4. Restaurants

Jacob Wirth

31 Stuart St,Ste 37, Boston, MA, 02116
  • (617) 356-8390
  • Store is closed

Jacob Wirth Menu

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Boston Common Coffee Co. ( 97 Salem St )
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  • Jack H.

    So it was a rainy Sunday evening and we bounced in to Jacob Wirth's. The decor was nice and old school and it looked like what we were after for dinner. I ordered a sandwich and when it came, let's just say there was a problem. It was handled perfectly. Three different people came to our table to apologize and we were treated to desserts that were redunkulous (wicked good). In all we were exceedingly pleased and all of the meals were very tasty. I would not hesitate to go back.

    (4)

  • Caitlyn T.

    I had a fantastic meal here about two weeks ago! My sandwich was amazing and I am already planning to go back and have it again. The bill for two people for lunch came to around $27 for 2 sandwiches and sodas. The service was excellent and we were checked on several times throughout the meal. The place was busy but we were seated and taken care of promptly. I work about a 10 minute walk away and this place was perfect for my one hour lunch break. Looking forward to going back!

    (5)

  • Manny L.

    This place has completely gone downhill in the past 20 years, and frankly, I'm shocked that it's still in business. The service is terrible, the food is mediocre (if that), and it's clear that no one who works there really cares, as long as the tourists keep coming in to spend their money. (Case in point: what are Asian potstickers and Jamaican jerk chicken doing on their "authentic" menu?) Twenty years ago, I might have given JW four stars, maybe five, it was that good. The only reason they get one star now is that they have an excellent beer selection. The catch is that you almost have to beg to get a server to acknowledge you, never mind serve you. I was meeting friends and arrived 15 minutes early, so I sat at the bar, between a group of three settling their check and one other guy. I waited for a bartender to appear so I could ask for water and a draft list - never happened. After a few minutes, I noticed that the guy next to me was also trying desperately to get a server's attention. He then told me that he had been waiting at least 5 minutes, but no one had acknowledged him, even though the bar was half-empty. We watched as one solitary server walked back and forth behind the bar, disinterested and mindlessly chewing her gum, without once making eye contact with us, then disappearing into the kitchen. When she finally stopped in front of us to pour someone else's beer - a Hoegaarden, which took almost 2 minutes by our count because she insisted on getting every last bit of foam out of the keg - the guy next to me leaned in and interrupted her dream state to ask if he could place an order. She looked at him blankly and said, "Uh ... okay." She took his order, and then ignored me for the next 10 minutes. We didn't see another server or a manager after that. In all, I sat at the bar for more than 15 minutes and never got a glass of water, a beer, or eye contact. When my friends arrived, we proceeded to our table. I stopped to tell the hostess what had happened to me at the bar. She just looked at me and said, "Oh. Sorry," and that was the end of that. DINNER: I ordered the first item under "Jacob Wirth Classics," the wiener schnitzel ("breaded fresh veal tenderloin served over handmade dill spaetzel with a lemon butter sauce and sautéed vegetables") and I added a fried egg for an extra buck. This has always been one of my go-to dishes; no longer. This was without a doubt the most disappointing restaurant meal I've had in a long time. The "sauteed vegetables" - five asparagus spears - were the only thing I ate in its entirety. The veal was tough, chewy, and totally un(der)seasoned. The spaetzel, also flavorless, was thick, doughy, and undercooked. Almost no sauce to speak of (or to save the dish). The egg was fried, all right - the yolk was hard-cooked. I ate 1/3 of my order, gave up, and boxed up the rest to take home. But then I regained my senses after leaving the restaurant and threw it in the trash. A complete waste of $25, a complete waste of 2.5 hours. I'm not angry - although I was - just sad. German/Bavarian food is hard enough to find in Boston, and now it seems harder. A Boston institution has gone completely down the tubes, and the management, assuming they have management, doesn't care.

    (1)

  • George L.

    Meh. I'd give them 4 stars for their non-German offerings and 2 stars for the German ones. Excellent 'apps and taps' from their hard to find German beers and the DELICIOUS mozzarella sticks. And if you're here for schnitzel and spaetzle you may be disappointed by their mediocre execution. Don't order wine here unless you consider yourself a connoisseur of Carlo Rossi. Of course, this place is also a Bar and a place to go for bad singalongs so if that's your thing you might have a 5 star spot on your hands. fail

    (3)

  • Deborah B.

    Mmm, schnitzel, spaetzle, and German beer. I can't go here and order anything else. The wiener schnitzel entree is entirely too much food for me, so I always go with the small plate. The combination of crunchy schnitzel and light, buttery dill spaetzle is heavenly. This place has a ton of beers on tap, both imported and domestic. You can order a tasting of 4 beers, which works perfectly for me. Love the big beer hall feel. Now if only they had a beer garden.

    (4)

  • Andrea B.

    We got a Groupon for Jacob Wirth's and gave it a try. They have a few German dishes, but the menu is focused mostly burgers/pub food. The beer selection is good. The food presentation was poor and the food itself was just okay. Next time I would go for the sing-along and just order something cheap from the menu.

    (3)

  • Kai P.

    Being a huge beer fan, this place has to be on top of my list of favorite places in Boston. Combine that with the fact that I am German (no, not just because my great great grandmother was German, I actually grew up there) and you have one big fan of this German / American beer establishment. Food gets 2-3 stars since I know what the stuff is actually supposed to taste like. They haven't nailed the Schnitzel (too greasy) and the beer steamed Knackwurst is a hit or miss, but as the only German place in town, they get points for trying. The beer selection on the other hand is excellent. Not only because they go out of their way to get some pretty hard-to-get German brews, but because their draft selection also includes some great American beers that are hard to find elsewhere. I have fond memories of that Sam Adams Imperial Pilsener keg they got - I think I was the only one drinking it. Watch out for their events - last year I attended a German food and beer dinner that was not cheap but excellent. Ambience gets a 5. It's about as authentic as the real Wirtshaus.

    (4)

  • Karyn T.

    My husband and I came here right before the Eddie Vedder solo show at the Wang theater and we were amazed with everything. Not only because this was such a historic bar to be in but the food and selections of beer were nothing less then perfection. We started with beer of course, I enjoying my Heferweizen UFO and my husband dabbling with a few authentic German options. The beer selection was robust and they had these huge chalkboards with all the options and alcohol contents. There were beers on the wall that were 9.5%. Crazy! The waitress was very knowledgeable on the selections and made great recommendations to try. We ordered the potato pancakes as an appetizer. They were so delicious lined with sour cream and topped with fresh cinnamon apples. They served 2 and my husband and I gobbled them right up. Dinner was not shot of amazing, My husband had the chicken wrap with the warm German potato salad. It was so amazing. If given the option, pass up the fries for the potato salad. It's a must! I myself had the schnitzel topped with the egg. I don't usually each German food on a regular basis but this was definitely in the top 10 best things I have ever eaten. Not short of 'amazing'. I went for the smaller portion but the next time I am in Boston, you can bet your bottom dollar the larger portion is what I am going for. If you are interested in visiting a historic site with amazing beer and food. Don't miss this opportunity to go to Jacob Wirth. You will NOT be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    Beer good but that's it. Food was terrible. Even the burger and chili was ng. Service was the real downer. 1 hr from being seated to drinks. Waitress kept disappearing for 10+mins. Even took her 12 mins to come back and get my card after dropping off the check. Would go back for piano and beer - but will eat first

    (1)

  • Jeannie H.

    1st and last time here, very disappointed Walked in around 3PM, we were seated right away it took almost 15 minutes for a waiter to come to the table Waitstaff seemed lethargic and uninterested Since they are known for their German food that's what we ordered. Everyone on Yelp is raving about the cornbread, it was good but I've had better however the butter was excellent We had the potato pancake appetizer, Wiener Schnitzel & Jake's Special (Beer steamed Knockwurst and Bratwurst Over German Potato Salad and Sauerkraut) neither of us finished our dishes, nothing special about this food, it is very heavy, greasy and unappetizing Dessert was Apple Strudel with vanilla ice cream and it was by far th best part of the meal We had a Groupon, it seemed most everyone in there did, ours was for 1 appetizer, 2 entrees & dessert, (Groupon value was 66.80) however the waiter valued it at $50.00 and charged me the difference of $10. our bill was under 60. so that was a mistake and I regret not realizing it until I left We won't go back, Jacob Wirth lacks on many levels, basic math is one

    (2)

  • Ricky B.

    Ahhhh! Jacob Wirth's! Worth a visit but the shrinking options for a pre-theater meal can make it overwhelmingly crowded. I opted for an AFTER show bite and I'm glad we did. Attentive service, comfortable setting, plenty of beer options (ask the waiter for suggestion) and the Reuben was terrific! Hot, soft pretzel appetizer is great! Menu is extensive and if you're in the mood to experiment JW is the place. Love it.

    (4)

  • Bassel A.

    The free parking is no more and the service was horrible. We ordered flights of sampling beer and the waitress palmed them over, put them on the tabke, and walked away. When she came back I asked her which was one which and she responded by saying she had no idea. Really dissapointed with this place now.

    (2)

  • Matthew K.

    Going to keep this review short.. I loved the wide array of drinks. Me and my friends found it very easy to locate a good beverage. I recommend living a little and trying something new, they damn near have it all. :)

    (5)

  • deaner b.

    I like German restaurants. We are In town for awhile and sought out Jake Wirth's I read the reviews on yelp and I have to say that they, collectively, were spot on. Good beer, decent schnitzel, really bad service. and I cant understand why. It wasn't busy but we had to go to the bar, finally, for drinks and then hound our waitress to place the food order. She was a freak. It has to be obvious to management. Maybe it's a busy place that can tolerate employees doing a poor job. My wife's spinach salad had rotting leaves in it also. Still I like the place. The history, the beer. But i can't understand why they don't serve beer in large vessels, like a liter stein.

    (3)

  • Jason C.

    Very good! I like it here... food and drink.

    (4)

  • George C.

    This place used to be amazing. It has gone downhill in a major way. Both the quality and quantity of the food is just inexcusable. A "Reuben" consists of two tiny slices of corned beef with a massive heap of Sauerkraut. Just disgusting. The beer is okay but they never wash the pint glasses. I don't know what happened to this place but it is a total shell of its former great self.

    (1)

  • Jeramy P.

    I went here last night with my wife, kids, cousin and aunt and it was great. They have tons of beer and the inside was really open like a German beer hall. The food was delicious, not too authentic German and the waiters pronounced all the names wrong but it was really nice. This place gets crowded so if you are heading down be sure to make reservations. You need to make them on opentable.com which is a bit confusing odd but seemed to work out.

    (4)

  • Roberto C.

    How we did not find this place sooner is beyond me. Went here prior to a show & they have their special Octoberfest deal (~$22 for a full meal w/a beer & dessert). Awesome food - wiener schnitzel (sp?), potato pancakes w/german choc cake. Waitress was so nice & attentive - prices were very good & they give you ~2hours parking in their lot next door. By no means is this related to JWs review, the adjacent pkg lot is a different company. Fyi, it was $10 to park there for the day & after the show (the same guy!) told me it was $15. The pork @ JWs is great, but the porking in the parking lot was not appreciated.

    (5)

  • Lindsay C.

    There aren't many places in Boston to eat and drink German...so I take it when I can get it! I love Weiss Wurst and they have it with a side of Sauerkraut. I usually get the Fried Cabbage and apples too and the potato pancakes with a nice brew to wash it down with...there are many to choose from. If you don't mind paying for parking or riding the T into downtown or work in the area...it's definitely worth the horror of getting there!

    (5)

  • Sarah S.

    Jacob Wirth is German-slash-Irish-slash-straight up pub food sans pedigree. My fish and chips was a foot long haddock fillet, still intact, laid over a bed of delicious fries. Cole slaw was decent, but the beer battered haddock was the best I'd ever tasted. This is the place Doyle's should've been and just isn't. It's a large place with a great beer selection and the Boston historical factor proudly mounted in the form of autographed newspapers and menus, photographs.... Over the bar there's a letter and drawing by Conan O'Brien. Hey, it impressed me. My boyfriend got the German mixed grill and exclaimed the entire time how delicious it was. It was also beautifully presented--the two kinds of sausages criss-crossed each other and sat on steaming potatoes, cradled by beds of red cabbage and sauerkraut. I had a bite of the red cabbage. Not my cup of tea. But the man who sat down next to us asked what he was eating then ordered the same thing. This place highly exceeds expectations. For it's location and food selection, there are a million ways to go wrong. Good thing Jacob Wirth ain't no fool.

    (4)

  • Desiree S.

    I'm biased because one of the bartenders here is my best friend (she's the teeny-tiny crazygorgeous Ecuadorian/German one), so I come here a LOT. But, even if I didn't know a bartender, I'd still come here. First off, the piano man makes the atmosphere super fun. You can't help but belt out your favorite songs since everyone else in the whole place is singing too. The bar can get pretty crowded, especially if the piano man is stationed right next to it. There are a million different types of beer, and the food is pretty good too, although I don't eat there often.

    (5)

  • Steve N.

    "is that Jacob Wirth place still in business?" "yes." "wanna go?" "why? "i don't know.' "exactly."

    (3)

  • Ken M.

    Sausages, red cabbage, German potato salad, sauerbraten, spaetzle and an extensive beer menu...what else could you want in a place? The service has been very good everytime that we have been there. The food has all been very good except for the sauerbraten the last time was a tad tough. We make special trips into town just to eat here and will continue to when the overwhelming craving for German food hits.

    (4)

  • john e.

    good selection of beer, and we had a great couple of appetizers. This place is WAY more friendly and professional than the joke up the road, 'Rock Bottom' . 'Rock Bottom' really lives up to its name.

    (5)

  • angela n.

    We stopped by briefly this weekend for an afternoon snack. I liked my potato pancakes. They were surprisingly well-presented with apple sauce, apple rings, and sour cream drizzled in a pleasing design. I don't think I'd ever had well-presented potato pancakes before. My husband liked his clam chowder. Big beer selection; we didn't take advantage of it, though. Service was fine but they never refilled our water on a warm day.

    (3)

  • Alan T.

    This may have been a German Restaurant once upon a time, but if that is what you are looking for, this is not it. It is a typical city pub with some German dishes added to the menu. The very limited selection of German meals are quite good. I wanted to go to a German restaurant, therefore I was disappointed. With the demise of the Wursthaus in Cambridge some years ago, there are not a lot of choices. Jacob Wirth's seemed to be a good choice. It wasn't. The beer selection is good, but that is quite common all over the city. The menu is typical pub food w/ the German selections. None of the wait staff appeared even remotely German. Really. None of the waitstaff appeared European at all, although they were all quite pleasant and helpful. There was no German music. "The Simpson's" cartoon was on a huge screen on the dinig room wall with the sound turned off (I kid you not). The table was set with a basket of corn bread (?!). Nothing wrong with corn bread, I liked it, but I did not chose a Cajun or Amish restaurant that evening. When we had to ask for mustard because there was only Ketchup on the table (!?), the waiter brought out a plastic squeeze bottle of French's Yellow Mustard. When he saw the look of amazement on our faces, he said "Oh, you want German mustard." He returned with a plastic bottle of domestic honey mustard, exactly what you'd want with German sausage, right? We didn't ask for anything else; why tempt fate. The sausage sampler, red cabbage, sauerkraut and potato salad were good. no complaints. The clam chowder was very good. The dessert menu was horrible. There was not even a German chocolate cake. The apple strudel (pseudo strudel: pseudel) was horrible. It appeared to be an Apple Turnover from a supermarket bakery section that had been microwaved. I ate it only because I hate to waste food. It was awful. I would have preferred a donut and I could have got a dozen of those for the same price. If you want to go to a German restaurant, do not go to Jacob Wirth. You will be disappointed. If you want to go out and have some beers and some decent food in a very loud and busy urban pub in the Chinatown/Leather-Theatre Districts area in Boston, then Jacob Wirth is alright for that. It is convenient to South Station, Tufts Dental School and Medical Center and Children's Hospital. Last word: I will not go back. False advertising.

    (1)

  • David T.

    Service is excellent. Food is tasty. Prices are very reasonable for the solid quality. Great comfort fare and a nice selection of beer. Recommended!

    (4)

  • Irving L.

    Went there for the first time on Saturday night, and to my delight they had an awesome selection of beers, ranging from imports to domestic. They also have an impressive list of bottled imports. The food, (first time trying German cuisine), was phenomenal. I had the Pork Schnitzel with my wife trying the Beer-Battered Fish & Chips. Going back to the beer selection, my favorite was the Spaten Optimator, which initially tastes like a malt beverage (yummy), with a bitter chocolate after-taste. Has an AVB of 7.8 so tread with caution. Others like the Paulaner Heifenweizen and the Celebrator also made the top list. Great atmosphere, high ceilings, tables close to one another, everyone having a great time, from couples to groups of 20. Can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Chris H.

    Stopped here twice during a Boston visit. Great beer selection. Super bar vibe from the 1800's. The had $1 root beer floats which made the kids happy on a hot July day. Food was good tradition bar food.

    (4)

  • Molly S.

    I had a pleasant experience here last Winter. I came in early (5:30ish), and my waiter made sure everything was prompt. The beer and wine selection is excellent, the food is great: "German" and not "Continental." They update the menu seasonally, there were some solid vegetarian options, and presentation was fancier than I expected. We had the pretzel appetizer, I had the butternut squash ravioli and my companion had some uber-German dish. The waiter was knowledgeable on the food, and it always surprises me when someone my age knows their German food. It was the perfect place to take a special guy out for a special night!

    (5)

  • Jean B.

    We have gone to Jacob Wirth, I don't know, at least 6 or so times at in the last few years. Most recently, we made reservations (MAKE RESERVATIONS CAN YOU HEAR ME YET?) and got there almost half an hour early on a BUSY Fri night and got seated before our time. Great. Only once (not this night) have we had bad, surly, and slow service. Most of the waitstaff is skilled, quick and helpful. The place is jumping. Loud. All kinds of people go there which is a recommendation right there. The beer menu is fantastic -- lots of Belgian stuff (no not Blue Moon fer godssake) German and other European brews, and a good selection of after dinner whiskeys as well. The food is not really German or Viennese, but it is good and plentiful (except that one off night which I should probably in all fairness stop talking about). Usually the missus and I get an app and a small plate each (enough food on it for a medium to small sized gal) plus a salad. The desserts are big enough to get a good taste and enough to share. Usually we get the potato pancakes for an app since we have no idea how to make those well ourselves. This most recent time, we ordered the Belgian beer steamed mussels instead of the latkes. Good choice.There were maybe 15 or so mussels,not a huge plate of them, but they were plump and fresh. Nice. The salad -- a nice garden salad -- our choice -- was generous and very fresh. The wife had jaeger schnitzel and I had a Jakes' sampler -- a couple of different kinds of wurst on a skewer -- maybe in total a large sausage's worth of meat, -- but it was billed a small plate and plenty for me. Down side? The place is really loud. It would not be a good place to propose, break up with someone, or process the relationship. We had no plans in that department and were content to chill and eat. You can have a conversation, but you have to SPEAK UP. we have never been there for live piano. I don't think I need to despite being a piano player myself. Make reservations if you go for dinner, and make them a few days out for sure. They got us out for an 8:00 show at the Wang Center no problem and we never felt rushed. Bis spaeter!

    (4)

  • Chris S.

    Good beer, bad food. Simple enough.

    (2)

  • Vicki T.

    If I could give a minus number, I would do it here. This was not only the poorest quality food we were served in Boston, it was truly one of the most disgusting meals I have been served anywhere. I ordered sauerbraten, but it was beyond sour. The meat was mushy, and tasted like it was rotting. One bite, which went into my napkin, was enough. There were four people in my party, and it was the low point of dining in Boston for all four of us. Enough said.

    (1)

  • Francesca R.

    Jacob Wirth's has achieved the rare feat of actually capturing the feeling of a European beer hall. The dark wooden chairs & tables, the high ceiling, the paneling...oh, the paneling. There is an incredible beer list--I finally found my beloved Staropramen--and service is cheerful although not entirely efficient. While there are some stock German options on the menu (where's the pork knuckle with potato dumplings?!), it's really just pub food. But it's pub food done right--good prices, good portions, and all very tasty. The real draw of this place is the lively atmosphere--it's loud, it's crowded, and you always feel like you're hanging out with 500 of your closest friends.

    (4)

  • Matt K.

    Jacob Wirth's gets 5 stars because of its (not overly huge) but well thought out selection of beer on tap. The environment on friday nights is fun, it features a live piano player which everyone sings along to. The food was nothing to write home about and prices were on par with other similar bars.

    (4)

  • Matt C.

    We went here for dinner for my friend's bachelor party. It was a bit crowded, but we had reservations so we were seated quickly. I ordered the Jake's Special Dark and a Boursin Mushroom burger. The beer was fantastic, hearty with a hint of chocolate, and the burger was as good as any I've had for 10 bucks. I don't think anyone had any complaints about their food or beer and the prices and service were pretty good. There was one thing that dragged this down from a 4-star to a 3-star. The piano guy, Mel. Don't get me wrong, he was pretty good on the keys. It would have been nice, though, if he hadn't rudely refused to play either of the songs we requested. Apparently "Bohemian Rhapsody" isn't a 9 o'clock song, and nobody was going to sing along to "Piano Man". We were encouraged to request songs, the songs we requested were in his songbook that he put on the table, and we were still turned down gruffly. Pissing off a table of 13 generally isn't good business sense. Management, rein this dude in or you're going to have more insulted customers.

    (3)

  • Frank N.

    The mixed grill is great. Pretty much all I get. I gotta learn how to cook sausage like that. Last time I tried it burned and broke in half =( I've been here a few times and each time I cannot resist...the german sausages that comprise the mixed grill. I can't really comment on how authentic it is seeing that the only other German place I've been to was in Brazil, but it's good in it's own right. Pretty good beer selection, and service each time was adequate. Overall, a solid restaurant, though it's often tough to choose this place when Chinatown is right there.

    (4)

  • Barney B.

    it's unfair to judge a place solely on the clientele for one particular experience - but since it's been years since I last came here, last night is all I have to gauge this place on. and while it wasn't late at night, it seems that the clientele thought this place more like a bar than a restaurant. not normally something I would complain about - except they also were tweaked out 22-year olds cranking up for a let down at their next stop (Gypsy? Saint? one of those for sure). I will definitely swing back for another try - and maybe dinner. But if this place has truly become Boston's college version of a Hofbrauhaus, I think it'll be my last.

    (2)

  • Hiep V.

    This place has so many beers I want to try. That's obviously asking for trouble if I tried to do that in one night. It took a while to get seated, but then again, it was dinner time on a friday evening. How else to pass the time but to order a beer from the bar and wait to be seated. Our waitress seemed miserable and inattentive. However, she was an aging waitress so I suppose it was understandable? I had ordered the Oktoberfest special (a three course meal with a half pint of an Oktoberfest beer of choice). The potato pancakes looked oh so delectable, but found it to be too bland. However, this was my first time having a potato pancake. My entree, the German mixed grill, was awesome. I had been craving sausages for a while, and the Bratwurst and Weisswurst definitely hit the spot. Unfortunatley, my desert never came out for some reason. But in any case, I was in no condition to attempt to eat the desert after having three 22oz and the half pint, along with the entree. I look forward to going back next time.

    (4)

  • Joe L.

    went in here for the first time recently after having been meaning to check it out for a few years. thumbs up... atmosphere (pretty big inside, with an open kitchen, and an upright piano - which i've been told gets used on friday nights) jake's nibbler (with really good grilled bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut, excellent red cabbage, and german potato salad served with tasty bitter sweet red beer sauce). thumbs down... i was kind of expecting some more traditional german menu items (a bit surprising seeing ravioli and fried calamari, but i guess that's how it goes). the beer selection was good, but i would've liked to have seen a bit less local offerings (pretty certain they have a little more americana beers on tap than german). overall though, i like it a lot. i could see myself giving this 4/5 with some more additional trips in the future.

    (3)

  • Jordan A.

    I almost hesitated to go here because of the negative reviews I read about re the service, cold cornbread, etc. That was not our experience. Service was fine, cornbread was warm and brought over right away. Beer menu is outstanding and we got salads and a side of onion rings. No complaints whatsoever about this restaurant and we really liked the atmosphere.

    (3)

  • F. B.

    Reminds me of the Berghoff in the Chicago Loop, but a cozier more casually intimate version. 5-stars for the same connections to the past. I imagine myself a rich business tycoon in the 1800's while enjoying great, although not authentically German, food. The beer is delicious and fresh. Have never found a house brew that matches up to the stand-alone products (no third party contract) , but even so there's nothing else like Jacob Wirth's Restaurant in the region.

    (5)

  • Michael I.

    This was one of the best dining experiences myself and friends have had in a long time. We go out as a group of between 8-10 people frequently and it's tough to satisfy all of us. Not so at Jacob Wirth's, fron cocktails(beer) to apps, main courses and dessert everything was excellent. Pork shank is highly recommended, the reuben was right behind, the fact that everybody's plate was empty speaks for itself. Recommend this place highly. Let's not forget the service and ambience whish was equal to the food.

    (5)

  • Kari b.

    Having had lived in Germany for a couple of years, I've been dying to find a restaurant in Boston that served up some good German food- or at least German beer! A friend of mine told me about Jacob Wirth's so we decided to go there and give it a try. I've been there several times now and will continue to visit this fine establishment! First off, they have an extensive beer menu, including both domestic and imported beers from Germany, Belgium, England, etc. I love the Hefeweizens, although it would be cool to see some other less commercialized brands of German beers other than Spaten, Paulaner, etc. The German food is your "typical" German/American restaurant fare- Sauerbraten, Spaetzle, Wursts, Sauerkraut, Schnitzels, etc. I particularly like the Sauerbraten when the meat isn't overcooked and dry (its hit or miss depending on the day), served over Spaetzle with Red Cabbage- YUMM! The last time I was there I tried the "Jake's nibbler", a sampler of their brats and wursts with sauerkraut, red cabbage and "bitter sweet red beer sauce". It was good, but I wasn't crazy about the sauce. I've yet to try any of the non-German items on the menu, but I've seen a lot of delicious looking entrees at the tables next to me and at the kitchen which is open. I like to sit at the bar tables and watch the chefs cooking away. I love the old look of the restaurant too- its a nice atmosphere. Some nights they have a piano player there which is a lot of fun to watch. Groups of people show up and sing songs out of the song books laying around. The piano player will play anything from the books and all who are willing are welcome to sing along. I've yet to do this.... maybe someday. It can get a little loud at times, so if you're looking to have an intimate conversation with your date, do go on the nights the piano player is there! The service at JW's is just OK. They aren't rude and nasty, nor are they super friendly..... They're just OK. Hey- "OK" is fine by me- beats some of the waitresses you'll find in Germany ;-) Jacob Wirths is a laid back, comfortable, fun place with good beer and food. My friend (who I went there with the first time) and I have made it a monthly tradition to go to Jacob Wirths for our girl's night beer and dinner after work.

    (4)

  • Topher D.

    The food was good and seemed fairly authentic, I got Jake's platter (or was it plate) and it was 2 sausages, a ton of kraut and potato salad for about 18 bucks, maybe a pit overpriced, but yummy - also got potato pancake app which was good - this place really shines with atmosphere though - we went for the Friday night singalong and it was well executed - only complaint is the 30 something hipsters who were a little too into it to be ironic, but most of the crowd was genuinely there for the right reasons imo; beer selection is also great, lots of things you just can't get anywhere else - service was quick enough, not super pleasant, but not expected to be - I'll definitely go back

    (3)

  • Alexander H.

    If you like real German food this is the place for you. I had the opportunity to go Jacob Wirth's with two of my friends, both of whom spent time in Germany and really enjoyed the cuisine there. They assured me that the food at Jacob Wirth's was for the most part right up the traditional Germany culinary alley although they also offer more "American" dishes to complement their menu. I tried their more authentic dishes, and it was delicious. On top of all that, the beer was some of the most fantastic I've had in a long time. Try the Adventinus!

    (5)

  • Chung T.

    I think a lot of Asian men enjoy eating sausages to compensate what they might be lacking. I personally like sausages more than bacons even though the former is made out of mystery meat. So, we decided on going to Jacob Wirth since it's the only German restaurants around that's within the public transpo route and with good reviews. I ordered sausages. And I didn't particularly favored them that much - for the amount of money I spent on those freaking sausages, I could've bought a 8 pack sausage from Stop & Shop. I ordered beer, and they weren't anything special. The only really redeeming quality of Jacob Wirth is their cornbread. I love their freaking cornbread! It's so damn awesome! I'd go back just for them cornbread, but no one else liked the food enough to go back. The server was great too ~ especially since I got some cornbread to take home. Heh... I've no shame.

    (3)

  • L K.

    first time visit yesterday. I like the interior and ambience a lot. like a german style beer hall. service was quick and efficient, the food was the problem. the wurst had been pre-cooked, stuck on a stick and warmed up. the sauerbraten was the same. does this place pre-cook everything and then just warm it up? I might try one more time but most likely not.

    (2)

  • Samuel W.

    Great food, great brews, good vibes. Friday nights are busy and fun (sing-along piano session). Thursday night seemed slow. Looking forward to moving into this neighborhood and being closer to this fine establishment.

    (4)

  • Mike L.

    I ate here once and forgot about it. The food was alright and the beer selection was decent. But fuck the owner of this place for threatenig his employees and verbally abusing them. It's bad enough they work for this dickhead so show some sympathy and tip them very well, that is if you even go to this place again. I'd say find new jobs for the staff and boycott this place. He should show some respect. I'd like to see this spineless mouth breather work for minimum wage at some food joint in Boston so he can see how it feels to be at the mercy of some cold hearted bastard like himself. One star for this place. Not because of the service, because of the guy who makes their lives hell.

    (1)

  • Keywon C.

    Convenient location; surprisingly large beer hall, loud and upbeat atmosphere. I had a good time. Large selection of beer; I cannot comment on the quality or authenticity of the schnitzle dishes but I liked it. We went during October and scored a free Oktoberfest beer glass. Service was good but I felt the price was a little too high.

    (4)

  • D D.

    Went several times over a week visit to Boston. The best schnitzel I've had, with delicious dill spaetzle. Try the German tasting menu, it's a great deal when shared with a date. Beer selection is superb and you feel just like you're sitting in a bier hall.

    (5)

  • Bryanne R.

    Jacob Wirth took me by surprise! While I was turned off the first time I tried to go here because of the massive theater crowd and long wait...I felt it deserved a second try... Was here on a Friday night (on the earlier side) and was seated right away. We were at a corner table so the whole restaurant was ours to watch. Our waitress, Katie - I think - was fantastic. Gave us the time we need to mull over the menu and gave us great suggestions. She was the perfect amount of attentive. I had the Maple Turkey Tips -- ohhhmyyygodddd So Good! Fantastic blend of flavor. Perfectly cooked and marinated. A restaurant also gets bonus points if there are ever raisins in the dish (in an appropriate way). The rice I got (instead of sweet potatoes) was tasty as well as the asparagus. Mmmmm! My boyfriend had the Crackling Pork Shank (which was Katie's top choice). Delicious! The meat was super tender and melted in your mouth. We tried the Chocolate Lava Cake (Katie's favorite) for dessert -- it was way sweet and chocolaty. Not the best cake to lava ratio, but we still ate it all. It got busier as the night went on, but the whole time it was still the perfect atmosphere for a good conversation while enjoying delicious food. High five Jake!

    (5)

  • Jonathan F.

    One of the best beer selections in Boston, food is pretty good and service has always been prompt and friendly when I've been there.

    (4)

  • Marco P.

    THE WORST FOOD IN BOSTON! The current management ruined the once magical German food restaurant by reducing the quality of food to 2nd rate dog food quality which is inedible (I never finished my appetizer or entree). The atmosphere is like Grand Central station with too many people rushing about, calling patrons over the loud speaker. The service is mediocre. Do yourself a favor and don't go even for free or with a Groupon offer.

    (1)

  • fred n.

    Good place for drinks and happy hour. Eclectic beer selection that satisfy most anyone's fancy. Burgers are the staple, anything else is pretty much sub-par, except the schnitzel, which is pretty good. Go here for friendship and fun, not for food. Bare wood floors and tall ceilings make this place less cozy and more barebones. Part of it's historic charm.

    (3)

  • Gautham D.

    The food at jacob and wirth is better than most bars in Boston. The beer is decent and the atmosphere is great. I really like the free corn bread whe you go for dinner. I have had the chicken fingers, the brats, the burgers and sandwiches. All of it has been good. The fries are a little disappointing, they are allways a little soggy. The main problem with this place is that the service is really really bad. It is a little disappointing that they have all this good food and nice atmosphere but the service is really bad! if you can live with that then go to jacob and wirth.

    (3)

  • Thomas H.

    Awesome! A great place to socialize, drink a beer, and enjoy some good food. Try Jake's Special and a Samuel Adams Brick Red. You won't regret it!

    (4)

  • Sean M.

    I'm not sure exactly why I have been a Boston resident since '97 and a couple weeks ago was the first time I stopped in to Jacob Wirth. I'm a sucker for old school feel and this place was all of that. Part German style beer hall, part Old-Fashoned American restaurant, Jacob's was inviting, warm, loud and boisterous upon entry. I was meeting a friend who was running late and was lucky enough to score one of the couple of metered spots right out front, so it gave me some time to grab a stool at the small bar in the front of the house.. I sat down and was greeted right away by a busy and friendly bartender who dropped a beer list with me and said she would be right back.. The beer list is fantastic here.. for anyone who likes German beer they have a great selection of German staples... Spaten, Hofbrau, Paulaner, Franziskaner all on tap.. they have a selection of cask-contidioned beers and a ton of other craft brews from all over all on tap and a BOATLOAD of bottles of all kinds.. Before the 1st bartender even had a chance to come back a 2nd friendly bartender grabbed my order and I had a delicious Spaten Lager in no time... enjoying a couple of rounds I soaked in the bar and hall and enjoyed the jovial atmosphere.. My friend joined me at the bar (and hooked me up with a bunch of quarters to feed the meter). We grabbed a quick round at the bar and then hopped over to one of the open bar tables and our bartender came right with us and grabbed our order.. We got a basket of warm pretzels and decided on ordering a bunch of small plates.. we opted for the Wiener Schnitzel, Jaeger Schnitzel, and the Jake's nibbler plate.. it's a combo of grilled Knockwurst, and Brats and sauerkraut, german potato salad and, red cabbage.. everything came fast dropped off by a food runner from the kitchen and was delicious.. the Schnitzels were both served on two different, delicious takes on spaetzles and were awesome.. we had more than enough food for the both of us and left full and happy indeed... I will most definitely be coming back to sample some of the more traditional American fare and soak in the atmosphere of this Boston landmark.

    (4)

  • Josh B.

    Best schnitzel I've had in, oh, ever? Also the spaetzle and cabbage were awesome. Great environment to watch a game, or just enjoy a happy hour.

    (5)

  • Mike F.

    Went to Jacob Wirth for lunch while in Boston for a meeting. The server was very friendly and prompt. I had a Cobb salad which was excellent. The price was not to bad, $30 after tip for two people. Overall it was pretty good and I definitely would return for another tasty meal.

    (4)

  • Melissa C.

    German pub. German beer on tap. Best Burger of my life. Need I say more? Seriously, the location is no good...but the pub atmosphere, food, and beer make it well worth the stop. The veggie burger goes beyond the frozen patty with lettuce. They put grilled mushrooms on top and a yummy gourmet cheese. I have never stumbled across such good pub food. Usually the food at a pub never can compete with the beer. But this place. This place is doing it right. First pub where I was able to find Hofbrau on tap. Great service. Decent prices. I would have had multiple beers if it wasn't for the urge to get out of the neighborhood before dark. Ich mochte Jakob Wirth.

    (5)

  • Krys A.

