Wiener Schnitzel was AMAZING. A great experience overall. I will definitely be back to try a few other very tempting dishes. Fair prices for fabulous food!
(5)
Alexandra F.
I ordered pizza for delivery from this place. It was amazing! You definitely don't find a lot of places with such good pizza. I ordered pizza with prosciutto crudo arugula blue cheese and parmesan. All the ingredients are top quality and the crust was pure perfection. I wish I could add funghi porcini also but they didn't had the option on grub hub. I'm gonna check out the restaurant too. Very good!
(5)
Ann K.
I ordered the sauerbraten with spaetzle. The meat is Italian beef strips in gravy. The gravy tastes good. The meat was very dried out. This is not authentic sauerbraten. The spaetzle are pan fried and taste like pancakes, but they are not the pancake noodle. They have burn marks on the noodles. The red cabbage was great. But for $17.75-this is way overpriced! Can't recommend the place.
(2)
meredith d.
Sorry, but this place is just not that great. Chicken schnitzel (which was delicious when I went there when they first opened), was dry and yet still managed to be greasy. The duck was served well-done (which was fine - i don't care for rare duck breast), but the meat was fairly tough, and the skin was gummy, not crisp, and it was sweet. I realize that's a thing with duck, but I prefer an unsweetened duck that's sauced separately so you can get it on the side if you prefer (which I always do). They do have a delicious pear and Gorgonzola salad, but that was more than offset by the real crime of the meal: coffee served with MILK. They call it "cream," but what they bring you is milk. I asked about it, and was told, "we always have served milk with the coffee, we never serve cream." Well, I'm sorry, but coffee with milk doesn't taste good. I didn't even finish my cup. I suppose they're being cheap - I can't believe they actually believe that milk is a better option. Is half and half just too expensive? Would it bankrupt them to provide these annoying little paper cups which at least have something in them that resembles cream? They saved a few cents on the cream, but they lost a customer forever.
(2)
Kendrick W.
This place really is a divine little gem where you might not expect to find it. On Lawrence a block or two east of Lincoln Square, Himmel's is easy to overlook if you don't know it's there and it's not the typical place you might stumble past walking down the street. Former Lincoln Square residents like myself might remember it when it used to be called Pizza D.O.C. Same great ownership, same great service and same amazing food with a few spectacular additions. The interior is warm and inviting. Lots of red and brick, great art on the wall. The brick oven is exposed to the dining area which adds a nice little touch. Full service bar. Most nights when I've been there have been live musicians and they're actually worth listening too. Ok now the food. I can't say enough about the spaghetti and meatballs. Usually I won't get spaghetti when I go out because I can make a mean spaghetti myself, but I was in the mood for meatballs. Holy MEATBALLS. A foodgasm. The pizza there is also divine. The german dishes are darn good too. The kasespatzle is not too shabby either. German and Italian, sounds strange but they make it work. Absolutely perfect place for a date!
(5)
Mrbr R.
We headed to this restaurant when an Italian family told us that this is where they go for food that reminded them of home! It was Pizza D.O.C. and when the Himmel family bought the place they added their German cuisine influence. Great atmosphere, wonderful food, friendly helpful staff - this is a place for a consistent great night out. Carol the chef and owner turns out fresh fish and delicious vegetables - and for carnivores the German fare is outstanding. Panna Cotta is yummy. What never fails is the atmosphere - we always are happy that we went & for some reason the parking Angels seem to watch over us when ever we go! Himmel's is always a winner.
(5)
Michael D.
Very disappointing dining experience. The menu is a mix of German and Italian - a fusion that one rarely comes across for good reason. We tried the sauerbraten and wiener schnitzel... Both were well below average. The accompanying spaetzle was greasy. The appetizer "Obazda cheese spread" was probably the worst part of the experience... I've had good Obazda, however, this was a lump of bland spread with pretzel sticks stuck in it... There wasn't a single 'real pretzel' on the plate. And for $9??? Also: they only had three beers on tap (Stella, BBK, and Hofbrau). I don't know know how one can think to open a German restaurant and serve only two draft German Beers! The service was a bright spot. Everything else was horrible-- especially the value.
(1)
Laurie D.
I don't think you should offer pizza for delivery. I ordered on grubhub and while the pizza came fast it was cold on arrival. I can order pizza from Sarpino's and have it here hotter than what arrived from Himmels (same distance). And a margherita pizza is supposed to be mozzarella cheese, the fresh kind, and some times freshly sliced tomatoes and basil, not a cheese pizza! Sorry, that's not pizza margherita. Finally, the signature Pear and Gorgonzola salad is delicious but there's a dollop of what seems to be butter, or overchurned cheese in each order. It doesn't really go with the salad unless you are going to offer bread with it...a little harsh but when you order each time and it's good money and poor quality, it's disappointing. Overall, I would not order from here if you are anticipating high quality pizza.
(2)
Anthony C.
We were really impressed after our first visit to Himmel's and now, after about a dozen visits this past year, it has turned into one of our favorite restaurants. We have tried many of the German and Italian dishes on the menu and each one has been so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The homemade Italian and pretzel breads baked in the wood-fired oven and served with olive oil and fresh shredded parmigiano cheese are so good. We always start with an order of the grilled calamari served with mixed greens and a wonderful balsamic / lemon dressing. The German dishes are outstanding and perfectly complimented by crispy spaetzle and red cabbage. You must also try the roesti which are shredded potatoes with swiss cheese and onions fried much like hash browns but with so much flavor. Some German favorites are the sauerbraten, bavarian pork shank, champignon rahm schnitzel, and roast duck. On the Italian side the wood-fired pizzas are excellent and we love the pasta dishes as well. A couple of favorites are the bucatini allamatriciana and the linguine frutti di mare. A small selection of german beers on tap along with a clean, inviting and cozy atmosphere - and wonderful German and Italian dishes make Himmel's one of our favorite places to eat in Chicago.
(5)
Chari N.
I have been to Himmel's several times and each time it seems to be getting better. The portions are almost double of most restaurants and the food is amazing. We each ordered something different and everyone was wowed by the food. Even my mother couldn't find anything wrong with her dinner :) I live 45 minutes away and this restaurant is worth the trip. HIGHLY recommend Himmel's.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Oh boy, I really wanted to love Himmel's as much as I loved Pizza DOC but it's just not the same experience despite the same ownership. I was recently there with friends and we had to send the first two bottles of wine back because they were terrible (and, I am not a wine snob - I'll drink the $3 bottles from Trader Joe's). We were there in October and the menu is an Oktoberfest menu along with a few pizza options. Don't come in October if you aren't looking for German food. Our service was really poor - our waiter didn't check in on us and we had to wave someone over when we wanted to get our water refilled. I was expecting our bill to be comped by a few dollars since we had the hassle of sending two bottles of wine back and settled on a mediocre bottle - but, nothin'! If you're this close to Lincoln Square, head over to one of the restaurants there for a more attentive wait staff and better wine.
(1)
R.A. H.
We were looking for a slightly different bent for our weekly Eating Out and, while having dinned in at Himmel's before, this was the first time we ordered out (pick up, not delivery). We ordered the Carbonara and the Bucatini all'Amatriciana. We ordered ahead for a specific time pickup. It was ready on time and packaged in a nice container that I was able to pop right into the oven when it got home to warm up while we got out plates and such. The Carbonara was light and extremely flavorful, the cheeses adding the perfect flavor to the spaghetti. The Bucatini all'Amatriciana had a thicker noodle and a spicier tang that was nice and difference from the other dish, proving pasta dishes didn't have to be plain, boring and 'all the same'. Always happy with dining in, we are now very happy with our 'dining out' with Himmel's.
(5)
Chris L.
After a ten hour day of moving into a new place, we were starving. Himmels was the closest option. Restaurant was busy but tons of wait staff. We were seated at a table and we waited, and waited, and waited, waiters scurrying all around us, and no one even bothered to acknowledge our presence. After five minutes of being flat out ignored, we got up and left. And we will never go back. And really, an Italian AND German menu? In hindsight, I'm kinda glad we didn't eat there.
(1)
Robert M.
2 year later and I still love this place. Of course everyone's experience varies, but I have never had a single bad word to say about this place from the food to the service. I love the wide variety of selection that is offered on the menu. From date night to having a bigger party, Himmels have always been more than accomodating. They sold me when it was Pizza DOC, but now they have me keep coming back for more.
(5)
Ralph S.
Great food and the portions are huge. My son had the Chicken Parm and had the left overs the next day. I had the Chicken Snitzle which was excellent as were the veggies that came with. My daughter-in-law had the spatzel and a pear salad which looked and tasted great. My wife had the sauerbraten and she loved it. Took the left overs home and had it for lunch the next day. My older son had one of the fish dishes and it was moist and very flavorful. Service was good and so was the bread. Over all great experience.
(5)
Marlies D.
I'm Belgian and this was the best food I had since living in Chicago for 9 months. I actually wanted to lick my plate after I finished my meal but decided it was probably not a polite thing to do.
(5)
Jeff H.
The food is absolutely amazing and the service is borderline terrible. I made a reservation and went on Maifest weekend. It took over an hour for hour food and the manager explained they were unusually busy and we needed to come back another time and give them a second chance. We went back a couple weekends ago and the story was the same, the food was so good but it took an hour and a half to order and pay. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was easily the best Marsala I have ever had. Unfortunately the waiter seemed to forget about us and didn't provide good service.
(3)
Chas S.
Oktoberfest menu with zero none kein German Beer on tap. And only one wheat beer in Bottle!?!? WTF?
(3)
Jeremy C.
Ordered a pizza (Silvio & Gabriele) and the pear & gorgonzola salad on a rainy Friday night. Our food showed up within the window of time they gave - but the pizza wasn't warm at all. We didn't want to throw it in the oven to reheat because of the arugula and prosciutto, so we just ate it as it was. While the temp was disappointing, the flavor of the pizza was great - we'd definitely order one at the restaurant. The salad was pretty good too, although the cheese was a big glob of something that may or may not have been gorgonzola.
(4)
Terrie M.
Great food at good prices. One of my favorite restaurants on the northside. Quality of the food is consistently good and I have enjoyed my regular visits to this friendly place in a great neighbor for many years. Can't go wrong with pizza and a salad; chicken schnitzel is amazing and their steaks are always cooked to perfection. I highly recommend.
(4)
Evan W.
Authentic. Classic. Family. All you need to know about this place. If you like Bavarian food and atmosphere, give this place a chance.
(5)
Melisha S.
Tonight was a rainy night, so we took advantage of delivery (which was prompt). Love the food at Himmel's! Pizza is delicious, but there is a chicken breast rolled with spinach in a light sauce which is excellent. Also notable is chicken Marsala. They do a pork shank on weekends which is insanely good if you are a carnivore. The only stumble so far is the dumpling which comes with the pork (a little dense for my taste). But the food here is prepared well, service is good and I always leave satisfied. Brunch is different in a good way, with good variety.
(5)
Kathie C.
What a delicious meal!! Started with HIMMEL's salad. Yum. The mushroom soup was so flavorful and not super rich, because it's broth based instead of cream. I absolutely love the carbonara. Great wine list and friendly and festive environment. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Julie W.
Came here with my parents and my husband for a nice Saturday evening meal. Originally we thought we were going to Pizza D.O.C., but the front said Himmel's. We were slightly confused but after entering the establishment, the hostess assured us that we were in the right place! The owners just wanted to honor their German/European heritage and make it more their own. Fair enough! The menu itself is very large, there's really something for everyone! Like Erin E said, the menu is mostly Italian but you can find other Euro dishes as well. The bread was really tasty, almost like a pretzel bread. We ordered the soup of the day which was a spaetzle soup with beef broth. Very basic but very good! The waitress told us each bowl is very large and she suggested we split two bowls in half for the four of us. I love when this happens; waiters and waitresses put their knowledge to good use and actually service and help their customers. If we ordered 4 bowls it would've been way too much! Kudos to her! My parents ordered German beers and i had the Riesling which was very sweet but very good. All of us but my husband ordered pizza. He got the chicken parm and it was HUGE. I'm talking at least 10 inches wide (not even kidding here). Their portions are very large, might be a good idea to split an entree or be prepared to take some home! My only gripe was that the margherita pizza I had...wasn't an authentic margherita. The way pizza began was an Italian queen was traveling to Naples and the locals wanted to make a dish to celebrate Italy. They created the dough, sliced up tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, and topped it with fresh basil leaves. The colors looked like the Italian flag and BAM, pizza was born. However, my margherita pizza was more like a regular cheese with tomato sauce and shredded basil on top. Blah. Not the way a true margherita should be made!! Even with the disappointment the pizza itself was very very good. I love the wood-burning brick oven they use, it gives the flavor something special along with the bottom having a nice blackened flour look that just makes it all blend beautifully together. Overall for the four of us including a bottle of wine, the tab was just about $170. Not too bad! affordable for a casual dining experience with good food and great service. Wish they would read up on thier pizzas though!
(4)
Jeff Z.
Absolute worst pizza ever! Went there a couple years ago when it was Pizza DOC and it was crap then. Fast forward 2 years and we mistakenly decide to try again - wrong answer!!!! The pizza had odd tastes, the chocolate torte was just a frozen grocery store desert and threw most of the meal out. Never again !!!!
(1)
Carina H.
I recently had my bridal shower at Himmel's and loved it! The food was delicious and the owners were very accommodating to our big party. They closed the restaurant so that we could have the space, allowed us to customize a menu for the day, and were extremely friendly and helpful. The servers were amazing and very friendly. Many of my guests called, texted, or emailed me the next day to let me know what a great shower it was and how delicious the food was. Thank you Himmel's Restaurant!
(5)
Poppy D.
LOVE, LOVE this place! "Himmels" means "Heavens" in German and that's exactly what it is. I'm in heaven when i eat the food there. I honestly think they cook with love and it shows and tastes like it. Every time we eat there we walk out with smiles on our faces. We've brought your families here as well as friends and they all LOVE this place. You must try the grilled calamari with balsamic on mixed greens. Our favorite appetizer. So fresh and healthy. Delicious. Their entrees are excellent too. Try the Sauerbraten or the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel (my favorite), as well as the Duck dish, other schnitzel dishes, their pastas and pizzas! They bake their pizza and breads in their own wood-burning oven. The smell of the oven when you walk in is wonderful and it gets you hungry right from the get go. This place is great for couple, families and groups. There's something on the menu for everyone. Great German beers on tap too which is exactly what the hubby likes. Desserts are great and they make a good cup of coffee which is always important after a European meal. Staff and owners are very friendly too. This place never disappoints. It's becoming one of our favorite places to dine locally.
(5)
Aileen B.
Three people in our party wanted to have German for dinner and three people wanted to have Italian. I decided the best solution was to try Himmel's because they have both German and Italian specilaties. Everyone was very happy with all of their food and wine selections. I had the "Braccio di Ferro", chicken breast flattened and rolled with spinach. It was a big portion with mashed potatoes and green beans and was excellent (and enough for two dinners). My sister loved her chicken parmigiana, husband loved the pork shank, mom loved the homemade spatzle, dad loved the pork tenderloin medallions, and son loved the spaghetti and meatballs from the kids menu. Good food, prices are the same or less than the german and italian restaurants in the square (which are good too), and a good option if you want a selection of both options in one place.
(5)
Thomas J.
The food we had is the main reason this restaurant deserves 5 stars. My wife and I dined here after having a few drinks at Maifest this weekend. The place was swamped as I'm guessing they didn't expect such a turnout of people coming for dinner from the nearby street festival. My wife had the pork shank and I ordered the veal saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent and we'll definitely go back.
(5)
Erich K.
Best German food period!!!! I go to Himmels every chance I get. This time we sat at the bar. The bartender Bob was awesome! He gave great recommendations that me and my fiance loved. We will return asap!
(5)
Pete C.
Came here with another couple for the first time.The food was excellent and the service was just as good! Two people had the RahmViener schnitzel and the others were chicken dishes. The waitress was very friendly and Helpful as well.All in all a great experience.
(5)
R L.
I am Austrian and have been searching for the best German restaurant in Chicago...I found it! The food was awesome (especially the Spätzle) the waitstaff very attentive, and the owner made it a point to greet our table. Tonight was my third visit and I will be back! Highly recommend.
(5)
Lauren L.
I'm a huge Chicago foodie and love writing reviews. This has been my go-to place for quite some time now and I absolutely L.O.V. E. it! I don't normally eat large portions of food but it's weird because it's like my stomach knows I'm about to eat at Himmels and suddenly I can eat more than a family 4. The owners and their family are always super nice and accommodating. Real down to earth group. Pretty sure the whole family works there, which is super cool to see these days. Ok food time.... My recommends? -------Italiano -------- Salads/apps: love them all but the spring mix Pear E Gorgonzola and the calamari (both grilled and fried) are great. Pizza: Again, I love them all but have to have to say that my first picks are Silvio Gabrielle and the Fiorentina (**have to ask for this one** roasted red and green peppers topped w/ thinly sliced genoa salami-so so good!) Pastas: Can't go wrong with the frutti de mare, carbonara and the gnocchi al formaggi. When I want to keep it simple, their penne pomodoro always hits the spot! All the fish entrees are amazing that I've tried. Get the halibut and the sea bass if it's on special!!! -----German cuisine----- Apps: The BEST obatzda and German potato salad that I've had....and trust me, I've had a lot. What makes the obatzda so good is the perfect combination of creamy cheeses and that it's not super oniony like at other places. I first tried the potato salad at German fest and hot damn, talk about FRESH and flavorful. Pork shank, steak frite, and rham schnitzel are delish!! ---------Dessert--------- Panna cotta, It's perfect. Okay, that's enough for now... Now go eat!
(5)
Megan L.
I recently joined some friends for dinner at Himmel's, and we really enjoyed it! The restaurant is warm and inviting, and the staff was really lovely. I didn't know this restaurant (or its predecessor) was here, but I am so glad I'm aware of it now. Apparently a couple of sisters bought the pizza restaurant this used to be, and decided they were two German girls so they wanted to change the focus to reflect their heritage a bit more (we got to talk to one of them, and she could not have been any nicer!). So they still have pizzas and a few Italian dishes on the menu, but have also added some schnitzels and whatnot. I tried one of the schnitzels and I really enjoyed it. I was really pretty perfect - for something fried, it was pretty light and not at all greasy. I would definitely get it again. My friends were equally pleased with their dishes - we all agreed that this is a place to visit again.
(4)
Amber L.
My group of 4 tried a gnocchi, a pork dish, the sauerbraten, and the duck. Everything was outstanding. The appetizer platter was gorgeous, and everything on it was tasty. Our server was terrific; knowledgeable and attentive.
(5)
Cory G.
I've recently been looking for the best Neapolitan style pizza in the city, Himmel's comes up short. The atmosphere is a bit lacking, lights are too bright and there is just a general lack of attentiveness by the wait staff. It took 15 min for the waitress to bring us water. Another 10 min for her to come back with a menu and ask if we wanted to place a drink order. She did apologize, but it was a Friday night with only about 25% of the restaurant full, you can do better than that. The other 2 waitresses on staff we just sitting at the other empty tables just looking at their phones. A bit odd. We ordered an appetizer, but our waitress forgot to put the order in, which she again apologized for. They do have bread that they serve at the table, so that did help hold us over while waiting. As for the pizza, it was just ok. My fiance and I both ordered our own pizza's, both with fresh tomatoes on them, but both came out with rather cold tomatoes that were just placed on top of the pizza after it had come out of the oven. Crust was good, but that was about all. Nothing special about the cheese or sauce. All in all, very poor experience, we won't be back. I would recommend Coalfire, which has great food and amazing service, or Nella's, also very good!
(1)
Lauren F.
I've been to Himmel's before it was Himmel's-I liked it then and I like it now. Italian and German may be a bit of an odd combo for a restaurant but everything I've had is really great. Most recently I ordered the salmon and vegetables and it was really, really good. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the veggies were very flavorful. The super thin, personal size pizzas are also a great choice. Service is always above par here, everyone is very friendly and helpful and very kid-friendly. Great family restaurant where you know you'll always have a good meal.
(4)
Dana D.
This restaurant seemed to be having an identity crisis. It looked like a German restaurant, but the majority of the dishes were Italian. Although I would totally be down for a European fusion restaurant, this concept did not really seem to work. I ordered a vegetarian pizza, which was good at the edges, but far too mushy in the middle, and my husband ordered the Bavarian Pork Shank. He enjoyed the meal; however, he said the entire dish was too salty. Our friends ordered the Chicken Schintzel, which looked great, and was sized for two, but the sides didn't seem to complement the meal well enough. They received a small cabbage salad, but no spaetzle, lingenberry sauce, sauerkraut, or anything like that. The atmosphere was nice, and the drink selection was OK, but this is not a restaurant that I would visit again.
(2)
Joanne W.
