New owners Gary and Chef Armin are maintaining, and even improving, the standards of this reliable restaurant that has served authentic German food on Anna Maria Island for more than 15 years. The menu remains unchanged, with nice presentations (see pix). Salads are a bit fancier than they were and portions seem a bit larger. Mrs. Nibbler had a bratwurst platter with tangy sauerkraut. I had a veal jagerschnitzel absolutely covered in mushrooms. Both dishes included perfectly pan-roasted potatoes and everything was delicious. Our server Tracy was excellent and food service was quick. While Chef Armin runs the kitchen Gary runs the bar while taking time to visit guests and help with table service. His friendly conversation and attention to detail bode well for the restaurant's continuing popularity. Gary keeps four types of German beer on draft -- Pllsener, Hefeweisen, dark and Oktoberfest -- all served in authentic glasses of 0,3, 0.5 and full liter sizes. It was a pleasant surprise that each of our beers were filled *over* the glass measuring line. While there wasn't much room for dessert we couldn't resist the apple streudle, an attractive and delicious presentation with ice cream, chocolate and whipped cream that's as good as any you'll find in Europe. And for the perfect finish, order a couple bottles of the German liqueur Underberg, served in its tall, distinctive stemware, Hier ist gut essen! Prost!
(5)
Billy M.
We just experienced the most amazing meal I have had in recent memory. Everything was beyond wildest expectations. The cucumber soup was cold and refreshing the spaetzle with light and warm the chicken livers were decadent beyond words and the giant pork shank was something made for photographs. I am the happiest sort of satisfied.
(5)
Jennifer M.
A great family dinner and fantastic service! Had a delicious dinner and the service was top notch! We had 2 small children and they made it such a fun experience for the whole family.
(4)
Jenn F.
We needed a bite to eat on our last night and everything was mobbed downtown so we started to explore. We did a quick search and thought "German restaurant on Anna Marie island?" So off we went after reading good reviews. We were not disappointed. The beer, potato pancakes, sauerbraten and roasted pork were outstanding. The place is very homey and there is no rush in finishing up and moving out. I recommend this place. Gary and Chef Armin are amazing hosts! Go now and enjoy some very authentic food.
(5)
Brad K.
Love this place. We found this place about 7 years ago. While it's not the absolute best german food, it is very very good. Fresh, home made, with a great atmosphere inside. Just love going here, having a beer, ordering my schnitzel, sauerbraten, or a pork knuckle. Never had a bad meal here. The only thing we've said ever time we've gone in here is we wish service better. Not that's is bad, it's just not friendly. Friendly, efficient service would put this place into 4 stars, and price (if a little lower) would make it 5 stars. Prices here are a little on the high side. But not to bad. Nice bar inside with a great selection of german bier
(3)
Manuel M.
Had the roasted pork shank, Schweinshaxe, it was perfectly cooked, fell off the bone and the skin was crunchy and crisp. Excellent german draft beer to complement the meal. Service was friendly and fast.
(5)
maggie d.
Totally pleased with our experience at the Schnitzelhaus. Being half German,half Austrian, knew basically what to expect. Food was on target and the owner, Gary, couldn't have been a more gracious host. The wait service wonderful, and general gemütlichkeit more than pleasant. We will return. My husband had schnitzel and spaetzle ( really happy!) and I had the liverwurst app with onions and rye bread...both excellent.
(5)
Dan G.
Disappointed. Service was not good since we were not regulars, inattentive and forgetful as well as unknowledgeable about menu items ingredients. Ordered the Munich plate and the house schnitzel. And potato pancakes for app. Get the schnitzel- it was good but not great, the rest was mediocre to poor especially based on price. I come from a German family and have had good German food but this was more bland than the usual bland. The family recipe for their Wurst needs some actual spices in it- good thing there was mustard, the roasted pork tasted oddly like pot roast...or something, my roasted potatoes looked like hash browns or something deep fried and I didn't see that bacon in there, prob was just fried to a crisp. All this was obviously swimming in gravy. German potato salad and kraut were good, but hard to mess that up, right?! I will not be a return visitor and they got one extra star for the schnitzel being pretty good, but for $80+ for two people- one drink a piece, my money is well spent elsewhere.
(2)
Beth M.
Good German food. We had efficient service that was prompt - not sure what the others writers were expecting; these servers are busy! Had the roast pork with spatzle and dark beer gravy and it was great. Red cabbage a little soft but not bad. Partner had beef rolls (rouladen) and they were nearly perfect. Homemade food from all over Germany and an interesting Germans by the sea ambience. Nice selections of beer and wine to pair with the Menu. Had a great piece of apfel strudel but not sure why they put chocolate syrup on the accompanying ice cream! We arrived without a reservation and almost had to wait on Wednesday night. You might want to reserve on a weekend.