    After posting a bulletin on "Talk" yelp, I got a lot of good responses for restaurants to try in the Theatre District area, Jacob Wirth's being the one I chose. I took my boyfriend here before taking him to a show at the Wilbur Theatre which was right across the street. Right next to Jacob's is a convenient parking lot (FitzInn) with 2 hours free parking if your dining at Jakes! But we were watching a show and keeping the car there which was a flat rate of $15, still not bad. Anyways, we went to Jake's and there was about at 30min wait. We got a beer and hung out at the bar while waiting to be seated. We each ordered a different German beer, though I couldnt tell you what they were called for the life of me. Both we're good beers though!!! I noticed at the bar they had millions of different size and shaped beer glasses, I totally loved it! We were seated within 20minutes (not bad) .. we sat down and we're each handed 2 menus. One for food the other for beverages, .. the drink menu is BIGGER than the food menu, how crazy? Anyways, the waitress came took our order the boyfriend and I chatted for about 5minutes then some other guy comes around our table to drop off our food plates, it was so friggin' quick!!! We both got German meals, I got the Sauerbraten and the bf got Jake's Special. He finished his plate, mine was WAY too much food, though it was so good I didn't want to leave it but I also didn't want to carry left overs into a comedy show. We also got dessert, it was a chocolate cheesecake thing, that tasted like a little piece of heaven. If you like chocolate and cheesecake, you'll love that fine little dessert! Can't wait to go back! So many beers to choose from!

    (5)

  • Steve S.

    Its really hard to believe that I have never been here before. Jacob Wirth is an authentic pub style restaurant on the outskirts of Chinatown. It is a pretty large place and has the look and feel of an English style saloon...Not that I have ever been to England or would ever eat the food if I ever do go The menu is basic fare with a surprising amount of German cuisine..And they have a ton of beers. Unfortunately, this was a business lunch, so I did not partake What was surprising was the level of service. The waitress can not be more accommodating. My friend orders clam chowder and does not finish half of it. He does not eat potatoes(he is from Jersey). She offers to take it off the check. The food was served promptly and was decent. as well as affordable for that part of town or for any part of town these days. It is definitely worth a look.

    (4)

  • Kristin G.

    Great beer. Great food, great location. -1 star for the tiny, crowded tables @ the bar area

    (4)

  • John S.

    heard only good things about this place. Showed up with a table of 6 during lunch time. The menu for both food and drinks was very extensive, which is about the only thing I liked. The server was awful. He forgot about my drink order and delivered our appetizers and entrees at the same time. None of the food was very good. I had a mixed grill plate and was very underwhelmed. The dish itself seemed thrown together last second and the sausage was barely warm. The few things that went over well at the table was the burger and the desserts. I would have sent my plate back, but the server never checked on the table. Hah, they also failed to clear off our plates when dessert came. I've talked to many people who recommend this place, so perhaps it was an off day. But I probably won't be back.

    (2)

  • Justin G.

    Jacob Wirth is a cool place that you wouldn't expect to find on the cusp of Chinatown. When you walk through the heavy front doors you are greeted by a huge dark-wood bar that runs the length of the restaurant and houses the taps of some amazing beers. As you may have divulged from the name, Jacob Wirth is a German themed "tavern" that serves up great German fare for a decent price. Their sweet potato fries are great as are their burgers which you can custom make to your liking with many different types of toppings available. If you want to keep things authentic try their Jaeger Schnitzel which is made with mushrooms and a Jaegermeister reduction. They always have a great selection of domestic and imported beers with most of them being on draft. Jacob Wirth is a great place to go with a large group as they can easily accommodate large parties. The place can get noisy on weekends so don't come here looking for a romantic meal unless you are willing to sit outside. Do come here for great , authentic German food and a great beer selection.

    (4)

  • Stephen K.

    It's pretty cool here. The bar's been here since the 19th century, and you can still see some fire damage from over a century ago in some parts of the building. I was sitting here once, drinking beer and eating pretzels with this tasty spicy mustard they have - also some mediocre corned beef and cabbage - when water started dripping onto our table from the ceiling. Old building, what can you do. The food is pub grub with a bunch of German items like weiner schnitzel, but who cares, really, the beer's more important. Major points for having Franziskaner dunkel on tap - it's not the best beer there is but it has sentimental value. They don't have that many beers here, not when compared with a place like Sunset, but it's still a decent selection and the staff is pretty chill. I've gotten free stuff here from drunken waiters late night.

    (4)

  • Khalid S.

    Food was good. Service sucked, definitely not a place for lunch on a workday. Place is dirty.

    (3)

  • Jason M.

    Best German in the area

    (5)

  • Brian S.

    I went the Thursday before Harpoon Oktoberfest expecting to go with their fixed menu with free tickets included. To my disappointment, they were only for Friday admission, not as advertised. Really the only reason I went, but O-well. I ordered a beer that was almost warmer than room temperature when it arrived. BOOOOO!! I decided not to say anything, because I like beer no matter what temperature. I changed my mind on the pre-fixe and went with a rueben sandwich, which was just so-so. The fries that came with it were cold, and mushy. And I don't mean that the fries were not at their ideal temperature... they were literally cool to the touch. RED LIGHT. I sent those puppies back. My girlfriend's experience was a bit better in the sense that the only bad thing with her food is that her sandwich was really dry. On top of all that, there was no atmosphere, place looked like a warehouse, and service was "ehh". I left totally disappointed about... pretty much everything! I might give it another shot at some point... it had potential.

    (2)

  • Lisa C.

    Jacob W. and I were shopping on Boylston Street for the holidays and found ourselves at the common, cold and hungry for dinner. We had been discussing this place for a while so we decided to take a stroll in that direction for a nice beer to warm us up and some German food (since we havent had German food in Boston before). This place was MUCH bigger than I expected it to be. It is a very deep restaurant with high ceilings and was actually quite reminiscent of a beer hall. We were seated immediately and were served some nice cornbread right away. The beer selection was pretty good and the service wasn't bad. We ordered a couple beers which were both delicious. Jacob W. had had some sort of a wurst that was the restaurant's specialty and was served on bread with sauerkraut. I had the jaeger schnitzel small plate. Both dishes were tasty and filling and absolutely hit the spot.

    (3)

  • Bethany T.

    Been here a few times; this time to catch a quick meal before the David Cross show (awesome, BTW). Had the Warm Chipolte Turkey Sandwich; they said that it had "fresh turkey" on it, so when I got it I was a bit disappointed that it was more like cold cut turkey; it was still very good. Started with a Hoegaarden at the bar and after getting to our table and ordering my main course, asked for my 2nd beer to be a Staropramen; the waiter brought me another Hoegaarden. I was a bit miffed given that I wanted my Czech beer. The service was not as attentive as I was used to getting there, especially considering I've come with bigger parties (there were only 2 of us) at busier times of day and gotten more. I like this place, but this experience didn't measure up to the others.

    (2)

  • L D.

    I feel like this is a pretty well-known restaurant downtown, so I don't know why it took me more than three years to try it. Better late than never though, right? My friend and I came here on a Friday night a little after 7:30, which I'd say is past peak dinner hours, but we still had to wait 30 minutes for a table. The place was PACKED. I'm not a fan of maneuvering through crowds, so I have a hard time....everywhere. But I guess it's nothing that a beer couldn't fix. We were able to grab two from the bartender and snaked our way to an area toward the back, where we could be out of the way and rest our drinks on one of those little half-bar thingies that some restaurants have. Anyway, cut to dinner. I ordered a cup of the tomato basil soup, and the steamed bratwurst. The soup was so yummy and perfect for a chilly early winter night. I'd consider myself a tomato soup aficionado, and this soup was just right, and not made with cream, which was a plus. Perfectly tangy, with the right amount of texture, yet not like marinara sauce. Yay! My dinner was steamed bratwurst on top of red cabbage with a side of sweet potato fries. I love brats...love 'em...and this was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and cooked so that there was a bit of "snap" when you bit into it. I didn't eat the sesame bun it came with, but it looked good. The red cabbage was pickled, I think so very tangy, sour and yummy. And you really can't go wrong with sweet potato fries. The beer selection looked pretty wide-ranging, and they also bring out tasty cornbread while you're waiting for your food. That's not very German but neither is tomato basil soup.

    (4)

  • Julian M.

    Given the reviews here, I guess I had high expectations. I've been to various germanic countries a couple of times, and I've sought German restaurants in a variety of cities. The atmosphere was very much that of a German pub. Very open, I liked it. If you ignore the center of the menu you can find a good selection of German foods. They have a good selection of beer. The presentation of the potato pancakes was wonderful. The sauerkraut was fine and I was given plenty of it. I just wasn't that impressed with any of the types of wurst I got. They were definitely good, but they weren't quite as good as I would expect of a highly-rated German restaurant. There was just something off with the texture and taste. I noticed one review from a former employee that mentions that the schnitzel is better than the wurst. I'll keep that in mind. Given how rare German restaurants are, I can't say too many bad things; I'll definitely be going back. I hope my future experiences are better--I'll change my rating if they are!

    (3)

  • Sue D.

    Jacob Wirth would be a solid 4 stars if it weren't for the abysmal service. I can't express how bad it was. We had to ask for menus about 3 times, begged to have the order taken, and then pleaded for the check. It was not busy for an early Friday night (~6 PM). The Jaegerschnitzel was tender and succulent, just like it should be. The beer selection is great. They had the new old Narragansett lager on tap and lots of great German brews. A singalong broke out while we were there. It was terrible. Curse you all who sing Jimmy Buffet - jackasses! I would go back another night, not Fri or Sat and sit in the way back dining room.

    (2)

  • Matthias J.

    The only truly German thing about this place, is the imported beer, and that you can get in many liquor stores. The sausages on the grill plate come "sculptured", as raw vegetables in some Thai restaurants and taste nothing like I have ever had in my 10 years I lived in Bavaria. The menu is filled with non-German dishes like St. Louis style BBQ ribs, veggie burgers, mac & cheese and clam chowder. They offer "steamed bratwurst". Let's be clear: Bratwurst translates into FRIED (the brat part) and SAUSAGE (the wurst part). There is no steamed fried sausage. You may steam many other sausages, but never bratwursts. I hear the original owner is long gone and with him probably most of the German connection. If you want real German food, cross the border to NH and go to Bavaria German Restaurant in Hooksett.

    (2)

  • Robert S.

    My boyfriend and I went here one night before going to the movies. I had a veggie burger. Most places don't have decent veggie burgers, but Jacob Wirth does! Can't speak to the German food they have (not much of it is vegetarian), but they've got a mean burger.

    (4)

  • fraulein v.

    Not as my grandma made, but still decent. The beer selection is great, I went in time for Ocktoberfest they had a great selection of seasonal beers. The food is fine, it looks authentic but lacks that home made feel. I love the building and the feel of the old beer house.

    (3)

  • Evan L.

    I had high hopes for this place given my growing up with German food in the house... it was... pretty bad unfortunately. Far too pricey for what you get and the quality of the food was like a German truck stop diner. Actually felt sick after. Great beer selection but the waiter knew nothing about them. Got lucky with my beer choice. Not a great idea to serve a heaping pile of boiled red cabbage on a thin hamburger bun--inedible. The place is kind of dumpy... has a dirty, college pub atmosphere. Like Sunset Grille but with sticky tables and bad food. We all agreed that we threw up a little in our mouths when we read the pureed reuben dip on the menu. Dislike.

    (2)

  • Marek S.

    I think I need to go heer dont you?

    (5)

  • Jatin R.

    Amazing beer selection. Pretty good food. Classic wooden decor. Yummy pretzels.

    (4)

  • erik s.

    Being wistful about a great trip to we took to Berlin and having just read a Germany travel piece in The NY Times, I was curious to discover what German restaurants Boston has to offer. My search led me to dinner last night at Jacob Wirth in Chinatown/Theatre District. I was familiar with the restaurant having walked passed it on Stuart Street numerous times. The exterior looks promising enough, however upon crossing the threshold I sensed immediately that I'd made a big mistake. To clear up a misperception, Jacob Wirth isn't a German restaurant. It is just very loud bar offering many different types of beers that serves a few German-like menu items. The food we ate was bad. (My partner had the Weiner schnitzel and I had the "Jacob Wirth Special.") I don't recommend eating here. Drink beer, have an appetizer, but dine elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Spencer N.

    If you like beer and lots of fried food that ends in -itzel...than hell yeah this is your place!! The beer selection is a bit crazy but so far ive enjoyed what ive had there. The burgers and sandwiches are really good. Im not usually impressed by sandwiches because...i mean i can make them at home, but these are gooood. Get the reuben. The corned beef is killer. Im also tempted to try the big plate of sausages but i think that would be a little overwhelming. However get a bunch of gay guys together and a plate of meat logs...and it could lead to good times. I love this place and their crazy german foods

    (4)

  • Becka D.

    Solid 4 star rating. Really only loses points on being *slightly* overpriced, the patio is a letdown (only 4 small tables - with 3 people taking up 2 of them for no reason what-so-ever), and the cheese plate is a disaster. I am a cheese lover, and I'll eat pretty much any cheese...this was just, bad. Save yourself the calories and don't go there. Everything else was fabulous...warm cornbread as soon as we sat down, good beer/drink selection, the shrimp was good (according to my roommate) and the potato pancakes were delicious. And thumbs up on the service too.

    (4)

  • Liz C.

    The first time I went to Jacob Wirth's (about a year ago) I was very happy with my meal and my service. But either they've gone downhill or we hit them on a bad night because my last dining experience there was pretty bad.

    (2)

  • Darin T.

    Faced with a late nigh dinner alone, I looked for something simple yet satisfying. Wandering through Yelp's list of places near my hotel, I found Jacob Wirth's. Just a few blocks away, it seemed promising. As other reviews point out, it is a bar restaurant combo. For a Saturday night, it was pretty slow when I was there, but then again, it was after 10. I was looking for a dark, local beer, on tap and was not disappointed by my server's recommendation of Jake's Special Dark (a native of Boston). I had this with the Fish and Chips. The fish was done perfectly. It was accompanied with a tasty cole slaw and a good size serving of "chips" which were also hot, and perfectly done. I noticed that they had a selection of 3 Belgian style beers. Unfortunately, these were only available in bottles. I settled on the Duvel. This was the only point of the evening when I was disappointed. I was almost finished with the Duvel when I discovered a fruit fly that had decided to "end it all" by drowning itself in my beer.

    (3)

  • Brian S.

    One of the best beer lists in Boston, and the food is equally good. I'm a Tufts medical student so I come here pretty often with classmates. Sometimes we run into professors there and we all just have a blast. Be sure to go on Friday nights for sing-a-longs (they have a 200-page book of song lyrics and a piano player to boot)!

    (5)

  • Katia M.

    Been to Jake's for drinks, not for a meal. Can't beat the beer pricing -- $2 a pint for Narragansett! Awesome. Have been able to get a post-work stool and watch baseball/check out the sports page and the bartenders were quick with a refill even though the place had quite a few people packed in there. I'm excited to try out the food sometime ... this has been my go-to after-work place for a couple weeks and I'm liking it a lot. Update: They raised their Gansey price to $3 per pint, which is still not bad. PBR is $6 a pitcher, so it's all good. Meanwhile, they've got tasty buckets o' sweet potato fries, and the AWESOME hot pretzels with this amazing vinegary mustard dip ... I don't even like mustard, and I LOVED this stuff. I'll be back soon, and until then, I'll be dreaming of the pretzels. The only bad thing is that I overheard some waitress cooing about Peyton Manning being hot ... ?!? My head's exploding just thinking about it. This place could be a bit better in terms of sports watching, maybe throw a TV with a better angle in near the bar, but all in all, I'm still a fan.

    (4)

  • Mats K.

    Good German food with a traditional German beer hall feel. (sans the sawdust on the floors) The food was genuine tasting and very good. If memory serves it was in the $20 per plate range. The selection of good beers was, well, very good (this is a necessity in a German Restaurant) I haven't been in a while, but I'd definitely go again.

    (5)

  • Ren P.

    I am a fan but I don't go for the food or the beer. I go for the singing. Just be sure to make a reservation in advance, be specific, and don't bother going when it's hot as hell outside because the place has no A/C (at least it didn't last time I wanted to go . . . . my party left because it was too hot). As a side dish to the singing, I very much enjoy the beer and fries and pretzels. I try to bring people who eat meat with me so they can order real food. And yes, I have brought just about everyone I know to Jacob Wirth's. For the singing!!!

    (5)

  • jim I.

    This place is great. Not only is this a historic Boston classic, but they still work hard to keep the food quality and beer selection high. Best German restaurant I can think of outside Munchen. My friend Megan H. wants new chairs... I say, stick w/ what works.

    (4)

  • Collin C.

    Jacob Wirth is in the second oldest restaurant establishment in Boston, serving up German dishes along with standard pub fare. Jacob Wirth is a fun place that brings a much needed change in Boston, from the thousands of Irish pubs. High ceilings and plenty of unique German/ local beers on tap. The decor lacked any real German flare, instead "The Jake" looks more like an old time oyster house with beer banners hanging from the ceiling. The food is good, however the menu is limited. The basic German staples were there, Weinersnitzel and Sauerbratten but that is basically it. The Sauerbratten was especially delicious, with a strong vinegar taste. Unassuming and not pretentious, This is a great place to go if the waits at near by park square restaurants exceed your patience, or if you have been walking around Boston all day and are just looking to relax by downing some Bavarian brews and enjoying some solid german style comfort grub. On Friday's there is a sing-a-long, which I will be sure to check out.

    (4)

  • H S.

    Four stars right off the bat for being able to seat a party of like, 19 around 11pm on a Saturday night. The beer menu is really good, and prices are great too. I had a reuben and sweet potato fries, both excellent. Waitress was a little flaky but to be fair, the place was busy. I'll be back for sure... it reminded me too much of a German beer garden, and I'm hooked.

    (4)

  • Megan F.

    Went here for early dinner after catching a movie on a Sunday afternoon. The place was hopping but not super busy, yet no less than 5 employees walked by us standing at the host stand with not so much as a single "hi" or "we'll be right with you". The lousy service continued through our meal when it took 15 minutes for my boyfriend to get his second beer. When the server finally came back with the beer she apologized and explained they had to change the keg. That's totally fine, but you couldn't have let us know that was the problem right after you went to get the beer? At least then we would have known what the delay was instead of thinking our server forgot about us or fell off the face of the earth. The food quality wasn't great (supermarket freezer veggie burgers??? Come on) but it wasn't awful, and admittedly my boyfriend and I weren't ordering the entrees Jake's is known for. The beer selection is awesome as promised, and honestly it's the only reason I'll come back to this place again.

    (2)

  • William G.

    The food is above average for a pub, the beer list is excellent, the piano player is fun, but the service leaves some to be desired.

    (4)

  • Kat L.

    Go for the clam chowder and corn bread! Specifically break up pieces of corn bread and soak them in the chowder. Beyond yummy. It is my favorite quick fix for some comfort food. They have a great beer selection and the food has always been good. If you sit at the bar, service is no problem. However, I have had some really lousy table service (slow, inattentive).

    (4)

  • Doug L.

    I love the ambiance, beer selection, and delicious food make Jacob Wirth's a great place. On two separate trips to Boston I came here to sample the private selection Harpoon and Sam Adams brews. The fish & chips are the best I've had in the US (nothing has matched ones I had in UK) and the bratwursts were quite good. It can get a little crowded but it is well worth the wait.

    (5)

  • Dennis T.

    Setting: 1880's style bar and restaurant. Comfortable tables and chairs set in a large room that also holds a bar. No table cloths but cloth napkins and well used flatware. Looks well used, but pleasant. Service: Young servers who are generally helpful. Food and beer: The beer was good. I had Jakes Special, a dark beer and enjoyed it. My daughter had a beer sampler and liked all the beers she tried. The fried pickle appetizer was OK, but not something I would rave about. The entrees were all pretty poor and my wife thought her dish could have been spoiled. I had a wurst sampler. The bratwurst was good and the white wurst was just OK. The sauerkraut and red cabbage tasted too much of vinegar and the potato salad had the texture of mashed potatoes with a strange taste. I had nothing that I would want to have again (other than the beer). My wife says she will have nightmares about her dinner and will write her own review. She wishes she could give a minus number of stars. We would never bother to go back to this restaurant again. I could not recommend it to anyone as a place to eat. I really wanted to like this restaurant!

    (1)

  • Katy D.

    The food was good, but the service was slow and clumsy. Our waiter was really nice so i feel bad for saying that, but he took forever whenever we ordered drinks, seemed confused when we asked him to clear plates/empty beer glasses ("You're done, do you mean you want me to take those?") and food runners kept bringing the wrong dishes to all of the different tables around us. It was a little strange; don't the order tickets have table numbers on them? We had to ask multiple staff members to get silveware for our party, and it took us 15 minutes to get our waiter (after all of our plates were cleared) so we could pay. The food, however, was yummy. Fried pickles and corn bread to start were great, as were the sandwiches and salad we got for our main course. We ended up being late to a show because of the slow service, so just give yourself 1/2 an hour more than you need if you have plans after dinner!

    (4)

  • Karen D.

    This is my first review :-) I felt I had to write this because our service last night was that good. Came here with some friends for a birthday. Maryann was our waitress and she was the BEST waitress I have had in a long time! She patient, even though it was crowded, someone ordered a salad without shrimp and she brought the shrimp out in a bowl in case anyone else wanted them since we would be charged for them anyway. Great food, great service. I have been here before but never for dinner, and I would definitely go back. Loved the pretzels, and just had a great experience overall!

    (5)

  • Max K.

    really wanted to like this beer HAUS, unfortunately the service sucked any chance out of that happening. the atmosphere features nice casual tables and is brightly lit, as opposed to the mundane dark bars in Boston (this scored some bonus points). the lady and i ordered beer and burgers, however on this occasion it seemed the kitchen was deciding how we wanted our food. after a while of banter and beers we began to notice the burgers were taking a while to come out. Insulting enough the restaurant then pulled the "waiter doesn't speak English maneuver" you know when they send a different waiter over to explain the situation instead of your waiter. The gentleman could barely barely speak English. I was very displeased. he said the added some ingredients to the burger and if it was OK. i kindly said no, its not OK that the food was prepared wrong, and that i would like it the way we ordered it. i also asked for a complimentary beer for the additional wait. to which he had no response as he tried the "i have no idea what your saying" face. when the food finally came out, my girlfriends sweet potato fries were amiss on top of the other mistake. we gave up after not being able to find our original waiter for 15 minutes. when my beer went empty and became parched i asked a random waiter for the manager. apparently the waiter was new, so i felt kinda bad, actually really bad. but pulling a Houdini wasn't pleasurable. they ended up taking 1 of the burgers off the bill. idk if I'd return back, as the large beer menu is no longer "the only show in town" novelty in Boston

    (2)

  • Benjamin C.

    First off if you go here make sure to make a reservation! The reason I didn't give this place 4 stars is because the hosting service is terrible. I called ahead a time and asked if I needed to make a reservation. They said no and that it would be a 3-5 minute wait. It is busy beyond belief when we get there and the table seater tells us it will be a 40 min wait. At this point our party didn't want to walk anywhere else so we decided to wait. Little did we know that they call people through a horrible intercom system that makes anyone who speaks through it sound like the teacher from the Charlie Brown cartoons. Because of this we missed being seated twice and our 40 minute wait turned into an hour and a half wait. The reason for the 3 stars is because our waitress was very attentive, the food was great, and the beer list was excellent. So if anyone one from the restaurant is reading this FIX YOUR GODDAMN INTERCOM SYSTEM!

    (3)

  • William R.

    We went there for lunch and it was not crowded for a Friday. Probably it was the holiday weekend and people left early. The food was fine for a typical lunch menu. Service was good and the only issue was that they did not have their featured beer. How can you not have a featured beer on a Friday?

    (4)

  • Beth J.

    Talk about good customer relations! After writing this review, one of the Assistant Managers at Jacob Wirth contacted me to acknowledge that that somtimes it gets very busy and customers seem to get forgotten. They mentioned that they are constantly trying to improve upon that fact and offered me a free meal to say they we're sorry. This was more than unexpected and leads me to say: Jacob Wirth knows customer service and how to please their customers. No wonder they get a bit behind from being busy!

    (5)

  • Marshall S.

    Went to Wirth's on Fathers Day with my daughter. Had heard the restaurant had started to slide, but was very pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. Excellent Weiner Scnitzel great bratwurst with excellent side dishes. Good service, reasonable prices and an excellent beer selection. With all it's history this is a great place for lunch or dinner.

    (4)

  • Sebastian C.

    Jacob Wirth has a lot of history. A lot. You can see autographs from Conan O'Brien or Peter Falk. The food looks great, but for me it was only 3 stars, because the German feel it's almost gone. Yeah, you can see Erdinger or Hacker-Pschorr signs everywhere, but if you want to order a good German weissbier, there's no chance. They don't have it. Only bottled and not the best. It's more of a typical American bar, not the German bar it once was. In the end it's a cool place to see and have drink or eat.

    (3)

  • Matt C.

    Atmosphere was fine, old-ish restaurant with a bar that seemed homey. Service was fine, food was good, and then we saw a mouse scamper across the floor and we promptly left.

    (1)

  • Evan M.

    Jacob Wirth is within Boston's theater district and it's a great spot for dinner or a drink before a show. The restaurant has a long history and still commits to the German decor and menu. I'd suspect the food selections have adapted to modern diners as there are plenty of burger/fries offerings on the menu as well. Upon entering you'll see a long bar to your left and bar seating to your right. Go further in towards the open kitchen to meet the hostess and enter the large dining area with a beer hall look/feel. There is a GREAT special available on select nights, $40 two entrees, one appetizer, one dessert. We tried the sausage/sauerkraut fritters (meh), our entrees were wiener schnitzel and steak tips both very good with generous portions. The steak tips marinade does have a bbq sauce flavor, just a note. Dessert was a take on German chocolate cake, very good yet we were already stuffed. We chose the dinner special but regardless, the a la carte menu is also reasonably priced, including the wide selection and sizes of draft beer. This neighborhood has a lot of chain restaurants which makes Jacob Wirth even more unique and appealing to me. Recommended.

    (4)

  • Jenan A.

    I used to enjoy going to Jacobs Wirth for their great burgers and equally great and huge selection of beers. They used to serve 30+ beers on tap, with 5-6 different IPAs, which was great ... Well, this was the case until a few weeks ago. Now they have 5-6 beers on tap, if you're lucky. Their printed drinks menus is outdated and the list held with the server is ever shrinking and not being replenished Every time I've been in the past three weeks, they have a reason why they're out of beers. Today it was "oh, we're waiting for delivery". Seriously guys, what's going on? a burger without a decent beer is like a fish without a bicycle (in the words of U2). Tell us what's going on, are you changing hands, being sold and developed into apartments like the building next door? So so so very disappointed ....

    (1)

  • Max W.

    I've been a loyal patron for the better part of a decade, and things have only gone downhill. The food seems to be increasingly greasy and americanized, and less crisp, fresh, and German. Also, the service has been terrible, lately. Take tonight's experience, for example: Our server, who didn't introduce herself, told me that the *only* seasonal beer on tap was Sam Oktoberfest. I figured they had been run through on the seasonals, so I tried to order a Leffe Blonde, which I knew was on tap. She shook her head and pointed to the "Sam Adams Oktoberfest" line on the menu. Fine, I like Oktoberfest. Later, as we waited almost 30 minutes for our food, I saw other patrons drinking all kinds of wonderful, tasty looking draft beers that weren't Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Huh? I ordered the broiled swordfish (probably my mistake, but it was on the menu), and it was so overcooked that it looked and tasted like chicken. I needed a knife to cut it. The menu indicated that the dish was served with asparagus and mashed potatoes, and the runner brought me a plate with a tiny, charbroiled chunk of fish and asparagus, no potatoes. He said nothing about this, as if I wouldn't notice that 1/3 of my order didn't arrive. When I inquired about it, I was told "we're out of them" and received German potato salad, instead. Okay, I like the German potato salad. I was using a groupon, which I've used before there (other groupons, not the same one), and it took almost ten minutes to "locate a manager" who could redeem the groupon. Finally, I could pay the bill and leave. So, to recap: Server with zero knowledge of beers available? Check. Long time for overcooked and incomplete entree? Check. Bizarrely long wait for a man in a t-shirt and jeans to click a button on my iPhone? Check. I'm sorry to be leaving this review, but it's the cumulative result of a series of increasingly disappointing experiences. Jake's must be going through tough times, so do yourself a favor and wait to go until things are better.

    (1)

  • Robo T.

    Casual, very family friendly americanized german food and american pub staples. Beer list is pretty good. The knockwurst and sauerkraut was decent and did not turn me into a.... sauer kraut. I see a few reviews talking shiz about the spaetzel. The spaetzel shiz talkers can skadoodle because the spaetzel is pretty darn good. The wiener schnitzel is also tasty and recommended. I haven't tried the jaeger schnitzel yet but thats next on the list. I suspect this boston institution is not what it was when my father was going here starting in the 1960s through the 1990s. The whole place could use a facelift - it needs a bit of a restoration but definately not a remodal. However these walls are rich with history and we wouldn't want to change that too much. Its a relic of times past which is refreshing in a city with fairly steady redevelopment and modernization. Only downside was the live entertainment on the piano. It was obnoxious and terrible.

    (3)

  • Elvira V.

    Ordered a pinot grigio, didn't taste like it. We wanted to have second round of drinks, and it took nearly half an hour before somebody picked up. While the bar was not even half full. Toilets need to be cleaned up Wouldn't go back here

    (2)

  • Joey M.

    German-esque food with a good beer selection. It ain't cheap, and it ain't vegetarian friendly. But by golly is it downtown. The veggie burger is meh, I prefer the veggie Ruben... which is a veggie patty with Reuben fixings. Maybe offer some spetzel (sp?) without meat on top? Overall a fine place to go but don't go out of your way to go there. Note to management: Its summer and your place of establishment is incredibly hot. Turn on the damn AC or buy a fan.

    (3)

  • Jess S.

    Great beer choices whether you want an "exotic" German pick or to stick with your standard Sam Adams. I also love that it's big and loud and hectic, giving it somewhat of an authentic German beer hall feeling. With that being said, I don't know if they just didn't have the AC on yet or what, but DAMN it was HOT in there on a fine May evening. Granted, we were sitting in the back and the open door in the front made it much better up there, but beware of the sweltering back of the building. Or just buy more beer to cool off. (Dumping it over your head may work?) On a different note, the veggie burger was on the bad end of the spectrum. The meat options are likely better. You can also get a veggie patty for other sandwiches, like the rueben, which is nice but I'd skip it because the patty just wasn't up to pare. (Tasteless.) Our waiter was nice and handled a rowdy table of 15 quite well. He kept the pitchers of water and mugs of beer flowing swiftly.

    (3)

  • Marina B.

    All the build up and years of wanting to eat here as an old Boston institution caused such a disappointment. First to ask for a credit card up front to make a reservation is arrogant and a security risk. Who knows how and if -in today's age- they can protect data. Secondly, the food is bland and mediocre at best. My potato pancakes were served cold, the Wiener Schnitzel was over cooked an tough as shoe leather with the breaking falling off and the spaetzle was cold too. I'll never go back. Save you money unless you want just beer.

    (1)

  • Hung-Hsun H.

    There bread is pretty good, and it's free. Besides, dont forget to check if there is a groupon available. I bought a $20 for a value of $35 coupon, which is a good deal.

    (4)

  • Jamie S.

    Jacob And orthodox has a fantastic vibe--laid back and boisterous. With a talented musician playing covers on the piano and a plethora of beers to try, if I want to have a fun night out with my friends, this is always a stop on our route. However, this last time I was there was disappointing. Most of the beers on tap were not working, so it was a guessing game as to what we could drink. Our servers was friendly and nice but it was hard to get his attention and we had to go out of our way to order from him. This was my first a poor experience at this restaurant, so I will be coming back. I just hope they actually have libations next time.

    (2)

  • Jason O.

    Can you say BOMB? I can. This place has possibly the most delicious, mouthwatering wings I have ever tasted. The only downside is that they are expensive. BUT, the upside is that they are incredibly crunchy, flavorful, and filling. Seriously. These wings are like CANDY. You can't just have one. You can't just have two. Hell, you can't stop eating until your stomach is about to explode! The massive beer list? Even better. Beer + wings = orgasm in mouth. Amazing wings....omg.

    (4)

  • Thomas C.

    Looked to be an old-style drinking establishment. The assortment of beers was good. I had something German. It was OK, but 2 days later, I couldn't tell you the name or much more than I was thirsty after a hot day in the sun at Fenway, and that beer hit the spot. Wife and I shared a sampler to get a flavor for the diff German specialties. The red cabbage was good. Spaetzle OK. The pretzels good. Sauerbraten good. Sausages better.

    (3)

  • Robyn B.

    I really enjoy coming to this place. Awesome beer, friendly staff, plenty of tables (it's huge!), cool decor - definitely feels like you're in a German beerhall! It can get crowded sometimes but the service has always been attentive. Came here at 8pm on a Friday and there were plenty of tables open. The food here is decent, especially after having a few drinks, but I mainly come here for the ambiance, beer selection, and to grab a bite before seeing a show at the Wilbur (right across the street). It's fun for after-work drinks or a casual weekend hangout, and definitely a unique spot in Boston.

    (4)

  • Lindsay M.

    Yes!! This place is awesome! Bavarian food in the Theater District, who would've known! I received a gift card for this place and I was dying to try it out. It had a very unique menu and food that I've never had before. Just a heads up: this restaurant is more of a bar than sit down. The waitress was very nice and friendly but, the service was on the slow side. Other than that, I am definitely coming back for the food and beer! I got the swordfish steak with compound butter and mashed potatoes: it was heavenly. Ate every bit! My friend got the burger with fried mac and cheese on it and she said it was unreal. We also got some ale cheese dip and chips for an app and it was quite interesting! Never had anything like that before. I had found a delicious wheat beer to go with my entree as well! Cheers to this place!

    (4)

  • Jennifer E.

    JW is one of my go-to spots for dinner when I'm going to a show in the area. The location is kind of funny, as it is a German restaurant in China Town. I have been a few times for dinner and the German dishes are very good. I had their beet salad once and wasn't a fan so I recommend sticking to all things sausage and wurst. Their beer selection is awesome but the prices on numerous beers is pretty sky high (seven dollars for a pint of IPA?!). Their locally made sausages are delicious and I really recommend their sauerkraut and spaetzle. The dill spaetzle isn't a listed side but it comes with a few of their dishes so I just ask for it as my side with their other dishes instead of fries or other potato dishes. So good. The atmosphere is lively, open and bright. They have live music at times and pretty good food and drink specials. Service is pretty decent although at times I find the staff to be less than friendly. I still would give them four stars mainly for the quality food and drink.

    (4)

  • Nicole W.

    Love this place on simply history - i've been coming here since i was little with my mom! On a recent trip back, it was a must do after a stair climb and with good friends, and to introduce the hubby. The ruben was good, but not as amazing as i remember, the sauce was more pickely than i remembered. Pretzels were delicious, pickles spears were ok (i like fried pickles chips, so that is just a personal preference.) I love the location, plenty of wood, curved back chairs, wait staff and servers with heavy accents! Tons of yummy beer! The location is older than you and I and it's great!

    (5)

  • Ed M.

    I used to eat here often when downtown and liked the schnitzels and the beer and the strudel. That was many many years ago. The place changed ownership some time back and lost the authenticity of the food. For example the schnitzel meat must be pounded thin to be tender, and the breading must be light. It was neither. I think they tried to recreate it but haven't succeeded. Chef probably never h2 real German food. Ownership change here and Locke Ober have not worked. Too bad, cannot find a good Wiener schnitzel in beantown anymore. Maybe they have it at the Kempinsky? probably not.

    (2)

  • Rick L.