Man, I really like Himmel's pizza but I've order it for delivery twice now and twice it's showed up COLD. Seriously? I know my lazy arse should just go pick up the pizza but isn't that point of delivery? When you are feeling lazy and just can't be bothered with going out...delivery options are your friend. I will say the pizza was good - after I heated it up. FYI - the secret to re-warming pizza is to do it in the frying pan. Anyhow, I've also tried calamari...it claims to be fried on the menu but what I got was a lightly breaded and possibly pan fried calamari. Still totally edible, just not what I was expecting. Himmel's also has this mushroom soup that I'm sort of in love with. It's minced portobello mushroom in a veggie broth, garnished with guanciale and parsley oil. How can you not love anything garnished with bacon? The menu is quite varied and just sort of all over the place. I want to really like it b/c they have quite the variety of 'za, but they aren't winning me over by delivering it to me cold. Get it together, Himmels!
(3)
Matt B.
I went to Himmel's for dinner last night for the first time and both my fried and I ordered the rib eye steak. We were so pleased with our dinner and the atmosphere that I will be sure to go back again soon and try another item from their menu.
(5)
Becky L.
My husband and I have been going to Himmel's (previously called Pizza DOC) for a couple of years now, and it is consistently fantastic. The ambience is cozy, the food is delicious, the pizza oven is entertaining and the staff is the friendliest in Chicago. Yesterday was my son's 3rd birthday and we decided to go to Himmel's for all of the above reasons. Upon entering, the staff immediately made my son feel special - and I mean the whole staff, including the owners. The entire wait staff stopped by intermittently to give well wishes, the employee working the pizza oven let my son ring the bell for orders, and the acoustic guitar player sang happy birthday while our waiter brought out a special dessert. To top it all off, the owners brought out a brand new Melissa and Doug wooden pizza set for my son to play with and then gave it to him for his birthday. I was so touched! Himmel's absolutely made my son feel special on his special day. Go to this restaurant!!
(5)
Kelley H.
Gnocchi ai formaggio is one of the top 5 things I've ever had in my mouth. Delivery was speedy too!
(5)
Laura C.
When one door closes, another one opens. Such is the case for Pizza D.O.C., which was recently reinvented into Himmel's, focusing more on European style fare versus the much loved Neopolitan specialty. The decor remains the same, warm and inviting, with a toasty, brick oven as one of the main focal points. I attended a private event here, so the menu was a bit customized. We started with an addictive brandade boule, deep fried to crispy perfection. Hofbrau and gruyere fondue accompanied a bright display of crudites, and a savory pate with house made rye crisps, pickled green tomatoes and pretzel bites set the stage for the evening. This spread could easily have been my dinner, but we were just getting started. A beautiful platter of roasted pork, oven grilled salmon, duck, beet and goat cheese salad, green beans, and dumplings magically arrived, all calling my name. Of course, all this food needed some cocktails, and Himmel's did not disappoint. From a server's suggestion, I tried their Bloody Mary, which I was a bit hesitant to do since it was well past brunch time, but the savory gazpacho-esque nature of it was a pleasant surprise. They also make a mean margarita, which I would typically order only with a Mexican meal, but here, there are no boundaries.
(4)
Chris K.
On the whole, this was a confusing dinner experience. The menu is a mix of Italian and German, which do not go together. The crowd was a mix: oldsters, youngsters, hipsters, men in suits, red-faced old-money types, hippies, and slobs. Even the service was a mix: we had three different waitresses throughout the meal. Also, depending on where you sit, you might have a quiet zone or be surrounded by cacklers. My girlfriend got the pork shank, which was excellent although quite fatty, as you might expect. I got the trout special, which was pretty good. The house salad was above average due to the refreshing (verging on bracing) dressing. If they could figure out the service part, this could be a 4 or 5 star place. Our waitress (well, number three out of three) told us that there was no ownership change; the owners renamed the place from Pizza DOC and added German items to the menu because they were German and wanted to honor their heritage. Back in the day (last year!), when it was DOC, we waited 20 minutes to be served but then had a great meal. So I guess it makes sense that it's the same owners.
(3)
Ray C.
5:20pm on a Sat for family dinner. Second time visit since they changed concepts (still don't understand the German/Bavarian and Italian mix), might be the last. Overall, food was average. Gorgonzola salad w/ pear was drenched in vinaigrette. Mushroom soup was tasty as heck. Pizza good, as expected. Pasta underwhelming. What was disappointing was the service. Our server seemed like she was trying too hard and/or trying to get us out the door: we were approached immediately after being seated, asking what we wanted to drink (replied that we needed a minute). After serving drinks, asking what we wanted to order (replied that we needed a few minutes). When I took a typical mid-meal break, another server asked if I was done. This time, I just gave a look. It's too bad. This place had a wonderful legacy as Pizza D.O.C., has terrific decor and ambience, and is very versatile as both a casual joint and a classy place. I wish it could leverage its identity more rather than trying to be something that it's not.
(2)
Walt J.
Price - average Food - meh Service - absolutely awful! My wife and I sat for 45 minutes after ordering, waiting for gnocchi and chicken schnitzel. It was a slow night (3 other tables eating, 2 already served) and a simple order. Our waiter never came to check on us or explain the delay, even after multiple eye contact moments. He finally brought out the gnocchi and said that the chicken will be a few more minutes. He waited until we were nearly done to come by and ask (in a strangely panicked voice) "is it OK?". So, from the people who ruined Pizza DOC, OK food at average prices that you should bring in carry out to tide you over until your food arrives. God forbid you should want a refill on your drink. A shame too, it's a nice little place.
(2)
Victoria D. G.
This restaurant is amazing! The best Chilean Sea Bass I have ever had. Beautifully julienned veggies. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Holly M.
Wow...I am so happy to have found this place. I wanted to go here when it was still the pizza place, but as I walked home one day I saw it was updated and new. When I first stepped into Himmel's, I didn't think much of it. The tables are small and thrown about and the restaurant itself is small and simple. However, the food made up for anything the restaurant may be lacking. My roommate and I shared the calamari (Awesome!!) and then my roommate ordered the chicken schnitzel and I the duck. I normally don't savor food, but...oh my God...the duck. Honestly...just...too good to put into words. The schnitzel was excellent, too. Himmel's is pricey, but the food is absolutely great and the wait staff is very nice, too. I shall definitely return!
(4)
Phil S.
This place has gotten better since its "fusion" began. Personally, I love the combo of German and Italian. Anywhere I can get snitzel with Italian bread and appetizers I am in! The chicken snitzel is better (and cheaper and bigger) than both the Brauhaus and Lachettes. Highly recommended. Also our waiter was great and very accommodating for our little picky 3 year old.
(4)
Nico W.
I have searched for a German restaurant that has the same qualities like my German mom expertise cooking. I have been in this city for over 20 years and my German cook from the Ritz Carlton who moved here a month ago (Martin Knaubert) great Chef as well told me about this amazing place. I walked in on crutches due to an injury and received special treatment from Carol and Diana. It didn't stop here, for a change they hired a busser girl (I'm from the industry) who was sweet as pie as was our waitress (blond long hair), but even better the food exceeded my expectations! We had the Cheese Spätzle (superb portions) salad plate and Championrahmschnitzel which was the BOMB! This place made me sign up on yelp, that's how good it is. I want to come home being a good cook myself and feel like that my expectations were exceeded! I promoted them already on facebook to all my friends. I can't wait to taste more good beer and excellent food from chef carol. I make this restaurant my new top favorite in this city. The decor, lighting and ambiance is well thought out! Believe me, if a German Chef from the Ritz Carlton ( Four Seasons Company) recommends this place, it's a must to go here! The service and passion for food is at its best!
(5)
N. S.
I wrote a rather mediocre review of Pizza D.O.C. a couple years ago after a visit. I was looking forward to visiting after the recent rebranding. In truth, it hasn't changed much. Mostly the same menu, from what I can tell. I still think the pizza was very good, and the service was generally much better (faster anyway) than last time, but I still don't feel like it's a very comfortable place. We were drawn in tonight by the email about the friday night fish fry. The best thing on the plate was the potato salad. It was really good, with great flavor (was that some fenugreek?) but the fries and fish were incredibly bland. The fish was well cooked, not very hot, and but the breading was flavorless and not very crisp. The fries were also flavorless - and seemed like they were straight out of a freezer bag. It seems like people who are regulars love it, and I would love to be a regular since I live around the corner, but I don't think it's going to happen. Except for the pizza, everything I've tried has missed the mark.
(3)
scott B.
Really enjoyed dinner here on a Friday night.stopped in without a reservation and they worked us in. Really enjoyed a salad and a pizza which I thInk rivals Spacca Napoli. We enjoyed eating here before they changed the name from Pizza D.O.C. We will be back
(4)
Jill H.
Himmel's is a treat! From the friendly staff to the delicious food to the warm atmosphere, it's hard to beat this near Lincoln Square delight. With friends or family, in the warm dining area or at the cozy bar, I love this place. A variety of yummy foods ranging from delicious pastas, scrumptious German dishes, or tasty wood fired pizzas, there is something for every palate. The music on Friday nights is pretty stellar too - don't miss out - check out Himmel's!
(5)
Amie K.
I love Himmel's. From the brick oven pizza to the Italian and German specialties, this restaurant is so friendly and a pleasure to dine in. The owners and staff are so welcoming and the food is delicious. My favorite pizza is the Potato Rosemary. It's pure deliciousness. The others are pretty phenomenal as well. This is a perfect place to bring a date for dinner and a drink. The bar area is nicely situated to the side of the restaurant so it's a great place to come, sit at the bar and order dinner if you happen be dining alone or keeping it low key. Or, enjoy moving over to the bar after dinner to enjoy a few post dinner cocktails.Bottom line, if you want to enjoy a wonderful dinner in a lovely atmosphere surrounded by good people, this is a great option. Also, I almost forgot to mention that their Sunday brunch is sooooo good. I would say among the best on the North side and very affordable. A great option to remember about when family visits or you just want to have a traditional brunch without going downtown to get it.
(5)
Marty R.
The pasta dishes were always excellant. I can't wait to try the German food! I know it will remind me of my native Bavaria.Staff has always been efficient and friendly and most importantly always made me feel welcome.
(5)
Michael M.
Food is good, but service continues to be a challenge. We are long time regular customers - we were among the first to try the place years ago when Pizza D.O.C. first opened in place of the old Serbian restaurant that used to be there. It became one of my kids' favorite restaurants - they love the pizza. When the new owners took over Pizza D.O.C., the food quality remained high, though service began to slip (e.g., longer waits for food to come out, occasional goof ups on the orders). But we keep coming back because it is in the neighborhood, they seem to try hard and the food is really good. We welcomed the added German theme as they switched to the Himmels moniker, as the pizza remains yummy and the added options are nice - and some good new beers on tap! However, at a recent visit with a party of 9 we experienced truly terrible delay in getting our food. A half hour into our wait, the server claimed the food would be right out. He said that again 15 minutes later. Then he stopped coming by. Our pizza arrived 75 minutes after we ordered it, and our schnitzels arrived almost 90 minutes after we ordered it. The place was less than a quarter full, and there were as many wait staff as customers, so it could not be blamed on being too busy. Clearly a major screw up in the kitchen. No one came out to apologize other than the poor server. Finally, after most of our party left (including me) the chef came out to explain that they "ran out of spaetzle" and had to make it from scratch. Only one of our meals had spaetzle - why delay 8 other meals for that? Why not explain that in the first place, and give us the option to get a different side, or pick different dish? After the delay, why not offer to discount our dinner, or pick up the drinks? This was a major disappointment. We will certainly go back and give them more chances, but the consistently poor service cannot be ignored by the owners/management much longer.
(2)
R.A. H.
We were looking for a slightly different bent for our weekly Eating Out and, while having dinned in at Himmel's before, this was the first time we ordered out (pick up, not delivery). We ordered the Carbonara and the Bucatini all'Amatriciana. We ordered ahead for a specific time pickup. It was ready on time and packaged in a nice container that I was able to pop right into the oven when it got home to warm up while we got out plates and such. The Carbonara was light and extremely flavorful, the cheeses adding the perfect flavor to the spaghetti. The Bucatini all'Amatriciana had a thicker noodle and a spicier tang that was nice and difference from the other dish, proving pasta dishes didn't have to be plain, boring and 'all the same'. Always happy with dining in, we are now very happy with our 'dining out' with Himmel's.
(5)
Chris L.
After a ten hour day of moving into a new place, we were starving. Himmels was the closest option. Restaurant was busy but tons of wait staff. We were seated at a table and we waited, and waited, and waited, waiters scurrying all around us, and no one even bothered to acknowledge our presence. After five minutes of being flat out ignored, we got up and left. And we will never go back. And really, an Italian AND German menu? In hindsight, I'm kinda glad we didn't eat there.
(1)
Dan P.
The wife has been coming here since approx 1998 when she claims that it was all old Italian men smoking cigarettes. She says it "used to be a great establishment." Tonight is different. The spinach gnocchi the wife used to love is gone. It has been replaced with a salty bowl of heavy cream with gnocchi that is good, but not excellent. I had the trout special. It was good, but crazy salty. I like salt but this was insane. Side of Potatoes was so over cooked as to be inedible. I note that this place is no longer as busy as it used to be. It was nearly cleared out by 8:00 p.m. The chef spent at least an hour playing the drums for a terrible singer. The live music has to go. I would suggest checking to see if there is live music before making a reservation. If yes, go somewhere else. Service was good, but waiters used to bring shots for the table. This restaurant has descended into mediocrity.
(3)
Jeremy C.
Ordered a pizza (Silvio & Gabriele) and the pear & gorgonzola salad on a rainy Friday night. Our food showed up within the window of time they gave - but the pizza wasn't warm at all. We didn't want to throw it in the oven to reheat because of the arugula and prosciutto, so we just ate it as it was. While the temp was disappointing, the flavor of the pizza was great - we'd definitely order one at the restaurant. The salad was pretty good too, although the cheese was a big glob of something that may or may not have been gorgonzola.
(4)
Simone T.
When Pizza DOC closed, my Husband and I along with many friends, were devastated. Tonight was my first night back (bachelorette dinner, party of 8) to Himmel's, and it was a mixed bag. 4 - 5 stars for the food, 2 stars for service & bill issues. The spaghetti carbonara was as I remembered it - DIVINE. I also want to come back to try/retry their pizza. Our table enjoyed our food very much. But despite the same family owning it, service has taken a nosedive. Throughout our meal, we had to ask multiple waitresses multiple times to help complete orders (drinks, food items) where only half or 2/3 of our table was served, the other half having to wait. The place was packed and they were nice & apologetic, but it got a bit out of hand after awhile. Some tables of regulars/friends/family (?) were served very quickly, others like ours were not. Again though, we loved our meals. Then we handed in our bill (to which we added a 20% tip - I suggested the amount, and was told by a few at the table afterwards that it should have been less, but we did it anyway). Then we waited. And waited. And waited. We asked repeatedly what the issue was - initially,nothing. We were finally told (it was like pulling teeth) the credit card machine was having "connectivity issues". We waited over 30 minutes to have this resolved. Really? This soured us (arrival after dinner at a planned party for the couple was rather delayed) quite a bit. We could have gone walking to a cash station for those who paid w/credit cards quicker than this was handled. None of this ever happened during the YEARS I went to the old Pizza D.O.C. A perfect example of a good meal nearly ruined by the overall subpar restaurant experience.
(3)
Rob R.
Himmel's is unique- the menu combines Italian and German cuisine and excels with both. Great wood-fired pizza, too. Friendly atmosphere- must be a nice place to work because the staff is always cheerful and relaxed. Try the braccio di ferro- heavenly. Sometimes live jazz. You can't beat it!
(5)
Robert M.
2 year later and I still love this place. Of course everyone's experience varies, but I have never had a single bad word to say about this place from the food to the service. I love the wide variety of selection that is offered on the menu. From date night to having a bigger party, Himmels have always been more than accomodating. They sold me when it was Pizza DOC, but now they have me keep coming back for more.
(5)
Ralph S.
Great food and the portions are huge. My son had the Chicken Parm and had the left overs the next day. I had the Chicken Snitzle which was excellent as were the veggies that came with. My daughter-in-law had the spatzel and a pear salad which looked and tasted great. My wife had the sauerbraten and she loved it. Took the left overs home and had it for lunch the next day. My older son had one of the fish dishes and it was moist and very flavorful. Service was good and so was the bread. Over all great experience.
(5)
Marlies D.
I'm Belgian and this was the best food I had since living in Chicago for 9 months. I actually wanted to lick my plate after I finished my meal but decided it was probably not a polite thing to do.
(5)
Terrie M.
Great food at good prices. One of my favorite restaurants on the northside. Quality of the food is consistently good and I have enjoyed my regular visits to this friendly place in a great neighbor for many years. Can't go wrong with pizza and a salad; chicken schnitzel is amazing and their steaks are always cooked to perfection. I highly recommend.
(4)
Evan W.
Authentic. Classic. Family. All you need to know about this place. If you like Bavarian food and atmosphere, give this place a chance.
(5)
Julie W.
Came here with my parents and my husband for a nice Saturday evening meal. Originally we thought we were going to Pizza D.O.C., but the front said Himmel's. We were slightly confused but after entering the establishment, the hostess assured us that we were in the right place! The owners just wanted to honor their German/European heritage and make it more their own. Fair enough! The menu itself is very large, there's really something for everyone! Like Erin E said, the menu is mostly Italian but you can find other Euro dishes as well. The bread was really tasty, almost like a pretzel bread. We ordered the soup of the day which was a spaetzle soup with beef broth. Very basic but very good! The waitress told us each bowl is very large and she suggested we split two bowls in half for the four of us. I love when this happens; waiters and waitresses put their knowledge to good use and actually service and help their customers. If we ordered 4 bowls it would've been way too much! Kudos to her! My parents ordered German beers and i had the Riesling which was very sweet but very good. All of us but my husband ordered pizza. He got the chicken parm and it was HUGE. I'm talking at least 10 inches wide (not even kidding here). Their portions are very large, might be a good idea to split an entree or be prepared to take some home! My only gripe was that the margherita pizza I had...wasn't an authentic margherita. The way pizza began was an Italian queen was traveling to Naples and the locals wanted to make a dish to celebrate Italy. They created the dough, sliced up tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, and topped it with fresh basil leaves. The colors looked like the Italian flag and BAM, pizza was born. However, my margherita pizza was more like a regular cheese with tomato sauce and shredded basil on top. Blah. Not the way a true margherita should be made!! Even with the disappointment the pizza itself was very very good. I love the wood-burning brick oven they use, it gives the flavor something special along with the bottom having a nice blackened flour look that just makes it all blend beautifully together. Overall for the four of us including a bottle of wine, the tab was just about $170. Not too bad! affordable for a casual dining experience with good food and great service. Wish they would read up on thier pizzas though!
(4)
Jeff Z.
Absolute worst pizza ever! Went there a couple years ago when it was Pizza DOC and it was crap then. Fast forward 2 years and we mistakenly decide to try again - wrong answer!!!! The pizza had odd tastes, the chocolate torte was just a frozen grocery store desert and threw most of the meal out. Never again !!!!
(1)
Poppy D.
LOVE, LOVE this place! "Himmels" means "Heavens" in German and that's exactly what it is. I'm in heaven when i eat the food there. I honestly think they cook with love and it shows and tastes like it. Every time we eat there we walk out with smiles on our faces. We've brought your families here as well as friends and they all LOVE this place. You must try the grilled calamari with balsamic on mixed greens. Our favorite appetizer. So fresh and healthy. Delicious. Their entrees are excellent too. Try the Sauerbraten or the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel (my favorite), as well as the Duck dish, other schnitzel dishes, their pastas and pizzas! They bake their pizza and breads in their own wood-burning oven. The smell of the oven when you walk in is wonderful and it gets you hungry right from the get go. This place is great for couple, families and groups. There's something on the menu for everyone. Great German beers on tap too which is exactly what the hubby likes. Desserts are great and they make a good cup of coffee which is always important after a European meal. Staff and owners are very friendly too. This place never disappoints. It's becoming one of our favorite places to dine locally.
(5)
Aileen B.
Three people in our party wanted to have German for dinner and three people wanted to have Italian. I decided the best solution was to try Himmel's because they have both German and Italian specilaties. Everyone was very happy with all of their food and wine selections. I had the "Braccio di Ferro", chicken breast flattened and rolled with spinach. It was a big portion with mashed potatoes and green beans and was excellent (and enough for two dinners). My sister loved her chicken parmigiana, husband loved the pork shank, mom loved the homemade spatzle, dad loved the pork tenderloin medallions, and son loved the spaghetti and meatballs from the kids menu. Good food, prices are the same or less than the german and italian restaurants in the square (which are good too), and a good option if you want a selection of both options in one place.
(5)
Thomas J.
The food we had is the main reason this restaurant deserves 5 stars. My wife and I dined here after having a few drinks at Maifest this weekend. The place was swamped as I'm guessing they didn't expect such a turnout of people coming for dinner from the nearby street festival. My wife had the pork shank and I ordered the veal saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent and we'll definitely go back.
(5)
Erich K.
Best German food period!!!! I go to Himmels every chance I get. This time we sat at the bar. The bartender Bob was awesome! He gave great recommendations that me and my fiance loved. We will return asap!
(5)
Pete C.
Came here with another couple for the first time.The food was excellent and the service was just as good! Two people had the RahmViener schnitzel and the others were chicken dishes. The waitress was very friendly and Helpful as well.All in all a great experience.
(5)
Megan L.
