I totally get the love shown here for the German food on the menu because they do it perfectly. I grew up in Cincinnati and I'm part Hessian, so I do, I do so love the pretzels and the schnitzel and the spatzel and the brats, mets and krauts.
But if you stick to the main menu you're going to miss the most amazing thing about this resto, which is the specials. The chef is a diehard locavore using the freshest and most amazing local (ie Gardiner area) ingredients.
You're used to "specials" meaning "that stuff we need to get rid of." Forget that. It's the best part of the menu. They have amazing slappin-fresh vegetarian offerings.The salads alone are worth their own review. Â
And this trip I learned their draft beers are not only awesome but you can take home a growler. Which I did. Of German black beer, Köstritzer Schwarzbier, that tastes like prosperous honey magnates made it in a fit of schadenfreude to show off to the hot chicks they couldn't get a date with in high school. It pairs well with awesome.
Just don't crowd the place up so Iso can't get in next time.
Really annoyed with our experience here today. Everything started well enough, but at some point it became clear that our food was taking a really long time. Probably around the time that people who had arrived after us started getting their food and our server stopped making eye contact with us a avoiding our table. We finally flagged her down and she gave some weird excuse about it saying they were just waiting on the fries, and then leaving without offering a) an apology for the wait or b) to refill our empty beers or waters. 10 minutes later the food came and unfortunately was not worth the wait. The burger was overcooked and had been assembled poorly (probably rushing it). It was over-sauced, so the pretzel bun that seemed like it would have been good was completely soggy and fell apart immediately. Those fries we waited so long for were clearly not fresh out of the frier. A really bad experience all around. Will not be back. Oh, and they weren't even busy. Note to servers- if it's taking a really long time for someone's food to come out, don't ignore/avoid the table, just makes it worse. Check in, refill drinks, offer bread, apologize for the wait, it will go a long way.
Review Source:I have passed this place so many times before, I finally gave it a try with a bunch of friends. This is a great mountain German restaurant and bar!
Started off with getting some water and beer. Forgot what they had, but I got one of the more unique German dark beers. Got it in the tall glass for around 7-8$.
As an appetizer we split 2 items. One was a special of homemade lamb sausage and the other was a homemade pretzel. The lamb sausage we were unimpressed as it was quite expensive and game with what resembled a small slim jim cut in half. It really wasnt a lot of meat. Maybe thats why there was lots of chickpeas served with it and a drizzle of sauce. Would definitely not get that again. The pretzel was amazing and came with 2 different mustards. That we would get again.
Prior to the entrees coming out, we received homemade warm bread. This went great with the extra mustard!
For the entree, I had an AMAZING chicken sandwich. This thing came with asparagus, ramps, 3 types of mushrooms, and a bunch of other things. It was served with a few small pickles, a dip, and hand cut sweet potato fries. I really enjoyed this dish and would definitely get it again.
The service was fantastic! We got a local rock climber and we had a great time getting information about places to climb in New Paltz on a rainy day. Our waitress also was quite attentive and get our waters refilled.
I think the perfect after climbing would be to come to Moutain Brauhaus for dinner and then Gilded Otter for pints. The food here is definitely better!
What an awesome find! Â I would have never found this place had I not been using the Tripadvisor iPhone app. Â I was staying at a campground in Gardiner and didn't want to drive all the way into New Paltz to grab a bite to eat. Â I love German food so this was a no brainer for me. Â I arrived a little after 6pm on a Saturday and thought that would be slightly before the dinner rush and I couldn't have been more wrong - the place was jam packed, which obviously was a good sign. Â I managed to find a spot at the bar which was fine for me since I was dining alone. Â The service was excellent and they have numerous German beers on tap as well as a few domestic beers by the bottle. Â Ordered the chicken wiener schnitzel and the portion size was HUGE!!! Â The spaetzel and braised red cabbage was delicious and reminded me of Germany. Â A nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and a hearty meal - what more could you ask for?
Review Source:Absolutely DELICIOUS! Yesterday was my 2nd time eating at Mtn Brauhaus and it definitely will NOT be my last. I am going to start off by saying this: if you are already VERY hungry when you decide to go Brauhaus, forget it. Go somewhere else and come back to Brauhaus when you're not starving & don't mind the 1-2 hour wait. (Well, you can always sit (or stand) at the bar and have a drink or two. But if you haven't eaten yet, that might not be a good idea.)