    Overall I really want to like this place more. The food is solid...sausages and schnitzel get big thumbs up from me. I like the open interior and old bar which reminds me of many places I visited when I lived in Germany (minus of course of the Ice-Cold Shot contraptions....Patron, Fireball, Jäger, etc...) Very solid beer selection too with many via the bottle route and taps that revolve with the season. They do seem understaffed though, especially at the bar. Very very friendly staff, but seem swamped. A few of the beers were no longer available, but that can be expected between seasons (I caught the tail-end of Octoberfest). However, the couple next to me at the bar weren't too happy about it. Definitely worth a visit if you are craving German eats and beers....

    (3)

  • Robert B.

    I went to this restaurant 30 some odd years ago with my sister and parents when she first moved to Boston. I loved it then. It was a much more traditional German restaurant as I remember it. Now it is very different... more of a bar than a restaurant. I liked it better then... but I still love it. Not much has changed with the building in well over 100 years. Getting to choose from the incredible tap beer selection in what is essentially a museum is pretty awesome. It's a little disappointing that the menu has degenerated into mostly American bar food... but the German specialties remain pretty good. This is an overall experience kind of place... and I loved the overall experience!

    (4)

  • Diana L.

    I really do like the atmosphere here, it's very cute! The decorations are nice and it's usually bustling and fun inside. I came here for a beer dinner with Jack's Abby last year and then a few days ago came by with friends to get beer before getting food in Chinatown. The server was very busy and messed up our first beer order and then messed up our check so we had to ask her to redo it...which we felt bad about because it was really busy but she charged us for 3 drinks that were more expensive than the beers we actually had. The food I had at the beer dinner was okay, I couldn't eat some of it because there was too much. Nothing on the menu really blew my mind. I like coming here when I have a gift card to use up, but I would recommend hitting this spot for the beers, not really for the food.

    (3)

  • Georgina B.

    Just what I needed. The best burger I've had in YEARS. The fried Mac n cheese was unbelievable. I haven't been there in 7 months and I still crave that meal. Until I visit Boston again I will just have to wait.

    (5)

  • Jeremy M.

    If you like beer, they have a great draft beer selection! I couldn't decide which I wanted to try so the waiter brought me some samples. Also they have a 45 cent wing special and their wings are great, especially their sesame wings. The 4 stars is due to their slow or lacking service. Sometimes we wouldn't see the waiter for 30 minutes and would have to wave frantically at him from across the room...still not getting any service. Bottom line: Good beer and wings, but they may need more servers.

    (4)

  • Moha A.

    First came here in 2010 during the world cup to support germany. Lots of free swag and a good crowd. Huge screens too. Came again recently for a birthday on a friday and it was so fun with the live piano karaoke! Drinks were good, and i had the smoked sausage which was alright. Not many options for vegetarians or only white meat eaters. A great place for the entertainment more so than the food. The live karaoke is with throwback americana songs ala american pie, so that was fun and different.

    (4)

  • R C.

    We were really looking forward to eating at this place and it was the first restaurant we went to after coming to Boston. We ordered the German Sampler plate and the Jagerschnitzel. What a disappointment. It's like none of the plates were seasoned with anything. The bratwurst was tasteless. The sauerkraut tasted spoiled and the potato pancakes tasted like hash browns. It was all so bland. There was nothing German about this food. We should have been suspicious when they brought a bowl of cornbread after seating us. Cornbread? Germans don't eat cornbread!

    (1)

  • Matthew L.

    First time in Boston, wife made reservations at this place . I started with the Chowder which was pure delicious. I ordered the Corned Beef Rueben and it was one of the best Reubens I have had. The corned beef was sliced think with a wonderful Russian dressing on a toasted dark rye bread. They were having the $.25 Hot Dog Night. Ordered these for the kids. Had a bite to try and these were delicious!

    (3)

  • Lauren E.

    I went here prior to a movie. This place is nothing to rave about. Service was spotty; our waitress was on the inattentive side. I read online about speciality cocktails for the holidays. When I asked our server about them, she knew nothing about them and wasn't really helpful. I saw a couple of instances of toilet paper being dragged from people's shoes onto the main floor. I ordered a grilled smoked bratwurst with a side of sauerkraut. My meal was okay and the only reason I am giving this place extra stars.

    (3)

  • Joelle K.

    I had dinner here with some friends last night. We took the first table we saw in the bar area. I wouldn't recommend sitting in this area as one of the bartenders will wait on you, which makes for slow service. The restaurant has a fun beer hall environment with lots of different beer options. I only wish they had more draught beer options. We shared the pretzels and mozzarella sticks for an appetizer. Both were great. For dinner I had the schnitzel sandwich. This comes on a pretzel roll with mushrooms, cheese and some sort of sauce on the side. I really enjoyed the sandwich. It was cooked perfectly and was so tasty. The onion rings that I got with my sandwich were good as well.

    (4)

  • Mary Jane J.

    Food? good german fare. I'm not super keen on it but my husband was stationed in germany for four years and he likes it a lot. I stick to their salads (and mac 'n cheese). But who cares when Friday is sing-a-long night? I have introduced many friends to this and we all love it and when we want to go out and can't think of much to do on a friday night, you will find us here. giant beer selection, too, so be sure to take a cab home!

    (5)

  • Ania L.

    Holy moly, tons of beers! Food selection was interesting, but in the end my favorite part was the corn bread and butter they hand out.

    (3)

  • Greg M.

    Subpar service on top of less than appetizing food. Your money that they will be better spent elsewhere. We feel we were prejudiced because we asked for non alcoholic drinks. We got iced tea foe $3.50 a glass. I should have bought a beer on tap for $2.50. We bought salads which looked better on the menu than the actual salad OVERPRICED. No dressing on one. Waited forever just to get dressing which Ranch not Italian like we ordered....I had a bowl clam chowder while looking over $23 weiner snitzel which after the less than lovable chowder and 2 salad and 2 iced teas which came to a $32 bill, we decided we had enough. Go elswhere!

    (1)

  • Aj T.

    Yes it gives a German feel. They have a good beer selection. Not very expensive beer ($7-8 for 500ml) considering that a lot if it is imported from Germany and elsewhere. Not many vegetarian options. But the vegetarian burger is good. The potato salad has meat chunks in it (so don't order it as a side if you're vegetarian) They do NOT serve Radlers. (Urrrghhhh why can't America start consuming them!!? They're the best!) Too loud and the live music on weekends is also very loud. Not ideal if you only wanna talk. And no, the waiters DO NOT speak any German there!! :(

    (3)

  • Robert D.

    What should be a beautiful space in the theatre district is in fact an unholy dump with a handful of misinformed tourists. The "sausages" were obviously warmed over from days long past; the "schnitzel" old and heavily encrusted, smothered in thick brown ooze. Well, not really ooze; ooze would maintain some semblance of the characteristics of a liquid. This was more like something out of an environmental superfund site. As to the spaetzle, I am speechless (because I am still trying to spit it out). As to the rest of the menu: who knows what they are trying to accomplish. Feh.

    (1)

  • Julia K.

    This is an institution in Boston, so if you are visiting definitely stop by. I would recommend coming here for beers and the evening singalongs but perhaps pass on the food. The wiener schnitzel sandwich was tasty - lightly fried and not overly soggy with oil. I also really liked the pretzel bun. However, the jake's black label sausage sandwich had such a weird taste. I think it was the combination of the spices and cooked beer that left a strange, almost rubber and medicinal taste to the meat. Whatever you do, don't get that dish because it takes an acquired taste.

    (3)

  • James H.

    This place is A-OK. The German food is decent, but nothing special. Solid European beer selection and plenty of sloshed tourists singing "Piano Man" to share it with. On that 'note', the interior is a large open room (as in a beerhall), which can become quite loud with what the singing and such rambunctious congregation it arouses in the crowd.

    (3)

  • Jordan A.

    Fun place to come for beer, decent food and entertainment. I came here before a show at the Wilbur Theater and enjoyed myself. The restaurant itself is one of the oldest in Boston so the building has a lot of character. You can tell the woodwork is original and I think the furniture may be too, so you sort of feel like you're stepping back in time when you're there. If you love beer this is definitely the place for you. There's a ton of beer on tap and they cook with it a lot. Try the sausage and sauerkraut balls- delicious and served with a grainy mustard dipping sauce. I came on a Saturday night and there wss a German band playing which was pretty cool. I hear the place has a rowdy October Fest celebration. Definitely an interesting place and Wirth checking out.

    (4)

  • AL C.

    Boo! Booooooo. Cold, dry, definitely NOT house-made. This was the worst food I have ever had at a restaurant. I can't even put Jacob Wirth in a "Worst German Food" category. It was terrible. I ordered a house sausage (with special house spices) with sauerkraut and sweet potato fries (because sweet potato fries are German?) My food arrived cold, the fries were so, so stale, and the sauerkraut was just awful. The sausage was dry, and cooked like a hot dog on a griddle. Besides the food, the service was pretty bad and the restaurant was dirty. I'm not afraid of a little dirt and I'd expect a little dust on a restaurant that's been in Boston for a hundred years, but the level of filth in this place was terrifying. As we were eating, chunks (CHUNKS) of dust were falling from the ceiling. I made the mistake of looking up to see fans, ducts, and beams coated in dust. Dirt continuously rained from above our table. I am not exaggerating. Our waitress was rude to our party of six, which seemed odd considering we were surrounded by parties of ten or more. The women's bathroom was filthy and made me feel generally unsafe, there was no door separating the actual restroom from the restaurant. In addition to the cramped wash room, there were tacky notes all over the stalls asking the patrons to flush the toilets. It just seemed very strange. If you are traveling to Boston and someone recommends Jacob Wirth, do not, under any circumstances go there. If you are looking for outstanding German food and a clean, fun environment, check out Bronwyn in Union Square.

    (1)

  • Chris D.

    worst (Wirst?) service i've encountered in a very long time.

    (1)

  • John G.

    You know the blonde guy in the Bodyguard who they THINK is the stalker? They put him in an interrogation room and he just keeps repeatedly saying "no"? That's how I'm going to be the next time anyone proposes we dine at Jacob Wirth's. The food wasn't that bad, though the fries were cold. The service was lacking. Also, we ate outside and there was this strange laundry smell engulfing us. It was strong. Very strong. I wondered if it wasn't some type of repellent. I asked, but the waitress wasn't able to explain what it was.

    (2)

  • Adam W.

    Sub par service but decent food. Ambience was pretty lame for a fun Germany brewery wAnna be restaurant. Wouldn't return.

    (3)

  • Kevin D.

    We ate here on the way to the symphony on a recommendation from a friend. It was good, but nothing spectacular - though, I will say we did not partake in any of the alcohol offerings because our flight was super early that morning and if we drank we were afraid we'd fall asleep at the symphony. That may have made a big difference because I see a lot of folks rated the beer very highly. With that said, let's talk about the atmosphere. It has a very beer hall atmosphere, which is what I was expecting - so that was fine. Service was fine too. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and it was just average, I think. But hey, I get it. People don't come to a place like Jacob Wirth's to get a vegetarian pasta, so I'll cut them some slack there. However, my husband got the sauerbraten (or something, sorry for the spelling) and he generally loves everything - but felt that while it was good, it wasn't exceptional. He found it sort of bland, which I thought was disappointing given all the rave reviews. I wouldn't discourage people from going here, it is obviously very popular - so maybe we were just victims of our expectations being a little too high.

    (3)

  • Melissa Y.

    I was so excited to try this place, but it was a disappointing experience. My fiancee and I went on a Wednesday night, so it wasn't crazy busy either, so I'm not sure why service was so slow. We were basically ignored the entire time we were there. The beer list was outdated, the food very mediocre. Our appetizer was never brought out and we had to ask twice for the check. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Tim G.

    Jacob Wirth is a unique dining experience in Boston. Established in the late 1800s, this restaurant offers hearty German fare at reasonable prices. The ambiance takes a cue from German beerhalls, and the bar has a wide variety of German beer options. The menu is as close to "authentic" as you can get in Boston but I'm sure it's on par with "German" food at Epcot Center. I usually get the wienerschnitzel, pretzels, and wurst. I'm usually not a fan of sauerkraut, but I think the sauerkraut at JW is great. Ultimately, the food is flavorful but not memorable. On weekends, you might find an oompah band playing in the corner or a Bayern Munchen game on the TV. The restaurant tends to get crowded during the theater rush (the Wang Center and Opera House are nearby). So plan accordingly. Although it's not a regular hangout, JW is a great option for birthday parties and special occasions. They're great with large groups (especially if you make a reservation). This is a child-friendly environment so bring the kids!

    (3)

  • Ben S.

    I first came here on a warm summer day, which I think is the wrong time to fully enjoy this place at its best. The key draws here are heavy comfort food, and delicious dark beer. As I type this, all I can envision is a spot at the window in the dead of winter, 10 degrees outside in a snowstorm; I'm getting really, really hungry thinking about it. When those conditions are met, I'm likely to come back to give Jacob Wirth the 5 star review that I'm pretty sure it deserves.

    (4)

  • Roxy L.

    Not a super authentic place. The brats are made locally and don't taste like what I've had in Germany. Good beer selection and lots of space but just an okay place to eat.

    (2)

  • Vitaly E.

    Used to enjoy going there. This summer, after a long absence, had a meal at Jacob Wirth 3 times. It used to be better. The draft beer selection is down - used to have over 40, now a mere 24. You'd think it's enough, but, for instance, there was not a European Pilsner. One doesn't go to a place like this to drink Budweiser. Food was never gourmet, but these 3 times it was kind of poor quality- half-raw sauerkraut, so tough and 'sauer' it makes your eyes tear, potato salad, dressed apparently with vinegar alone, bland, tasteless 'Black label' sausage... The vibe is still the same, though, and if you go there for drinks and company, you'll still enjoy it.

    (2)

  • Amber X.

    They have really good Porter! Cocktail is a little pricey, just OK. Food has really big portion.

    (4)

  • Timothy A.

    Great little find in the south end. Not a huge selection of German food but what the have is good. My wife really enjoyed her schnitzel, and my sausages, potato salad and kraut were excellent. In addition they have a fairly wide selection of beer on tap and I enjoyed both their regular amber lager as well as the dark one.

    (4)

  • Ken C.

    Great Surprise. I have known about this place all my life, and it has been in business forever. Jolly German beer hall feel, great beers and hearty fare at a decent price.

    (4)

  • Tim B.

    Lived here 30 years and never been here, so we tried it. Food was very average. The one German dish we ordered, weiner schnitzel, was the worst of the lot, very below average. Bland and uninspiring. On the upside, great beer selection, good service, and great atmosphere. Too bad the food brought the experience down. Might be 30 years before I go back. Oh yeah, the spaetzle was gross.

    (3)

  • Ribblet N.

    Was actually going to another restaurant, but was in dire need of a drink. It was 90 degrees outside and inside. Ordered a chips appetizer and was big. Am willing to comeback on a cool evening and try some sausages.

    (3)

  • Veronica H.

    Good service. Good drink selection. Burgers were meh. Full disclosure: I went here for lunch while 24-weeks pregnant. This isn't the best lunch spot when in such a condition. I was unable to sample any of the beers, for one! I got a burger in an attempt to avoid the processed meats. It was less than impressive and it was clear that they have burgers on the menu for the people who came with friends but didn't want German food. The regular fries and German potato salad looked good. I got sweet potato fries and they lacked flavor. All that being said, I did mention it to my husband who was stationed in Germany for 2 years and always enjoys a good German restaurant (and, of course, beer).

    (3)

  • Del J.

    The food was just barely above bar food and bent an aspirin for all the loud drunk singing. Kinda fun for 15 min but beyond that is too much

    (2)

  • May C.

    Really enjoyed coming here. Came here my first night in Boston thanks to a friend's suggestion. They have a huge beer selection, which to me, is awesome. It's great if you want to try something new. I ventured out of my usual brew and tried Peak Organic. I really enjoyed it. As for the food, it was A+. My friend got the mac and cheese (which he says is phenomenal), my boyfriend got the Reuben sandwich (which he says is one of the best reubens he's ever had) and I got the fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich I ordered was HUGE. The sweet potato fries I got were delicious as well. Atmosphere is nice as well. There is someone playing the piano and singing when we walked in. The only downside is you can't really talk to your friends if you sit near the piano. The music just overpowers everything. Service is pretty good. Nothing special. She was nice and came back to check on us once after we got our meals. Overall, great place. Amazing food, nice atmosphere and average service. Would totally come back.

    (4)

  • Raye L.

    We went here before a show at the Wilbur for something to eat and a few beers. Out waitress was attentive and asked if we were seeing a show so she was aware of the time. The beers menu is fairly extensive. I'm not a German beer guru, but there were pages of beers to choose from. Love that! I chose a Leinenkugel Oktoberfest which was really solid. The warm, soft pretzels with mustard were great as a app. My wife had the drunken meatloaf and loved it. I enjoyed the Mixed Grill with some sausages, sauerkraut, red cabbage and mashed potatoes. Very good. The place has a nice old feel to it. Old wooden floors and tap handles throughout. We'll be back!

    (4)

  • Adam G.

    I was on a mission to make the trip to Jacob Wirth when I realized there was a German Restaurant in Boston. It was a while (and a couple of attempts) before I was able to make it here and while I was worried that my expectations were built up I was blown away by the Food and the service here. I ordered the Wiener Schnitzel and Spaetzel and it was superb. The Wiener schnitzel was served in a creamy lemon sauce and the Spaetzel was dill flavored and cooked to perfection. I had Aventinius Bock and Coronado Idiot IPA (supposed to be one of the best IPA's) the bartender (Mahesh) was awesome and we were talking about different kinds of breweries and beer. Amazing customer service and knowledge of beer. I will definitely return and will be excited to do so! Don't change Jacob Wirth!

    (5)

  • Darren F.

    This is one of those places most Bostonians either love or hate. A German restaurant in the middle of Chinatown? All right, seems like I'm missing a joke or something. At best the food is average, at worst inedible and sent back. It's happened more than once. At best the service is normal, at worst beer snob waiters cracking jokes about your preferences and forgetting orders. The staff is usually drinking themselves and hamming it up with regulars or other beer fans at the expense of the other patrons. It's big inside, with a cool decor and the prices are very fair, especially for in the city, but the food isn't particularly even worth the the decent prices. It's definitely a place for beer fans, with a large selection and German imports, but that's about it. There's also a ton of better places in Boston for beer fans than here, you're in the city after all. The food and service are enough to make me say no to coming here again, there are just too many other great places in the city to eat to bother with this one. When the cool old iron clock outside is the highlight of your restaurant, something isn't right.

    (2)

  • Crusing C.

    I had a lot of fun at this place. The selection of beer is extensive and fun! Especially with their sampler special. And the German Chocolate Cake was a bomb! The waiters are professional, courteous and for the most part, seem happy and engaging. They were very attentive to our needs and had tremendous patience with us. (We take our time.) The food....Gimme my schnitzel. It was so good I had to go back the following week to try it again. I can still remember the taste of it so clearly. It was absolutely delicious. And their Pretzel buns? Oh my Goodness. Those were the best 5lbs I ever gained in my life. If it was more affordable, I'd be there every day. But eventually I'd break their very fragile and apparently old wooden chairs. Y'all gotta be careful with that. One star off for toothpick chair that holds only one of my Pretzle buns.

    (4)

  • Leah K.

    Went to Jacob Wirth for dinner with my boyfriend for dinner before Jim Gaffigan at the Wilbur. It was really fun. It was nice to see a German menu in Boston (we eat a LOT of American food). They had a man doing trivia...from memory. It was pretty astounding, but also a little distracting. Very strange, but also cool? I can't decide. ANYWAY I orderd a small plate of jager schnitzel, with wild mushroom sauce and sweet pea spaetzel. The mushrooms and schnitzel were delicious, the spaetzel was a little mushy. I loved the peas in it, but thought it could have a had a little more bite. I also had some schoenhofen beer, grapefruit beer that is incredibly delicious and came in the BIGGEST PORTION. Mmmmm I can't wait to get some more! Our waitress was wonderful, we didn't see a lot of her but she was extremely kind and helpful.

    (4)

  • Scott P.

    My second time here and won't probably be my last. I'll like to make it a sure stop when in Boston. Love the German beer, food, and ambience. Piano playing guy. Tall ass beers, Old ass building(1868). Bathroom was kind of sketchy. Service and food were great.

    (4)

  • Eileen K.

    It was my first night in Boston, and my friend's flight was delayed so I had to find a dinner place to dine by myself (It sounds lonely, but honestly, its not that bad and i dont mind eating alone, especially in a new city to explore!!) . I wanted something near my hotel (DoubleTree in downtown). The front desk recommended this place for some good clam chowder, and seeing how easy of a walk it was, decided this would be my first meal. They have a bunch of German options. Because I was by myself, and I wanted to try a bunch of different things, I ordered small appetizers. what i got: -Jack's NIbbler: (straight from their menu: "Samplings of Grilled Knockwurst and Brats, served over Sauerkraut, Red Cabbage, and German Potato Salad with a side of Bitter-sweet Red Beer Sauce") This one was ok. nothing too special about the sausage, the rest of the plate (the potato salad and the red cabbage) were tart and sweet -Potato Pancakes: (straight from their menu: "Served with Cinnamon Cream Freche and Fire Roasted Apples") I liked this one!! Crispy savory potato pancake, balanced well with the sweetness of the mushy apples. -Clam Chowder: I dont know if its because this was my first clam chowder in Boston, or i was so famished, but this was SO DELICIOUS. chunky, very clam-y, and so creamy and soothing!! -I got a beer but i forget which one. I think i asked for their recommendation, and got a sam adams? i have no idea. All in all, i think this was a good first meal/snack for me, especially if you're staying in downtown and dont wanna venture too far bc ur too tired from your flight, or you are just lazy and its already late.

    (4)

  • Curtis M.

    When i first moved to Boston this restaurant was by far my favorite. I kept going over and over again. My main issue is the vintage decor could host a bar with pre prohibition cocktails, and high end stakes without issue, but doesn't. The vintage interior surpasses the rest of its program as it stands. The owners built a beer bar and food program that feels a little more casual than high end. No other restaurant in the city has this look and feel of this vintage institution . It may potentially be the most authentic and historic restaurant in the city of Boston. It took me a few times but the inside of this sexy restaurant can easily blind you to the lack of potential its living out in her old age.

    (3)

  • N P.

    This place is terrible for customer service. We have tried to go here twice and both times were denied service because they were "closed." Last night we walked into the bar at 8:50 p.m. The bar and bar tables were full of people drinking beer. I went to the rest room and told my husband what beer I wanted to try. When I got back to the bar a few minutes later and my husband was just standing there and I asked him what's wrong. He said the bartender said they were closing and couldn't serve us. REALLY? You have a full bar and you can't serve us 1 beer at 9:00 p.m.? Terrible customer service...We won't try to come back!!

    (1)

  • Dave P.

    PARKING Street or nearby garages. Good luck. ATMOSPHERE My girlfriend and I went on a Wednesday night and there was a trivia. The host of the trivia was extremely loud and annoying. My girlfriend thought it was entertaining but I thought he was annoying. Otherwise it's a fun atmosphere. Very casual. SERVICE The woman who took served us was also managing the bar so she was very busy. or at least seemed busy. She forgot my beer. She forgot my girlfriend's side dishes. She wasn't very attentive. Otherwise she was friendly but the service overall was extremely slow. And they sat us right next to the main entrance and it was freaking cold as hell that day. People kept opening the door and leaving it open. It was super annoying and yet the bartenders or any servers didn't do anything about it. FOOD 1. Rueben Stix: awesome. Get it. 2. Pretzel balls with cheese dip: Good. Get it. 3. Wiener Schnitzel: It was okay. The breading was falling apart so that was slightly unappetizing. the egg noodles were good but overly garlicky. The side veggies were good. For $23, I was expecting something better. Disappointed. 4. Smoked Bratwurst: It was also okay. Not great. the Garlic mashed potatoes were really good though. CONCLUSION: Meh. It's more of a bar that happens to serve German inspired food than a German restaurant that happens to serve alcohol. Next time, just order some beer and some bratwurst and save your money.

    (2)

  • DJ Micaiah M.

    I had a groupon for this place. Really liked it. It is kind of a party bar. They had a gigantic alcohol and beer selection. German flags everywhere and Oktoberfest!. They have authentic Bostonian and German food! I tried to Wienerschnitzel, it was fantastic!

    (5)

  • Jason I.

    Rather than be redundant, I echo many of the grievances people had with the service and food. I have no idea why people go here. There are numerous better places in the area.

    (1)

  • Timothy T.

    Monday night is cheap-ass wings night. Situated on the border of Chinatown and the Theater District, this place does not belong. No matter. What does matter is that the venue is large, the staff are friendly, and if you eat too many wings or drink too much beer, Tufts Medical Center is across the street. And, they give you corn bread for free - ain't nothin' wrong with that. Specializing in both German fare and various beers, on any given day, one can eat a schnitzel and get a pitcher of the daily special for maybe $12. On any given day, you will see hospital employees in scrubs downing some Hofbräu or Paulaner Hefeweizen. On any given day you might enjoy whatever games are being played on the big screens or the projector. I ain't got time for any given day... but I got time for cheap-ass wings. On Mondays you'll see anyone from medical students to Europeans from the hostel next door - all mostly with the same goal in mind: down some wings and beer on the cheap. For $0.25 each - essentially AYCE - you can choose crispy wings from plain, buffalo, BBQ, or sesame Asian flavors. Heck, why don't you get 4 of each for a easy $4.00? Split a $12 pitcher with your boy and you are looking at a full tummy and pocket. As for the taste: pretty good. Why only 4 stars? 1/2 off because my server, while nice, took what seemed like 5 minutes to understand my order of "12 buffalo and 4 bbq". For some reason, she just couldn't comprehend the numbers. Dock another half star for some wings being not-exactly-warm. (^_^) Venue (^_^) Options (^_-) Service (^_-) Food (^_^) Bang for buck Glad I came. Will be back for wing night and maybe happy hour, which apparently does not exist in Boston. This city needs more food specials. PROTIP: Them wings is big. Plan accordingly.

    (4)

  • Tony S.

    The beer selection is alright and the food looked tasty, but there is almost nothing German about this place. The coors light pitchers kind of killed it for me. If you are going for traditional German feel, don't even include this place on the list.

    (2)

  • John J.

    Ok....that pretty much sums things up. The beer selection was good, but only good as I would have expected more German beers on the menu. I sat at the bar, typical for me, and the service was poor at best. It was not a very busy night, but the woman behind the bar seems to be pre-occupied with other things and could not speak up so that I could hear her (there was no music or other distractions playing). I ordered the tips which were well cooked but very fatty. I guess I can say I visited Jacob Wirth, but I can also say I wouldn't bother going back.

    (3)

  • Raymond M.

    Came back for lunch on Tuesday. Service was more attentive. That's good probably was just that day I got the pretzel salmon this time. It was a bit over cooked. It was well presented and was overall okay. It could have been better if it was not that dry. Oh well on to the next thing here next time! Still though the wursts are very good and would recommend!

    (4)

  • Evaldo P.

    My favorite place for beers and bar food. The Ruben is the best. Great atmosphere and good food. They do close early for downtown bar.

    (5)

  • Jillian C.

    Let me start by saying I have been to Germany and have had authentic German food. This food was like McDonald's compared to authentic German. The best part of this restaurant was the draft beer selection. Everything else is described as mediocre at best. I hade the Jäger Schnitzel and my fiancé had the Wiener schnitzel sandwich with German potato salad. The service was bad from the hostess to our server to the ones who continued to bump into my fiancé to squeeze behind him when they could have walked around. The food came out within 5 minutes of order and while it was not busy a fresh prepared meal should have taken longer. The decor does screams Germany with dark wood, but more like what Americans think Germany is like on crack. I'll pass on the future.

    (2)

  • Denise S.

    Early Thursday evening and they're out of the Ale Cheese Dip? Really? Would think that was a staple. Really wanted to try the Weiner Schnitzel but not recommended by fellow Yelpers. Was also hoping to find Stiegel beer which is what we drink when we are in Austria. No such luck. Went with the grilled Brat on a pretzel bun over red cabbage with side of German potato salad. Pretty solid and it hit the spot. Close to hotel so it was convenient but wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.

    (3)

  • Charles K.

    Try to avoid sitting in the front section near the bar. The service is usually terrible in that area and you'll be stuck with people hovering over you while you eat. To get to my review, I'll say this... I've been coming to Jacob Wirth nearly twice a month for 7 years and I've ordered the same thing consistently-- the warm Chipotle Turkey Sandwich with German Potato Salad. It used to be absolutely amazing but the quality in the past few months has gone down considerably. The turkey has been consistently dry with little to no chipotle sauce, which makes it hard to recommend. Additionally their recipe for the German Potato Salad has changed for the worse in the past few months. Now it has way too much vinegar and I wish they would go back to how they were making it before. As an aside... The theme nights are pretty good. I enjoy the trivia, and piano with Mel is a staple. -- Specifically for my 9.8.2014 visit, the service was quite horrible. It took 13 minutes for the waiter to stop by and take our order. At the 35 minute mark we had to flag down the waiter to ask to get our waters. We finally received our food at the 47 minute mark. To add to my disappointment the two sauces (chipotle sauce and BBQ sauce) were left off my Chipotle turkey sandwich. I ended up replacing it with mustard since the waiter never followed up to ask how the food was. Despite how much I used to like this place, I can't say that I'll ever return.

    (1)

  • Anthony J.

    Great beer selection, Food is always delicious, and you'll never leave here hungry. I've tried just about everything on the menu and i haven't been disappointed yet.

    (5)

  • Douglas S.

    I was told this was a great place to go. Good food and great German beer. Yeah! No German beer was on their very pathetic list. If you want the 6 worst IPA's come here. That was another issue they had at least 8 IPA's and still had Pumpkin Ale's. Yo, most Pumpkins are gone by NOV. So, no German Beer let's try the German food! I got the German mixed grill, ands all I got I say is, two hot dogs with some fermented cabbage. Not that good. If you claim the German/Europe style, please live up to at least part of it....that's my opinion!!!!

    (2)

  • Nicole E.

    So I actually didn't get any German food while I was here but had a chicken sandwich that was great. It was also MASSIVE and I couldn't finish it. I couldn't wrap it up as we were going to the theatre afterwards so I felt bad. Anyway, the decor is fantastic and I was certain we were actually in Germany. Minus one star for poor service, I mean really we had to beg for out waiter's attention. Total space case.

    (4)

  • Christy H.

    Great beer selection! Fun for large groups. Piano man and singing crowd is a good time. The food was ok and the food wait was long. Make sure to make a reservation to get a table. It fills up pretty quickly on the weekend. Definitely recommend for beer!!

    (4)

  • M A.

    Great Teutonic fare. Bier ist gut! We ordered three beers, house salad, Jake's nibbler, schnitzel plate and salmon for $73-can't beat that. We sat outside, and despite the traffic and creepers walking by, it was enjoyable.

    (5)

  • Samuel F.

    Just managed to get out to here recently, and I'll return sooner rather than later! The restaurant is a classic beer hall, steeped in Boston history. Extensive beer selection (though I have yet to sample that since I was there before a long movie), the staples of German cuisine, and insanely huge portions. Fortunately, they offer "small plates", their smaller portions of schnitzel could easily be mistaken for a full main course in a lesser restaurant. If you want to get sides or appetizers, that may be the way to go. (Or get full main courses and share!) The jaeger schnitzel with spaetzel was amazing, and I second the recommendation for the potato pancakes. Service was fine for us, though it wasn't too crowded early in the evening. For maximum enjoyment, take the train there. Given the location, it's a good place to go before a show or movie. After is even better!

    (4)

  • Timothy J.

    Food was delicious. The atmosphere pleasant. Service was pleh. Food served quickly. Though our server never once smiled or seemed to care about our experience. A smile would have went a long way. My advice to be sure that the staff knows what guest service is.

    (3)

  • Monica L.

    Extensive beer menu. Solid food options. As an app, get the fresh hot pretzels and try the mustard at the table. Yum. For dinner, you can't go wrong with wursts, especially with red cabbage and German potato salad on the side. (I skip the sauerkraut.) BEST German potato salad I have ever had. The saurbraten was delicious too (comes with spaetzel and a gingerbread sauce). The appetizer portions of both the wursts and the saurbraten is enough to fill you up comfortably. Get the dinner portion if you want leftovers. They have piano sing-alongs, trivia nights, karaoke, sport game nights etc. A good time is always to be had at Jacob Wirth. Side note: Groupon usually has deals for this place. Keep a look out for it, as it is an amazing deal (options for two ppl, four ppl, and a take-home German party.) Crazy amounts of food.

    (4)

  • Roxana F.

    Friendly bartenders and great beer selection. Definitely recommend.

    (5)

  • A B.

    I would give the food a solid 3.5 or 4 stars and service probably only 2 stars. Honestly, the service was weird. The guy came to our table and was like "what drinks?" I said i needed more time and he returned 3 sec later to find out what we wanted. I dont like servers to be super outgoing and talkative, but a alittle something would have been great! Food was good. Cornbread to start was great, beer selection extensive, i really enjoyed the appetizers. I would suggest going but not have high expectations of the overall experience

    (3)

  • Kevin T.

    This place is it. What other kind of gathering place would you have college couples on dates alongside a table of old men in their 80s and 90s lifting beers and enjoying great food...all together under one roof. Jacob Wirth us that kind of place. A huge selection of beers. Huge. And a menu of food made for hood times and great friends. If you haven't been here, try it. Come in if for nothing else than the spectacular Clam Chowder. Only a restaurant 150+ years old has the guts to welcome you in downtown Boston with a spectacular chowdah and only charge you a reasonable $5.50 for the bowl. See you there!

    (5)

  • Abby R.

    Big, airy and charmingly ugly on the inside, this place was packed on a Wednesday night, which inspired confidence. I was not disappointed. The service in particular was homey and warm, the lady who seated us (who looked like somebody's beloved grandmother) told us very sincerely to have a nice meal, which you don't hear very often in these parts. Our server was also an older mom-type woman who kept confusing us with the table next to us but was very friendly and checked in on us just the right amount of times. I got the warm chipotle turkey sandwich, a hearty combination of turkey, bacon, chipotle mayo, cheese, avocado, bbq sauce and lettuce on a honey wheat roll. Deeelish. The cheese was melting all over the place, the bacon was flavorful and the combination of flavors was magnifique. I could have used a little more sauce on it to balance out the slightly dry turkey, but I just added some of the tasty mustard on the table to compensate and all was right in the world. I was worried the sandwich would be massive since I wasn't that hungry, and it was generous but not overwhelming. I had fries as a side and they were piping hot when they came out which is always a good thing. They were soft and potatoey and crispy on the outside but nothing groundbreaking. Great place for a beer and a sandwich, and they had trivia, too!

    (3)

  • Wayne T.

    Food is good but overpriced, ambiance is nice, good for tourists.

    (3)

  • Jane O.

    Service was beyond awful! Came here for lunch and from the older man who sat us who seemed to be in charge, to the young girl who brought us our menus and silverware, to our waitress, not one smile! I was in a rush to be able to get out of a parking garage on time and it took so long for the waitress to come back with our change when we paid the bill even tho I told her we were in a hurry. She proceeded to take orders from other customers who just sat down, and dilly dally around not doing anything. Food was meh. Was not expecting much and did not receive much. Fries were cold, caprese sandwich was subpar. We sat outside only to have a homeless man come up to us begging for money and would not leave until he was satisfied with what we gave him. Definitely forgo this place. There's a panera down the street.

    (2)

  • Tenzin C.

    Amazing staff, AWESOME service- foods okay. if your not into strange new cuisine you might wanna stick to their burgers, but if you want to try something new (and hey lets admit it, there arent many good german joints around boston) Jakes is the place to go. 48 taps, exotic german food, PLUS burgers and steak tips. not too shabby. (if you want to try something new and like a kick of spice- MAKE SURE TO TRY THE BLACK LABEL WURST!) yummmy!!!

    (2)

  • Marissa A.