I recently joined some friends for dinner at Himmel's, and we really enjoyed it! The restaurant is warm and inviting, and the staff was really lovely. I didn't know this restaurant (or its predecessor) was here, but I am so glad I'm aware of it now. Apparently a couple of sisters bought the pizza restaurant this used to be, and decided they were two German girls so they wanted to change the focus to reflect their heritage a bit more (we got to talk to one of them, and she could not have been any nicer!). So they still have pizzas and a few Italian dishes on the menu, but have also added some schnitzels and whatnot. I tried one of the schnitzels and I really enjoyed it. I was really pretty perfect - for something fried, it was pretty light and not at all greasy. I would definitely get it again. My friends were equally pleased with their dishes - we all agreed that this is a place to visit again.
(4)
Amber L.
My group of 4 tried a gnocchi, a pork dish, the sauerbraten, and the duck. Everything was outstanding. The appetizer platter was gorgeous, and everything on it was tasty. Our server was terrific; knowledgeable and attentive.
(5)
Lauren F.
I've been to Himmel's before it was Himmel's-I liked it then and I like it now. Italian and German may be a bit of an odd combo for a restaurant but everything I've had is really great. Most recently I ordered the salmon and vegetables and it was really, really good. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the veggies were very flavorful. The super thin, personal size pizzas are also a great choice. Service is always above par here, everyone is very friendly and helpful and very kid-friendly. Great family restaurant where you know you'll always have a good meal.
(4)
Cory G.
I've recently been looking for the best Neapolitan style pizza in the city, Himmel's comes up short. The atmosphere is a bit lacking, lights are too bright and there is just a general lack of attentiveness by the wait staff. It took 15 min for the waitress to bring us water. Another 10 min for her to come back with a menu and ask if we wanted to place a drink order. She did apologize, but it was a Friday night with only about 25% of the restaurant full, you can do better than that. The other 2 waitresses on staff we just sitting at the other empty tables just looking at their phones. A bit odd. We ordered an appetizer, but our waitress forgot to put the order in, which she again apologized for. They do have bread that they serve at the table, so that did help hold us over while waiting. As for the pizza, it was just ok. My fiance and I both ordered our own pizza's, both with fresh tomatoes on them, but both came out with rather cold tomatoes that were just placed on top of the pizza after it had come out of the oven. Crust was good, but that was about all. Nothing special about the cheese or sauce. All in all, very poor experience, we won't be back. I would recommend Coalfire, which has great food and amazing service, or Nella's, also very good!
(1)
Nico W.
I have searched for a German restaurant that has the same qualities like my German mom expertise cooking. I have been in this city for over 20 years and my German cook from the Ritz Carlton who moved here a month ago (Martin Knaubert) great Chef as well told me about this amazing place. I walked in on crutches due to an injury and received special treatment from Carol and Diana. It didn't stop here, for a change they hired a busser girl (I'm from the industry) who was sweet as pie as was our waitress (blond long hair), but even better the food exceeded my expectations! We had the Cheese Spätzle (superb portions) salad plate and Championrahmschnitzel which was the BOMB! This place made me sign up on yelp, that's how good it is. I want to come home being a good cook myself and feel like that my expectations were exceeded! I promoted them already on facebook to all my friends. I can't wait to taste more good beer and excellent food from chef carol. I make this restaurant my new top favorite in this city. The decor, lighting and ambiance is well thought out! Believe me, if a German Chef from the Ritz Carlton ( Four Seasons Company) recommends this place, it's a must to go here! The service and passion for food is at its best!
(5)
Dana D.
This restaurant seemed to be having an identity crisis. It looked like a German restaurant, but the majority of the dishes were Italian. Although I would totally be down for a European fusion restaurant, this concept did not really seem to work. I ordered a vegetarian pizza, which was good at the edges, but far too mushy in the middle, and my husband ordered the Bavarian Pork Shank. He enjoyed the meal; however, he said the entire dish was too salty. Our friends ordered the Chicken Schintzel, which looked great, and was sized for two, but the sides didn't seem to complement the meal well enough. They received a small cabbage salad, but no spaetzle, lingenberry sauce, sauerkraut, or anything like that. The atmosphere was nice, and the drink selection was OK, but this is not a restaurant that I would visit again.
(2)
Joanne W.
Man, I really like Himmel's pizza but I've order it for delivery twice now and twice it's showed up COLD. Seriously? I know my lazy arse should just go pick up the pizza but isn't that point of delivery? When you are feeling lazy and just can't be bothered with going out...delivery options are your friend. I will say the pizza was good - after I heated it up. FYI - the secret to re-warming pizza is to do it in the frying pan. Anyhow, I've also tried calamari...it claims to be fried on the menu but what I got was a lightly breaded and possibly pan fried calamari. Still totally edible, just not what I was expecting. Himmel's also has this mushroom soup that I'm sort of in love with. It's minced portobello mushroom in a veggie broth, garnished with guanciale and parsley oil. How can you not love anything garnished with bacon? The menu is quite varied and just sort of all over the place. I want to really like it b/c they have quite the variety of 'za, but they aren't winning me over by delivering it to me cold. Get it together, Himmels!
(3)
Matt B.
I went to Himmel's for dinner last night for the first time and both my fried and I ordered the rib eye steak. We were so pleased with our dinner and the atmosphere that I will be sure to go back again soon and try another item from their menu.
(5)
Becky L.
My husband and I have been going to Himmel's (previously called Pizza DOC) for a couple of years now, and it is consistently fantastic. The ambience is cozy, the food is delicious, the pizza oven is entertaining and the staff is the friendliest in Chicago. Yesterday was my son's 3rd birthday and we decided to go to Himmel's for all of the above reasons. Upon entering, the staff immediately made my son feel special - and I mean the whole staff, including the owners. The entire wait staff stopped by intermittently to give well wishes, the employee working the pizza oven let my son ring the bell for orders, and the acoustic guitar player sang happy birthday while our waiter brought out a special dessert. To top it all off, the owners brought out a brand new Melissa and Doug wooden pizza set for my son to play with and then gave it to him for his birthday. I was so touched! Himmel's absolutely made my son feel special on his special day. Go to this restaurant!!
(5)
Kelley H.
Gnocchi ai formaggio is one of the top 5 things I've ever had in my mouth. Delivery was speedy too!
(5)
Laura C.
When one door closes, another one opens. Such is the case for Pizza D.O.C., which was recently reinvented into Himmel's, focusing more on European style fare versus the much loved Neopolitan specialty. The decor remains the same, warm and inviting, with a toasty, brick oven as one of the main focal points. I attended a private event here, so the menu was a bit customized. We started with an addictive brandade boule, deep fried to crispy perfection. Hofbrau and gruyere fondue accompanied a bright display of crudites, and a savory pate with house made rye crisps, pickled green tomatoes and pretzel bites set the stage for the evening. This spread could easily have been my dinner, but we were just getting started. A beautiful platter of roasted pork, oven grilled salmon, duck, beet and goat cheese salad, green beans, and dumplings magically arrived, all calling my name. Of course, all this food needed some cocktails, and Himmel's did not disappoint. From a server's suggestion, I tried their Bloody Mary, which I was a bit hesitant to do since it was well past brunch time, but the savory gazpacho-esque nature of it was a pleasant surprise. They also make a mean margarita, which I would typically order only with a Mexican meal, but here, there are no boundaries.
(4)
Chris K.
On the whole, this was a confusing dinner experience. The menu is a mix of Italian and German, which do not go together. The crowd was a mix: oldsters, youngsters, hipsters, men in suits, red-faced old-money types, hippies, and slobs. Even the service was a mix: we had three different waitresses throughout the meal. Also, depending on where you sit, you might have a quiet zone or be surrounded by cacklers. My girlfriend got the pork shank, which was excellent although quite fatty, as you might expect. I got the trout special, which was pretty good. The house salad was above average due to the refreshing (verging on bracing) dressing. If they could figure out the service part, this could be a 4 or 5 star place. Our waitress (well, number three out of three) told us that there was no ownership change; the owners renamed the place from Pizza DOC and added German items to the menu because they were German and wanted to honor their heritage. Back in the day (last year!), when it was DOC, we waited 20 minutes to be served but then had a great meal. So I guess it makes sense that it's the same owners.
(3)
lena s.
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(1)
Ray C.
5:20pm on a Sat for family dinner. Second time visit since they changed concepts (still don't understand the German/Bavarian and Italian mix), might be the last. Overall, food was average. Gorgonzola salad w/ pear was drenched in vinaigrette. Mushroom soup was tasty as heck. Pizza good, as expected. Pasta underwhelming. What was disappointing was the service. Our server seemed like she was trying too hard and/or trying to get us out the door: we were approached immediately after being seated, asking what we wanted to drink (replied that we needed a minute). After serving drinks, asking what we wanted to order (replied that we needed a few minutes). When I took a typical mid-meal break, another server asked if I was done. This time, I just gave a look. It's too bad. This place had a wonderful legacy as Pizza D.O.C., has terrific decor and ambience, and is very versatile as both a casual joint and a classy place. I wish it could leverage its identity more rather than trying to be something that it's not.
(2)
Walt J.
Price - average Food - meh Service - absolutely awful! My wife and I sat for 45 minutes after ordering, waiting for gnocchi and chicken schnitzel. It was a slow night (3 other tables eating, 2 already served) and a simple order. Our waiter never came to check on us or explain the delay, even after multiple eye contact moments. He finally brought out the gnocchi and said that the chicken will be a few more minutes. He waited until we were nearly done to come by and ask (in a strangely panicked voice) "is it OK?". So, from the people who ruined Pizza DOC, OK food at average prices that you should bring in carry out to tide you over until your food arrives. God forbid you should want a refill on your drink. A shame too, it's a nice little place.
(2)
Victoria D. G.
This restaurant is amazing! The best Chilean Sea Bass I have ever had. Beautifully julienned veggies. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Holly M.
Wow...I am so happy to have found this place. I wanted to go here when it was still the pizza place, but as I walked home one day I saw it was updated and new. When I first stepped into Himmel's, I didn't think much of it. The tables are small and thrown about and the restaurant itself is small and simple. However, the food made up for anything the restaurant may be lacking. My roommate and I shared the calamari (Awesome!!) and then my roommate ordered the chicken schnitzel and I the duck. I normally don't savor food, but...oh my God...the duck. Honestly...just...too good to put into words. The schnitzel was excellent, too. Himmel's is pricey, but the food is absolutely great and the wait staff is very nice, too. I shall definitely return!
(4)
Phil S.
This place has gotten better since its "fusion" began. Personally, I love the combo of German and Italian. Anywhere I can get snitzel with Italian bread and appetizers I am in! The chicken snitzel is better (and cheaper and bigger) than both the Brauhaus and Lachettes. Highly recommended. Also our waiter was great and very accommodating for our little picky 3 year old.
(4)
Matthew D.
Food was excellent: potato pancake, chi schnitzel, Marsala sauce, Caesar salad, veggies, olive oil and bread basket. Service was good: I did receive some pushback on a simple modifications I requested from server who blamed it on the chef. Oddly the request was honored so I was happy. Just didn't understand the banter on it to begin with. French Onion Soup was meh... Portions are huge, price was a definite bargain. Restaurant was comfortable and nicely set up. Very clean. 100% will be back to try pasta and pizza... Wonderful experience.
(4)
Jen M.
I wrote a raving review about Himmel's back when it was Pizza D.O.C. I figured it was time to write another review since I got married on May 16th and had my wedding reception there. We chose Himmel's since it was where we ate on our 1st date and has become a regular spot for us ever since. It was amazing. They made sure that everything went off without a hitch. They bent over backwards to make sure we had anything and everything we needed for our special day. The service was perfect. All our guest raved about how fantastic the food was. We, of course, have always thought the food is fantastic. My husband is a very picky eater and loves many of the dishes at Himmel's. They were even able to accomodate some special food needs for some of our guests. All our guests had a great time! We just can't say enough good things about Himmel's. They are and will always be a part of our lives. They are like family to us. Go to himmel's. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Marisa L.
First time here and have to agree with some of the other recent reviews. The food was good but the service was very bad. We waited way too long for each course, spending almost 3 hours total for dinner. The bus-girl spilled olive oil on one of our guests while clearing plates and we could not get the attention of anyone else for at least 20 minutes. When the waitress finally returned, her solution was to bring a bowl of flour and spread it all over the guest's sleeves with a 'just wash it later'. You could tell that the chef's friends were seated towards the front and served most efficiently (with chef hugs all around), having come and gone before we even got our entrees. Unfortunately will not be returning.
(3)
Amy L.
My friends and I dined here on a Friday night because Chicago Brauhaus was too packed, and I was craving for pork shank, so we found this place on Yelp. None of us were disappointed! We were lucky this time cuz they did have pork shank on weekdays due to Oktoberfest :) Three of us ordered pork shank and the other one had Pizza Prosciutto Cotto & Funghi, as recommended by our waiter. The service was great and we all loved our food!! Though it'd be perfect if they have more extensive selection of German beer... Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place to others, and I'm surely gonna go back for the pork shank!!
(4)
Danny L.
Came on a Friday night and the place was busy, but comfortable. We didn't have to wait and service was good. They also had an excellent singer who also played guitar. The bar area is very nice and near the live music. I ordered the salmon, which came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Everything was disgustingly drenched in butter. It seemed liked they plated the food and then ladled butter over it. Too bad since the salmon looked like a quality piece of fish. Our arugula pizza was OK. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the crust was undercooked for my taste. I personally prefer it to be at least slightly crispy. Also, it seemed to lack or was completely void of the cherry tomatoes that were listed within the description.
(2)
Sasha V.
Wasn't really sure what to think of this place as German/Italian fusion is not too common. I guess the owners inherited an amazing wood-burning oven and the pizza connoisseur of our family approved heartily--our six year old wolfed down and entire small pizza while my husband and I tried two entrees. We missed the fabled pork shank as it is only served on weekends, but the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel was quite good and the sauce very delicious. The red cabbage served with it had the perfect tang and crunch. The steak was very good and grilled nicely but for the price the frozen fries and pathetic vegetables it came with did not quite live up. The atmosphere was quite cozy what with the woodburning stove crackling merrily and some guitar strummer unobtrusively adding a little background music that allowed us to relax and enjoy a meal with our son without living in terror that he might speak too loudly and annoy those of the children-should-be-neither-seen-nor-heard-anywhere camp. I guess the beer selection is not to extensive, so if that's your main point it might be a disappointment. Will come back to try another pizza and the pork shank.
(4)
Scott W.
Food was really really good, and a nice variety on the menu. We went on Sat night at 7:30pm with reservaand there were two big parties there, so my only gripe was we waited for our entrees a *tad* too long, but our lovely server provided a round of free schnapps at the end of the meal (and did one herself). I'm a fan of this place now. Will be back (which only proves that good service has its rewards). I will try the oven pizza next - it looked really good too - and they deliver!
(4)
Melodi C.
We live in Las Vegas. Here visiting Chicago. Found ourselves in this authentic family owned European style restaurant who also happens to have KILLER thin crust pizza! Also they have BBK beer on tap. You really can't find that in many places outside of Germany. Salmon was outstanding on the Sunday brunch table. We will come back the next time we come to Chicago.
(5)
R L.
I am Austrian and have been searching for the best German restaurant in Chicago...I found it! The food was awesome (especially the Spätzle) the waitstaff very attentive, and the owner made it a point to greet our table. Tonight was my third visit and I will be back! Highly recommend.
(5)
Katharine T.
Woof. Bf and I ordered their Pizza Rustica for delivery. Mozzarella, olives, sundried tomato, red onion, mushroom (sounds good on paper .....). Pizza arrived cold. It looked terrible. I wish I had taken a picture, I've never been presented with such a disgusting piece of food before in my life. The crust was totally burnt. The cheese was pocked and dimpled from clearly being over cooked, almost like they put it in the microwave for 15 minutes, the cheese was zapped to death and somehow orange. The entire pie was UNSLICED. Is this customary for them? To deliver a completely unsliced pizza? I had to hack my way through their tough burnt outer crust, the rest of the pie crust was a soggy limp mess. The toppings were uneven and sparse. The olives were few and whole. Wouldn't it be nicer to slice those and evenly distribute them throughout the pizza? I had to fold the pizza over to eat it, it was so limp, cold and lifeless. It was truly terrible. It looked awful and tasted awful. No, let me change that to disgusting. Disgusting and disgusting. I have ordered a lot of pizza in my time: from high end places serving "gourmet" or "artisan" pizza to cheap-o, run-of-the-mill places. Himmel's pizza was by far the worst I have ever ever had in my life. Ever. The woman who took my phone order was incapable of repeating anything back to me correctly, phone number and address and order had to be repeated several times. Very frustrating. When the driver showed up he said he was sorry he could not call us to let us know he was arriving, they had entered too many numbers for my phone number. What??? I repeated my number to you 3 times and you STILL got it wrong?? I can handle idiotic service if the food is good but Christ. The whole experience was terrible. It's a shame because now we will never ever eat from here again. We certainly won't dine in. Thank god this was just delivery or I'd be a lot more furious if I had wasted time and more money in their restaurant. By the way. Himmel means heaven in German. I THINK NOT.
(1)
Erin E.
while the name is german, italian takes the front seat. but the experience is pleasing by any standards! and i'm obviously not the only one who thinks so. the place is routinely busy, even in what i consider a low traffic area. but not too busy where you have to wait for a table or the service suffers. --fresh bread with olive oil and fresh parmesan. and they keep it comin'. --definitely order the bruschetta- you won't regret it. i wanted to lick every one of those sweet, sweet tomatoes from the plate. --arugula salad. there's not much going on here, but really do you need to mess with arugula? just gimme a big ol' heaping plate and i'm happy. and that's exactly what this is. --the mussels were big and tender. cooked to perfection. and i seem to be eating a lot of mussels lately. --the gnocchi was actually not my favorite (of the evening or of gnocchis). BUT- the last time we were here i had the bolognese, which i still think about (translation: crave) every once in a while. it was kind of amazing. i also still think about the malbec i drank that night. so i guess they have a good wine list. with twinkle lights all around and a guy with a guitar gently strumming pop songs, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. the noise level is somehow just right... you can hear the music, and there is a buzz of conversation, but you don't need to shout to your dinner partner nor worry about being overheard by the table next to you. what put it over the top for me was when the bill came and it was LESS than i thought it would be. that never happens! we shared everything, but there was plenty and we even had leftovers. so we basically just had a 4-course meal with 2 drinks each for $33 per person. for the quality and the portion size that's a heck of a deal.
(5)
Lauren L.
I'm a huge Chicago foodie and love writing reviews. This has been my go-to place for quite some time now and I absolutely L.O.V. E. it! I don't normally eat large portions of food but it's weird because it's like my stomach knows I'm about to eat at Himmels and suddenly I can eat more than a family 4. The owners and their family are always super nice and accommodating. Real down to earth group. Pretty sure the whole family works there, which is super cool to see these days. Ok food time.... My recommends? -------Italiano -------- Salads/apps: love them all but the spring mix Pear E Gorgonzola and the calamari (both grilled and fried) are great. Pizza: Again, I love them all but have to have to say that my first picks are Silvio Gabrielle and the Fiorentina (**have to ask for this one** roasted red and green peppers topped w/ thinly sliced genoa salami-so so good!) Pastas: Can't go wrong with the frutti de mare, carbonara and the gnocchi al formaggi. When I want to keep it simple, their penne pomodoro always hits the spot! All the fish entrees are amazing that I've tried. Get the halibut and the sea bass if it's on special!!! -----German cuisine----- Apps: The BEST obatzda and German potato salad that I've had....and trust me, I've had a lot. What makes the obatzda so good is the perfect combination of creamy cheeses and that it's not super oniony like at other places. I first tried the potato salad at German fest and hot damn, talk about FRESH and flavorful. Pork shank, steak frite, and rham schnitzel are delish!! ---------Dessert--------- Panna cotta, It's perfect. Okay, that's enough for now... Now go eat!
(5)
Rick M.
Wiener Schnitzel was AMAZING. A great experience overall. I will definitely be back to try a few other very tempting dishes. Fair prices for fabulous food!
(5)
Alexandra F.
I ordered pizza for delivery from this place. It was amazing! You definitely don't find a lot of places with such good pizza. I ordered pizza with prosciutto crudo arugula blue cheese and parmesan. All the ingredients are top quality and the crust was pure perfection. I wish I could add funghi porcini also but they didn't had the option on grub hub. I'm gonna check out the restaurant too. Very good!
(5)
Ann K.
I ordered the sauerbraten with spaetzle. The meat is Italian beef strips in gravy. The gravy tastes good. The meat was very dried out. This is not authentic sauerbraten. The spaetzle are pan fried and taste like pancakes, but they are not the pancake noodle. They have burn marks on the noodles. The red cabbage was great. But for $17.75-this is way overpriced! Can't recommend the place.
(2)
Jeff H.
The food is absolutely amazing and the service is borderline terrible. I made a reservation and went on Maifest weekend. It took over an hour for hour food and the manager explained they were unusually busy and we needed to come back another time and give them a second chance. We went back a couple weekends ago and the story was the same, the food was so good but it took an hour and a half to order and pay. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was easily the best Marsala I have ever had. Unfortunately the waiter seemed to forget about us and didn't provide good service.
