Black Forest Restaurant
24 Big Spring Dr, Nederland, CO, 80466
Black Forest Restaurant Menu
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Address :
24 Big Spring Dr
Nederland, CO, 80466 - Phone (303) 279-2333
- Website https://www.blackforestrestaurant.net/
- 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 : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Touristy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Tessa D.
We went to Black Forest on the evening of Grandpa's Blue Ball, so we expected it to be crowded and noisy. We also expected the food to be less than great, since clearly this place is more about the ambiance (and the bar) than the edibles. Still, we were appalled by how bad our dinner was--one of the worst restaurant meals I've ever had. The sauerbraten was revoltingly overcooked and slathered in a jammy sauce, the potato pancakes were mushy and burnt, the schnitzel came bathed in cheap canned gravy, and the trout was horrifying. But it's priced as if you're eating in Manhattan. If you have to eat here, choose the bratwurst--it's the only thing on the menu that's not totally disgusting. Like other reviewers, I'm baffled how this place can stay in business--and how anyone can give it a good review.
(1)Michael R.
We really enjoyed our lunch experience. We had our lunch in the garden room and it was a very pleasant environment. We appreciated all of the small details, the plates used, the background music, etc. it just had a nice feel to it, something different. The service was excellent. We had the Hungarian Goulash, Sauerbraten and a kids meal of chicken fingers. We liked the taste of all the dishes, including the homemade apple sauce. We finished with their homemade apple strudel and it was excellent. If you enjoy a dining experience at a family owned restaurant with excellent service, unique qualities and authentic German dishes, you should try this place. We will certainly go back again.
(5)Steve M.
I really, really dug this place. We can't stop talking about what a good meal, and good time we had. We visited with an old friend who is from Germany. That helped a lot with the menu. It's not just a meal, it's an experience. If you approach it as a slice of European life, a wonderful evening will be had by all. Good Paulaner beers on tap. The Apple Strudel is to die for - homemade with homemade ice cream and whipped cream included. Delish! The entrees include bread, butter, and a fresh, tasty salad. The prices range from probably $13 to $24. The owner is from Germany, and has had a version of this restaurant open since 1959! The service is good and interesting because it's a team approach. Go there, you will dig it.
(5)Kelly F.
After a long hike up near Ward, my fiancée and I were craving a good post hike meal! Being German and growing up with that type of cuisine, I have wanted to stop by and try Black Forest many times! Building up quite the appetite after our hike, German sounded great! We started off with some ice cold Paulangers, which hit the spot--- followed my some yummy potato pancakes, I am thrilled to say finally a place in driving distance from Denver who can make a good batch of potato pancakes, not too thick! Thin and crispy how they're supposed to be, served with homemade apple sauce! Yum! My fiancee ordered the Wiener Schnitzel and I ordered my favorite German entree, Sauerbraten.... now for the test, will the Sauerbraten be done the right way? Yes Yes and Yes! It was perfect, moist.. the gravy was very flavorful and a great consistency. The meat was sliced just right with some yummy red cabbage to compliment the savory taste. My fiancee's schnitzel, was up to par as well. Crispy and delicious! And lets not forget the homemade apple strudel, I. myself do not have a huge sweet tooth especially after a huge meal like that... but the strudel was amazing in every way, hot right out of the oven! No questions asked, we will be back in Fall or Winter for another hearty and delicious meal, done right!
(4)Karen R.
The goulash is not a stew and tastes of paprika. The stroganoff needed almost a bottle of salt to make it edible and I still wouldn't eat it. The only one who enjoyed their meal was my upper aged mother and, well you know how old people eat. AVOID!!!!!
(1)Chris D.
This was an odd experience, and overall I would vote higher for that, but the food was just sub-par, especially for the prices charged (dinner was in the $25/per person range). This was Denny's (or worse) food in an attempted upscale environment. I have wanted to visit many times, and so I was very surprised by the disheveled appearance of the place inside. Very dated, somewhat clean, and not at all cozy. Ok, so ambiance is a zero. But the store-bought sliced bread and canned vegetable assortment that were served with the (pretty good) jaegerschnitzel sealed the deal. You should pass on this place, and the owners should pass it on to someone else to run.
(1)Matt T.
Good find in Nederland. Good food and good service. We'll be back!
(4)Troy S.
This place is a little bit of Germany nestled in the mountains close to Denver. I have been here many times and I am never disappointed. The service is great and is usually the same people over the years. I think the owner even serves me most of the time but they all pitch in to help out. I really like the sauerbraten and the sauerkraut. The potato pancakes are amazing with the apple 'sauce'. Definitely a wonderful atmosphere in the western lunch dining room. Waterfall and plants everywhere with a great view of the mountains from the window seats.
