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Category: German
Neighborhood: Hayes ValleyMon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"i am going to make it brief Make reservation for a party of 16 at 8...got there at 8:30...place closes at 9...they let us stay later to…" read more »
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Make a reservation in advance. This food is worth it.
Get yourself a ride here because the boot is going to be your beer scooter all the way home.
If you seek German in SF, this place takes the spaetzle.
I ate here monday with some friends for dinner,
boy was it packed, after our server seated us, they came back a few minutes later and asked us to move since the group we were sharing a table with had plussed their group, no biggie. Although i think some of the diners were a bit puzzled by the communal tables.
the menu is full of standard german fair, and they have a larger selection of german beers then i've seen at most places here in the states.
I ordered the wiener schnitzel von schwien mit Bratkartoffeln und grünem Salat, although i ordered in German the server definitely did not speak it, so i went back to english, bummer. I was not overly thrilled with my meal as i found the schnitzel to be too thinly sliced so when it was fried it was way too dry and all i tasted was the breading, the potatoes were a bit blander then what i expected as well.
My friends ordered the Gebratene Rehmedaillions in Rotwein Pflaumensoe mit Rotkohl und Spätzle (venison) and the Gegrillte Nürnberger Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut und Kartoffelbrei (sausage) they are both huge fans of the place, one of which drives up from So-Cal for the food, i tasted the venison and WOW, it was fantastic, the cabbage was not as spicy as i like but good nonetheless.
If your in the search for some hearty german fare, then try this place out! I would definitely like to come back and try some of the other dishes. Maybe earlier in the day, and have DAS BOOT!
Still the best German restaurant in The City.
Great beer selection, good food, and cool ambiance.
Might have to give one of 'em boots a try some time.
Dont be intimidated by the name. I have never been to Germany myself, but if I were to imagine, I would think that the experience would be somewhat similar. Maybe I should have some of my German friends validate that for me ;) Ive only been here for brunch, and I found the food to be very hearty. Not a huge fan of beer myself, but if you are I think that would make your case a little bit stronger.
A 2 liter boot beer, blood sausage, venison and a 18 table full of drunks = craziness!!! Katy? Kathy? I don't know but thanks for your patience last night. She's about the best waitress I've had... even though they were so packed they ran out of glasses and boots she did her best to accommodate us... the food was good AND fast... it's just getting in that takes a long time but it's well worth it... I loved the deer meat and tried some of my friends mashed taters... yumm... I definitely recommend the venison but the mashed yummy goodness had the consistency of butter... I enjoyed this place very much... whether you're a fan of Oktoberfest or German beers or good food or just an alcoholic... make a reservation and come here...
And to the people we annoyed last night... sorry =P
Finally, my long overdue review of Suppenkuche....
Long wait (1.5-2 hrs on a Fri/Sat night), getting your feet stomped on while trying to get a drink at the bar, cramped seating, and having to yell across the table in order to have a convo...
Awwww, so WORTH it!
So far I've had the pleasure of coming to Suppenkuche twice:
1st visit: I ordered had the venison medallions in red wine sauce with spatzle. MmMm....the venison was very tender and flavorful (not salty). The red wine sauce was rich and had a depth in flavor; eminent that it was been sllloooowwwwllly reducing. Ohhh and the spatzle (fried noodles) was SOOOOO YUMMY! It was crisp on the outside and had a bite to it. *drool*
2nd visit: After seeing people order the Pork Knuckle the first time I was at Suppenkuche, I knew I had to have it the second time around. Man, it's like a heart attack on a platter, but worth every bite. The knuckle is MASSIVE...probably as big as two of my knuckles put together. The skin is roasted to a perfect crackling crunch; similar to the chinese suckling pork...YUM! The pork meat is soft, tender, and flavorful. If it weren't for being in a public setting, I would have eaten it Fred Flinestone style! I wasn't too crazy with the bread dumplings as it tasted liked mushed up bread. But, who cares, when the star of the dish is the pork!
SERVICE: This place is ALWAYS packed and the staff is always on the move, so expect to have to wave them down if you want something. But, they're very friendly and accommodating.