    Uh-oh, Jacob what have you done? Well I went for dinner last night because it is usually a great go to place that is not too far. I was so hungry (as were the 2 other people I was with) and ready for a drink from a long day. Our server was adorable, and gave us great suggestions for drinks, even asked us if we wanted to sample her suggestion. Great! But she came back with 1 glass for us to share? That was a tad strange. But it was good and we ordered the drink. My bf ordered a beer he wanted to try (Bitter something) but they were out. So he just went to his go to, the Leffe. Excited after an appetizer of wings, we were ready to order. Now I don't know why, but I had my heart set on butternut squash ravioli from a German pub. As did my friend. We ordered that and my bf ordered the grilled smoked bratwurst. Relaxing with out drinks and chatting, our serve came back and said they were out of the ravioli. OUT? At a German pub? Hmmmm. Out of haste and hunger, I ordered the veggie chill and shrimp and crab cakes. My friend ordered the potato latkes and the asian wings. She liked both, saying the wings were a bit too spicy for her taste. My chili was okay, nothing special, but boy, those were itty bitty crab cakes!! Mostly breading, no shrimp was seen, and some bits of crab. Meh. Looks like I'll be taking a break from this once go to restaurant. Oh, a def plus was the music - live piano bar music. He was great.

    (2)

  • Jill S.

    Great beer selection! really enjoyed me Clown Shoes. Nice place to kick back and relax, no uptight vibes. Very pretty interior and I love places with open kitchens

    (4)

  • Alana M.

    I actually loved this place. I think I had an advantage by going around 5:30 on a Tuesday, because it didn't start to get busy until 6:15. The service slowed down when we needed our check, but the restaurant was also much busier by then. Our server was knowledgeable about the beers on draft. There are a lot of cheap beer options, two. They had an interesting Sam Adams jalapeno beer (only $3) that was actually a homebrew that won a contest at the restaurant and that Sam Adams will now be selling for the brewer. And there were even some for $2 (and of course some pricier options, too). Our server even brought us a couple of samples, which was great. Our server highly recommended the Reuben, which my husband got and greatly enjoyed. The potato salad was warm (which surprised me), but delicious. I got the smokey mountain burger and definitely enjoyed it. Definitely somewhere I'd swing by around 5 pm for a beer; and I would probably get food again, too, because $9-10 for a sandwich/burger is also pretty good for Boston.

    (5)

  • Elias S.

    I have been here several times, mostly to watch World Cup games. This might be the premier location to watch games of the German national team in Boston. To start with the con, I have been mostly disappointed with the food here. The cuisine is German inspired, but not exclusively so. You can get standard American bistro favorites here as well, so don't worry about having to choose something you are not familiar with. I wasn't very impressed with the Jagerschnitzel and most recently pretzel-crusted salmon, but today's Pastrami sandwich was delicious. I think in the future I will stay away from entrees and stick to the sandwhiches. The selection of apps is nice too, good snacks to accompany a beer or two. But I still had to deduct a star for the food. Now, the highlight is the selection of German and other European beers. If you are an ex-pat or studied abroad, you might be positively surprised. In closing: Good place for watching sports with comfort food, if you are looking for a foodie experience, go elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Ben R.

    Perhaps not the best but certainly fun. Jacob Wirth has an authentic German menu and a Beer menu of flavor and variety. Maybe the food isn't Bavaria-good but I loved the Saurbraten: tender, sweetly dressed with a gingersnap gravy, and atop a sweet-sour cabbage and with soft rich Spaetzle. The Schnitzels are good too and the entres are big enough to split!

    (4)

  • Ashley N.

    Been here a couple of times! My friend and I both say this place has the best corn bread in Boston. And that butter! If you don't get any food, at least aim to eat the corn bread. So silly that a German place serves such good corn bread. Anyway, the food is just okay. Weiner Schnitzel was probably the best plate here. My recommendation is to try their classics. I have not had other ones, but I can recommend this one. Jake's Black Label Sausage - you can definitely taste the beer and spices the sausage is infused with. It was a strong taste if you don't mind it. The sides were okay. It might have been an off day, but both French fries and sweet potato fries weren't that great. Oh, and duh, the beer! They have a great selection of beers. Came here during Oktoberfest specials! But just get some beer along with food! They have sing-alongs on the weekends. It's so fun when you're with a group of friends and drinking and what not! Everyone is singing and having a good time. Service on the other hand was not so great. But oh well, the corn bread makes up for it.

    (4)

  • Katie L.

    Fun on a Friday night with the piano bar. You'd come here for the entertainment, not really the service. Food is pretty good. But we substituted coke slaw for mixed vegetables and we got just a few spears of asparagus!

    (4)

  • Ria S.

    Sing-a-longs are always fun! Especially to Beatles' music! Loud, boisterous, silly, this is where you go for a rowdy German night in Boston. The menu could use a bit more, but the current food always sits well with a nice drink too.

    (4)

  • Sunny S.

    Was looking for a place that had a variety of beers and decent food, and this place showed up. It was near my hotel in the financial district so I decided to go for a stroll and check it out last night. As other Yelpers have mentioned, the service is a bit slow. I sat at the bar and it still took the bartender a good 10-15 minutes to even approach me. They have a small bar and it wasn't packed. Once he did, he was super nice and very knowledgeable about the beer selection. I got a Two Roads - Roadsmary's Baby - a delicious pumpkin (but not too pumpkin) beer. I also ordered the vegetarian nachos, which were humongous! I expected to get something small after eating the nachos, but I didn't even finish them. They were actually pretty good - chips were loaded with cheese, a mix of different peppers, black beans, olives, and it came with sides of salsa, sour cream, and guac. Overall, it's a decent place for food and the beer menu is extensive.

    (3)

  • Lee T.

    Very eh. The beer selection is good enough. Stay away from their calamari--it's mostly breading (that has been fried dark) and pickled jalapenos. The pretzels are ok. This is not a go-to bar for me.

    (3)

  • Rob M.

    Fantastic chowder and friendly staff. The owners even came by to say hello. Great experience.

    (5)

  • Stephanie T.

    I've been here several time and always enjoyed myself. The beer selection and prices are great. The food is ok, typical German fare, not as good as some other places I have tried but definitely tasty. I would come back again and try more on the menu to see what other options are good, but definitely come for the beers!

    (3)

  • Mathew L.

    The food was good as usual with the exception that the Cherry Apple Strudel. It was hardly warm and there were very few apples in it. My biggest problem with the meal was the service. When we ordered our appetizer and entrée, we were asked if we had a Groupon. We did and answered, "Yes." Our waiter, Luke, then asked if it included a dessert. Again, we answered, "Yes" to which Luke responded, "Then I'll bring you the dessert menu because we have a lot of reservations tonight." Really? That's gross. Our main courses were then brought out while we were finishing our appetizers. We were not even halfway through our main courses when dessert - the less than ideal Cherry Apple Strudel - was dropped on the table. Mind you: There were at least 6 empty tables for 4 during the entire time we were dining. We felt unreasonably rushed. With a 6:00 PM reservation, we were out of there - appetizer, entrées, dessert and paying - by 6:40 PM. Not to mention, we ordered a pitcher of beer... which, to warn other customers, is more expensive than ordering individual glasses of beer. Beware! And do the math... We felt completely unwelcome, unappreciated and rushed. I appreciate that "turning tables" is how restaurants turn a profit, but usually you don't make that fact so obvious to your customers. Our displeasure was reflected in Luke's tip. If you are so offended by customers who use Groupons, leave the Groupon program. Otherwise, you need to treat Groupon customers with the same respect as every other customer. Food: Good Service: Poor

    (3)

  • Heather B.

    Okie Boys & Girls we're going to have a sing along! First night in Boston we got downtown quite late so we were looking for some drinks and grub. This place looked quite busy so should be good right?? When I walked in I was literally stunned! It's mostly filled with students here, but there is a piano in the front and people were singing to whatever was being played. When we were sat a noticed my menu AND a book full of songs. When the song ended they would yell out another page to turn to so you could follow along. It was quite the place. Song selection was good - a lot of oldies and classics :) As for the FOOD: Apparently it's the oldest German Restaurant in Boston. The food was disappointing. Me being German, I'm gonna be a hard critic in regards to German food. I had the Bratwurst with Sauerkraut. The food arrived warm not hot, and the sauerkraut had made my bun soggy :( My parents had schnitzel with some kind of sauce on top that just looked gross. I saw that they had a wide selection of German classics but I don't know if they would be good. I wouldn't come here again, because I know where to get the good stuff (but not in Boston though :P ) I'd come here for drinks and maybe a night snack. The more you drink the louder the singing! :D However overall the atmosphere in this place was great and pumped! A great welcoming to Boston! Prost!

    (3)

  • Cara K.

    My colleague & I selected this place for a late dinner, as it was conveniently located a few blocks away from our hotel. It had a fun atmosphere and an excellent beer selection. Apparently known for their sausages, but being a vegetarian, I opted for the mac & cheese. It was fabulous!

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    I really enjoyed the food, it is a great place to eat an appetizer and have a beer with some friend. Our waiter was very nice with great manners . Great desert. Reasonably priced. I recommend this place, it is sure to please!

    (4)

  • Erin J.

    We came here for my roommate's birthday with a party of 18. I thought the service was good, given how large our group was, but, in retrospect, it still wasn't thaaat great. In terms of crowd pleasing, the large menu helps, but the quality of the food was just so-so. I appreciated the understanding we eventually came to with the waiter, that yes, please, we'd like more pitchers. The atmosphere was strange, though -- I think Jacob Wirth has trouble deciding what it wants to be and who it wants to appeal to. The crowd was about half young, half over 50. The singer/pianist was great, but we asked him to play "Baby Got Back" (which appears on the list of options he handed around!) and he said the restaurant wouldn't let him. Lame.

    (3)

  • Seth M.

    I was naturally quite stoked to learn that there was a German restaurant in Boston and I've come to visit Jacob Wirth's a few times now, almost making it a regular thing. The place has an old and ALMOST beer hall-esque atmosphere which really brings a degree of character into the place. The beer selection is vast, and their suggested pairings to the food are very professional. The wait staff are friendly, there are a few who remember your orders without pencil and paper, but none who will take your order in German. Service is pretty quick too depending on what you're getting, but the food is sort of mixed. Anyone who goes to a German restaurant looking for incredibly tasty food is fooling themselves and setting their standards way out of proportion. The authenticity of Jacob Wirth's is quite questionable, and their menu selection of actual German food isn't as bold as I'd hoped. They have a few different types of wurst, sauerbraten (which is quite good), sauerkraut, rot kohl (red cabbage), german potato salad and some others which escape me for the time being. Their wurst is 'average' and nothing to write home about, but if you're looking for wurst you won't be too too disappointed. Their sauerbraten is good, and their sauerkraut is actually quite good. The red cabbage is a bit on the sweeter side to cater to the American audience, but it satisfies. What Jacob Wirth really distinguishes itself in is the bar food: They serve fresh pretzels with a mustard sauce which are really quite wonderful, and the rest of their appetizers are on par. The beer selection is great. They have a fine selection of quality German beers, and many different domestic beers as well. I personally feel like they've got too many dark beers and they lack Lowenbrau and Warsteiner (staple German beers) but you'll find something you like. They have Weihenstephaner, Hofbrau, Paulaner and Spaten all on tap and you can't go wrong with any of those. With over 100 beers you're sure to find something new, and find something that you enjoy. Ratings: Service: 4.5/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Food: 3/5 Bar food: 5/5 Beer selection: 5/5 Beer quality: 5/5 Quality of the sauerkraut: 4/5 Overall this place is worth a trip if you're in the theater district or Chinatown or if you're a fan of good beer.

    (4)

  • Smita D.

    Grabbed a drink here, so I can't comment on the food. The service was prompt and friendly, but I have to say that the prices for drinks seemed really high. I could see this place being a tourist trap (and I fell for it...), but oh well--it's vacation! They do give complimentary cornbread which is sort of strange for a German pub in my opinion, but hey, nothing wrong with free food, and it was good too!

    (3)

  • Bronwen Y.

    Came here for Sing Along on a Friday night for my birthday... and Jacob Wirth's did not disappoint! The hostess took pity on my dumb-non-reservation-holding-behind and helped us stake out some tables at the bar. If you're coming for Sing Along, definitely get a reservation because the place fills up. Especially if it's your birthday and you've told 30 people to come for sing along. I'd been for beers before, but the food actually blew me away. It was my birthday, so everyone in my party let me try parts of their meals. Well, alcohol may have been involved, so I'm using "let me" in a very generous sense of the word. Split a salmon dish with a friend... amazing. Cooked to perfection, with some of the most delicious mashed potatoes I've ever tried. The sing along is pretty unique and one of the most fun things you can do in Boston. But seriously, don't mess with Mel. Don't put your drink on his piano, and be quick with the next song choice. Remember that Mel reserves the right to tell you your choice sucks. And whatever you do, don't chat in the singing area. If looks could kill, I would not be writing the review today!

    (5)

  • James L.

    One star because: 1. NOT AUTHENTIC AT ALL: They served cornbread (with butter[?]) and SALSA! Moreover, the salsa had either beer or whiskey in it. This is NOT German - maybe communism era Germany. 2. By the way, cornbread is a Southern (USA) food. And people in the South NEVER eats cornbread with butter. This is tacky, even in Mississippi standards. More tacky than wearing your Birkenstocks with socks. 3. My friend had a beer cooked sausage, and he's Polish. He hated it because the sausage became bland (the salts dissolved in the beer during the simmering). Other times I had beer-boiled sausage, it would never lose its flavor. This place is gimmicky.

    (1)

  • Melissa M.

    I've eaten here two or three times since my last review and have gotten sick each time. I'm not kidding. I don't know what it is or was but the food was not agreeing with me. This means I have to miss out on a dear friend's annual party that takes place here each December. I just can't stomach it.

    (1)

  • Diana V.

    I've been here a number of times, and this review was prompted by the action of a manager, who after I asked not to be seated in a certain section (the waitress had waited on me before and was rude and dismissive because I'd only gone in for a drink, but the bar was full and I had to get a table), comped my drink. I wouldn't have expected anything like this, but the gesture was so kind and thoughtful that I felt I had to mention it. I've returned to this place multiple times for a reason, and I'll now frequent it even more regularly.

    (5)

  • Regina F.

    Generally, I am a fan of this place. It has a great indoor/outdoor vibe, and it's always bustling with people (never dead). They have by far one of the greatest beer/cider selections in Boston. I always indulge in some Angry Orchard or any other seasonal drink they have on tap. I went there about three weeks ago with some friends before going to see a show in the theater district. While the waiter was attentive, the food was slow (and it took us forever to get the check, but that's besides the point). Now, I understand it was a Friday night, right before the shows in the area start and it was PACKED, but the food came out one by one (not all plates at once) and not back to back, but with long periods between. My friend that ordered a burger had to stuff her face quickly because she was the last one to get her food (about a half hour after the rest of us) and we had to pay quickly to get out of there and make the show. However, while I write about this unfortunate situation, let me just say that it was just ONE semi-bad experience. My suggestion is if you plan to go here before a show, leave yourself time to spare so you are not rushing out/stressed. I also frequent this place after shows, and it's always a good vibe, and fairly easy to get a table since the place is so large.

    (3)

  • Deanna D.

    We had a pretty good dinner experience at Jacob Wirth. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The drinks and food came quickly no complaints there. The draft beer list is pretty good and reasonably priced. The corn bread was surprisingly good. I had the Jake's Nibbler- the Knockwurst and Brats were both tasty and the red cabbage was yummy. The bf had the Jaeger Schnitzel w Sweet Pea Spaetzle which was he enjoyed. Both our entrees were from the small plates section but the portions were just right and they were more than filling. The prices on the small plates are good but some of the items on the menu were definitely overpriced but I guess that's what happens when there are no other German restaurants in Boston. Overall the food and service was good; not great but just good. I've had better German food and won't be rushing back, so a solid 3 stars it is.

    (3)

  • Jason H.

    This German beer bar/restaurant has a lot going for it. The beer selection is impressive, the food is pretty damned good (not sure how authentic), and the atmosphere is lively. Their potato salad is downright awesome. The service however has been pretty bad, in my experience... Thing is, if you want a great beer bar, you have better options in Boston. However, if you want a German bar experience in Boston, I reckon its the best option. Overall, its a perfectly fun place to spend a night and try something a bit different. 3.5 stars...

    (3)

  • Alex B.

    I am not all that familiar with German food, but I can tell you that this place loves frying things. We had a 4 course menu off a gilt city deal and the only vegetable involved was the sauerkraut. 1st course - german potato pancake (has apple and a sweet sauce on top) pretty damn delicious 2nd course - wiener schnitzel (breaded veal plus german pasta) 3rd course-selection of wurst (sausage and cabbage) 4th course - german chocolate cake (effin amazing) We added the beer sampler (4 beer pairings, 1 for each course) with the meal for $10. Overall the food was very good and I definitely would like to come try certain items on my own terms. Despite all the negative comments I listed below it provides something different int he boston dining scene. I just hope my experience is improved on my next visit. Some negative points.... The front bar area gets packed post work hours. We came in and had no idea where to go because visibility beyond the entranceway was limited. There should be a sign that tells you to barrel through people in order to check in to the dining area. They left about 3 courses worth of food on our table before finally asking if we wanted stuff cleared. Duhh, thats why we stacked the damn plates for you. They didn't have certain items prepared so they served our four courses out of order. It was extremely warm, like uncomfortably warm in there, and I usually like warm places. Our waitress asked if we were ready to order not once, but twice before bringing us menus. They didn't have our first 3 choices on beer selection. Hate that I had to settle. The tables are very close together. I saw a guy put his seat in the aisles because he couldn't really squeeze in his seat do to the patron at the table behind him who was occupying the space (he was average sized, not obese) Even though they have FREE wifi, nobody could give us the correct password to get us on.

    (2)

  • Andrew R.

    Complimentary cornbread? Check. Large beer list? Check. Pricey beer list? Check. Decent sausage? Check. Get the black label or grilled brats. Expensive for limited selection of semi-German food? Check. But yummy German sides? Check. Get the German potato salad or red cabbage. Spotty service every now and then? Check. On LevelUp? Check. Get $7 FREE here! Niiiiiice. Always go for lunch because dinner is too expensive and no better. Ch-ch-ch-ch-check it out.

    (3)

  • David T.

    Dear Jacob Wirth: Your bathrooms are old and dingy. I shutter to think of what has been spilled on those tiles. Your tables are slightly sticky, your chairs are a little wobbly and there is always a cacophonic mix of piano, singing, chit-chat, and drunk college students echoing between your walls. All that said, your restaurant is a blast and thus all the aforementioned qualities can be overlooked in the interest of a good time; in fact they may even add to your charm. You have an outstanding beer selection (the Tucher Helles Hefeweizen is especially tasty with its wheaty notes), a knowledgeable bar staff, solid German food staples and an "everyman" atmosphere that feels welcoming to all. You could easily become a regular after-work friend. It is clear to see why you have been around since 1868. Danke! -David T.

    (4)

  • Wiley W.

    If anyone truly thinks that drinking pitchers of great beer and singing at a piano until your voice goes hoarse is a bad Friday night, they probably also would rather don a dinner jacket, discuss long term LIBOR rates, inverted yield curves and the exact shade of bottom paint on their Bermuda 40 (which they haven't figured out how to sail yet, but they do know it is called a Hhhhiiiinkley). For anyone else who enjoys life, Mel and his Friday nights are a cultural institution in Boston. While dinner is not completely necessary, it is worth it both because they have great German beer hall food (was there recently with the under 30's from the German consulate who said it reminded them of home), and because it gets around the problem of having to find a seat later (which can be tough). Not only did my Grandparents come to Jacob Wirth back in the day, but it is still the best night out in Boston hands down. (OK, maybe sox/B's game THEN Jacob Wirth).

    (5)

  • Jamie S.

    Do you like beer? Do you like German food? Do you like friendly staff? Are you in downtown Boston? Then why are you reading yelp instead of eating here? The place is split in two -- the bar/pub area when you first walk in, and a much larger restaurant floor in the back (well, and a third area outside during the warmer months). If the place isn't busy/slammed, then the outside/bar/pub areas are first come first serve, so feel free to grab a table. The servers tend to come by somewhat quickly, but if not, feel free to wander up to the bar to ask for menus. If the place is busy, or you want to sit in the restaurant part, then walk through the pub area to where the hostess stand is and talk to them. It's a bit confusing for newcomers. The beer selection is phenomenal. Make sure you ask what the daily cask selection is as the taste/texture is radically different from normal draft beers. If it's not a type you care for, then no big deal, as the number of beers on tap is out of this world, with plenty of from Germany/Belgium. Can't make up your mind? Work your way through the list! The complimentary corn bread is tasty, but make sure you use the butter to maximize mouth sensations. If you're looking for appetizers, then check out the pretzels and potato pancakes. Both are excellent. If you like pickles, then the battered spears are good as well. If you go with a bunch of friends for the first time, then consider getting a bunch of the small plates and sharing pieces. It lets you maximize variety and trying a little of everything. Calling them "small plates" is pretty accurate for once -- bigger than appetizers, but smaller than an entree. The mac & cheese is great too if you're looking for that. The wursts are all delicious; not much to say there. The desserts are OK. Nothing great, but nothing terrible either. To be clear, compared with great German restaurants in other places, this is probably a 3.5/5 when it comes to the food. But there's a severe lack of German restaurants in the larger Boston, so this is hands down the best in the area.

    (5)

  • Dan G.

    Ok I'm so tired of this place. Why you ask? I havent been here once where they didn't run out of something nor do they even make an effort to remedy the issue which has happened FOUR times! If they have food at the time, it is delicious bur don't count on them having anything on hand to serve you. Tonights mishap was just fried pickles, they are good but of course ran out. Shocker! Another time they were out of sauerbraten AND the dessert I ordered both in the same night. Sorry JW but I'm done with you. I'll drive 40 miles for real German food. However if you still decide to go then try the sauerbraten if they have it.

    (1)

  • Susan C.

    I love Jacob Wirth's. The beer selection is vast and the food is always good. I came here over the weekend and my cohort and I ordered the Beef Shank and the Jaeger Schnitzel along with a side of German Potato Salad. Beef shank was tender and juicy and served with Boursin mashed potatoes. Very tasty. The Schnitzel was crisp and served on a fluffy bed of spaetzel. I think they must use potato or potato flour in their spaetzel because they were almost the consistency of gnocchi. Very fluffy and like clouds on my tongue. My only critique is that I wish the dish came with more jaegar sauce. I'm a saucy kind of girl, so I could have used more. The potato salad was warm, which was unexpected for me. It was more like mashed potatoes with little pieces of wurst in them (not sure what kind of wurst) than the potato salad I'm accustomed to, but tasty nonetheless. Also, if you're a fan of wings, definitely try their Asian style (sesame?) wings. They're delicious!

    (4)

  • Stinky P.

    Groovy Schnitzel and one of the best Reubens in the city. Don't miss their warm German Potato Salad...yummy...yummy...yummy...a blessing to the tummy. All around good food, beer and atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Yancey L.

    I went here twice, one time for the sing-along night, one time for oktoberfest. Both times are just OK. I actually had pretty high expectations on the Friday sing-along night cos I myself love singing a lot. The time when I opened their lyrics book on the tables, I became speechless, cos all the songs are before 80s which I've never heard before. I guess the only song I know is "Take me home, country roads". But the chocolate cocktail I had there taste sehr gut. The other time I ordered some Schnitzel dish from their Oktoberfest special, which schmeckt mir gut. But I guess it's not on the menu any more. I also tried to speak German to their waiters, but none of them speak German and they are actually from Brazil.

    (3)

  • Jessica G.

    I always used to go to this place for the piano sing-a-longs. If you haven't been, they are a blast and totally worth the visit. If you are coming for food, don't expect anything spectacular, but expect everything to be decent. Obviously, they excel in their German food with pretty good schnitzel. On our last visit, the group was split in what we ordered and the non-German food was your typical pub fare. The beer list is pretty extensive and they can make any mixed drink you'd like.

    (3)

  • Alison G.

    You should take my review with a grain of salt. I went on st. Patrick's day and I didn't want to order any meat, obviously eliminating over half the menu. I got the veggie Reuben with fries. I'll start with the fries because McDonalds doesn't even ruin fries this much. They were dense and the fry had created such an abrasive coating that they scratched the inside of your mouth. It was as if they had been fried once and re-fried a week later. Moving onto the Reuben. The flavor wasn't that bad at all (how much can you ruin sauerkraut and Russian dressing?), but the bottom of sandwich was completely soggy by the time it arrived at my table. To top it off, when they packaged the leftovers to go, they put no lid of the Russian dressing. Thus by the time I opened it at lunch the next day the outside of the sandwich was completely drenched. Lovely. To Wirth's credit, the cheesy dip and pretzels were delicious. Warm, fresh and salty. The pretzels don't absorb the cheese extremely well but both entities were delicious. All in all, better luck meat eaters.

    (2)

  • Clara L.

    Meh...that's what I have to say about this place. I really wanted to have a great time since all the banners on the side of the place gave rave congrats and reviews. I had a Groupon for this place, so I decided to try it out for dinner. The server was obnoxious, they couldn't make a drink, their beer was expensive, and the food was borderline. A Hoeegarden beer was $6.75. Pricey. I had asked for a Disarono and ginger ale, and it took 10 minutes for the waiter to run around and come back with a plain ginger ale. I sent it back and he came back to tell me they have no amaretto. Seriously... The corn bread basket came out exactly 30 seconds before our meal did, so I was awkwardly given my plate while my hands were somewhere between buttering the corn bread and shoving it in my mouth. The whole time we waited for our meal we watched the waiter flirt with the hostesses, scream across the restaurant that the restroom was over there, and wander aimlessly. My Reuben sandwich was subpar, as the entire bottom of the sandwich was soggy and fell apart as soon as I picked it up. I ended up ditching the bottom and creating half a sandwich from the tops. The end of the meal was the worst. Since I was lazy and didn't print out my Groupon, it was on my phone and I had to show it to the manager. The waiter ran off with it before I told him it was password protected, so I waited for him to gallop back. Nope. He screamed across the restaurant that he needed me over there to unlock my phone. Then he ran off to go find the manager, who took my phone and disappeared. Ugh. He then kept running back and forth and kept telling me that the manager had my phone. Yes, thanks, I know. All in all, really awkward, no good, not so enjoyable experience.

    (2)

  • Mike O.

    Truly the only real beer hall in Boston. Jacob Wirth offers the same charm you'd find in Berlin or Munich, the loud clamor of post work diatribes and the occasional sweet melody playing from the piano. I often come here before a show in the Theater District. Sometimes it's a bit tricky getting a table since you have to crowd surf through the waiting area/bar to get to the host's station, but waits are within reason most of the time and once you're seated service is generally pretty good. The food is what you'd expect: Brats and Wieners, with some American pub classics, but you don't really come here for that. It's all about the beer and there's plenty of that to go around! Trinksprüche!!

    (3)

  • Michael I.

    Great spot for a Burger and a Beer and Brat ... Huge beer selection , nice menu filled with house made German specialties. best German potato salad I have ever had ... Service was meh.. But the food and beer alone are worth the visit

    (4)

  • Michelle T.

    I can't speak for the food, but dang their beers aren't cheap and their service ain't the greatest. Don't go here to get drunk, but perhaps just to enjoy the atmosphere and...food? Hopefully? Went here after a big test with a bunch of other classmates to grab beers. Got some grumpy servers who pretty much let us service ourselves. All 30 something of us had to go up to the bar one by one to buy beers from 2 bartenders. It definitely took a LONG time.

    (2)

  • Jessie C.

    First time here - made reservations online for dinner last night, was totally annoyed that they asked for a credit card just to hold the reservation - i can understand on a friday or saturday but a wednesday? boo. We arrived, seated quickly, service was great the entire time. We ordered fried pickles - YUM! Spears - spicy, delicious spears. Two of us ordered the "smokey burger" while I thought it wasn't bad, my boyfriend wasn't too pleased. It was messy so I'll give them that. We both agreed that for the price, the food was fine. Our buddy had the burger with eggs on it - he was on the same page with us. Overall, good experience, nothing outta the ordinary but definitely not bad.

    (3)

  • Jean H.

    I realize most people go to Jacob Wirth's for the beer and history but this was the worst burger and fries I ever had. MacDonald's would have been way better.

    (1)

  • Diane H.

    Why this place is so packed..is beyond me...my server was nice.. very attentive...but the food is just mediocre. We ordered the sausage and Sauerkraut Balls and Smokey Mountain Burger and buffalo wings. They have cider though!! So that's pretty cool...I think it was about 7 bucks for that and a Guinness was like 6 bucks. The cornbread and the dip...mmmmmmmm reminds me of texas road house...yeah i had to bring that cornbread home..too good to let go...but yeah i probably won't return unless i wanna try that pretzel..and get more cornbread :) And the girls bathroom was wayyy to far..i was sitting near the boys bathroom.

    (3)

  • Zulu Q.

    My dietary idiosyncrasies probably cloud my judgement and make me love this place more than I should. Like beer goggles...or, in my case, oil goggles. I cannot eat soybean oil. Unfortunately, I have better luck finding tolerable Mexican food than I do avoiding soybean oil in Boston. And Boston's Mexican food ain't pretty, my friends. Truth. However, Jacob Wirth fries with canola oil. Beautiful, non-harmful-to-poor-Michelle-S. canola oil. Forget the sausages and sauerkraut, no matter how authentic and German it is. And I'm mostly German. (If any of you ask how I can be German and NOT have big cans, I'll #@$%in' cut you!). It's a fried food holiday for Michelle S.! Fish and chips really hit the spot. I originally hemmed and hawed at the $15 price tag, but I was able to make two meals out of it. The fish was pretty decent, but the fries clearly stole the show. The fries were a little on the thicker side, but not too thick. And they had a tasty crispy batter. Half my fish and chips went home. I originally assumed I'd have to toast the @#$% out of the fries because leftover fries taste like nasty ass. But you know what? Those damn fries even tasted good when they were still cold. I didn't think that was possible. The potato pancakes are tasty too. Their specials menu features reasonable prices for pitchers as well. My main complaint is that the dining area is a little chaotic and crowded. They clearly do a great business, but I wonder if they could get away with one or two fewer tables. I had an awkward walk to the bathroom and feared my ass or crotch would end up in other diners' faces or plates. I know I've gained some weight since grad school, but I'm not *that* fat.

    (4)

  • Misty S.

    After much hype, I finally tried Jacob Wirth's last friday. Went with a group of 10 other people, and we had made reservations next to the piano to ensure a fun night. While the beer list looks extensive, they were out of the first 4 beers that I ordered. I finally ordered a 22oz Clown Shoes Black IPA. The server brought it out to me and opened it before showing me, and it was the wrong beer (a brown ale instead). I hate wasting beer since it was already opened but I don't like most brown ales and wanted the clown shoes. What was really disappointing was the noise level. Not only could I not hear the piano (and we were RIGHT next to it), I couldn't hear anyone else at the table talk. Maybe that's why the server got some of our orders wrong. My husband's throat hurt from trying to talk to the person next to him. Overall unfortunately just not impressed.

    (2)

  • Eric S.

    Whether or not this is two stars or five stars appears to be what random night/day you show up. I've been there and vowed to never go back (and then do anyway, because clearly I'm an idiot), and I've been there and vowed to go back the very next day (and then don't, because of that part where I'm an idiot). First off, if you don't like beer, I'm not sure there is much point in going here at all. And if you don't specifically enjoy German beer, you are dead to me, so there's that. Their German beer selection is... doesn't really matter, German beer is mostly all the same - and if you like it, then this place is great. The food is fantastic, in particular if you realize that you are at a place that wants to be a German restaurant, so eat German food you moron. The stuff that isn't German food is boring - which is saying a lot, since German food isn't exactly exciting. Get the brats and stuff, and huge steins of beer, and shut the hell up you fat bastard. Upsides: German food and beer Downsides: everything else I hate the people who go there, the wait staff are usually either unintelligible or annoying, and the interior is one of the least pleasant places to get super full and drunk (ridiculously loud and way way too bright). But I love the place.

    (4)

  • Sarah W.

    This place serves a great burger! I typically get the boursin mushroom burger, which is delicious! And the sweet potato fries that come with are very tasty. I only give Jacob wirth 4 stars instead of 5 because last time I went, they didn't have any Boursin..so I had to get a regular cheeseburger instead--but it was still good!

    (4)

  • Rona H.

    My friends and I go here after exams sometimes to decompress for drinks and bar food. Needless to say, our needs are met. I've had some of the fish dishes here, the nachos, and the mixed drinks, and they've all been very good (maybe too good hah). It can get a bit loud in there when it's a full house, but that's just good ambiance! Update: I ordered nachos to go once, and without letting me know ahead of time, they subbed in the beef for chicken?! Nachos with chicken?!?! That doesn't fly..

    (3)

  • Richard L.

    Considering the most recent Yelp reviews I hesitated to try this place out. Yet, our group of four dined here for the first time and fared well. We arrived Saturday a little past noon to a near empty restaurant. We were greeted and promptly seated. Our server seemed new but was friendly. She seemed hesitant to our request for separate checks but did comply with out any "attitude" I ordered the wiener schnitzel sandwich without mushrooms. Another person ordered from the wurst menu, and the remaining two had the turkey sandwiches. While waiting we were given a basket of warm moist corn bread in large tasty pieces. The meals arrived promptly, at the proper temperature, and each one prepared as requested. The server did not offer drink refills but quickly did refill my ice tea upon request. Both the dining room and bathroom were clean. Judging form the many Yelp reviews Jacob Wirth is a hit or miss experience. Possibly eating here early or less crowded times provides more opportunity for better service, food, along with cleaner surroundings.

    (4)

  • Dave B.

    Very good burgers and fries. The fries are battered and delicious...the onions are even more impressive, really big and crunchy. Excellent sandwiches, but a little pricey. There's a lot of different kinds of mustard, so if you don't like the one that's on your table you can get others. Look for the Sierra Nevada Stout Stoneground mustard. Fantastic beer selection, both bottled and drafts. The tables are all kinda sticky. They're old wood tables...so you're never quite sure if they're sticky from 100 years of wax buildup, or if they're just dirty. Either way it's kinda gross when your arms are sticking to the table. I'd work on that.

    (4)

  • Miguel R.

    I blithely brought my Austrian friend here in a vain attempt to satisfy a craving for Teutonic food. Unsurprisingly, he was not impressed. Now granted, German-anything is going to put off an Austrian. But while it might be 'the best you're gonna get' for German-style food in the area, the place is much more like an Irish pub festooned in pseudo-German decor. The food is OK, but by no means spectacular. As a personal complaint, this place is very busy right around 6 without an appropriate waiting space or table-calling mechanism. The bar is situated uncomfortably close to the door, forcing patrons to squeeze between it and the tables on the eastern wall to reach the maître d'. To make matters worse, you can't even leave the restaurant to endure the wait; Jacob doesn't use those vibrating pagers you get at every Panera to signal your table is ready, instead opting to use a blaring speaker from 1948. You can hear it from every corner of the absurdly spacious eatery intermittently throughout your visit. The place isn't nice enough to warrant making a reservation and yet crowded enough to keep you awkwardly crammed around the misplaced bar in the way of other patrons and fleet-footed waitstaff for 45 minutes at 6:00PM on a Thursday. Beware of falling Sauerkraut and Spätzle while you're waiting to be seated.

    (2)

  • Alex E.

