Dittmer's Gourmet Meats & Wurst-Haus
Categories: Delis, Meat Shops, Sandwiches [Edit]
400 San Antonio RdMountain View, CA 94040 (650) 941-3800
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Sat 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
32 reviews
Mountain View, CA
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146 Reviews for Dittmer's Gourmet Meats & Wurst-Haus
If you've never eaten smoked duck breast I highly recommend you stop by Dittmer's and pick one up. They do it and they do it well. Try it thinly sliced with a nice piece of crusty bread, a dab of stone ground mustard and sliver of gruyere. You won't be sorry!
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Ok so normally i'd dock a point for the so so service from the lady's in the sandwhich section. But the guys in the meats section service is pretty good so i'll have to break even this time.
Without getting to fancy, this place sausage rocks. I have yet to try one that i don't like. The selection is amazing, the only fear i have is living within 15 miles of here and making this a regular visit until i get a heart attack.
The sandwhiches can use better bread but i'm starting to think that's a common problem in this area. Where does one get fresh bread up here? But for the price,time, and quality it's still a great sandwhich place.
I love you guys and i'd give you 5 stars but the bread issue needs to be addressed.
I'd like to express my undying love for Dittmer's.
I originally came here for a German class project to practice ordering food in German. After actually buying their Louisiana Hot Link sandwich (or whatever it's called) I was hooked.
Now whenever I come here all I can say is, "Nom nom nomnomnom."
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Good selection of meats and really fast service. I had a turkey sandwich with avacado and it was pretty good. It tasted how I would expect an average turkey sandwich with avacado would taste, but judging by what I saw other people ordering, their other stuff looked like it might taste really good. The next time I go I might try something different like one of their sausage sandwiches which looked really good.
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Cheap sandwiches + phenomenal meat selection + knowledgeable butchers + homemade award winning meat products + goods I grew up with in Switzerland = 5 stars
My only complaint about Dittmer's, is that they only get their bread delivered at 10:30am- so they can't meet my occasional early morning meat/sandwich cravings.
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1) Some good choice of meat, but be ready to pay a ridiculous price. Paid $58 for 16oz NY steak for two & 8 oz rib eye. The guy actually added insult to injury when he found smart to tell me "it's fresh beef"
2) Germany is to charcuterie what china is to wine
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I'm not a super big fan of hams, sausage items, or corned beef; but if we do an impromptu get-together amongst friends, then Dittmer's is a must on my list.
They do have the best, freshest and most authentic meats of this kind.
The service is friendly and prompt, but try to avoid the lunch crowds if you can.
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Get yo meatz here!!!
How have I lived in the area all my life and never known about Dittmers? I don't know, but it happened. True story.
In honor of 'spring forward', we had our first BBQ this wkd, what better way to celebrate than with some meats from Dittmers?!?!?! Any opportunity to head over there and I am on it. Some friends served up tasty meats from here last summer and we've been going back ever since.
This place is a sausage factory, literally....as someone else already pointed out. They make their own, so try them ALL. We are about 1/2way through the options.
So far our fave is the paprika smoked sausage and also the jalapeno cheddar is a new fave. Their Santa Maria tri-tip is requested at almost all parties we throw. Didn't know they had Santa Maria marinated hangar steak as well, next time.
I love getting their smoked chicken breast, and using it to make sandwiches and quesadillas for us during the week. Their frankfurters....fabulous. I am not a hot dog fan but these are amazing. I recommended the frankfurters to a friend who was hosting her son's 2nd birthday recently and they were the biggest hit of the party (well besides the cupcakes of course).
Get there, take a #...and wait. It can be 2 minutes or 20 minutes on Saturdays. Downer is they are not open Sundays so you have to plan ahead if you want to BBQ on a Sunday. I can't tell you how many Sunday afternoons I am like *#!&#....I want some Dittmers and we instead get pizza.
In the land of super corporate markets that pepper our Bay Area landscape serving up organic, free-range, and tofu-friendly...Dittmer's Meat is an old-school refreshing breath of pork-filled air. They also make sandwiches, but I work nowhere near here so will probably never try their lunchie offerings, so sad.
Oh and while you wait...check out all their yummy packaged goodies along the wall in the tiny shop. Funny breads, cheeses, spaetzle and German dessert mixes. Every Ritter Sport known to man??
I feel like I need a Paxil every time I come here because my brain kicks into overdrive. Must. Try. Everything.