AMBIANCE/DECOR: LOUD AND CRAMPED. If you're claustrophobic, don't even think about coming here. The place is always packed and you will be elbow to elbow with others esp if you sit in the communal wooden picnic style tables. Thinking of chilling at the bar to wait for your table? Forget about it, you might as well get a stick just to beat your way through to get a drink. Prepare to be yelling at the person next to you, just so they can hear you.
Despite the drawbacks, the food at Suppenkuche is definitely worth it. Stomp on me, shove me, yell in my ear; but you can't keep me away from that damn heart clogging Pork Knuckle!
And, oh, don't forget about them beer boots...hopefully, one day I will get there...
I know it's unfair to rant about a place if you don't like the type of food to begin with but I'll try to be as objective as I can with my review of Suppenkuche.
I never really liked German food. I think it's the sauerkraut. And I am not a big beer drinker either. I was going to give Suppenkuche a good review for the festive (sometimes rowdy) ambiance, friendly and fast service and adorable decor BUT their dessert just sealed the deal. I was hoping for some German chocolate cake but was disappointed with a forgettable black-forest-type cake.
Been there done that.
No better place in SF to get your Doppelbock on when you're celebrating the 20th anniversary of German unification!
Don't feel like actually chewing your food? This is like bread in a glass. It's how monks survived fasting during Lent. I'm serious. That kind of sounds like cheating. I wonder what they did to get around not having sex. Oh, wait....
The food was alright. I had a sausage w/ mashies & sauerkraut. I almost wanted to ask for a hotdog bun, 'coz thats what it tasted like. A friend has a weinerschniztel w/c was good. They also have beer in boots. You only have your table for 2 hours, so eat fast.
I don't even normally LIKE German food, and I loved this place!
I was VERY impressed that they had Currywurst on the menu. I have never ever seen this on any menu anywhere outside of the street vendors of *Berlin*. Naturally, it had to be ordered. While it wasn't quite authentic Berlin Street-meat, it was still very yummy and close enough to the real thing be satisfying. My fiance ordered the Meatloaf which was so delicious.. and I had the Cheese Spaetzle, which was RIDICULOUSLY tasty and filling.
We only had to wait about 15 minutes before we got a large table (for our group of 7) at the back. The service was quick, attentive and knowledgeable. Their beer list is incredibly extensive.. and if you are a beer lover you NEED to try 'Das Boot'. The biggest glass of beer ever! I just wish they had maybe a cider or two on the menu.. because if you aren't a beer drinker (like yours truly) your options are fairly limited. But well.. What can you expect from a GERMAN restaurant, right? Oh well.
Expect to sit at long wooden tables, next to people you don't know. It's very traditional german in that way. The benefit is that you're bound to make a new friend or two! Shared wooden tables, noisy, boisterous, glasses of beer everywhere, and big sloppy portions of food. A great Deutsch night out!
Great selection of beer and wonderful spaetzle. During my latest visit, I had the roasted pork in a beer sauce.....reminded me of carnitas. The black bread is excellent. To enjoy, you must be a fan of sharing tables and noise. Amazingly little confusion. The wait staff is always helpful, nice and never too busy to explain options. Since they don't take reservations for smaller groups and it fills up fast, plan on arriving by 4:45 for a table at 5.
If you love beer , an atmosphere and great food you can't beat Suppenkuche . This is my go to restaurant for a casual dinner with local and out of town friends . Reservations are for 6 + but plan ahead by 3-4 weeks.
Potato pancakes ,roast suckling pig and apple sauce ! Top notch.
Prost !
can you say SPAETZLE?! OMG! I had spaetzle for the first time and it was so good. It tastes like pasta tossed in butter. Any Carbivore would love spaetzle. =P MMM!
The restaurant is small and you share a bench/table with other parties. I ordered the bratwurst plate and it tasted like...bratwurst. I think the spaetzle won my heart over that the bratwurst didn't get enough love. Although I'm not the biggest fan of sauerkraut, I enjoyed theirs. It had pieces of salty ham in it, which balanced out the sour flavor. I'd definitely come back and try more of their food. If you don't mind the really loud atmosphere, you'll enjoy yourself here!
Downside is it can be a long wait. I think it's worth the wait. Enjoy!