(5)SugR S.
Two stars for the bright sunny room and view. Negative stars for food. We were here for lunch- husband had a sad club salad. Son had chicken fingers that were gristly and my BLT came on the stalest bread imaginable. Inedible. Fries were very old and barely warm. No amount of ranch would help ... Our service was good. In fact the waitress brought us Hershey bars when we paid our bill. The German food might be good. Everything else is really bad. Would not recommend...
(2)Random E.
Great service and food! Enjoyed the calm decor and friendly staff! Roasted duck, Elk Goulash along with duck liver pate were excellent!
(5)Tim G.
I want to like this place - the space is pretty cool if dated. The menu is a hodgepodge of German and American dishes. The problem is that the food is very 70's - 80's. Nothing has been done to inspire in this kitchen for a very long time. If you are looking for that old-timey German restaurant that could never quite elevate their food, you might like the Black Forest Restaurant - if not...
(2)Ella S.
This place reminds me of a restaurant that should be on Gordon Ramsey's "Restaurant Nightmares." From the outside it looked very appealing. But the further I walked up the stairs, the more odd I felt. I should have trusted my instincts not to try it out. There was NOBODY there other than who I am guessing was the restaurant owner and a cook. Actually, for all I know it was just one man who cooked our food and pretended to talk to another. We were served complimentary salads. Mine had stale lettuce and dressing literally dumped all over it. The dressing made it slightly more edible I suppose. I tried the "special elk goulash." Apparently, it's not a special if it is served every day of every week of every month of every year. It tasted as bad as it looked. Not fresh and vegetables from a can. The interior of the building has a lot of potential, but it's just so tacky. I mean it's really something to see. Completely out of place random things in there. At the end of our meal we were served some mini hershey bars/mints. Also tacky. This place is clearly a place that takes advantage of tourists who don't know any better. The ONE time I don't look up yelp reviews.
(1)Rocky T.
So I though I would try something different from the usual place I go to when in this area. I had the special. Elk goulash. Disappointed to say the least. Bland. Served with peas and carrots out of the can. Bread was slice bread off the shelf. Unfriendly staff. If it wasn't for the cleanliness of the place I would have given it one star.
(2)Amy E.
Bad German food goes here to die. Sorry to be so blunt, but this place is terrible. I've been several times, and each was worse than the last. A typical meal: sauerbraten with applesauce and veggies, with a little salad to start. The salad was the best part of the meal. Very average little comes-with-the-meal salad- iceberg lettuce, a grape tomato, a a few shreds of carrot. Not great, but not terrible. The rest of the meal? Ick. I've had sauerbraten in various locations in Germany, so I have some familiarity with authentic. While sauerbraten is indeed supposed to be a little sour, the version at BF had no balancing elements whatsoever. Tasted like beef soaked in vinegar. And the beef itself tasted very old, overcooked, and tough. Terrible. The vegetable was simply frozen peas and carrots, like you can get for 98 cents a bag at Walmart. And the applesauce was regular ol' jarred grocery store applesauce. All of this at BF, for only $20+ a plate! Had a pork chop that was so overcooked I literally couldn't cut it. Had some sort of cold, from a bag, mushy, tasteless potato cubes. Had a very overpriced and way too sweet Riesling (after telling the waiter we wanted a white on the dry side of the spectrum). Everything we've had has been atrocious. Overpriced, terrible food. The atmosphere is very kitschy German. I heard someone once call it fine dining. Ha! More like a drunken Disney cartoonist's idea of a German restaurant. If you happen to pass through the cute little town of Nederland and want a meal, there are quite a few descent restaurants that are orders of magnitude better. Yelp can direct you in the right direction.
(1)Erin F.
We arrived at 8 pm (I thought they didn't close until 9 pm, but maybe I was wrong) and a man (presumably the owner) met us outside and told us that he would seat is even though they just began closing the kitchen, which was very nice. Our food was delicious and I really wanted to like this place and give it a good review. In fact, I was planning to do so until the very end of the dinner of the guests at the other table in the restaurant. You see, the owner or not owner or manager or just employee (not sure who he was, we thought he was the owner at first) got into a little spat with a big group of customers who wanted to pay for their meal split. The waitress said that was ok to do, but then he came up and told them to pay cash or a personal check only and that they would not accept any credit cards let alone, different credit cards. (Btw- who carries cash like that {I imagine their bill was $400} and A restaurant should never take a personal check!!!). When one of the guests just said.. "Well, it would've been nice to know this at the beginning" the employee fired back that the guest probably had never worked in a restaurant before and didn't know what he was talking about (basically totally insulted the guest...whom he doesn't know at all!!!). It left an awkward situation for that table and ours. Luckily, my husband had cash on him because they asked us to pay cash or check too at the end of our dinner. Our bill was $45 and we paid with $100, meaning we should have gotten $55 back...but we only got $43. And shame on us for not realizing that until we got home. We grabbed our change, left part of it for a tip and got out of there ASAP because the situation was just awkward. So, basically they got a $20 tip out of us after the incorrect change incident... We would have gone back to tell them, but dealing with those people seemed like more trouble than it was worth....
