Worst food in the world my mother was German and this did not resemble any thing like her German potato salad this was pure vinegar the Sauerbraten was close 2nd for awful it is suppose to be sweet and sour not just vinegar.. I ask for a cheese hamburger and french-fries the woman said that they don't put anything on the burger well it was so bad that the dog wouldn't eat it... read more

My wife and I go to Zur Kate whenever we want fun night out at a great price. Atmosphere is wonderful and the authentic German food is EXCELLENT! We have met some very nice, friendly people sitting at the "family style" tables. Service is always great, even when they are very busy. If you enjoy great German food in a cozy, fun environment, Zur Kate should be on your "must try" list. read more

It's so hard to find good German food but this place does it right!! German owned and you can tell. The place is small but I enjoyed that. They handle the traffic (full on a Tuesday evening) well considering the space. You won't regret a visit. The food is worth any short wait you may experience. read more

excellent home cooking German food. Friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Went on a Tuesday evening, only wated 2 or 3 minutes for a table. We drove from Scottsdale just to eat here and will deffinatly be back. read more

Had a great meal here prior to a show at the Mesa Arts Center. We arrived at about 4:30pm and the place was really hopping! It was obvious that a fair share of the patrons were regulars because there were a lot of orders for the night's special, pork shank. I ordered the Jaeger Schnitzel with red cabbage and spaetzle. My wife had Wiener Schnitzel with potato dumpling and sauerkraut, and we shared the ZK Hausmacher wurst. We both were extremely satisfied with our meal and would recommend it to any of our friends or family with a hankering for good German food. The portions were large, the food tasted great, the price certainly was affordable, the staff was very friendly and the ambiance was fun. When the music played, I could almost picture myself back in Germany...except for the palm trees outside. The only problem to speak of is that Zur Kate is 17 miles from our house! read more

This is my all time favorite restaurant. Being a German American, I feel right back at home. Their food and atmosphere could not be any better and the wait staff are very personable and friendly. read more

My husband is first-generation German American. We LOVE this place. Schnitzels are perfect, wursts are like my husband's grandmom's - so is the red cabbage and spatzle! Authentic!! Service is first rate and very friendly. The waitress was more than accommodated my brother (who has special needs) by changing his menu options. We had read that this place closed and were devastated. SO happy that they are here to stay. read more

Zur Kate is an excellent German Restaurant. We went on a Saturday when they opened at 4 PM. Within a few minutes all the booths in the restaurant were full. The wait staff hustled to make sure everyone had menus and drinks. A few minutes later we had our drinks and a basket of marble rye bread that was delicious. We placed our orders after asking a few questions about the menu of German specialties. Our food came a short time later delivered by the owner. Each table in the restaurant received their food quickly as well. The food was excellent. Two of us had the Jager schnitzel, one had the goulash and one had the schnitzel with onions. Each dinner came with a starch side (spetzel or German potato salad at our table) and your choice of sauerkraut or red cabbage. The sides were as good as the entrees. Zur Kate also has German beer on tap which was served in the appropriate glasses. Overall we had a fantastic experience and meal. read more

We don't have any German restaurants here in Tucson, just German food trucks (which are delicious btw) but you can't always find them and the owners go back to Germany during the summertime and return in October. We were coming to Phoenix for the annual, Barrett-Jackson classic car show and since I'm familiar with the German food my Grandfather would make and I miss it. Well I was in luck! Not only was there one German restaurant, but there was multiple ones so it was hard to choose. We chose this one based in reviews. We were staying at the Phoenix - Biltmore Embassy Suites so it was quote a drive. Upon driving in, we were shocked that 2 of the several German restaurants in Phoenix are in the same strip mall! The inside is very warm and uplifting, what you'd imagine seeing in Germany. I can only imagine because I've never been there. The whole place smells fantastic. And the food just as good. I had the sauerbraten. One word AAAAAAHHHmazing. Everything tasted authentic. Eat here you won't regret it. read more

If you enjoy German food this is the place to go. It's usually crowded but worth the wait.they change the menu on Fridays to highlight a different special each weekend. read more

Huge line to get in at 5:30 on a Saturday night (they open at 4). Unclear service arrangements, small menu, accordeon player. Located in a small mall not far from the other German restaurant in Mesa. Not Germany but an ok substitute. read more

Terribly disappointing! The hamburger from the one undaring person was the best thing in the menu. If you want want true, good authentic German food, look elsewhere. read more

Great schnitzel and house-made sausages. Excellent beer list. Super friendly service. A little kitschy, but that's also part of the fun. Had an accordion player both times we went. read more

Food was amazing, service was great. Atmosphere is so cool. Feels like stepped into Germany.