(4)
Chris N.
My wife isn't crazy about German food so I dined alone tonight. The sauerbraten and spaetzle were both delicious. Service was very good, but I was surprised and a bit disappointed not to see the owner Wolfgang here this evening. Very nice and enjoyable meal!
(4)
Greg T.
This is a must stop for us every time we're visiting Anna Maria island. Very friendly people and the food is stellar. Surprised to read these reviews about service. Never experienced it in probably 2 dozen visits. Cheers.
(5)
Tara J.
Disappointing. However, I gave them 3 stars for the German ambiance. The food was so-so, and the service was a "I don't really care" attitude by the female server. The owner (Wolfgang) seemed to be the only person who really cared, as he took the time to visit our table and ask us if he could get us anything else (after we finished eating). Both my husband and I ordered the kasespaetzle, my absolute favorite German food that I grew up on and also make myself. The version at this restaurant was bland. I actually added salt. I NEVER, EVER need to add salt to a meal when dining out. That's how bland it was. The poor service would keep us from returning even if the spaetzle was good.
(3)
Never Shovel Sno W.
Very good. Memorial Day weekend (love this area) Saturday ... saw their ad in a local paper ... called for reservation as suggested ... upon arrival quickly seated at a reserved table ... Drink order quickly taken ... The waitress was dressed in I guess traditional German garb ... we thought she was going to click her heals after taking our order ... we quietly made fun of it ... she's a nice lady ... The food was very good ... Wife had Bratwurst that were grilled and served with sauerkraut and spaetzel ... the sauce was delicious ... I had wienerschitzel holstein ... served with sunny side up eggs, anchovies and capers ... along with roasted potatoes with bacon ..... everything was served quickly, hot, and very tasty ... Dessert - Black Forest Cake .... nice and light with great whipped cream ... This is a nice restaurant with good attentive service and reasonable prices. If you are in the area and enjoy German food Old Hamburg will cure that hankerin ... Ja wohl !!!
(4)
O. D.
We enjoyed our dinner a lot. Although there are really not much on a menu for vegetarians but for the rest - the food is good. Pricey, but comparing to all other choices you have on an island, it has some reasons to be this way.
(4)
Terry H.
Passed this little gem for several years. Glad we gave it a try last month. Any veal dish is extraordinary. Had the roast pork which was actually a dish of fat. Would never order that again but would definitely go back for the veal. Wonderful and generous beers. Very nice staff. A little overpriced but the veal is definitely worth it. Would like to try their pork knuckle dish.
(3)
Nicole K.
we stopped in on a rainy night at the end of our vacation. took you out of florida and into a small town in Germany. although we only tried one dish on the menu it tasted delicious and authentic. we looked at other dishes that were coming out and all looked tempting. next time we will come back - with empty stomachs so we can try some more! would definitely suggest a visit if visiting AMI
(4)
JP R.
Awesome local find. If in the mood for German food, this is the place that will satisfy! Wolfgang (owner) is always on hand to greet his guests and give the latest recommendations.. Great conversation can happen at the bar with him and staff. Schnitzel is prepared with various sauces and available in both chicken and veal. Overall great food, great atmosphere, great people.
(5)
Sandra A.
Sorry, I think the previous owner of this restaurant made this place well known. I am originally from Munich, Germany and honestly, this place could not "survive" in Munich. (Too pricey for the quality of food/portion size). I know this restaurant since many years, I used to live in this area. After re-visiting this restaurant, I was pretty disappointed. The restaurant is well decorated, the food is very average and the service is very inconsistent. I would not recommend this place.
(2)
Tom L.
I would never eat here again. We went to eat here with my wife, mother in law and 9 month old, as it was highly recommended from some people we had talked to on the island. We are here for 2 months and were excited to try it out. The food itself was good, but the service was the worst I have literally had in years. You have to be aware of the time when you are dining out with a little one, so we decided what we wanted promptly. When the waitress came to oder our drinks, we told her we were ready to place our order and started to tell her what we wanted. Midway through placing our order, she interrupted us and said, let me just get your drinks and walked away. There were 2 other tables seated at this time and a few people at the bar, they were far from busy. She did not come back for 10 minutes when she gave us our drinks and promptly walked away saying she had to get someone else's drinks. Still had not placed our order. At that point my wife went to the owner behind the bar and told him we haven't been able to place our order yet. At that point the waitress finally came and took our order, after us threatening to walk out. At $14-20 a plate, the food itself was good mediocre, mainly just overpriced. $11 for 3 potato pancakes and $19 for a plate with a little bit of spaetzle, sauerkraut, small piece of pork and 2 bratworst is a bit high. I would have much rather have spent the money we spent here at Eat Here or The Waterfront on the island, both excellent restaurants with absolutely delicious food and wonderful service and a great atmosphere. I would have expected this kind of service at some shitty diner in the middle of the country.