(2)Sean A.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS I approached this place with an open mind in spite of the other yelp reviews. Having lived in Germany for some time I feel that experience provides me with a reasonable approximation of what the food should be like. First and most importantly, the food here is utterly disgraceful. It is literally on par in terms of quality, with the food I was served in high school cafeterias and Marine Corps chow halls. All vegetable sides clearly come out of economy sized cans. Salads consist of old iceberg lettuce, like the stuff you can buy in a bag at safeway. For main entrees, I ordered the "special" elk goulash which the waiter told me he was "very proud of". The entire entree was cold, old, and clearly derived from canned preserved food. If the special was an exemplar of Black Forest's best effort I feel total embarassement for them. The other three members of my party had similar experiences. One member of my party ordered "fresh trout" which arrived fishier than a jar of luddifisk. None of us came close to finishing our meals it was so disgusting. To all the brainless mutants that think this dump serves "authentic german food" you should try visiting that country sometime. Real German food is some of the freshest and most expertly prepared food I've ever had, not institutionalized crap that is scooped out of cans or has to be rehydrated. Cambells beef bullion is not the same thing as oxtail soup, as they claim at this restaurant. Adding injury to insult, this place is really expensive. Four of us ate regular lunch entrees, with no alchohol, and walked out with a bill of $85.00. The service, as other yelpers have noted, is very lackluster and the interior of the restaurant smells and looks like it hasn't had a good cleaning since the 1970s. It would take a good scrubbing to bring this place up to dump status, a really deep cleaning to bring it up to ghetto status and it would have to be demolished all together to call it a restaurant. There are far better places to spend your time and money at in Nederland. Only sucker passersbyers fall for this place (I count myself among that lot). The only thing that can be said for this restaurant is that certain areas have a terrific view.
(1)Megan A.
I think they make their money from unsuspecting tourists. The service was really bad. For example, my Coke arrived watered down and clear/gray in color. It tasted like seltzer water. I had to wait about 15 minutes for the waiter to return. I'm someone who seldom complains about a meal. I told him as politely as possible that my sodapop seemed to have very little syrup. He actually raised his voice and said "Other customers have drank it today!" As if that was a good defense. There were no other customers there when we were there. I sent it back and asked for something else. He only returned 45 minutes later when we were finished with our food and had been waiting for our bill for a long time. We'd had to entertain ourselves by walking around the restaurant and looking at the decor because we'd been ready to leave for a while. They charged us for the Coke anyway. Another man, possibly the proprietor, was at the entrance. He was friendly and greeted our small children and gave them full sized Hershey's chocolate bars. That was the only good service we received.
(1)Jay M.
A long drive, the ambience was excellent. The room was beautiful, after climbing almost 3 stories of stairs, the view was pretty. Unfortunately the food just wasn't that great and overpriced. We were looking for some great European German food and this isn't the place.
(2)James H.
An elegant and ageing structure with an elegant and ageing staff. The food is marvelous and the service excellent. Bring money, but you won't need a second mortgage. My wife had the jaegerschnitzel and my son and I had the sauerbraten. Both were wonderful. The red cabbage was right on. My wife asked for mashed potatoes instead of noodles and that was no problem. The potato pancakes were dark golden brown, caramelized and delicious. The possibly homemade applesauce perfectly went with them. The bread may have been store bought and mechanically sliced but there were three kinds, all delicious and fresh, and served with real butter. The salad may have been iceburg, with red cabbage, carrots, grape tomatoes, and cucumber but the house dressing did NOT come out of a bottle. It is a lovely vinaigrette full of pickled red onion and tastes wonderful. You will lick the bowl. We split an apple strudel and it was marvelous. I do not understand people who go to a German restaurant and order the fish any more than someone who goes to a steakhouse and orders the fish! Don't they know how these things work? Order what a restaurant is good at and you will have a good meal. Simple as that. I mean, chicken fingers? BLT? Fries? Go to Micky D's. BTW, goulash is Hungarian and is supost to have paprika in it, lots of paprika.
