Brauhaus Schmitz

The beer selection, both draft and bottle, is truly amazing. Every type of German beer. I had schnitzel with anchovies, tasted great, large portions. The atmosphere is a German pub, great service. A great experience.

Great beer selection and the server was knowledgable about everything on tap. Pretzel and mustard was fine, but nothing special or better than anywhere else. Braised beef stew was pretty good. Overall, nothing blew me away but I still enjoyed the beer and snacks. I didn’t have any entrees so I’ll leave it at 4 stars for now.

Reasons to like Brauhaus:
— Generally clean bathrooms.
— Comfy/​quieter upstairs dining.
— Sweeping bar!
— Ridiculous German beer list. Woohoo Freigeist!
— Fun events (May Fest, Oktoberfest, PBW happenings like Gose Gone Wild).
— Nice staff and bartenders.
— Pretty cool RW dinner (see Shiloh L.‘s review from last summer — we basically ate the same thing and had the same opinion…).
— Jovial atmosphere.
Reasons not to like Brauhaus:
— Maybe, um, no. No idea. Can’t think of anything, but I already made this a list style review and I’m lazy so oh well.

Absolutely love this place. The food is great and so is the beer. Great service and always a great time.

Has a great selection of German beers, and all the food we ordered was excellent. Probably the best German food I’ve ever had.

Excellent beer hall with an authentic look. A strong beer menu with one of the wider tap ranges we’ve seen. We had a pretty sparse cheese plate, given the cost, but as we went in there looking mainly for drinks, we were very satisfied. Good décor, friendly staff, great beer!

Most impressive to me was opening the beer menu and seeing certain items I hadn’t seen since my last visit to Germany; ie, Augustiner Bräu Edelstoff. The beer menu is extensive with some 15 German beers on tap and countless bottled beers from around Germany. The food is authentic and solid, this restaurant does it extremely well from service, to beer, wine, appetizers, main courses and desserts, Brauhaus Schmitz comes as close to a visit in Germany as you will get stateside!

Ugh.
So my friends had a birthday party here. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to see my friends so I went. First off, good luck with parking. We had to walk 6 blocks!
It was so loud and obnoxious when we walked in that I immediately wanted to walk right back out. But again, for my friend, I couldn’t!
So we order drinks and the Riesling that I ordered was great! But the water was literally warm. So gross.
Appetizers come: the laugenbrezel (pretzels) were amazing. The German pizza (from what I heard, I didn’t try it) was a hit at the table as well. The jäger fries? Well… I wouldn’t know… waitress forgot them.
Then out entrees come out. I ordered the German ravioli in a truffle cream sauce. I took one bite and almost got sick. It was horrific. The waitress would say something from the other side of the table asking me if it was good, so I had to say yes but it was terrible. Which reminds me, I could probably just throw away the left overs I was forced to take.
My boyfriend got the pork schnitzel and it was so dry and had 0 flavor. Terrible.
Then I went to go to the bathroom and it’s a free for all. The men and women all share. I opened the door to find a man standing there using the bathroom. Horrific. I hate that so much.
The beer menu was impressive but expensive. It was so hot in there. The water was warm. The service was just okay. She forgot our appetizer. Just all in all, I wouldn’t go back ever.
So yeah, skip over it.

I love it when restaurants pick a theme and commits. This place is like the German pavilion at Epcot, minus a little bit of the cheesiness, and plus much better food and a great beer list. What Brauhaus Schmitz is great for:
Happy Hour/​a quick drink — great German beer list, one of the best in the city, if not the best next to Bru, and large beers
Snacks — anything off of the appetizer list makes a great snack and perfect for sharing, everyone loves soft pretzels, but definitely try the fried saurekraut croquettes or the German pizzas for something different!
Good food that makes everyone happy: this menu is great for the adventurous and the non-​adventurous alike, you can order a simple sausage platter, or schnitzel or try something new a different and it is all delicious with huge portions. Also do not miss the spatzle, its like fancy German mac and cheese with a little crispy-​ness added.
Having a good time: Like I said, this place is kind of the a more adult version of the German pavilion at Epcot, it has a fun, care free atmosphere where everyone seems to just want to have a good time.
Basically this is a great place for everything, a quick drink, a dinner with friends (they’re even great for big groups), or sharing some quick snacks.

