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- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
816 reviews for Red Lion Tavern
Review Highlights
"For the grub I suggest the sausage platter/sampler."
(in 81 reviews)
"Oh yeah - and try the potato pancakes, they're delish."
(in 61 reviews)
"if you dare, try das boot, a 64 oz boot shaped brewski."
(in 17 reviews)
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815 reviews in English
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Review from Keely D.
Sierra Madre, CA
2/7/2012
This place is pretty cool. Like previous reviews have read, the parking is tight and on an incline - but you can find street parking around the area.
When you enter on the ground floor, you'll see the main bar. The interior is dark, but inviting - like a German pub. You can go up a flight of narrow stairs that wrap around to the second floor where there is another small bar - there are a few rooms upstairs with booths and a patio area. It's like a house converted into a pub, I've never been to a place quite like it!
One word: dumbwaiter. They use a dumbwaiter to deliver food to the second floor! It was the cherry on top of the kitsch of the place.
I don't eat meat, so I cannot comment on the sausage platter other than to say that a friend of mine had it and said it was quite good. I had a dark lager, the dunkel, it was quite good.
The beers are a bit pricey, but you can always go across the street to the Cha Cha Lounge for a few cheap drinks afterward ; ) -
Review from Paul W.
Pasadena, CA
2/7/2012
Fun place
The Monday Night Workout guys ended up here on Monday night, and ate in the dining room after a beer on the patio.
We had all sort of German foods, sausage, potatoes, schnitzel, wursts, etc.
I drank lager all night, but those who chose wine had small selection.
Our waitress was fun and let the table of old guys carry on, and joined in with us too.
Good experience in the old German style restaurant. Check out all the German ceramics and stuff on the walls. -
Review from Bobby D.
Glendale, CA
2/2/2012
Very authentic German food!
We came here right before the dinner service ended on the patio, which I have to add is a really cool spot! The beer selection is great
The cheese plate was a little generic for our tastes. It seemed like very plebeian varieties. The sausages, however, were spot on! What a great tasting, authentic grub.
Very divey and a mad cool spot to go for drinks. -
Review from Cynthia S.
Glendale, CA
1/31/2012
This is a very great location to come and hang out with friends and just sit, talk, relax, eat, drink and have fun. No one rushes you to get up to leave. Tables are hard to find but have some patience and you will!
We were a group of 6 ppl and went straight to the outdoor area and waiting till we found a table.
I was starving and couldn't wait till I got some food... I ordered the Bratwurst! it was really good... It wasnt enough food for my starving stomach, so I ordered a side of fries as well and that hit the spot!
got a beer as well, but I had someone else order for me, since I was so busy staring at the menu trying to figure out what I wanted to feed my empty Stomach!!!
got a light beer, (dont know the name sorry) but it was fantastic!!!
Great hang out! will come back for sure... want to try other items on the menu so I can change my rating to 5 stars =]
Side note: They stamp your hand at the front door for 21+... the ink was sooooo liquidy that it stained my friends white jacket... sad.... and it got all over someone elses hands, and I couldnt wash it off for 2 days!! haha.. -
Review from Chanel C.
1/26/2012 1 photo
DASSSS BOOOOOTTT!!
I almost overdosed on beer here, I tried a couple beers that I really liked but I couldnt finish my Spaten Optimator Doppelbock for the life of me.
I got beer munchies so I ordered the Fish n Chips. Sooo good and sooo filling. The plate was MASSIVE. More food than I could handle.
BRO UP & DRINK UP! -
Review from Joseph L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/6/2012
Authentically styled German pub serving a wide selection of beer as well as a decadent sausage platter sampler that will feast your appetite. 3 separate levels complete with an outside patio with gas lamp heaters and good atmosphere
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Review from Jackie D.
1/18/2012
This is a great local bar for a wonderful variety of beers. Its very casual, has an excellent patio for mingling with friends and well, its full of rustic charm. Its not very big and the its true to the German Tavern it wants to be. Its been around for a long time and has looked the same the entire time. Get the idea?
Its laid back and you can always count on Red Lion for a quick bite to eat and a beer. I would say most people come here for the booze more than the food, but both are good. -
Review from Linda L.
Rosemead, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
All I have to say is BAD SERVICE!!!! Beware, our server (I like to call her the old MISERABLE German hag) is a biatchh! She was so rude to everyone and was not helpful at all. It was our first time dining there so we had a few simple questions in regards to suggestions and of course her opinion on what is usually the most popular dishes. Not that hard to answer right? But nooooo.. not only did that lady brushed us off but pretty much implied that we were stupid for not knowing the menu. WOW.