(5)Ashley T.
This place reminds me of a restaurant I went to in hungary. Looks legit from the outside but the further you get into the meal you feel increasingly like you're a tourist being taken advantage of. The food was average to below average at best. Simple dishes like bratwurst and goulash were not well executed. The elk goulash obviously is not a special as someone wrote about this a month or so ago. They sold it in as something local and seasonal, and this was my first clue that we were dooped. Second clue was the soup, that our waiter described as "something to write home about", a beef oxtail soup. It came out an tasted like a canned beef broth. $3.50 down the drain. Icing on the cake (ironically) was that they don't even serve black forest cake, their namesake. Leaving the restaurant we used the restrooms downstairs, which look like a scene from a horror movie. Go down there with a friend... you might not make it out... My biggest regret was not checking out yelp becorehand. Otherwise I could have had some nice Indian food.
(3)Aaron R.
My girlfriend has been visiting her family in Germany for years and we just got back from Germany a few months ago. She took me here because I was missing my German food. Was a great experience with our food and the staff is great and work very well as a team. My only issue is that they lack a bigger beer selection like wheat beer and no Black Forest cake, but as secluded as Nederland is, I guess they don't get enough volume to justify.
(4)J C.
Imagine touring Estes Park most of the day and thinking about the "wonderful German restaurant" a friend has recommended. What I did not expect was a tired old restaurant(gross carpet!) with very mediocre food. The service was just so so. The waiter was quite elderly and friendly enough but not attentive. I had been salivating thinking of the Weiner Schnitzel. It had a grease taste. The "fresh steamed vegetables" which I had substituted for cabbage were a mixed vegetable medley out of a bag!!! My husband said the sauerbraten was pretty good with the potato pancakes. I would NOT recommend this place AT ALL!!! I can only imagine my friend went many years ago in this restaurants better days. Drive on!
(2)Thomas H.
On a chilly day when Nederland was still trying to shake off the last bits of winter weather, my wife and I took a chance and tried Black Forest. It looks pretty imposing from the outside, and when you step inside, it seems almost like it's trying too hard to look fancy. Unsure if the food would be any good, or if this restaurant would just exploit the lack of choices in this tiny town and extort our money, we gave it a shot. TL;DR SUMMARY: My wife and I were both extremely pleased with our meal here, and we'll definitely be back with friends and family. FOOD: I ordered the sauerbraten, and my wife had the bratwurst. As you'd expect, the flavors were very strong on the "sauer" side, which was perfect for us. The food was excellent overall, portions were just right, and everything was served up quickly. SERVICE: The restaurant was not particularly busy, and the manager (owner?) who was serving our table gave us a lot of attention. He brought us complimentary salad and soup appetizers -- I'm not sure if everybody gets this, or if he was feeling generous because the chilly weather had scared away most of the clientele for the day. Everything arrived at our table quickly and pleasantly. ENVIRONMENT: The dining room we were in (there are multiple) was pleasant, letting in lots of natural light. The fact that everything in the dining room was made of wood made it feel a *tiny* bit chilly with the cool weather outside, but maybe that's just me. A side note: As my wife and I left with full bellies and smiles on our faces, we were approached by another man and woman who had just eaten in the restaurant. The woman asked me if we enjoyed our meal, and we enthusiastically said yes. She then proceeded to rant at us about how she had ordered fish, and that she had to "drain all the sauce out of it" to make it edible. She followed this up with a rant about the appalling service she received after driving "all the way from Mississippi." I did not witness any of this alleged horrible treatment when we were in the restaurant, and it doesn't jive with the experience my wife and I had just had... It's possible that the service and the food are not consistent here, but we've only made the one visit so far. My advice: stick to *German* foods when you go to this *German* restaurant, and I suspect you will be fine. Like the manager/owner said to us, they've been making sauerkraut for over 50 years, so they know how to do it. Ordering a big fish dish is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of eating at a German restaurant, so maybe that is not their strong suit here...
(4)Gokhan B.