This place is awesome!
I would do 5 stars if I wasn't standing at the bar for an hour (stools, anyone??), but the place is great just the same!
I was nervous about the food because I'm vegetarian, but the food was fantastic. I had a salad, and the spaetzle, which is a bit like German-style Mac N Cheese, which paired perfectly with my boot o'beer. Gotta love it.
They only get four stars because it's freaking hard to get a table! You have to call ahead (weeks in advance). It's only a family style restaurant not some 5 star place. We waited an hour and a half to get a table and stood at the bar..not sat!
HOWEVER! Amazing beer!!! Boots full of Beer! So much beer and yummy! THe food is AWESOME! Totally authentic and to die for! I def. would come back. I hate the wait but i did have great time talking to people also waiting for a table. I went with my bf and big group! We had a lot of fun! It's really a fun place to go to with a bunch of friends!
Nothing's better than food.
Unless it's German food.
I'm not talking about the heavy, laden meats and starches that you prejudging bastards all THINK that I am talking about. Serious German food is about flavor, method and taste.
This is where you can get serious German food with authentic atmosphere. In San Francisco.
I lived in Deutchland for a year, and were I able to be gainfully employed and housed longer, I would be there now. That's right, I'd turn traitor. It's gloriously gorgeous - but most of all, I'd be there to eat.
Since leaving, I have missed my German favorites like schnitzel, hot sauerkraut and the bountiful salads. No one does a salad up like they do.
Suppenkuche's got the standbys. Buttery spatzel, flavorful meats and all the fixings, including brown bread and butter. Appetizer of potato pancakes with applesauce - simple, but so right.
Let's get down to it: dinner. We had a menagerie of chicken schnitzel (which was the one UN-authentic thing - as you rarely see chicken anything in the Deutchland), crispy potatoes, wild boar with mushroom sauce and the star, which is of course what I had; the venison. Tender, buttery venison. This meat wasn't "gamey" at all. No game. None. Served with a cherry wine reduction, hot red sauerkraut and spatzel, this was a seemingly humble dish that delivered sweet, sour, savory scintillation.
This is a German Traditional place, you will sit at long tables with people you don't know. You will drink beer from a boot bigger than your body. You will eat too much. You will LOVE.
Ich liebe dich, Suppenküche. Du machst mich so glücklich!
( I love you, Suppenküche. You make me so happy!)
Yes, the wait is long, but there are too many overriding pluses about this sweet, sweet place I've been dying to try for awhile. My boyfriend's birthday seemed like a good occasion, even though it's definitely loud inside, and there's communal seating at nice wooden tables. So if you're looking for something a little more quiet and private, go elsewhere. If you want a genuinely tasty meal whatever the occasion, come here.
1. Serious comfort food. Oh my God. If I had a German grandma, she would serve me something along the likes of what Suppenküche offers. Dipping the pork sausages in the spicy mustard, raking in the sauerkraut before whipping up some of the smoothest mashed potatoes I've seen and tasted = heaven in my mouth.
We also split the half chicken with roasted stuffed dumpling, which is one of the specialties for November. It was a little more salty than I would have liked, but the chicken was cooked perfectly and the dumpling looked and pretty much tasted like stuffing, which combined, was so rich I felt kinda guilty. It came with crispy potato pancakes as well.
Next time I'm with friends, I'm definitely going to order the huge pretzel.
2. Bier, bier, bier!!! Only the best - German and Belgian. Before actually SEEING the Das Boot, we were pretty determined to split one. Holy shit batman, the thing is huge! We agreed when we come with friends, we'll be ordering it STAT.
3. Great service. Yes, the wait was long and the hosts/servers were pacing about everywhere, but they were very nice. AND the food came out pretty fast.
Grilled pork sausages plate = $14
Half chicken = $17.50
Two half-liter beers = $16 ($8 each)
Total with tax and tip = ~ $54
Prost!
Pretty solid place.
Portion size: Big, shared the venison with a friend and we still had leftovers.
Food: Sauteed Venison Medallions in Red Wine Plum Sauce
with Red Cabbage & Spätzle - Venison had the sauce on the side. Very filling. Tasting just like the food I had in Germany. Don't love it, but it tasted legit.