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I ordered a ham sandwich on sweet sourdough roll and the roll was not fresh and the sandwich wasn't that tasty. Fast service and cheap so that was good but I expected more from this deli in terms of quality of food.
If you are as sick of Subway and Quiznos sandwiches as I am, try Dittmers. The turkey sandwiches are great. Remember to get there 30 minutes before closing on the weekends otherwise they will not make your sandwich. I have also bought several of their sausages for BBQs and am a fan of their hot links.
loooooves me some dittmer's! this place is smoked meat heaven.
the sandwiches are delicious (i personally recommend the garlic sausage or the smoked turkey with smoked cheddar with smoked bread and smoked lettuce and smoked mustard and smoked unicorns dancing on top...i digress) but their meat counter is something to behold as well.
during the summer i love to come here and buy their poultry sausages for a bbq in the backyard. portabello mushroom, yum. they're parboiled - already cooked so you just need to stripe 'em and you're ready to eat.
having a cold cuts party? get your tray here, the cost is not much more than safeway and it's so much more delicious. also, SMOKIER. i don't really know what a cold cuts party is but admit it - you totally want to have one now. call dittmer's.
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I've been to Dittmer's twice; once for a sandwich, once for tasso and andouille. The sandwich, corned beef, was good and the accompanying potato salad was as well. A previous reviewer who raved about their andouille and tasso was right on. I've been making gumbo and jambalaya for years and this place makes some of the best andouille and tasso I've had. The batch of gumbo I made with it was one of my best yet and I attribute it to the aforementioned a&t, although the perfectly dark roux helped.
Some reviews had some sanitary concerns, specifically with employees making sandwiches after handling money using the same gloves. Both times I was there I watched for that. Each time the person taking money changed gloves before returning to food handling.
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Over a dozen different kinds of Bratwurst .... cooking instructions from the butcher .... the smell of the place alone is awesome .... Tofu eating hippies, just stay in Palo Alto PLEASE! .... a great place to stock your freezer for the coming BBQ days of spring .... Their wurst is the best! Try the Farmer's 'thrice smoked' Brats .... the caraway seeds add to it's distinct flavor and best of all, they are ready to eat! Put your package in the trunk, but, keep these in your passenger seat for the drive home!
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Dittmer's has been my favorite deli since I moved to the Bay Area 7 years ago. I use to work at a company across the street. I would always walk over to get their "special" for lunch. It's always delicious. They have so many meats to choose from.
My boyfriend loves to cook and fell in love with this place as well. We made several different kinds of sausages from scratch with all the ingredients from Dittmer's.
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Yea, I got up this morning and I thought, "yes, ground up animal parts...that would be sweet to injest today." Then I woke up in a cold sweat. Nice bathroom though.
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THE best meats hands down: enough said! Aside from the genuine following and fans, Dittmer's has won awards and recognition for the quality of their products. If you're looking for a hearty, delicious, authentic deli sandwiches (without heading to the city, and really... some of those reviews are over-rated) look no further. A once a month (at the very least) staple: Dittmer's Pastrami Reuben. Mmmm!
Decided to make some Gumbo for the Super Bowl, er sorry "The Big Game." Lets be clear, making Gumbo isn't picking up a box of Zatarain's at Safeway and throwing in a couple of pieces of organic free range chicken from Whole Foods...it's whippen up a good'ol soup stock from scratch, fresh rouge and authentic meats that make it a Cajun masterpiece.
My recipe mixes seafood (crab + shrimp) and meat (chicken + andouille) and takes 2 days to prepare. Dittlmer's is the only place west of Lake Charles that sells Andouille sausage worth spending time to put the rest of the ingredients together. The other meats are that worthy as well...is it made from antibiotic free, shade grown pigs? I have no f*ing idea, but it rocks.
They also carry a bunch of German food stuffs and bonus points for knife sharpening once a month. My Wusthoff appreciates the fine Tuetonic tuning.
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If you love good meat, then you will love this place. Genuine Nuerenburger sausages are the best. It doesn't matter what your heritage may be, the have the meat-product of your childhood here, authentic and tasty. The nuernburgers are my favorite, but the chicken and broccoli sausage is great, as is their garlic sausage and their bratwurst. Seriously, for german sausage, there is no better place in the bay area.
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Ahh, smell of sausages and bratwurst ... :)
It's a local store in Mountain View that offers fresh sausages, best one in bay area as far as I know. If you know how to enjoy hand-made sausages, you should go to Dittmer's and try theirs. It's just great.
