Ol’ Heidelberg
6125 University Dr NW,Ste E14, Huntsville, AL, 35806
Ol’ Heidelberg Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Huntsville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Huntsville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Huntsville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6125 University Dr NW,Ste E14
Huntsville, AL, 35806 - Phone (256) 922-0556
- Website https://olheidelberg.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Randy H.
One of the little known secrets of Huntsville is the pockets fine German cuisine in the area. The history of these restaurants goes back to the early 1950's when the likes of the great German rocket scientists such Wernher von Braun settled in the area. Greats minds always appreciate great food. O.K., let's talk Ol' Heidelberg, I walked in about 5 o'clock on a Monday night, decent crowd but not a packed house. That's fine with me. The hostess greeted me as I walked in the door and immediately escorted me to a booth in the side room. Looks like they have two main seating areas. The waitress came over within a few minutes to take my drink order. A nice frosty one for me please! I opted for a glass of the Paulaner Oktoberfest, highly recommended. The waitress brought me a night bread basket with a selection of rye and pumpernickel slices. The perfect setup to a great meal. Based on the recommendations of my fellow Yelpers I tried the Black Forest Schnitzel for my main course. The veal was tender, and topped with a creamy marsala sauce with bacon. Loved it! I chose the pan fried potatoes to accompany my meal. I would recommend this also. The last item on my plate was some sort of cole slaw, interestingly enough there was only about a tablespoon of it on my plate. What little there was was very flavorful. I enjoyed it. I would highly recommend the Black Forest Schnitzel if your heading to Ol' Heidlberg. I made sure I saved some room for dessert too! When you first walk in the door if you glance to the right you'll see the amazing dessert case. I spotted the Apple Strudel early on and had my heart set on it. I really enjoyed the strudel. It's served with two dollops of whipped cream and did not disappoint. This is coming from a strudel affectionato! I loved my visit to O'l Heidelberg, the food was delicious, the staff were attentive, and the prices are reasonable. Two thumbs up in my book!
(5)wes m.
Me and a group of friends went to eat last night. For the most part everything was great as usual. The only item that i would say is around the average range was the boiled potatos. In all fairness to the restraunt, there is only so much you can do with a boiled potato. Other than that if you eat there at night go ahead and order your deserte or they might be out by the time your done with your meal, especially if your wanting the home made apple struddle. Anyway, i took some pictures of the food. Hope this helps.
(5)Michael W.
Very good German food and German bear, with some of the best cakes, I have ever had.
(4)Carol N.
My visit to Ol Heidelberg was years and years ago, but it ist still run by the same family and is hands down the best reasonably priced authentic german restaurant I have been to. I kind of make it my mission while vacationing to try all the German restaurants I can find, and Ol Heidelberg stands out (yes, the dresses are charming in a stereotypical kind of way, but the food is the star). The others I've been to are very pricey, and most do not measure up to Ol Heidelberg in flavor. Now that I've mastered warm potato salad and weinerschnitzel at home, I'm very picky with German food and the prices it tends to come with. However, Ol Heidelberg is definitely one I would go out to if I lived in AL instead of the west coast.
(5)J H.
Stationed in Hanau for 3 years and my sister in law is German. I have zero complaints about the food or the service. Both were excellent. My gripe is the price. No apps under $9??!!?? My bill came out to $30+ for saurbraten and 1 bier. Explains why their website shows no prices on the menu.
(2)Ian B.
Very good German food with great service. It's one of the only high points in Huntsville, in my humble opinion (one day I'm going to have to learn all those abbreviations). I had the Jaeger Schnitzel (very good) with spaetzel (good) and pan fried potatoes (very good). I can't remember the beer I had, but it was German and very good. Keep up the good work.
(4)Mary N.
1st time for my son to have German food and it was an excellent experience. Friendly service, huge portions, tasty entrees, and wonderful desserts. Will be back next time we visit Huntsville.
(4)Kevin W.
I don't profess to being an expert in German food, but I've had a decent sampling in Berlin, Munich, and Freiburg. The Black Forest Schnitzel and Jarlsberg Chicken with boiled or fried potatoes were authentic but not extraordinary. If these were served at a random American diner, I'd think they were chicken fried steak (except the schnitzel was veal). The cucumber salad wasn't anything special with too much dressing. Prices were a bit high ($15-20), which is understandable for the authenticity, but the staff outfits were over-the-top and tacky in my opinion.
(2)D D.