(3)
Chas S.
Oktoberfest menu with zero none kein German Beer on tap. And only one wheat beer in Bottle!?!? WTF?
(3)
meredith d.
Sorry, but this place is just not that great. Chicken schnitzel (which was delicious when I went there when they first opened), was dry and yet still managed to be greasy. The duck was served well-done (which was fine - i don't care for rare duck breast), but the meat was fairly tough, and the skin was gummy, not crisp, and it was sweet. I realize that's a thing with duck, but I prefer an unsweetened duck that's sauced separately so you can get it on the side if you prefer (which I always do). They do have a delicious pear and Gorgonzola salad, but that was more than offset by the real crime of the meal: coffee served with MILK. They call it "cream," but what they bring you is milk. I asked about it, and was told, "we always have served milk with the coffee, we never serve cream." Well, I'm sorry, but coffee with milk doesn't taste good. I didn't even finish my cup. I suppose they're being cheap - I can't believe they actually believe that milk is a better option. Is half and half just too expensive? Would it bankrupt them to provide these annoying little paper cups which at least have something in them that resembles cream? They saved a few cents on the cream, but they lost a customer forever.
(2)
Kendrick W.
This place really is a divine little gem where you might not expect to find it. On Lawrence a block or two east of Lincoln Square, Himmel's is easy to overlook if you don't know it's there and it's not the typical place you might stumble past walking down the street. Former Lincoln Square residents like myself might remember it when it used to be called Pizza D.O.C. Same great ownership, same great service and same amazing food with a few spectacular additions. The interior is warm and inviting. Lots of red and brick, great art on the wall. The brick oven is exposed to the dining area which adds a nice little touch. Full service bar. Most nights when I've been there have been live musicians and they're actually worth listening too. Ok now the food. I can't say enough about the spaghetti and meatballs. Usually I won't get spaghetti when I go out because I can make a mean spaghetti myself, but I was in the mood for meatballs. Holy MEATBALLS. A foodgasm. The pizza there is also divine. The german dishes are darn good too. The kasespatzle is not too shabby either. German and Italian, sounds strange but they make it work. Absolutely perfect place for a date!
(5)
Mrbr R.
We headed to this restaurant when an Italian family told us that this is where they go for food that reminded them of home! It was Pizza D.O.C. and when the Himmel family bought the place they added their German cuisine influence. Great atmosphere, wonderful food, friendly helpful staff - this is a place for a consistent great night out. Carol the chef and owner turns out fresh fish and delicious vegetables - and for carnivores the German fare is outstanding. Panna Cotta is yummy. What never fails is the atmosphere - we always are happy that we went & for some reason the parking Angels seem to watch over us when ever we go! Himmel's is always a winner.
(5)
Michael D.
Very disappointing dining experience. The menu is a mix of German and Italian - a fusion that one rarely comes across for good reason. We tried the sauerbraten and wiener schnitzel... Both were well below average. The accompanying spaetzle was greasy. The appetizer "Obazda cheese spread" was probably the worst part of the experience... I've had good Obazda, however, this was a lump of bland spread with pretzel sticks stuck in it... There wasn't a single 'real pretzel' on the plate. And for $9??? Also: they only had three beers on tap (Stella, BBK, and Hofbrau). I don't know know how one can think to open a German restaurant and serve only two draft German Beers! The service was a bright spot. Everything else was horrible-- especially the value.
(1)
Laurie D.
I don't think you should offer pizza for delivery. I ordered on grubhub and while the pizza came fast it was cold on arrival. I can order pizza from Sarpino's and have it here hotter than what arrived from Himmels (same distance). And a margherita pizza is supposed to be mozzarella cheese, the fresh kind, and some times freshly sliced tomatoes and basil, not a cheese pizza! Sorry, that's not pizza margherita. Finally, the signature Pear and Gorgonzola salad is delicious but there's a dollop of what seems to be butter, or overchurned cheese in each order. It doesn't really go with the salad unless you are going to offer bread with it...a little harsh but when you order each time and it's good money and poor quality, it's disappointing. Overall, I would not order from here if you are anticipating high quality pizza.
(2)
Anthony C.
We were really impressed after our first visit to Himmel's and now, after about a dozen visits this past year, it has turned into one of our favorite restaurants. We have tried many of the German and Italian dishes on the menu and each one has been so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The homemade Italian and pretzel breads baked in the wood-fired oven and served with olive oil and fresh shredded parmigiano cheese are so good. We always start with an order of the grilled calamari served with mixed greens and a wonderful balsamic / lemon dressing. The German dishes are outstanding and perfectly complimented by crispy spaetzle and red cabbage. You must also try the roesti which are shredded potatoes with swiss cheese and onions fried much like hash browns but with so much flavor. Some German favorites are the sauerbraten, bavarian pork shank, champignon rahm schnitzel, and roast duck. On the Italian side the wood-fired pizzas are excellent and we love the pasta dishes as well. A couple of favorites are the bucatini allamatriciana and the linguine frutti di mare. A small selection of german beers on tap along with a clean, inviting and cozy atmosphere - and wonderful German and Italian dishes make Himmel's one of our favorite places to eat in Chicago.
(5)
Chari N.
I have been to Himmel's several times and each time it seems to be getting better. The portions are almost double of most restaurants and the food is amazing. We each ordered something different and everyone was wowed by the food. Even my mother couldn't find anything wrong with her dinner :) I live 45 minutes away and this restaurant is worth the trip. HIGHLY recommend Himmel's.
(5)
Jennifer H.
Oh boy, I really wanted to love Himmel's as much as I loved Pizza DOC but it's just not the same experience despite the same ownership. I was recently there with friends and we had to send the first two bottles of wine back because they were terrible (and, I am not a wine snob - I'll drink the $3 bottles from Trader Joe's). We were there in October and the menu is an Oktoberfest menu along with a few pizza options. Don't come in October if you aren't looking for German food. Our service was really poor - our waiter didn't check in on us and we had to wave someone over when we wanted to get our water refilled. I was expecting our bill to be comped by a few dollars since we had the hassle of sending two bottles of wine back and settled on a mediocre bottle - but, nothin'! If you're this close to Lincoln Square, head over to one of the restaurants there for a more attentive wait staff and better wine.
(1)
Melisha S.
Tonight was a rainy night, so we took advantage of delivery (which was prompt). Love the food at Himmel's! Pizza is delicious, but there is a chicken breast rolled with spinach in a light sauce which is excellent. Also notable is chicken Marsala. They do a pork shank on weekends which is insanely good if you are a carnivore. The only stumble so far is the dumpling which comes with the pork (a little dense for my taste). But the food here is prepared well, service is good and I always leave satisfied. Brunch is different in a good way, with good variety.
(5)
Kathie C.
What a delicious meal!! Started with HIMMEL's salad. Yum. The mushroom soup was so flavorful and not super rich, because it's broth based instead of cream. I absolutely love the carbonara. Great wine list and friendly and festive environment. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)
Carina H.
I recently had my bridal shower at Himmel's and loved it! The food was delicious and the owners were very accommodating to our big party. They closed the restaurant so that we could have the space, allowed us to customize a menu for the day, and were extremely friendly and helpful. The servers were amazing and very friendly. Many of my guests called, texted, or emailed me the next day to let me know what a great shower it was and how delicious the food was. Thank you Himmel's Restaurant!
(5)
N. S.
I wrote a rather mediocre review of Pizza D.O.C. a couple years ago after a visit. I was looking forward to visiting after the recent rebranding. In truth, it hasn't changed much. Mostly the same menu, from what I can tell. I still think the pizza was very good, and the service was generally much better (faster anyway) than last time, but I still don't feel like it's a very comfortable place. We were drawn in tonight by the email about the friday night fish fry. The best thing on the plate was the potato salad. It was really good, with great flavor (was that some fenugreek?) but the fries and fish were incredibly bland. The fish was well cooked, not very hot, and but the breading was flavorless and not very crisp. The fries were also flavorless - and seemed like they were straight out of a freezer bag. It seems like people who are regulars love it, and I would love to be a regular since I live around the corner, but I don't think it's going to happen. Except for the pizza, everything I've tried has missed the mark.
(3)
scott B.
Really enjoyed dinner here on a Friday night.stopped in without a reservation and they worked us in. Really enjoyed a salad and a pizza which I thInk rivals Spacca Napoli. We enjoyed eating here before they changed the name from Pizza D.O.C. We will be back
(4)
Jill H.
Himmel's is a treat! From the friendly staff to the delicious food to the warm atmosphere, it's hard to beat this near Lincoln Square delight. With friends or family, in the warm dining area or at the cozy bar, I love this place. A variety of yummy foods ranging from delicious pastas, scrumptious German dishes, or tasty wood fired pizzas, there is something for every palate. The music on Friday nights is pretty stellar too - don't miss out - check out Himmel's!
(5)
Amie K.
I love Himmel's. From the brick oven pizza to the Italian and German specialties, this restaurant is so friendly and a pleasure to dine in. The owners and staff are so welcoming and the food is delicious. My favorite pizza is the Potato Rosemary. It's pure deliciousness. The others are pretty phenomenal as well. This is a perfect place to bring a date for dinner and a drink. The bar area is nicely situated to the side of the restaurant so it's a great place to come, sit at the bar and order dinner if you happen be dining alone or keeping it low key. Or, enjoy moving over to the bar after dinner to enjoy a few post dinner cocktails.Bottom line, if you want to enjoy a wonderful dinner in a lovely atmosphere surrounded by good people, this is a great option. Also, I almost forgot to mention that their Sunday brunch is sooooo good. I would say among the best on the North side and very affordable. A great option to remember about when family visits or you just want to have a traditional brunch without going downtown to get it.
(5)
Marty R.
The pasta dishes were always excellant. I can't wait to try the German food! I know it will remind me of my native Bavaria.Staff has always been efficient and friendly and most importantly always made me feel welcome.
(5)
Michael M.
Food is good, but service continues to be a challenge. We are long time regular customers - we were among the first to try the place years ago when Pizza D.O.C. first opened in place of the old Serbian restaurant that used to be there. It became one of my kids' favorite restaurants - they love the pizza. When the new owners took over Pizza D.O.C., the food quality remained high, though service began to slip (e.g., longer waits for food to come out, occasional goof ups on the orders). But we keep coming back because it is in the neighborhood, they seem to try hard and the food is really good. We welcomed the added German theme as they switched to the Himmels moniker, as the pizza remains yummy and the added options are nice - and some good new beers on tap! However, at a recent visit with a party of 9 we experienced truly terrible delay in getting our food. A half hour into our wait, the server claimed the food would be right out. He said that again 15 minutes later. Then he stopped coming by. Our pizza arrived 75 minutes after we ordered it, and our schnitzels arrived almost 90 minutes after we ordered it. The place was less than a quarter full, and there were as many wait staff as customers, so it could not be blamed on being too busy. Clearly a major screw up in the kitchen. No one came out to apologize other than the poor server. Finally, after most of our party left (including me) the chef came out to explain that they "ran out of spaetzle" and had to make it from scratch. Only one of our meals had spaetzle - why delay 8 other meals for that? Why not explain that in the first place, and give us the option to get a different side, or pick different dish? After the delay, why not offer to discount our dinner, or pick up the drinks? This was a major disappointment. We will certainly go back and give them more chances, but the consistently poor service cannot be ignored by the owners/management much longer.
(2)
Jen M.
I wrote a raving review about Himmel's back when it was Pizza D.O.C. I figured it was time to write another review since I got married on May 16th and had my wedding reception there. We chose Himmel's since it was where we ate on our 1st date and has become a regular spot for us ever since. It was amazing. They made sure that everything went off without a hitch. They bent over backwards to make sure we had anything and everything we needed for our special day. The service was perfect. All our guest raved about how fantastic the food was. We, of course, have always thought the food is fantastic. My husband is a very picky eater and loves many of the dishes at Himmel's. They were even able to accomodate some special food needs for some of our guests. All our guests had a great time! We just can't say enough good things about Himmel's. They are and will always be a part of our lives. They are like family to us. Go to himmel's. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Amy L.
My friends and I dined here on a Friday night because Chicago Brauhaus was too packed, and I was craving for pork shank, so we found this place on Yelp. None of us were disappointed! We were lucky this time cuz they did have pork shank on weekdays due to Oktoberfest :) Three of us ordered pork shank and the other one had Pizza Prosciutto Cotto & Funghi, as recommended by our waiter. The service was great and we all loved our food!! Though it'd be perfect if they have more extensive selection of German beer... Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place to others, and I'm surely gonna go back for the pork shank!!
(4)
Dan P.
The wife has been coming here since approx 1998 when she claims that it was all old Italian men smoking cigarettes. She says it "used to be a great establishment." Tonight is different. The spinach gnocchi the wife used to love is gone. It has been replaced with a salty bowl of heavy cream with gnocchi that is good, but not excellent. I had the trout special. It was good, but crazy salty. I like salt but this was insane. Side of Potatoes was so over cooked as to be inedible. I note that this place is no longer as busy as it used to be. It was nearly cleared out by 8:00 p.m. The chef spent at least an hour playing the drums for a terrible singer. The live music has to go. I would suggest checking to see if there is live music before making a reservation. If yes, go somewhere else. Service was good, but waiters used to bring shots for the table. This restaurant has descended into mediocrity.
(3)
Simone T.
When Pizza DOC closed, my Husband and I along with many friends, were devastated. Tonight was my first night back (bachelorette dinner, party of 8) to Himmel's, and it was a mixed bag. 4 - 5 stars for the food, 2 stars for service & bill issues. The spaghetti carbonara was as I remembered it - DIVINE. I also want to come back to try/retry their pizza. Our table enjoyed our food very much. But despite the same family owning it, service has taken a nosedive. Throughout our meal, we had to ask multiple waitresses multiple times to help complete orders (drinks, food items) where only half or 2/3 of our table was served, the other half having to wait. The place was packed and they were nice & apologetic, but it got a bit out of hand after awhile. Some tables of regulars/friends/family (?) were served very quickly, others like ours were not. Again though, we loved our meals. Then we handed in our bill (to which we added a 20% tip - I suggested the amount, and was told by a few at the table afterwards that it should have been less, but we did it anyway). Then we waited. And waited. And waited. We asked repeatedly what the issue was - initially,nothing. We were finally told (it was like pulling teeth) the credit card machine was having "connectivity issues". We waited over 30 minutes to have this resolved. Really? This soured us (arrival after dinner at a planned party for the couple was rather delayed) quite a bit. We could have gone walking to a cash station for those who paid w/credit cards quicker than this was handled. None of this ever happened during the YEARS I went to the old Pizza D.O.C. A perfect example of a good meal nearly ruined by the overall subpar restaurant experience.
(3)
Rob R.
Himmel's is unique- the menu combines Italian and German cuisine and excels with both. Great wood-fired pizza, too. Friendly atmosphere- must be a nice place to work because the staff is always cheerful and relaxed. Try the braccio di ferro- heavenly. Sometimes live jazz. You can't beat it!
(5)
Marisa L.
First time here and have to agree with some of the other recent reviews. The food was good but the service was very bad. We waited way too long for each course, spending almost 3 hours total for dinner. The bus-girl spilled olive oil on one of our guests while clearing plates and we could not get the attention of anyone else for at least 20 minutes. When the waitress finally returned, her solution was to bring a bowl of flour and spread it all over the guest's sleeves with a 'just wash it later'. You could tell that the chef's friends were seated towards the front and served most efficiently (with chef hugs all around), having come and gone before we even got our entrees. Unfortunately will not be returning.
(3)
Danny L.
Came on a Friday night and the place was busy, but comfortable. We didn't have to wait and service was good. They also had an excellent singer who also played guitar. The bar area is very nice and near the live music. I ordered the salmon, which came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Everything was disgustingly drenched in butter. It seemed liked they plated the food and then ladled butter over it. Too bad since the salmon looked like a quality piece of fish. Our arugula pizza was OK. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the crust was undercooked for my taste. I personally prefer it to be at least slightly crispy. Also, it seemed to lack or was completely void of the cherry tomatoes that were listed within the description.
(2)
Sasha V.
Wasn't really sure what to think of this place as German/Italian fusion is not too common. I guess the owners inherited an amazing wood-burning oven and the pizza connoisseur of our family approved heartily--our six year old wolfed down and entire small pizza while my husband and I tried two entrees. We missed the fabled pork shank as it is only served on weekends, but the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel was quite good and the sauce very delicious. The red cabbage served with it had the perfect tang and crunch. The steak was very good and grilled nicely but for the price the frozen fries and pathetic vegetables it came with did not quite live up. The atmosphere was quite cozy what with the woodburning stove crackling merrily and some guitar strummer unobtrusively adding a little background music that allowed us to relax and enjoy a meal with our son without living in terror that he might speak too loudly and annoy those of the children-should-be-neither-seen-nor-heard-anywhere camp. I guess the beer selection is not to extensive, so if that's your main point it might be a disappointment. Will come back to try another pizza and the pork shank.
(4)
Scott W.
Food was really really good, and a nice variety on the menu. We went on Sat night at 7:30pm with reservaand there were two big parties there, so my only gripe was we waited for our entrees a *tad* too long, but our lovely server provided a round of free schnapps at the end of the meal (and did one herself). I'm a fan of this place now. Will be back (which only proves that good service has its rewards). I will try the oven pizza next - it looked really good too - and they deliver!
(4)
Matthew D.
Food was excellent: potato pancake, chi schnitzel, Marsala sauce, Caesar salad, veggies, olive oil and bread basket. Service was good: I did receive some pushback on a simple modifications I requested from server who blamed it on the chef. Oddly the request was honored so I was happy. Just didn't understand the banter on it to begin with. French Onion Soup was meh... Portions are huge, price was a definite bargain. Restaurant was comfortable and nicely set up. Very clean. 100% will be back to try pasta and pizza... Wonderful experience.
(4)
Melodi C.
We live in Las Vegas. Here visiting Chicago. Found ourselves in this authentic family owned European style restaurant who also happens to have KILLER thin crust pizza! Also they have BBK beer on tap. You really can't find that in many places outside of Germany. Salmon was outstanding on the Sunday brunch table. We will come back the next time we come to Chicago.
(5)
Katharine T.
Woof. Bf and I ordered their Pizza Rustica for delivery. Mozzarella, olives, sundried tomato, red onion, mushroom (sounds good on paper .....). Pizza arrived cold. It looked terrible. I wish I had taken a picture, I've never been presented with such a disgusting piece of food before in my life. The crust was totally burnt. The cheese was pocked and dimpled from clearly being over cooked, almost like they put it in the microwave for 15 minutes, the cheese was zapped to death and somehow orange. The entire pie was UNSLICED. Is this customary for them? To deliver a completely unsliced pizza? I had to hack my way through their tough burnt outer crust, the rest of the pie crust was a soggy limp mess. The toppings were uneven and sparse. The olives were few and whole. Wouldn't it be nicer to slice those and evenly distribute them throughout the pizza? I had to fold the pizza over to eat it, it was so limp, cold and lifeless. It was truly terrible. It looked awful and tasted awful. No, let me change that to disgusting. Disgusting and disgusting. I have ordered a lot of pizza in my time: from high end places serving "gourmet" or "artisan" pizza to cheap-o, run-of-the-mill places. Himmel's pizza was by far the worst I have ever ever had in my life. Ever. The woman who took my phone order was incapable of repeating anything back to me correctly, phone number and address and order had to be repeated several times. Very frustrating. When the driver showed up he said he was sorry he could not call us to let us know he was arriving, they had entered too many numbers for my phone number. What??? I repeated my number to you 3 times and you STILL got it wrong?? I can handle idiotic service if the food is good but Christ. The whole experience was terrible. It's a shame because now we will never ever eat from here again. We certainly won't dine in. Thank god this was just delivery or I'd be a lot more furious if I had wasted time and more money in their restaurant. By the way. Himmel means heaven in German. I THINK NOT.
(1)
Erin E.
while the name is german, italian takes the front seat. but the experience is pleasing by any standards! and i'm obviously not the only one who thinks so. the place is routinely busy, even in what i consider a low traffic area. but not too busy where you have to wait for a table or the service suffers. --fresh bread with olive oil and fresh parmesan. and they keep it comin'. --definitely order the bruschetta- you won't regret it. i wanted to lick every one of those sweet, sweet tomatoes from the plate. --arugula salad. there's not much going on here, but really do you need to mess with arugula? just gimme a big ol' heaping plate and i'm happy. and that's exactly what this is. --the mussels were big and tender. cooked to perfection. and i seem to be eating a lot of mussels lately. --the gnocchi was actually not my favorite (of the evening or of gnocchis). BUT- the last time we were here i had the bolognese, which i still think about (translation: crave) every once in a while. it was kind of amazing. i also still think about the malbec i drank that night. so i guess they have a good wine list. with twinkle lights all around and a guy with a guitar gently strumming pop songs, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. the noise level is somehow just right... you can hear the music, and there is a buzz of conversation, but you don't need to shout to your dinner partner nor worry about being overheard by the table next to you. what put it over the top for me was when the bill came and it was LESS than i thought it would be. that never happens! we shared everything, but there was plenty and we even had leftovers. so we basically just had a 4-course meal with 2 drinks each for $33 per person. for the quality and the portion size that's a heck of a deal.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
lena s.