    Some of my German friends had been DYING to come here since September, when we were all a little homesick for Germany, sitting in the common room of my dorm looking for some German food in Boston. I had been trying to talk them out of it, saying they were just going to be disappointed, that just by looking at the menu I could tell that it was not good, authentic German food. I managed to put it off until one of them bought a Groupon, so we had to go before we all went back home for the summer. People who say it has the ambience of a German beer hall have never been to a German beer hall. The only thing that fits the description is the noise and the piano player playing some trashy oldies. Yes, Germans love that when they're drinking beer. We ordered the nachos and potato pancakes to start with. The nachos were okay, the potato pancakes had clearly been precooked and then reheated. I wouldn't recommend. As an entree we had 2 Wiener Schnitzel, 1 Grilled Weißwurst and a Veggie Burger for me, for lack of any other vegetarian options. Even the places in the most rural Bavaria at least have some Käsespätzle on the menu! The veggie burger was clearly from the frozen aisle at the grocery store. I didn't expect much better, as only very few restaurants have good homemade veggie burgers. The onion rings were good though. Now to the "traditional German" food: The Schnitzel was clearly not pounded. It was just a slice of veal, breaded and fried. Not pounded. Very disappointing. The Spätzle were good, I tried some. Why not put a plate of those with a side salad on the menu as a vegetarian option? And this is what really got me going. GRILLED Weißwurst? GRILLED????? FOR DINNER????? My inner Bavarian just died a little inside. I lived outside of Munich, home of the Weißwurst, for long enough to know that eating a Weißwurst in any other way than BOILED BEFORE NOON is a deadly sin. DEADLY! For dessert we had the Apple Strudel and Chocolate cake. Meh. Not mind blowing. Luckily we had gotten a good deal with the Groupon. I will most definitely NOT be back. And I'm glad my friends finally got that out of their system, realized it was bad, and will not be bugging me to go there any more. The only reason I'm giving this place 2 stars is because the waitress got all of our orders right and brought it out quickly.

    (2)

  • MS B.

    What a great place to check out in "the Hub" not to be missed if you like European charm with great beer selections both local and from around the World. This is Boston's second oldest bar!!! The regulars are as friendly as the staff and it's always a good time at Jacob Wirth. Some of the appetizers are unique "Americanizations" of classic central european mainstays.

    (4)

  • Nika C.

    Previous: @ an office xmas lunch. The intern's overcooked chicken wing had a feather on it. The entree chicken was bland rubbery. we had to ask 6 times for mashed potatos that never came. Other tables got too much we got almost none. Potatos. At a German resturant?! server just told us they were out of potatos. WTF! corn bread served AFTER the entree, after they took my knife & plate. People were swiping plates from each others table. AND our party was supposed to have an eggplant dish but the kitchen forgot to get it from the distributer. REALLY?! we're still here. Very wary of the dessert round. Will we get it? Will there be enough. Will there be engineers squabblring over inadequet strudle? the verdict is still out. & my foot's asleep under this low table. Update: there were indeed engineers squabbling over inadequate strudel Update 2012: The owner contacted me and said that our office was comped for the entire meal, and that there has been a complete staff change since that horrible party. So, hopefully, it's better there. I think it's great that he is working to make sure that the service is much improved from last year.

    (2)

  • Kathleen H.

    It was a good place to go before the show. I had good beer. German food and regular American fare like nachos and chicken fingers, which apparently is what 13 year old boys choose to eat. On Friday night the bar area is packed with yuppity types. Go for beer, bratwurst and the big old wooden bar. Suum Cuique.

    (3)

  • Jackson T.

    25c wings on Monday. Massive pumped up chicken. Great beer selection with reasonable prices. Trivia going on with Bavarian flags and rustic German tables. Good stop for a stein and grub

    (3)

  • Tamara N.

    A German pub in Chinatown? Obviously! Ok, not obvious. So you read the other reviews. Service leaves something to be desired (true). Beers are not cheap (I did not expect them to be, so this was not an issue for me). Food, well I only had a salad. It was fabulous with goat cheese, pear and candied pecans but that's not your typical dinner. This place is a little gem nonetheless. We came here on a Friday night for a friend's 40th birthday. I had never been here before but I loved it straight away when I walked in. It is a casual atmosphere (jeans and a t-shirt kind of place) with a lot of energy in an open space. But mostly, I loved the live piano playing and the guests singing along loudly. It was fun to hear some classics (Billy Joel, The Beatles, etc) sung by groups of friends with beers in hands, swaying to the music. I thought it was a fabulous gathering place with fun energy and fun people! If the piano playing is number one on my list, number two is the waitstaff. Not because of their "attentiveness" but because they are just as casual as the overall atmosphere in there. In an attempt to get the party started among friends, I ordered a round of Irish Car Bombs (yes, admittedly juvenile!) and the waitress took the order without any reservation and served it up with a smile. Now that was classy!

    (3)

  • Melissa C.

    Delicious beers! Nice selection. I've had their burgers, sandwiches, and recently had the cobb salad, and I'm a fan! They give away free cornbread and whipped butter, which is good! Came for an early dinner with co-workers, and didn't have a problem ordering and getting food and drinks. However, as the night progressed, it was a little harder to get the check. Overall, it was a good experience. This place is good for a nice dinner for two or a medium-sized group.

    (4)

  • Joseph M.

    I've never been here before and it looks very out of place. The building easily dates back to the early 19 century and that makes a statement. I was short on time and working at one of the theaters. I went into the restaurant and it must have been the right time. We immediately were seated and had menus in our hands. We ordered a basket of soft baked pretzels! I wish every pub had these on their menu, take the hint. I had the angus burger and it was one of the tastier burgers I've had in a long time. My friend had the fish and chips and said they were pretty good too. The beer menu was excellent and the staff was pounded by patrons but they still smiled and made sure our stay was welcome and we were all set. Food was very good, service was excellent, price was fair. I would go again any time. It wasn't too loud, good crowd. No hesitations to recommend this establishment to any one.

    (4)

  • Jeizel H.

    Been here a couple of times and cannot complain. Enormous selections of beers and the food is good (tasty and a bit TOO fulfilling). The bacon, egg and cheese burger was done as asked and very flavorful. A must have for beef lovers. Come here if you like a chill environment, good beer and food. 4 stars because it needs a little remodeling but it's right in the heart of Boston. You can grab a bite and walk on over to catch a show or a walk in the park.

    (4)

  • Josh H.

    Would definitely come back here when I'm in Boston. Trivia night was fun. The gentleman that was hosting the trivia blew me away with his knowledge. There was no script and everything came from his head. Service was a bit slow considering the place wasn't packed. The food, beer and atmosphere made up for it. I tried the Wiesswurst, and it is was delicious.

    (4)

  • Allison R.

    Heh, there was that funny outburst when the owner called out his staff in a BOH memo for being rude and therefore shitty recently. I can't comment too extensively, but I have been here once. I brought a group of five with two Groupons, which came at a great time because I'd been meaning to get my schnitzel on for years. Really. The beer list is Gehhrman, but they were out of the standard Hofbrau, which is what I really wanted. We settled on some other pitcher of weissbier, and enjoyed pretzels with house mustard for an appetizer. They were a bit overpriced and could have easily been given to us instead of bread as a gratis treat, IMO. I had the weisswurst sandwich, since I love brats as much as the next girl but wanted to really test Herr Wirth and see if he could deliver. The meat was fine, but nothing special. I think I was just as successful ordering German sausages from Savenor's and cooking them myself. I found the service to be okay (wouldn't call the staff losers). The food was also okay, and the price was okay, after the Groupons. Don't think I'd pay full price, cause I'm kinda snobby when it comes to my Schnitzel, ya dig?

    (3)

  • Junior O.

    Huge beer selection! The only place in Boston I know to get a Golden Monkey. The burgers are great, and I love the sweet potato fries that you can get with them! The place isn't too expensive, and it's a great restaurant to grab a quick lunch/dinner at. You get a lot of food for the price!

    (4)

  • Genevieve C.

    The worst service I have ever received!! And it looks like I'm not alone here. I had to provide the restaurant w/my credit card for the reservation so I had an expectation of decent service. We sat down & no one came to take our drink order for 15 min. Our waitress "Ashley M," finally came over after she had waited on the older couple seated AFTER us! She asked if I wanted my turkey sandwich w/grilled or fried chicken, I reminded her it was a turkey breast sandwich. My friend asked for the Chicken BLT sandwich w/grilled chicken, sandwich came w/fried chicken. Waitress didn't ask how the food was, I had to holler "EXCUSE ME" to get her attention to send back the wrong order. My friend asked for another beer at this point which didn't come until we had to ask AGAIN, after the Chicken BLT sandwich was brought to her w/grilled chicken but no bacon! Ashley M never asked US if we wanted another drink. We told the waitress the Chicken BLT had no bacon, no manager came over & nothing was done to address the mistake. My friend didn't even get her 2nd beer while she sat & watched me eat. Waitress looked high and made too many mistakes with our order and that is what I wrote on the credit card slip. Let me also note that both my friend and I have worked in the food industry and have held server positions. I have never ONCE in my life left a $0 tip until this horrific dining experience.

    (2)

  • Dawn E.

    Alright, so I didn't have dinner so I can't really attest to the food. And they ran out of this and that for drinks, for what that's "Wirth." (WTF was I doing ordering Guinness in a German place for anyway???) However, they do have a tremendous selection of beers, and the service I had, if a little flaky, was friendly and fun. But the four stars are for one thing. One thing that I always hope for in Southern places and BBQ places and never find. One thing that I would NEVER EVER EVER have expected to find here: FINALLY, decent fried pickles in MA! They use the right kind of pickles, they cut those pickles into spears (instead of stupid chips) and the batter is just thick enough to be crisp all the way through while still completely covering the pickle. Is it the BEST fried pickles I've ever had? No, I'll save that for a little dive takeout place just outside of Chimney Rock, NC. But they come really really close. Just add a little more creative spice to that batter and it will be a serious worldwide contender. So, in short: Go to Jacob Wirth's. Eat fried pickles. Be happy.

    (4)

  • Doug K.

    Checked out this restaurant / bar that was near the hotel I was staying at. I just went with some friends for a drink, and wound up continuing on our way, as the server spilled a good chunk of a Jagerbomb on one of my friends. I ordered a Hoegaarden beer, wasn't inexpensive, but it was reasonably priced. Jacob Wirth's has a good beer selection and also a piano player on Saturday nights when we went. I'd be willing to give this place another shot.

    (3)

  • Helen L.

    I love Jacob Wirth!!! It's a fun piano bar (on Fridays) where you can also sit and order food. It's more of a dining experience than a bar feel because everyone is sitting at a table. On Fridays, there is a person playing piano and you can sing along to the songs. There are books with all the songs they play and it's just a giant sing a long on Friday nights with the whole crowd. You can sing at your table or go up to the piano and sing along with some other people or your friends. It's really fun and really laid back. I've never really eaten the food there besides having a wedge salad. And for $8, it wasn't very good. The drinks are typical prices. The wait staff is kinda lame and unattentive, but it depends on what time you go. The singing seems to take place between 8-11pm, and after 11:30pm, the whole place sorta just shuts down and there is not a single soul around by 12am. So this isn't a place you'd go OUT OUT on Friday nights- probably just somewhere you'd pop by, get some food, sing and then head to the actual bars that open til 2am.

    (5)

  • Tony F.

    We took my Uncle here for the first time a few weeks ago, and he's very selective when it comes to eating. The fact that he didn't have any negative things to say about the food/service was delightful. The service was prompt, and the food was very tasty. I had the beef stroganoff which was very creamy and filling. The interior was decorated in what I assume to be traditional german decor. The beer selection is magnanimous, and while we were there they had a German opera singer gal on the piano. I could have done without that, but I understand that it adds to the ambiance of the establishment. Overall, I really enjoyed this restaurant, as did my Uncle.

    (4)

  • Sara S.

    Walking by, I've always wondered about this place and noticed how out of place it seemed in the midst of Chinese everything-else. I did some research and found out it's pretty historic, and strangely... German? Well, I'm not a beer drinker or a fan of German food, but when my (obvious) idea of late-night sushi didn't go over so well, we decided to check out Jacob Wirth. We walked in and I heard some live music. "Hey guys, I think there might be a live band here", I said. Oh no. This was no life band. This was a piano-style singalong, complete with choice-like booklets filled with lyrics! There were at lest 20 20-somethings drinking beer, gathered around the piano, having a grand old time. Pretty cool, I thought. We sat down and were amazed by the size of the place. Freaking huge! Neat decor too... totally didn't feel like you were in Boston! Germany? Maybe. But I've never been to Germany so I don't know. We all ordered sandwiches, which were good. However, Susie A. ordered a turkey sandwich and was told they were out of turkey as the waitress was bringing out the other two meals. Why would they wait until our meals were DONE to tell us that? Rude! Plus, they didn't bring us water until we asked, or ketchup for the fries until we asked. When we were done eating, they rushed us out of the place, putting down new silverware for other customers (there wasn't anyone waiting) before we were done with our drinks! WTF? I feel bad, because the waitress was an absolute sweetheart. Buuuuuut, they need to work on their service. Again, hint hint, Yelp. I would give this place three POINT FIVE stars, but I'll round it up to four. Will certainly be back.

    (4)

  • Stephen B.

    Sorry about this rating, I have been lived in this area a long time and have always wanted to try this well known historical place, but lunch was horrible for the both of us.

    (1)

  • Jeff Z.

    Worst fucking German restaurant ever, meals come without quality or quantity of sausages. Negative 3 stars!

    (1)

  • Annie I.

    holy shit the cornbread rocks! huge selection of beer!

    (3)

  • P K.

    They could do a lot better, it is mediocre at best. There seems to be no depth to their cooking: sticky with true German cuisine - it is boring. I now understand Corporal Louis LeBeau's disdain for German cooking. Everything seems precooked or from the fryolator. There's so much potential in this place, but they seem lazy and not focused on repeat business. They have a beautiful historic building with fantastic detail, all going to waste. Don't get me wrong, the beer selection is very good - though they should try to sticking to serving beers in their correct glasses but, again, they get lazy at times. If what they want to be is German drinking hall, go for it - there are still some changes that need to be made - but don't expect any great reviews from me on Yelp until then.

    (2)

  • Josh S.

    This was my first time here, after living in Boston for 8 years, but I will be back soon! They have an impressive beer list, which shouldn't be surprising since it's a German place. For an appetizer, we had the pretzel bucket, which was great. For our entrees, I had the salmon breaded in pretzel and horseradish with asparagus and mashed potato on the side, and it was delicious. My partner had the fish and chips, which he liked, and our friend had the German Mixed Grill, which he devoured with glee. The service was also very, very good. We will be back!

    (4)

  • Trish F.

    Lovingly called Jake's around the office.. people come here for the occasional after work drink. With a pretty fantastic beer list (reasonably priced for the theater district) and awesome food, I'm just an all around fan. The crowd is older most of the time (office folk, NEMC docs, etc), so no worries about how Bobby's friend Billy's friend Jeremy's friend BLAH BLAH BLAH. The service is superb and I've never had a problem going with one person or ten. What else is there to say? PS - A boursin mushroom burger and a beer is like saying I love you.. to your stomach (make sure when you say I love you to your stomach or burger, that you're not looking anyone in the eye, it'll get awkward). And eating the bread they bring to the table is like saying.. "You're useful/cool" to your tummy. PPS - When you sing along in the bathroom.. they.. can.. hear.. you. SS Minnow - Just 4 stars because I'm completely stuck on their burgers and need to try other things to be more useful with this review.. AND although they have patio seating.. do you really want to sit outside with a view of Stuart Street?

    (4)

  • Laurinda U.

    A great lunch spot with a pretty varied menu and a $1 root beer float!

    (3)

  • Brains M.

    We went to this place because of the beer selection - we are beer drinkers and the selection was the best! We were there on on a Sunday afternoon - all of the wait staff we met were pleasant and helpful. The food is excellent - I had a Jacob sampler which is different types of brat and saurkraut (very sweet and yummy) and german potato salad (also very good). This place is a little out of the way for us but I would come back if I was seeing a show or craving that delicious, sweet kraut! The huge beer selection is good, but I find that many stouts and ales taste alike so I can get tasty beer alot of places. The bar is small but the dining room is large.

    (4)

  • MARK G.

    I always try to get to a German restaurant when I'm traveling. Went to JW for the first time for lunch. The atmosphere , old and interesting, was fun. The beer list was outstanding. I enjoyed the Spaten dark beer...but did not like Jake's Dark at all. It tasted like a cigarette in liquid form. Generally I finish a german meal and I'm stuffed. At JW's I was still hungry. The weiner schnitzel was the smallest portion that I have ever seen in a German restaurant. The bucket of pretzels were definitely prepackaged store bought. The complimentary corn bread was delicious but the waiter was just so, so. Overall this was not a winner in the German food category for me. So my recommendation is to go there for the awesome beer selection and not if you need a German meal fix!

    (3)

  • Kristine M.

    Super fun for the singalong night! Great beer selection AND a great song selection. The highlight of the night was everyone singing "The Boxer." LI LI LI!! Mel, the pianist, was cantankerous, fun, and awesome. Some of the crowd was a little annoying and monopolized Mel's attention and we couldn't get our songs in. But it was still fun. Also a bonus for having free parking for the first two hours.

    (4)

  • peggy c.

    There's a lot to like about Jacob Wirth. The location is convenient, the decor is kind of cozy (I like that there are lots of coat hangers around), our waiter was funny in a brutally honest sort of way, and i like the beer menu. I was however, pretty underwhelmed by the food. I will eat sweet potato anything so when I saw sweet potato ravioli on the menu I was excited. Sadly it was just at best, meh... and the dessert, *sigh.* My friend and I shared the brownie with some sort of ice cream and the brownie was utterly disappointing. It tasted like one of those plasty wrapped ones you could pick up at 7/11.

    (3)

  • Jennifer R.

    I've come here a few times, and I just haven't been that impressed. Both times were admittedly with larger groups, but it took ages to get our food/drinks each time. When I came here yesterday, the waiter clearly look annoyed when we asked about what was easier - doing separate checks or just have them all together - and I don't think he seemed to understand that we were trying to help him out. The atmosphere seemed large and spacey, and the clam chowder I got was good but nothing to write home about. I just think the service could have been a little less I'm-too-good-for-this and more I'm-here-so-I-might-as-well-make-the-most-of-it.

    (2)

  • Sasha T.

    I had been wanting to try Jacob Wirth for a very very long time, unfortunately it just didn' t stand up to my expectations. The decor and atmosphere was fun and it felt comfortable. My dining guest mentioned once that she wished the lights would be dimmed - it did feel very bright. It was also very crowded and it was really difficult to get around the customers at the bar when we went to leave. We started with the potato pancakes, served with a few sweetened apples. I wish they had been crispier and fresher. They tasted processed and as though they had been sitting for a bit under the heat lamps, although they came out very quickly. I also would much have preferred some good homemade applesauce over the sweet apples. We both ordered the corned beef reubens. The sandwiches were good. They were on the small side - I'm used to getting heaping servings of corned beef and sour kraut! But they had good flavor. I wish the dressing had been put on for us, and not on the side. They also have a great beer selection, although my friend did say she wished they were separated by kind of beer for easier finding! Our waiter was very nice and friendly but I did wait about 15 minutes for another glass of water, and another 15 for him to pick up our check. The whole meal was also tainted by a few fruit flies that wouldn't leave our food and drinks alone! I believe the worst part though was that one of the managers or busboys (we couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from -not our server) had really bad BO...just makes for a bit of an unpleasant experience. There wasn't anything overly bad about Jacob Wirth and I'd definitely give it another try to taste more of the German items...I do with they'd focus the menu and make their signature German items fantastic!! And we could have done without the BO!

    (2)

  • Noelle N.

    I have been a patron at JW for over two years now. I have to say that I fully support the owner in making necessary changes. Since the day I walked in, the service has been way below standard. So, you ask why return? Well it is due to the close proximity, the atmosphere, the extensive beer menu, and specials. That being said, the service has been abusive at times. I have been told directly from the wait staff " We do not like you, not you personally but the customers that come from your school" followed by a ridged thin lipped glare. Needless to say I have had many eyes rolled in my direction from the wait staff as we walk in wearing uniforms. I guess they may hold some prejudice. During a past visit, at the end of the of our meal we each gave a credit card with written instructions on the bill letting the server know how we would like to have the bill split (party of three so no exuberant request). The server did not bring back the bill, the manager did with a request, " It detracts from the service to other customers if we have to run all of the credit cards, next time please go to the atm next door for cash." Hmmm wouldn't you still have to make change for our cash making it equally as time consuming (not to mention we were the only people sitting at a table in the entire restaurant) and I really don't feel like paying an extra $3 in atm fees. After this affair I decided to boycott the place. Recently,( in the past week) I returned with reluctance due to peer pressure, and I must say I noticed a change. The same server who told me that she didn't like "us" waited on us again. She had a better attitude and the service was much better. Good for her it was definitely reflected in her tip. As far as the report on fox, I stand behind the owner. The service was terrible before and whatever he is doing is making a great and must needed change. I say if your staff is not up to par with all the people out of work, there are many people who would want that job. Not to mention put on a smile while doing it. I have been a waitress in the past and know it can be difficult, but please, the way they were treating me I would have been fired the first time. I love walking past the beautifully decorated windows and in to a place that is warm cheery. Now I am glad that a welcoming wait staff is there to complement the ambiance. I think JW is headed in a positive direction. I hope my next review can be even better.

    (3)

  • Christian H.

    This place is pretty solid. I mean, I'm not a huge fan of German food but if you are, man you found your place. Schnitzel for all! Seriously though, killer beer selection and great prices on that beer. The place is pretty huge too. I've never seen it that crowded, but I've only been there at random times that wouldn't really be busy anyway. The ceiling is high as hell so it gets really damn loud in here but I'd say other than that it's a great place to meet a group of people for a few brews.

    (4)

  • Jess W.

    Backstreet Boy's "I Want It That Way" playing in a German pub like this one makes for an odd combination, no? Nonetheless, a lively crowd and friendly servers are the key ingredients for a laid back but fun night. The drink menu here is extensive and they offer all sorts of beers. I'm not even surprised they had the framboise (raspberry) beer that a girlfriend requested.

    (4)

  • Jessica H.

    Came here after a suggestion, and oh so glad we did. Fun German beer hall and atmosphere. Food was quite good, but did lack the German theme. The beer, however, quickly made up for the food disconnect. Nice list, including Leffe, mmmm. Great place to bring a group who wants to have fun singing and drinking. The piano man had a great song list, but we were a bit disappointed with his time keeping ability. Will definitely be frequenting here again.

    (4)

  • Annie P.

    It was uber neat that they served applesauce here. If you also had a friend who constantly asked the servers at every restaurant if they had applesauce .. you would be just as enthusiastic. I like the fact that the interior of this place is pretty huge and looks like a big hall of loud family style friends. JW is the greater than choice from most bars in the area. Go here to drink some quality beers and eat some hearty dishes. Uhh.. also if you were paying attention you would see how fantastic this place was just from it's profile: 1. Jacob Wirth Restaurant Category: German Neighborhood: Chinatown Where else would you come up with results like that--- Boston, apparently.

    (4)

  • Beth E.

    So let me get this straight. One of the guys from our company's New Delhi office is in town, and we're going to take him to a German restaurant in Chinatown? Umm, ok. Walked over here for lunch one afternoon with a mix of coworkers (past, present, and from other offices). I'm not German, never been to Germany, hell, never been to a German restaurant. And it was a lunchbreak from work, and since New Delhi office worker was with us, none of us were about to start ordering beers. I ordered the Boursin mushroom burger, which was mighty tasty. Some of the others at the table who ordered the more traditional German fare seemed to be a bit disappointed, but not having tried it myself I really can't comment. I think that a German restaurant on the edge of Chinatown is just the kind of thing you'd find in Boston, we can be a bit quirky like that. I also think that the addition of a good beer to my lunch may have bumped this place from 3 to 4 stars, despite the disappointment radiating from some of the folks I was with. Oh, and beware of the wind tunnel hand dryer in the ladies room. Man is that thing loud.

    (3)

  • Daren B.

    Can be loud and energetic. Not necessarily a bad thing, just not the spot for a romantic meal. Ordered 3 different beers before they could get me one they had in stock. Had the potato pancakes for an appetizer and it was fantastic. Had the Weinerschnitzel with dill spaetzle and it was just meh. Nothing seasoned and kinda bland all around. The dessert was the apple strudel with ice cream. The pastry was overcooked and kinda chewy, but again, not unappetizing. Not a terrible experience, but won't rush back there again, or maybe ever.

    (3)

  • Randy R.

    We were impressed in spite of reading a couple of negative reviews. The staff that helped us the two nights we visited was excellent. Outstanding beer selection and the food was excellent. Not sure what the TV dinner comment was referring to because our meals were fresh and well prepared. Some of the standouts were the Boursin and mushroom burger and the special pumpkin ravioli which was uniquely great. When we return to Boston this is definitely our to-do list. Who could pass up great service and great food paired with an excellent craft beer?

    (5)

  • Allison S.

    I've always heard good things about this place, and now I'm just another preacher to the choir. They have schnitzel, and good schnitzel! It reminds me of my days in Vienna.....Since I don't really care to eat veal, I was happy that they had pork schnitzel, that came with spatzel and spinach. Yum!!! They have an impressive beer list and they will also make you a beer + lemonade upon request, which I haven't been able to find in the states....EVER. (I know it sounds a little weird, but try it. Hofbrau beer + lemonade. Amazingness.) I'd definitely go back for some good German brews and schnitzel. Mmmm....schnitzel.

    (4)

  • Brian M.

    My first visit to this place was last summer, and I could have sworn there was a lot more yodeling, wobbly-chested fraulein and general thigh-slapping tomfoolery, but that's probably because I was out of my gourd on strong drink. Ah happy times. The other night, however, I was tone-scold sober, but it was still most enjoyable, although sadly lacking on the oompah-oompah front. My fried chicken BLT was tasty, avoiding the dried-carcass effect common to fried chicken. My friend had a Reuben, which she pronounced very good, if a bit messy. We both loved the fries; crispy yet substantial. I am temporarily abstaining from alcohol post-Xmas, so the one disappointment was that they were out of the one decent non-alcoholic beer (Erdinger) listed. They did however have iced tea and peppermint tea so I consoled myself with those, while harboring lustful thoughts about the excellent beer menu - a must for any fans of German beer (although no Warsteiner) Service was excellent, with nary a lederhosen in sight.

    (4)

  • Kerri O.

    They need better management. That said, it's an experience. One time, I was there, and a toilet was flooding the restaurant. No one was doing a damned thing about it, so I went in and fixed it. 'Scuse me, boys, I'll only be a moment. Pardon me, Lezzie, coming through. 'Twas the float valve, not a clog. But, kvetching aside, I love the joint. It's really old-fashioned and they have Rauch Bier. Smoked Beer. The very best thing to have with sausages. NOT Blackened Voodoo, but real German Rauch Bier. I'll travel for that, alone.

    (4)

  • Shanae C.

    I'm not a big beer drinker, but after drinking the Schnieder at Jacb Wirth I'm definitely a fan. The variety of beers is impressive and the assortment of American/German food at an affordable price is awesome to find in Boston. I got a burger with two sides for $7.95 and Monday nights they have 25 cent wings in amazing BBQ sauce and Asian sauce. Must go back again!

    (4)

  • Tyler B.

    This place reminds me a lot of The Spar Cafe in Olympia, WA where I went to college. The place hasn't changed since the 1950's. Old wood flooring, open space, 'vintage' bathrooms, this place use to be somewhat shady saloon. Today, you can find doctors kickin' back martini's after work at the hospital across the street, a FANTASTIC beer selection, warm, soft pretzels with mustard and great veggie burgers. Having worked near here I would come for lunch or just a few pints after work. Either way, I love the atmosphere. Also good to know - they have a table that can seat at least 20 people if you're ever stuck with a large group who just wants a good meal.

    (5)

  • Nancy L.

    MEL (aka the Piano Man at Jacob Wirth's) IS AWESOME!!! He's the quintessential crotchety old man who secretly (and loudly) loves what he is doing every Friday night: thumping out good ole bar songs for the rowdy and perhaps tipsy sing-along crowd. I always have a blast at JW when Mel's there. If you are nice to him by 1- being a cute girl, 2- tipping him, or 3- getting him a beer, there is a better chance that he'll play your song sooner. He is quite particular about when to do what songs. If the time has passed for your song, there is no way to induce him to play it. He's amazing: playing over 200 songs in his sing-along book without any music sheets. It's all in his head! And when he plays the Piano Man, you know it's time to hit the road for the night. Onto food. The food at JW is mostly German with brats and sauerkraut galore. The cornbread they bring out when you sit down is amazing and I usually gorge myself on it. They have an amazing beer selection with many European beers. The servers are quite nice. A nice warm atmosphere with inviting browns and high ceiling fans. Call ahead for Friday nights if you are serious about sing-alongs because they can get soooo crowded but half the charm is finding yourself shoulder to shoulder with a random stranger singing "Summer Nights" or "Do You Hear the People Sing."

    (5)

  • Nala L.

    Great place for beer and German food. Our waiter was very friendly and patient with me, I took a while to make my beer selection. I had a chipotle turkey sandwich, it was excellent. The sweet potato fries were lacking flavor and over cooked. The German Potato salad was AMAZING! And the sauerkraut was very good as well.

    (4)

  • Phil B.

    I went in for lunch with a Groupon recently. I'm not an aficionado of German food, but they do a lot of other things and do them well. Shortly after being seated, a server brought a basket of fresh, warm cornbread to the table with a nearly golf ball-sized sphere of whippped butter. The cornbreak was delicious and I enjoyed all six pieces in the basket. Next, I had the best fried pickles I've ever tasted. They weren't overly greasy, unlike every other plate of fried pickles I've tried in the area. The pickles were served with delicious house-made ranch dressing. I then had a Cobb salad, which was very tasty. Of course, I ended up taking half of it home after filling up on the cornbread and pickles. The servers were very helpful and polite, and a definite cut above the usual level of service received in the Boston area.

    (4)

  • Sean O.

    One of my favorites. The clam chowder is probably my favorite that I've ever had. Always a great beer selection, and the house Jake's Dark is delicious.

    (5)

  • Jocelyn C.

    Pretty decent place. It seems to have the odd ability to be both crowded and empty at the same time. When I got here, I thought we had to wait for a table but then realized we could just grab the tables at the front. Confusion. I ordered the jager schnitzel, which was yummy. Also tried some of my friend's dish (forgot what it was called... it was some kind of beef thing with red cabbage), which was also pretty good. I really liked that they had the small plate optional on the menu, because I wasn't that hungry to begin with and it was the perfect serving size. If I find myself in the area, I would definitely come here again. I like the old-timey feel of the place, and German food seems hard to come by otherwise. Plus, they serve Narragansett on draft. All I ever really need in life is meat and beer, so it works out for me here.

    (3)

  • Laura M.

    I have mixed feelings. The beer list was impressive -- house brews, local favorites like Harpoon and Sam, plus microbrews that I hadn't heard of and high-end European imports. The waitress was able to recommend a good beer, the menu lists suggested beer pairing for the food, the beer list gives a brief beer description of each listing, the beers are served at optimum temperature... it's a pretty darn good beer place. BUT, be willing to pay $6+/beer if you want one of the fancy ones. The food though... I just wasn't feeling it. I am recovering from wisdom tooth surgery so I needed something easy to chew. I ordered the "beef pot pie" which was stew topped with mashed potatoes and puff pastry. Instead of a bowl or "pot pie" type serving, though, I was given a huge wide plate of stew with a giant hunk of puff pastry in the middle (which completely obscured the "horseradish" mashed that didn't taste like horseradish at all). This style of serving, in addition to being weird and unexpected, meant that my stew got cold really fast. It was tepid when it showed up at the table. The meat was good, I could tell they used a good stewing cut with lots of connective tissue, and it was easy to chew. But... cold. And the other stew components and gravy were unremarkable, kind of Campbell's soup-y really. For this I paid $17. My dining companions didn't seem crazy about their food either -- two ordered mediocre sausages, which you'd think a German place would do right, and the soup of the day which was a watery split pea with disappointingly non-spicy chorizo. The girl who ordered a simple sandwich seemed okay with it. So, 4 stars for the beer, but probably 2 stars for the food (it wasn't AWFUL, but it was supremely "meh" for the price). I'd come back, but only to drink and maybe eat some pretzels.

    (3)

  • The Hungry American E.

    Very old classic German restaurant and pub in the Theatre District of Boston. The place has more atmosphere and history in it than anywhere else you'll ever find. They have world class beer on tap - and their food never disappoints. When in Rome... always get what they do best, German food. You'll love this place.

    (4)

  • Joyce E.

    I went there this winter for a late dinner after a show. They were still serving food for 2hrs when we arrived. Our waiter was beyond rude and two people at the table had to wait 15 min later than everyone else in our party to get their food. Considering I was with a large group (large tip), the server could have at least spoken instead of shrugged when asked a question. There are better places to go late night in this area.

    (2)

  • Mindy A.

    I had a groupon, and desperately needed to get out of the house after a recent N'oreaster, so I met my husband here after work on a Tuesday night to hang out and have a few. We ended up sitting at a table in the bar area, which worked out perfect since we wanted dinner, but we also wanted to relax and kick back with a few drinks. For that simple purpose, Jacob Wirth's was A-OK. Dinner was run-of-the-mill pub grub with a German flair. I still am not convinced that its anything special. But our server was pretty nice and she took good care of our drinks and didn't complain when we sat around at the table for an hour or two after we ate, so I'm kicking up my previous review by one star for the friendly service.

    (3)

  • Katherine E.

    I am married to a homebrewer/beer geek and went to Jacob Wirth's to use a Groupon. The hosts seemed a little overwhelmed by the crowd forming at the host's podium, but they remained really enthusiastic and attentive. This is definately a beer lover's landmark in Boston. They have huge draft selection, including German, American craft brews (though I saw some gal carrying a Bud Light in one of those aluminum bottles, oy!! I know it's nice to cater to a wide range of tastes, but still...this is a beer snob's paradise), and Belgian beers. They also serve some of the dunkels in mini masse glasses (I wonder if they will bring in the 1 litre masse). The menu is not completely German, but we got some sausages and latkes. We got a black label Wurst and Weisswurst. The sausages were excellently seasoned, no need at all for a bun. Black label was made with beer, and had nice heat/spice to it. We also got it with red cabbage and almost asked the waitress to bring an entire bowl of it to the table, way too easy to inhale that stuff, makes roughage fun to eat. Great noisy and bustling atmosphere. "Ein prosit..." (if you've been to Oktoberfest in Munich, you know the words...)

    (4)

  • D S.

    I thought the food here was great! Genuine German menu (with some additions...) and a stellar beer selection. Another bonus was that they actually serve their Stella in Stella glasses, which is something most bars (other than the fancy schmancy ones) around here don't seem to do. Get the reuben, you won't be sorry!

    (4)

  • Rebecca A.

    I've been here a couple of times now, but the food doesn't seem to get any better. I'm from Germany... so I got really excited to find a german restaurant in Boston, but was really dissapointed in the Wiener Schnitzel with Spaetzle. I'd rather make my own at home or make the 2 hour drive to West Springfield's Hofbrauhaus!!!

    (2)

  • Claire M.

    I completely loved this place! I'm not much of a fan of German food (I'm mostly a Mediterranean/Italian girl) but I thought the food was fantastic! Be warned - the portions are GENEROUS, but well worth it. Any of their sausages are great --- I recommend trying the sample platter so you can taste them all. And best of all - the beer selection! My boyfriend ordered THE most delicious beer I've ever had, and I'll definitely be returning to try it again. It's definitely a fun place, with great atmosphere! Not terribly intimate... it's probably best for larger groups.

    (5)

  • Mimi S.

    Good beer. Giant wieners! What more can you ask for? YUM!

    (4)

  • Marina P.

    I would give 4 stars for their beer selection. 3 stars for their food: although the german sausage i ordered was a little too dry for my taste but the meals are very reasonably priced. 2 stars for their service: which i am not complaining about because the whole atmosphere is supposed to be this "free care" place, loud bar, very European like so i guess the service goes with it. I would probably go back there with friends.

