Heidelberg Restaurant
1648 2nd Avenue
(between 85th St & 86th St)
New York, NY 10028 (212) 628-2332
- Nearest Transit:
86th St (4, 5, 6)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
30 Reviews for Heidelberg Restaurant
This place was a trip! The food - meh. Nothing special, but I can get pretty picky about that kind of thing. But the entertainment totally made the night. There was this woman singing German 40's-style songs IN THE DINING ROOM and going around to tables with her microphone smiling and sitting with people. She was a total caricature of a lounge singer. Amazing. I was just bummed that I had been seated with my back to her so I couldn't just stare the whole time.
My family is from Germany and I have been to Germany numerous times and let me tell ya, this place gives my heritage a bad name. After being told there were no tables available and then watching them seat group after group behind me, I decided to eat at the bar (I was starving) where I waited 15 minutes to get served very average beer and order food....then after waiting an hour with no food, the bartender basically told me in a curt tone that the kitchen was closed the whole time anyway...are you kidding me??? So when I asked why she would take my order when she knew the kitchen was closed, and then completely ignore me while I was sitting there in starving agony, she basically told me to go screw myself.
These people are a bunch of liars, I paid way too much for 3 crappy beers, and there are plenty of other places in the city where you can drink your face off with much better service. This place should be boycotted at all costs.
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When you walk in there is a section to the right (restaurant) and a section to the left (bar). Go over to the bar and ask for a liter of Spaten or Warsteiner, or some kirschwasser. The left side is German Beer/ Schnapps heaven. The right is really expensive, and the food isn't that great, unless you're willing to drop a lot of cash. For beer lovers though, it's the only place north of midtown to get a liter. The best time to go is early afternoon on a nice day. Grab a table out front (not out back, it's awkward out there), and drink some beer watching the UES crowd stroll by.
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One of the most hysterical and memorable night of my life. After my birthday dinner with friends, my kooky girlfriend convinced me, my cousin, boyfriend and a friend after dinner to walk the 8 blocks to 86th to get boots of beer. What a crazy idea. Only one of us finished... and then we realized there were mini boots about half the size. Little too late. But it was a great experience. I'll go back and have dinner. and a MINI boot. Gotta work my way up to the 7 beer big boy.
Just FYI, to get the boot, you must use a credit card since the boots are in a $60 glass; they make sure you don't break it. Or you buy it, literally.
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Heidelberg! I love this place; it's so charming and unique. Although it always amuses me to see people enjoying their boots of beer on the sidewalk tables in the summer, I like Heidelberg the best in cold weather, when you can retreat inside the Bavarian space for gluhwein and schnitzel. The food is good, the drinks are good, and the crowd is diverse and interesting -- older German couples and postgrad kids alike. It's a much more entertaining choice than some of the options that line this particular stretch of Second Ave.
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I came to Heidelberg because a friend of mine who works in the city recommended it would be a great place to drown one's sorrows after making a 2 1/2 hour journey from Philly in the dead of summer only to not be picked for Who Wants to be a Millionaire (Meredith Viera version).
The schnitzel and the brats were first rate, but the beer which came in the humongoid steins is what washed away the sting of rejection. I think I had Spaten followed by Warsteiner and then Paulaner but I was so wrapped up in drinking away the regret I was just doubling whatever my buddy ordered. Thank God we didn't have time to try the boot, because a $10 showing of Batman Begins awaited us in Midtown.
Long story short, I felt a great weight lifted off my shoulders, filled with great food, drink and conversation.
Which came in handy, because I had to be free of the extra bulk to move fast after I nearly drunkenly stumbled into a speeding taxicab a block away while crossing the street. Good times, New York. Good times.
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If I had to make a list of things that make a guy feel like a guy, somewhere in the top 5 would be drinking beer from a super-sized glass mug that's almost awkward to lift.
1 Liter of German beer, ahh...
Eating brats with kraut, it just never gets old. When they have to wheelbarrow you out of the place you know you are on to something. Pretty standard German fare for the most part, however, the potato salad was by far the best I've had in years. Warm and tangy, you could order up side dishes and be happy at this place!