(1)
Dale G.
We were a little leery about going to this restaurant after reading all the reviews but our love of German food overcame our concerns. We were very happy with our decision. The food was excellent. My husband had the cordon blue-it was fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the jaeger schnitzel -the mushroom sauce was creamy and yummy, the meat fried to perfection. The german tap beer choices were limited but adequate. Service could not have been more gracious. We were given assistance in our side substitutions so that we able to enjoy a variety of dishes. I loved the red cabbage my husband preferred the sauerkraut. We got dessert to go, a wonderful slice of Black Forest cake. We felt most welcome and look forward to returning.
(4)
David M.
Four of us went last night (Tuesday) without making reservations. We each ordered a schnitzel dinner with spätzle and everyone was very pleased. Specifically, we had two Wienerschnitzel (pork), a Jägerschnitzel (veal), and a Zigeunerschnitzel (veal). Each meal came with a small dinner salad as a first course. The schnitzel were uniformly tender and expertly browned, and each sauce variant was praised at our table. The spätzle were tender and very nice, although not hand-scraped (which would probably be prohibitively labor-intensive for most restaurants anyway). For dessert, we split up one Apfelstrudel and one Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, both reportedly made in-house. The food was all exceptionally tasty. The atmosphere was bright, friendly, and comfortable with lots of Hamburg oriented decorations. We were somewhat disappointed that they didn't actually have the Müller-Thurgau wine listed on the menu, but purely for sentimental reasons. It's hard to find in the USA and it's not a world-class grape or anything. Made do with Bitburger Pils on tap. It struck me as a little on the expensive side, but in a normal Germany way, as in "this is how much it costs to operate our business properly, and we that's just the way it is." We'll happily return.
(4)
Lisa D.
Wonderful food, one of the best restaurants on Anna Maria. We had a group of 8 and everyone liked their dinner.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No 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 : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Nibbler D.
New owners Gary and Chef Armin are maintaining, and even improving, the standards of this reliable restaurant that has served authentic German food on Anna Maria Island for more than 15 years. The menu remains unchanged, with nice presentations (see pix). Salads are a bit fancier than they were and portions seem a bit larger. Mrs. Nibbler had a bratwurst platter with tangy sauerkraut. I had a veal jagerschnitzel absolutely covered in mushrooms. Both dishes included perfectly pan-roasted potatoes and everything was delicious. Our server Tracy was excellent and food service was quick. While Chef Armin runs the kitchen Gary runs the bar while taking time to visit guests and help with table service. His friendly conversation and attention to detail bode well for the restaurant's continuing popularity. Gary keeps four types of German beer on draft -- Pllsener, Hefeweisen, dark and Oktoberfest -- all served in authentic glasses of 0,3, 0.5 and full liter sizes. It was a pleasant surprise that each of our beers were filled *over* the glass measuring line. While there wasn't much room for dessert we couldn't resist the apple streudle, an attractive and delicious presentation with ice cream, chocolate and whipped cream that's as good as any you'll find in Europe. And for the perfect finish, order a couple bottles of the German liqueur Underberg, served in its tall, distinctive stemware, Hier ist gut essen! Prost!
(5)Billy M.
We just experienced the most amazing meal I have had in recent memory. Everything was beyond wildest expectations. The cucumber soup was cold and refreshing the spaetzle with light and warm the chicken livers were decadent beyond words and the giant pork shank was something made for photographs. I am the happiest sort of satisfied.
(5)Jennifer M.
A great family dinner and fantastic service! Had a delicious dinner and the service was top notch! We had 2 small children and they made it such a fun experience for the whole family.
(4)Jenn F.
We needed a bite to eat on our last night and everything was mobbed downtown so we started to explore. We did a quick search and thought "German restaurant on Anna Marie island?" So off we went after reading good reviews. We were not disappointed. The beer, potato pancakes, sauerbraten and roasted pork were outstanding. The place is very homey and there is no rush in finishing up and moving out. I recommend this place. Gary and Chef Armin are amazing hosts! Go now and enjoy some very authentic food.
(5)Brad K.