Great selection of German food and drink. Much better than your typical pub food. Service is spectacular. Highly recommended!

Crazy variety of beer and they come in the giant .5L mugs. Excellent for a real ad true beer lover. Can only reference the drinks since I didn’t grab any bites but a great place to grab some true German beer and catch a soccer game.

AMAZING unbreaded veal schnitzel! The creamy mushroom sauce is delish and wonderful when mixed with the spatzle and roasted Brussels sprouts. The pan seared duck breast with the red wine reduction, cherries, and baked cabbage is also superb. Be sure to add a side of the potato pancakes with chive sour cream and applesauce and a pretzel. Absolutely one of my new favs in Philly! BTW — the service is very helpful, friendly, and FAST. They are always more than happy to bring you a sample of any brews as well.

Been here multiple time, but it was my first time for happy hour. They have a good deal M-​F 5−7pm at the bar, $ 4 drafts and $ 4 wurst sausage sandwiches with two mustards and sauerkraut. Around 5:30, the large space was rather empty. I was surprised! At 6:30 it became more bustling and the bar space was full. Suffice to say, get there early! All in all, Brauhaus is a great German bar, massive beer selection, and a large beautiful space to hang out for a beer and good food.

My husband and I have been wanting to try this place for a long time and we finally went today for lunch! It wasn’t too crowded which was nice and our server was very very helpful.
We started with the pretzel appetizer and it was SO yummy! The bravarian sweet mustard was awesome and the pretzel was so perfect as it was crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle.
My husband ordered Hofbrau München Dunkel and he really liked it. I got the local cider and it was also very yummy!
For meals we both ordered sandwiches. I got the pork schnitzel sandwich and potato salad (some really awesome and unique potato salad!!). My husband got a bratwurst sandwich with sauerkraut with fries and that was also incredibly delicious! In fact, when we go back, I plan to get THAT!
We decided to get a dessert and I HIGHLY recommend you save room for dessert because the apple strudel was out of this world!!! All of it was obviously made in house and I wouldn’t be shocked if even the ice cream was made there. Really incredible dessert.
Highly recommended! Can’t wait to go back!

I’ll say it. Central European food has never been in my top 5 cuisines. There are certain exceptions to that, like sausage and dumplings. Hello, Brauhaus Schmitz!
They got what you need — pretty much all of their sausages are in the good to great scale, and their sides are also pretty great. Shoot, you could go for the sides alone — at 3 bucks for a small or 6 for a large, they’re kind of perfect as bar snacks. Again, dumplings! They’re kind of like giant gnocchi covered in butter and herbs. Who wouldn’t want that? Probably people who suck. I don’t want them in my spots anyway.
The real reason you’d be here, though, is the beer. They have a huge selection of stuff you won’t really find elsewhere in the city because it’s pretty much all actually from Germany, and a lot of it is small batch stuff. Their prices don’t really give you a discount for ordering a full liter — aside from the cool factor of having a giant stein in your hand — so you can rest easy and order pints to get more variety in. The bartenders know their stuff, and make awesome suggestions if you can tell them what you want in your drink besides «help me forget about the carrot thing.»
Also, they serve flights on old-​timey wooden skis. Nice.

When you want to release your inner German, Brauhaus Schmitz is the place to go. The variety and selection of German brews is significant– but the food is intensely, Germanicly, delicious. We got the sausage platter with sauerkraut and red cabbage– wow. A veritable sausage celebration which we augmented with the pickled sausage appetizer. Don’t be tempted by the massive Octoberfest size beer steins. Better to order smaller sizes and fly around the draft list to mix and match beers with your food.
Multiple visits, multiple good results. Comfort food yah? My only regret? Missed the fausnught donuts they only make once a year. Shades of my grandmother…

When it comes down to Philly, we all think about pretzels and cheesesteaks. But most people also mention the notorious Brauhaus Schmitz. I’m no stranger to German food or biergartens after visiting Munich and Hoboken’s Pilsener Haus. Brauhaus is kinda the best mix of restaurant and biergarten that I can think of. Cute décor, ambiance, and a beer selection that many can’t beat. And it’s in Philly!
Came here on a Saturday afternoon for some lunch and beer — surprisingly not packed and got a table pretty quickly. I ordered a homemade Ungarischewurst and side of cucumber along with a Konig Ludwig beer which were excellent. I shared with someone else who ordered a Brauhaus exclusive Ayinger Kirta, Bauernwurst with a potato pancake (I must say, he definitely made the better choice: P). Our waitress was super helpful and directed us to beers that we both really liked! Also, menu is super nice for German food and those who are worried about what’s in their food since it tells you what’s gluten-​free (all the sausages/​wursts are along with most of the sides) and vegetarian.
It’s not every day we have really great German food, ambiance, and beer so if you’re in Philly and South Street, it’s totally worth checking out!

