Disappointing.  Perhaps it was due to high expectations, but my wife and I left less than satisfied.  When we decided to move out to Denver, my aunt told me only one thing, that I had to eat at Westfalen Hof.  She told me it was one of the  best and most authentic  german restaurant she had ever tried since moving to the United States from Frankfurt.  I have had more than my fair share of German food, in both Germany and the US.  I am familiar with waiting for the good stuff, so as our wait crossed the 60 min mark (with only 3 other tables occupied) I had high hopes.  They were not met.  The  Jäger schnitzel was alright, but the Rot kohl and sauerkraut had much to be  desired, as well as the service, which was...well, it only seemed to be available in passing. Although, to be fair, if you are a regular, you will receive exceptional service and constant attention.
If I were to be, say, driving down that particular road and hungry, I may be inclined to give them another shot. Â But I don't plan on driving that far off the beaten path any time soon.
Initially, I was a little turned off by the decor in this place--think Kitchen Nightmares complete with antlers over the light fixtures in the lobby--and the service wasn't great. Â The waitress (owner?) seemed put out at our group of six descending on her without a reservation even though there were very few other people eating. Â We also waited a long time to order and eat--definitely would not be kid-friendly.
However, when it came, the food was totally delicious. Â I had the sauerbraten with salad, a trio of yummy pickled corn, cucumber, and carrots--homemade and different; surprising, even. Â The bread was clearly fresh the perfect complement to the meal. Â My entree was a perfect portion with a heaping side of red cabbage and spaetzle. Â I cleared my plate.
One of my fellows had the curry wurst, and if I get a chance to go back, that will definitely be on my list--German sausage draped in curry powder with a spicy ketchup. Â It was really special.
So, although the decor, service, and prices leave something to be desired, if you're in the area, go for the food--that you won't regret.
This is a great place. Â Reading the reviews, my favorite line is :
"Take the restaurant on the restaurant's terms. Don't expect a trendy spot. It's a solid, hearty, delicious find in the foothills. Douchebags need not enter." Â
I concur!
The food here is amazing. Â If you are looking for a place to get your favorite fare from your last trip to Germany, this is the place. Â
Great wiener schnitzle, better Jaeger Schnitzle, and the hits just keep coming. Â Best sauerkraut ever, great red cabbage.. It's all good!
And, yes, if you are really looking for the true German experience, the staff isn't going to fawn over you the second you step through the door. Â While they may not live up to the average local expectation of overly bubblegummy hostesses, they are genuine, kind, and polite, and will not leave you waiting for more than a few minutes while they prepare for you. Â
They do have a reasonable selection of bottled beer from Germany, but I'm hoping that if I visit during the peak season, the taps are back to being active. Â If not, the bottles are cheaper than any other place you will find around Boulder for similar product, so no major complaints! Â Rock solid restaurant, with waaaaaay above average food. Â
The other great thing about the truly European experience you get here? The food comes out PIPING HOT. Â Most of our restaurants bring you luke warm food that's been sitting under a heat lamp. Â Not here. Â It comes straight out of the cooker on heated plates to your table. Â
So, come for the food and the beer, and the relaxed atmosphere. You won't regret it!
We live down the road, but (so you know where our food palates are) have spent several years living and eating in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. We lived in Napa and have traveled in Europe and LOVE to eat. Farmers markets are a regular occurrence for us and we both cook and make our own charcuterie. We are not biased on type of cuisine as long as it's GOOD. We've dined in dive bars (fried bacon tater tots!) and have eating at restaurants with multiple Michelin stars.
So. That's where we come from.
When the in-laws came to visit, we went to The Hof. I will get to our meal in a second...
We discovered the place after we moved into 'the hills' this last summer. When a friend came to visit, we decided to test it out and see what it was like. We thoroughly enjoyed (and meant to share) our dishes of jaeger schnitzel, bratwurst and whatever she ordered. It doesn't matter. Food arrived and we wolfed our plates down. Service was definitely 'slow', but here's the thing - there are two people working the house AND cooking, maybe with one other person in the kitchen. If it's crowded, they are going to be busy. Turn your cell phone off (you probably don't get reception up here anyway) and make conversation. Wait for the food. It will come and it will be delicious.
Start with the tomato soup with creme fraiche. Herby, deliciousness in a bowl. Dunk the bread in it, it's ok. Promise.