    (3)

  • Allison C.

    i love jake's. yes, the service isn't stellar (it generally sucks), but the food is great and i like the atmosphere...even that crowded little alley you must navigate to find your way to the host. the best thing at jakes...... warm cornbread in a bucket and a pastrami sandwich with fries.... get the pastrami, seriously, get it. (just ask for anything you need when the food is delivered ie mustard, drinks, and you'll be fine)

    (4)

  • Jen and Tim S.

    Great bar, fun atmosphere, cheap prices. This is hands down the cheapest place to drink beer in the theater district. It's a German restraunt that tries to seem very blue collar. They have pabst on tap and the food is pretty good. If you're going to be going out in the area, start here and keep your wallet fat.

    (5)

  • Xin S.

    It was alright. We came with a Groupon for a German tasting meal for two, which included 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert, quoted at a value of $61.80. However, when we arrived, we were informed we could only order off the tasting menu, which was 1 app, 1 entree, and 1 dessert for $27/person. Hm, so no matter how I do the math, the boasted $61.80 value is complete and utter false advertisement. Whatever. The food was ok, certainly a far cry from anything worth writing home about. We had the potato pancake app, the small weiner schnitzle (couldn't get the 'full' sized one b/c we were ordering off the tasting menu), the German mixed grill, and the German whoppie pie. Nothing was all that great, but nothing was bad per se. If anything, our meals just tasted BLAND (I've had German food before, much tastier sausages and spatzels). The German whoppie pie, however, was quite insulting: it tasted like 2 boxed brownies with some coconut filling with Reddi Whip and drizzled with Hershey's syrup. No joke. Oh, and we also didn't get our corn bread until after we finished dessert, which left us very confused. I don't think this meal was even worth the $30-35 I paid for the Groupon, which come to think of it, is basically the exact menu value of our meal. So much for the "discount".

    (2)

  • Brad D.

    I had to take a group of coworkers out to a bar after our long days spent at a convention. Jacob Wirth's was nearby and looked like a cool bar. The inside has very high ceilings and has great pics of Sox Hall of Fame plaques. This bar is truly a time capsule from another era. The beer selection is good, but the service isn't. We arrived in about a half hour before they closed to grab a quick one, but unfortunately only half our party received their drinks before we were ignored by the bartender. We weren't informed of last call, so we ended up going somewhere else. One more thing, there was no ac.

    (1)

  • Lynette M.

    As good as you are going to get for German in Boston

    (3)

  • Jack F.

    Perspective is important when evaluating a restaurant as old as Jake's, so for those who dis the place, please know that the quality of food, beer and service has very steadily improved over the last 30 years when I would warn people NOT to eat here. I come 2-3 times per year and think that the waitstaff and bar tenders do an excellent job with diners who are either jovially drinking or manically looking for a check to make a theater performance. Yes the beer is overpriced, but that's how they make their money. No place better for Christmas.

    (4)

  • Christian S.

    Serious selection of beers. Fantastic German sausages. The place is old and has a great atmosphere. High ceilings and old paneling. The one thing I don't get is that for the size of the place and the amount of different beers they have, it has a small bar. Service was good, but they may be because we were eating at the bar. Reasonably priced. You will enjoy this place.

    (5)

  • Emily D.

    Every bite I've taken of the food here is awesome. Definitely my first stop for fish and chips or a burger. Of course they also have the famed PBR pitchers for $6, which I've shared with many a fellow student following exams. The clientelle here is quite varied; Tufts professors mingling with blue collars. They have a patio in the summer for people watching.

    (5)

  • Eric W.

    I'm a German-blooded Midwestern boy, so this place felt real familiar. I thought I might be nostalgically overestimating it, but I'm glad I'm to see that I'm not the only one to show this place love. It seemed to be in its own little corner of the city when we stumbled across it after some time of wandering, looking for something pleasantly surprising downtown. It's definitely something left behind from an earlier time, distinct both from China Town and the Theater District. The food is authentic German mixed with what today we'd call Jewish deli fare. The Reuben was at least on par with anything you'd find in Brookline and the sausage plate was hot and balanced. The pretzel basket is a must - warm, soft, and countered by a hearty, spicy mustard. The house beer was not earth-shaking but definitely nice. There was no wait (or even crowd) on a Wednesday night and the service was attentive, so my advice would be to avoid the theater crowds to get the best experience. In sum: this place tries hard to win you over with good food, which is what I always look for (but so rarely find) in this town.

    (5)

  • Mike D.

    Ever since the Wursthaus got run out of town to make way for the Sunglasses Hut, Alpha Omega, and the general bankification of Harvard Square, I've been hard pressed to find German food in the area, until a couple of years ago when I began working in the vicinity of Jacob Wirth's. I can't comment generally on their food, because all I ever get is the "German Mixed Grill," but that dish kicks ass (if you like wurst, sauerkraut, and red cabbage, which you do or you're a liar) which makes me suspect that the rest of the food is pretty good. I am told that they make a mean Reuben. They've got a great selection of beers too, including a couple of house beers. Not sure who brews them, but the house dark is particularly good.

    (4)

  • jason v.

    the food was alright; it didn't have alot of deutsch menu items, but beer was great. I think for chinatown since i live in the leather district its a great break from pho and asian seafood in the area.

    (3)

  • sunny n.

    So after a few visits to Jacob..it's finally growing on me..if you are a Beer drinker you absolutely must go as the variety of American, German and other Import draft beers will be sure to please your senses.. Serious range from European dark lagers, to pale ales from England, stouts from Ireland, Belgian sweet beers, to US premium and lite drafts. If you're like me and beer isn't your thing..you can certainly find some great alternatives ...such as premium high end single malts amongst many other choices... The dining room of high celings surrounded by simple mahogany tables with a few large steins and bottles for decoration..is classic and inviting...Amidst the echoing chatter..you can enjoy some traditional german fare such as the popular German Mixed Grill Grilled --Smoked Bratwurst and Weisswurst, served with Sauerkraut, Red Cabbage and German Potato Salad..! Plenty of choices in the menu offering American classics too..all in abundant portions... Crowd seems to bring in a lot of after work crew from the financial district and theatre district visitors! Service ..well I've had both good and bad here..so jus depends on who is ur waiter.. I would definately continue to visit Jacob Wirth! Danke !

    (4)

  • eliza b.

    This is good stuff! I'm a picky German girl and have to say everything was delicious. Nice selection of beers, the sauerbraten was almost as good as mine! Priced well and good portions. So close to the theatres, its a good place for a group to meet up. Give it a try if your in the area.

    (3)

  • Chase W.

    The crowd's hit or miss, but if it's on, it's on--- If you're not going to be into the sing along, crowd- this might not be the place for you. Pub style food is gross in the good way, way to much of the rich filling stuff you won't be guilty about as you polish off a burger with an ice cold PBR. It's a hugeplace and a great option if rolling out with a huge out of town crowd for a early evening pregame session... It's not for everybody, but if you're with the right crowd you'll have a blast.

    (3)

  • Jessica F.

    Hearty pub fare with a HUGE selection of beers, both on tap and bottled. I would go here daily just for the warm soft pretzels (call me a pretzel-a-holic if you will). The sausage plates, steamed or grilled, were tasty tasty tasty and the potato pancakes are pretty close to what you'd get at a real German beer hall. The spacious, high-ceilinged, bright interior add to the overall good vibe. I'll definitely come back for a sing-a-long night with a group. Fun spot to check out for sure if you want casual, reasonably-priced pub classics (fish and chips, burgers, wings) or some German inspired plates instead!

    (3)

  • Jay and Jenn O.

    Great German beer on tap that goes with good Gernam food.

    (4)

  • jon m.

    I suppose if you like loud noisy bars, this is the place for you; but I went there with a friend who is not particularly quiet himself, and he could barely hear himself. There was nothing special about the food; but we did get lots of fries - a big plus for my friend's son, who seems to eat nothing else.

    (2)

  • Jeffrey W.

    This is my favorite bar in Boston. It's a bluecollar place in downtown. Where else can you get a pitcher of Pabst for $4? The lunch special is 5 bucks and includes a burger, fries and a PBR. The appetizers are half price from 4-6 and there's a piano sing along on Friday and Saturday night.

    (5)

  • Robert G.

    Totally agree with the great food, cheap beer reviews - but the service is terrible. I went her the other day with a bunch of friends and our waitress ignored us, threw our drinks and food at us and basically acted as if she didn't even want our money. It was terrible. But... how can you pass up so many beers for so little money?

    (3)

  • Betsy G.

    My husband and I went to Jacob Wirth for a Feb 15th Valentines dinner (my husband works on Saturday, and we also thought that it would be a little less crowded on a Sunday evening.) I'd made reservations for 7:30, since we hadn't eaten here before and I didn't want to have to wait for a table. Due to some issues with movie times prior to the dinner, I had to change the reservations first to 6:30, and then back to 7:30. Each time I called, I didn't get any sense that the person on the phone was writing anything down. It was just a quick "yep, you're all set" *click*. I shrugged it off and figured maybe they just had a computer right next to the phone. Well, when we first got in, it was a few moments before we were seated as the host ran around finishing up some other things. As he was getting the menus, I mentioned to him that we had a reservation. He said, and I quote "Oh, that doesn't matter; This time of night we just take the list and tear it up anyway." He then proceeded to seat us at a table 3 feet from the entrance to the kitchen (the dishwashing entrance, not the food entrance.) The lighting in this area of the restaurant was also awful. Furthermore, the table wasn't set with silverware or condiments - it has obviously been cleared and never reset for the next customers. I was pretty pissed that we'd gotten what might be the worst table in the entire restaurant, after making a reservation that the host confirmed was entirely ignored. It took about 10 minutes for the waitress to reach our table. I asked for a pair of waters and my husband ordered a Schneider. The beer I wanted was out, so I took an additional few minutes ordering while my husband's beer and our water were coming out. The waitress proceeded to bring one water and the wrong beer. However, when she realized her mistake on the beer, she gave us the correct one free of charge and let us keep the first one she'd brought out as well. The cornbread was good, but it was only when it was brought out and I had to request a knife to spread the butter that the waitress realized we had no place settings. I got the potato pancakes for an appetizer which were also OK, though it seemed like the apples were overspiced to hide the blandness of the pancakes themselves. For my entree, I got the veggie burger entree which was decidedly mediocre: The mushrooms and cheese spread had just been plopped on top of the slightly burned burger, and the lettuce was wilted. (It was at this point that the waitress realized we didn't have condiments and brought out ketchup and mustard.) My husband got the Jake's Special, which he gave a 7 out of 10. He said the kraut was excellent, but the wursts were slightly undercooked and the potatoes were very undercooked. Additionally, while the food came quickly it was almost too fast. The speed gave me the impression that the kitchen was trying to rush us out the door. Overall, I'm willing to give this place another try, but I was decidedly unimpressed. The one saving grace was the waitress - The table not being set wasn't her fault, and she was extremely nice about having given us the wrong beer. However, our overall impression is that J.W. needs to put a little more time into their food and service.

    (2)

  • Nicole B.

    the food here is solid. burgers tend to be my meal of choice at jacob wirth (they cook them how you want! score!). service is always great. prices are great. but for some reason the tables are always sticky.

    (3)

  • Marco M.

    The Best German restuarant ever!!! We never get to have great tasting beer in California like this place has ( seems fresher.) I highly recomend the schnitzel. Great prices, great food and prompt service. Awesome place to chill out and have a low key evening.

    (5)

  • Holt H.

    I don't know my Wiener Schnitzel from my Sauerbraten but this place rocks. Great food. Great beer. Great atmosphere. I liked it.

    (5)

  • Miguel D.

    Man I've been to this place only once, but you bet I'm coming back. The prices are not to hurt full for a restaraunt. Also, the services is good, a little loud at times, but the food is great, and yea pretty freaking good portions. So for a good chill time for you an ur friends I recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Day B.

    I really like this place. I've been a couple of times, once for lunch and once for dinner. I always feel very comfortable here. First of all, they have Paulaner on tap, one of the only beers I like (and that reminds me of Germany). It's like $8, but what can you do. I tried their butternut squash ravioli and it was very good! It's a nice crowd in there. You'll get the folks going to shows in the Theatre District and such, but it's pretty laid back and casual. It's a nice place to eat before going to a movie or a show. They have a great number of beers on tap, so have fun.

    (4)

  • Timmy S.

    You're not too good to drink PBR, are you? I didn't think so!, now pull up a chair and I'll buy the first pitcher (its only $6!). Oh, and the clam chowder is secretly spectacular.

    (4)

  • Michael W.

    went to get a bite to eat before catching a flick around the corner. it was around 8, and according to the sign they should have still been open, but no dice. a couple of people were inside, but the door was locked and the bartender chose to ignore us when we shook the door. we had to walk around for 20 minutes before we could find a place we both wanted. so, yeah. fail.

    (1)

  • Brenden L.

    This place is awesome. The dinner and lunch menu offer everything from a great Cobb salad to burgers to wienerschnitzel. The bar has a surprisingly wide variety of beers with pitchers starting at $6. This place first oepened as a saloon in the second half of the 1800's and it still manages to hold some of that ambience without seeming rough and tumble. Check out Mel's sing-along piano night on Friday's

    (4)

  • Blue T.

    Went here with a big group of friends this weekend for a buddy's birthday. First of all, the manager was extremely rude on the phone when my friend called to increase the reservation by 3 people. I guess with the economy being as good as it is that this manager is trying to turn people away (sarcasm). When we arrived, the host was also fairly rude to the first person in the group who arrived, acting annoyed that the whole party of 10+ wasn't there ten minutes early. The beer selection is very impressive, and the food options are fairly unique for the Theatre District, but the prices are definitely on the high end. I ate the pretzal appetizer and the potato pancakes, both of which were tasty but not blow-you-away good. The service was fine, although when it got busy it could be difficult to flag down the waiter to get a refill. Overall, it was an OK place, with a very different ambience and beer list than anywhere else nearby, but the moderately high prices and rude front-of-house management mean I most likely won't return again for a while.

    (3)

  • Amy C.

    The food was good. German twist and a reasonable price for the Theater District. Why the poor rating then... the service was horrid. It is so loud in there, it is truly deafening. (This is the 3rd time there and just as loud as the first). Went with husband and we didn't mind sitting at the bar table in front of the kitchen. It was actually very cool to see the orchestration of sous chef, fry cook, cold dishes, deserts and dishwashers. We don't drink but we make it up in entree and appetizers. We went at 8pm after the theater crowd had left... so there were some empty tables. But as the tables start to fill.... our waitress taking drink orders to our left and right seemingly gets pissed... and slams the pail of cornbread (which were awesome) on our table not at the begining but in the middle of the entree service. She never asks how we are doing...and proceeds to ignore our table for the remainder of the meal. My husband finishes his ginger ale and is never asked if he wants another. She passes our table 10 times and not once makes eye contact to acknowledge we are her table. We finish our dinner, plates placed at the edge of table. 8 more minutes and 4 more pass bys from her. I have enough and I ask the "runner" at the food pass for our check. I say to him that she seems to be ignoring us. He tells her and she still does not come over to the table to take our money.. We left $8 tip on a $50+ meal... I am mad at myself for 2 things, 1) leaving a $1 tip and for not pulling the manager aside and talking to him... If she just stopped once and said "I will be with you" I would be more understanding. But when you she is visiting the table 2 feet away with college students ordering 1 entree and 6 drinks. You think... is my money not good enough ? Or is it the color of my skin. SO the food is decent but the service by the woman working the tables closest to the Kitchen has an attitude.

    (1)

  • Keiko K.

    Having just returned from a trip to the land of Deutsch, I have suddenly become more of a carnivore than I would like to be. Never before did I care that there was a lack of good German food in Boston, yet suddenly I felt compelled to seek it out. Oh, Jacob... I was so excited when I read your menu. I felt so blessed to be gulping down my Spaten Lager. But the jaeger schnitzel just didn't do it for me. I want to be fair to this place because they have good beer and I only tried two things on the menu (by the way, the Boston Bibb and Bosc salad is pretty good, but for $10 there needs to be some meat on it--see what I mean with this scary carnivore thing?) All of the food I saw being served around me looked great, but it was the schnitzel that I had my heart set on. The two small pieces of meat and rather tasteless spaetzle just couldn't compare with the authentic stuff. I'll come back for the beer and order something else next time.

    (3)

  • Ruthie M.

    We've enjoyed meals at Jacob Wirth for over 20 years. We tend to go at least once a year, but our visit last night may be our last. Our first disappointment was the beer list. That fabulous list that used to cover the entire chalkboard has been reduced to an inferior list. There were only a few Belgium or German beers and way more American brews. Bottled beers were not listed anywhere. The manager did come over and showed us some of the bottles they did have--they are changing their beers and so the bottle were the remnants. We always get the German small plates. I sent back the wiener schnitzel . I rarely send back food. It was really tough and the spaetzel was gummy and overly lemony. They did make me a perfectly O.K. burger and did not charge me for the meal I sent back. My partner's food, sauerbraten, was overcooked and tough. The waiter and manager were both nice and service was fine. I do wonder if they have had a recent change of management. There used to be some regular waitstaff we would recognize and the staff looked mostly new.

    (2)

  • Justin D.

    The entrees were a bit pricey, but given the locale, that is probably should have been expected. Our waiter was a little sub-par with the amount of attention he paid us, but his friendliness was much appreciated when he did make it to our table. The meal itself was perfectly portioned; it was enough to fill, but not enough to stuff. We also found the beer selection to be quite expansive, and the waiter knowledgeable about that entire section of the menu, ready to offer recommendations. Overall, Jacob Wirth earned the generally positive reputation I had heard attributed to it prior to my own visit.

    (3)

  • Zach R.

    Overpriced beers albeit a good selection. Just paid $8 for two small potato pancakes. Upscale international restaurant or pubby neighborhood favorite, make up your mind jacob wirth.

    (2)

  • Richard D.

    Ordered food with a group of six. Never received my meal. Waitress was very lax about checking in. Lunch hour: ruined.

    (1)

  • Fat G.

    This place could have easily gotten a 5 today, but I'll explain why it didn't. Fat G. came here Monday afternoon to check Jacob Wirth out, after hearing a friend of mine check out this place. Also it's been in the neighborhood for so long, and yet haven't been to it either. Jacob Wirth on Stuart St apparently has some history in it: it's one of the oldest restaurants/pubs in the Boston area. Almost everything looks authentic inside, with the bar, and the chairs and the decorum. I thought I would have broken a chair if I sat slouched. Anyways, as soon as I entered, someone helped me out and figured I was lost. They seated me at a table pretty quickly. The place was kinda empty, but it was also around 1:50 PM or so, which was fine by me. I ordered a root beer float, which was advertised on the sign outside near the patio area. They also have an all day special on Mondays: 25 cent wings, which come in 4 flavors - regular, BBQ, Hot, and Sesame. The root beer float came in one of those see-through Polo party cups. It had both root beer and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It wasn't blended together or anything, so I stirred it until it mixed well, with the distinctive taste of root beer, but not overwhelming because of the vanilla. Of the wings, I ordered 8: 2 of each flavor, and I got a wing and drumstick per flavor. All of them were pretty good and flavorful, and each variety was cooked slightly differently. The only one I didn't really like was the Sesame: good flavor, but lighter in taste compared to the slathered BBQ or Hot wings. They were pretty quick in being cleanly and the atmosphere was relaxing. The TV was on and it's colorful with the beer signs and chalk decorated wall. The only problem though was my server, Keven. He only interacted with me 3 times. The first time was to confirm my order after another waitress had taken it. The second time was to drop off my order at my table, but he didn't say anything or acknowledge me. The third time was to get me my check. Not once was there a thank you or anything given. It was unlike any service I've ever received in a restaurant. Ignoring the service, this place can easily be a frequented spot. The Monday deal and atmosphere makes me want to come back. Make your own conclusions as to how this place really is.

    (3)

  • David T.

    Just stopped by this morning for lunch, the wiener schnitzel was delicious. Fast service, there was not many people in the restaurant so they got the order quick and the spaetzle was great!

    (4)

  • Eric F.

    A staple for TUSM students, Jake's is our go to spot for post-exam drinks. They easily have the best beer selection in the area and it's always great to try a new one each time I visit. Some of the noteworthy ones I can think of offhand are the Old Chub Scottish Ale, Leffe Brune, Schneider Aventinus, Spaten Optimator, and Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout. This, however, is where the review ends for the 4-star rating. Service quality is erratic as they have several sluggish, forgetful waiters who can't even provide the names of the beers in a given flight and make a sad attempt to bs their way through it... There have also been numerous occasions where I have requested cornbread only to have it never show up. Food-wise, it's very sub-par here for how much they charge. The calamari was one of the worst I've had and everything else is mediocre at best. Even so, Jake's can't be beat if one is ever in need of some quality beer.

    (4)

  • Fabri T.

    Came here recently for the first time with a few friends. I had been looking forward to coming here because I'm a fan of German food and was excited for the vast beer collection. I'm afraid we were all terribly disappointed on almost all fronts. First off, the service was absolutely horrendous. Our waitress, Cheryl, made no effort to hide her cranky mood and continually made us feel unwelcome. To top things off, she was about to throw a fit when we asked to have separate bills. Since some of us got food + drinks, and others just got drinks, this was the most reasonable option. We weren't about to split a bill when some people owed $30 and others only $5. However, Cheryl made it seem like we had asked her to climb Everest. Things got so frustrating that we went to the computer and did the bills with her. All it took was about 8 taps on the computer screen. Seriously?! Was that so hard?! Ugh. The food was meh. While the sausages were good, I expected more than just two hotdog size ones over mediocre sauerkraut and mashed potatoes for $18. Definitely not a dish I would write home about. Definitely not returning.

    (1)

  • Joanna F.

    My fiance and I had just gotten out of Sam Octoberfest and we weren't sober. So what's the first thing anyone would want to do after a few hours of drinking? Eat a massive sausage! That's not what it sounds like. We literally came to Jacob Wirth and both got sausages. We each got a plate with knockwurst and bratwurst as well as kraut and german potato salad. It was delicious... then again, I was drunk. I'm pretty sure any sausage would be delicious at that point. The atmosphere was kind of cool and the service was nondescript bordering on bad. But again, we were drunk. so whatever. Long story short, maybe this isn't the most accurate review I've ever written. The one thing I know for sure - there was a large beer list!

    (4)

  • Josephine L.

    This place is so forgettable I didn't even remember I'd been here until it randomly showed up on my Yelp feed. Let's just forget any German associations, shall we? If Jacob Wirth is authentic German, I'm the princess of China. So you serve a few sausages and give them names that end in "-wurst". That don't make you German. The beer selection, I will concede, is not bad. I had the Knockwurst with red cabbage. Blech! The cabbage was gross and way too sweet, and the wurst lacked any flavor whatsoever. For $9.95--normally not a bad price for an entree--this was a total rip-off. My friend's Black Label Sausage was a little more flavorful thanks to the garlic, but again nothing to write home about. I will give a star for the piano player and his lively old-timey renditions of pop songs, as well as the songbooks they distribute to allow customers to sing along. Kind of like a group karaoke in a German-accented Vaudeville atmosphere. Cute. I've been to dingier dive bars that served better food for half the price, so unless you're in the area and nowhere else is open, I'd skip this place.

    (2)

  • Rob C.

    Jacob Wirth's is one of those places where the sum is greater than the parts. And the parts are all pretty good too. The restaurant is spacious and feels its age in a good sort of way; it's very lived-in. It doesn't evoke a typical beerhall in any way other than the feel of it on a weekend evening. It's got a very solid beer list with a welcome selection of German beers, especially welcome when the Oktoberfests are available (also, there are house brews). The food is satisfying, too; the traditional dishes like the schnitzel are just what you want to go with downing a few pints. Throw in the live music. A little more beer. And soon enough it's clear that it's going to be hard to avoid having a good time.

    (4)

  • Karina L.

    Got the Jaeger Shnitzel. I kind of ordered it just because I wanted to say it out loud. Totally worth it. The food itself, however, was mediocre. The veal cutlet was nice and moist but it was breaded way too much and the jaegermeister sauce was this unappealing gray sauce that had no flavor. The spaetzel underneath (a kind of European noodle, I guess. Kind of has the consistency of gnocchi) was again flavorless and tasted like wet bread. The saving graces of the meal was the plate my boyfriend ordered -- the pork shank. Ooh man that was delicious. It fell off the bone and apart so easily (read: easy to steal with a fork). Almost wanted to snatch the plate from him. Too bad it's only a special, so I'm not sure how often they have it (we went on a Sunday). Also the bread was delicious. I asked for a second basket of bread and none of my dinnermates had the decency to stop me. Got way too full and unhappy after that.

    (3)

  • Melissa D.

    A casual go to place and a good joint to grab a few bevs and food before going out in the town. You do notice it's very touristy but besides that - a HUGE beer menu showing their love for the Ze-Germans. You enter and it's very old school and some of the tables and chairs look like they are about to fall apart - nostalgia for them. I feel bad for the parties who were sitting right by the bar since it does get packed. Servers did seem frustrated and overwhelmed. The menu has a lot of German fare of course so be prepared to venture in a new dining experience. Since they have a lot of German fare, I would go that route than their standard American food. We had the sausage and sauerkraut balls (shut it) and they were very yummy as you pour on the mustard grain sauce (shut it). They have live music and the time we went, it was operatic open mic! Good thing about this place is they place the beers in the right glasses, pilsners in their das boot-like glasses, hoegaardens and chimays in their perfect shaped glassware.

    (4)

  • Christina G.

    Jacob Wirth...You had me at the cornbread. Any place that gives you warm cornbread and whipped butter to kick off your meal is a winner in my book. I love the BBQ burger, but can't really vouch for much else. I will say this place is best for standard pub food though. I ordered some German fare once and was not as impressed. I'm not a huge fan of the atmosphere either and the service has been very up and down in my experience.

    (3)

  • Dave W.

    Jacob Wirth is a little slice of Dusseldorf here in Boston. It is warm and inviting and the staff are friendly and quick to serve. They have an excellent beer menu and the food is out of this world: I highly recommend the "Bacon, Egg and Cheeseburger" it will change your Religious preferences.

    (4)

  • J. B.

    I will preface this review by stating that at the time of my experience at Jacob Wirth, I was 28 years old, with a valid Massachusetts driver's license. I joined a group of friends here for the first -- and last -- time. First, our waitress announced she was new and then proceeded to not know if they carried about half the drinks being ordered, so she had to run off to ask someone. Then she forgot our order several times and had to come back and ask us again (because she was new). After she finally remembered our order, she came back to the table and asked if she could see my ID again. She left the table, taking my ID with her. Eventually she returned to our table with my ID, and a little while after that, she came with drinks. My friend and I had both ordered shots of Jim Beam. We were sitting next to one another, and she placed our shots down side by side. Except mine looked suspiciously several shades lighter than my friend's. We did an extensive comparison and everyone at the table agreed, my shot of bourbon looked much lighter than my friend's. We took the shots, and there was literally NO telltale whiskey burn. My shot had been watered down! But I didn't want to cause a fuss when everyone had come out to have a good time, so I let it go. I ordered a bourbon and coke and the table ordered another round of drinks. The waitress had to come back and ask us what our orders were again because she was new (as she wasn't going to let us forget). My drink arrived, and I took a sip. It was all soda. I had several people at the table try it and they all agreed. There was no bourbon in that drink. I was the only one at the table getting served watered-down drinks. (I was actually the second-oldest at the table, but apparently "looking young" is reason enough for them to take matters in the their own hands and prevent a customer from drinking here, even if a valid driver's license technically requires them to serve you.) Of course, this is where I should have gotten the manager, but the restaurant was a chaotic nightmare of unacceptably bright overhead lighting, bad oldies played on the piano, and drunk 50-year-old women dancing and screaming all over the place, and the thought of introducing more chaos at that point was not agreeable to me ... so I decided to bypass the waitress and go straight to the bar for a bottled beer (aka something they couldn't water down). I asked if I could have a Miller Light and the bartender shook his head no. "Excuse me?" I asked, to which he replied in a nasty, skeptical tone: "I need to see your ID." I presented my ID and reluctantly, he handed over the beer. I'm sure if I'd looked away he would have poured half of it out and replaced with water or something. I'm not a German food fan, but there HAS to be someplace better to go in Boston if you like that sort of thing. Unless, of course, you prefer your German food served with harsh fluorescent lighting, uncomfortable chairs, and shrieking, clapping, dancing women in mom jeans attempting to harmonize to the worst songs of the '60s and '70s. Or, you know, if you look young and want to party like you're 20 again by being hassled over your ID and refused service.

    (1)

  • Pete J.

    I don't care how great the beer selection is if you can't get one! I've been there three times now and consistently I have been made to wait unnecessarily . One time while sat at a table and twice at the bar itself. I sucker myself into thinking that next time will be fine, but really it never is. This most recent visit my buddy and I belly up to a relatively quiet bar. He goes off to the restroom and I wait to get served. He comes back from the bathroom and I still haven't been served. So I go to the bathroom and we decide that if we haven't been served by the time I get back, we'll just cut our losses and go someplace else. When I get back he tells me that he had just placed our two-beer order. So ok, now we're committed. But we don't get our two beers. We see the bartender pour what looks like our two beers, but he goes in the opposite direction with them. We waited for about ten minutes after ordering before we decided enough was enough and stood up to leave. At that moment the bartender realizes that he hasn't delivered our two beers and hastily picks them up from the other end of the bar where they had just been sitting and brings them over. Kudos to him for telling us there would be no charge, but do you think we stuck around for another round?

    (2)

  • Elizabeth G.

    Add it to your list of Boston must-dos. Restaurant/bar with German beers and food, open since 1868. Less well known than Union Oyster House (probably because it's not located on the Freedom Trail), but almost as old and just as fun and interesting. Our food was actually surprisingly good for a place that is a) a pub and b) very touristy. I had Jake's Special (knockwurst and bratwurst with "red bittersweet beer sauce," potato salad, and sauerkraut -- a permanent menu item despite being called a special). It was delicious, and our whole group's food was equally yum. The beer list is epic. I had a hard-to-find seasonal Sam that they had on tap (the Whitewater IPA, a combo of the IPA and Belgian wit styles). My second was a Belgian whose name I don't remember (the draught list is mostly German, with a healthy helping of Belgian and domestic). Come here for dinner before a show in the theater district. Reservations recommended but the dining room is huge so you probably won't have trouble.

    (4)

  • Harry D.

    Oh JW.. you always put on a show each time i'm here. The crowd pleasing restaurant with its boisterous music antics and crowd, never falls short on the palate. The food is absolutely delicious, I highly recommend ordering a pint of steinometer and any of the German fares will not disappoint you.

    (4)

  • Tim V.

    We didn't get to eat dinner here since we already had plans, but we did get the fried pickles. They were delicious! The beer menu was great, plenty of delicious German Beers, which makes sense due to the theme of the restaurant. There is a lack of selection of American Beer, but you won't want a lot of that anyway. Service was great, quick and took care of our table. Look forward to trying the food from here!

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    I ask myself how could I have been missing this hidden gem? Guess because i'm rarely in Boston's theatre district. Great beer selection, menus feature % of alcohol per beer a HUGE PLUS in my book. Warm soft baked pretzels with house made honey mustard sauce, skip the sausage and sauerkraut fried dough balls, (has a crunchy outside and a "wet" interior), buffalo wings were addictive but very spicy, large portion (we couldnt finish the last one) celery and carrots were a little small for how spicy they were. Hot wings = more celery and carrots! I had $2.25 PBRs, Stella, Monkey Head Pale Ale 9% alcohol, all were great and we got a nice buzz on during the heartfelt renditions of the live piano player. The 1st Bruins game was on the TV and the bar was hoppin. Oh! I'm pretty sure there was a Ravens player sitting behind us too. I had a blast at this place. I will be back soon. Do yourself a favor and head down to Jacob Wirths for any occasion and you'll have some fun.

    (4)

  • Denise P.

    The one star is for the beer selection which is truly fabulous. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THE FOOD!! Starter- we got the bucket of soft pretzels. It was a basket of frozen pretzels with runny honey mustard sauce. Second - got the "award winning" clam chowder. Canned chowder that was doctored up with some identifiable herb. Main - the Wiener schnitzel was grey overlooked veal with a floury lemon sauce over super dense spaetzle. Inedible. And they brought the mains about 2 minutes after the starters arrived and then didn't clear until they brought the check. This might have bern because we barely touched them. Ok- the German Chocolate cake dessert drink was tasty but the waitress didn't know what it was when I ordered it and had to bring back the menu. Then "sing along with Mel" started. Oh yes, and the "free WiFi" was locked. I wish I hadn't listened to the idiot who recommended this place as somewhere as a cant miss in Boston and had gone for Chinese as planned. Ok- I had to revise this and add a star. I did something I never do and posted my review while still in the restaurant because the food and service were so bad. After we paid the bill, the host came over to us and asked why I had posted a bad review. He said the manager constantly checks Yelp and saw the bad review. He was very apologetic and said they were comping the meal. We insisted that this was not necessary and they insisted it was. We tried to at least pay for the drinks, which were fine, but they would not let us, so we left a ridiculous tip and I felt guilty. I really would go back for the beer and appreciate the rapid response to the complaint. Hopefully future diners will have a better experience with the food.

    (2)

  • Rob B.

    I hate to give the place 2 stars as the food and the beer was fantastic. I also really enjoyed the atmosphere. One thing that stands out is the service when busy is awful. Recently I ate outside with a friend that was in town visiting, and while we were there the waiter took about 20 minutes to bring us cornbread and water, then came back 10 minutes later to take our drink orders. We gave him our drink and food orders, the 2 beers we got came out in 15 minutes and he said that he forgot about the food and was sorry and that he was putting it in right away. Not a good look. The food, once it arrived was fantastic.

    (2)

  • Kelly O.

    I like the overall feel of this place. Old school beer hall, with lovely historical details. A guy playing piano, each table with a huge song list from which you can sing along. A large (albeit pricey) beer list, including some of their own brews (I like the Jake's Dark, $5 for a pint/$17.50 for a pitcher). German food (rare in these parts). Good place to come with a fun group of friends for some beer and snacks. However, I think the food is just OK, and overpriced to boot (all the 'traditional' German fare is over $20, except for the sausage sandwiches which are $11). My $10.95 Black Label Sausage was nicely flavored atop some tasty red cabbage, and I really enjoyed the side of German potato salad that came with, but I didn't like how it came on a hamburger bun instead of a hot dog roll (geometry apparently isn't relevant here?), and I was actually still kind of hungry after cleaning my plate. The boy's burger was at least cooked correctly, but it was bland and flavorless and the sweet potato fries were cold. The pretzels we ordered were fresh and tasty though, and the free piping hot corn bread was the best thing we ate. And I've heard that past dinner specials- like a giant pork shank atop mashed potatoes- were delicious. It seems there are some hits and some misses, so just be warned (plus the service is meh).

    (3)

  • Susan B.

    Food is so so. Had sauerbraten, which was ok, but the spaetzel was lukewarm as was the gravy. Service was pretty slow so I suspect my plate was sitting in the litchen awhile. The place was nearly empty and the waitstaff were not that busy or friendly for that matter.

    (3)

  • Anthony P.

    You'll find me and/or my classmates from Tufts dental here pretty regularly on Mondays for 25 cent wings because we're cheap, poor students. The other time you'll find us here is after a tough exam, weeping over some beers. With that being said, this place is great for groups! Our waiters are nice enough to let us pay individually even when there is a large group. The selection of beers is huge! But being in debt, a $3 can of PBR will suffice. Food is typical bar food. 25 cent wings on Mondays are a steal! You can order as many as you want and take home the leftovers, which I eat for next day's lunch. Out of all the flavors, my favorite is buffalo or BBQ, depends on my mood. Asian sesame is too sweet for me and crispy is too plain. Weiner Schnitzel was amazing! One of the most expensive things on the menu, but it's a very large, deliciously creamy portion. Fried pickles are a treat too as an appetizer! Overall, service is great. They don't mind big groups of people. Sometimes they mix up our orders of wings because there's so many orders, but it's not even a problem when there's an abundance of wings on the table. I'm going to keep coming here, a lot!