It is definitely a "must not" and "avoid at all times"!!! As Boulder natives and used to awesome wholesome delicious food, we were amazed at the horrid food that the restaurant had to offer. This restaurant was a huge disappointment. Not only that, but also a rip off! On the outside, the place looked very decent and quite big. Once you enter, you are welcomed by a friendly elderly man. Before we ordered though, we went to the bathroom to wash our hands after a day of hiking and dust. Bathrooms said a lot. Even if one forgives the outdatedness of the place, you cannot forgive how worn out and not quite clean it is. Once we returned to the table and were ready to order, we couldn't not notice how highly the meals were priced. That was not going to be a problem if the food had lived up to the expectation that the prices suggested. The pate was kind of ok but far from great. The bread was horrible!!! Not only it was not made in the house, but we thought they had bought it from a gas station and brought to the table. Horrible bread! We were served "complimentary salads" with dead lettuce. None of the veggies looked fresh (not to even suspect of them being organic) and they were chopped like something you'd feed to your chickens. We had already picked our main meals, which were the special "elk goulash" ($24 or 28) and "jagerschnitzel" ($28). Wait to taste those two! Horrendous! It all came, just like the other meals, with overly sour not sure how cooked red cabbage, absolutely tasteless sauce and some dubious onion-mushroom mix (likely coming form a can). The food was not even warm (likely microwaved for 20 seconds or less). Despite all this, we ate most of our food. Some of the tab beer was also old and flat. We were offered desert, which we kindly refused. Instead, we were served some complimentary " have a great night" (Walmart/ gas station) mini hershey chocolate bars and mints! Hooray! That will surely make it up for the horrible food! The total was over 200 bucks for 5 people, which means 5 main meals and not that many beers. You do the math. I do not mind spending money on good food as I appreciate good food a lot! However, this was a baaaaaaaaad experience. We got tricked by the 4 stars on the google reviews (of which we read none.big mistake!). The atmosphere was also kind of stagnant. Only very few customers which seem to belong to a "type" that goes there, worn out table cloths, and everything else. It looked like a place from a horror movie set. I would never go back there ever again.
(1)Cass S.
If i could give negative stars i would give them -100 !! Worst experience ever. Creepy place with creepy old rude staff. Makes you feel like you are in a scary movie. The food was the worst i have ever had in my life and then i had to pay for it! I was very upset to have to pay $60 for such horrible food. The only money well spent was the huge bottle of pepto i had to chug right after eating in that place. PEOPLE STAY AWAY FROM THIS NIGHTMARE !!!
(1)Hanna S.
While living in Nederland, this place was one of my boyfriend and I's favorite restaurants. Beautiful lodge like building with fancy decor and beautiful view of Nederland. Very authentic German food and staff. The owners are from Germany and know how to make good German food. They are very friendly and love to tell stories and will be happy to make adjustments to meals to your liking. Overall great service and German food. Make sure to stop through when your in Nederland.
(5)Brandon S.
From the outside, the Black Forest looks like it's going to be a moderately fancy restaurant with delicious food, a great atmosphere, and plenty of good beers. On the plus side, two out of three isn't bad. The decor is very nice and helps to present a fuller German feel, and the distinctive cabin look matches Nederland's mountain persona well. The bar is an excellent place for a drink, and there are plenty of places to sit and have a conversation. In the winter when I went, they even had a fire burning. That being said, I wasn't terribly impressed with the food. It may have been because of the lunch rush, but the food really didn't taste as amazing as I had hoped. If you look at my pictures, the food looks amazing, but the taste just didn't live up to its appearance. It's not that it was bad, but it just wasn't that great. If you're looking for a place to relax and grab a drink, or a nice place to have lunch and a conversation, the Black Forest is a fine choice.
(3)Ingrid J.
This place suffers from undiagnosed bipolar affective disorder. I had not been here for many, many, many years -- maybe at least two decades, when it may have been owned by someone else -- but I was craving German food, which there used to be in abundance in Colorado. We showed up without reservations on Mother's Day. I didn't think this would be an issue, since the place was maybe one-quarter full. Maybe it was because it wasn't fully staffed. It took a long time and some fractured German to get us seated, and a long, long time to get service, which was bordering on surly. Is the place understaffed? I think our waiter was handling 12-14 tables of people by himself, and that was just the room we were in. The restaurant seems really big. How many tables did the poor bastard get stuck with? The dining room side toward the road is lovely. Kind of like a German lodge crossed with an atrium. I love the pretty silverware, which I think is actual silver, and the pretty china. I was amused that the water pitcher on our table kept being taken to fill other people's glasses. I was not amused that so many tables remained uncleaned. We were not provided with beverages until our order was taken. The food was not delicious, and not bad. It wasn't inedible, it just wasn't spectacular for the price. However, little things surprised, like the cabbage and the chicken my little boy was eating. I would not recommend the schnitzels. Yet, the waiter came by with a spectacular rose for me (the only mother at the table) and left a chocolate bar for the little boy. That was kind of a nice touch. I want to try this place again, on a different day, for a different meal. I don't want to write it off, but I caution people ahead of time. Sometimes places have off days, especially when it's shoulder season. And sometimes...meh.