Then again, it's pretty hard to not be happy, while you drink your giant beer and bop along to the cheezy polka-remix-music in the background. Sure, the service could have been a bit faster...
Hmmm?
I almost forgot I was bopping along to the oom-pah band while drinking a huge beer!
AWESOME!
PROST!
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I have to admit -- we came here with the purpose of drinking beer out of a boot. Two liters of beer. Holy crap. I, for one, wasn't brave enough to take that challenge. But I did manage to have two half-liter glasses of a very nice hefeweizen.
As a vegetarian, I wasn't entirely sure I'd be able to find something at this overwhelmingly German restaurant. I mean, the hostess, the bartenders, and the waiters were all dressed up in outfits strongly reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel. However, I could hardly sit still in the anticipation of the baked camembert cheese with cranberry sauce and half of a roasted pear. Mmmmmmm. When it was finally served, my friend and I literally attacked it with our forks. I cannot even explain how good it was. I have to admit, I had doubts that we could eat an entire block of baked cheese, but we polished it off in no time.
I do have one rather large complaint and that was the incredibly bad service. Our waiter was slow and unresponsive, and his tip definitely reflected that.
My friends and I now affectionately refer to this place as "Das Boot" -- of course, with an exaggerated German accent this comes out sounding more like "Daaaaaaassss Booooot" -- regardless, it's worth a trip to experience the legendary boot of beer. If you're think you're up to the challenge.
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There is nothing more fulfilling in life than flipping over that boot of beer to show everyone you are sitting with that you have finished it.
Holding almost 8 beers, the boot of beer is the major draw for my visits to Heidelberg. I've brought many people here to drink from the boot (it's a challenge) and everyone loves it.
Be sure to check out the hostesses and waitresses clad in Lederhosen. (Where can I get me a set of Lederhosen? It'd be my new formal wear at weddings.)
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Deeee-lish! Just perfect for when that "I absolutely MUST have German food right now" mood strikes. Or maybe you're just yearning for Bavarian scenery and lederhosen-clad waitstaff. The food and bier alone would warrant four stars in my book, but alas, the inexplicable slowness of our waitor shrinks my rating to 3 stars.
I can heartily recommend the Jaeger Schnitzel (veal cutlet sauted with mushrooms, cream, & wine), with the most divine spaetzle and sweet red cabbage evah. And the Berliner Weisse bier with a hint of raspberry is reason alone to go. How I managed to overcome the desire to ravage the dessert tray I'll never know, and I'm not sure I'll be able to repeat my self restraint the next time around. Wish me luck...
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Mmmmm .... sauerkraut....
Great potato pancakes. I'm not a fan of apple sauce, so I opt for the sour cream and kraut on my potato pancakes. However ... BEWARE! They are so good you may want more than just one order which includes sadly only 2 pancakes.
Beer is served in glass boots! And they are so big, I thought my face would get lost in it while drinking.
Staff - Not very attentive. I thought our waiter was a ghost. I hardly saw him and it was hard to get his attention.
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From what I've heard, this is a remnant of Yorkville's previously boisterious German population. I'm glad it's around.
I've been here twice, so I'm pretty much an expert on the gigantic beers they serve. Lifting them to my face makes me feel like an infant drinking out of an above-ground pool, and the frequency with which I dribble the stuff down my chin cost this place a star. (That was a joke.) But the beer is excellent.
Two nights ago at Heidelberg was also the first time I laid eyes on a pig's knuckle, outwardly vile-looking but concealing some of the best-tasting and worst-for-you unkosherness you'll ever see. It was part of a platter containing some potato salad, huge potato pancakes, and 4 kinds of schnitzel, all of solid caliber. Love the food. Hearty, fulfilling, flavorful, fattening. Even the giant pretzel in the bread basket made smile.
As for service... ok. How do I say this without using the word "sucks"? It.... sucks. DAMN! Our waiter my second time there was a Mexican in Lederhosen, so I was glad to get the authentic German experience, but man was he oblivious. He disappeared for extended periods of time and had to be asked multiple times to remember my damn sour cream. He never looked at the table as he walked by, so to get his attention, I had to say "HEY! NO. Come here!" I don't normally treat people like puppies until I've dated them for a least a week, but he was ridiculous. My first experience at the restaurant was similar.