Drinks: Many types of beers on tap. I had the Radler (beer with lemon soda). Loved it!!
Atmosphere: Fun place. Loud. Good place to grab beers and drink with friends.
They are known for their boots filled with beers. I even saw pitchers that you can fit your head in. The 5-6 of us ended up sharing a rectangular table with 2 people. Pretty cozy table, but that was fine with us.
A girl can only dream of saying Schnitzel and Spatzel in the same sentence when ordering a meal. Kind of rolls of the tongue with such delight....It's really quite sad that those are the only German words I can pronounce effectively and without spitting uncontrollably across a table.
I've been to Suppenkuche several times. Most recently with a girlfriend for a nice afternoon in Hayes Valley. And I can say that each and every time, I have been pleased with the service, atmosphere, and most importantly the food!
The restaurant is set up in communal style tables, so if you don't come in a large group, you will have some neighbors--usually friendly locals. The restaurant gets very crowded. Dinner is served from 5-10 daily and my advice is: Get there early! The restaurant gets very noisy and boisterous, so come in good spirits! This is not the place for intimate conversation.
My favorite dishes are obviously the Schnitzel and Spatzel. The Jagershnitzel is my recommendation as it comes with a mushroom sauce over the breaded pork and without the sauce, the Schnitzel can be a bit dry for some. The Sauteed Trout in Lemon Butter Sauce is also one of my favorites when I'm not in the mood for pork.
Suppenkuche only takes reservations for 6 people or more and usually there is street parking available nearby.
Hope you try this delicious restaurant!
Gooden Tag!! (I don't speak German, nor do I know if I spelled that right)
Whatev, get over it and get yo' ass over to this place. My parents from back and east and my brothers are coming in over the holidays and yes, I already booked us a reservation. Single ladies, if you want to see some hot manly men in SF, you need to get a group together a dine at this fantastic establishment. We are talking Bratwurst, porkchops, and imported beer= man magnet. But that's not the only reason why you should go. The food is awesome, my mouth is watering thinking about it.
Trust me, you will get Auf on it!! ( he he he)
What the whaaaaaaaaaat.
So, I have never eaten German food before. I've never been to Germany, nor have I watched fellow diners drink a 3 liter glass of beer. I feel like I've crossed two out of three of the above off of my list.
What to say about Suppenkuche? First of all, I know it's totally immature of me, but the name makes me giggle. Secondly, I have been told that when I'm eating something I really like, I tend to look angry. I must have looked FURIOUS at Suppenkuch because my meal was A. MA. ZING.
I decided to start simple since it was my first German meal. I went for the bratwurst with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. I ate EVERYTHING on my plate. This usually does not happen. But once I started eating, I could not stop. The bratwurst was so flavorful and juicy and stayed nice and warm the entire time. The mashed potatoes are not your run of the mill fare. They were excellently prepared and went fabulously with the bratwurst and sauerkraut.
Omg, writing this review is causing me to salivate.
The staff! Our waitress was really great. She didn't judge my ordering style... which consisted of me pointing at my desired menu selection and saying "can I have this one."
I can't wait to come back to Suppenkuche. The good food, family style seating and welcoming atmosphere made for a comfortable and satisfying dining experience.
Excellent (German) beer selection? Check!
Incredible brunch on Sundays to cure a hangover? Check!
GIANT PRETZEL? Check!
Food:
Some of my favorites (other than the aforementioned giant pretzel with delicious cheese spread) include the meatloaf with onion gravy, potato pancakes, beer with woodruff syrup in it (tastes like marshmallows, mmmmm). I haven't met a meal I didn't like there. Rich, but not heavy; filling, but you'll have leftovers; simply honest food with high quality ingredients.
Service:
Friendly, cute, usually very attentive. A couple times it was a bit slow, but the atmo is so much fun. Love the ceiling decorations that change with the seasons!
So I thought Schnitzelhaus Restaurant on 9th St had the best GERMAN food in town, but I thought wrong! and Schnitzelhaus is no longer open for business! Suppenkuche is a great place to meet your friends for dinner and BEER. They do not take reservations and many groups come in parties of 4+ so come before the crowd or expect to wait at least 45 min.