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(1)Rick M.
Wiener Schnitzel was AMAZING. A great experience overall. I will definitely be back to try a few other very tempting dishes. Fair prices for fabulous food!
(5)Alexandra F.
I ordered pizza for delivery from this place. It was amazing! You definitely don't find a lot of places with such good pizza. I ordered pizza with prosciutto crudo arugula blue cheese and parmesan. All the ingredients are top quality and the crust was pure perfection. I wish I could add funghi porcini also but they didn't had the option on grub hub. I'm gonna check out the restaurant too. Very good!
(5)Ann K.
I ordered the sauerbraten with spaetzle. The meat is Italian beef strips in gravy. The gravy tastes good. The meat was very dried out. This is not authentic sauerbraten. The spaetzle are pan fried and taste like pancakes, but they are not the pancake noodle. They have burn marks on the noodles. The red cabbage was great. But for $17.75-this is way overpriced! Can't recommend the place.
(2)meredith d.
Sorry, but this place is just not that great. Chicken schnitzel (which was delicious when I went there when they first opened), was dry and yet still managed to be greasy. The duck was served well-done (which was fine - i don't care for rare duck breast), but the meat was fairly tough, and the skin was gummy, not crisp, and it was sweet. I realize that's a thing with duck, but I prefer an unsweetened duck that's sauced separately so you can get it on the side if you prefer (which I always do). They do have a delicious pear and Gorgonzola salad, but that was more than offset by the real crime of the meal: coffee served with MILK. They call it "cream," but what they bring you is milk. I asked about it, and was told, "we always have served milk with the coffee, we never serve cream." Well, I'm sorry, but coffee with milk doesn't taste good. I didn't even finish my cup. I suppose they're being cheap - I can't believe they actually believe that milk is a better option. Is half and half just too expensive? Would it bankrupt them to provide these annoying little paper cups which at least have something in them that resembles cream? They saved a few cents on the cream, but they lost a customer forever.
(2)Kendrick W.
This place really is a divine little gem where you might not expect to find it. On Lawrence a block or two east of Lincoln Square, Himmel's is easy to overlook if you don't know it's there and it's not the typical place you might stumble past walking down the street. Former Lincoln Square residents like myself might remember it when it used to be called Pizza D.O.C. Same great ownership, same great service and same amazing food with a few spectacular additions. The interior is warm and inviting. Lots of red and brick, great art on the wall. The brick oven is exposed to the dining area which adds a nice little touch. Full service bar. Most nights when I've been there have been live musicians and they're actually worth listening too. Ok now the food. I can't say enough about the spaghetti and meatballs. Usually I won't get spaghetti when I go out because I can make a mean spaghetti myself, but I was in the mood for meatballs. Holy MEATBALLS. A foodgasm. The pizza there is also divine. The german dishes are darn good too. The kasespatzle is not too shabby either. German and Italian, sounds strange but they make it work. Absolutely perfect place for a date!
(5)Mrbr R.
We headed to this restaurant when an Italian family told us that this is where they go for food that reminded them of home! It was Pizza D.O.C. and when the Himmel family bought the place they added their German cuisine influence. Great atmosphere, wonderful food, friendly helpful staff - this is a place for a consistent great night out. Carol the chef and owner turns out fresh fish and delicious vegetables - and for carnivores the German fare is outstanding. Panna Cotta is yummy. What never fails is the atmosphere - we always are happy that we went & for some reason the parking Angels seem to watch over us when ever we go! Himmel's is always a winner.
(5)Michael D.
Very disappointing dining experience. The menu is a mix of German and Italian - a fusion that one rarely comes across for good reason. We tried the sauerbraten and wiener schnitzel... Both were well below average. The accompanying spaetzle was greasy. The appetizer "Obazda cheese spread" was probably the worst part of the experience... I've had good Obazda, however, this was a lump of bland spread with pretzel sticks stuck in it... There wasn't a single 'real pretzel' on the plate. And for $9??? Also: they only had three beers on tap (Stella, BBK, and Hofbrau). I don't know know how one can think to open a German restaurant and serve only two draft German Beers! The service was a bright spot. Everything else was horrible-- especially the value.
(1)Laurie D.
I don't think you should offer pizza for delivery. I ordered on grubhub and while the pizza came fast it was cold on arrival. I can order pizza from Sarpino's and have it here hotter than what arrived from Himmels (same distance). And a margherita pizza is supposed to be mozzarella cheese, the fresh kind, and some times freshly sliced tomatoes and basil, not a cheese pizza! Sorry, that's not pizza margherita. Finally, the signature Pear and Gorgonzola salad is delicious but there's a dollop of what seems to be butter, or overchurned cheese in each order. It doesn't really go with the salad unless you are going to offer bread with it...a little harsh but when you order each time and it's good money and poor quality, it's disappointing. Overall, I would not order from here if you are anticipating high quality pizza.
(2)Anthony C.
We were really impressed after our first visit to Himmel's and now, after about a dozen visits this past year, it has turned into one of our favorite restaurants. We have tried many of the German and Italian dishes on the menu and each one has been so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The homemade Italian and pretzel breads baked in the wood-fired oven and served with olive oil and fresh shredded parmigiano cheese are so good. We always start with an order of the grilled calamari served with mixed greens and a wonderful balsamic / lemon dressing. The German dishes are outstanding and perfectly complimented by crispy spaetzle and red cabbage. You must also try the roesti which are shredded potatoes with swiss cheese and onions fried much like hash browns but with so much flavor. Some German favorites are the sauerbraten, bavarian pork shank, champignon rahm schnitzel, and roast duck. On the Italian side the wood-fired pizzas are excellent and we love the pasta dishes as well. A couple of favorites are the bucatini allamatriciana and the linguine frutti di mare. A small selection of german beers on tap along with a clean, inviting and cozy atmosphere - and wonderful German and Italian dishes make Himmel's one of our favorite places to eat in Chicago.
(5)Chari N.
I have been to Himmel's several times and each time it seems to be getting better. The portions are almost double of most restaurants and the food is amazing. We each ordered something different and everyone was wowed by the food. Even my mother couldn't find anything wrong with her dinner :) I live 45 minutes away and this restaurant is worth the trip. HIGHLY recommend Himmel's.
(5)Jennifer H.
Oh boy, I really wanted to love Himmel's as much as I loved Pizza DOC but it's just not the same experience despite the same ownership. I was recently there with friends and we had to send the first two bottles of wine back because they were terrible (and, I am not a wine snob - I'll drink the $3 bottles from Trader Joe's). We were there in October and the menu is an Oktoberfest menu along with a few pizza options. Don't come in October if you aren't looking for German food. Our service was really poor - our waiter didn't check in on us and we had to wave someone over when we wanted to get our water refilled. I was expecting our bill to be comped by a few dollars since we had the hassle of sending two bottles of wine back and settled on a mediocre bottle - but, nothin'! If you're this close to Lincoln Square, head over to one of the restaurants there for a more attentive wait staff and better wine.
(1)R.A. H.
We were looking for a slightly different bent for our weekly Eating Out and, while having dinned in at Himmel's before, this was the first time we ordered out (pick up, not delivery). We ordered the Carbonara and the Bucatini all'Amatriciana. We ordered ahead for a specific time pickup. It was ready on time and packaged in a nice container that I was able to pop right into the oven when it got home to warm up while we got out plates and such. The Carbonara was light and extremely flavorful, the cheeses adding the perfect flavor to the spaghetti. The Bucatini all'Amatriciana had a thicker noodle and a spicier tang that was nice and difference from the other dish, proving pasta dishes didn't have to be plain, boring and 'all the same'. Always happy with dining in, we are now very happy with our 'dining out' with Himmel's.
(5)Chris L.
After a ten hour day of moving into a new place, we were starving. Himmels was the closest option. Restaurant was busy but tons of wait staff. We were seated at a table and we waited, and waited, and waited, waiters scurrying all around us, and no one even bothered to acknowledge our presence. After five minutes of being flat out ignored, we got up and left. And we will never go back. And really, an Italian AND German menu? In hindsight, I'm kinda glad we didn't eat there.
(1)Robert M.
2 year later and I still love this place. Of course everyone's experience varies, but I have never had a single bad word to say about this place from the food to the service. I love the wide variety of selection that is offered on the menu. From date night to having a bigger party, Himmels have always been more than accomodating. They sold me when it was Pizza DOC, but now they have me keep coming back for more.
(5)Ralph S.
Great food and the portions are huge. My son had the Chicken Parm and had the left overs the next day. I had the Chicken Snitzle which was excellent as were the veggies that came with. My daughter-in-law had the spatzel and a pear salad which looked and tasted great. My wife had the sauerbraten and she loved it. Took the left overs home and had it for lunch the next day. My older son had one of the fish dishes and it was moist and very flavorful. Service was good and so was the bread. Over all great experience.
(5)Marlies D.
I'm Belgian and this was the best food I had since living in Chicago for 9 months. I actually wanted to lick my plate after I finished my meal but decided it was probably not a polite thing to do.
(5)Jeff H.
The food is absolutely amazing and the service is borderline terrible. I made a reservation and went on Maifest weekend. It took over an hour for hour food and the manager explained they were unusually busy and we needed to come back another time and give them a second chance. We went back a couple weekends ago and the story was the same, the food was so good but it took an hour and a half to order and pay. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was easily the best Marsala I have ever had. Unfortunately the waiter seemed to forget about us and didn't provide good service.
(3)Chas S.
Oktoberfest menu with zero none kein German Beer on tap. And only one wheat beer in Bottle!?!? WTF?
(3)Jeremy C.
Ordered a pizza (Silvio & Gabriele) and the pear & gorgonzola salad on a rainy Friday night. Our food showed up within the window of time they gave - but the pizza wasn't warm at all. We didn't want to throw it in the oven to reheat because of the arugula and prosciutto, so we just ate it as it was. While the temp was disappointing, the flavor of the pizza was great - we'd definitely order one at the restaurant. The salad was pretty good too, although the cheese was a big glob of something that may or may not have been gorgonzola.
(4)Terrie M.
Great food at good prices. One of my favorite restaurants on the northside. Quality of the food is consistently good and I have enjoyed my regular visits to this friendly place in a great neighbor for many years. Can't go wrong with pizza and a salad; chicken schnitzel is amazing and their steaks are always cooked to perfection. I highly recommend.
(4)Evan W.
Authentic. Classic. Family. All you need to know about this place. If you like Bavarian food and atmosphere, give this place a chance.
(5)Melisha S.
Tonight was a rainy night, so we took advantage of delivery (which was prompt). Love the food at Himmel's! Pizza is delicious, but there is a chicken breast rolled with spinach in a light sauce which is excellent. Also notable is chicken Marsala. They do a pork shank on weekends which is insanely good if you are a carnivore. The only stumble so far is the dumpling which comes with the pork (a little dense for my taste). But the food here is prepared well, service is good and I always leave satisfied. Brunch is different in a good way, with good variety.
(5)Kathie C.
What a delicious meal!! Started with HIMMEL's salad. Yum. The mushroom soup was so flavorful and not super rich, because it's broth based instead of cream. I absolutely love the carbonara. Great wine list and friendly and festive environment. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Julie W.
Came here with my parents and my husband for a nice Saturday evening meal. Originally we thought we were going to Pizza D.O.C., but the front said Himmel's. We were slightly confused but after entering the establishment, the hostess assured us that we were in the right place! The owners just wanted to honor their German/European heritage and make it more their own. Fair enough! The menu itself is very large, there's really something for everyone! Like Erin E said, the menu is mostly Italian but you can find other Euro dishes as well. The bread was really tasty, almost like a pretzel bread. We ordered the soup of the day which was a spaetzle soup with beef broth. Very basic but very good! The waitress told us each bowl is very large and she suggested we split two bowls in half for the four of us. I love when this happens; waiters and waitresses put their knowledge to good use and actually service and help their customers. If we ordered 4 bowls it would've been way too much! Kudos to her! My parents ordered German beers and i had the Riesling which was very sweet but very good. All of us but my husband ordered pizza. He got the chicken parm and it was HUGE. I'm talking at least 10 inches wide (not even kidding here). Their portions are very large, might be a good idea to split an entree or be prepared to take some home! My only gripe was that the margherita pizza I had...wasn't an authentic margherita. The way pizza began was an Italian queen was traveling to Naples and the locals wanted to make a dish to celebrate Italy. They created the dough, sliced up tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, and topped it with fresh basil leaves. The colors looked like the Italian flag and BAM, pizza was born. However, my margherita pizza was more like a regular cheese with tomato sauce and shredded basil on top. Blah. Not the way a true margherita should be made!! Even with the disappointment the pizza itself was very very good. I love the wood-burning brick oven they use, it gives the flavor something special along with the bottom having a nice blackened flour look that just makes it all blend beautifully together. Overall for the four of us including a bottle of wine, the tab was just about $170. Not too bad! affordable for a casual dining experience with good food and great service. Wish they would read up on thier pizzas though!
(4)Jeff Z.
Absolute worst pizza ever! Went there a couple years ago when it was Pizza DOC and it was crap then. Fast forward 2 years and we mistakenly decide to try again - wrong answer!!!! The pizza had odd tastes, the chocolate torte was just a frozen grocery store desert and threw most of the meal out. Never again !!!!
(1)Carina H.
I recently had my bridal shower at Himmel's and loved it! The food was delicious and the owners were very accommodating to our big party. They closed the restaurant so that we could have the space, allowed us to customize a menu for the day, and were extremely friendly and helpful. The servers were amazing and very friendly. Many of my guests called, texted, or emailed me the next day to let me know what a great shower it was and how delicious the food was. Thank you Himmel's Restaurant!
(5)Poppy D.
LOVE, LOVE this place! "Himmels" means "Heavens" in German and that's exactly what it is. I'm in heaven when i eat the food there. I honestly think they cook with love and it shows and tastes like it. Every time we eat there we walk out with smiles on our faces. We've brought your families here as well as friends and they all LOVE this place. You must try the grilled calamari with balsamic on mixed greens. Our favorite appetizer. So fresh and healthy. Delicious. Their entrees are excellent too. Try the Sauerbraten or the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel (my favorite), as well as the Duck dish, other schnitzel dishes, their pastas and pizzas! They bake their pizza and breads in their own wood-burning oven. The smell of the oven when you walk in is wonderful and it gets you hungry right from the get go. This place is great for couple, families and groups. There's something on the menu for everyone. Great German beers on tap too which is exactly what the hubby likes. Desserts are great and they make a good cup of coffee which is always important after a European meal. Staff and owners are very friendly too. This place never disappoints. It's becoming one of our favorite places to dine locally.
(5)Aileen B.
Three people in our party wanted to have German for dinner and three people wanted to have Italian. I decided the best solution was to try Himmel's because they have both German and Italian specilaties. Everyone was very happy with all of their food and wine selections. I had the "Braccio di Ferro", chicken breast flattened and rolled with spinach. It was a big portion with mashed potatoes and green beans and was excellent (and enough for two dinners). My sister loved her chicken parmigiana, husband loved the pork shank, mom loved the homemade spatzle, dad loved the pork tenderloin medallions, and son loved the spaghetti and meatballs from the kids menu. Good food, prices are the same or less than the german and italian restaurants in the square (which are good too), and a good option if you want a selection of both options in one place.
(5)Thomas J.
The food we had is the main reason this restaurant deserves 5 stars. My wife and I dined here after having a few drinks at Maifest this weekend. The place was swamped as I'm guessing they didn't expect such a turnout of people coming for dinner from the nearby street festival. My wife had the pork shank and I ordered the veal saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent and we'll definitely go back.
(5)Erich K.
Best German food period!!!! I go to Himmels every chance I get. This time we sat at the bar. The bartender Bob was awesome! He gave great recommendations that me and my fiance loved. We will return asap!
(5)Pete C.
Came here with another couple for the first time.The food was excellent and the service was just as good! Two people had the RahmViener schnitzel and the others were chicken dishes. The waitress was very friendly and Helpful as well.All in all a great experience.
(5)R L.
I am Austrian and have been searching for the best German restaurant in Chicago...I found it! The food was awesome (especially the Spätzle) the waitstaff very attentive, and the owner made it a point to greet our table. Tonight was my third visit and I will be back! Highly recommend.
(5)Lauren L.
I'm a huge Chicago foodie and love writing reviews. This has been my go-to place for quite some time now and I absolutely L.O.V. E. it! I don't normally eat large portions of food but it's weird because it's like my stomach knows I'm about to eat at Himmels and suddenly I can eat more than a family 4. The owners and their family are always super nice and accommodating. Real down to earth group. Pretty sure the whole family works there, which is super cool to see these days. Ok food time.... My recommends? -------Italiano -------- Salads/apps: love them all but the spring mix Pear E Gorgonzola and the calamari (both grilled and fried) are great. Pizza: Again, I love them all but have to have to say that my first picks are Silvio Gabrielle and the Fiorentina (**have to ask for this one** roasted red and green peppers topped w/ thinly sliced genoa salami-so so good!) Pastas: Can't go wrong with the frutti de mare, carbonara and the gnocchi al formaggi. When I want to keep it simple, their penne pomodoro always hits the spot! All the fish entrees are amazing that I've tried. Get the halibut and the sea bass if it's on special!!! -----German cuisine----- Apps: The BEST obatzda and German potato salad that I've had....and trust me, I've had a lot. What makes the obatzda so good is the perfect combination of creamy cheeses and that it's not super oniony like at other places. I first tried the potato salad at German fest and hot damn, talk about FRESH and flavorful. Pork shank, steak frite, and rham schnitzel are delish!! ---------Dessert--------- Panna cotta, It's perfect. Okay, that's enough for now... Now go eat!
(5)Megan L.
I recently joined some friends for dinner at Himmel's, and we really enjoyed it! The restaurant is warm and inviting, and the staff was really lovely. I didn't know this restaurant (or its predecessor) was here, but I am so glad I'm aware of it now. Apparently a couple of sisters bought the pizza restaurant this used to be, and decided they were two German girls so they wanted to change the focus to reflect their heritage a bit more (we got to talk to one of them, and she could not have been any nicer!). So they still have pizzas and a few Italian dishes on the menu, but have also added some schnitzels and whatnot. I tried one of the schnitzels and I really enjoyed it. I was really pretty perfect - for something fried, it was pretty light and not at all greasy. I would definitely get it again. My friends were equally pleased with their dishes - we all agreed that this is a place to visit again.
(4)Amber L.
My group of 4 tried a gnocchi, a pork dish, the sauerbraten, and the duck. Everything was outstanding. The appetizer platter was gorgeous, and everything on it was tasty. Our server was terrific; knowledgeable and attentive.
(5)Cory G.
I've recently been looking for the best Neapolitan style pizza in the city, Himmel's comes up short. The atmosphere is a bit lacking, lights are too bright and there is just a general lack of attentiveness by the wait staff. It took 15 min for the waitress to bring us water. Another 10 min for her to come back with a menu and ask if we wanted to place a drink order. She did apologize, but it was a Friday night with only about 25% of the restaurant full, you can do better than that. The other 2 waitresses on staff we just sitting at the other empty tables just looking at their phones. A bit odd. We ordered an appetizer, but our waitress forgot to put the order in, which she again apologized for. They do have bread that they serve at the table, so that did help hold us over while waiting. As for the pizza, it was just ok. My fiance and I both ordered our own pizza's, both with fresh tomatoes on them, but both came out with rather cold tomatoes that were just placed on top of the pizza after it had come out of the oven. Crust was good, but that was about all. Nothing special about the cheese or sauce. All in all, very poor experience, we won't be back. I would recommend Coalfire, which has great food and amazing service, or Nella's, also very good!
(1)Lauren F.
I've been to Himmel's before it was Himmel's-I liked it then and I like it now. Italian and German may be a bit of an odd combo for a restaurant but everything I've had is really great. Most recently I ordered the salmon and vegetables and it was really, really good. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the veggies were very flavorful. The super thin, personal size pizzas are also a great choice. Service is always above par here, everyone is very friendly and helpful and very kid-friendly. Great family restaurant where you know you'll always have a good meal.
(4)Dana D.
This restaurant seemed to be having an identity crisis. It looked like a German restaurant, but the majority of the dishes were Italian. Although I would totally be down for a European fusion restaurant, this concept did not really seem to work. I ordered a vegetarian pizza, which was good at the edges, but far too mushy in the middle, and my husband ordered the Bavarian Pork Shank. He enjoyed the meal; however, he said the entire dish was too salty. Our friends ordered the Chicken Schintzel, which looked great, and was sized for two, but the sides didn't seem to complement the meal well enough. They received a small cabbage salad, but no spaetzle, lingenberry sauce, sauerkraut, or anything like that. The atmosphere was nice, and the drink selection was OK, but this is not a restaurant that I would visit again.
(2)Joanne W.