Anyways, she rudely threw a few recommendations out after what seemed like forever. We had the Sausage Platter (decent) and two other dishes that I don't remember the name to and can't seem to find on the menu anymore (no surprise). But forget about the names, the stupid hag asked if we enjoyed the meal and we nicely expressed to her how the food was decent besides one of the dishes. She then shrugged her shoulders and said "oh well, you live and you learn" and walked off.
WILL NOT be returning to the Red Lion Tavern. Thanks. -
Review from Razmig M.
Pasadena, CA
1/17/2012
One of my FAVORITE bars in all of Los Angeles. This place has charm falling out the windows (if it had windows).
Red Lion Tavern is a German themed bar/restaurant with two levels and lots of hidden corners and cushy booths. Great place to take a date or meet up with a bunch of friends.
In addition it has an awesome outdoor beer garden area. This place is truely unique; there's not like it in L.A. -
Review from Janice S.
San Jose, CA
1/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
What a weird place. Gotta say that the old German lady downstairs in the young German girl's get-up was really effin' rude to me when I went there. I ordered a beer, could only afford to pay with a debit card and the old lady got mad at me. She said, hella loud in front of a bar full of customers, "it costs us more to pay with a credit card than to sell just one beer! I can't believe people don't even carry $5 in cash anymore!" She didn't even look at me as she screamed it. But everyone else did. What a great way to feel welcome at this bar.
Seriously, what a bitch. Little did she know, I did have $5 cash in my wallet, but I didn't have enough cash to tip the bitch. So I thought I should pay with my card just so that I could be nice and tip her. And here she was being really ungrateful, unknowing and rude. I complained to a waitress but she also didn't relay it to the manager for me. I don't know what's up with the service here, but they really need some attitude adjustments. The kicker: I actually decided to tip the old lady after all. Geez.
I probably won't be back here. I had a good time with my friends here. The crowd is mixed, the parking lot is a plus and the appetizers (especially the fries) were really good. But fries ain't enough to make me come back. -
Review from Rachel W.
West Hollywood, CA
1/12/2012
Love this place! Great German food with a cool ambiance. Sit outside in the beer garden, its the best spot. Inside is a little awkward but fine too.
I usually order the sausage sampler and the eisbein (pork shank). Their potato salad is good and the sauerkraut is good.
Great selection of german beers on tap.
Service is good, and the girls in the beer garden where the little german outfit...thats hot. -
Review from Lisette E.
Los Angeles, CA
1/16/2012
So it was my first time coming to this place & let me just say I have never had such bad service in my life. Which is a shame because I really liked the food and beer.
I had bought one of those google offer deals pay for $8 get $16, well when i presented it to the old german lady downstairs she started to yell at my friend & i and got really mad. Not to mention I didn't get my whole $16 of a deal, they still owe $9, which would mean something if I ever planned on going back there.
Who ever owns the place needs to inform their employees about the google offers and groupons so their customers don't get ripped off. I would've talked to a manager but it was so busy i doubt the mean german lady would've gotten the manager for me.
So to sum it up good food BAD SERVICE, STAY AWAY FROM THE GERMAN LADY. She is so rude all the customers were defending themselves because she was giving attitude to everyone.
I plan on calling this establishment to talk to the manager when they open what happened was there not ok, a customer should not be afraid to order their food. -
Review from Dimitra H.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012
I'm not 21, but I can stay inside 'till 10! Probably the only 18 year old who eats here with their mom.
Prolly get drunk here in 2014 everyday because I've heard about their unique selection of beer and liquor, but for now, authentic German food will do.
Get the Schweinebraten and a side pretzel with mustard, seriously. -
Review from Mike B.
West Hollywood, CA
1/31/2012
Authentic German food. Great German beer. Awesome atmosphere. Always a lively crowd. One of my favorite places on Earth. Only gripe - food can take a long time to come out sometimes.
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Review from Lauren C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/15/2012
This is a really cool, laid-back place to hang and they have great food too!
It's completely German-inspired and has a fun ambiance, the beer garden upstairs is a nice place to sit with a lot of friends.
They have an awesome selection of beer and their German pretzels with mustard are delicious. -
Review from Chelsea S.