They do have a bar that you can wait around at.
Our party shared a large PRETZEL and each person ordered an entree. No DasBoots at our table but it was exciting to see others carrying them in their hands.
I had the porkchop w/ mash potatoes and sauerkraut. I thought it was cooked perfectly but it was very salty. I would go for the weiner- schnitzel (crispy breaded porkloin) for next time. The waiters work hard and are very attentive. I am not sure how they maneuver so quickly in that crowded space. Lots of laughter and fun!
Suppenküche made a delicious brunch on a weekend morning. For some reason I was attracted to the Leberkäse - a kind of tepid, smoked animal part meatloaf with an egg on top. Let's say I won't probably repeat this choice if I am ever in town again. BUT, even with that, I would definitely return for the delicious beer and atmosphere. I would like very much to try some other menu items.
BEERFEST! + great food = Suppenkuche.
...The kitchen closes at 10pm = No late-night menu= :-(
A brunch at Suppenkuche is the perfect way to get a San Francisco German eating experience. And you aren't quite gonna be breaking the bank either to get a complete meal. Matter of fact, the 4.5 hour time slot on Sundays is the only time you can enjoy a brunch at this fine establishment.
My group had a sauteed porkloin in mushroom sauce served with spatzle, a veal/pork sausage in a butter sauce w/ pretzel, and a cut up sausage entree covered in tomato curry sauce. While all the entrees were superb, I would definitely go back for the pork sausage in the tomato curry sauce (which doesn't taste like curry at all). The sauteed porkloin was breaded and the spatzle was a first time experience for me. And the butter sauce was more like a buttery soup bowl with a couple tender veal/pork sausages thrown in.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the "made in germany" sweet mustard that was probably for the pretzel but I also used it for the warm fresh bread they served with the meal. I didn't really enjoy the hair that was in my entree but regardless, can't wait to Suppenkuche again sometime soon!
I wanted to try something new so I came here per my friend's recommendation. I was a bit skeptical walking into this place because it was loud like a bar with not many seating for dinner eaters.
We actually just sat right down at the bar behind the bartender and ordered our dinner. Still it was a bit strange mainly from expectations of a 'dinner' venue.
When the food came I was so amazed by the German sausages and the mushroom stuffed pork loin (Current special) that all that discomfort just immediately vanished. When I took the first bite of the grilled sausage with a bit of mashed potatoes, I was like ... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMFG!!!!!!!!!! And Pfiener beer that's ice cold! I am SUCH a fan of this place.
On top of it all, our 'server' was the bartender and he was super nice and very helpful with the order. Thanks!
FUCKING. AWESOME!!!
and by the way, any involvement in the holocaust... bygones
( @ 1:55 http://www.youtube.com... )
German food is the best food for wintertime. Theres nothing better than Bratwurst and a good beer. Its rare to find a German gem in California, Suppenkuche is definitely one of them.
Kaiserschmarren is my favorite dessert so be sure to try it.
I went here with my family for my 26th birthday! It was a lot of fun! Great beers and great food! Meat, potatoes, and sauerkraut!! They take reservations for groups over 6 people, with seatings at either 6pm or 8pm, other than that it's first come first served.
Bring your appetite! And lots of room for beer!
Hayes Valley landmark. One of the few German joints in the City or at least one of the few well known ones.
Ambiance (5): Very festive with long tables that I assume should be reminiscent of Oktoberfest. Similar to Schmidt's but much more crowded, which I think is a plus. However, one complaint, the wait for a table is outrageous. An hour and a half wait, ouch!
Food (4): Food was similar to Schmidt's; lots of carbs and some protein. The mashed potatoes were solid and are a perfect vehicle for the sauce that accompanies the protein. In my case I had the meatloaf wrapped in bacon and with egg. The egg was not a plus, but the bacon took it to another level. My girlfriend had the pork sausage which was awesome, but I was surprised they didn't have more sausage selections like Schmidt's. Blutwurst, anyone? A buddy had the venison and he complained it was too well done. And finally, the potato pancakes were well executed; imagine perfectly crisp hashed browns discs with some apple sauce. The beer selection was varied and they have lots of size options, including a handy size chart with silhouettes and all...kind of like the old plane silhouette charts from WWII (saw it in a movie once).