This place is just an all-around great experience. Friendly and welcoming with a fun atmosphere and terrific food. Went with my husband and sat at the bar as there were no tables left. But this turned out to be a good thing as it allowed us to chat with the owners. We ended up staying all evening (no wonder there's never an empty table) talking to the family and listening to the accordion player. I had the rouladen (special) and it was fantastic, as was the apple strudel dessert. read more

came upon the gem that I didn't know was around. I was more in the mood for pretzels and beer but mostly what they offered was Snitzells or sausages. Food was good in large portions. Someone was there playing the accordion which helped the ambiance. Genuine German owners I believe. I would to meet them one day. read more

We had such a great time at Zur Kate! Friendly staff, great food and beer, kids loved the accordian music!! Everywhere we looked, guests were smiling and laughing over their meals. Such a cozy, friendly place. We will be back for sure! read more

My boyfriend and I decided to try something new for date night and we settled on German food. This place was fantastic. The atmosphere was very authentic, the service was amazing, and there was no feeling of being rushed so they could turn the table quickly. The servers were friendly, helpful and took a minute to chat. The menu was a decent size, but not overwhelming. I highly recommend Zur Kate if you are in the mood for something new. read more

I have dined 100's of times in Bavaria and I can attest that this place is just like being there! Be there early and expect a wait but it is well worth it! Fantastic place and fabulous German food. read more

Amazing!!! We got here 5 minutes after they opened and we almost didn't get a seat! Oh my gosh!!! Sitting here full and ordering more to go for another meal!!! Definitely worth every penny! read more

First time here and I thought it was so adorable and charming. I got the jäger schnitzel and it was quite delicious! The apple strudel was delicious as well. Sweet but not overly so. I would most definitely go back. read more

Good German food and beer although the beer choices were pretty much the larger German Beer companies. A couple of local places, Four Peaks and Huss both make excellent Kolsch beers that would do well on the menu here to have some fresh beer. My only complaint about the food is that mine was drenched in gravy and my apple strudel was also swimming in the vanilla sauce )not that it was bad but just a little too much and the salad bar was pretty minimal, read more

I love this place!! Delicious, home quality German food, prepared to order. I love it all (except I would recommend a little more spicing for the dumpling). Check out the specials. The family are super nice, too. Also, an accordion player on Saturday! You have to order the apple strudel, it's the best anywhere! read more

The food was amazing! We had a little bit of everything and it was all fantastic! Authentic German restaurant even with an accordion player playing for tips on a Saturday night. The place was packed! We waited about 15 minutes for a table arriving at 4:45pm. The service was prompt and very attentive. We will definitely return! read more

Arrived a little after 8pm on a Friday. They were out of the special and the dumplings but I got the last sauerbraten (sp?) It was delicious and a huge portion. Also tasted my husband's Jager schnitzel and son's kid's meal schnitzel. The schnitzel is fantastic! The fries were delicious. The red cabbage was awesome too. The only two negatives were the bread (seemed to be regular store bought sandwich bread) and the spatzel (riced too fine, had a texture, well, like rice). Service was great, had a wonderful evening. read more

Everybody in our party loved it and the service was great The owner and staff were very friendly. Don't leave without getting the smoked porkchop. read more

My wife and I visited the Zur Kate German restaurant tonight mainly on the recommendations of the reviews on Yelp.-Extremely disappointed with our visit! The restaurant itself is run down and drab. Furniture requires replacing the seat my wife sat on was torn. Behind the bar requires a good clean with a lot of dirt under the fridge. Dirty lamp shades and walls. We ordered a wiener schnitzel for me and a jager schnitzel for my wife with the fried potatoes and German red cabbage. Surprised that the food arrived within minutes which led us to believe it was already cooked and heated up in a microwave? The food itself was bland and a bit tasteless with the sauces watery. We have lived in Germany for 11 years and this is certainly not authentic German food. Overall very disappointing-This restaurant is cheap and cheerful which attracts an elderly clientele -Robert Irvine needs to do a makeover on this place! read more

We went around 6:30 on a Tuesday evening. There were a few other tables, but it was not busy. Service was prompt and attentive. I ordered the sauerbraten. You get rye bread before your dinner, which was good, nice and soft. The flavor of the gravy on the sauerbraten was good, it had a strong clove taste, it wasn't just a boring gravy. The spatzle wasn't crispy like I've had at other German restaurants (almost like toasted breadcrumbs on top), here it was swimming in butter. It still tasted good, it was just too buttery. The red cabbage was good, not too plain, not too much vinegar. The meat however went both ways. You get 3 pieces of meat, one of the thinner slices was nice and tender, but the other 2 pieces were dry. One piece was a thick chunk of beef instead of a thin slice, and that was really dry, over cooked and shriveled up. The flavor was good. I would go back and give it another shot hoping for more tender beef since one of the pieces was tender so I know it is possible! read more

Zur Kate - Sauerbraten with spatzle and red cabbage. - German Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