(3)Alex P.
Drove down with a group from boulder with myself and someone else that was 21, and others that were not 21, to see a concert at the Black Forest that was advertised online as "all ages" only to show up to find out that it was 21+. As opposed to being apologetic for the situation, and finding a possible alternative to the situation (such as allowing us to enter like they did for friends of ours that were under 21 that showed up 30 minutes before us) they were rude and blamed the situation not only on us, but on the band. The owner allowed others under the age of 21 to enter, only to be a complete ass hole to my girlfriend and friends. I understand that there are laws that do not permit people under the age of 21 to enter, but to show up to a show that was advertised for all ages only to be treated very rudely not only by the door staff, but by the owner who just allowed others under 21 to enter was just ridiculous. Bummer that this happened because it seemed like a cool, intimate place to see a show, but staff really needs to step their shit up from the owner downwards.
(1)Shelly P.
This place is a true German restaurant. The food was amazing and the staff was so friendly! We will be back for sure!
(5)Tom S.
This is genuine european dining at its best. The service is wonderful with attention to detail. The food is homemade with all the freshness and quality that is unmatched among this style in Colorado. The snitzel and wurst are the best we've had outside of Colone. Beautiful views of the area from the table were a big bonus. If you love good German food this will be a place to add to your favourites list.
(5)J B.
We went here after a day long hike (The July 4 Trailhead to Diamond Lake) so we were starving. THe other reviews are true, the food is horrible. Typically, the only way a place like this stays in business is to rely on a fresh supply of suckers. Being in a ski town, they obviously get the suckers. Don't be one of them. Avoid.
(1)Crys A.
Aw, this place is cute. Kind of a must-see when traveling through Nederland --- such great views. Had drinks on the deck and talked to the nice manager or owner or whomever he was. Such a character. There was another guy sitting in a big chair and we chatted him up too. Unique. Probably not for everyone. Proceeded into the bar which is...different. But cool. Watched a game with a few other patrons (not a whole lot of people there) and enjoyed myself thoroughly. Can't vouch for the food, sorry. Something tells me it'll be just ok, but I will update with info on that as soon as I have the opportunity to try it. This review is based on bar, drinks and scenery only.
(4)Sasha M.
This place was absolutely gorgeous! It was warm and spacious, with lots of natural light. The food was amazing, too. I especially loved the potato pancakes and the desserts. :) Thanks so much to the staff for a wonderful experience. They were so attentive and welcoming. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Jerome Z.
I rarely write reviews but I research diligently before selecting a restaraunt and I did my homework before going to the Black Forest Restaurant in Nederland, CO. Actually, We are here visiting our daughter for the weekend and I asked her where she would like to go. Her answer: The Black Forest Restaurant. I had already read reviews from Yelp and Trip Advisor and was pleasantly suprised at the number of good restaurants in the little town of Nederland. But... Black Forest had not made my list! I had to go and reread the recent reviews and was not excited about my daughter's choice after reading about other people's experiences. But I put on a happy face and just lowered expectations. Maybe that is why I was floored by such a wonderful evening with great food, wonderful service, and all-in-alll a wonderful memory. The food: My daughter and I both had the elk filete, with red cabbage that tasted like one of the best beef steaks I had ever had. It was cooked to perfection. The apple struddle was made fresh every morning by the owner Bill Lorenz and was to die for. The ambiance: We came during their slow season and there were only three tables being served on a Friday night with the parking lot near empty and across the street the Savory Cafe looked full. I was secretly hoping my daughter would decide at the last moment not to go in, but alas... The setting though was beautiful, alittle outdated but very German feeling with traditional music playing, fine linen table clothes, and fresh flowes on each table! The service: Martin our server was great! He has been working there for over 20 years. Very friendly, very attentive. He sounded german but actually grew up in Slovakia but he assured me his mother was German. The owner: Bill obviously loves what he does and has been doing it for a long time. Very friendly and makes great apple struddle! He actually came out and thanked us for coming to his restaurant.
(5)Andy E.
Excellent lunchtime values, rich oxtail soup, delicious Wiener schnitzel and saurbrauten, tasty strudel, stellar interior and service. It's pricey, but worth the expense just to see the interior. We will return for a winter dinner soon!
(4)Marion P.