Service (4): Friendly staff, prompt service, no complaints.
Value (4): At first I thought the prices seemed excessive, but the portions are good and I didn't mind them at all in the end.
Overall: Strangely enough this place is far different from Schmidt's. Sure, German beer on tap, long wooden tables, but the menus were vastly different. The carb-protein-kraut combo was the same but Schmidt's had more sausages and just seemed drier, if you will, compared to Suppenkuche's plates which always seemed drenched in some kind of gravy sauce. Not that that is a bad thing, but they are vastly different food experiences. You should try them both.
Finally i made it here to try the cuisine of my homeland.
I can say, it's authentic and yummy.
German cuisines vary a lot across the country, a lot like in the US. There are different specialities everywhere. So the potato pancakes you can get pretty much all over Germany, they are just made a little differently everywhere. Pretzels and white sausages are Bavarian and so are a lot of the wheat beers.
I was lucky enough to get a Koelsch from my German hometown of Cologne.
Did you know that only breweries with a view of the Cologne Cathedral are allowed to brew Koelsch?
I would love to give this place the five stars it richly deserves. The German food is absolutely delicious, the specials are interesting (wild boar sausage makes an appearance from time to time), and the solid selection of German beers goes very well with the food.
But I cannot give Suppenkuche five stars because its a**hole patrons are ruining it. My last three or four visits were marred by ongoing frat parties throughout the place. It was so loud that I could barely hear my companion, even though we could not have been sitting more closely. Suppenkuche desperately needs to get the "bro" factor under control.
OMG is this what Germans eat everyday? I tried potato pancakes with homemade apple sauce and Wiener Schnitzel which were SO amazing. $18 for Wiener Schnitzel is pretty expensive though, esp since it tastes exactly the same as TonKatsu :)
They have a variety of beers to choose from, which are overall pretty good and interesting. I don't recommend their flavored stuff though, it's a little too sweet for me. Oh, and the place is super cramped. Make sure to get a reservation beforehand!
Two of my colleagues and I had dinner here the other night. We were seated immediately at a communal table which was to our surprise since it was just after the Oktoberfest weekend fiasco...though we noticed we had just beat the crowd as people began filtering in shortly after we were seated.
I thought the ambiance and decor of the place, though it is small, minimalistic, and you're seated with strangers, was strangely welcoming and comfortable once seated and settled in. It feels like a place where you can imagine a fireplace keeping you warm from the cold winter evenings with a bunch of friendly people dining and drinking beers. The dim lighting is also pleasant. The only thing is that the noise is a tiny bit overwhelming but given everyone is probably a little buzzed off of beer, it's not a surprise.
I ordered the Jagerschnitzel (fairly thin cuts of pork floured and flash fried then drenched in a creamy mushroom sauce served with a side of Spatzle and a butter lettuce salad) which I thought was very good and hearty...though I haven't had much German food so I don't have much to compare it to. The pork was very flavorful especially with the tasty, creamy mushroom sauce that it was drenched in. The Spatzle I found to be somewhat more like gnocchi in its texture. It was especially good with the mushroom sauce. The lettuce salad though covered in olive oil, was refreshing to have with the heavy meal. I also had a bite of the Weinerschnitzel which my colleague ordered. It was a veal, thicker in cut, that was breaded and fried. I thought it was okay but definitely not as good as my dish and much heavier.
After our meal, I saw the giant pretzel and wished we had ordered that but there would have been no way to even get through a quarter of it given the portion of our meals were HUGE let alone the size of the pretzel was GINORMOUS!
I will definitely go back again!
I was trying to figure out if this was going to be a 3 star or 4 star review so I went with 3 on this one because the more I become a foodie, the picker I'm getting.
So, why DID I leave it only at 3?
1000+ reviews on Yelp should equal a place that rocks my socks off hardcore, but when I arrived to meet friends this last weekend I was kinda disappointed.
So I arrive, and as I expect, the place is JAMMED but not to the extreme of not being able to move at least, so that was good.