Man, I really like Himmel's pizza but I've order it for delivery twice now and twice it's showed up COLD. Seriously? I know my lazy arse should just go pick up the pizza but isn't that point of delivery? When you are feeling lazy and just can't be bothered with going out...delivery options are your friend. I will say the pizza was good - after I heated it up. FYI - the secret to re-warming pizza is to do it in the frying pan. Anyhow, I've also tried calamari...it claims to be fried on the menu but what I got was a lightly breaded and possibly pan fried calamari. Still totally edible, just not what I was expecting. Himmel's also has this mushroom soup that I'm sort of in love with. It's minced portobello mushroom in a veggie broth, garnished with guanciale and parsley oil. How can you not love anything garnished with bacon? The menu is quite varied and just sort of all over the place. I want to really like it b/c they have quite the variety of 'za, but they aren't winning me over by delivering it to me cold. Get it together, Himmels!
(3)Matt B.
I went to Himmel's for dinner last night for the first time and both my fried and I ordered the rib eye steak. We were so pleased with our dinner and the atmosphere that I will be sure to go back again soon and try another item from their menu.
(5)Becky L.
My husband and I have been going to Himmel's (previously called Pizza DOC) for a couple of years now, and it is consistently fantastic. The ambience is cozy, the food is delicious, the pizza oven is entertaining and the staff is the friendliest in Chicago. Yesterday was my son's 3rd birthday and we decided to go to Himmel's for all of the above reasons. Upon entering, the staff immediately made my son feel special - and I mean the whole staff, including the owners. The entire wait staff stopped by intermittently to give well wishes, the employee working the pizza oven let my son ring the bell for orders, and the acoustic guitar player sang happy birthday while our waiter brought out a special dessert. To top it all off, the owners brought out a brand new Melissa and Doug wooden pizza set for my son to play with and then gave it to him for his birthday. I was so touched! Himmel's absolutely made my son feel special on his special day. Go to this restaurant!!
(5)Kelley H.
Gnocchi ai formaggio is one of the top 5 things I've ever had in my mouth. Delivery was speedy too!
(5)Laura C.
When one door closes, another one opens. Such is the case for Pizza D.O.C., which was recently reinvented into Himmel's, focusing more on European style fare versus the much loved Neopolitan specialty. The decor remains the same, warm and inviting, with a toasty, brick oven as one of the main focal points. I attended a private event here, so the menu was a bit customized. We started with an addictive brandade boule, deep fried to crispy perfection. Hofbrau and gruyere fondue accompanied a bright display of crudites, and a savory pate with house made rye crisps, pickled green tomatoes and pretzel bites set the stage for the evening. This spread could easily have been my dinner, but we were just getting started. A beautiful platter of roasted pork, oven grilled salmon, duck, beet and goat cheese salad, green beans, and dumplings magically arrived, all calling my name. Of course, all this food needed some cocktails, and Himmel's did not disappoint. From a server's suggestion, I tried their Bloody Mary, which I was a bit hesitant to do since it was well past brunch time, but the savory gazpacho-esque nature of it was a pleasant surprise. They also make a mean margarita, which I would typically order only with a Mexican meal, but here, there are no boundaries.
(4)Chris K.
On the whole, this was a confusing dinner experience. The menu is a mix of Italian and German, which do not go together. The crowd was a mix: oldsters, youngsters, hipsters, men in suits, red-faced old-money types, hippies, and slobs. Even the service was a mix: we had three different waitresses throughout the meal. Also, depending on where you sit, you might have a quiet zone or be surrounded by cacklers. My girlfriend got the pork shank, which was excellent although quite fatty, as you might expect. I got the trout special, which was pretty good. The house salad was above average due to the refreshing (verging on bracing) dressing. If they could figure out the service part, this could be a 4 or 5 star place. Our waitress (well, number three out of three) told us that there was no ownership change; the owners renamed the place from Pizza DOC and added German items to the menu because they were German and wanted to honor their heritage. Back in the day (last year!), when it was DOC, we waited 20 minutes to be served but then had a great meal. So I guess it makes sense that it's the same owners.
(3)Ray C.
5:20pm on a Sat for family dinner. Second time visit since they changed concepts (still don't understand the German/Bavarian and Italian mix), might be the last. Overall, food was average. Gorgonzola salad w/ pear was drenched in vinaigrette. Mushroom soup was tasty as heck. Pizza good, as expected. Pasta underwhelming. What was disappointing was the service. Our server seemed like she was trying too hard and/or trying to get us out the door: we were approached immediately after being seated, asking what we wanted to drink (replied that we needed a minute). After serving drinks, asking what we wanted to order (replied that we needed a few minutes). When I took a typical mid-meal break, another server asked if I was done. This time, I just gave a look. It's too bad. This place had a wonderful legacy as Pizza D.O.C., has terrific decor and ambience, and is very versatile as both a casual joint and a classy place. I wish it could leverage its identity more rather than trying to be something that it's not.
(2)Walt J.
Price - average Food - meh Service - absolutely awful! My wife and I sat for 45 minutes after ordering, waiting for gnocchi and chicken schnitzel. It was a slow night (3 other tables eating, 2 already served) and a simple order. Our waiter never came to check on us or explain the delay, even after multiple eye contact moments. He finally brought out the gnocchi and said that the chicken will be a few more minutes. He waited until we were nearly done to come by and ask (in a strangely panicked voice) "is it OK?". So, from the people who ruined Pizza DOC, OK food at average prices that you should bring in carry out to tide you over until your food arrives. God forbid you should want a refill on your drink. A shame too, it's a nice little place.
(2)Victoria D. G.
This restaurant is amazing! The best Chilean Sea Bass I have ever had. Beautifully julienned veggies. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Holly M.
Wow...I am so happy to have found this place. I wanted to go here when it was still the pizza place, but as I walked home one day I saw it was updated and new. When I first stepped into Himmel's, I didn't think much of it. The tables are small and thrown about and the restaurant itself is small and simple. However, the food made up for anything the restaurant may be lacking. My roommate and I shared the calamari (Awesome!!) and then my roommate ordered the chicken schnitzel and I the duck. I normally don't savor food, but...oh my God...the duck. Honestly...just...too good to put into words. The schnitzel was excellent, too. Himmel's is pricey, but the food is absolutely great and the wait staff is very nice, too. I shall definitely return!
(4)Phil S.
This place has gotten better since its "fusion" began. Personally, I love the combo of German and Italian. Anywhere I can get snitzel with Italian bread and appetizers I am in! The chicken snitzel is better (and cheaper and bigger) than both the Brauhaus and Lachettes. Highly recommended. Also our waiter was great and very accommodating for our little picky 3 year old.
(4)Nico W.
I have searched for a German restaurant that has the same qualities like my German mom expertise cooking. I have been in this city for over 20 years and my German cook from the Ritz Carlton who moved here a month ago (Martin Knaubert) great Chef as well told me about this amazing place. I walked in on crutches due to an injury and received special treatment from Carol and Diana. It didn't stop here, for a change they hired a busser girl (I'm from the industry) who was sweet as pie as was our waitress (blond long hair), but even better the food exceeded my expectations! We had the Cheese Spätzle (superb portions) salad plate and Championrahmschnitzel which was the BOMB! This place made me sign up on yelp, that's how good it is. I want to come home being a good cook myself and feel like that my expectations were exceeded! I promoted them already on facebook to all my friends. I can't wait to taste more good beer and excellent food from chef carol. I make this restaurant my new top favorite in this city. The decor, lighting and ambiance is well thought out! Believe me, if a German Chef from the Ritz Carlton ( Four Seasons Company) recommends this place, it's a must to go here! The service and passion for food is at its best!
(5)N. S.
I wrote a rather mediocre review of Pizza D.O.C. a couple years ago after a visit. I was looking forward to visiting after the recent rebranding. In truth, it hasn't changed much. Mostly the same menu, from what I can tell. I still think the pizza was very good, and the service was generally much better (faster anyway) than last time, but I still don't feel like it's a very comfortable place. We were drawn in tonight by the email about the friday night fish fry. The best thing on the plate was the potato salad. It was really good, with great flavor (was that some fenugreek?) but the fries and fish were incredibly bland. The fish was well cooked, not very hot, and but the breading was flavorless and not very crisp. The fries were also flavorless - and seemed like they were straight out of a freezer bag. It seems like people who are regulars love it, and I would love to be a regular since I live around the corner, but I don't think it's going to happen. Except for the pizza, everything I've tried has missed the mark.
(3)scott B.
Really enjoyed dinner here on a Friday night.stopped in without a reservation and they worked us in. Really enjoyed a salad and a pizza which I thInk rivals Spacca Napoli. We enjoyed eating here before they changed the name from Pizza D.O.C. We will be back
(4)Jill H.
Himmel's is a treat! From the friendly staff to the delicious food to the warm atmosphere, it's hard to beat this near Lincoln Square delight. With friends or family, in the warm dining area or at the cozy bar, I love this place. A variety of yummy foods ranging from delicious pastas, scrumptious German dishes, or tasty wood fired pizzas, there is something for every palate. The music on Friday nights is pretty stellar too - don't miss out - check out Himmel's!
(5)Amie K.
I love Himmel's. From the brick oven pizza to the Italian and German specialties, this restaurant is so friendly and a pleasure to dine in. The owners and staff are so welcoming and the food is delicious. My favorite pizza is the Potato Rosemary. It's pure deliciousness. The others are pretty phenomenal as well. This is a perfect place to bring a date for dinner and a drink. The bar area is nicely situated to the side of the restaurant so it's a great place to come, sit at the bar and order dinner if you happen be dining alone or keeping it low key. Or, enjoy moving over to the bar after dinner to enjoy a few post dinner cocktails.Bottom line, if you want to enjoy a wonderful dinner in a lovely atmosphere surrounded by good people, this is a great option. Also, I almost forgot to mention that their Sunday brunch is sooooo good. I would say among the best on the North side and very affordable. A great option to remember about when family visits or you just want to have a traditional brunch without going downtown to get it.
(5)Marty R.
The pasta dishes were always excellant. I can't wait to try the German food! I know it will remind me of my native Bavaria.Staff has always been efficient and friendly and most importantly always made me feel welcome.
(5)Michael M.
Food is good, but service continues to be a challenge. We are long time regular customers - we were among the first to try the place years ago when Pizza D.O.C. first opened in place of the old Serbian restaurant that used to be there. It became one of my kids' favorite restaurants - they love the pizza. When the new owners took over Pizza D.O.C., the food quality remained high, though service began to slip (e.g., longer waits for food to come out, occasional goof ups on the orders). But we keep coming back because it is in the neighborhood, they seem to try hard and the food is really good. We welcomed the added German theme as they switched to the Himmels moniker, as the pizza remains yummy and the added options are nice - and some good new beers on tap! However, at a recent visit with a party of 9 we experienced truly terrible delay in getting our food. A half hour into our wait, the server claimed the food would be right out. He said that again 15 minutes later. Then he stopped coming by. Our pizza arrived 75 minutes after we ordered it, and our schnitzels arrived almost 90 minutes after we ordered it. The place was less than a quarter full, and there were as many wait staff as customers, so it could not be blamed on being too busy. Clearly a major screw up in the kitchen. No one came out to apologize other than the poor server. Finally, after most of our party left (including me) the chef came out to explain that they "ran out of spaetzle" and had to make it from scratch. Only one of our meals had spaetzle - why delay 8 other meals for that? Why not explain that in the first place, and give us the option to get a different side, or pick different dish? After the delay, why not offer to discount our dinner, or pick up the drinks? This was a major disappointment. We will certainly go back and give them more chances, but the consistently poor service cannot be ignored by the owners/management much longer.
(2)R.A. H.
We were looking for a slightly different bent for our weekly Eating Out and, while having dinned in at Himmel's before, this was the first time we ordered out (pick up, not delivery). We ordered the Carbonara and the Bucatini all'Amatriciana. We ordered ahead for a specific time pickup. It was ready on time and packaged in a nice container that I was able to pop right into the oven when it got home to warm up while we got out plates and such. The Carbonara was light and extremely flavorful, the cheeses adding the perfect flavor to the spaghetti. The Bucatini all'Amatriciana had a thicker noodle and a spicier tang that was nice and difference from the other dish, proving pasta dishes didn't have to be plain, boring and 'all the same'. Always happy with dining in, we are now very happy with our 'dining out' with Himmel's.
(5)Chris L.
After a ten hour day of moving into a new place, we were starving. Himmels was the closest option. Restaurant was busy but tons of wait staff. We were seated at a table and we waited, and waited, and waited, waiters scurrying all around us, and no one even bothered to acknowledge our presence. After five minutes of being flat out ignored, we got up and left. And we will never go back. And really, an Italian AND German menu? In hindsight, I'm kinda glad we didn't eat there.
(1)Dan P.
The wife has been coming here since approx 1998 when she claims that it was all old Italian men smoking cigarettes. She says it "used to be a great establishment." Tonight is different. The spinach gnocchi the wife used to love is gone. It has been replaced with a salty bowl of heavy cream with gnocchi that is good, but not excellent. I had the trout special. It was good, but crazy salty. I like salt but this was insane. Side of Potatoes was so over cooked as to be inedible. I note that this place is no longer as busy as it used to be. It was nearly cleared out by 8:00 p.m. The chef spent at least an hour playing the drums for a terrible singer. The live music has to go. I would suggest checking to see if there is live music before making a reservation. If yes, go somewhere else. Service was good, but waiters used to bring shots for the table. This restaurant has descended into mediocrity.
(3)Jeremy C.
Ordered a pizza (Silvio & Gabriele) and the pear & gorgonzola salad on a rainy Friday night. Our food showed up within the window of time they gave - but the pizza wasn't warm at all. We didn't want to throw it in the oven to reheat because of the arugula and prosciutto, so we just ate it as it was. While the temp was disappointing, the flavor of the pizza was great - we'd definitely order one at the restaurant. The salad was pretty good too, although the cheese was a big glob of something that may or may not have been gorgonzola.
(4)Simone T.
When Pizza DOC closed, my Husband and I along with many friends, were devastated. Tonight was my first night back (bachelorette dinner, party of 8) to Himmel's, and it was a mixed bag. 4 - 5 stars for the food, 2 stars for service & bill issues. The spaghetti carbonara was as I remembered it - DIVINE. I also want to come back to try/retry their pizza. Our table enjoyed our food very much. But despite the same family owning it, service has taken a nosedive. Throughout our meal, we had to ask multiple waitresses multiple times to help complete orders (drinks, food items) where only half or 2/3 of our table was served, the other half having to wait. The place was packed and they were nice & apologetic, but it got a bit out of hand after awhile. Some tables of regulars/friends/family (?) were served very quickly, others like ours were not. Again though, we loved our meals. Then we handed in our bill (to which we added a 20% tip - I suggested the amount, and was told by a few at the table afterwards that it should have been less, but we did it anyway). Then we waited. And waited. And waited. We asked repeatedly what the issue was - initially,nothing. We were finally told (it was like pulling teeth) the credit card machine was having "connectivity issues". We waited over 30 minutes to have this resolved. Really? This soured us (arrival after dinner at a planned party for the couple was rather delayed) quite a bit. We could have gone walking to a cash station for those who paid w/credit cards quicker than this was handled. None of this ever happened during the YEARS I went to the old Pizza D.O.C. A perfect example of a good meal nearly ruined by the overall subpar restaurant experience.
(3)Rob R.
Himmel's is unique- the menu combines Italian and German cuisine and excels with both. Great wood-fired pizza, too. Friendly atmosphere- must be a nice place to work because the staff is always cheerful and relaxed. Try the braccio di ferro- heavenly. Sometimes live jazz. You can't beat it!
(5)Robert M.
2 year later and I still love this place. Of course everyone's experience varies, but I have never had a single bad word to say about this place from the food to the service. I love the wide variety of selection that is offered on the menu. From date night to having a bigger party, Himmels have always been more than accomodating. They sold me when it was Pizza DOC, but now they have me keep coming back for more.
(5)Ralph S.
Great food and the portions are huge. My son had the Chicken Parm and had the left overs the next day. I had the Chicken Snitzle which was excellent as were the veggies that came with. My daughter-in-law had the spatzel and a pear salad which looked and tasted great. My wife had the sauerbraten and she loved it. Took the left overs home and had it for lunch the next day. My older son had one of the fish dishes and it was moist and very flavorful. Service was good and so was the bread. Over all great experience.
(5)Marlies D.
I'm Belgian and this was the best food I had since living in Chicago for 9 months. I actually wanted to lick my plate after I finished my meal but decided it was probably not a polite thing to do.
(5)Terrie M.
Great food at good prices. One of my favorite restaurants on the northside. Quality of the food is consistently good and I have enjoyed my regular visits to this friendly place in a great neighbor for many years. Can't go wrong with pizza and a salad; chicken schnitzel is amazing and their steaks are always cooked to perfection. I highly recommend.
(4)Evan W.
Authentic. Classic. Family. All you need to know about this place. If you like Bavarian food and atmosphere, give this place a chance.
(5)Julie W.
Came here with my parents and my husband for a nice Saturday evening meal. Originally we thought we were going to Pizza D.O.C., but the front said Himmel's. We were slightly confused but after entering the establishment, the hostess assured us that we were in the right place! The owners just wanted to honor their German/European heritage and make it more their own. Fair enough! The menu itself is very large, there's really something for everyone! Like Erin E said, the menu is mostly Italian but you can find other Euro dishes as well. The bread was really tasty, almost like a pretzel bread. We ordered the soup of the day which was a spaetzle soup with beef broth. Very basic but very good! The waitress told us each bowl is very large and she suggested we split two bowls in half for the four of us. I love when this happens; waiters and waitresses put their knowledge to good use and actually service and help their customers. If we ordered 4 bowls it would've been way too much! Kudos to her! My parents ordered German beers and i had the Riesling which was very sweet but very good. All of us but my husband ordered pizza. He got the chicken parm and it was HUGE. I'm talking at least 10 inches wide (not even kidding here). Their portions are very large, might be a good idea to split an entree or be prepared to take some home! My only gripe was that the margherita pizza I had...wasn't an authentic margherita. The way pizza began was an Italian queen was traveling to Naples and the locals wanted to make a dish to celebrate Italy. They created the dough, sliced up tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, and topped it with fresh basil leaves. The colors looked like the Italian flag and BAM, pizza was born. However, my margherita pizza was more like a regular cheese with tomato sauce and shredded basil on top. Blah. Not the way a true margherita should be made!! Even with the disappointment the pizza itself was very very good. I love the wood-burning brick oven they use, it gives the flavor something special along with the bottom having a nice blackened flour look that just makes it all blend beautifully together. Overall for the four of us including a bottle of wine, the tab was just about $170. Not too bad! affordable for a casual dining experience with good food and great service. Wish they would read up on thier pizzas though!
(4)Jeff Z.
Absolute worst pizza ever! Went there a couple years ago when it was Pizza DOC and it was crap then. Fast forward 2 years and we mistakenly decide to try again - wrong answer!!!! The pizza had odd tastes, the chocolate torte was just a frozen grocery store desert and threw most of the meal out. Never again !!!!
(1)Poppy D.
LOVE, LOVE this place! "Himmels" means "Heavens" in German and that's exactly what it is. I'm in heaven when i eat the food there. I honestly think they cook with love and it shows and tastes like it. Every time we eat there we walk out with smiles on our faces. We've brought your families here as well as friends and they all LOVE this place. You must try the grilled calamari with balsamic on mixed greens. Our favorite appetizer. So fresh and healthy. Delicious. Their entrees are excellent too. Try the Sauerbraten or the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel (my favorite), as well as the Duck dish, other schnitzel dishes, their pastas and pizzas! They bake their pizza and breads in their own wood-burning oven. The smell of the oven when you walk in is wonderful and it gets you hungry right from the get go. This place is great for couple, families and groups. There's something on the menu for everyone. Great German beers on tap too which is exactly what the hubby likes. Desserts are great and they make a good cup of coffee which is always important after a European meal. Staff and owners are very friendly too. This place never disappoints. It's becoming one of our favorite places to dine locally.
(5)Aileen B.
Three people in our party wanted to have German for dinner and three people wanted to have Italian. I decided the best solution was to try Himmel's because they have both German and Italian specilaties. Everyone was very happy with all of their food and wine selections. I had the "Braccio di Ferro", chicken breast flattened and rolled with spinach. It was a big portion with mashed potatoes and green beans and was excellent (and enough for two dinners). My sister loved her chicken parmigiana, husband loved the pork shank, mom loved the homemade spatzle, dad loved the pork tenderloin medallions, and son loved the spaghetti and meatballs from the kids menu. Good food, prices are the same or less than the german and italian restaurants in the square (which are good too), and a good option if you want a selection of both options in one place.
(5)Thomas J.
The food we had is the main reason this restaurant deserves 5 stars. My wife and I dined here after having a few drinks at Maifest this weekend. The place was swamped as I'm guessing they didn't expect such a turnout of people coming for dinner from the nearby street festival. My wife had the pork shank and I ordered the veal saltimbocca. Both dishes were excellent and we'll definitely go back.
(5)Erich K.
Best German food period!!!! I go to Himmels every chance I get. This time we sat at the bar. The bartender Bob was awesome! He gave great recommendations that me and my fiance loved. We will return asap!
(5)Pete C.
Came here with another couple for the first time.The food was excellent and the service was just as good! Two people had the RahmViener schnitzel and the others were chicken dishes. The waitress was very friendly and Helpful as well.All in all a great experience.
(5)Megan L.