My family eats here about once a week when we're in town. We are partial to the Black Forest Schnitzel (Marsala wine sauce with mushrooms, onions, and bacon), fried potatoes, side of Spatzle, cucumber salad. The nice thing about coming here with your S.O. is that you can share an entree and they'll prepare them as separate portions; easily enough for two people. They have a ton of desserts; good carrot and Black Forest cakes. I love the decor, but the staff dress is a little much. It's not the best German food I've ever had, but it's the best in Huntsville (that's not saying much, if you ask me...) 3 stars for the food + 1 star for the value.
(4)Adam S.
I like the schnitzel here. Also, the breads are very tasty. The sausages are good, but not great. It's hard to find good German food (much less in bama). Try it out.
(3)Ashley A.
I've never had German food before, but this restaurant is amazing. The atmosphere was very calming and romantic. The beer is personalized to the restaurant and very refreshing.... The desserts are to die for too. The food is all high quality and they have excellent service with a non intimidating environment. I couldn't think of a thing I didn't like.
(5)Mindy L.
Pretty good experience, overall. We were in a group of 10, so the service was decent for a large group. The decor was interesting and added to the overall German flavor. They had a pretty good selection for wine. The server was able to recommend some good wine choices. I had the beef rouladen. It was tasty. We also tried the desert. Whie I didn't taste the carrot cake the other members in my party did and they said it was the best that they have had in awhile. I had some other type of white cake w/fruit. It wasn't as sweet, but a nice touch to end the meal. I believe an 18% gratuity was added to our ticket because we were in a large party.
(3)Tanya W.
I wish I could give 4.5 stars instead of just 4. I LOVE Ol' Heidelberg, In my opinion, it is the best German restaurant in North Alabama. It is small and intimate with delicious food. I have been going there for years and have never ordered anything that I didn't like. My absolute favorites are the Schlatte Plate (your choice of 3 sausages), and the Honey Pecan Chicken. They also have a beautiful assortment of delicious desserts. The brown and white breads that they bring you are both delicious in their own right (my kids love it). They do serve the large German Mugs and have a decent beer selection but it couldn't hurt to expand just a little. I always look forward to my next visit!
(4)Jacob I.
My second time eating German food (not counting dinner on a Lufthansa flight in 1985) and I found the Ol Heidelberg to be great. Went with a small group of coworkers while we were in Huntsville for work. I tried the schweinebraten and loved it. I love spaetzle as well! The atmosphere was great, the nice waitresses even dress up. Service was a little slow, but if you plan to take your time and enjoy the company and food, you won't mind.
(4)Brian F.
Ol Heidelberg Cafe reminded me of my trips to Germany, specifically Bavaria. The food was good but the 1 liter beers (or biers) is what I really remember. I was there with a group of 12 people and the service was great. I'll stop by the next time I am in Huntsville.
(4)Andre B.
We went on a family vacation last year and went here for dinner one night. We still think making a trip to Huntsville so we can visit.
(4)Matt J.
Great German beer on hand!
(4)Mark W.
Good German food but I thought the prices were a little high, $18-20 for a schnitzel. I loved the cucumber salad and the black forest schnitzel my wife had. I ordered the rahm schnitzel and it was not as good as I used to get in Germany. I thought the sauce was too thin and maybe a bit too sweet. The atmosphere was good and the wait staff were friendly and attentive.
(3)Darrell L.
One of the spots I love to stop for a good German dinner while in Huntsville. During the week it isn't really crowded, and there are usually a couple of good beers on tap the schnitzel is very good.
(4)belinda m.
This family knows the restaurant business. schnitzel, schweinebraten I do miss this place too.
(5)Dustin P.
Great German food, good quality, and excellent service. This is a regular spot for us and we have never been disappointed. The portions are very large and we always share a plate, or plan to take home for lunch the next day. They have seasonal beers on draught and a good selection of bottled beers. We have been to Germany and can definitely say that this is the best German food in Huntsville, hands down.
(5)Ivy V.
It's hard to find good German food in the United States, and I really thought this might be the place to get some. It was decent at best. I think it's because I had high hope for this place since it has my hometown as it's namesake. It wasn't anything like Heidelberg. First off, the prices are a bit expense. Second off, the food they serves shouldn't cost that much. (Example: the slice potatoes).
(3)Dana F.
Another family favorite. The food is fine, although it's impossible to find anything to eat here when you are on a restricted diet. However, that's probably true of any German restaurant. The one thing that makes the place awesome is the desserts. INCREDIBLE carrot and Black Forest cakes. The decor is cheesy, like something you'd find at EPCOT's World Village, but the wait staff is very pleasant.
(3)Tyler L.
My first trip to Huntsville and I was not expecting any German food, but what a pleasant surprise! They have a clear, time-tested formula that seems to work: great service bringing very tasty beer and authentic, delicious food. Definitely will return!