Love this place. We found this place about 7 years ago. While it's not the absolute best german food, it is very very good. Fresh, home made, with a great atmosphere inside. Just love going here, having a beer, ordering my schnitzel, sauerbraten, or a pork knuckle. Never had a bad meal here. The only thing we've said ever time we've gone in here is we wish service better. Not that's is bad, it's just not friendly. Friendly, efficient service would put this place into 4 stars, and price (if a little lower) would make it 5 stars. Prices here are a little on the high side. But not to bad. Nice bar inside with a great selection of german bier
(3)Manuel M.
Had the roasted pork shank, Schweinshaxe, it was perfectly cooked, fell off the bone and the skin was crunchy and crisp. Excellent german draft beer to complement the meal. Service was friendly and fast.
(5)maggie d.
Totally pleased with our experience at the Schnitzelhaus. Being half German,half Austrian, knew basically what to expect. Food was on target and the owner, Gary, couldn't have been a more gracious host. The wait service wonderful, and general gemütlichkeit more than pleasant. We will return. My husband had schnitzel and spaetzle ( really happy!) and I had the liverwurst app with onions and rye bread...both excellent.
(5)Dan G.
Disappointed. Service was not good since we were not regulars, inattentive and forgetful as well as unknowledgeable about menu items ingredients. Ordered the Munich plate and the house schnitzel. And potato pancakes for app. Get the schnitzel- it was good but not great, the rest was mediocre to poor especially based on price. I come from a German family and have had good German food but this was more bland than the usual bland. The family recipe for their Wurst needs some actual spices in it- good thing there was mustard, the roasted pork tasted oddly like pot roast...or something, my roasted potatoes looked like hash browns or something deep fried and I didn't see that bacon in there, prob was just fried to a crisp. All this was obviously swimming in gravy. German potato salad and kraut were good, but hard to mess that up, right?! I will not be a return visitor and they got one extra star for the schnitzel being pretty good, but for $80+ for two people- one drink a piece, my money is well spent elsewhere.
(2)Beth M.
Good German food. We had efficient service that was prompt - not sure what the others writers were expecting; these servers are busy! Had the roast pork with spatzle and dark beer gravy and it was great. Red cabbage a little soft but not bad. Partner had beef rolls (rouladen) and they were nearly perfect. Homemade food from all over Germany and an interesting Germans by the sea ambience. Nice selections of beer and wine to pair with the Menu. Had a great piece of apfel strudel but not sure why they put chocolate syrup on the accompanying ice cream! We arrived without a reservation and almost had to wait on Wednesday night. You might want to reserve on a weekend.
(4)Chris N.
My wife isn't crazy about German food so I dined alone tonight. The sauerbraten and spaetzle were both delicious. Service was very good, but I was surprised and a bit disappointed not to see the owner Wolfgang here this evening. Very nice and enjoyable meal!
(4)Greg T.
This is a must stop for us every time we're visiting Anna Maria island. Very friendly people and the food is stellar. Surprised to read these reviews about service. Never experienced it in probably 2 dozen visits. Cheers.
(5)Tara J.
Disappointing. However, I gave them 3 stars for the German ambiance. The food was so-so, and the service was a "I don't really care" attitude by the female server. The owner (Wolfgang) seemed to be the only person who really cared, as he took the time to visit our table and ask us if he could get us anything else (after we finished eating). Both my husband and I ordered the kasespaetzle, my absolute favorite German food that I grew up on and also make myself. The version at this restaurant was bland. I actually added salt. I NEVER, EVER need to add salt to a meal when dining out. That's how bland it was. The poor service would keep us from returning even if the spaetzle was good.
(3)Never Shovel Sno W.
Very good. Memorial Day weekend (love this area) Saturday ... saw their ad in a local paper ... called for reservation as suggested ... upon arrival quickly seated at a reserved table ... Drink order quickly taken ... The waitress was dressed in I guess traditional German garb ... we thought she was going to click her heals after taking our order ... we quietly made fun of it ... she's a nice lady ... The food was very good ... Wife had Bratwurst that were grilled and served with sauerkraut and spaetzel ... the sauce was delicious ... I had wienerschitzel holstein ... served with sunny side up eggs, anchovies and capers ... along with roasted potatoes with bacon ..... everything was served quickly, hot, and very tasty ... Dessert - Black Forest Cake .... nice and light with great whipped cream ... This is a nice restaurant with good attentive service and reasonable prices. If you are in the area and enjoy German food Old Hamburg will cure that hankerin ... Ja wohl !!!
(4)O. D.
We enjoyed our dinner a lot. Although there are really not much on a menu for vegetarians but for the rest - the food is good. Pricey, but comparing to all other choices you have on an island, it has some reasons to be this way.