The food: The first time we were there we started with the Königsberger Klops. These were the most amazing meatballs! Not at all dry and very flavorful. I could have easily had another serving.
I had the Sausage Medley (Combination of Bratwurst, Knackwurst and Bockwurst, served with a Mild Mustard Horseradish Sauce) as my main dish. I'm not a huge fan of Bockwurst, but this was good. I don't remember what the side dish was (I believe German potato salad) but that's because I was stuffed after eating the sausages (yeah, they didn't have a chance!) I didn't eat the side dish.
My boyfriend had the rabbit leg, which was their special. Unlike me, he is normally generous with sharing his food. He wasn't so generous this time (can't say I blame him).
Yesterday, we shared a Pretzel which had us begging for more. The pretzel was so soft and fluffy and the mustard they served complimented the pretzel so well.
I had the Sauerbraten which was PERFECT. It was a large portion (had the rest for lunch today) that was served with 3 potatoes and red cabbage. Everything was amazing. The beef was very tender and served with the most delicious sweet & sour gravy. He had the meatloaf. which was served with mashed potatoes. Once again, he didn't ask if I'd like to try some. (For the record, neither did I)
As expected, talking was non-existent  at our table. :)
My biggest frustration with Yelp - I need a half star! Â I really want to give Mountain Brauhaus 3.5 stars.
My husband and I came by here for lunch after a tasting at Tuthilltown Spirits - because of all the positive reviews on Yelp. Â It was a seriously solid spot - and it was packed at 3:00 on a Sunday afternoon, so it's clearly popular.
We started with the Bavarian Pretzels which were AMAZING. Â So fluffy and fresh and warm - I could have just eaten like 3 of those and called it a day.
My husband ordered the Knackwurst and Bockwurst - both were very good, but the bockwurst was better. Â I ordered the Chicken Schnitzel with spaetzle - I really enjoyed the spaetzle.
I wasn't a huge fan of the restaurant decor - it felt past its prime and I didn't love that the waitresses were in German attire, it looked a bit ridiculous, especially on the older waitresses.
In all, Mountain Brauhaus was a nice casual dining spot - the food didn't have a lot to it, but it was simple and tasty.
Absolutely delicious German food here.
I've dined at the Mountain Brauhas several times, and each time has been a delight.
The Bavarian Pretzel is delicious. The Konigsberger Klops (German Meatballs) are a great appetizer as well. Â
The Sauerbraten here is probably the best I've ever had, and the spaetzel is not to be missed.
The bar has a nice selection of German beer, in addition to some other American brews.
The place is always packed, so make a reservation or be prepared to wait awhile for your table.
After living in Austria and travelling through Germany, this is the only authentic German food I have found since being back in the states for 3 years. It's about an hour and a half away from where I currently live but it doesn't matter, every once and a while when we get a craving for it, we venture down for the best German food around!
Schnitzel, amazing.. Spaetzle, to die for.. Apple strudel, there are no words..
Love that the waitresses wear dirndls, you really feel like you're in Germany, except the language! All around, amazing. We try something new every time we go, like an appetizer or soup (because we always stick with the same Schnitzel entrees) and everything is purely fantastic.
Thank you, for a little taste of Germany here in NY!
Ever since I first came here, I cannot forget how fantastic the food was. The service was excellent, and beers were great. I also like the authenticity of the restaurant. I am not from the area, and wish this restaurant was closer to where I live! Only drawback is that it's usually packed and only stays open until 9pm.
Review Source:Whipping around corners in the Gunks, you'd never imagine seeing this restaurant! The pumpernickel bread is just amazing, and I'm pretty sure they have German beer brands that I've never seen anywhere else. It looks like a little house from the outside, but looks can be deceiving: this place is always busy and there are plenty of unique dishes to keep you interested!
Review Source:I'm not a religious man, but I'm pretty damn confident if heaven does exist, this is it. Based at the foot of the Shawangunk Mountains (The Gunks) and a ew miles from New Paltz, this "little" German treasure is worth its weight in Schnitzel. To avoid the lines and waiting for hours, call and make a reservation.