(4)Mark A.
Had the Black Forest Schnitzel that brought taste memories of living in Germany. Especially with the fried potatoes and the bacon taste with bits added to the Marsala sauce.
(5)Lauren S.
This was a really fun place to have dinner! My husband and I went on a Friday night around 6:30 and we were seated right away. The decor is not what you would expect from a restaurant in a strip mall. It was very quaint and charming in a cheesy kind of way. I loved it. And our waitress was fantastic. The food...Bread is the first thing you're given. A bread basket with two kinds of bread -- one was pumpernickel I think and another was a light bread -- is brought out immediately. Very tasty and still warm. The hubby and I decided to split the chicken shnitzel and add a garden salad. It was more than enough food and the kitchen divided it amongst two plates for us. Nice touch. As for the beer...I wasn't sure if I wanted a beer so I asked our waitress twice what German beers they had on tap. Upon my second request (because I simply couldn't remember what she said the first time), she actually brought me three glasses with a sample of each beer in them! I chose the Dinkle Acker (dark) even though I'm usually a pilsner girl. But their pilsner was also very tasty so I'll have to go back. It was a thoroughly enjoyable meal and I look forward to returning.
(4)Steve R.
I used to work here over 20 years ago when i was a kid. I'm not a kid anymore and i no longer live in Huntsville, AL where this restaurant is located but still miss the awesome food this place serves. The bread they bring out is cut thick and presented in a nice basket. The ambience of the restaurant is exceptional and very authentic. The food is fresh and flavorful. I went to this restaurant a little while ago and its just as awesome as it was when i used to work there.....as a busboy i might add. They used to have steak tartar on the menu but they took it off. I wish they would put it back on as it was really good. I'm back in Huntsville for a visit so maybe its worth my time to make a nostalgic visit back.
(5)Lisa J.
Ok food. As I do not eat pork my options were limited. I did like the sides. I have been twice and I have to say the desert and the wine were the best part. I would go back again as I usually with pork fans.
(3)Amy B.
So to get really good German food we had to go to... Alabama? I guess it makes sense because a German expat community came here to work on rockets. The bratwurst and German potato salad are great. The kids menu worked for my 5 and 7 year olds. Highly recommended.
(5)Justin A.
This place is OK in my opinion. The potatoes are good and the desert is better. They have a good selection of sausages, but the prices attached to those sausages is somewhat of a put off. The schnitzel is not that great to me. I have to admit I only had it once, but that was enough to never have it again. It was like they just took a pork chop, rolled it in bread crumbs, and slapped it in a pan. That's not Schnitzel, that's shake and bake sans flavor. The sausage was good though, although as mentioned before - pricey. I guess the true star of this restaurant is the cakes. I love the cakes. Atmosphere is great, very family friendly, I'd go back if my wife would ever go with me. I think the place is pleasant but my wife would probably be a bit more scathing. She wasn't impressed at all.
(3)Michelle B.
Excellent food and a great beer selection. Huge portions will send you home with a togo box...all the better for lunch the next day! The Jaegerschnitzel is wonderful!
(4)Road Warrior D.
All you expect from a German restaurant. Sausages, schnitzel, and sauerbraten. German wine and beer on tap. They have excellent desserts too. A cozy atmosphere and the mind bending combination of waitresses dressed in traditional Tyrolean attire that speak with that marked southern accent of those native to Alabama. This place will send you home satisfied.
(2)Gerald S.
Prost! If you like dining in a dark place that looks like an Americanized version of a German gift shop - this place is for you. That, and the "30 minute seats" are pretty much the only things I can nitpick about. The benches were pretty hard. Like, church pew comfortable. The food was pretty good - escargot, schnitzel, sausages, all were tasty and everyone left an empty plate. It wasn't the best German food I've had, and it's a little disconcerting to have a server dressed in a German bar maid outfit bust out a slow Southern accent, but on the whole it was a solid meal. Funky decor (could be good or bad depending on your taste), decent food, and friendly but slow service. I'll probably try other places if I visit Huntsville again, but if I lived there I'm sure I'd go back - how many other German restaurants can there be?
(3)Cameron P.
I'd give 3.5 if I could. I've been coming here for over 20 years. The only thing that has changed are the prices, which are high for what you get in my opinion. The decor is very old, but I kind of like it, but that could also just be the nostalgia talking, since my parents brought me here a lot as a kid. The good: the food is consistently pretty good. I almost always get the chicken schnitzel cordon bleu with pan fried potatos. I've tried several other dishes. The dessert selection is indeed vast, but it's all frozen stuff that they bring in, nothing freshly made. Still a good selection of cakes and cheesecakes. I've been here a number of times for just dessert and coffee. The beer selection is good too. The bad: overpriced IMO. Most of the entrees are close to $20. They do come with a salad and bread. Service can be spotty. The restroom is horribly located and you literally have to stand directly next to other diners if you have to wait for it's availability.