Tempe, AZ
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you've never been here before, it's a mix of Silverlake hipsters and off duty cops. They come for the great selection of German beer and really heavy German food--sausages, potato pancakes etc. Full bar, upstairs patio is best. Odd and funny musical entertainment on no real schedule downstairs. A very neighborhood place, popular with the locals.
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Review from Bobby G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/18/2012
Haven't had any food yet, but their beer selection is top notch! This is an authentic German restaurant. I felt like I was back in Munich for Oktoberfest. Lots of fun! Get the Spaten Optimator.
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Review from Mico C.
Santa Clara, CA
1/25/2012
Cold glass of franziskaner. mouthful of knackwurst. polish off with strudel. take home das boot. The Red Lion is one of Herman Silver's top diversions. Walt made movies on Hyperion down the slopy hill from Justice Marshall High.
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Review from Thomas L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/26/2012
Super nice German waitress. My buddy did not like the German sausages but I did. They carry only German beer, so I was outta luck asking for a Belgian white wheat beer. The berry dessert with the custard in the gravy boat was awesome. Much better than the cake.
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Review from Chuck H.
Lakewood, CA
12/12/2011
I do not have much to say about this place that hasn't been said already. I was playing in a Christmas show at the Angelus Temple and went here in between shows for beer and sausages with some musician friends.
Everyone is right:
1. The place is dark and smells of old beer and smoke.
2. Lots of interesting people coming in and out.
3. We ate downstairs because of the smoking upstairs. The smoke smell drifts downstairs. You will smell it.
3. The service is very slow. We thought we were not going to get waited on at all.
4. I had Spaten Oktoberfest - excellent. and the Saturday special which was sausages, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Also excellent, especially the sausages.
The food that I had made up for the other things. So, if you are not in a hurry and you like German beer and German food. This is a good place to go. -
Review from Rock G.
Moorpark, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great lil dark German Tavern.
Quite the cast of characters walking in and out.
The food was great. Ordered the Sausage Platter to start off. It was served with a generous amount of Hot German Mustard. A perfect appetizer to nibble on while having a few beers.
Next came the entrees. Schnitzel and Gerauchertes Eisbin (Baked Smoked Pork Shank) I haven't had Schnitzel that good since I was in Berlin. The Pork Shank was INCREDIBLE! I ended up taking the left over home and fried it up with some eggs the next morning.
The meal was fantastic. Service was a bit slow, but the woman tending bar was dealing with the whole room by herself. So there was an excuse. It didn't really matter. I was enjoying my beer and dinner.
For some authentic German food, give it a try. If you don't like German food.... Go hang out in the Bier Garten.
Good food. Fun place. -
Review from Michelle W.
Arcadia, CA
1/21/2012
Ideally, I'd give this place 3 1/2 stars but that's not an option and I don't feel my recent visit warranted a 4 star rating. Don't get me wrong, the food was tasty but the menu was pretty limited. The sausage and cheese platters had tasty offerings but I'm not sure they were really worth their price. The schnitzel was pretty large and well cooked but the spaetzle had to be ordered as an extra side and it was a little disappointing. Also, the plate came with mashed potatoes...something I wasn't really expecting because every other German restaurant I've been to serves German fried potatoes.
The waitress was friendly enough and from Germany but had to be reminded of a coffee ordered and asked for refills and sugar for tea.
Also, I'm not sure if someone was actually smoking in the kitchen or if it was wafting in through a back door but there were a couple of times when the waitress opened the kitchen door and I could have sworn I smelled cigarette smoke coming into the dining room. -
Review from Leo K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2012
Good beer with great atmosphere. The outdoor patio is one of the best spots for a cold (in the european sense this means room temperature btw) beer. The staff are all pretty cool and the funky piano man down in the bar I have come to really appreciate. To me the food is not that great and I would pass on it.
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Review from Lak P.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012 1 photo
AKA "The Hairy Lobster" (what their sign look like when you are drunk out of your mind). Great Silverlake institution. Great german fare (sausages and schnitzels). Great prices and the waitresses are in lederhosen!! Great mashed potatoes and gravy. Great red cabbage. Great selection of weird german liquers. And most importantly great beer served in giant glasses!! What more can you ask for!!
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Review from Tuki L.
1/3/2012
This place is one of the raddest around town.
I've been here a few times with some friends, and so I thought I'd finally get around to reviewing it.
First of all, the beer selection is just awesome. Some of the names of the beers might scare you off because they aren't your typical Bud Lite, Coors Lite, or Tecate Lite, but I'm sure you'll definitely find something you dig if you have the courage to try all of them.