Waitress at the front kinda gives me the "May I help you" look so I answer "Just meeting friends for dinner" without her saying anything to me quite yet when she responds "Well, do you have a reservation?", "No, what's the current wait?", "Actually we're done taking customers for the evening but if something opens up, I'll let you know, in the meantime you are free to eat at the bar"
It's now 8:30 on a Saturday, ANY place that has stopped taking customers MUST have awesome food and although I wasn't quite in the German mood, I'd figure I'd find something that would do.
So I pony on up to the bar and start chatting it up with the bartender, younger guy like myself that knows one thing more than anyone I've ever met.
Beer Selection.
I was served some of the most unique Bavarian suds I've ever had and even got to check out the "you must be in the know" menu of hard hard hard to find treasures, so 5 stars goes to that.
I was VERY dissapointed with the food though, perhaps it's what I had, which was the Lentil Soup with Farmers Brat and bread. Just kinda tasted bland and meh, like I said, NOT what I was expecting from 1k reviews.
It lost another star because every time someone (or a group) finishes some sort of boot, everyone in the restaurant cheers and the person takes in some sort of false sense of accomplishment, it's a boot for christs sake, it's NOT that hard to drink on your own.
I was impressed though and did cheer for the guy that finished the 5 liter beer, now THAT was an accomplishment, until that is, I saw him get sick just outside but whaddya gonna do?
There are already a ton of great reviews for this place so I'll be brief.
1. Awesome German food. The sausages with mashed potatoes or the wienerschnitzel are my favorites
2. Beer. In the liter mug. Or the boot. Having just one beer is a lot of fun here.
3. Communal seating. If you don't have to work tomorrow, have just one beer and make a ton of new friends. Unless you're uncomfortable talking to strangers in which case this might not be a fun place. that is, until you have your one beer in a boot.
Don't forget to rotate the boot on the last gulp.
Beer out of Boots! That novelty never gets old.
Delicious German Food? That never gets old, either.
My weiner schnitzel was nothing remarkable, but everyone else in my party was raving about their dishes, so they must be doing something right.
Service was prompt, even during the Saturday Night Dinner Rush with a party of seven.
I hate reviewing places with over 1,000 reviews. I mean, I doubt I'll add anything unique and special for whoever reads this... so I'll just hit all the points you have to for a place like this:
1. GET A RESERVATION. We didnt. THinking we could "fool the system", we had one party member show up at 7, in the hopes of having a table by 8. At 830, they told us it would be 20 more minutes so we started drinking. i don't think we sat down before 9-930.
2. GET A BOOT! i don't want to hear it. I don't care if it looks big. I don't care if you're worried about the $50 deposit. And I definately don't care if you're worried that it'll get warm because you drink too slow. just do it. DAS BOOT!
3. Get the potato pancakes. We got em for free (since we waited like 50 years), but i'd reccomend them to anyone. Very tasty, and an excellent appetizer.
4. get another pint after the boot. Ok this one is optional, and you'll probably hate yourself for doing it (i did), but goddamn i needed SOMETHING to wash down those sausage!
5. The food is good, not great. If you drink a boot before your meal (as reccomended...) it'll be great. Why? Cause that's how german people eat their food. Drunk.
All in all? Suppenkuche is a GREAT place to get drunk, and a good place to eat. woohoo!
This place is not for those looking for a quiet healthy dinner. Be prepared for a rowdy crowd, a packed, and I mean like the Judah line after outsidelands packed, restaurant, and at least an hour long wait on the weekends. If you happen to make reservations, you're lucky, they fill up a month in advance for the weekends, and if you do get one, they will encourage you to not linger, as they keep the patron rotating from start of service to close.
But, let me tell you. It's all so worth it. If you can go with a crowd, order Das Boot. It is literally a glass boot full of beer, and it's a real crowd pleaser.
The food is traditional german food, and everything is rich and heavy and awesome. The sausage dinner with mashed potatoes is great, as is the cheese spaetzle, the wiener shnitzle, and potato pancakes, and on our last visit, the special of the roasted chicken stuffed with potato dumplings.
I would imagine that some weeknights might be slow, and you'd be able to get in no problem, but part of the fun of this place is the atmosphere, and the large crowd of people all there to eat drink and be merry.
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: German
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: German
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Bars
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