So find a night when you've got lots of time to spare. It's not like the Upper East Side has many places you'll be dying to get to anyway. This place is good, and as far as German restaurants go, one of the only.
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Fantastic bratwurst, with great potatoes and sauerkraut to go with it. Had a hofbrau along with my meal, and I was in heaven. Only problem was the bartender doesn't serve food, and the wait staff doesn't seem to pay attention to the people sitting at the bar. I had waited for a long time before I even ordered.
Great atmosphere... really feels like you are in Germany.
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Because I don't REALLY know the Heidelberg, I'll give the place four stars. I didn't show until 2am and by then the bar was relatively cleared out, but I was still served a humongous frosty cold beer. Their regular glasses are bigger than my head! Needless to say, one drink there is more than enough for itty bitty me!
The place is decorated with all kinds of German remnants and the waitress had classic German garb. I think I might just have to go back to give it a REAL review :-)
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I happened to find this place as we were walking around the UES. It was during the summer and from a distance I saw 2L beers. 2 liters! Mike and I went a few weeks later and it was fantastic. I am a fan of German food and I found the food to be very good, but a little on the salty side (which isn't a problem for me, but this is one of the reasons I gave it 4 stars). We had the sauerbratan and he goulash both were very good (particularly the spaetzle). We each got a liter of beer and prefered the Franziskaner Hefe Weiss over the Erdinger Dark Hefe Weiss . The prices are a little high (15-23 for an entree) but the atmosphere and the service are great. The restaurant itself makes you feel like you are in a Barvarian mountain lodge. I think this would be a great place with a group of friends. However, there are few non-meat choices, so vegetarian friends be aware!
When I need to get my Kraut fix, this is my spot, Weisswurst, Dunklewurst, Brat, all different types of sausage, with potato pancakes topped with apple sauce. Alles Deutsch...Nicht war? They have enough beer to start a riot, served in mugs so big, they may be technically tubs.
The staff are dressed in a traditional Germanic style, which means, the girls look like easily accessible milkmaids and the guys look like gay techno Sadomasochistic uber nerds, in the pre-Kraftwerk style, no safety words supplied...
FYI...The 'potato pancakes' are actually fritters...
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Sometimes vegetarians have a hard time finding something filling to eat in a German restaurant. So when I meet up with my extended family in the city, I find solace in the fact that we're going to Heidelberg. While they all chow down on things that end in wurst, I get my fill of potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream (no, not at the same time--I switch off).
The staff is very friendly--if they can put up with my very loud Italian-German family, then they deserve kudos and a big tip. I also dig the lederhosen.
The seating is very tight in the dining area and the bar is teeny. That's the only drawback here.
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Okay, I'm gonna get this out there right at the start: I don't eat pork. So a lot at this place I wasn't gonna order. If they had more non-pork options, I woulda added the fifth star. So if you are pork-eater, then pretend I gave it 5 stars. Thanks.
But, with that said, I ordered chicken sausage, and it was great. I got a liter of beer, and it was outstanding. And huge, which provides comedic relief to the meal.
Nice waitstaff, and a very authentic menu, makes me like this place a great amount.
Next time I'll get the two-liter beer in a boot. Cause, come on, why not?!
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This was always a great place for my fellow Hungarian friends to go to after taking part in what we call a "Tanchaz". This was our hangout place. The bartender "Joe" treated us like family as did the rest of the staff. The food is wonderful. The beer is great, try drinking out of the "Boot" - be careful though on how you posting the book before drinking. Check it out if you are in the area. It's the down the street from the Hungarian House.
Very decent place - almost feels like being in Germany...or even back in San Francisco in Suppenkuche.
The dudes in lederhosen and the gals in modernized dirndls - nice touch!
Food was spectacular: the wiener schnitzel was tasty though a touch tough, potato pancakes were exquisite, and had a nice stein of beer to wash it down. My brother had jaeger schnitzel - wow tasty; and my sister in law had the bratwurst, holy cow was that awesome too.