Also, and I can't prove it, but the beer flows directly from The Gunks---cold as ice!
Thumbs. Â Up. Â
If my Dad were writing this, he'd give it 5-stars as he has been to Germany and can really make the comparison...but since I haven't really been to other German restaurants, I can't say "it's the best" just yet. But DAMN, it was pretty friggin' amazing.
We had done a Bourbon tasting at Tuthilltown Spirits about 15 minutes away and on our way to the Mohonk Mountain House we saw the Brauhaus....we mentioned in the car that's where lunch would be but we continued on. Unfortunately, Mohonk didn't work out so we did end up back here and thank goodness.
We arrived and were seated immediately. Our drink order was taken and took quite some time for our drinks to arrive and for the waiter to come back. We ordered a plate of Spätzle for the table. No one at our table had ever had this, so it was a great treat, it came out very quickly and was devoured just as fast. We eventually placed our orders - my mom and husband went for the 3-sausage combo, my brother was living on the edge with the Chicken Cobb sandwich, my father had the Sauerbraten and I had the Beef Rouladen. All of our meals were to die for, they were made perfectly with great flavor...we had leftovers for sure!
It took a long time for our waiter to return to take our dessert order - but my rating does not reflect the less than stellar service. It wasn't a terrible long wait, it was just longer than it should have been.
Great German restaurant that I wish was closer!!!
While the food, vibe, deco, and drink in the brauhaus are definitely good, there are two reasons that I'd pass for other restaurants and bars in New Paltz.
The reasons are the poor service and the wait time it took them to serve the meal. It was hard to get the waitress's attention to refill water, so we were left thirsty and hungry. It took them more than an hour to serve our meal. Although all the waitresses dress in cute Bavarian outfit, somehow they are not welcoming like the German ladies are.
For the quality and the type of food they serve, it's on the pricey side to get a plate of bratwurst, pretzel, etc. which are the kind of food that increase your low density cholesterol, your waist line, double your chins and your chance for cardiovascular accidents or heart attack.
There's no wifi or cellphone reception in the brauhaus, which makes waiting even more unbearable.
Therefore, although the food was acceptable, the drink was definitely good, and the vibe is good, I never returned to brauhaus.
I'm a big fan of German food and was pleased to discover this restaurant not too terribly far from where we live in Highland.  We both come from German families, so it was going to be a treat to have some of the traditional favorites we have become used to at home or overseas.  I had the Schnitzel, and my other half had Spätzle. Both were quite good, but even so thought they might be a little bland.  Another disappointment was the pretzels.  They aren't supposed to be sweet.  I also agree with a previous reviewer - if the girls have to wear the Dirndl, the boys need to man up and strap on some Lederhosen. Fair is fair, lol. Might as well mention the decor too - we don't like the carpet (in a restaurant? What is it, 1985?) and the rest is blah. Get some wood floors and decorate this place like a proper brauhaus, already.  It can look good without being tacky.
We'll be back. Checking on your progress over a beer and a Bratwurst.
I always give German restaurants an extra star just being so rare... and in that case this place deserves at least six or seven stars! Â This is the best German restaurant I've ever been to. Â It is also one of the best restaurants I've ever been to in any category. Â I've been here once, but I'd call the decor and style of the restaurant to be very supper club-ish, married to all the German styles that we all love.
It was very busy, but we got a beer right right away. Â They didn't have any dunkweissen beers, but I did get a Franziskaner hefeweisse. Â They have small glasses. Â I had the Beef Rouladen and it was one of the best dishes I've ever had. Â Top 10 or maybe even top 5. Â It came as what looked like two enormous meat balls with brown sauce, spaetzle and red cabbage on the side. Â They note their use of local produce and I believe it. Â Every ingredient looked and tasted to be very high quality.
The spaetzle was the best I've ever had. Â It seems like they pan grilled it a bit because it was a little extra oily and crispy. Â I loved it. Â The meat balls were very high quality and fresh meat with pickles, bacon, onions and other goodies cooked in the middle. Â It was very flavorfull, and the brown sauce was terrific. Â The red cabbage was perfect, which is not uncommon, but still appreciated.