(4)Ed L.
Best value on my 10 day stay in Huntsville. I had a pork cutlet with a dark mushroom sauce. Very taste service great and plenty of food. Place was full but I was still sat right away. Slaw has pork in it. I liked it. Pan fried potatoes very good.
(5)Nick G.
Possibly one of the best kept secrets in Huntsville. I have eaten German food in several places, including Germany, and this place is far-and-away the top of the list. If you have the chance, do yourself a favor and dine at Ol' Heidelberg!!
(5)Heather K.
This was my first time eating German food & it was delicious! Cucumber Salad, Chicken Schnitzel Cordon Blue, & German Chocolate Cake...YUM!
(5)Tiffany D.
Pretty good German food! I always get the Chicken Cordon Bleu Schnitzel with pan fried potatoes (not fried to hard) and red cabbage. The service is good as well.
(4)Eric R.
Ol' Heidelberg is probably my favorite place to eat in North Alabama. It has a very good variety of German food too. My favorite is the Bavarian Pork Schnitzel. The meal is always very filling no matter what you order, you will never leave hungry! They begin the dinner with free bread and butter, which is pretty good. And you can end the meal, or take home with you a delicious desert. They have lots of cakes including cheesecakes, chocolate cakes, lemon, etc. Plus they have lots of choices for German beers of wines.
(5)Bella W.
I missed the food from Germany so much and couldn't wait to try this while visiting the area. It didn't disappoint! Amazing food! Every bit of it, schnitzel, fried potatoes and the slaw were well worth the visit. Service was fast and very friendly.
(5)Amanda W.
Everywhere I go, first restaurant I look for is a German Restaurant. This place was ok but the Spätzle did not taste all that German to me. Yes, I did live in Germany before. Big portion. Good for lunch but unless you have a high metabolism, I would not recommend this place for dinner.
(3)Keith M.
Ol Heidelberg was the closest thing to a true German meal that I have had since leaving Heidelberg, Germany, 15 years ago. The Jaeger schnitzel was tender, with a great sauce and fresh mushrooms, the cucumber salad was delicious, and the service was very friendly. It's on my "must return to " list the next time I am in Huntsville.
(4)Johanna Q.
The atmosphere is by far the best part of the restaurant - decorated in the 1970s to feel like an old world German tavern, every corner, wall and table has some sort of theme to it and there are even stuffed deer heads and antlers all over the place! It is a lot of fun to just admire the decorations in each part of the restaurant. The food is decent. Not the best German food, but certainly decent. We found it to be rather expensive for the portion size. The cucumber salad was disappointed as it was so smothered by sauce we couldn't even taste cucumbers at all. The snails were excellent and not too chewy. The wurst was lackluster but the mustard was wonderful and more than made up for it. The schnitzel is pretty good and over all this place would definitely satisfy a craving for German food. The service was very good, our waitress was very attentive and friendly.
(3)Norb G.
Our party of 5 were all disappointed. The portions were very small. The brown gravy and bratwurst was bland. At $18 for the dinner, not a good value. Service was good and the bread delicious.
(2)Sarah P.
Some of the best German food I've had. I'm so happy they opened the second location! It has so much more space and the staff is very friendly! I love the ranch dressing they have on their salads! It is to die for good! The chicken schnitzel is my absolute favorite and you can't beat the German noodles. Their dessert is the best in town. I highly recommend the German chocolate cake. It's not like a German cake you would think of in America (no coconut) so that makes me love it even more. Lastly, they have a wonderful selection of beer and wine! I would highly recommend them if you are looking for a great meal at a reasonable price!
(5)Kris S.
We loved this restaurant! My husband and I went to Ol' Heidelberg on a very busy Wednesday evening for dinner. I ordered the Pork Schnitzel Berlin and he ordered Raustwurst. Everything was truly authentic. I started with the dill cucumber salad (just like my grandma used to make), which was excellent. Then we both had our entrees with potato salad. Very good as well. One of our new Huntsville favorites.
(4)Andy M.
I give 'em a four and a half . My wife loves this place, so we earn a free meal here on her frequent diner card about once a year. She says their Coconut Cake "is to die for." We split a meal here so we'll have room to share a piece of cake. (And, we're still stuffed.) We each ordered hot tea today with the meal. She doesn't order from the dessert menu, she wants to go pick from the dessert display case! Pay your waitress at the table, and you won't have to wait in the checkout line. Our bill today for our Sunday lunch for the two of us was $23.65.