To top it off, we shared two desserts: apple strudel and rote gruetze - both of these were very delectable and went well after pigging out on the entrees.
Still hasn't quite topped my list on German food (the best places are in Europe, after all), but is on the top 10 in my list, right above San Francisco's Suppenkuche.
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I've only been here for the beer, and that alone is a good reason to revisit, I didn't even realize the had an extensive restaurant to go with the bar. The bar staff was jovial and informative.
And if you're up for it, they'll serve you beer in a boot. Not a boot you wear on your foot, but a glass one, that holds about 2 liters. Be careful though, you break it, you buy it.
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Good Beer, not so good service, although the tables around us with a different waiter had notably better service. Food is pretty good, beer is better at this semi-deutsch establishment.
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We'll I am not here to talk about the food (yet)...but let start with first impressions...the BAR...and BEER...BIG BEER...TASTY BIG BEER from Germany...yes served with that special German flare (and I ain't talking about those smiling types from Bavaria)...but hey in an area awash with dull new irish bars & fake dives this is a standout that hearkens back to the days when the UES had a real German...so, have a beer...a third, a half or a whole liter...then have another...
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Being able to say "Guys, let's just get the 5-person sausage sampler and be done with it" is one of the great pleasures of life. The quantity of meat is so mighty, and takes so damn long to eat, that the plate must be continually heated. I have no idea what I ate, but it rocked. Also, best potato salad ever. Great 'kraut too.
German beer flows, of course, plentifully. Lederhosen are in full effect. There appeared to be some sort of Mexican music playing in the background, which was bizarre, but, whatever.
Well worth the trip to the UES. My cholesterol is much higher now.
--
Update: Two years later and I'm bumping this to five stars. The food is killer and trounces the other German options in the city. Also, you can get beer by the boot. Like in Beer Fest. I will do this at some point this summer as I train for oktoberfest.
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Yes, its a bit cheesy but I dig it. I came here by accident with my boyfriend after I decided to licquored up on scotch while sitting on the steps of the Met. Which could have been a disaster. I mean, who wants German food when they've been pumped full of whiskey.
But, and I am serious, they have the best potato pancakes in town. Its like the chef took fluffy mashed potatoes, formed them into a flat surface and fried it. And I am definitely down for that.
I split one of their sampler meals for two, it came with some unusual and tasty stuff - things I normally would not have ordered, but I loved. The prices are pretty fair as well.
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I went here with my parents and we had a great time! We ate like pigs, drank good beer and enjoyed the somewhat over the top atmosphere. The service could have been a bit better, but it wasn't awful. I highly recommend the weiner shnitzel and the pancakes with nutella!
I have no idea what a Schnitzel has to do with Heidelberg. Schnitzel is a typical Austrian food and Heidelberg is in the middle of Germany. The only thing that reminds of Germany is the name of the restaurant.
This popular Yorkville restaurant, serving both locals and tourists since 1936, is one of the only German dining spots to survive the steady influx of other ethnic cuisines into the neighborhood. Highly recommended are the liver dumpling soup, Jaeger Schnitzel (veal cutlet sauteed with mushrooms, cream, and wine, served with spaetzle and red cabbage), and the mixed grill platter for two, consisting of four meats, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and an overload of carbs in the form of potato pancakes, potato salad, and home fries. Wash it down with one or several of nearly twenty imported beers on tap. You may as well completely destroy your diet with a traditional dessert like Black Forest cake or warm apple strudel with freshly-whipped cream. Great atmosphere, excellent service, and moderate prices make this a must if you're in the area.
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Been there since before WW II. I dislike the vibes.
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I give this place 3.75 stars.
I've not an expert on German food, but I've been here a couple times now and always liked what I had. I've had the baked camembert with pear and cranberry sauce, potato pancakes, and the smoked bratwurst.
The camembert was very tasty and rich, and contrasts nicely with the fruit sauce. The potato pancakes are crispy and good-sized, smothered with sour cream (or apple sauce) and mm mm mmm. The bratwurst was pretty good, and came with a generous serving of sauerkraut (which is ok, but pretty standard for saurkraut I guess) and potato salad.
The waiters dress in traditional German style, which is pretty amusing.
Good service.
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