This was probably my worst restaurant experience of all times. Not only was I sick to my stomach the rest of the day, but I wanted to cry with anger about having to pay any money at all, let alone THIS MUCH MONEY for the worst food I have ever eaten. We were coming from a day-long hike (a point at which almost anything tastes amazing, really - I can't imagine how bad the food would have been had I not been starving) and completely thrilled to find a German restaurant here. The entrance room was cute, the menu looked good. Mind you, I have never paid even half as much as they charge here for a Schnitzel (was this really $28?) but I figured it was probably just going to be really, really good. HAHAHAHAHA. For a salad, I got a small cup filled with vinegar, and floating in it, a few bits of the crunchy white part of lettuce. It was so sour, I gave up after a few bites, but at least it caused some amusement that they had actually FILLED the cup with dressing. And the Jaegerschnitzel, it is hard to even describe what that was. Something that might have once been a Schnitzel, buried in a plain white sauce that tasted not like food - perhaps what happens when you mix a lot of cheap vegetable oil with some cream powder, starch, and some canned mushrooms? I don't know. I like cream sauces, but this didn't taste like food; I've really never tasted anything this cheap and loveless tasting. The Schnitzel couldn't be rescued, nor the overcooked Spaetzle. My company ordered a steak that was a big chunk of fat; we let it go back almost in its entirety. Cost for 2 entrees we couldn't eat, plus one soda: $65 I wish so much that I could turn back time and get that money back.
(1)Mo C.
This place would be fantastic if it weren't for the surly service. This place has a huge atrium room where the Blue Ball for the Frozen Dead Guy Days is hosted. The bar is really cool and they have good beer on tap. The bar area has lots of tables and is a comfy place to hang out and chat over brews. But, I have to say, I have never felt like such an "inconvenience" to a server. I swear that the woman sighed every time we ordered another beer. This place was the only bar/restaurant we went to during the Frozen Dead Guy Races that was not packed, so maybe now we know why. Maybe they got hit with a huge crowd that morning and our server was annoyed and angry by them. But, that is not our fault, ma'am! Don't take out your frustration on your customers if you a) want them to come back and b) want a decent tip!
(3)Thighmaster M.
Love the elk dish, brats, sauerkraut and potatoes. Servers are characters... also very polite and friendly.
(4)Mark B.
I recommended this place to a buddy on facebook for Xmas dinner - the place is very festive for the holiday!! A couple people quickly agreed with me that the food is great. So these hikers that gave it one star ... you must have had a long arduous hike that left your spirit drier then your camel backs!!!
(5)Lei Y.
What an wholesome and awesome expirence! The man has had the restaurant for a long time. The wait staff is courteous and kInd. the owner takes his time with the cost omers. The food is authantic and tasty. Love! Love! Love!!!
(5)Polly P.
Too bad about this place - someone at work had recommended Black Forest, but I believe it's been some years since she has visited. Service consisted of 2 witty/curmudgeonly old guys - and a clueless "hipster" chick. Would make a great 80's sitcom I'm sure. Ambiance was quaint - I actually give them points for maintaining a homey feel w/ a slight sense of elegance complete with a piano player. So, my sweetie pie and I shared out 21st anniversary here... Goulash (ladies portion) for me $16 - overcooked (boiled-like) with little flavor. Spoetzel and sweet/sour cabbage were standard. Schnitzel for the Mr. at $27 - sauce was ok. decent portion. Nothing to write home about. 2 German beers at $11 total - not mug-sized, mind you...just a pils glass. 2 apfelkorns at $11 total After all was said & done it was a $70ish meal with tax. "Happy Mediochre 21st Anniversary, Hon!" In spite of their name, no, this restaurant does not have Black Forest cake. For this price, my husband and I have enjoyed fantastic meals at the likes of Schroeder's & Suppenkuche in San Francisco, German Corner in Scottsdale, Kuby's in Dallas (yes, I'm dating myself) and many many others. This place should be ashamed to charge what they do for what they are serving. My advice, skip it - there's plenty of other great places in Nederland.
(1)Cori C.
Dining at Black Forest Restaurant was a great experience. Getting there is a treat in itself, and the location is absolutely breathtaking. The building is huge, and I'm sure there'd be seating even during their busiest times. The staff was friendly, and maybe a little quirky, too. The food was delicious and reasonably priced.
(4)Chris C.
I love the Black Forest Restaurant! Their Sauerbraten is awesome. The waiter has me belly laughing every time. Do not go if you are a prude who can't take some good-natured ribbing from the old guys who run the place.
(5)Noah N.
blackforestrest.com This is really destination dining. Take a nice drive through the mountains. Take the long way up peak to peak if you like. But when you stop, stop here. This is a German establishment that has great ambiance and even better food. I think there are 4 different rooms. One of the rooms has an indoor water fountain too that is made to resemble a mountain spring. With great views of the mountains outside the windows, you really can not ask for more ambiance. If you see the owner say hello to him. White haired older gentlemen that is very friendly. It is not uncommon for him to have a seat with the patrons and chit chat. The beer here is great. The food is hearty and filling. The style of German is old world German. Not new fusion style that is prevalent in Germany today. I can say the Elk stew is perfect. Its tender and perfectly seasoned. Be sure to leave room for desert too.