By far my FAVORITE German restaurant! I have been a fan of this place since they opened. Their beer selection is unmatched. Their food is always delicious and full of flavor. The portion sides are fantastic! You will only leave this place hungry if you try.
I no longer live in Philly and now live in NYC and have to say that I have not found one German restaurant in all of NYC /​Jersey City /​Hoboken that compares. I miss this place so much! I try to stop back as much as I can when I’m back in Philly.
PS, the atmosphere is great too. It’s always a good mix of people. And it’s definitely a place you can stop in for a few drinks if you appreciate great beers, but don’t feel like German food.

If you’re looking for Philly’s most authentic German restaurant and beer hall, I’d recommend heading to South Street. There you’ll find Brauhaus Schmitz, which is owned by Doug Hager.
And at the helm of the kitchen? None other than acclaimed executive chef, Jeremy Nolan. Hager and Nolan also recently opened Whetstone Tavern, which features refined American dishes with a rustic twist.
But back to Brauhaus Schmitz. It’s got that prototypical German bierhall feel, with dark wood throughout. It’s sleek though, with plenty of seating to enjoy dinner or watch a game.
Bread Service
You meal will start with fresh, house-​baked bread, which included a rye and a pumpernickel, along with a great sour cream and onion butter.
Kasespatzle [$ 15]
Spirale spaetzle, caramelized onions, Emmenthaler cheese, crispy onions
I was excited for the German take on mac n cheese, especially because I love spaetzle. But frankly, my expectations may have been a bit too high, though I’ll admit my lack of experience with the German iteration on one of my favorite comfort foods. In any case, while this had good bite from the spaetzle and the crispy onions had wonderful texture, there was a general lack of seasoning. Emmenthaler wasn’t abundant either and thus, reminded me more of a buttered noodle dish. The saving grace? The caramelized onions helped to impart some savoriness.
Chicken Wiener Art [$ 21]
Lemon, parsley salad
The GF went with the chicken schnitzel for her main. While there could have been a bit more seasoning (this is coming from a guy who typically doesn’t need much salt), the pounded chicken was juicy and crisply fried. With each of the schnitzels and sausages came two sides. The GF went with the haussalat, which had that nice bit of tang you’d expect from a proper German potato salad. The kartoffelpuffer, or potato pancake, was great. Topped with sour cream, it was crispy and redolent with onion essence.
Wurst Platte [$ 17]
Bauernwurst, speckwurst
I went with the smoked sausages and chose the bauernwurst and the speckwurst. The bauernwurst on the left was a mix of smoked pork and beef that was juicy with a wonderful garlic essence. The speckwurst was nicely smoked, with the bacon and black pepper coming through. Both sausages had great snap and came with sweet and spicy mustards. For my sides, I also had to get the potato pancake as well as the rotkohl, or sweet and sour braised cabbage. The perfect foil for all of the heft from the potatoes and sausage.
Overall, Brauhaus Schmitz had high marks from me in terms of their house-​made sausages and sides. While I didn’t appreciate the kasespatzle as much as I would have liked, South Street’s German Bierhall has got plenty to enjoy. Be on the lookout for all of their events, whether it’s Oktoberfest or the South Street Festival! And if you’re looking for some proper German sausage sandwiches, Hager and Chef Jeremy Nolan also has the spinoff sandwich shop, Wursthaus Schmitz, located in Reading Terminal Market.

I’ve had few exposure to german food and I was never impressed by their cuisine (seems to lack nutrition and taste to me) but I was blown away by Braushaus Schmitz’s yummy selection. I wish I remember what I ordered but I struggle to pronounce majority of the menu items.
I had the sausages, which I loved to dip into this creamy sauce. can someone tell me how to make it? If not, I’m coming here again.
They had a great beer selection which my coworkers and I definitely took advantage of.
Service was great — the bartender was friendly, approachable and organized. Can’t wait to venture here again!