    (4)

  • Scotty P.

    I brought a friend of mine who spent a great deal of time in Germany. She was disgusted with the food and the cost. She couldn't belive they were trying to pass this off as German fare. We were very disappointed they didn't have traditional German meals. And for a German restaurant the beer selection was laughable. We tried to order another beer and we were told we couldn't because they were closing....thanks for the heads up. Unfortunately, because of the ethnic make up of Boston, there aren't many German options. If you're looking for authentic German go to Karl's and make it at home

    (2)

  • Katie V.

    Surprisingly, when I was a student at Emerson and on campus all the time, I only went to Jacob Wirth's once, for drinks and fried pickles. Now I've been a few times, for lunch and dinner, and I really think the food is higher quality than you might expect. Their Reuben is outstanding. And I like that they give you the Thousand Island on the side so the sandwich doesn't collapse from sogginess. The corned beef is perfectly salty and delicious. It's a stellar Reuben. I recommend getting it with the German potato salad, which is tangy and not too mayo-heavy. The mashed potatoes are also great. I've also had the pretzel-encrusted salmon. Encrusted is not really accurate -- their are just some pretzel bits sprinkled on top, along with some stoneground mustard. I was pleased that they didn't overcook the salmon -- it was moist, flavorful and cooked medium (how I asked for it). A sizeable piece of fish for $14 and it came with asparagus and mashed potatoes. I was very happy. I also really enjoy the atmosphere -- very bright and bustling, and clearly an old, cool building that they haven't changed too much. Feels very historic Boston without being cheesy.

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Jacob Wirth's was recommended to me by an out-of-towner after we discovered a mutual love of German food. I think his recommendation was a bit too strong so I went in with high expectations. Wirth's did not meet those expectations, but it wasn't a complete miss either. The most disappointing thing to me about Wirth's was the lack of German food on the menu; we're really just talking a couple of different wursts and some schnitzel. It was not impressive. They were also out of Franziskaner Dunkel, my favorite beer to drink with some German food. On the positive side, Wirth's was an energetic place where we had a good time meeting up and drinking with friends. If you're looking for great German food, don't go to Wirth's. If you're just looking for somewhere new to check out in Boston, it's worth a shot.

    (3)

  • Anthony A.

    I came to Jacob Wirth at 8pm for a party of 8 on a Saturday night. The place was like a large beer hall, and I really liked the decor. Its brightly lit, it had christmas lights hanging form the ceiling, beer taps drilled to the wall. The beer selection is great, providing many authentic options from England and Germany, as well as domestic beers, and your house hold beers (coors, miller, budweiser, etc). I got knockwurst and brotwurst. The wursts were great. The service was mediocre. The guy was super nice, but really knew nothing about beer. Any way, its a fun place where you can be loud and loose with a group a buddies while kicking back German beer and wursts.

    (3)

  • Maria M.

    Excellent choice for pre-theater dining. We were greeted by a warm and welcoming hostess, had a great meal and excellent service by Sean. We were a little tight on time and he helped guide us to the fastest choices, which were very good.

    (5)

  • Manfred S.

    This was my practice run before before going to Germany for a week. Food is okay, albeit the authenticity seems to fade (compared to a few years ago). The beer choices are plentiful, but not so much to my liking. Too many heavy beers that you cannot enjoy with food; they are a full meal all by themselves. Also, skip the Belgian chemical brew - it is not beer without Reinheitsgebot! Our waitress was a nutcase. She was very hyper and a little forgetful. Now that's authentic German style!

    (3)

  • Benjamin L.

    I was born in Germany and thus was excited about Jacob Wirths when I heard about the restaurant about 6 years ago. Unfortunately after dining here about 10 times I have yet to have a great experience. The service is always very very slow, the food is really not on par with what the prices are (21 dollars for winner schnitzel?!?!?), especially when you consider most of the dishes are pretty basic German recipes. The beers however are great although I would like some more Bavarian choices, I recommend you come here for drinks and once they spruce up quality of food then order some food here. The décor is pretty German, however the last two times I have been there I wanted to watch a sporting event they had on their big projection screen, and rather than play the sound of the game they had some guy singing incredibly loud somewhat German songs on the piano.. super obnoxious and really just way too loud, to the point that I stopped talking to my girlfriend while he was singing because we could barely have a conversation. Excellent concept this restaurant, especially since I LOVE German food, but it's hard to go back to a place that has disappointed me in the past.

    (2)

  • Stephen M.

    It was okay. Stopped in for dinner on a weeknight around 6:30pm. The exterior of the restaurant strikes you with its classic appearance. Inside, wood on the floor and German memorabilia everywhere else. We were seated at a high-boy at the far end of the bar. Our server was quick to take our drink order and returned shortly. My co-worker and I decided to go for some German tapas. We ordered the sausage & sauerkraut balls, Wiener Schntizel, and German potato salad. The food arrived in rather short fashion. and we dug in. Everything was okay. My one problem was the fact that there only three small pieces in the sausage & sauerkraut dish. For $6.95, I was expecting five or six pieces. Overall, a good experience. Good atmosphere, good service cloth napkins.

    (3)

  • Crystal L.

    2.5 stars Good beer selection Good service But their classic food was ok. I had better German food elsewhere. I ordered their small plate Sauerbraten. I've read good reviews for it, but mine was not "melt in my mouth." The beef round was very grainy and the spaetzle was not the best as well. My friend had their weiner schnitzel and it wasn't spectacular. None the less, it's a good place to chill and hang.

    (2)

  • Danie R.

    Ordered a bowl of soup. Got a cup. Sent it back. Brought me a bowl of soup. It was room temp. Sent it back. It was brought back slightly warmer. At this point I was so hungry I just ate it warm. it was also incredibly under seasoned: just bland!

    (2)

  • John S.

    This place has the potential to be really cool, conceptually. But the execution sucks. Heading there with coworkers we loved the idea; German theme, lots of beers to choose from, TVs for the game. But the atmosphere is kind of a cross between Costco and Denny's. The food was decent but with very little concern for the presentation. So if you're looking to fill a hole, it will do the job. The beer selection is decent but no one who worked there seemed to know what they actually had available or anything about the beers. The service in general was terrible.

    (2)

  • Megan T.

    I came here prepared to hate it based on other reviews but was pleasantly surprised. Walking in on a Friday night it was packed. I wasn't expecting that for some reason, but I liked that it was busy. There were 4 of us and we had a groupon that was good for appetizers entrees and 2 desserts. For apps we had fried pickles -which I thought were great, and potato pancakes (which come with fruit), again very good. For dinners we had the cowboy steak which was plain but good. Also the jeager schnitzel (which was just ok, too much breading IMO. This is a tough place to go if your gluten free or trying to not eat fried food-not many healthier non-fried options. Dessert was really good, we got a German whoopie (sort of a German chocolate whoopie pie) and strudel. The beer list was fantastic if your into German beers which I am, my beloved victory golden monkey was available. Did I mention the piano music? Ok, so they have a piano set up in the middle of the dining room and on Friday nights and they give out song books to whoever wants them and the whole dining room breaks out into song. It's really quite interesting. I raised it up 1 star to a 4 for that since it's kind of fun and unique. I could see going there with a big crowd, but the food we had was definitely only worthy of 3 stars.

    (4)

  • Terry C.

    I've been here a few times and Jacob Wirth is a good place for some beer & good German/American food. Our reservation was at 8 so we hung out at the fairly spacious bar to have some drinks and we were seated promptly at 8. We ordered a bunch of things to share and one of my most favorite dishes of the night was the Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese! It was the perfect amount of cheesiness, i just wish they used another type of pasta instead of elbow. Everything else we ordered was good - nachos, pretzel, potato pancake, beer battered fish & chips, German mixed grill and the Sauerbraten. a few sidenotes: -I would avoid this place right before or after a show due to the crowds -If you like beer, come here. -Live Music on Fridays! - someone plays the piano. He'll pass out books to each table so that you can request and sing-along. The ENTIRE restaurant was singing "Yesterday"!

    (4)

  • John Daniel G.

    I went for lunch and had the Jake's NIbbler, which came with two samplings of Bratwurst and Knockwurst. It may be my ignorance of sausage, but I was hoping they would taste like something more than hot dogs with thicker skin. They weren't bad I guess, but they weren't memorable either. The sauerkraut, cabbage, and mashed potatoes it came with were all tasty. It took a while for our food to come out, even though the place was mostly empty, and those tables were really not designed for someone over six feet tall.

    (3)

  • Mindy L.

    This place just isn't for me. I walked in and felt like I was in an old dance hall cafeteria or something. I totally get the history and I always appreciate something, such as a restaurant, operating in a fashion that is as historically accurate as possible. I just wasn't impressed. The chairs aren't comfy (or maybe my bottom is just too big) and the big space is drafty as hell. I got a beer - it was tasty - I got a burger - it was good (I asked for medium, I got medium-well)...but what did I enjoy most about my experience, you ask?...the pickle. The dill pickle on the side was what I enjoyed most about my experience...and hence...I just don't think this place is my cup of tea.

    (2)

  • Sarah A.

    This place has a really cool, old style, German beer hall atmosphere. The restaurant is long and deep with lots of table seating, including traditional beer hall style seating with one long table seating several people. They also have smaller, round tables up in the front and a small outdoor seating section on the sidewalk. There's lots of cool, old school German beer advertising and old fixtures around to look at. I also love the lighting, very dim with old fixtures. They have a great projector here too for showing games, including soccer games. Check their website for details. During the World Cup, they showed many games. The beer selection is great with all your typical US brews as well as traditional German beer like Hofbrau. I am a little disappointed that they don't have more in the way of German food. They have schnitzel and sausages, German potato salad and sauerkraut, but not much else. The menu also includes burgers, salads, soup, including clam chowder and other pub favorites. The corn bread they serve as a bread basket is delicious. I had a blue cheese burger here and it was average. The blue cheese was nice, but the burger itself and the roll were a little sub-par. My only other complaint with this place is it seemed like they either did not have air conditioning or they had it on so low, it was not noticeable. It was very hot in there the entire time we were eating. Service was friendly and our waitress let us linger for awhile after we finished eating. In summary, Pros: cool German beer hall atmosphere German beers Some German food Cons: Needs more German food Average burgers Too hot.

    (4)

  • Damian X.

    Friday night singalong is legit. Beer list is extensive and they serve pitchers, which along would get you a star in my book. I alternate between veggie reuben and vegetarian burger and both are excellent. Service is good and the staff are pros, if maybe a little gruff. I take many friends & visitors here, especially carnivorous ones. Lock down a table if you're going on Friday night, otherwise just saunter in and enjoy.

    (4)

  • Monique S.

    I guess the third time is the charm! A group of friends and I went for lunch and the service was excellent. We had a female servant who was very attentive. I had the Lionel's fish cakes and mac and cheese. It was delicious. I was glad to see them finally living up to what I've heard about them.

    (3)

  • Anita S.

    Consistently great food. Really great brats, red cabbage, warm potato salad, and cornbread. Huge beer selection on tap if that's your thing. Also has fun mixed drinks. Uncharacteristically bad service tonight- server was friendly enough, just very inattentive and spent more time talking to other servers than serving.

    (4)

  • Dave M.

    Wow. I never knew you could make food this bad without fetching it from a septic tank first. I had a bratwurst, which was ok, but the sauerkraut was awful, and what the heck is a matter with people coating their french fries in a wheat batter? The fries were cold, hard and disgusting. I won't be back, and when they go out of business, I won't show up to buy any of their "decor" either. Urp... That was just gross.

    (1)

  • Florina K.

    My veal schnitzel was pretty good!!! I would totally get it again... everything else especially the steak tips were horrible!! Cool atmosphere of a really old bar, live music!

    (3)

  • Debra L.

    It feels odd giving L'Espalier and Jacob Wirth back to back 5 star reviews, but I'm doing it! Saturday night was my first time there (which I still can't believe) and I can't wait to go back. Seriously, I loved everything about this place. The size, the look, the wooden tables and wooden floor and high ceiling. Just like a big German beer hall and perfect for a group. I want to go back on a Friday night for the sing-a-long. We didn't do full entree's, but we sampled a lot of apps. Of course, we got nacho's, a traditional German favorite (haha). I have to order nachos if I see them on the menu. It's a compulsion. I'd probably have nacho's as my death row meal (contrary to what I put in my yelp profile about turkey dinner). They were good. Really good, with the perfect amount of cheese, chili and jalapenos and they even came with a side of guac, which doesn't always happen. We also got the warm pretzels with mustard dipping sauce. They put those crappy Fenway Park or Street Vendor pretzels to shame! We got the sausage special that day (Buffalo Chicken Sausage) and it was so odd, yet so good. It came with Buffalo dipping sauce. We also got the German sampler with some other type of sausage that was cooked really well (grilled, I think) and served alongside German potato salad (eh, kind of like cold mashed potatoes) and cabbage and some sweet relishy thing. So yeah, the food was decent but really, it's the atmosphere that is the reason for the 5 stars. I don't know if it's authentic or if it's good German food? I'm probably the only person I know who went to Oktoberfest in Munich and ate salad and French fries the whole time because I thought all of the sausages on everyone's plates around me were too "taupe" for my liking.

    (5)

  • Hiro T.

    The place does have a nice beer selection, but that's really about it. The food is very average, and not worth the price you pay. The service is also nothing to special. Servers often forget to place orders and often forget that you even exist. The bar is small and crowded. Tables are not designed to really accommodate parties over 4-5 people. Have I already mentioned that the food is very sub-par? People are waiting to be seated, but the waiting area is packed and very uncomfortable. Again the place has a good beer selection, but I'm sure there are plenty of other places in the area with selections just as good, and food that is actually worth consuming. OVERALL THE RESTAURANT FOOD IS NOT WORTH THE WAIT AND THE SERVICE IS NOT GREAT. BETTER OFF AT A RESTAURANT WITH A DECENT BEER SELECTION AND GOOD FOOD!

    (2)

  • Jennifer W.

    Hmmm....I was expecting more. The food was ok. They had some trivia game going on and that wasn't the type of environment I was in the mood for but the service was great. It's basically touristy but has a great beer selection. We didn't have to wait. We were seated right away. The food reminded me of old people's cafeteria food. No offense to older folk but the food was very bland. There were a lot of older folk in the place, so maybe that's their crowd? I don't think I'll go back. There are too many other amazing places to eat in Boston.

    (3)

  • Steve F.

    Ehh. Stale drafts and a hair in my calimari.

    (2)

  • Rachael F.

    I don't want to downgrade my review from five stars, because this is still one of my favorite spots in Boston. However, their service is consistently horrendous. When dining at Jacob Wirth, you can expect events like the following: Order a beer, get it 45 minutes later Be there almost an hour before you food has been ordered and set in front of you Order wine, and they bring you the bottle, but no glasses Insist that the entree you have been ordering every month for the past year has been made incorrectly, and the server doesn't believe you Ask for cornbread, never get it Generally impossible to flag down your server. However, to their credit, the last time we went, our server remembered that we had voiced how unhappy we were with the experience the previous time he served us, and made an extra effort to be attentive. However, it shouldn't take that much effort to give us standard service. I have to say that it is to JW's credit that I enjoy the experience of visiting the restaurant and Mel SO much that I will repeatedly go despite these issues. And it is because of Mel that the number of stars in my review is still so high.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    Thank God Jacob Wirth is not depending upon me for business. It was thirty years between visits but surprisingly the place looks exactly the same with the exception of the large flat screen TVs. (Those they should lose ASAP) There have been a few changes but in the case of Jacob Wirths I think there have been improvements in the food department while maintaining the very best of the past. Gone are the cheese and crackers but that is OK because the hot pretzels with mustard are incredible. The grilled bratwurst was excellent as were all the sides with the exception of the onion rings which need a bit of work. Service was excellent, drink pours are generous and the atmosphere hasn't change in thirty years which in my book is OK.

    (4)

  • Nicole S.

    I will be back time and time again for the Friday Night Sing Alongs!! We had so much fun there. The staff and fellow singers were so nice. I love the atmosphere for this place. The experience started with a great host who was nice to coordinate getting out stray party members to our table. He was on the ball with everything. So was our waitress and serves. Water came down quickly, drink orders and food orders followed suit. They have a great beer selection, well that's what I was told by Boyfriend and friend who were pounding back drinks. Food was simple and good. I got an appetizer of the potato pancakes. I thought they were a little dry, okay a lot dry. But the bites of sandwich that I stole from Boyfriend's dinner has swayed me over to the side of Reuben's. Gasp. I have disliked Reuben's until this place. I despise rye bread but the meat, mustard, and sauerkraut are soooo good that it makes me forget that this great sandwich is served on such a gross piece of bread (IMHO). The real draw of this place is the man at the helm. the man who tickles the ivories. Mel is a great piano player but the best thing is that he really engages the crowd. I will be back for a Reuben and some singing.

    (4)

  • Kathleen F.

    I hate been here a few times before and always enjoyed the yummy food and good beer. Recently, they had a groupon for a meal for 4 for $45 so it was a great deal and gave me the opportunity to try some new dishes. For starters we tried the pretzels and nachos. Nachos are pretty average, but the pretzels are really good and come w' a yummy slightly spicy mustard dipping sauce. (Also note they always bring a huge basket of corn bread to the table with each meal). I ordered the salmon which surprisingly was very delish, especially for a german restaurant! It comes with small pretzel bits and the mustard sauce from the pretzels coated across the top. It was very moist and turned out really well. The guys went for the more traditional German mixed grill plates and ate them all up. The schnitzel was cooked really well and I liked that it wasn't too dry and retained a nice moisture. For dessert we got the strudel and the chocolate cake. Strudel was amazing. Chocolate cake was OK I could take it or leave it. Service was good and the waitress was very accommodating. Overall, if you've got a hankering for some good sausage and beer, this is the best place in Boston to come.

    (4)

  • Alex P.

    With a list of quality and extravagant beers that is a mile long, or at least a wall high, and quality pub style food, Jacob Wirth is a great place to watch a game or hang out and grab a drink. The piano player who encourages patrons to yell out songs for him to play, just adds to the friendly and warm welcoming feeling of the facility. In terms of the food, I never thought it would be the case, but it has the best cornbread that I have had in a restaurant, slightly sweet, still moist, and unlimited. On top of that, the German potato salad is phenomenal and rounds out the meal nicely without leaving you feeling like you just ate a bucket of mayonnaise or lard. They must have changed ownership within the past year as the menu items were decreased and generalized, much to my dismay, but most of the items left are reasonably priced (with a few outliers that are overpriced).

    (4)

  • Jeff D.

    I just had my first visit to Jacob Wirth's and it definitely will not be my last. For some reason I thought it was an Irish bar. The range of German and Austrian beers on tap soon dispelled me of that notion. Their Paulaner weisbeer is very tasty, I highly recommend it. I did not sample the German food but my friends and I decided we would return and do the German tasting menu (with paired beers.) I'll make sure I update when i do.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    K, I didn't know it was a German place. That would explain the sauerkraut and sausages that came with the 'sampler' plate! Amazingly long list of beer to choose from. I am by no means a beer girl? But had to opt for one just because they had soooo much. There was also some sort of piano-karaoke thing going on? It sounded like a choir in there. Didn't dampen the experience but just made it ... different? Cute bar, lots of seating, and enough beer to tie you over if you're into that!

    (4)

  • Yvonne V.

    We had wanted to try this place for awhile so when Groupon had a deal for two apps, four entrees and two desserts for $45 I bought one. We went early on a Friday night and were seated right away. We had reservations. A big basket of corn bread was brought out while we made our selections. The cornbread was prety good -not dry. We ordered the pretzels and fried pickles for apps. Pickles were spears and had a little spicy kick. Pretzels were good but I was pretty sure they had come from a package. there was a lot of food on the table. Our picky eater ordered bratwurst and sweet potato fries and ate all of it. Our other son had the reuban (also with sweetpot fries) and he also enjoyed it. Husband got a burger and said it was good. I got the mixed grill. The best thing on the plate was the red cabbage. I wish i had a whole plate of it. The German pototo salad was basically chunks of vinegary potatoes. Not the usual one with bacon and onions. I had the leftovers for lunch today and it ws still good. Dessert for two was included so we chose the pumpkin cheesecake, appple strudel and sprung for the German Choc whoopie pie. I taste tested everything. The cheescake was my favorite. My son was happy the strudel didn't have raisens in it. The ice cream it came with was really good. the whoopie pie needed more of the filling, a pecan/coconut frosting that was inside instead of on top of. My husband and I also ordered beers. He chose one on draft and it was a bit flat, like it had been drawn from an older keg. I had a yummy raspberry lambic. Stick with the bottled beer. The service was fine, our waiter was attentive without being intrusive. I could see where it could get really loud. Parking was right next door in a lot for $20 but with a coupon from the waiter it was just $12. Just ask. THe food was decent, fun atmosphere, go and enjoy yourself!

    (4)

  • Jeffrey K.

    One of the best places I have eaten in Boston - HANDS DOWN!! The staff is friendly, accommodating and knowledgeable. The place has an insane beer menu and the food is incredible. My favorite item on the menu is the Jacob's Special. The cabbage and German potato salad on the side is like no other! I even took my sister's boyfriend to Jacob Wirth and he lives in Germany, long story short the kid cleaned his plate quicker than I did. The wings are gigantic and the meat is tender and savory. They also start you off with complementary corn bread for the table - what more could you ask for? If you haven't been there - just GO you will not be disappointed!! An exciting place for a sit down dinner or a place you can go kick back, chat with friends, and drink diverse beer. The next morning may not always be as fun but that's because of the 7 heavy beers and cabbage - poops... I mean OOPS!!

    (4)

  • Sarah J.

    Tons of beers on tap. Sausage was kind of boring. Bun seemed stale. The menu gave different options of things to go along with the sausage, but they didn't ask me to choose from those options when I ordered. Live music was horrible. Would go back for beer, but wouldn't eat here.

    (2)

  • Anya S.

    Pretty darn good. The food was very good. Love the potato salad. Ask for extra pickles, they got some pretty good pickles, so take your pregnant wife there. I dont drink beer, but apparently they got a lots of it. So I guess that's good, but doesn't really do me any good. But you people, drink your heart out. The service could be improved thought. Our waitress smelled like sigs and really didn't give a flying f**k about her tables.

    (4)

  • Adam E.

    My experience at Jacob Wirth was good, and the burger I had as outstanding. There are just a few negatives that are keeping me from bumping this up to a 4-star joint. I'll start with what I liked though. First, the aforementioned burger. I went all out and got the bacon, egg and cheeseburger because I've been working out and I freaking wanted it. It was cooked medium (actually medium!) and perfectly juicy, on a nicely toasted bun. Personally, I think the food is the most important point of a restaurant like this, with beer being a close second. I tried to order a Fransikaner, but they were all out, so I branched out and went with a Matilda. It was a fantastic beer, and turned out to be a good thing that I had to try a beer I hadn't before. I mean, a place with such a huge list, you might as well try something, right? You can also ask for a sample if you're afraid of commitment. Our waiter was great too. When my food came out with the wrong fries (I asked for sweet potato), he didn't miss a beat and brought some out for me as soon as I told him. The food runner didn't give me a chance to tell him, so I had to wait for/try to flag down the waiter, but whatever. Now, for the poo-poos. This place is LOUD. The acoustics are a wreck because of the architecture, and I know part of the point of Jake's is the super high ceiling, biergarten feel. But I couldn't hear a thing the waiter was saying and I'm not old. Maybe I'm too sensitive to ambient noise, but it made conversation impossible for me. Then again, I'm a librarian, so take that as you will. The other negatory was the sweet potato fries that I received a little after the food came out. They were gross. Overfried and way too thin. They were more like long sweet potato chips, and those are not tasty. They were very dry, hard and with very little sweet potato taste. All they tasted like was fried. I ate the regular fries instead and liked them fine, but they were kind of reminiscent of Burger King, for better or worse. I would definitely go back to Jacob Wirth for burgers and biers, and think it'd be a great place to bring a group, since that situation is by definition loud and difficult to hold a conversation in. But for a pair of people, I don't know about going to Jake's. Unless you're really into beer and don't mind sitting super close so you can hear each other. Or, bring your mother-in-law.

    (3)

  • Karen S.

    The service is always terrible, but the food is always worth it. Great atmosphere and impressive beer list (though the servers never actually know what's on tap). Best fish and chips and potato pancakes in the city.

    (4)

  • Kelly L.

    German fare is somewhat lacking in San Diego, so I really looked forward to eating here during my visit. The atmosphere was fun - we came on a Friday night for the sing-a-long. We left pretty early in the evening so we didn't get to see the full extent of the sing-a-long, but I can only imagine how crazy it would get the later it got and as the amount of drinking increased. Somewhat disappointed with my weiner schnitzel. It was kinda tough and bland. The spaetzel was really good though. My friend ordered the jaegerschnitzel and it was definitely better seasoned than my dish. The beer selection was huge and the service was a little slow. But we came on a Friday night so it wasn't a surprise. I'm willing to give it another shot the next time I'm in town, but perhaps on a weeknight.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    I should have been tipped off when I was reading the menu and saw they'd spelled it "Weiner Schnitzel". We were really, really excited to have found a restaurant that offered German food, so we sat down and ordered potato pancakes, the Weißwurst and a couple beers. It's been a while since I lived in that part of the world and I was stoked to have Weißwurst again! When the food came out, my apprehension started- for a moment I thought they had brought out the wrong order. My girlfriend's potato pancakes were tiny for $6.50, and my Weißwurst and potato salad weren't what I'd been expecting at all. Instead of two or three steamed sausages with a side of traditional, cold German potato salad, there was only one sausage, cut down the middle and served on a bun. The weisswurst was nothing like what I'd eaten all the time in Austria (they reminded me more of tough knockwurst), and the bun was pretty gross- instead of a traditional Semmel, it was more of a stale, doughy hamburger bun. The potato salad was hot, not cold (unlike what I'd had in Austria) but acceptable. The other thing (major thing!) was that it being Wednesday, we had to listen to a guy doing trivia games over a loudspeaker, which made it impossible for us to talk or even think as we were having our meal. Overall, for a place that bills its food as German the food wasn't good or anywhere near authentic, and the portions were insultingly small for the price. I do commend them on their beer selection, and the staff was friendly. I'm still not going back, because Jakob Wirth is not a German restaurant.

    (1)

  • Dorit M.

    A friend of mine purchased a Groupon for my birthday and when I saw it was Jacob Wirth, my thought was " Oh, Dear ! " . Been there a couple of times and to me as a German, the food is not good at all. Actually to me its an embarrassment to german cuisine. We looked at the beer menue and the first beer we ordered was not available and neither was our second choice. Finally we ended up with something we did not really want. We were not even half way through with our appetizer, when the food runner showed up with our main courses. I said, that it was to soon, but she just gave me a blank look and walked away without saying anything. Really ??!! We had the Sauerbraten with Spaetzle ( The meat was tender but dry,and the spaetzle were a watery mess ), with the steak tips, they used very tough meat , so it was hard to chew. Ordered some Jaegermeister to digest the food. To bad the beer menue shrunk. Some beers should not come from the draft, it just does not taste the same then poured from the bottle. We left a 20 % tip, for something we did not enjoy and the waitress avoiding us after asking her to speak to the manager.( the tip was figured on the total before the groupon ).

    (1)

  • Justin W.

    Oh man, I miss this place. Best German food I have ever had. I lived in Boston for a very short year in 2008. Jacob Wirth is the only restaurant that I really miss, and I have never found its equal. Food: Their German food has great heart. I ate here every other week and never found something I didn't like I loved their small plates menu- the spaetzle and lamb was just amazing. Beer: In my opinion, best selection of on tap beers in Boston. It is amazing how many German beers they have in house. I have to thank JW for introducing me to my first Adventinus. Tall, cold, subtle spice, and in a cool looking glass. Good memories, you always remember your first. Summary: Next time I visit boston I am going to bring a tent and camp out on the sidewalk outside Jacob Wirth. Don't you want to branch out to the west coast?

    (5)

  • Erin B.

    Fun atmosphere and great beer selection. We sat at the bar for drinks, and I got their tiramisu, which was AMAZING. The bartenders were very nice, and let us taste a couple of beers before making our selection. Definitely recommend going here when you're in boston.

    (4)

  • Adam C.

    So, I've come here various times, usually at the insistence of Mr. Groupon, and the place is totally fine. The German food I've had here is totally fine, meaning it's usually good, but not mind-blowing, but I'm not going to bitch about it. I will say the beer-battered onion rings and mozz sticks are pretty GD boss, though. Also, I tried a burger here once and it was surprisingly really good. In fact, if I go again, that's probably what I'll get. I got the one with the Boursin sauce?? (I think???) But yeah, they have a pretty huge selection of beers (when they actually have them. The last time we were there, it seemed like they were out of 60% of the beer menu). The place is a bit over-lit for whatever odd reason. It's usually fine, because most of the time I've gone here it's pre-something (like a show or some shit). Me and Jacob, we're alright, man.

    (3)

  • Alex R.

    My favorite pub-restaurant in Boston! I've been a big fan of Jacob Wirth since my father took me there many years ago. It has an incredible atmosphere which blends the charm of Classic Boston with energy and decor of a proper German Beer Hall. While some Germans who have accompanied me here in the past, will mention that the food is NOT authentic German, they can't help but marvel at the setting and the beer selection. I for one agree to a point on the food, but caution that food varies dramatically throughout Germany, and to get it right on just one menu, is impossible. I think their food, whether you there for German fare, sandwiches or hearty entrees is great, and not overpriced at all. The food may not be 5-stars, but it sure tastes that way, when enjoyed at Jacob Wirth. I come here often in the Spring or Summer for just a small plate (based on the larger German entrees such as sausages with potato salad and kraut, or schnitzel with spaetzel) and a few beers after work. Also, it's a great place to bring your coworkers out to on a Friday night, when the place truly turns into a proper beer hall with sing-alongs played on a piano in the middle of the room. Great times had by all. If you've never been, go! If you've never been on a Friday night, make a reservation! If you have been, bring along some friends.

    (5)

  • Yvonne O.

    This is the kind of place that is about atmosphere and less about food, although I really enjoyed my meal. The husband was less enthused, hence the split in stars. We got the hot pretzels to start which were served with two sauces. He got the saurbraten with red cabbage and spaetzel and I ordered the weinerschnitzel. HUGE portions, but I managed to eek in a yummy $1 root beer float to end the meal! Great portions for the price and there was a beer guy going around with samples of a local brew for free too!

    (3)

  • David W.

    2 things I don't like Giving a bad review on just one visit or tipping less than 20% Both things had to be done. Service progressively went downhill as did the food. None of us finished our meals and I was served the same onion rings I saw staying warm when we came in 45 mins before I got them. None of us would go back

    (1)

  • David D.

    WHOLLY CARP THE APPITIZERS WERE AMAZINGS! We got the sausage balls and GOOD GRAVY SON! And then theres that Sauerbraten, CHEEZES! BUT, BIG BUT, We then had an ok burger (a little worse than say John Harvards, some decent snizel, a mediocre rueben, and some terrible steak tips. the deserts were of little or no goodness. P.S. The drinks were pretty strong P.P.S. They have Sprecher's root beer on tap dude!

    (3)

  • Jenn S.

    I've been to Jacob Wirth a few times over the years with coworkers and have always had a good time. My last outing however, was marred by horrible service. We still had a great time, despite the EXTREME rudeness of our waitress. Take note: Jacob Wirth is fun. The food is tasty (I had the Buffalo Bacon Chicken Wrap: Crispy Buffalo Chicken Fingers, Bacon, Romaine Lettuce, Tomatoes, Bleu Cheese Dressing and Bleu Cheese Crumbles in a Flour Tortilla. For a Healthier Meal Choice Ask to Substitute Grilled Chicken at No Extra Charge - with no bacon) but the service is eh. We've had this waitress 2 times in a row and she is so rude. It's 4:30 and 20+ people walk in... Boom! There are your tips for the night! Was she happy? Nooo. Every drink we got took forever and she slammed them down. When ordering the food, I wanted no bacon, dressing on the side and the healthier option of grilled chicken. She repeatedly yelled "WHAT!? WHAT!?" and didn't even give me the chance to get the dressing on the side. Oh well! She paid for her rudeness in her tip. I was also extremely thirsty (it was hot in there + buffalo sauce? Egads) but was too afraid to ask for a water! I figured if she was that rude about things were were paying for, what would she do about a free drink?

    (3)

  • Amanda L.

    Jacob, I think it's time for us to break up. I feel as if this relationship is a little too one sided. I love Germany. A lot. I mean, I went there for my honeymoon. I feel that after spending almost 3 weeks there I have a pretty good grasp of good German food and beer. The beer selection is great. Honestly. I just wish the servers and/or bartenders could actually pay attention sometime and bring the right beer. I come to a supposed German restaurant for German beer, PLEASE don't give me Boston lagers. Now, onto the food. The food is ok. It's overpriced, which is not unexpected given the location. I think a full serving of sauerbraten is almost $20. It better be fecking good for that price. But it's not. The brats are the only good thing on the menu, and even then, they don't do authentic weisswurst. Makes me sad. And the rest of the menu is just laughable. Nachos, in a GERMAN place? Do nachos exist in Germany? I don't remember seeing them, EVER. The service is very skewed. Rushed, not friendly, and not smart. See: Wrong Beer. The ambience is one small step away from being annoying. I'd like to think that Jacob Wirth's used to be a great place. A great German place! But as my husband stated in his review, there is no authentic German place in Boston. I can make better German food in my kitchen for a fraction of the price. And I can find most of the German beers Jacob Wirth's carries on tap in other places around the city for a lot less. Sorry Jacob, I wish I could say it was me, but it's not. It's most certainly you.

    (2)

  • victoria c.

    You MUST order the fried pickles. If you come here, you have to order them, it is not optional. They are simply the #1 best, most awesome, juicy, crispy, hot, salty, crunchy delicious things I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The sausages are to die for. My personal favorite is the weisswurst, being that anything you have to feel guilty about eating is probably one of the most delicious things you can eat. In the same vein -- the weinershnitzel, also amazing. The sides here are also kickass. The red cabbage is my personal favorite, and the spatzle ain't half bad either. I prefer to come here for lunch, the menu is nearly the same, the plates are still huge, and the price is about half. Speaking of huge plates, the last time I ate here I ordered the mixed grill. After eating about a pound of sausage + sides, I promptly went back to my hotel and took a two hour nap. Really, knocked me out faster than an ambien. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the beer selection, since I'm not much of a beer drinker (if it's not Coors Light, I don't like it) so I usually order riesling, one of my personal favorite whites, and oddly, the only German wine on their menu.

    (5)

  • Grégoire B.

    Casual bar, easy going and friendly atmosphere

    (4)

  • Sheila S.

    I eat/drink here simply because it's close to the place where I spend 80% of my time. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't make it a must-dine location in the theater district/downtown. The main problem is the service. Although they've improved slightly, we've come up with code names for all the bad waitstaff personalities. We've experienced everything from being ignored to straight-up comments about how little we ordered. I know, it gets overwhelming when you have 5 customers at 2pm on a Tuesday. Now the good. They are on the top three oldest restaurants in Boston, and they have an extensive beer selection. The chowder is pretty tasty, and the fried pickles are always a hit. Just try to stay away from the "German" menu items (except for sides and appetizers). Oh, and if you come on Wing Night, order them plain and expect feathers and other inedible chicken bits.

    (3)

  • Stephanie C.

    Portions are a bit to be desired, but the food is really good. What really draws me here is the beer menu. I did a semester abroad and Jacob Wirth's is one of the only places in Boston I can find a lot of the beers I got to drink in Europe. Staff is touch and go. Sometimes great, sometimes not so knowledgable. Great place to grab a beer with some friends after work. Cozy atmosphere and a relaxing (albiet noisy) place to grab a brew and potato pancakes.

    (4)

  • Brian D.