(4)Terry H.
Passed this little gem for several years. Glad we gave it a try last month. Any veal dish is extraordinary. Had the roast pork which was actually a dish of fat. Would never order that again but would definitely go back for the veal. Wonderful and generous beers. Very nice staff. A little overpriced but the veal is definitely worth it. Would like to try their pork knuckle dish.
(3)Nicole K.
we stopped in on a rainy night at the end of our vacation. took you out of florida and into a small town in Germany. although we only tried one dish on the menu it tasted delicious and authentic. we looked at other dishes that were coming out and all looked tempting. next time we will come back - with empty stomachs so we can try some more! would definitely suggest a visit if visiting AMI
(4)JP R.
Awesome local find. If in the mood for German food, this is the place that will satisfy! Wolfgang (owner) is always on hand to greet his guests and give the latest recommendations.. Great conversation can happen at the bar with him and staff. Schnitzel is prepared with various sauces and available in both chicken and veal. Overall great food, great atmosphere, great people.
(5)Sandra A.
Sorry, I think the previous owner of this restaurant made this place well known. I am originally from Munich, Germany and honestly, this place could not "survive" in Munich. (Too pricey for the quality of food/portion size). I know this restaurant since many years, I used to live in this area. After re-visiting this restaurant, I was pretty disappointed. The restaurant is well decorated, the food is very average and the service is very inconsistent. I would not recommend this place.
(2)Tom L.
I would never eat here again. We went to eat here with my wife, mother in law and 9 month old, as it was highly recommended from some people we had talked to on the island. We are here for 2 months and were excited to try it out. The food itself was good, but the service was the worst I have literally had in years. You have to be aware of the time when you are dining out with a little one, so we decided what we wanted promptly. When the waitress came to oder our drinks, we told her we were ready to place our order and started to tell her what we wanted. Midway through placing our order, she interrupted us and said, let me just get your drinks and walked away. There were 2 other tables seated at this time and a few people at the bar, they were far from busy. She did not come back for 10 minutes when she gave us our drinks and promptly walked away saying she had to get someone else's drinks. Still had not placed our order. At that point my wife went to the owner behind the bar and told him we haven't been able to place our order yet. At that point the waitress finally came and took our order, after us threatening to walk out. At $14-20 a plate, the food itself was good mediocre, mainly just overpriced. $11 for 3 potato pancakes and $19 for a plate with a little bit of spaetzle, sauerkraut, small piece of pork and 2 bratworst is a bit high. I would have much rather have spent the money we spent here at Eat Here or The Waterfront on the island, both excellent restaurants with absolutely delicious food and wonderful service and a great atmosphere. I would have expected this kind of service at some shitty diner in the middle of the country.
(1)Dale G.
We were a little leery about going to this restaurant after reading all the reviews but our love of German food overcame our concerns. We were very happy with our decision. The food was excellent. My husband had the cordon blue-it was fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the jaeger schnitzel -the mushroom sauce was creamy and yummy, the meat fried to perfection. The german tap beer choices were limited but adequate. Service could not have been more gracious. We were given assistance in our side substitutions so that we able to enjoy a variety of dishes. I loved the red cabbage my husband preferred the sauerkraut. We got dessert to go, a wonderful slice of Black Forest cake. We felt most welcome and look forward to returning.
(4)David M.
Four of us went last night (Tuesday) without making reservations. We each ordered a schnitzel dinner with spätzle and everyone was very pleased. Specifically, we had two Wienerschnitzel (pork), a Jägerschnitzel (veal), and a Zigeunerschnitzel (veal). Each meal came with a small dinner salad as a first course. The schnitzel were uniformly tender and expertly browned, and each sauce variant was praised at our table. The spätzle were tender and very nice, although not hand-scraped (which would probably be prohibitively labor-intensive for most restaurants anyway). For dessert, we split up one Apfelstrudel and one Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, both reportedly made in-house. The food was all exceptionally tasty. The atmosphere was bright, friendly, and comfortable with lots of Hamburg oriented decorations. We were somewhat disappointed that they didn't actually have the Müller-Thurgau wine listed on the menu, but purely for sentimental reasons. It's hard to find in the USA and it's not a world-class grape or anything. Made do with Bitburger Pils on tap. It struck me as a little on the expensive side, but in a normal Germany way, as in "this is how much it costs to operate our business properly, and we that's just the way it is." We'll happily return.
(4)Lisa D.
Wonderful food, one of the best restaurants on Anna Maria. We had a group of 8 and everyone liked their dinner.
(5)