(5)Jeremy T.
Went here for the first time about a month or so ago. The only negative thing I had noticed was the prices. I was not expecting this place to be as expensive as it was. The other two people who were with me said they had went up on the prices. Other than that I got really full on the food, I had the pick 3, Braut, Knack, and Rauchwurst with the fried potatoes on the side.
(4)Sarita R.
I have loved the food, service and the atmosphere at this restaurant for the past four years. I initially scoffed at the choice of uniform for the servers but it lends to the authenticity of the establishment and fare. My favorite meal includes: cucumber salad, pan fried potatoes and Black Forest schnitzel. With a slice of carrot cake. Most of servers also have a great personality to complement their customer service approach so make sure you get to know your server!
(5)Kaitlyn M.
This place is very good. Whenever I am in town I stop by to eat and take home a piece of pie. I usually get their Goulash which I would definitely recommend. Servers are always friendly and I haven't had a bad experience here
(4)Donald O.
Good food at a good price along with friendly service. The dining atmosphere was a little dark at our table, so be sure to bring your reading glasses or plan on using the light on your cell phone to illuminate the menu. I asked our server for some suggestions and she gladly shared information on some of their most popular dishes. Their cucumber salad was cool and creamy. The table bread was nice and warm. Overall, our experience was quite enjoyable.
(4)Russell W.
Don't know how the food is, because the service was so bad. Actually, I am not even sure how the service is due to the fact we waited 10 minutes with no acknowledgment from a waiter or manager. I hate that as I love German food. Guess I will never know how this place is ever. Lost my money today and any thought of coming back again.
(1)Julie K.
Heavy food--lots of schnitzel and sausages . It was good just very meat heavy. The sauerkraut was good, lots of pork in it if that matters to you. Fried potatoes were the same. My pork schnitzel came with German potato salad (missing the mustard bite and pickles of family members' salad) and fresh cabbage salad/coleslaw. The mushroom gravy was good. My brother's pork came smothered in a cream brandy sauce. It was good but it was sweeter than I usually like. The sausage platter allows you to select three types of sausage and it was a hit. The spaetzle was good though not a fluffy as my brothers. The German chocolate cake was good moist cake. Give it a try if you're in the mood for a meat heavy meal.
(3)Ashley W.
My mother in law wasn't kidding when she said that she gained weight while living in Germany - the food is awesome, salty, and fried. Ol Heidelberg was my first encounter with German food when I moved to the north Alabama area a few years ago. Although I've tried other German restaurants in the area, Ol Heidelberg remains my favorite. The brown bread that they set down on the table with your drinks is worth the trip itself. Every time I go to Ol Heidelberg, I tell myself that I will only have two slices of bread and butter, but I always eat at least four because it is so darn good. My favorite dish at Ol Heidelberg is the Black Forest Schnitzel. The marsala sauce that tops the fried veal is so creamy, not too sweet, and the bacon compliments it perfectly. Pairs this with the pan-fried potatoes and you've got fried meal heaven. Every meal I've had here has been fresh and warm when it hits the table. The Honey Pecan Chicken Schnitzel is good, but way too sweet for me (I love rich desserts, but sweet dinner meals are not my thing). For a lighter meal, I would recommend the Bratwurst. If you have room for dessert (which is rare for me and I always have room for dessert), the Black Forest and Italian Rum cakes are a great way to go.
(4)Frances L.
First of all, I love the feel of this restaurant. It's like walking into grandma's house in the country side. They have cute little booths you can sit in with checkered table cloths. Waitresses are dressed in cute German outfits although most of them were kind of old. The food itself was okay. I liked my Black Forest weinersnitzel which was like country fried steak in gravy but tender. The pan fried potatoes were good too. My fiancé's pork chef special was not good and reminded me of a TV dinner. The server was very nice but meals were slow to come out. My non-alcoholic Beck's tasted like beer but I realized I just don't like that taste at all. The saving grace was the carrot cake. Omg they served it up warm with carmel sauce. I could taste whole pecans, goldon raisins. It was delicious and hit the spot! I'm glad I tried this out but if I am ever back in Huntsville, I will not return.
(3)Michael P.