I wanted to like this place. The service was great, the prices were reasonable and the atmosphere was wonderfully kitschy. There was one problem: the food. It was bland and just gross. Don't mean to be a troll, just being honest. Still had fun. The accordion player was a nice touch, on the bright side. read more

Awesome place. The food is delicious, the owner and staff are truly friendly, and the beer is tasty. One of my favorite spots in the Valley read more

Maybe I just don't "get" German food. I chose to take my German husband to Zur Kate to celebrate our final house payment after seeing it praised on PBS "Check Please!" Neither of us were impressed at all. I don't think it's the choice of the ingredients. I use many of them when I cook. It's the bland, lack of real flavor in the way they are prepared. I've been to Germany and wasn't overly impressed there either. But that was 30 years ago, so maybe cuisine has changed there since then. My midwestern mother made gravy of many different kinds that were much more flavorful. I had Schnitzel Cordon Bleu with Home Fried Potatoes and a Potato Dumpling. The potatoes tasted strange and the gravy was bland. The Schnitzel was OK. The ham and cheese helped with flavor. My husband had a Polish sausage, spaetzle and sauerkraut and thought it all was so-so and adding that the sausage was no better than ones we've bought at the supermarket. My Pinot Noir was nothing to write home about. The live accordion music was very nice though. read more

Well I have not eaten here is years. My sister was craving some ethnic dining so the family paid a visit to Zur Kate tonight. We all arrived hungry, there was a 40 minute wait time passed by pretty fast. The special tonight was " stuffed roast pork " my sis asked the server if the gravy was thin or thick an indication if it was actually homemade. The server assured us that the gravy was " pork gravy " . We all ordered drinks, the beers were great, bread and butter arrived fast. The bread was awesome a dark marble rye, if this was any indication we were in for a delish dinner. About 15 minutes after ordering the meals arrived, not by your server. 3 of us ordered the special, and with red cabbage, one with sauerkraut. The Sauerkraut was hot and tangy, the red cabbage was steamy hot and tangy as well. The spatzel was COLD, the dry Pork Roll was COLD the home fried potatos that one of ordered were hot and crispy. The dried out white meat pork roll, was covered in a bland thick canned gravy clearly not the homemade type. The spatzel was tasteless and cold covered in a the same thick brown glob of tasteless paste. The server stopped by we re ordered drinks, she asked how the food was.. We all said COLD ! Her answer was " I will tell the kitchen " .. really why did she ask if she didnt care. After that we never did see her again. Finally a man came by and cleared the table , we asked if we could order dessert which we did. Still never saw the server. Finally we asked for the check. I think you need to drink a few pints before dinner to enjoy this poor excuse for Ethnic German Food. Nothing homemade about this place, no seasoning, no flavor, everything tasted like paste except the cabbage. We will not be returning any time soon, I know why it has been years since we tried this place. read more

I don't often give 5 star reviews, because I feel it should really reflect an exemplary experience, service, or product... at least that's what I really on when checking out reviews for things I haven't yet tried myself. This charming restaurant checks off all the boxes I mentioned. Their restaurant exudes a welcoming and comfortable vibe from the moment you step through the door. Authentic German decor adornments walls, and even the table and chairs take you to a scenic alpine andblakebrute feel at home. Their is a very talented gentleman playing what I am probably incorrectly calling an accordion in the center of the dining room, and the staff are obviously family who make you feel like you're visiting with that family. Cheerful prompt service with a smile and and eagerness to answer any questions are what you'll find when it comes time to order. The beer is cold, the food fresh & hot, and you can taste the pride in very bite of your meal that these hospitable and capable restaurateurs put into your dining experience. Lovely cozy, down to earth ambience with hearty servings. Everything fresh and rightly done. I can't praise enough the effort and their success in delivering a truly nostalgic meal, and truly made for a great evening. Can't wait to visit again, and not just for dinner!!. read more

this is our favorite German place in the PHX area. plus the live polka music (accordion player) rocks. great spaetzle, schnitzel, bread, and selection of German beer. super nice mom and pops place. the staff are super friendly. read more

I've heard nothing but great reviews from this place. I was stationed in Southern Bavaria for 48 months in the 90's, so I've had/tasted "REAL" German food. I have never found that taste here in the states and I've been craving it. I decided to try Zur Kate today, but opted for "to-go" because my son wanted something else. I ordered the jägerschnitzel, my most favorite meal from Germany. When I got home I was really surprised by what was in the carton. I more less got a plain schnitzel with about a spoonful of gravy and about 4 mushrooms. The ends of the "schnitzel" were also a bit overdone and hard to chew. The best thing I remember about a German jägerschnitzel was how smothered it was with the mushroom gravy, I used to dip my French fries in it. So basically, what I had expected from all these fabulous reviews was filled with disappointment instead. If I ever go back, and that's a BIG IF, I will have to remember to ask for xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx mushroom gravy so it will be smothered. I wonder how much they would up the price for all the extras though? Lol read more