My girlfriend was so happy that they had VEGAN SPECIALS! Â She liked it quite a bit and we're already trying to devise a plan to get back up here! Â The service was very good and timely despite their high volume. Â I even found out as I was walking out that they had lost power and were running on a generator. Â They didn't miss a beat! Â Six or seven stars out of five... they were that good!
If you read my other reviews, you'll know that once I find a place that I love, I will literally drive hours and hours to get there. Mountain Brauhaus makes that short but highly esteemed list. Full disclosure: I started coming here with my high school German class, so I'm sure my opinion (and this review) will be tinged with a bit of nostalgia, but I'll be as objective as I can.
Mountain Brauhaus has a few things going for it: the location is gorgeous, right at the base of the Gunks; they serve a bevy of German beers (even Berliner Weisse for the ladies); and their portions are massive so you'll get a few awesome German meals out of it.
My typical trip to the Mountain Brauhaus starts in Rhode Island (where I live now, ouch) and ends with me sleeping off my food coma on the floor of my parents' house in New York with my belt unbuckled.
In between, we'll wait out the crowds at the bar sampling the various beers on tap. There WILL be a crowd, but I don't know anyone that minds waiting it out in a bar. We'll then saunter to our table (I don't usually saunter, but German beer and barmaids give me a bit of extra swagger), and order pretzels and potato pancakes for appetizers (I'm a pretzel fanatic, and I'd call these average, but they're German right?). For dinner, everything is delicious. I'm partial to the Jagerschnitzel, but I get it with chicken instead of veal. And I ALWAYS get the red cabbage and Spaetzle - you should too!
Now, I'd be lying if I said that was it, but I don't end up groaning on the floor without dessert. Mountain Brauhaus has what you'd expect at a German restaurant for desserts, and they're all delicious.
Do yourself a favor and get here. Spend the day hiking at nearby Lake Minnewaska, and refuel with some outstanding German grub.
Easily the best German food in the Hudson Valley. Very extensive menu, HUGE portions, great beer menu...what else could you want!
Seeing as it's such a popular spot, if you want to head out to the Brauhaus on the weekend you had better make a reservation ahead of time or get there early, like before 5:30, otherwise you will have quite a wait ahead of you. This place is always packed and noisy, but it's worth it. Schnitzle, spaetzle, yeah, it's all great and there's lots of it. The sauces are always spectacular and rich, and the meats delightful. If you are looking for light fare this isn't the place for you.
We always find going with a large group is the best way to experience this restaurant, as it becomes somewhat of an event rather than just a dinner out somewhere. Views outside are great too, with mountains all around. Dinner for 2 with appetizers and drinks will probably run you about $90-$110 , which is about average for the area.
this place rocks. and people know it. if you go on a weekend go early... and expect to wait. but that wait is worth it.
while you wait you can enjoy some great beers, wines or house made iced tea.
spectacular schnitzel.
superb sauerbraten.
spaetzle to write home about.
red cabbage, which i only tried to appease my mother that was so delicious i ate most of hers.
if you crave german.. go. you won't be disappointed, but it may take a while.
There's a reason this place has only 4 and 5 star reviews. Go. Even if it's a 2 hour drive. Just go hungry and thank us later.
Get some spaetzle. Have a beer. Leave so full you won't want to eat for a week. Be nice to the waitresses. It's not their fault they have to wear those outfits. =)
Excellent, authentic German food. Not a single plate came out with less than superb flavor, cooked to perfection.
The wait staff is professional and courteous. The atmosphere is relaxing, but not so quiet you can't have a good laugh without pissing off the next table.
On top of all the qualities, the food is reasonably priced. With a party of four, our entrees, drinks and appetizers all came in at less than $150. You can't beat that.
Not a single complaint. Don't hesitate.
Wow, this place was awesome! I loved how the girls are in the traditional dresses. I had the Wiener Schnitzel and it was far better then I hoped. The portion size was crazy big. I don't remember the kind of beer I had but, I loved it. I asked the girl what beer was close to Warsteiner and she gave me something that was great. I was there with 5 people in all and we all loved it. I will be back soon. Anyone who like good German food and beer will LOVE this place.