Reasonably priced meat and sausages, as well as their various kinds of sandwiches ... Always crowded during lunch hours, so plan ahead. My only complaint is that they seem to close a bit too early (6PM) so that I can't stop by after work.
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I wouldn't go during the work day because you leave smelling like smoked meat. But that's part of the charm and quality of what you get here. Pair this with Milk Pail just across the street and you can skip the Safeway just within view.
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oh my lord did i run around this shop like a kid in a sausage store. i was engaging in some serious "supermarket sweep", loading heaps of yummy imported german goodies into my basket, like marzipan kartoffeln (marzipan in the shape of potatoes, strange yet delicious), sauerbraten spice, mustard from dusseldorf... they even had tubs of schmalz, which is goose fat you can spread on bread then sprinkle with salt. this was all before taking in the beauty that is their meat counter which goes the entire length of the shop!
people, i think they must have 50 different types of sausages here, and i love me some sausage. sorry, but we all know it's true. everything here is fresh and delicious and the employees are very helpful when it comes to cooking times and suggestions. the bratwurst i purchased here were some of the best i've ever had and the bacon was PERFECT. if you are watching your girlish figure they offer a few chicken sausages that i'm sure aren't half bad, but there wasn't any way i was leaving there with something that wasn't a beef and pork byproduct. fuck i eat scrapple people, chicken sausage?? wtf man.
i cannot believe someone was annoyed they didn't offer free range or organic meats, you are seriously lucky they are not carving the bloody pig right there in front of you and then wrapping a leg up in yesterday's newspaper this place is that old school. the local butcher is a rarity nowadays, but i'm not saying you have to do all of shopping here. i do actually try to purchase organic and free range as much as possible, but when you're coming to a wursthaus that hasn't even changed a LIGHTBULB since 1978 just shut up and eat.
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This place has great sandwiches. I love the Ham and Cheese on Dutch Crunch and the Tuna Salad sandwich. The regular potato salad is fantastic. The sausage sandwiches are excellent as well.
The meat is also awesome. Friendly staff, great service and awesome food. This place is fantastic!
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I love this place. Seriously the best pastrami sandwich in the world.
Which I like to think says a lot since I only ever get pastrami sandwiches at delis and cafes and will only occasionally settle for the roast beef when pastrami is not available (I have considered coming back to check out the roast beef though).
Some places, like Saul's in Berkeley, have amazing meat and are "authentic" in that they don't give you tomatoes and lettuce unless you ask for it. I like lettuce and tomato on my sandwich, thank you very much, since I like to think that I am having something remotely healthy for me and not just strips of pastrami with lots of fat.
I got the pastrami sandwich, and having read the reviews about not changing gloves, paid particular attention to that aspect. I am happy to report that they did change gloves in between making my sandwich and collecting my cash. The pastrami was lean, flavorful and simply amazing, and there was a good ratio of meat to veggies. The sauce glued the sandwich together very well.
I was initially suspicious since, despite the good reviews, the people behind the counter did not seem that friendly and it took me forever to get their attention. When I did, they were very nice and when I saw the sandwich they'd made and told them I don't eat peppers, they asked me if I wanted them to take the peppers out. I asked if they could make the sandwich again. They happily agreed, and voila, I had a new sandwich without the dreaded peppers. I paid with a debit card since I didn't have cash, which was nice since it seems like they only accept cash? The sandwich did not initially look very impressive, but it was heavenly once I bit into it. Amazing.
I also bought a thing of prosciutto from the fridge which was amazing, although a bit on the salty side. It went along with my garlic brie from the milk pail and dutch crunch from the palo alto baking company into several very good sandwiches later that week. It was also reasonably price - both were, actually, the sandwich about 6 dollars and the prosciutto, which can be very pricy (esp. at AG Ferrari!) was about 5-7 (don't really remember). All in all, everything was worth it, amazing, and has had me salivating at the prospect of going back.
It's also a really cute operation - very friendly. I asked the owner about whether or not I could keep the prosciutto out for awhile - I wasn't planning on going back home for several hours and was worried what would happen if I bought it. He responded jovially that it's been hanging in a cave for a year, there's no problem with taking it around outside for a couple of hours. :)
The meat is so good and tons of selection of sausages and meat! Service is just ok since they always have a line on the weekend. I have never had their sandwichs so don't know if good.