I recently joined some friends for dinner at Himmel's, and we really enjoyed it! The restaurant is warm and inviting, and the staff was really lovely. I didn't know this restaurant (or its predecessor) was here, but I am so glad I'm aware of it now. Apparently a couple of sisters bought the pizza restaurant this used to be, and decided they were two German girls so they wanted to change the focus to reflect their heritage a bit more (we got to talk to one of them, and she could not have been any nicer!). So they still have pizzas and a few Italian dishes on the menu, but have also added some schnitzels and whatnot. I tried one of the schnitzels and I really enjoyed it. I was really pretty perfect - for something fried, it was pretty light and not at all greasy. I would definitely get it again. My friends were equally pleased with their dishes - we all agreed that this is a place to visit again.
(4)Amber L.
My group of 4 tried a gnocchi, a pork dish, the sauerbraten, and the duck. Everything was outstanding. The appetizer platter was gorgeous, and everything on it was tasty. Our server was terrific; knowledgeable and attentive.
(5)Lauren F.
I've been to Himmel's before it was Himmel's-I liked it then and I like it now. Italian and German may be a bit of an odd combo for a restaurant but everything I've had is really great. Most recently I ordered the salmon and vegetables and it was really, really good. The salmon was perfectly cooked and the veggies were very flavorful. The super thin, personal size pizzas are also a great choice. Service is always above par here, everyone is very friendly and helpful and very kid-friendly. Great family restaurant where you know you'll always have a good meal.
(4)Cory G.
I've recently been looking for the best Neapolitan style pizza in the city, Himmel's comes up short. The atmosphere is a bit lacking, lights are too bright and there is just a general lack of attentiveness by the wait staff. It took 15 min for the waitress to bring us water. Another 10 min for her to come back with a menu and ask if we wanted to place a drink order. She did apologize, but it was a Friday night with only about 25% of the restaurant full, you can do better than that. The other 2 waitresses on staff we just sitting at the other empty tables just looking at their phones. A bit odd. We ordered an appetizer, but our waitress forgot to put the order in, which she again apologized for. They do have bread that they serve at the table, so that did help hold us over while waiting. As for the pizza, it was just ok. My fiance and I both ordered our own pizza's, both with fresh tomatoes on them, but both came out with rather cold tomatoes that were just placed on top of the pizza after it had come out of the oven. Crust was good, but that was about all. Nothing special about the cheese or sauce. All in all, very poor experience, we won't be back. I would recommend Coalfire, which has great food and amazing service, or Nella's, also very good!
(1)Nico W.
I have searched for a German restaurant that has the same qualities like my German mom expertise cooking. I have been in this city for over 20 years and my German cook from the Ritz Carlton who moved here a month ago (Martin Knaubert) great Chef as well told me about this amazing place. I walked in on crutches due to an injury and received special treatment from Carol and Diana. It didn't stop here, for a change they hired a busser girl (I'm from the industry) who was sweet as pie as was our waitress (blond long hair), but even better the food exceeded my expectations! We had the Cheese Spätzle (superb portions) salad plate and Championrahmschnitzel which was the BOMB! This place made me sign up on yelp, that's how good it is. I want to come home being a good cook myself and feel like that my expectations were exceeded! I promoted them already on facebook to all my friends. I can't wait to taste more good beer and excellent food from chef carol. I make this restaurant my new top favorite in this city. The decor, lighting and ambiance is well thought out! Believe me, if a German Chef from the Ritz Carlton ( Four Seasons Company) recommends this place, it's a must to go here! The service and passion for food is at its best!
(5)Dana D.
This restaurant seemed to be having an identity crisis. It looked like a German restaurant, but the majority of the dishes were Italian. Although I would totally be down for a European fusion restaurant, this concept did not really seem to work. I ordered a vegetarian pizza, which was good at the edges, but far too mushy in the middle, and my husband ordered the Bavarian Pork Shank. He enjoyed the meal; however, he said the entire dish was too salty. Our friends ordered the Chicken Schintzel, which looked great, and was sized for two, but the sides didn't seem to complement the meal well enough. They received a small cabbage salad, but no spaetzle, lingenberry sauce, sauerkraut, or anything like that. The atmosphere was nice, and the drink selection was OK, but this is not a restaurant that I would visit again.
(2)Joanne W.
Man, I really like Himmel's pizza but I've order it for delivery twice now and twice it's showed up COLD. Seriously? I know my lazy arse should just go pick up the pizza but isn't that point of delivery? When you are feeling lazy and just can't be bothered with going out...delivery options are your friend. I will say the pizza was good - after I heated it up. FYI - the secret to re-warming pizza is to do it in the frying pan. Anyhow, I've also tried calamari...it claims to be fried on the menu but what I got was a lightly breaded and possibly pan fried calamari. Still totally edible, just not what I was expecting. Himmel's also has this mushroom soup that I'm sort of in love with. It's minced portobello mushroom in a veggie broth, garnished with guanciale and parsley oil. How can you not love anything garnished with bacon? The menu is quite varied and just sort of all over the place. I want to really like it b/c they have quite the variety of 'za, but they aren't winning me over by delivering it to me cold. Get it together, Himmels!
(3)Matt B.
I went to Himmel's for dinner last night for the first time and both my fried and I ordered the rib eye steak. We were so pleased with our dinner and the atmosphere that I will be sure to go back again soon and try another item from their menu.
(5)Becky L.
My husband and I have been going to Himmel's (previously called Pizza DOC) for a couple of years now, and it is consistently fantastic. The ambience is cozy, the food is delicious, the pizza oven is entertaining and the staff is the friendliest in Chicago. Yesterday was my son's 3rd birthday and we decided to go to Himmel's for all of the above reasons. Upon entering, the staff immediately made my son feel special - and I mean the whole staff, including the owners. The entire wait staff stopped by intermittently to give well wishes, the employee working the pizza oven let my son ring the bell for orders, and the acoustic guitar player sang happy birthday while our waiter brought out a special dessert. To top it all off, the owners brought out a brand new Melissa and Doug wooden pizza set for my son to play with and then gave it to him for his birthday. I was so touched! Himmel's absolutely made my son feel special on his special day. Go to this restaurant!!
(5)Kelley H.
Gnocchi ai formaggio is one of the top 5 things I've ever had in my mouth. Delivery was speedy too!
(5)Laura C.
When one door closes, another one opens. Such is the case for Pizza D.O.C., which was recently reinvented into Himmel's, focusing more on European style fare versus the much loved Neopolitan specialty. The decor remains the same, warm and inviting, with a toasty, brick oven as one of the main focal points. I attended a private event here, so the menu was a bit customized. We started with an addictive brandade boule, deep fried to crispy perfection. Hofbrau and gruyere fondue accompanied a bright display of crudites, and a savory pate with house made rye crisps, pickled green tomatoes and pretzel bites set the stage for the evening. This spread could easily have been my dinner, but we were just getting started. A beautiful platter of roasted pork, oven grilled salmon, duck, beet and goat cheese salad, green beans, and dumplings magically arrived, all calling my name. Of course, all this food needed some cocktails, and Himmel's did not disappoint. From a server's suggestion, I tried their Bloody Mary, which I was a bit hesitant to do since it was well past brunch time, but the savory gazpacho-esque nature of it was a pleasant surprise. They also make a mean margarita, which I would typically order only with a Mexican meal, but here, there are no boundaries.
(4)Chris K.
On the whole, this was a confusing dinner experience. The menu is a mix of Italian and German, which do not go together. The crowd was a mix: oldsters, youngsters, hipsters, men in suits, red-faced old-money types, hippies, and slobs. Even the service was a mix: we had three different waitresses throughout the meal. Also, depending on where you sit, you might have a quiet zone or be surrounded by cacklers. My girlfriend got the pork shank, which was excellent although quite fatty, as you might expect. I got the trout special, which was pretty good. The house salad was above average due to the refreshing (verging on bracing) dressing. If they could figure out the service part, this could be a 4 or 5 star place. Our waitress (well, number three out of three) told us that there was no ownership change; the owners renamed the place from Pizza DOC and added German items to the menu because they were German and wanted to honor their heritage. Back in the day (last year!), when it was DOC, we waited 20 minutes to be served but then had a great meal. So I guess it makes sense that it's the same owners.
(3)lena s.
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(1)Ray C.
5:20pm on a Sat for family dinner. Second time visit since they changed concepts (still don't understand the German/Bavarian and Italian mix), might be the last. Overall, food was average. Gorgonzola salad w/ pear was drenched in vinaigrette. Mushroom soup was tasty as heck. Pizza good, as expected. Pasta underwhelming. What was disappointing was the service. Our server seemed like she was trying too hard and/or trying to get us out the door: we were approached immediately after being seated, asking what we wanted to drink (replied that we needed a minute). After serving drinks, asking what we wanted to order (replied that we needed a few minutes). When I took a typical mid-meal break, another server asked if I was done. This time, I just gave a look. It's too bad. This place had a wonderful legacy as Pizza D.O.C., has terrific decor and ambience, and is very versatile as both a casual joint and a classy place. I wish it could leverage its identity more rather than trying to be something that it's not.
(2)Walt J.
Price - average Food - meh Service - absolutely awful! My wife and I sat for 45 minutes after ordering, waiting for gnocchi and chicken schnitzel. It was a slow night (3 other tables eating, 2 already served) and a simple order. Our waiter never came to check on us or explain the delay, even after multiple eye contact moments. He finally brought out the gnocchi and said that the chicken will be a few more minutes. He waited until we were nearly done to come by and ask (in a strangely panicked voice) "is it OK?". So, from the people who ruined Pizza DOC, OK food at average prices that you should bring in carry out to tide you over until your food arrives. God forbid you should want a refill on your drink. A shame too, it's a nice little place.
(2)Victoria D. G.
This restaurant is amazing! The best Chilean Sea Bass I have ever had. Beautifully julienned veggies. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Holly M.
Wow...I am so happy to have found this place. I wanted to go here when it was still the pizza place, but as I walked home one day I saw it was updated and new. When I first stepped into Himmel's, I didn't think much of it. The tables are small and thrown about and the restaurant itself is small and simple. However, the food made up for anything the restaurant may be lacking. My roommate and I shared the calamari (Awesome!!) and then my roommate ordered the chicken schnitzel and I the duck. I normally don't savor food, but...oh my God...the duck. Honestly...just...too good to put into words. The schnitzel was excellent, too. Himmel's is pricey, but the food is absolutely great and the wait staff is very nice, too. I shall definitely return!
(4)Phil S.
This place has gotten better since its "fusion" began. Personally, I love the combo of German and Italian. Anywhere I can get snitzel with Italian bread and appetizers I am in! The chicken snitzel is better (and cheaper and bigger) than both the Brauhaus and Lachettes. Highly recommended. Also our waiter was great and very accommodating for our little picky 3 year old.
(4)Matthew D.
Food was excellent: potato pancake, chi schnitzel, Marsala sauce, Caesar salad, veggies, olive oil and bread basket. Service was good: I did receive some pushback on a simple modifications I requested from server who blamed it on the chef. Oddly the request was honored so I was happy. Just didn't understand the banter on it to begin with. French Onion Soup was meh... Portions are huge, price was a definite bargain. Restaurant was comfortable and nicely set up. Very clean. 100% will be back to try pasta and pizza... Wonderful experience.
(4)Jen M.
I wrote a raving review about Himmel's back when it was Pizza D.O.C. I figured it was time to write another review since I got married on May 16th and had my wedding reception there. We chose Himmel's since it was where we ate on our 1st date and has become a regular spot for us ever since. It was amazing. They made sure that everything went off without a hitch. They bent over backwards to make sure we had anything and everything we needed for our special day. The service was perfect. All our guest raved about how fantastic the food was. We, of course, have always thought the food is fantastic. My husband is a very picky eater and loves many of the dishes at Himmel's. They were even able to accomodate some special food needs for some of our guests. All our guests had a great time! We just can't say enough good things about Himmel's. They are and will always be a part of our lives. They are like family to us. Go to himmel's. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Marisa L.
First time here and have to agree with some of the other recent reviews. The food was good but the service was very bad. We waited way too long for each course, spending almost 3 hours total for dinner. The bus-girl spilled olive oil on one of our guests while clearing plates and we could not get the attention of anyone else for at least 20 minutes. When the waitress finally returned, her solution was to bring a bowl of flour and spread it all over the guest's sleeves with a 'just wash it later'. You could tell that the chef's friends were seated towards the front and served most efficiently (with chef hugs all around), having come and gone before we even got our entrees. Unfortunately will not be returning.
(3)Amy L.
My friends and I dined here on a Friday night because Chicago Brauhaus was too packed, and I was craving for pork shank, so we found this place on Yelp. None of us were disappointed! We were lucky this time cuz they did have pork shank on weekdays due to Oktoberfest :) Three of us ordered pork shank and the other one had Pizza Prosciutto Cotto & Funghi, as recommended by our waiter. The service was great and we all loved our food!! Though it'd be perfect if they have more extensive selection of German beer... Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place to others, and I'm surely gonna go back for the pork shank!!
(4)Danny L.
Came on a Friday night and the place was busy, but comfortable. We didn't have to wait and service was good. They also had an excellent singer who also played guitar. The bar area is very nice and near the live music. I ordered the salmon, which came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Everything was disgustingly drenched in butter. It seemed liked they plated the food and then ladled butter over it. Too bad since the salmon looked like a quality piece of fish. Our arugula pizza was OK. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the crust was undercooked for my taste. I personally prefer it to be at least slightly crispy. Also, it seemed to lack or was completely void of the cherry tomatoes that were listed within the description.
(2)Sasha V.
Wasn't really sure what to think of this place as German/Italian fusion is not too common. I guess the owners inherited an amazing wood-burning oven and the pizza connoisseur of our family approved heartily--our six year old wolfed down and entire small pizza while my husband and I tried two entrees. We missed the fabled pork shank as it is only served on weekends, but the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel was quite good and the sauce very delicious. The red cabbage served with it had the perfect tang and crunch. The steak was very good and grilled nicely but for the price the frozen fries and pathetic vegetables it came with did not quite live up. The atmosphere was quite cozy what with the woodburning stove crackling merrily and some guitar strummer unobtrusively adding a little background music that allowed us to relax and enjoy a meal with our son without living in terror that he might speak too loudly and annoy those of the children-should-be-neither-seen-nor-heard-anywhere camp. I guess the beer selection is not to extensive, so if that's your main point it might be a disappointment. Will come back to try another pizza and the pork shank.
(4)Scott W.
Food was really really good, and a nice variety on the menu. We went on Sat night at 7:30pm with reservaand there were two big parties there, so my only gripe was we waited for our entrees a *tad* too long, but our lovely server provided a round of free schnapps at the end of the meal (and did one herself). I'm a fan of this place now. Will be back (which only proves that good service has its rewards). I will try the oven pizza next - it looked really good too - and they deliver!
(4)Melodi C.
We live in Las Vegas. Here visiting Chicago. Found ourselves in this authentic family owned European style restaurant who also happens to have KILLER thin crust pizza! Also they have BBK beer on tap. You really can't find that in many places outside of Germany. Salmon was outstanding on the Sunday brunch table. We will come back the next time we come to Chicago.
(5)R L.
I am Austrian and have been searching for the best German restaurant in Chicago...I found it! The food was awesome (especially the Spätzle) the waitstaff very attentive, and the owner made it a point to greet our table. Tonight was my third visit and I will be back! Highly recommend.
(5)Katharine T.
Woof. Bf and I ordered their Pizza Rustica for delivery. Mozzarella, olives, sundried tomato, red onion, mushroom (sounds good on paper .....). Pizza arrived cold. It looked terrible. I wish I had taken a picture, I've never been presented with such a disgusting piece of food before in my life. The crust was totally burnt. The cheese was pocked and dimpled from clearly being over cooked, almost like they put it in the microwave for 15 minutes, the cheese was zapped to death and somehow orange. The entire pie was UNSLICED. Is this customary for them? To deliver a completely unsliced pizza? I had to hack my way through their tough burnt outer crust, the rest of the pie crust was a soggy limp mess. The toppings were uneven and sparse. The olives were few and whole. Wouldn't it be nicer to slice those and evenly distribute them throughout the pizza? I had to fold the pizza over to eat it, it was so limp, cold and lifeless. It was truly terrible. It looked awful and tasted awful. No, let me change that to disgusting. Disgusting and disgusting. I have ordered a lot of pizza in my time: from high end places serving "gourmet" or "artisan" pizza to cheap-o, run-of-the-mill places. Himmel's pizza was by far the worst I have ever ever had in my life. Ever. The woman who took my phone order was incapable of repeating anything back to me correctly, phone number and address and order had to be repeated several times. Very frustrating. When the driver showed up he said he was sorry he could not call us to let us know he was arriving, they had entered too many numbers for my phone number. What??? I repeated my number to you 3 times and you STILL got it wrong?? I can handle idiotic service if the food is good but Christ. The whole experience was terrible. It's a shame because now we will never ever eat from here again. We certainly won't dine in. Thank god this was just delivery or I'd be a lot more furious if I had wasted time and more money in their restaurant. By the way. Himmel means heaven in German. I THINK NOT.
(1)Erin E.
while the name is german, italian takes the front seat. but the experience is pleasing by any standards! and i'm obviously not the only one who thinks so. the place is routinely busy, even in what i consider a low traffic area. but not too busy where you have to wait for a table or the service suffers. --fresh bread with olive oil and fresh parmesan. and they keep it comin'. --definitely order the bruschetta- you won't regret it. i wanted to lick every one of those sweet, sweet tomatoes from the plate. --arugula salad. there's not much going on here, but really do you need to mess with arugula? just gimme a big ol' heaping plate and i'm happy. and that's exactly what this is. --the mussels were big and tender. cooked to perfection. and i seem to be eating a lot of mussels lately. --the gnocchi was actually not my favorite (of the evening or of gnocchis). BUT- the last time we were here i had the bolognese, which i still think about (translation: crave) every once in a while. it was kind of amazing. i also still think about the malbec i drank that night. so i guess they have a good wine list. with twinkle lights all around and a guy with a guitar gently strumming pop songs, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. the noise level is somehow just right... you can hear the music, and there is a buzz of conversation, but you don't need to shout to your dinner partner nor worry about being overheard by the table next to you. what put it over the top for me was when the bill came and it was LESS than i thought it would be. that never happens! we shared everything, but there was plenty and we even had leftovers. so we basically just had a 4-course meal with 2 drinks each for $33 per person. for the quality and the portion size that's a heck of a deal.
(5)Lauren L.
I'm a huge Chicago foodie and love writing reviews. This has been my go-to place for quite some time now and I absolutely L.O.V. E. it! I don't normally eat large portions of food but it's weird because it's like my stomach knows I'm about to eat at Himmels and suddenly I can eat more than a family 4. The owners and their family are always super nice and accommodating. Real down to earth group. Pretty sure the whole family works there, which is super cool to see these days. Ok food time.... My recommends? -------Italiano -------- Salads/apps: love them all but the spring mix Pear E Gorgonzola and the calamari (both grilled and fried) are great. Pizza: Again, I love them all but have to have to say that my first picks are Silvio Gabrielle and the Fiorentina (**have to ask for this one** roasted red and green peppers topped w/ thinly sliced genoa salami-so so good!) Pastas: Can't go wrong with the frutti de mare, carbonara and the gnocchi al formaggi. When I want to keep it simple, their penne pomodoro always hits the spot! All the fish entrees are amazing that I've tried. Get the halibut and the sea bass if it's on special!!! -----German cuisine----- Apps: The BEST obatzda and German potato salad that I've had....and trust me, I've had a lot. What makes the obatzda so good is the perfect combination of creamy cheeses and that it's not super oniony like at other places. I first tried the potato salad at German fest and hot damn, talk about FRESH and flavorful. Pork shank, steak frite, and rham schnitzel are delish!! ---------Dessert--------- Panna cotta, It's perfect. Okay, that's enough for now... Now go eat!
(5)Rick M.
Wiener Schnitzel was AMAZING. A great experience overall. I will definitely be back to try a few other very tempting dishes. Fair prices for fabulous food!
(5)Alexandra F.
I ordered pizza for delivery from this place. It was amazing! You definitely don't find a lot of places with such good pizza. I ordered pizza with prosciutto crudo arugula blue cheese and parmesan. All the ingredients are top quality and the crust was pure perfection. I wish I could add funghi porcini also but they didn't had the option on grub hub. I'm gonna check out the restaurant too. Very good!
(5)Ann K.
I ordered the sauerbraten with spaetzle. The meat is Italian beef strips in gravy. The gravy tastes good. The meat was very dried out. This is not authentic sauerbraten. The spaetzle are pan fried and taste like pancakes, but they are not the pancake noodle. They have burn marks on the noodles. The red cabbage was great. But for $17.75-this is way overpriced! Can't recommend the place.
(2)Jeff H.
The food is absolutely amazing and the service is borderline terrible. I made a reservation and went on Maifest weekend. It took over an hour for hour food and the manager explained they were unusually busy and we needed to come back another time and give them a second chance. We went back a couple weekends ago and the story was the same, the food was so good but it took an hour and a half to order and pay. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it was easily the best Marsala I have ever had. Unfortunately the waiter seemed to forget about us and didn't provide good service.
(3)Chas S.