Review Source:One of my favorite restaurants for dinner. The bar is my favorite place to sit, and has a great atmosphere. Try the lager with raspberry syrup, even my boyfriend liked it! Their beer selection is excellent as well as their food. Have to get the spetzle (sp?) and the sauerbraten is also great. Have not had a bad meal here and would definitely recommend to anyone. Not a great selection for vegetarians though and wouldn't even try going here on a weekend evening as they are always packed!
Review Source:We stopped here for lunch on our way to the Tuthilltown distillery (also spectacular). The only 2 drawbacks were that we had no way to save our leftovers (hotel rooms) and that we needed dinner time appetites to be able to enjoy everything that we wanted from the menu. As mentioned, the pretzel appetizer is spectacular. Our party of 4 enjoyed fish n chips, bison chili (with apricot cornbread!) and sandwiches. Our son just graduated from the CIA in Hyde Park and we are urging him to eat here before he departs from NY!
Review Source:If you are a foody, this is the place to eat when visiting the New Paltz area!
We've been frequenting the Brauhaus for over a decade and I'm thrilled to say I've never had a meal here that's been "good." Â It is without fail, always absolutely delicious! The flavors that come out of that kitchen are sooooo satisfying! From the classic German offerings to the always fresh and mostly locally provided items on the daily specials menu, you can not miss with this place!
The Brauhaus is family owned and operated since 1955 and the pride they take in providing the best service and most incredible food is obvious! The servers are prompt and friendly. It's kid friendly with a children's menu that even offers salmon (THANK YOU!!!!). We just love this place!
I have been hiking in the 'Gunks (Shawangunks) for sooo many years now and have literally driven right past this establishment scores of times AND have always been very curious about it. But did I ever stop in?? Â No, and it's ridiculous, really!
 So finally- FINALLY- I dined there for the first time this past weekend.  Wow - to think that I had been missing out on this gem all of these years is almost depressing! Â
On this particular and typical hoppin' Â Friday evening, our small party of four was apologetically asked to have a short wait at the bar for about 25 minutes in order for a table to clear, but no matter to us. Â Thanks to the great selection of off-beat and authentic German beers on tap, our wait passed quickly whilst imbibing with our good friends. Â Go for the dark (but mild) Kostritzer! Â
Our party ordered a variety of appetizers and main entrees, mostly those of your popular German persuasion- Wienerschnitzel, maultaschen, spaetzel, jagerschnitzel, sauerbraten, etc., as well as some lesser known authentic side dishes such as spargel (yum!).
The general consensus of all those in our party was "Thumbs up"!!
The traditional, Bavarian-esque attire of the attentive and knowledgeable waitstaff also added to the German experience, and for a short while, you may almost feel as though you're vacationing in Swabia or Bavaria! Â
No wonder they've been in business for 25+ years, almost always with a packed house to boot! Â My husband and I can't wait to return to experience a little taste of Germany again, practically right in our own back yard.
I've been coming to this place for more than 15 years and can't recall ever having a bad or disappointing meal here. I could pretty much eat their spaetzle until my stomach exploded, and the sauerkraut is amazing.
Gets very busy on the weekends and they don't take reservations, but it's totally worth the wait. (Although they close at 9, so start waiting early!)
I've been wanting to go here for years. Â I went with a group of 6 people and got to try a fairly good size section of the menu. Â Everything was good here, including the vegetarian meal. Â Their spaetzle is awesome (which is one of my favorite German foods). Â Their portions were absolutely huge and they had a great beer selection. Â We all took home a lot of food and barely had room for desert.
The meat fell right off the bone it was so tender. Â The menu was huge too. One of the best things is that depending on the table you get, you get a great view of the mountains.
Well, this was my first time eating German food. I was skeptical, stupidly expecting it all to be y'know... MEAT, and BEER. Which is fine, but I'm not a caveman, I like a little fanciness now and then. And, wonderfully, the Brauhaus delivered. The service was a little leisurely, but it really exceeded my expectations by being quiet, cosy and understated - with a stunning view of the Shawangunk Ridge - and the food was pleasingly odd; clearly there is a mad scientist in this kitchen.