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A fine selection of meats and sausage. I also like the variety of products they share - exotics meats in their freezers, great breakfast fruit/jam spreads, crackers, etc.
I like to pick up breakfast links here and have been wanting to try their famous salmon.
Don't expect a warm greeting when you walk-in. Which I kinda like because who likes those insincere fake Gap 'hellos' you get when you walk in?
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Ick!!
I ordered a sandwich from the man behind the counter (who was wearing those "deli" gloves), but before he started my sandwich he made change for someone who had just received his finished sandwich, but WITH his gloves still on! He took a some bills from the guy, and then gave him back a bill, plus change. Then he grabbed a wadded up napkin that was by the cash register and put it in the garbage - and then he started making my sandwich.
I asked him if he would please wash his hands before making my sandwich, but he held up his hands and told me he was wearing gloves. I acknowledged that I was aware of that fact, and that with those same gloves he had just disposed of garbage. He looked at me and shrugged, and so I just walked out. I don't know what makes some people think that there are "magic gloves" out there, that you can do anything with - and then safely handle food. I wouldn't be surprised if he even keeps them on even during his restroom break...
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If you live in or near Mountain View are are planning a BBQ, do stop by Dittmer's and pick up their tri-tip. Everyone will be asking where you got it. Good stuff!
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Dittmer's is pretty good; I got a corned beef sandwich there once and I had high expectations, but it was not stellar. Nonetheless I will go back there to give it another chance.
I know it's not very Girly but I prefer salty to sweet snacks any day of the week. I love Dittmer's because they have a great selection of German goodies, meats and beers. They have a friendly helpful staff and the place is always clean. The only thing that sucks is that they aren't open on Sundays.
The sausage sandwiches at Dittmer's are top notch. I enjoy the thuringer which tends to be the special sausage sandwich of the day. The sandwich is a little pricey, but it's high quality and very filling. I have to take an hour break between eating the two halves of the sandwich. During lunch there tends to be a line, so be prepared to wait a few minutes alongside other salivating lunch goers (I hope that image doesn't scare you away).
It's a local mom and pop looking place and people love it. I don't know if it lives up to the hype, but I got a really good smoked turkey thingy sandwich here. That's the kind of turkey that comes in some sausage looking thingy that's smoked and tastes very rich.
Oh yeah, for first timers: there will be a million people in there and no indication of where you order. So just find the first sandwich maker by the door that makes eye contact and order from him / her.
superb polish sausage!
fyi - on saturdays, the sandwich stall is open till 4:30pm.
i thought they close at 2 pm ... so we were rushing and when we got there, there's a queue in that itty bitty store. but it was worth the wait.
Abe Froman, eat your heart out. Dittmer's is the SAUSAGE KING of the Bay Area.
I am an extremely intense sausage fan (keep your homoerotic comments to yourselves) who has scoured the entire region for the most delicious weiners. I say with no hyperbole whatsoever that Dittmer's is the undisputed leader of the pack with no close second.
I once heard that the three most beautiful words in the English language are "meat in casing" and I couldn't agree more. I regularly hit the sausage stands at the Ferry Building farmer's market, including the real champs like Fatted Calf, Prather Ranch and Golden Gate Meat Company. Whenever I go to Mollie Stone's or Adronico's I make a bee line straight to the sausage case.
None of those places has anything on Dittmer's.
First of all it is a proven scientific fact, not simply my arrogant opinion, that they have THE BEST BRATWURST IN THE ENTIRE BAY AREA. And not only do they have the best bratwurst, but they have several different kinds of it. My favorite is the original German-style, which is par-boiled and comes off the grill looking like it came straight outta Deutschland. It's chewy, snappy, and makes your BBQ guests perk up and take notice. They also have a fresh Sheboygan bratwurst which is good and looks more appealing to those who think that pre-cooked meat isn't as satisfying to grill, but when it comes to sausages a good BBQ chef knows that pre-boiled or pre-smoked meats come off much juicier.
But it doesn't stop there - Dittmer's is more than just German-style sausages, although their knackwurst is just as succulent. Their Italian sausages are as good as anything I've had outside of Fenway Park. Both their polish sausage (smoked) and kielbasa (par-boiled) are first-rate. The merguez? Possibly also the best in the Bay Area in that category.
And yes, the variety just doesn't stop. In addition to traditional sausages they also make some nouveau California flavors such as jalapeno cheddar and chicken broccoli.
I have yet to try the Ukrainian ring which is so big that it looks like it was made with an elephant casing, but it gets rave reviews from other customers I've talked to.