I love the Hef.
The food is also really good too.
I guess the only thing you can complain about is that it sometimes closes early on week nights, but it's open until 2AM during the weekends.
If you're in the area and want to check out something a little different, check out the Red Lion! -
Review from RAF S.
Tujunga, CA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food is blah but ambiance and alcohol is SUPERB! If you've never been, check it out..
But seriously WTF is up with those whack ass wrist bands. Waste of resources. I always rip mine off and I've NEVER been questioned but yet the friendly guy out front always insists if I don't have it on, I wont get my beer. -
Review from anet s.
Glendale, CA
1/17/2012
I like this place a lot.... Its small and it has a patio outside. Love their beer....
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Review from Analisa T.
Los Angeles, CA
1/13/2012
Just moved here from NYC and this place reminds me of what you would find in Astoria, old-timers by day, hipsters by night. Very chill vibe and the food is solid. I'm not crazy about the sauerkraut (it's not crunchy enough) but they have a good beer selection, their pretzels are as light as can be for bread, and the service is spot on.
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Review from David G.
San Jose, CA
1/16/2012
Red Lion Tavern ambiance is very low key and the food was great. I really like this place!
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Review from Julie K.
10/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is completely different depending when you come. During the weekend nights, which is when I normally come, it's PACKED with young people. There's even a line outside! During the day however, the place is empty with only a few old men lining the immediate bar area.
So my review is two part- daytime for food and night time for drinks.
The food is kind of bad for the price. Between me and two other people, we ordered two of the most recommended items and a third less popular item: Beef Roulades, Red lion Scnitzel, and a Veal Loaf. The only thing that was tasty was the Red Lion Scnitzel (fried cutlet of meat, with potatoes and pickled cabbage on the side) but it was like $15. I mean it was aiite.. but not $15 good. The potatoes that it came with was pretty delicious though. The Beef Roulade was extremely dry. And I don't know how that's even possible since it comes drenched in sauce. The Veal Loaf was like a really soft spam...kind of gross actually. Maybe the food to get here are sausage items because I had the sausage platter before and it was pretty good...
The bar at night is a completely different story from the daytime. They open up the second floor in between the back porch and downstairs bar area. It is literally packed wall to wall. It's funny that on yelp the "mood" is described as "hipster" haha. Well, what do you expect it's Silverlake. The beers are pretty good and the back porch area is good for gigantic groups, but it's seriously a hassle trying to get into this place. It's not like there's a cover or anything... the line just tends to get really long and you'll have to wait until someone decides to leave. -
Review from Kira C.
Woodland Hills, CA
11/21/2011
Good selection of beers.
Currywurst was tasty. -
Review from Andrea K.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012
I love this place to death. The jolliest place in town.
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Review from Mike S.
Glendale, CA
9/27/2011
Long before the Hipster Invasion of 1066, The Red Lion Tavern was a quiet, unique watering hole for those of us native to the Land of the Silver Lake.
The downstairs lounge offered those looking to share their libations with friends and enemies while upstairs one could find a quiet alcove to discuss the latest conspiracies of the realm.
Outside in the beer garden were the rabble-rousers - those gregarious rubes who wanted to drink the night away with as much fanfare and revelry as possible. A large, old big screen TV showed Dodger games and the occassional European soccer match.
The surly owner's contempt for his customers was only topped by the horrible waitresses' contempt for the customers.
The beer was good. The beer was cheap. And the Jaeger shots? They were ice cold.
But then came those fucking hipsters with their trucker hats and huge sunglasses. Each weekend it became harder and harder to find a table in the joint. The regulars who we'd pass on the way in found other, less annoying spots to get their drink on. The big screen gave way to flat screen billboards. Sure, you can still catch games downstairs, but is it really the same?
And finally, the straw, so to be speak: large, grimacing security guards checking IDs at the door and maintaining order inside.
The Red Lion Tavern has never been the same and alas, it has been many moons since I have passed through those hallowed doors of my early to mid twenties.
But the beer? Still good. I'm guessing still cheap. And the Jaeger shots? Ice effing cold. -
Review from j. p.