Oktoberfest menu with zero none kein German Beer on tap. And only one wheat beer in Bottle!?!? WTF?
(3)meredith d.
Sorry, but this place is just not that great. Chicken schnitzel (which was delicious when I went there when they first opened), was dry and yet still managed to be greasy. The duck was served well-done (which was fine - i don't care for rare duck breast), but the meat was fairly tough, and the skin was gummy, not crisp, and it was sweet. I realize that's a thing with duck, but I prefer an unsweetened duck that's sauced separately so you can get it on the side if you prefer (which I always do). They do have a delicious pear and Gorgonzola salad, but that was more than offset by the real crime of the meal: coffee served with MILK. They call it "cream," but what they bring you is milk. I asked about it, and was told, "we always have served milk with the coffee, we never serve cream." Well, I'm sorry, but coffee with milk doesn't taste good. I didn't even finish my cup. I suppose they're being cheap - I can't believe they actually believe that milk is a better option. Is half and half just too expensive? Would it bankrupt them to provide these annoying little paper cups which at least have something in them that resembles cream? They saved a few cents on the cream, but they lost a customer forever.
(2)Kendrick W.
This place really is a divine little gem where you might not expect to find it. On Lawrence a block or two east of Lincoln Square, Himmel's is easy to overlook if you don't know it's there and it's not the typical place you might stumble past walking down the street. Former Lincoln Square residents like myself might remember it when it used to be called Pizza D.O.C. Same great ownership, same great service and same amazing food with a few spectacular additions. The interior is warm and inviting. Lots of red and brick, great art on the wall. The brick oven is exposed to the dining area which adds a nice little touch. Full service bar. Most nights when I've been there have been live musicians and they're actually worth listening too. Ok now the food. I can't say enough about the spaghetti and meatballs. Usually I won't get spaghetti when I go out because I can make a mean spaghetti myself, but I was in the mood for meatballs. Holy MEATBALLS. A foodgasm. The pizza there is also divine. The german dishes are darn good too. The kasespatzle is not too shabby either. German and Italian, sounds strange but they make it work. Absolutely perfect place for a date!
(5)Mrbr R.
We headed to this restaurant when an Italian family told us that this is where they go for food that reminded them of home! It was Pizza D.O.C. and when the Himmel family bought the place they added their German cuisine influence. Great atmosphere, wonderful food, friendly helpful staff - this is a place for a consistent great night out. Carol the chef and owner turns out fresh fish and delicious vegetables - and for carnivores the German fare is outstanding. Panna Cotta is yummy. What never fails is the atmosphere - we always are happy that we went & for some reason the parking Angels seem to watch over us when ever we go! Himmel's is always a winner.
(5)Michael D.
Very disappointing dining experience. The menu is a mix of German and Italian - a fusion that one rarely comes across for good reason. We tried the sauerbraten and wiener schnitzel... Both were well below average. The accompanying spaetzle was greasy. The appetizer "Obazda cheese spread" was probably the worst part of the experience... I've had good Obazda, however, this was a lump of bland spread with pretzel sticks stuck in it... There wasn't a single 'real pretzel' on the plate. And for $9??? Also: they only had three beers on tap (Stella, BBK, and Hofbrau). I don't know know how one can think to open a German restaurant and serve only two draft German Beers! The service was a bright spot. Everything else was horrible-- especially the value.
(1)Laurie D.
I don't think you should offer pizza for delivery. I ordered on grubhub and while the pizza came fast it was cold on arrival. I can order pizza from Sarpino's and have it here hotter than what arrived from Himmels (same distance). And a margherita pizza is supposed to be mozzarella cheese, the fresh kind, and some times freshly sliced tomatoes and basil, not a cheese pizza! Sorry, that's not pizza margherita. Finally, the signature Pear and Gorgonzola salad is delicious but there's a dollop of what seems to be butter, or overchurned cheese in each order. It doesn't really go with the salad unless you are going to offer bread with it...a little harsh but when you order each time and it's good money and poor quality, it's disappointing. Overall, I would not order from here if you are anticipating high quality pizza.
(2)Anthony C.
We were really impressed after our first visit to Himmel's and now, after about a dozen visits this past year, it has turned into one of our favorite restaurants. We have tried many of the German and Italian dishes on the menu and each one has been so flavorful and perfectly prepared. The homemade Italian and pretzel breads baked in the wood-fired oven and served with olive oil and fresh shredded parmigiano cheese are so good. We always start with an order of the grilled calamari served with mixed greens and a wonderful balsamic / lemon dressing. The German dishes are outstanding and perfectly complimented by crispy spaetzle and red cabbage. You must also try the roesti which are shredded potatoes with swiss cheese and onions fried much like hash browns but with so much flavor. Some German favorites are the sauerbraten, bavarian pork shank, champignon rahm schnitzel, and roast duck. On the Italian side the wood-fired pizzas are excellent and we love the pasta dishes as well. A couple of favorites are the bucatini allamatriciana and the linguine frutti di mare. A small selection of german beers on tap along with a clean, inviting and cozy atmosphere - and wonderful German and Italian dishes make Himmel's one of our favorite places to eat in Chicago.
(5)Chari N.
I have been to Himmel's several times and each time it seems to be getting better. The portions are almost double of most restaurants and the food is amazing. We each ordered something different and everyone was wowed by the food. Even my mother couldn't find anything wrong with her dinner :) I live 45 minutes away and this restaurant is worth the trip. HIGHLY recommend Himmel's.
(5)Jennifer H.
Oh boy, I really wanted to love Himmel's as much as I loved Pizza DOC but it's just not the same experience despite the same ownership. I was recently there with friends and we had to send the first two bottles of wine back because they were terrible (and, I am not a wine snob - I'll drink the $3 bottles from Trader Joe's). We were there in October and the menu is an Oktoberfest menu along with a few pizza options. Don't come in October if you aren't looking for German food. Our service was really poor - our waiter didn't check in on us and we had to wave someone over when we wanted to get our water refilled. I was expecting our bill to be comped by a few dollars since we had the hassle of sending two bottles of wine back and settled on a mediocre bottle - but, nothin'! If you're this close to Lincoln Square, head over to one of the restaurants there for a more attentive wait staff and better wine.
(1)Melisha S.
Tonight was a rainy night, so we took advantage of delivery (which was prompt). Love the food at Himmel's! Pizza is delicious, but there is a chicken breast rolled with spinach in a light sauce which is excellent. Also notable is chicken Marsala. They do a pork shank on weekends which is insanely good if you are a carnivore. The only stumble so far is the dumpling which comes with the pork (a little dense for my taste). But the food here is prepared well, service is good and I always leave satisfied. Brunch is different in a good way, with good variety.
(5)Kathie C.
What a delicious meal!! Started with HIMMEL's salad. Yum. The mushroom soup was so flavorful and not super rich, because it's broth based instead of cream. I absolutely love the carbonara. Great wine list and friendly and festive environment. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
(5)Carina H.
I recently had my bridal shower at Himmel's and loved it! The food was delicious and the owners were very accommodating to our big party. They closed the restaurant so that we could have the space, allowed us to customize a menu for the day, and were extremely friendly and helpful. The servers were amazing and very friendly. Many of my guests called, texted, or emailed me the next day to let me know what a great shower it was and how delicious the food was. Thank you Himmel's Restaurant!
(5)N. S.
I wrote a rather mediocre review of Pizza D.O.C. a couple years ago after a visit. I was looking forward to visiting after the recent rebranding. In truth, it hasn't changed much. Mostly the same menu, from what I can tell. I still think the pizza was very good, and the service was generally much better (faster anyway) than last time, but I still don't feel like it's a very comfortable place. We were drawn in tonight by the email about the friday night fish fry. The best thing on the plate was the potato salad. It was really good, with great flavor (was that some fenugreek?) but the fries and fish were incredibly bland. The fish was well cooked, not very hot, and but the breading was flavorless and not very crisp. The fries were also flavorless - and seemed like they were straight out of a freezer bag. It seems like people who are regulars love it, and I would love to be a regular since I live around the corner, but I don't think it's going to happen. Except for the pizza, everything I've tried has missed the mark.
(3)scott B.
Really enjoyed dinner here on a Friday night.stopped in without a reservation and they worked us in. Really enjoyed a salad and a pizza which I thInk rivals Spacca Napoli. We enjoyed eating here before they changed the name from Pizza D.O.C. We will be back
(4)Jill H.
Himmel's is a treat! From the friendly staff to the delicious food to the warm atmosphere, it's hard to beat this near Lincoln Square delight. With friends or family, in the warm dining area or at the cozy bar, I love this place. A variety of yummy foods ranging from delicious pastas, scrumptious German dishes, or tasty wood fired pizzas, there is something for every palate. The music on Friday nights is pretty stellar too - don't miss out - check out Himmel's!
(5)Amie K.
I love Himmel's. From the brick oven pizza to the Italian and German specialties, this restaurant is so friendly and a pleasure to dine in. The owners and staff are so welcoming and the food is delicious. My favorite pizza is the Potato Rosemary. It's pure deliciousness. The others are pretty phenomenal as well. This is a perfect place to bring a date for dinner and a drink. The bar area is nicely situated to the side of the restaurant so it's a great place to come, sit at the bar and order dinner if you happen be dining alone or keeping it low key. Or, enjoy moving over to the bar after dinner to enjoy a few post dinner cocktails.Bottom line, if you want to enjoy a wonderful dinner in a lovely atmosphere surrounded by good people, this is a great option. Also, I almost forgot to mention that their Sunday brunch is sooooo good. I would say among the best on the North side and very affordable. A great option to remember about when family visits or you just want to have a traditional brunch without going downtown to get it.
(5)Marty R.
The pasta dishes were always excellant. I can't wait to try the German food! I know it will remind me of my native Bavaria.Staff has always been efficient and friendly and most importantly always made me feel welcome.
(5)Michael M.
Food is good, but service continues to be a challenge. We are long time regular customers - we were among the first to try the place years ago when Pizza D.O.C. first opened in place of the old Serbian restaurant that used to be there. It became one of my kids' favorite restaurants - they love the pizza. When the new owners took over Pizza D.O.C., the food quality remained high, though service began to slip (e.g., longer waits for food to come out, occasional goof ups on the orders). But we keep coming back because it is in the neighborhood, they seem to try hard and the food is really good. We welcomed the added German theme as they switched to the Himmels moniker, as the pizza remains yummy and the added options are nice - and some good new beers on tap! However, at a recent visit with a party of 9 we experienced truly terrible delay in getting our food. A half hour into our wait, the server claimed the food would be right out. He said that again 15 minutes later. Then he stopped coming by. Our pizza arrived 75 minutes after we ordered it, and our schnitzels arrived almost 90 minutes after we ordered it. The place was less than a quarter full, and there were as many wait staff as customers, so it could not be blamed on being too busy. Clearly a major screw up in the kitchen. No one came out to apologize other than the poor server. Finally, after most of our party left (including me) the chef came out to explain that they "ran out of spaetzle" and had to make it from scratch. Only one of our meals had spaetzle - why delay 8 other meals for that? Why not explain that in the first place, and give us the option to get a different side, or pick different dish? After the delay, why not offer to discount our dinner, or pick up the drinks? This was a major disappointment. We will certainly go back and give them more chances, but the consistently poor service cannot be ignored by the owners/management much longer.
(2)Jen M.
I wrote a raving review about Himmel's back when it was Pizza D.O.C. I figured it was time to write another review since I got married on May 16th and had my wedding reception there. We chose Himmel's since it was where we ate on our 1st date and has become a regular spot for us ever since. It was amazing. They made sure that everything went off without a hitch. They bent over backwards to make sure we had anything and everything we needed for our special day. The service was perfect. All our guest raved about how fantastic the food was. We, of course, have always thought the food is fantastic. My husband is a very picky eater and loves many of the dishes at Himmel's. They were even able to accomodate some special food needs for some of our guests. All our guests had a great time! We just can't say enough good things about Himmel's. They are and will always be a part of our lives. They are like family to us. Go to himmel's. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Amy L.
My friends and I dined here on a Friday night because Chicago Brauhaus was too packed, and I was craving for pork shank, so we found this place on Yelp. None of us were disappointed! We were lucky this time cuz they did have pork shank on weekdays due to Oktoberfest :) Three of us ordered pork shank and the other one had Pizza Prosciutto Cotto & Funghi, as recommended by our waiter. The service was great and we all loved our food!! Though it'd be perfect if they have more extensive selection of German beer... Anyways, I'd definitely recommend this place to others, and I'm surely gonna go back for the pork shank!!
(4)Dan P.
The wife has been coming here since approx 1998 when she claims that it was all old Italian men smoking cigarettes. She says it "used to be a great establishment." Tonight is different. The spinach gnocchi the wife used to love is gone. It has been replaced with a salty bowl of heavy cream with gnocchi that is good, but not excellent. I had the trout special. It was good, but crazy salty. I like salt but this was insane. Side of Potatoes was so over cooked as to be inedible. I note that this place is no longer as busy as it used to be. It was nearly cleared out by 8:00 p.m. The chef spent at least an hour playing the drums for a terrible singer. The live music has to go. I would suggest checking to see if there is live music before making a reservation. If yes, go somewhere else. Service was good, but waiters used to bring shots for the table. This restaurant has descended into mediocrity.
(3)Simone T.
When Pizza DOC closed, my Husband and I along with many friends, were devastated. Tonight was my first night back (bachelorette dinner, party of 8) to Himmel's, and it was a mixed bag. 4 - 5 stars for the food, 2 stars for service & bill issues. The spaghetti carbonara was as I remembered it - DIVINE. I also want to come back to try/retry their pizza. Our table enjoyed our food very much. But despite the same family owning it, service has taken a nosedive. Throughout our meal, we had to ask multiple waitresses multiple times to help complete orders (drinks, food items) where only half or 2/3 of our table was served, the other half having to wait. The place was packed and they were nice & apologetic, but it got a bit out of hand after awhile. Some tables of regulars/friends/family (?) were served very quickly, others like ours were not. Again though, we loved our meals. Then we handed in our bill (to which we added a 20% tip - I suggested the amount, and was told by a few at the table afterwards that it should have been less, but we did it anyway). Then we waited. And waited. And waited. We asked repeatedly what the issue was - initially,nothing. We were finally told (it was like pulling teeth) the credit card machine was having "connectivity issues". We waited over 30 minutes to have this resolved. Really? This soured us (arrival after dinner at a planned party for the couple was rather delayed) quite a bit. We could have gone walking to a cash station for those who paid w/credit cards quicker than this was handled. None of this ever happened during the YEARS I went to the old Pizza D.O.C. A perfect example of a good meal nearly ruined by the overall subpar restaurant experience.
(3)Rob R.
Himmel's is unique- the menu combines Italian and German cuisine and excels with both. Great wood-fired pizza, too. Friendly atmosphere- must be a nice place to work because the staff is always cheerful and relaxed. Try the braccio di ferro- heavenly. Sometimes live jazz. You can't beat it!
(5)Marisa L.
First time here and have to agree with some of the other recent reviews. The food was good but the service was very bad. We waited way too long for each course, spending almost 3 hours total for dinner. The bus-girl spilled olive oil on one of our guests while clearing plates and we could not get the attention of anyone else for at least 20 minutes. When the waitress finally returned, her solution was to bring a bowl of flour and spread it all over the guest's sleeves with a 'just wash it later'. You could tell that the chef's friends were seated towards the front and served most efficiently (with chef hugs all around), having come and gone before we even got our entrees. Unfortunately will not be returning.
(3)Danny L.
Came on a Friday night and the place was busy, but comfortable. We didn't have to wait and service was good. They also had an excellent singer who also played guitar. The bar area is very nice and near the live music. I ordered the salmon, which came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Everything was disgustingly drenched in butter. It seemed liked they plated the food and then ladled butter over it. Too bad since the salmon looked like a quality piece of fish. Our arugula pizza was OK. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the crust was undercooked for my taste. I personally prefer it to be at least slightly crispy. Also, it seemed to lack or was completely void of the cherry tomatoes that were listed within the description.
(2)Sasha V.
Wasn't really sure what to think of this place as German/Italian fusion is not too common. I guess the owners inherited an amazing wood-burning oven and the pizza connoisseur of our family approved heartily--our six year old wolfed down and entire small pizza while my husband and I tried two entrees. We missed the fabled pork shank as it is only served on weekends, but the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel was quite good and the sauce very delicious. The red cabbage served with it had the perfect tang and crunch. The steak was very good and grilled nicely but for the price the frozen fries and pathetic vegetables it came with did not quite live up. The atmosphere was quite cozy what with the woodburning stove crackling merrily and some guitar strummer unobtrusively adding a little background music that allowed us to relax and enjoy a meal with our son without living in terror that he might speak too loudly and annoy those of the children-should-be-neither-seen-nor-heard-anywhere camp. I guess the beer selection is not to extensive, so if that's your main point it might be a disappointment. Will come back to try another pizza and the pork shank.
(4)Scott W.
Food was really really good, and a nice variety on the menu. We went on Sat night at 7:30pm with reservaand there were two big parties there, so my only gripe was we waited for our entrees a *tad* too long, but our lovely server provided a round of free schnapps at the end of the meal (and did one herself). I'm a fan of this place now. Will be back (which only proves that good service has its rewards). I will try the oven pizza next - it looked really good too - and they deliver!
(4)Matthew D.
Food was excellent: potato pancake, chi schnitzel, Marsala sauce, Caesar salad, veggies, olive oil and bread basket. Service was good: I did receive some pushback on a simple modifications I requested from server who blamed it on the chef. Oddly the request was honored so I was happy. Just didn't understand the banter on it to begin with. French Onion Soup was meh... Portions are huge, price was a definite bargain. Restaurant was comfortable and nicely set up. Very clean. 100% will be back to try pasta and pizza... Wonderful experience.
(4)Melodi C.
We live in Las Vegas. Here visiting Chicago. Found ourselves in this authentic family owned European style restaurant who also happens to have KILLER thin crust pizza! Also they have BBK beer on tap. You really can't find that in many places outside of Germany. Salmon was outstanding on the Sunday brunch table. We will come back the next time we come to Chicago.
(5)Katharine T.
Woof. Bf and I ordered their Pizza Rustica for delivery. Mozzarella, olives, sundried tomato, red onion, mushroom (sounds good on paper .....). Pizza arrived cold. It looked terrible. I wish I had taken a picture, I've never been presented with such a disgusting piece of food before in my life. The crust was totally burnt. The cheese was pocked and dimpled from clearly being over cooked, almost like they put it in the microwave for 15 minutes, the cheese was zapped to death and somehow orange. The entire pie was UNSLICED. Is this customary for them? To deliver a completely unsliced pizza? I had to hack my way through their tough burnt outer crust, the rest of the pie crust was a soggy limp mess. The toppings were uneven and sparse. The olives were few and whole. Wouldn't it be nicer to slice those and evenly distribute them throughout the pizza? I had to fold the pizza over to eat it, it was so limp, cold and lifeless. It was truly terrible. It looked awful and tasted awful. No, let me change that to disgusting. Disgusting and disgusting. I have ordered a lot of pizza in my time: from high end places serving "gourmet" or "artisan" pizza to cheap-o, run-of-the-mill places. Himmel's pizza was by far the worst I have ever ever had in my life. Ever. The woman who took my phone order was incapable of repeating anything back to me correctly, phone number and address and order had to be repeated several times. Very frustrating. When the driver showed up he said he was sorry he could not call us to let us know he was arriving, they had entered too many numbers for my phone number. What??? I repeated my number to you 3 times and you STILL got it wrong?? I can handle idiotic service if the food is good but Christ. The whole experience was terrible. It's a shame because now we will never ever eat from here again. We certainly won't dine in. Thank god this was just delivery or I'd be a lot more furious if I had wasted time and more money in their restaurant. By the way. Himmel means heaven in German. I THINK NOT.
(1)Erin E.
while the name is german, italian takes the front seat. but the experience is pleasing by any standards! and i'm obviously not the only one who thinks so. the place is routinely busy, even in what i consider a low traffic area. but not too busy where you have to wait for a table or the service suffers. --fresh bread with olive oil and fresh parmesan. and they keep it comin'. --definitely order the bruschetta- you won't regret it. i wanted to lick every one of those sweet, sweet tomatoes from the plate. --arugula salad. there's not much going on here, but really do you need to mess with arugula? just gimme a big ol' heaping plate and i'm happy. and that's exactly what this is. --the mussels were big and tender. cooked to perfection. and i seem to be eating a lot of mussels lately. --the gnocchi was actually not my favorite (of the evening or of gnocchis). BUT- the last time we were here i had the bolognese, which i still think about (translation: crave) every once in a while. it was kind of amazing. i also still think about the malbec i drank that night. so i guess they have a good wine list. with twinkle lights all around and a guy with a guitar gently strumming pop songs, the atmosphere is warm and inviting. the noise level is somehow just right... you can hear the music, and there is a buzz of conversation, but you don't need to shout to your dinner partner nor worry about being overheard by the table next to you. what put it over the top for me was when the bill came and it was LESS than i thought it would be. that never happens! we shared everything, but there was plenty and we even had leftovers. so we basically just had a 4-course meal with 2 drinks each for $33 per person. for the quality and the portion size that's a heck of a deal.
(5)