I had a duck burger, a special which had mascarpone, tenderly cooked onions, arugula and some sort of sweet horseradish on it - it was just stunning. My only 'complaint' would be that it didn't taste very much like duck - the duck was an ingredient, ground up into a very tender patty. Wonderful, though. We also had the 'featured salad' which was utterly insane: grilled chicken with baby arugula, pumpkin seed, beets and star fruit (star fruit!) They have a good, concise selection of Deutsche beers (I had the Optimator; very hoppy) and three ports listed on the dessert menu.
I definitely want to go back; this review would represent four-and-a-half stars, but with a menu this idiosyncratic and such great food, further visits could push the Brauhaus into five stars. Recommended.
I had been waiting to try this place for years but never seemed to make it. Â We were in New Paltz for the afternoon and decided to head over here for dinner. Â The parking lot was crowded, yet we were seated promptly. Â
The waitstaff were in classic German attire which added to the old style atmosphere. Â The appetizers were outstanding, and the salad was perfect. Â I had the chicken schnitzel which was very good, & my partner had a Short Ribs (Special) which was out of this world. Â
I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a good authentic meal. Â Take the time to spend a few hours around Mohonk and New Paltz.
This is the best german potato salad I've ever had. Â I've been coming here since I was a little kid (since I grew up down the mountain) and all I would ever eat was a double order of potato salad. Â I think now that I'm an adult, and my taste buds have matured, I'll give some of the other food a try. Â I've never heard a complaint from anyone else who ate there with my family though. Â
UPDATE 4/15/09:
I ate here on Easter and finally ate some big girl food. Â Sadly, they changed the recipe on the potato salad and I was thoroughly disappointed. Â It's not served hot anymore, the potatos are not thinly sliced, and the marinade/vinaigrette is different. I'm devastated.
However, the potato salad far from ruined my meal. Â I had the Chicken Jaeger Schnitzel (sp?) with potato dumplings and broccoli. Â The dumplings were decent...my friends potato pancakes were MUCH tastier. Â Beware the broccoli--it was such a huge piece of broccoli it looked like a tree on my plate (I love broccoli though so I was ok with that.) The chicken schnitzel was delicious with a light brown gravy and mushrooms. Â It was a huge portion so I took the leftovers home---they tasted even better for lunch the next day! I also tried the Yankee Pot Roast and it was delicious with a slightly darker brown sauce and tender meat. Â The cabbage, however, seems to be an acquired taste.
Then we tried three desserts--the creme de mint ice cream, custard, and chocolate roulade (I think that's the name.) Â The ice cream is the PERFECT ending to a filling meal. Â It really cleansed my palette as silly as that sounds. Â I may have to go get creme de menthe liquor and make this at home! Â The custard was like flan but with a slightly thicker, more pudding-like texture. Â It was quite tasty. Â The chocolate roulade was a bit bland. Â I can't remember what else it was layered/flavored with but I wasn't impressed.
And the outfits the waitresses wear are so adorable. Â One of the restaurant owners makes them by hand (except the embroidered blouses) for each waitress. How authentic!
Perfect after a hike - a big glass of German beer and some fantastic german food. Honestly, this is worth a drive north of NY City as I have yet to find a place this good in the city. Sad really.
I had the sauerbraten with potato dumplings and red cabbage. It was, truthfully, quite fantastic. Very impressed overall and also with the bread which was a marbled rye with raisins in it. They offer to bag this puppy for you when you leave and I encourage you to take them up on it - great morning after toast.
My girlfriend had chicken jager schnitzel and it was, unfortunately, a tad bit dry. However, her spaetzle was fantastic as was the sauerkraut. I highly recommend this place - we need good German restaurants closer to NYC but in the meantime, it might really be worth your while to head out of town, just for this plate of German food.
After a long day of hiking, swimming or rock-climbing, you deserve some teutonic, sausagey goodness. Â fortunately, the Mountain Brauhaus has all your bratwurst needs covered. Â Wash down your sauerbraten (or seitan schnitzel, if that's your thing) with a cold german beer. Â I strongly recommend getting the sauerkraut and potato pancakes with your meal. Â The salads are also tasty.
one star off for making the waitresses wear Heidi-esque dirndls.
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