(5)michelle b.
Went on a day trip w/the hubby and stumbled across this place. It was a bit pricey, but the food was good and the portions were HUGE! My DH had a huge steak of some kind....looked more like a whole roast beef on his plate. It was pretty fatty and I don't know that he'd order it again. I had a veal schnitel of some kind that had a wonderful gravy. I would get that again. Delicious. All in all a nice experience.
(3)Kelly R.
What a great little family place! There's not much in Nederland... til you see the giant German ski haus with the A frame roof. Went here for lunch with colleagues from work and the place was really quiet but I could see how it'd get busy... maybe even some folks wearing liederhosen and playing big brass instruments to liven the place up a bit. Typical German fare: sausages, goulash, pumpernickel breads... There was an elderly couple sitting in the booth next to us. They were very particular about what they could or couldn't eat with their meals and the waiter was very patient with them. We placed our order and got a basket of bread to hold us til our food arrived. I can't say the meal was particularly memorable but it was satisfying. And the Black Forest staff was very kind and attentive. If I'm ever in Nederland again I'll probably go back to the Black Forest Restaurant.
(4)K B.
Nice place for dinner. I am not a big fan of German Food, however, they did serve an excellent rainbow trout and apple strudel. Also, the service was excellent!
(5)Ellen w.
Such a find! We love this place. The kids get huge candy bars. The grown ups get awesome beer. The food is rich and filling. What's not to love?
(5)Ilona F.
I would not have set foot in this place, especially with a huge nativity scene out front (at the end of January!), if it were not for fellow snowshoers who wanted to stop somewhere for a snack and this happened to be the place. Walking in here was like stepping back in time and across the Atlantic. The decor is very old world, as are the staff. To be polite, I ordered a tea which, at $2.50, was a bit pricey for what it was: a no-name brand tea bag in a wine glass filled with hot water. Vegetarians, stay away: the menu is 90% meat. The waiter, however, was a trip, and one of a dying breed. An older gentleman with a vast knowledge of Central European history, he regaled us with jokes and facts about the old country. We wished he had sat down to join us.
(2)Sean B.
It is at moments like this when I wish I could give a negative rating. Dingy looking, expensive, and not at all tasty. Avoid if at all possible.
(1)Eliana G.
Such a beautiful city and when I saw an "authentic" German food restaurant, I was so excited to be there and couldn't wait to try it! The food here was truly disgusting! I was not able to eat more that a few bites of the microwaved canned food they serve as "authentic" German food! Expensive and disgusting, Don't be fooled by the nice appearance or the pictures at the entrance. We ordered the special and overpriced elk dish recommended to us by the cocky waiter that told us "We've been in business for over 20 years" when asked about the liver dish! How dare we even ask for a recommendation? Expect nothing but the best kind of answer. Ignoring the outdated decorations and the old-moldy-musty smell, with our expectation well high by now, we receive our food and ....what an unpleasant surprise! If you care about your health, do not enter...I'm surprised how they get away with such low food quality and still manage to be in business! Judging by the other reviews I wonder how it got rated this high. Who writes these reviews? Surely not someone that ate there... Worst experience with the worst- food- ever in my life, got sick to my stomach and still do when I think about it! Expensive microwaved -canned food and to sum it up: horrible! Stay away! Bad food! Yelp should have a 0 stars rating, I wouldn't feed this to my dogs.
(1)Curt K.
I do love this place- I love the dining room, the character of the place, I do like the food also.... had Salsbury steak , with garlic mashed potatos, cooked red cabbage with a sweet vinager dressing, mushrooms and gravy. They served two types of bread and butter and my coke came with a cherry and a slice of orange- I like the dining room- I find it sun filled, usually a breeze coming in the window- the music was fun in a german polka way. We had stopped for a late lunch after going for a hike. I have eatin at the place about three times and I have enjoyed the food all three times. I liked the bread it had some sunflower seeds in it- the other bread was white bread- ohh yeah they served a small salad with a onion vinager and oil dressing- Which was tasty. Usually in the mountains you have places opened by people who think it will be romantic to open a place in the mountains and the food sucks. I do like the building just because it reminds me of the eighties/ski lodge/cabin/lounge. the main dining room sometimes is closed in the winter on the very cold cold days.
(4)