It has taken me some time to write this review, mostly because I can't decide on how many stars they deserve (vs what I want to give them). I am only ever in the Huntsville area for lunch, and having been raised on German food before moving to the deep, deep south, I really miss it. So I stop by when I can. I always have a craving for Sauerbraten, which they don't serve for lunch :( They do have an excellent selection of Wienerschnitzel and other veal dishes, along with other German delicacies such as spaetzle. So I make due with what they have for lunch. All the Vienna style veal dishes I have had were great. And I love the spaetzle mostly because I don't have to make it :) I also love the Dirndl dresses the servers wear. Very St Pauli Girl :) Anyway, I can't give this place 5 stars because no Sauerbraten for lunch, and their spatzle is not as good as Mom's or mine, but close. This is a really fun restaurant to visit. If you've never tried German food, stop by. Don't forget the Black Forest Cake.
(4)Brian F.
This place rocks! Went here twice this week while on travel. The schnitzel is wonderful and the fried potatoes will put your favorite breakfast joint to shame. Second time had the Bavarian Pork Schnitzel....just wonderful! Great service too and very reasonable prices. Can't wait to come back!
(5)Andrew L.
We had dinner with black forest wienersnitchel (chicken fried steak) and a pork chef special. The pork was dry and the gravy was overwhelming. Maybe we ordered the wrong stuff. But for close to $20 a plate, I would hope the meat is not overly dry. For $10 I probably would be less picky but they are setup for quality so you have to expect high standards. We also had the warm carrot cake with caramel, that was excellent. If it was just a dessert place , I would rate it very high ! The service was excellent and the beer and dessert selection is vast !
(2)C. M. F.
The cucumber salad is to die for. I had the Gypsy something or other entre and it was awesome. The chocolate cake is large enough to feed a family of seventeen but we decided to eat it between two... mistake. Food is always good, hot and tasty. A bit on the pricy side but it's cheaper than flying to Europe. We sat outside and witnessed the waiters drop a tray with two full bottles of wine, several drinks and water... what a mess! Glass flying everywhere and nary a question to us by the staff if we were injured, cut or hurt. That was kind of weird. After we finished our meal we discovered a piece of glass about the size of a marble on our table. The staff did not even have the decency first to see if we were ok, nor the courtesy of offering a free desert, a glass of water or anything. Not good. Had that piece of glass cut me or my wife the restaurant would have a different name. Bottom Line: We'll probably go back because we hate the other two German places in town.
(3)P M.
I'm looking at their web site, which states "Ol' Heidelberg is a Family owned and operated restaurant since 1972." And, that says it all. 40 years in business and their business model needs to change. The menu is very tired, I wonder if they've updated it during the 40 years? This restaurant has rested on it's "laurels" and has become complacent and the food has suffered tremendously. I'm a local and I recall this place being delicious "back in the day" but no more. We had a big party (mothers day maybe) last time, and DH and I could not stop cracking up over the dated decor. An odd mixture of dusty moose heads next to cuckoo clocks and cheaply framed posters adorn the place. People RAVE about how great this place is and, again, I just don't "get it." I had the pecan crusted fish (trout maybe) and the cucumber salad, which was good, but the fish was flavorless. For those who like beer, I think the beer selection is fairly extensive and their wine selection is not bad. Tea is consistently good and servers are devoted, several of whom have been there probably a decade or more. I think the prices are too high for the quality of the food, too. I wonder what % of their dishes are pre-made/frozen? I've never understood the awkward layout of the place either, and think the family owners should rethink it. You enter at the cash register/check out exit. There is a tiny seat at the hostess stand (same area), so as you are checking in, others are checking out, creating a big "bump into each other" fest, right at the "get go," then, you walk past a narrow flower cart area where the wait staff picks up the plates from the kitchen window (another bottle neck) and God forbid, you have to use the single stall bathroom because you have to wait literally in front of people who are trying to eat, with the choice of staring at those diners, staring at your feet, or starting at the wall -- awkward. So, after eating here probably 20+ times in my life, I won't be going back (hopefully my family won't plan another get together there). To their credit, however, people do "rant and rave" about their desserts. I haven't tried the desserts, so I can't comment on that. (Oh, and for those who say non-German people should not comment on this food, I've been to Germany), so maybe that counts?
(1)Ashley M.
Three stars because it was pretty good and it's the first time I've ever tried German cuisine . So give me a break on not knowing how authentic it was and wanting to give it three stars for now. I had the Cordon Blue Veal Schnitzel with European slaw and boiled potatoes. I really enjoyed it.The schnitzel was so tender but I gather that there shouldn't be any reason for super tenderized meat to be "not tender". I loved the puffy fried crust. The bread is on the Top 100 Dishes to Try in Alabama brochure. Sure it was nice and fresh and good but it tasted like, well bread, and not like, Oh my Gosh this bread is so good. What I'm trying to say is I'm not sure it's Top 100 worthy but it was still good. Plus it's kind of annoying to get those little pats of hard butter that you can't do anything with unless you 'tile' your bread with them. The garb that the wait staff is required to wear is kind of costumey and makes me feel sorry for them.