Choose a beer - they have several Bavarian imports on draft and in bottles (Warsteiner Dunkel, etc) and serve them in proper beer glasses - not American pints. Enjoy the view if it's daylight.
So anyway, February 2012 and the family is in town. Yes, we waited to get seated (no one staffed the bar so we waited in their 'lobby' - couches, some German tour books, magazines, etc and a fireplace) but the two FOH people did acknowledge us and once they had cleared or set tables, we were seated. Drinks were ordered and showed up - probably slower than most people are used to, but they were good. Just beer. They have regular alcohol and a wine list, but stick with beer. It's just easier.
Food. Now... the tomato soup again - on a freezing winter night, it doesn't get much better. Thick, creamy and fragrant. Bright and delicious. The salad composed of three kinds of pickles - magic pickled carrots, deep magenta pickled beets and pickled green beans. It's a very common thing to have 'back there' and they were good, if a bit soft and home-made in texture. Not 'crisp out of a jar'. But not awful, either. I think soup's the way to go.
For our entrees we had venison ragout, saurbraten, stroganoff and the bratwurst plate. Most came with spaetzle (delicious, soft, fabulous, wiggly dumpling-pasta) and red cabbage (made soft with apple cider I think - it was amazing!). Everything was shared (we sort of planned in advance for this one) and we all cleared our plates. The venison was tender, slow-cooked and the brown 'jus' gravy thick and hearty. It is NOT diet food. It is "special night out" food or "man it's a dark and cold winter night" food. The brats were a white, smooth-ground sausage and a traditional brat - both good in snappy skin and good distinct flavor for each. The stroganoff had whole mushrooms in it, a hint of vodka and a thick gravy. (Most everything comes with a mushroom cream sauce - just roll with it). The saurbraten had a tang of caraway seed (from the pumpernickel/raisin blend) and was fork-tender.
We couldn't possibly fit dessert in to our night. (And we had fresh-baked brownies at the house...)
So here's the deal - the food is fabulous. Thick, hearty, rich, 'old world style' and very homey. It's 'my grandmother used to make this' type of food. The service is dicey - yes, it's slow. It will set people off. But they will answer questions about the menu, guide you in choices if you're struggling and your food WILL get there. Be nice and civil and you'll get pretty good attention. We showed up at 7pm on a Saturday (Reservations required at all times!!) and the parking lot was packed - by the time we left, at 9pm, our car was one of 6 left, and two or three probably belonged to employees. The daughter folks have mentioned in previous reviews was no where to be seen - but a few tables had small (4 and under?) kiddos with them - and there was no incident of yelling babies or anything like that. It sort of looks like someone's living room - so brace yourself. Lots of nutcrackers, beer steins and gingerbread houses. But oh... the food!!!
Take the restaurant on the restaurant's terms. Don't expect a trendy spot. It's a solid, hearty, delicious find in the foothills. Douchebags need not enter.
AVOID.
I only gave it one star because there weren't any lesser choices.
I have never encountered a more rude waitress / hostess / whatever her title is in my entire life. After no greeting while I stood at the front door / desk for 10 minutes as she walked by 3 or 4 times, the young man working there (waiter or busboy I don't know) came up and asked me if I was there for dinner. As I replied yes, Ms. Personality stomped over, grabbed a menu and walked off, assuming I was to follow her I did, she took me around a corner into the back area of the restaurant, threw the menu down on the table and walked off. For the next 15 minutes I studied the menu (looked great), watched her walk to the three tables around me offering more water, more beers, made a few trips to the bar, took dirty plates from customers, and not once did she come by to offer me water or a beer. I got up and walked out at the 18 minute mark. I have NO TIME and NO PATIENCE for poor service and rude attitudes of unprofessional staff. I will never step foot in this place again. We are of German decent and I have 6 family members showing up this weekend, we'll be going to Crakovia in Westminster (I highly recommend this restaurant; excellent service and very good food) for dinner. Too bad, the menu at Westfalen Hof looked great, but I agree with another posting here, way to expensive for what you get. Add in the horrible service and it's a definite NO for us. Why waste time and gas making a trip up the canyon to be treated like that? I think not....