Los Angeles, CA
12/11/2011
Wow, so I am German and moved to L.A. three years ago. I really miss my country, and when my bf invited me to go to a German tavern, I just thought alright it will be raunchy and weird. well, I was mistaken. The Red Lion Tavern is first of all very spacious. It has a beautiful outside patio which I recommend and two floors indoors. The style is truly German. The decoration and furniture were apparently all imported and the food was authentic, good and cheap with huge portions. We split the Nuernberger plate and were stuffed. The atmosphere is great too with a good mixture of internationals and Americans. I love this place and will surely return. I felt as if I was back home. Well done business. Five stars.
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Review from Dave A.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2011
Very authentic German food- I haven't had a bad dish here yet.
The sausage sampler platter makes a great meal in itself if you're hungry. Their weinershnitzel was good too- crispy and delicious, but not too greasy.
My favorite beers so far is their Hefeweizen, and their fest beer for Oktoberfest. -
Review from Ed R.
Los Angeles, CA
10/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
It's all about the biergarten! really laid back, cool place. I've been here twice and I have only good memories. Good place to hang out and possibly even meet new cool people, including a completely intoxicatedguy on his bachelor party! Alot of people on a saturday night, where you could barely walk around. We were lucky enough to find a table because we got there a little earlier.
This is the first biergarten that I've been to and it didn't disappoint! the garden is upstairs and downstairs they also have a restaurant downstaris as you enter. I have yet to try the restaurant.
But if you wanna go have some drinks, try the OPTIMATOR!! it's a tall glass with almost 8% alcohol. Dark lager, a little bitter at first, but then you get used to it. They have a really nice Hefeweizen too and a whole lot of other beers and liquors.
The beer garden is the place to be, but if you're allergic or dislike to cigarette smoke, beware because there will be alot of smokers. One thing that I have to say is that my friend and I didn't appreciate the fact that the bartender started lecturing us on how we needed to tip them. That was just a bit uncomfortable, since my friend was going to tip this person anyway as we were going to come back for another round. I don't know, but they shouldn't make it feel like tipping is a requirement, especially during these times when many of us are unemployed...that would stop me from going to a place.
Other than that, fun times and a must visit if you're bar crawling or just looking for a good time in Silverlake. -
Review from Danny Y.
Los Angeles, CA
9/30/2011
Dropped by for lunch today on my day off. I haven't been here for a few years. Parking is on either side of the tavern.
Kind of quiet and less than a dozen customers in there. I went upstairs to the lounge/Beer Garden area. They allow smoking there in the patio. My server/bartender was Silvia.
Food: Ordered the Bockwurst on a roll. A slightly spicy sausage of beef & pork. It came with a big portion of saurkraut, a hot pepper, small pickle spear and german mustard. $8.00
It was good and juicy.
Beverage: Ordered the Kostritzer Schwarzbier. A black beer w/malty, earthy body. Roasted malt & coffee aromas and a dry, mild hop finish. 1/2 liter $7.00
It paired well with the food and it drank very smoothly.
I sat at the bar and started a conversation with a local named Hans; who lives next door to the Red Lion. Talked about the food and current owner of the place. Next time I will have to try some pork dishes and the potato pancakes.
I have to come back in the evenings when I hear it is just wild crazy fun.
Recap: A solid 3 to 3 1/2 stars. The food was yummy good and came out of the kitchen quickly. Staff are friendly.
Hans told me that they get their wursts made by a local company in Glendale. The casing seems to be natural. -
Review from Greg S.
10/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love German beer gardens! They're so homey, what with their yummy beer and tasty eats.
The Red Lion is an uuber beer garden, doing it right on all fronts! I love the ambiance and decor; the three distinct areas have their own feel. But the back outdoor is where it's at!
Their menu is expansive, serving up a multitude of German dishes. I went with combo special, which included a 1/2 liter of beer. It looked like a good bargain, and probably in fact was. I think I was just really hungry and expected more food. But the Weisswurst sausage was delicious. And the small pretzel only made me hungry for more and I ordered a large pretzel later on. The large pretzel is awesome, and matched with the beer put me in heaven!
I have a local beer garden that's my go-to slice of heaven, but I can't wait to hit up the Red Lion again! -
Review from salina c.
Burbank, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
The service here is HORRIBLE. The waitress' are all pretty old and slow. The beer is decent, the fish & chips is excellent! kind of pricey and the venue is very small.
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Review from Leslie G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/31/2011
This place is full of characters and so fun to just kick it for awhile. A great beer garden and beer. The tavern is decorated between an old swanky bar and your traditional German bar. If you need to catch up on your German you can come here.
The food is good. Bratwurst galore!!!!
Wunderbar!!!!!!
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