(3)Johny G.
An entire page of schntizels: Ja ... Sehr Gutt! Man, I luv this place. Need to get back to Alabama for Deutsche Essen uber alles...
(4)Charles G.
This restaurant was a complete surprise, so I have to thank my colleagues in the English grad program at UAH who recommended this place. $30 for two lunch portions, two soft drinks, and a slice of cake. Definitely made it to our rotation of restaurants!
(4)Keith W.
Amazing German food in an unlikely location (strip mall). The bread brought out is fantastic especially with a little mustard added. We shared a wurst appetizer and it was excellent, highly recommended! The jaeger schnitzel was spot on and mixed nicely with the spaetzel. I wish I had room for dessert because their chocolate cake looked great too. Looking forward to going back! Try the Hefeweizen on tap; the beer selection isn't huge but very good.
(4)David M.
I have only been here once. The only bad thing I can even think of is lack of selection I guess. Even that is iffy. The portions were a good size and to me were decently priced. The food tasted excellent though. I will be back to try more. My gf also got a slice of cake to go, and it looked more like half the cake. It was extremely good and enough for both of us.
(4)Diana K.
German food is not for everybody. You either love it or hate it. I don't like seeing reviews of Ol Heidelberg by people who write they have never had German food before. Then don't review the place! Their comments are just not appropriate to those of us who know true German food. I've only been there once, I must say. I see many comments about the "corny" German costumes the waitresses wear. I personally found it charming; it made me feel as if I was in Germany. The restaurant decor and ambiance is truly German, and to have the waitresses in German dresses, IMHO, was a nice touch. I started with the cucumber salad. I read a review that there was too much dressing. Again, if you don't know what German food is, don't post a review! The dill dressing was fabulous, and truly authentic, just like my Grandma made. I next had the goulash and homemade spaetzle. DELICIOUS!!! A hearty and tummy-warming dish! I found it interesting that the reviews commented about the bread being voted one of the top 100 foods to try in Alabama. Yes, they are delicious, but it is not just "typical" rye bread and pumpernickle, but it's Americanized, in that it's fluffy and soft. True German bread isn't fluffy and solft, but firmer and heartier. Another review mentioned the pats of butter in their little containers, and how that made a "checker board" out of the bread. I agree, use a stick of real butter, please! The cucumber salad, goulash, and spaetzle were absolutely wonderful. The bread I wanted firmed and heartier, with a stick of butter. If I had that, this would be a clear 5-star review, which is rare for me to give. I'm going with 4 stars because of the bread and butter, but everything else was... perfection. I highly recommend, and will look forward to my next trip to Huntsville so I can try more items from the menu. :) Definately my favorite restaurant in Huntsville!
(4)Pat P.
This German restaurant was definitely worth the 2+ hour drive to Huntsville (from Tuscaloosa). The ambience was perfect, the Schnitzel was divine (could cut it with a fork) The home fries crispy, and the Reisling perfect. Our SIL thoroughly enjoyed his HUGE stein of German beer, drank it down to the last drop. (We had a designated driver) We tried the Spaetzle, with and without gravy. 10 thumbs up for each. Then we shared 2 desserts between the 5 of us. Another 10 thumbs up. Our servers, wearing the dirndl skirts, were very attentive, even though the restaurant was packed on this Wednesday afternoon. Until one of the German managers at the local Mercedes plant finally get wise and decide to open an authentic German restaurant here in Tuscaloosa, I guess we'll try to make the trek up north at least twice a year. Actually, it's probably a good thing we don't have anything local, as my waistline would definitely expand. Yumm.
(5)Shawn H.
Let me start off by saying that the beer is fantastic! They do have a nice selection, the food itself was good. I had the Black Forrest Schnitzel, (A must!) with brown gravy. Everything was very good. The waitress was very friendly and fast! The restaurant was quaint and clean. Dare I say best german food in the Huntsville area. All in all, if you like german food, go! You won't be disappointed!
(4)Brit D.
The food is delicious, the drink is great, and the atmosphere is fun. The waitresses are typically pretty unprofessional and the bathrooms are usually in need of a little help but nothing so bad that it takes too much away from the rest of the positive.
(4)David Y.