Seems that a lot has changed in the past few years since others reviewed Westfalen Hof. No beer on draft, the proprietor tries but fails at being friendly, the service is lacking, and much of the food seemed like what u would get at a Movenpick at the Munich Airport! Â If u are hungry and driving by, maybe worth a stop. If not, don't go!
Review Source:I went there recently after driving by it many times. Â The food was great, the views were great out the back window, and the staff was courteous. Â I very much liked Westfalen Hof. Â Only bad point was the service -- it took a long time to get our meal. Maybe an hour. Â Fortunately once we got it it tasted great. Â I look forward to returning.
Review Source:My wife and I went today to try it and were pleased with the quality and flavor of the food. Like Hans said, this place is 100% authentic, the owners are from Westfalen Deutschland.
After trying Helga's and Golden European we have something to compare it to (here in the Denver area); the Goulash was thick and better than Helga's and the Currywurst und Pommes-Frites was some of the best food I've ever eaten! Â We both like Helga's potato salad better, but there are endless recipes and this one is good, just not what we are used to. My wife liked the Bratwurstplatte better than the other local places too.
Totally delicious. I've driven by this place so many times and yet failed to go in, always thinking maybe I smelled too bad from hiking all day and they wouldn't take me...
The aroma of Westfalen Hof is so good, it covered my vagrance. I had the saubraten with homemade spaetzel & red cabbage, and my spousal had the butcher's plate - bratwurst, pork chop & knockwurst. Â It was stick to your ribs fulfilling. Great beer selection, carefully prepared German/European food, cute and family owned. This is a don't miss if you're hungry from a day in the hills. Kind of spendy, but its worth it- this is a family sort of place.
Yelp says I should put 5 stars for "Woohoo! As good as it gets!". As far as German food here in the Denver area, this is indeed the place.
I'm from Germany, and have been looking for good middle European places. Most are very ... average. Muddled down to the lowest common denominator. Soggy cabbage rolls in a "red sauce" that might as well have been Heinz ketchup. Why bother?
Well, the fine folks at the Westfalen Hof _do_ bother. Day after day, for far too few customers (mostly regulars it seems). Authentic rolls (cabbage/meat, that is), pierogi, veal.
Everything as authentic and german as anything I've ever eaten in the old country. Warning: this means it is laden with butter, sugar and white flour. But it tastes wonderful. I think my favorite were the subtle yet rich Koeniginnenpastetchen (appetizer). One niggle: a couple things were too salty for me. But that might just be me - I think the food in pretty much all american restaurants is too salty.
The environs are beautiful (at 9000ft in the Rockies), if a bit windy to sit outside some days. We saw a herd of deer pass by our windows. The decor very proper and german, you might find it charming or stiffling.
The owner's daughter (as mentioned in other reviews) has the run of the place. If you can not handle her 5 year old self you might be put off. But she is very sweet and well behaved and does leave you in peace if asked to go away. My 4 year old son had a great time playing with her, which helped pass the time till the food arrived.
This is a special place that deserves to be taken on its own terms.
This is basically Eastern European/German tavern food. Â Something a peasant would eat after a long hard day in the fields. Â It isn't gourmet and shouldn't be priced as such--this isn't downtown Vienna. Â $20 for cabbage rolls is about 1000% mark-up for what my mom makes them. Â But that's an insider's opinion.
It's in a cute mountain-y location, though it's usually too windy to really sit on the patio and enjoy the views. Â
It's a family-run business. Â The owners' small kid had the run of the place and had a bit of unsupervised presence throughout the meal. Â Add a star if you think it's Euro-cute and take one away if that sort of stuff annoys you. Â You can guess where I stand.
"Fine German and European cuisine" is their claim to fame, and the food - well let me say this, it's probably the finest veal Weiner Schnitzel that I have had outside of schnitzel stalls in Vienna . Â They have the Dunkel dark beer on tap and worth venturing from the Bud and Miller light lineup we are all accustomed to. Â And the Goulash was bowl licken' good. Â With the fresh bread and butter, you can't ask for a better dipping medium. Â And then the schnitzel comes, milk fed veal, pounded flat, with the just right batter and fried just right. Â I don't think you can get better German/Austrian food than this. Â The atmosphere is like stepping into a German Hauss, and the service is beyond exceptional. Â If you happen to venture up into the foothills, then make an effort to stop by.
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