. While we waited for our food, the server brought out a basket that had a giant soft pretzel with both a spicy brown mustard dip and a cheese dip. Not being a fan of spicy brown mustard, I tried it with the cheese dip. The pretzel was perfectly warm and chewy and not too salty and the tangy cheese dip went well with it. My wife tried some of the pretzel with the spicy mustard. Apparently, the spicy mustard is loaded with horseradish and rivals the spiciness of St.Elmo's shrimp cocktail sauce. She said she had to be careful not to breathe out her nose too much while eating it because it really cleared and burned her sinuses. She still kept going back for more though. Our salads arrived in small saucer like dishes with the dressing on the side. My spinach salad had fresh leaves of spinach topped with bacon, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms and hard-boiled egg. The hot bacon dressing wasn't very hot and was sweeter than expected, but the salad was good overall. My wife's house side salad had mixed greens and colorful fresh salad toppings. She also thought the bacon dressing was a bit sweet, but she enjoyed her salad as well. After our salads came our entrees. The Jaegerschnitzel is their signature schnitzel topped with a creamy brown sauce of wild mushrooms, shallots, fresh garlic, red wine and select herbs. I enjoyed my side of creamed spinach even though it tasted more like spinach cooked with cream of mushroom soup. It still had a good flavor and some decent seasoning to it. I didn't like the red cabbage as I had hope I would. I didn't realize it would be cooked in red wine vinegar. It was way too sweet for my palate. I tried adding salt to it, but no amount of salt was making it any less sweet or more appetizing, so I ended up not finishing it. While the Jaegerschnitzel was very tasty and I very much liked the sauce, it was difficult to cut. I wish they would have given us sharper knives to use for cutting it. My wife agreed with me about the Jaegerschnitzel, but she actually liked the red cabbage the way it was cooked and she enjoyed her tender spaetzle noodles. Lacey was very attentive and tried to make sure we enjoyed our experience there. I will definitely return someday, I just won't get their red cabbage. read more

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First time at this German spot. The food was great with plenty to share. The service staff was knowledgeable and helpful. The ambiance is heart for small or large groups and is somewhere in N would coaster again B when I'm in Indy. read more

The Rathskeller - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

We visited for a lite meal before a show at The Murat (yes, I know they sold naming rights). We cobbled together two appetizers, the veggie of the day and the Rathskellar Salat for the two of us. Shrimp cocktail featured 8 medium not overcooked shrimp and an excellent flavorful cocktail sauce. The star for me was the well seasoned Grilled Portabella. I added blue cheese crumbles to the salat which melded well with the Parmesan vinaigrette. Service from Alyssa Mc was excellent in a fairly full dining room. She asked if we were attending 'the show' and said she'd be sure to get us out on time. Thoughtful. I wish they had more fresh vegetables on the 'sides' menu. read more

Stopped in before a concert across the street. Had a few beers, a pretzel, and a bowl of beef stew. It was hearty and full of flavor. The service was attentive and it was busy because it Was Just a few days before Christmas. read more

The Rathskeller - Beef stew - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Food was good. Friendly staff. My one warning is the mustard. Although delicious it was spicy hot wow. We had a good laugh about it.

Transparently- I can only attest to the Ampitheatre of Rathskellar, but have yet to had someone visit me in Indy without taking them there! Great beer, music, and vibes. Definitely a gem of Indianapolis for weekend life. read more

The Rathskeller - Sunset fun memories - German Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I was so excited to eat here as I love German food. I got the Jagerschnitzel and it was okay, not the best Ive had. I was disappointed in the spaetzels, they had almost no flavor. Same with the gravy on the Jagerschnitzel, could've used more flavor. I thought the German potato salad was too sweet. The ambiance is neat. read more

Food and service always great Love the history of the building Our family go to place read more

All of our friends continue to tell us that we should go here. This was our third visit and the failure continues. Once again the service was terrible. My wife ordered the grilled tenderloin and it resembled jerky. It was so tough it was inedible and we had to return it. The quality of the food does not approach the price. I can get a better meal for a better price anywhere in the city. I will say that the pretzel is excellent, but the rest of the food doesn't even come close. I'd expect better. The ambiance is typical German, so we do appreciate that. read more

Really neat old building. I was told it was a YMCA in the day. Without reservations at 4:45p we opted for the dining room. Split an entree for $11 more then each got two accompaniments and voice of cup of soup or side salad. Te'mya was our server. She did great. We got (split) the Jagerschnitztel. My sides were creamed spinach and Spaetzel and chicken velvet soup. My wife got the mashed potatoes, sauerkraut with side salad. My sides were room temp.... Back to the microwave... once returned and warm...er, they were decent. Jagerschnitzel was 7 out of 10. My wife's sides were "just decent". Sid salad was just that. Desert was the apple strudel aka mode. 7 out of 10.... Place filled up real quick. Being out of towners, we will not return. But still easily would be a one and done. Lastly, when we were seated, I noticed our cloth napkins were folded real cute where the charger/plate would be and the utensils were on the wood top table, touching the wood with nothing underneath. I stored this observation until the table next to us was being bussed. The person setting up the next service, simply fanned the crumbs off with her hand then without spraying, wet cloth..... nada, put more utensils on the wood! The table next to that table needed their plates removed so the server stacked the dirty plates and put them on the dirty table she just set up!!!!! I'm sure the DOH would have loved witnessing this. One and done.... read more

Fantastic German cuisine. Starter pretzel is always a nice treat, and while the horseradish mustard requires some reps to get used to, it's delicious. Of course the schnitzel was great, but my favorite were the Brat N Kraut Balls. The ambiance is rustic and bustling, and the staff are amazing. read more