Took my wife and daughter here to get some German food while visiting Huntsville. The food here is pretty good - not as good as mein Oma used to make, but sehr gut, nonetheless. The warm, fresh bread was was awesome. They didn't have my favorite hefeweissen on tap, so I had ice water instead. At first, I wanted a side of spätzIe, but when I asked what was in the spätzle, I was told that they only served it plain. Meh. I wanted at least some käsespsätzle, but I was told that nobody there had ever heard of serving it with cheese. Oh well. I had the jaegerschnitzel, which was very delicious, however, when compared to the sizeable portions of weinerschnitzel my wife and daughter received, I found that my portion size was a bit lacking. No matter - I filled that void with some tasty amaretto cheesecake for desert. The German food at this restaurant is much better than any of the German food I can find in the metro Atlanta area. Just that alone makes me like Huntsville a bit more.
(4)Rebecca B.
Having lived in Germany & cooked the food for many years, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many German restaurants in H'Ville - decided to try Heidelberg first - first plus - Bitburger on the menu! Wide selection, chose the Rahm Schnitzel...& I shouldn't have - it was just ok...salad good, Escargots good & service was good - overall, decent (but by no means great) German food! Will we go back, sure
(3)Karl B.
Great service. Was in town and had to get to the airport quickly, and the wiener schnitzel came out quick, hot, and fresh. I was in and out in plenty of time to catch my flight. Sauerkraut was some of the best I've had, and the fudge chocolate cake was as rich as one would expect in the USA. Not the same taste as, say, Sacher in Germany (this is much more moist), but still great. Overall ambiance is nice and German.
(5)Panda B.
Can't believe I never wrote a review for Ol Heidelberg. We go here all the time! We love the place. The food is always consistently good and plentiful along with their beer selection. They do get crazy at night but the wait staff is always nice and quick.
(5)Nathan M.
Wonderful German food, a hidden gem in a plaza that you wouldn't think to go to. A friend and I went up there, had the giant hefeweizen beers and some Schnitzel along with a side of Spatzle. The only thing I was disappointed in was that I didn't have room for some black forest cake!
(5)Eddie R.
Killer German food! Don't ask questions - just go.
(5)Dennis C.
The food is very good and I stop by every time I'm in town. Their Key Lime Pie? Hey, it's not German, but it is awesome.
(4)Pamela J.
We had read about this cafe in the Birmingham newspaper. So we decided on the way home from tenn. we would detour and go by there. The service was horrible the chicken schnitzel cordon blue was dry. The veal was alright. After waiting over an hour for our entree we had to ask what the problem was. All the while our coffee cups empty. The place was not crowed as we were seated upon arrival. The couple ahead of us had already finished before we received our meal. The manager did not bother to speak with just had the server offer a free dessert.
(1)Mike K.
I have lived in Germany for 20 mos. so I know good German food.....this was average to just above average......the weiner schnitzel I had was good but dried out.....their breads were good and the spatzle was good, although a little lumpy. I will give it another try....ambience is excellent although the bright white flourescent light coming from the bar is a little off-putting...along with the loud compressor noise from the refrigerator....good beer selection as you would expect...the same family owns Cafe Berlin on Airport road.....I will try that too.
(3)Hyong Y.
First, all the german beers you want is here. I had their pauliner octoberfest 32oz, yea, i was feeling good. Now the food. THey have variety selections of schnitzel. I had their mushroom schnitzel and it was fantastic. Their entree portion is HUGE. It can feed two people. There is nothing healthy about this place and they are not afraid to fry their food for good flavor. i strongly recommend someone who is looking for more traditional german food.
(4)Nebuchadnezzar Z.
This place is awesome! I come to Huntsville about once a year for work and make a point of stopping here. Great German food, great environment.
(5)D Y.
We spent 4 years in Germany and had been back several times for vacation. Finding a good German restaurant is a tough one for us. Service: 4 out of 5 stars Cleanliness: 4 out of 5 stars Food selection: 4 out of 5 stars Our food: 3 out of 5 stars Parking: 3 out of 5 stars We went when it wasn't busy. The food was just allright. Yes, I got the jaeger schnitzel. They pounded the heck out of it, as it should be before breading and frying. But it was just ordinary. Not extraordinary. This is a good place to go if you've never been to Germany and want a touch of the food and decor. I have to agree with Angel on the uniform choices. Guess those uniforms are part of the 'ambiance' to being in a German restaurant. Trying to get as authentic as they can get in Huntsville. I guess we are picky considering we've spent a few years in Germany and had a wide selection of food choices while there. We can say we've tried it, but probably won't be back.
(3)Angel E.
I am a German trying to find decent German food in Al. Good luck to me. The hot potato salad was decent. The European slaw was ok, a little too vinegary. The Schwarzwald (Black forest) Schnitzel was pathetic and had no flavor. I Don't think I care to go back. P.S. What's up with the wait staff wearing those ridiculous dresses??? Trying to look Amish?
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