All of the above are usually available unfrozen. In the freezer you'll find additional goodies such as South African boerwoers (one of my all-time favorites), Danish medisterpoise and Swedish potato sausage. I mean seriously, where do you even find Danish medisterpoise anywhere in California outside of Solvang, let alone ALL of the above?
Oh yeah - Dittmer's also has all kinds of other smoked meats plus real imported German specialties like sauerkraut and spaetzle. And of couse they've also got real German sausage condiments like schaslick sauce and curry ketchup.
Let me give you another piece of advice. If you see any reviewers here give this place anything less than 4 stars then you can ignore all other reviews that they have on Yelp because they clearly don't know what the hell they're talking about.
And I'm gonna say this one more time just to be obnoxious and because it's the understatement of the year: DITTMER'S HAS THE BEST BRATWURST IN THE ENTIRE BAY AREA!
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This place is about a block away from my house and I never thought to come here until this past weekend. I walked in and the smell was awesome. It was a deli, not like the one at safeway or anything, it was a dedicated deli. I didn't want to wait in the line, but I could see the meat cases and I wanted to try a lot of it. I ended up just asking for a sandwich out of impatience. Now I don't usually like sour kraut, but I ordered their rueben with pastrami cause they had a sign that insinuated it was something they were proud of. It was very good and smelled wonderful. Service is sort of slow so I will have to plan better next visit.
* They sell little candies too that you don't see too often. Honeydrops being one of them.
SHORT & SWEET: I'm not sure what it is, but there's something a bit strange about this place; family-run establishment; near-silent service with a scowl at worst and indifference at best; admittedly tremendous selection of meats and sausage of consistently high quality; freezers full of rare game (ostrich, venison, etc.) and who knows what else; they make their own sausage in the back, which is no small comfort; I can't quite put my finger on it, and perhaps regulars are greeted with a heart-warming smile without the creepy-crawlies; Defintely worth a try for Stephen King fans.
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Dittmers is right about one thing: It's definitely German because the service stinks! Rude is an under-statement, especially from the women working there. What is their problem???
In 2006, I pre-ordered a pork loin and when I picked it up it was roughly 50% fat and 50% meat. It pretty much ruined our Christmas dinner because there wasn't enough food. I came back a few days after to share the problem with them and had a bit argument over whose fault it was. They ended up giving me a $10 store credit (good towards more fat).
This year, I went back and got a piece of meat that hopefully works better. Time will tell. Still, service was slow and rude. Feels like you need to apologize for being their customer.
Certainly the selection is great, although they don't seem to have caught onto the organic, range or anti-biotics free scene whatsoever. I only shopped here again to use the coupon. Prefer Whole Foods or Gene's Fine Foods for great selection, free range meats, and friendly service. Auf wiedersehen, Dittmers!
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Very authentic old world butcher shop. Its probably a totally different experience for those who have lived in Germany or thereabouts vs. those who haven't. Regardless, seek out the owner (the bald guy) for advice for proper preparation or side dishes, etc. He's not only a fountain of information but his passion and pride for the food really comes through.
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I passed by this hole in the wall everyday on my way into work for 2 years. Never really thought about going there beacuse there are so many other great restaruants in my area to go for lunch. Then one day, my car was on the fritz and I had to carpool to work which meant no car. So i had to go to places walking distance. Lemme tell you. THIS PLACE IS A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH!
affordable and just plain good. Nothing fancy. no "arugla beds covered in a lucious signature sauce atop a pile of deli thin roast beef".... no BS. just meat. cheese. veggies. bomb-ola bread...no frills, just good food.
i HIGHLY reccomend getting a great sandiwich here:
My fav? Roast been on Dutch Crunch.. Everything on it. mmm mmm mmm
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Delicious sandwiches. Tasty meats, and fresh breads and veggies. Their turkey on dutch crunch is particularly good. They've also got a lot of other European treats you can tempt yourself with while you wait. :)
Thank you, Mommy, for stuffing my little pig belly with Dittmer's meats while I was growing up. My mom still frequently picks up their flavorful smoked chickens and little sausage links as a treat for the family. The smoked whole turkeys that are offered around Thanksgiving time are absolutely sensational. However, I am quite puzzled about the ingredients of their veal. Over ten years ago, an employee (hopefully jokingly) informed me that they mix calf meat with pork because pure veal is too dry. Uhh...what?!
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