    I'm still madly in like with Jacob Wirth's for the following reasons: -they will try to kill you with gin -i tend to squeeze into bar stools next to older gentlemen and their much younger companions and hear things like 'anything on the menu my dear, anything at all...............' -they have the only clean and functional bathroom in the area -jager schnitzel

    (3)

  • R G.

    I would love to go to a good German restaurant, but this wasn't it. They are resting on an old reputation. The service was unprofessional: too casual, no suggestions offered, limited knowledge of product, slow. The food was just bland, uninspired, and overpriced. I can't even remember what I ordered, but I remember being disappointed. The atmosphere was nothing special. There's just really no reason to go here.

    (1)

  • Thuy P.

    Pretty cute place. Is that something you really think of when you think German restaurant?.....maybe? So, I came here for my birthday dinner as I was trying to reminisce my days in Berlin, but then realized that I actually didn't have much German food in Germany... Just a lot of doner...oops Of course there was no doner, but one thing that peaked my interest was the pretzel crusted salmon. Pretzel sounded really good to me and I built up a craving, but upon receiving the dish I found out that the pretzel coat description was physically translated into a dinky pretzel sprinkle. I mean it was good, but seriously people really need to stop advertising fish as being coated or crusted with something when its not!! Sorry, I've accumulated one too many bad memories of fish promises. Overall it was a good experience, service was a little iffy, and some people weren't super thrilled with their food (less so then my coated vs sprinkle of pretzel debacle), but I'd come back. I'll probably just get a pretzel next time.

    (3)

  • John B.

    Warm pretzel basket as appetizer with dipping mustard (great/horseradish flavor). Sausages here are fresh and delicious. The right amount of seasoning. Service on a Friday afternoon was a little spotty and inattentive. We had to keep asking for water and other things. Airy and old space with wooden decoration. Probably a good place for a group.

    (4)

  • Jon A.

    The food was ok at best, the wiener schnitzel was tough and barely above room temperature, but for me what warranted the one star was the beer list. You would think that they would have German beers on tap, but there were absolutely none, despite the menu suggesting you pair different German beers with the food. I love German food and beer and was hoping Jacob Wirth would be great, but it was a big disappointment.

    (1)

  • Alexandra M.

    Waiter was excellent. Very on top of helping us with the huge menu, getting our orders to us and taking them. I got the Cisco beer that they had on tap, served in a bacardi mug....strange....anyway, it was perfectly served as was my friends grapefruit beer which I wish I got. We shared the fried pickles which had a kick to them and weren't oily or too hot. Also, wedges of the pickle, and not the whole thing which was better for texture. I got the Cesar salad which had anchovies in massive pieces on the side. Strange. I would definitely have needed to cut them to put them on the salad...Good salad though, not covered in dressing. For desert we shared the special of fried brownies which were interesting....I thought they would have coating on them but they were just hard on the outside and super hot on the inside (maybe just a warm brownie would have been better). The pumpkin ice cream and caramel sauce was perfect on it though.

    (4)

  • Kristen K.

    Went to this place after a show last night... Was excited to attend oldest bar good food piano man... Not so much I was very disappointed! We had a reservation went in sat on rickety chairs, and waited over 20 minutes just to order our drinks and placed and order for an appetizer. waited another 20 to get drinks waitress never put in our appetizer, and when we asked , yes i said asked to order dinner she said "I only thought we were ordering drinks" who orders only drinks with a diner reservation for a restaurant?? I will say food was good fried pickles, delish fried chicken blt was good and the burgers were mediocre! If you want a loud noisy place to drink pints with shitty service this is the place for you!

    (2)

  • Ambrose C.

    The 25 Cent Chicken Wing Special and some Wiener Schnitzel It's a Monday evening in Boston, and are you looking for another cheap and tasty deal? Are you also looking for a quintessential Austrian dish served right here in Boston? Are you willing to spend some more money to eat this quintessential Austrian dish in Boston? Well, if you said yes to all 3 of my questions, this place has your answer. I decided to join up with a few friends that I know to take advantage of this 25 cent Chicken Wing special. When I walked inside, I did not feel like I was in Boston or in the year 2012. I felt like that I walked inside a restaurant in Northwestern Continental Europe in the year 1922. I met up with my friends and we decided to start eating. The 25 cent chicken wing special is usually offered on Mondays, so if you come here on Monday, I think you are going to get a good deal. The chicken wings come in different flavors: fried chicken with mustard, sesame flavored sauce, sweet barbecue sauce, and spiced up buffalo sauce. This 25 cent chicken wing special is that one chicken wing piece is 25 cents, which is 25% of $1. So that means you can order 10 chicken wings in four different flavors for $2.50 or even 30 chicken wings in four different flavors for $7.50!!! The fried chicken is surprisingly pretty good, had a nice crispy taste on the outside and a good tenderness on the inside. The sesame flavored sauce and the sweet barbecue sauce were kind of sweet, and were very saucy, but were tasty and addicting to eat. The buffalo chicken was not too spicy, but had a nice flavor as well. This place serves this dish called the Wiener Schnitzel, which is a quintessential dish from Austria. Wiener is actually a German term to describe something from Vienna, a city in Austria. Wien is the German name for Vienna. Wiener is also used as a strange slang word in the English language as well. The Wiener Schnitzel is supposedly a famous dish, and it is a veal cutlet deep fried in bread crumbs. It was doused in a butter sauce. It came with three pieces of asparagus and a generous portion of Spätzle, which is a doughy German noodle shaped like pebbles. It is a fairly expensive dish at $22.95 for dinner, but it is cheaper if you order it for lunch. The Wiener Schnitzel was pretty tasty and I had 2 pieces. A nice crispiness on the inside, and excellent tenderness on the inside. It gave me a reason why veal tasted so good. The Spätzle tasted a little bland, but if some sauce was provided, it could be tastier. Asparagus portions were minuscule. If they provided at least 5 pieces, it could be an excellent dish. One dish should be enough as a very light dinner for two people. The service was surprisingly effective for a restaurant that was not too busy on a Monday evening. A guy that I know suggested that I use the word "quinti-schnitzel" as a word in this review. Even though "quinti-schnitzel" is not actually an English word, I'll use it to make it a little funnier in the next paragraph. Although our bill was a little high due to the Wiener Schnitzel, fortunately, a lady that I know had a "groupon" (a portmanteau of "group coupon") and I was able to pay for my food at a lower price. Overall, if you are looking for a good deal on a Monday night, this place is a pretty good choice if you want to take advantage of the 25 cent chicken wing special. If you are looking to get a "quinti-schnitzel" dish in a somewhat decent city like Boston, this is not a bad choice if you have some more money. I had a good time at this place, and I would definitely want to come back here for the 25 cent chicken wing special and possibly some more Wiener Schnitzel.

    (4)

  • Jen B.

    My husband and had dinner before a show at the wang theater, it is a 5 minute walk whack is nice. As an appetizer we had sausage and sauerkraut balls, they were delicious but I couldn't taste the sausage, it was too ground up and only the sauerkraut came through. For dinner my husband had the wiener schnitzel sandwich and it was good if not a little heavy. My mixed grill was good, perfectly grilled bratwurst and knockwurst. The beer selection is astounding and we discovered two new brews that we love. Unfortunately the waiter was sub par and did not have much to add in the way of beer or food suggestions. The noise level is high and we could barely hear each other, I was considering moving to his side of the table and risk being one of "those couples" just so we could have a real conversation.

    (3)

  • Nevil K.

    If you like great food and beer, you have to come to Jacob Wirth's. I usually come here Mondays for their 25 cent wing specials, which are money. Literally and figuratively. You can have your choice of BBQ, buffalo, or asian wings, which are all equally delicious. My friends usually get the asian wings, but I like to diversify my plate and usually go for 5/5/5 of each. They start you off with some great cornbread too, and honestly now who doesn't like cornbread? Additionally, their beer selection is incredible. I've been here more times than I can count and still haven't tried all of their different brews. From domestics to imports from England, Belgium and Germany, I haven't tried a beer here that I haven't liked. They even have gluten-free beer if you so desire or require. As far as service goes, I'm always seated quickly, and the waiters are on top of their game. The ambiance is top notch with wide open rooms, TV's with international soccer, domestic football, whatever you want on, and a great traditional feel to the whole place. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Hao W.

    TOOOOOOOOTALLY DISAPPOINTED !!! 1. Are you kidding me? Could you even find out another place without Schweinshaxe/Eisbein but dares to call itself a German Restaurant? Time just froze when the waiter said that..... 2. No German Stout? Also gut, I ordered "Foundry Stout" then. ATTENTION: it is DRAFT(alleged), but NO foam....yeah, just NO even a little foam. I cannot believe that is Stout; 3. The Wurst....It is like the supermarket one, microwaved and served; 4. "Crispy French Fries" which is not crispy.... Is this place used to be a good one but changed owner/chef later? It is NOT a German restaurant ! It can call itself a restaurant, but definitely not qualified even a little bit to be a "German Restaurant"

    (1)

  • Melissa L.

    What do you do when you can't go to the oldest eating establishment in Boston? You go to the second oldest eating establishment in Boston! This place was four blocks or so from my hotel, and we came upon my friend Dan's suggestion. The building looks a bit rickety, like it might fall apart, but all the people inside inspired confidence that it wouldn't happen. We sat the bar and were ignored for a little while but the bartender finally noticed and took care of us. We both ordered a beer from their extensive list and ordered boneless wings so I can't comment on the food but other people seemed to like theirs well enough. It's a pretty chill environment, an attitude that seems to be common for a lot of Boston bars. It's refreshing compared to the hipster bars in Minneapolis.

    (4)

  • Julia D.

    Yummo!!!! What a delight, I hadn't had German in forever and was so happy to stumble upon this place. Thanks to the Yelpers and I knew what I was going to order before we even got seated. My partner and I split the Sauerbraten appetizer (huge portion! I have no idea what the full portion would look like. I wasn't even able to finish it.) And the Jaeger Schnitzel appetizer. Both were amazing and we left stuffed. Also, the cornbread is great as well. I will def be back!

    (4)

  • Kay H.

    Good lunch place spot. Affordable prices, great wifi connection, ginger beer! I would say it's comfort food, others may disagree. They have a nice soup and half a wrap meal that's perfect for those that don't eat a 3 course meal in the middle of the day. It's great for groups as well. The service staff are friendly, even when I was having a grumpy day. I've gone a couple of times, never sat outside but they do have outdoor seating. I will definately go again. Solid

    (4)

  • Lynn J.

    Too Many Patrons...Too Little Staff. The sausage is worth coming back for... We went on a Sunday at 5:30, and were seated in the window. The bar tender, who was a really nice guy, was forced to *try* to wait tables...while also tending to a doubly full bar. We were one of the unlucky tables he had to keep abandoning to pour drinks, making our dinner an hour longer than we wished, This is NOT due to lack of ability. He simply can't do two people's jobs with one body. FOOD: You MUST try their homemade cabbage, and various German sausages, their specialties, which are worth returning to get many times over. Burger fans, their "German Burger" is made with cabbage. I found the salmon forgettable and the "Whoopie Pie" very disappointing, as it was actually not one at all. It is chocolate sponge cake w/ German chocolate icing. THE DEAL: Owners take note...Bar tending is a full time job by itself. DON"T make the bartender wait tables when the restaurant is SO FULL there's a waiting line to get tables...and drinks!

    (3)

  • Melissa D.

    Super fun historic place to stop in for a lunch. We stopped in and enjoyed a delish lunch after a morning walk along the Charles. They are open Sundays and have a great menu full of interesting food and beers. We will def be back next trip!

    (4)

  • Olivia D.

    The service was absolutely horrible. No greeting, no welcome. Just came up to the table and said "what do you want." Walked away from us mid order multiple times And was completely unfamiliar with the menu and beers. We had to grab another plate for our appetizers off the table over from us because no one was paying attention. Food was disgusting and over cooked. Do not recommend at all. It's a trap.

    (1)

  • Madeleine Q.

    Jacob Wirth is a place to be if you want to catch a good gam over some great draft beer and grilled sandwiches. We enjoyed their burgers and sausages. I would not make a trip out to the theater district to dine here but if you are already in the area, this is a fun casual place to hang out.

    (3)

  • Hannah R.

    If sausage parties are your thing, then Jacob Wirth is the place for you! But seriously folks...Jacob Wirth is a fun restaurant to hit up every now and again, whether for date night or a big group dinner. It can get a little pricey, but the very nature of the beast is to be self-indulgent. Get that giant stein of beer! Get some delicious schnitzel veal! Enjoy your spaetzle while the piano bar guy sings and takes requests from the bachelorette party shoved in next to your table. It gets crowded on the weekends, so a reservation for dinner time is a must. The food is totally worth it, though with all the bodies jammed in there, you may not always get the best service. This restaurant does amazing things with the space and ingredients on hand, and it is one of my favorite places in Boston for a special occasion 'just because.'

    (4)

  • Eileen D.

    Literally, not "Wirth" a single star. 30 minutes for beers, 40 minutes for water, appetizers brought with food, which took over an hour to receive. Watched a table of six walk out after waiting 45 minutes for their drinks, and still not receiving them. Had to walk our check to the front after waiting another 15 minutes for the waiter to pick it up. Two other tables followed our lead, as they too were waiting for the check to be picked up. All of this while the manager sat chatting at a table in the corner. Never.again.

    (1)

  • Angel R.

    This place was really friendly and the waiter was super nice. The food seemed a little bland for the tasting. I ordered the weiner schitzel sandwich and sweet potatoe fries. The fries were cold and refried so a bit gross. The schnitzel was fried nicely bit seemed to lack some seasonings. The pretzel bun was a nice addition and saved it a little. Overall the beer selection was nice but German cuisine may need some refining.

    (3)

  • whit e.

    This bar got sucked through a time warp and really fits more into the Belgian-German border area in the 1890s than downtown Boston. Their wicked beer selection includes many of my all-time favorites, like Schneider Weisse and Leffe (they have blonde and dark versions). If you have lost touch with your inner Belgian or German, this may be the place for you. Or, more simply, if you just appreciate good beer. They do have a few 'Merican selections as well, in case you like that sort of thing. I didn't try any of the food. Our waiter was handsome and charming and always checking on us at the perfect time. To maximize your sense of time travel, be sure to walk all around and wear or borrow a handlebar moustache (on second thought, perhaps you'd feel like a modern hipster in that case).

    (4)

  • Jonathan C.

    We went for just a beer, but the smell of the food was irresistible, and we were full from lunch earlier. We ended up splitting the sampler. Great wurst kraut. Wow. Great German food!

    (5)

  • Hart P.

    I was here for an after work event. We had plenty of food, German themed. Good flavor. Potato pancakes with apples were a hit with the crowd. A large beer list actually slowed the staff down as everyone tried to find a favorite. We were noisy but I expect the place is all the time. By the theater district makes for a nice before or after show stop

    (3)

  • John C.

    A classic Boston pub with excellent beer selections (40 + brews on tap), a great atmosphere and good food. The German food is limited to just 5-7 items, but they are all authentic and tasty. The rest of the menu is somewhat typical Boston/American, but still good. The service, starting with the hostess and extending to the bartenders and waitstaff is efficient, knowledgable and polite. I've visited for a casual business lunch, a beer at the bar and a large group for dinner and all three were a blast.

    (4)

  • Fysh F.

    I used to love this place but the absence of the traditional german beers is very disappointing. If you are going to bill yourself as a German restaurant, you need at least Hofbrau, Paulaner, spaten lager or warsteiner. The food is still good so I'll give you 3 stars

    (3)

  • Larry S.

    I eat there once before when in Boston and it was good.I asked my Hotel if it was still good and they said it was.I tried to go for Lunch and walked out.No Greeting.Only A Bus person who did not speak english.Not busy and they were totally incapable of handling the customers.I wanted and ordered A Beer.10 minutes later I did not have it.Staff was socializing with a walk in Solicitor who should have been told not to come during lunch hour.Another Waitress did not give 2 hoots that I walked out.It would seem they could have used my business.In this time of social media when Big Brother is always watching businesses need to be aware of this.Hopefully this realization and A Call from my Hotel who sent me will have them get their act together.

    (1)

  • Amanda B.

    I was looking for a conveniently located place for a small networking event, but I had never been to Jacob Wirth before. We called a few days in advance to ask if there would be room in the bar area for a small group of about 20 people or so to get drinks. We were assured that that was fine. Once we got there, they told us that we would absolutely not fit, and that we had to sit at a table. This was annoying (a table is definitely not a great setup for the kind of event we told them we were having!), but we obviously couldn't change it at this point. So we explained the mix-up to the waiter, and broke off into groups of three to make splitting the check more manageable. The service was TERRIBLE. We sat down and ordered beers, and and the waiter came back a few minutes later to tell us that quite a few of the orders were out of stock. He then got impatient that people did not know right away what they wanted instead (it's a pretty extensive beer list!) We also asked for water for the table, and he brought over a pitcher of water, but no glasses! Then he basically disappeared and we had to track him down and ask him to bring glasses so that we could actually drink the water, and he eventually brought over some disposable plastic cups. When we could finally pour the water, we saw that there was a dead bug in it. We didn't even bother asking for another one since he was so hard to track down, and just stuck with beer. My group of three was ready to leave, so we asked for our check. It took him 15 minutes to actually bring us our check, then another 10 minutes to run 2 credit cards, so from asking for the check to actually leaving took 25 minutes. On top of all of that, an 18% tip was included since we were a "large party." 18% tip on lousy service for a bunch of beers! They're probably better for smaller groups or individuals, but either way, I will not be back.

    (2)

  • Mazyar M.

    I went there for second time to hopefully change my first bad experience but ... First of all I decide to go there to watch DFB final that is the most important football (soccer) game in Germany between FC Bayern Munchen and Dourtmound and they didn't had these game on their cable , how is possible to have the title of a German bar in Boston and... The french friese is the worst ever fires that i ever had!!! The only thing good thing is the bear. So Football (fussball) fan didn't recommend you to go there to watch world cup.

    (1)

  • Jonathan C.

    A German restaurant in Boston's Chinatown...totally makes sense. Really, this place is cool. The food was pretty good, and the beer selection is great. I had grapefruit flavored beer which I enjoyed very much! I really liked the "Handmade Dill Spaetzel" which I would equate to doughy macaroni. The cornbread is solid, and I like the warm pretzels and Ale Honey Mustard sauce. The Sausage and Sauerkraut balls were disappointing. It seemed like a lot of mayo on the inside, and not enough sausage.

    (4)

  • Shrikant P.

    Best collection of german beer. Very good sausage, try the sampler its great. Very crowded and loud. But good food and drinks make up for it

    (4)

  • Andy B.

    This note is not about the food, the beer or the atmosphere. I've been here plenty of times and have had great experiences. In fact, the next time I have a great experience I will be sure to Yelp that as well. No, this review is about the service we received last night after the Nick Offerman show at the Wilbur. It was, hands down, the WORST service I have ever received anywhere. Our server was a lady named Karime, according to the receipt. It must have been her first day because she was not only clueless, not only oblivious but a heaping helping of both. Where to begin? We ordered beers for the table and it was as if she'd never heard of any of them before. You know, the beers her establishment sells daily. We ordered a beer off of their bottled beer list and it took her three times to get us the right beer...even with us pointing it out to her...even with the menu IN HER HAND the last two times she went up to the bar to fulfill our request. My beer was on their numbered tap list (as in, I repeated the number from the menu to her twice) and she got that wrong as well. When she brought us our apps she didn't stick around to take our food order and we didn't see her again for 20 minutes. Every time we saw her she was either at the bar chatting with the bartender or head down, barreling to her other tables. Eventually we were able to flag her down to order more food and drinks. The piece d' resistance was when she eventually (everything is "eventually" because she was obviously completely out of her element) brought us more water only to find that there was a RECEIPT floating at the bottom of the pitcher. I like this place. I've recommended this place to others for lunch or a weeknight dinner. But this experience soured me for any future weekend visits or further recommendations. This isn't your usual day-shifter covering for someone else; this was a full-on "is this her first day on a Friday night?" experience and it's on JW and her. Next time we'll stick with Rock Bottom or Abby Lane. Do yourselves a favor and don't make the same mistake we did.

    (1)

  • Anthony L.

    So, I've been sitting here for a good five minutes thinking of a crafty way to open this review up. Some of the things that went through my mind include: - "Since moving here in 2010, I've been to JW's at least 30+ times and have never had a bad burger" - "This place surly does not suck" - "Bacon egg and cheeseburger, oh my!" - "This is one of the places in Boston I would recommend ANYONE going to as I know they won't leave unhappy" - "Guys, the beer is great!" - "My parents always ask for double serving of the German potato salad" - "I love french fries, and these, friends, are the best fries in Boston" Maybe you can pick up on the trend here, Jacob Wirth Restaurant is one of my favorite places in Boston. Whenever my folks come and visit me, this is where we go. The servers are always super pleasant, we've never run into a cranky or upset person. They are super knowledgeable about the menu, the beers, and other random questions we toss their way. In the unlikely event there's a mishap in the food, they are quick to take it back and bring something good back. This one time I ordered a burger with extra cheese (I know, I don't need all of that sodium and other toxins, but it's so good) and they forgot the cheese all together! I mentioned it to the server and he apologized a handful of times. I had to say "hey, it's okay, it's just cheese" I love the physical restaurant. The place screams "Irish Pub", which I love. Nice dark wood everywhere which is neat. The men's bathroom is a little shifty, but beggars can't be choosers (and, let's face it, we're there to do one thing, not spend the whole time in there). If you haven't been here yet and you're looking for a great burger and a nice environment, come here. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Holly C.

    Maybe an off night? We stopped in for an afternoon snack - couple of beers, basket of pretzels and 2 small plates. I'd like to start by saying that I've been to JW several times and my experiences have been decent, but declining in quality. The atmosphere: it was mid-afternoon Sunday so the place was empty. With the exception of the fruit flies circling. They kept us company, took a few swigs of beer, and just hung around while we ate. There were far too many fruit flies. The bathrooms had not been cleaned and it was clear that someone had gotten sick in one of the stalls. The staff: ok service. The server seemed new - but he was adequate. The food: MEH! Pretzels: were ok, however once they started to cool down they got rock hard. The 'mustard' they gave us for dipping was liquid - as if they poured water and vinegar in it to make it last longer. Small plates: sliders - these were pretty good actually. Jakes Nibbler- this was ok. A little underwhelming. Potato salad was decent. Beer: was good! But expensive. I feel like it's hit or miss - unfortunately today was a huge miss. I'd recommend finding an alternate restaurant next time.

    (2)

  • Lynn P.

    Food was ok. I had the sauerbraten. The beef was dry. The dill spaetzel was the best part. Seats were not comfortable. I ordered a $23 dollar plate and my beer is served in a plastic cup? I was really looking forward to this as it was recommended by multiple people.

    (2)

  • Tiana C.

    People often make fun of me for loving sauerkraut. I'll never understand what's not to love but more for me I guess. I'm not of German descent but my favorite meal my mother makes is sauerkraut, sausage and mashed potatoes. I love German food. A lot. Everything about it is wonderful. I also love a bar restaurant that is open, has lots of beer, and has a really home-y feel to it. I get the best of both worlds at Jacob Wirth. My boyfriend and I both had the German Mixed Grill plate and it was everything I had hoped it would be and then some. I had mine with mashed potatoes and loved it but my boyfriend stuck with the German potato salad and it was delicious too. Next time I will try to Wiener schnitzel for sure. Just go here. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    I've been to Jacob Wirth many times. They have the best bratwurst and their beer selection is awesome. I love places that dedicate a whole page of their menu to a beer list. I've also had their schnitzel sandwich and it was pretty good. I definitely recommend this place to anyone in the Boston area. Cheers!

    (5)

  • Denise D.

    Very disappointing. We made reservations ( turns out we didn't need to) and walked into a tired, brightly lit pub, which claimed it was German, yet had ran out of German beer! Our waitress really didn't have a clue about the beers on offer. Don't think we will be back.

    (1)

  • Laura K.

    I had high hopes for this place as I went for my happy hour, but sadly it rang short. I ordered the andech dopplebock dunkel, for those of you not German dunkel means 'dark' so when the waiter brought a bud light doppelgänger I was slightly surprised. We found out that the bar tender substituted another random dopplebock that is lighter for my decidedly dark beer since they were out of the one I asked for. I'm understanding but usually you would ask before replacing someone's drink. After eventually getting my original request that they found a keg of mysteriously, they subsequently also brought my back up choice too, which was a nice thought, but since I left before my group left I wonder if they charged us for both... At the end on top of it all I found that some people had been asked to split their check off but I was missed and I had to run to a nearby ATM to pay my share. Overall the beer selection is good (if they give you what you ask for) the food was okay, and the bartender probably needs work. This is boston, there are definitely better places to go for good beer...

    (2)

  • Lena L.

    Went in on a Sunday late afternoon. Not too busy, so service was great. Had the best Schnitzel! Jaeger Schnitzel with mushroom sauce and the best spaeztel! The schnitzel was crispy and the spaeztel buttery good. Yum!

    (4)

  • Jim K.

    We received several strong recommendations for the German food here, but after 7 years of living in Germany the food just didn't measure up. The atmosphere and the service were great, but the schnitzel was mealy, the weisswurst was bland, and the German potato salad lacked that special zing. I just can't recommend this place on the basis of the food. The Buffalo wings were the highlight of our meal - they were huge and spicy. We're not great fans of breaded Buffalo wings, but these were tasty.

    (2)

  • Claude F.

    Sometimes bad things happen. But sometimes the bad things lead to good things. And Better yet: Sometimes the bad things lead to good food. That's pretty much what happened with Jacob Wirth Restaurant and lots of other great German Food eateries in the USA. The Bad thing was this: In 1848 in Europe there was a series of revolutions in central Europe. In hungary, the Czech Republic, and most of all, Germany, the middle class, intellectuals, artists, and trades people rose up against the authoritarian monarchies in hope of creating liberal democracies. (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18… ) NO! The revolutions were NOT the bad thing. They were a good thing. Here was the bad thing: They lost. Big time (and I mean like Buffalo Bills in the Superbowl Loss...yeah. THAT bad!) And to punish them the Czars, Kaisers and Hapsburgs banished them forever from Europe far away to the back waters of civilization. (See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fi… ) This, of course, was America (which gets us to the "Good part" of the story) And so hundreds of thousands of central Europeans came to what then primarily an Anglo-Saxon society and made their mark. They were called: the 48'ers (see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%2… ) Europe's loss was indeed our gain, as they brought with them the radical ideas from Europe that got them deported (Abolitionism, Workers Rights, Women's rights, Education reform, Industrial reform, Civil Service Reform) which all clearly made America a better place. And now the "Better yet" part... They also brought with them their cuisine! One of the first things the Germans did was build German style restaurants to remind them of home. And that's how we got restaurants like Jacob Wirth. True to form: Jacob Wirth is more a beer hall then a restaurant. If you are used to dining in the swanky eateries of the back bay you will be put off by the informality and lack of fanciness. However, you will NOT be put off by the food. Here are some CRITICAL tips on coming here: 1. The portions of the entrees are humungous! (thanks to the German, and American quality, of always wanting more) If you come here with 6 people, as I did, you will have more then enough food if you just order three Entrees and one appetizer and share between the 6 of you. (you will also save A LOT of money doing this. By doing this our bill came out to just 12 dollars a person) 2. For the appetizer order the potato pancakes! They are amazingly good. But heavy so better to just have bite while sharing with other people. 3. For the appetizers order the Sausage dish "Jakes Special" (see photo) and the Jaeger schnitzel and the Salmon. All are classic German dishes that this place cooks VERY well. And don't be a wus and order Nachos and then fish and chips! (This is a GERMAN restaurant for crying out loud!) 4. Drink water- the beer selection is stellar but also stellar priced. 5. The bread they will bring for free is corn bread. Eat sparingly. It will fill you up fast (another reason why you only need 3 entrees for 6 people) 6. Their dessert selection is not as Amazing as their Dinner Selection. But if you are so inclined: the root beer float (see photo) is a lot of fun....and calories. 7. Sing. For real. They have a piano player who plays music (you can request your favs!) with Sing-a-Longs!!! (sort of what Europeans did before Americans invented Karaoke) 8. Take the train (parking is a NIGHTMARE in this part of boston at dinner time)

    (4)

  • Amber C.

    Pros: First, the food is great. Fairly close parking garage. Easy to find. Cons: The service was less than good. They brought us someone else's dessert before even taking our order, and we seriously waited almost 20 minutes to put in our drinks order. It wasn't busy at all, but I still felt crowded. We've been there before, and it seemed a little run down since last time. It had such a cute German theme, but it's clouded by the lifesize cut outs of Samuel Adams and the Dos Equis guy. Simplify the decor, train your staff, and then I will be back.

    (3)

  • M S.

    Updating my review to 3 stars because after writing the review below someone from JW contacted me and apologized for the poor service and food and offered to have me come back for dinner on the house. I have to give him a lot of credit for doing that. I used to really like this place but the last couple times I've been here it's been really disappointing and I doubt I'll ever be back again. First of all...the service is absolutely terrible. They used to have really good waitresses (the bartender has always terrible...tending the regulars who take up all the seat at the bar and never leave) so I'm not sure what happened but they are aweful now. The waitresses are soooo slow and unattentive. Slow with drinks, slow with food, slow to ask you if you need anything else, slow you get you your bill. You'd think they would realize that many of their patrons have a show to catch but they don't. Not one of them that I spoke to understood or spoke English well enough to be a waitress. Don't get me wrong...I'm not racisit I just think it's stupid to hire someone to deal with customers when they can't speak the language. They even had difficulty understanding me when I ordered off the menu. You'd think that they would have at least a vague recollection of what people have ordered in the past. As for the beer list...they either don't know anything about beer or could not articulate it in English because when you ask them about it they just mumble something in broken English until you give up and pick some random beer. Our waitress screwed up our order because she just didn't understand what we had ordered and that is unacceptable in my book. We all had to wait even longer (while the clock ticked closer to our show time) for the correct order to come out and then we had to choke it down in a mad rush to make our show on time. The bathrooms are up there with the worst I've ever been in. If you've ever been to the Cantab in Cambridge or ones at the Black Rose...this place can give them a run for the areas nastiest bathrooms around. The heater or whatever it was in the mens room looked like it sat on the bottom of the sea for ten years and then they threw it against the wall and it just stuck to all the grime. It was crooked, rusted and it had mineral stains running out of it. The whole place was just nasty dirty and wet. Disgusting! If this is all not bad enough...the food has gone down hill also. It's even more expensive than ever but the quality has gotten much worse. I really can't suggest anything to get because none of it is worth the price. Finally the straw that broke the camels back for me as when I noticed that they got rid of much of the old memorabillia on the walls and replaced it with plastic soccer banners and modern beer signs. Now the the old feeling is gone I really don't see any reason to come here. Maybe they threw all of it out along with their decent waitresses and cooks? As much as I hate to say it...unless you want to go sit at their tiny bar (assuming you can ever find a seat...I never could) and have a german beer and leave...avoid this place. The owners should be ashamed of themseleves for letting it go so far downhill.

    (3)

  • David R.

    Good for beer NOT FOOD. They have a great selection of beers from Belgium and Germany. Again don't come here for the food

    (3)

  • Luna B.

    Came here to kill some time while waiting for a table at Q restaurant. . First strike- took about 10 minutes for someone to take our order. Second strike- took about 15 minutes to get the pitcher of beer we ordered. Third strike, the manager poured the wrong beer and when confronted about it, didn't offer to switch out the beer, look at us, or acknowledge what had happened. A few people sat down after us and were not greeted or attended to and they walked out. I should have done the same. I will not be coming back here.

    (1)

  • Stephanie S.

    I was visiting Boston this week and Jacob Wirth was conveniently located near my hotel in the theatre district. I had to try it since I'm a huge beer fan, especially German pubs. I really liked this place!! It was crazy busy for only a Friday afternoon, but the place was larger than any other bar I've seen in the area, so there was lots of space for all the people. I sat at the bar, the bartender was busy running around but always was attentive to me which I appreciated! I asked him a few questions about some of the 40 beers they had on tap, and he was very knowledgeable. Despite my colleagues tip to forgo the food cause its not the best, I didn't care and ordered off the specials menu, sweet potatoe and goat cheese salad with arugula. Was amazing!! I enjoyed this very much!! Glad I visited this bar and I would recommended it to anyone who likes to drink beer!

    (4)

  • Joe J.

    This place is pretty good. In fact, I would give the food four stars, but minus one star for the waitress who hated everything about everything today. Came in for lunch, she just seemed disinterested in everything that was going on. Maybe she was having a bad day? I'm not totally sure. The bratwurst and the Ruben were good. Also, onion rings are tasty. Expansive beer menu and everything is fairly priced.

    (3)

  • Geralyn P.

    Popular local crowd. Wide selection of German beer. Good food try German burger. Attentive, friendly staff, beer pub atmosphere reasonably priced.

    (3)

  • Robby F.

    Authentic German fare with a great selection of beers. In addition, there is plenty of room for large parties and many televisions for sports entertainment. The staff are courteous and competent. I always enjoy eating here.

    (5)

  • Brandi N.

    Fun atmosphere with a large Draft beer selection. Definitely not a quiet place. The small plates are large enough for a meal & the potato salad was excellent.

    (3)

  • Sean T.

    I stopped in around 9PM on a Friday (in Boston on business) and the place was packed. Found an empty seat at the bar and ponied up. The draught beer selection is immense, Paulaner Heff was a no brainer after a hard day's work. Enjoyed my beer (okay, beers) while listening to the patrons sing along with the piano man. The atmosphere was lively, and downright fun. And then the food came. I ordered the Jägerschnitzel with sweet pea and mushroom spätzle. Holy hell. The schnitzel was very good (4/5), but the spätzle though. As a huge fan of Schwabian cuisine, can honestly say that this is the best I've had outside of Germany. The waitress informed that it is home made daily. From scratch. Overall, this was a great experience. I would highly recommend to anyone that finds themselves in the theatre district with a few hours and calories to spare.

    (5)

  • Katy C.

    The food was alright. The beer and the atmosphere are wonderful.

    (3)

  • Charles G.

    I've been going to Jacob Wirth's since they had waiters in black coats with aprons. They could take orders for a table of eight without writing anything down. Wirth's used to be an authentic old style German restaurant. They have degraded to the status of sports bar. I suppose that nachos and Buffalo wings are a required addition for the sports bar crowd but Mr. Wirth must be spinning in his grave. We were recently at a German restaurant in Bowdoin Maine which was very good, so by comparison Wirth's was below average at best. At Wirth's, my wife had a schnitzel and I had the mixed sausage plate. The potato salad was bland. The red cabbage was good but there was a large piece of cabbage stock in it. The sausages were good but had been cooked too long. As the other reviews noted, the beer selection is good with lots of German selections. Our waiter was prompt and polite, but I still miss the old guys in their black coats.

    (2)

  • Cliff H.

    Hopping. Festive. Fun. You may ask yourself, how the heck did a rowdy German beer and weiner palace end up smack dab in the middle of Chinatown. Nevermind that. Grab a pretzel, eat your weiner, and lift your mighty beer glass up high to one of Boston's great old German establishments. Seriously, there are enough different great beers here to give a different one to every citizen in Berlin. That's good because the beer's really good, the pretzels a great alcohol sponge, and the wienerschnitzel a rare menu choice in a city's culinary culture largely centered around American, Italian, and Asian. If booking in advance, check JW's entertainment calendar, Tue/Fri/Sat sing-a-longs are almost as worth it as the food and beer itself... almost.

    (4)

  • Karl G.

    Beer selection was great. The german food was overpriced and strictly okay. Its a stretch to call it a german restaurant. The american dishes were better. Had buffalo mac'n cheese and thought it was tasty. My wife had salmon and said it was good. I sampled my sons german dishes (wiener shitzel and sampler) and thought it was average. I thought the snitzel was thick, somewhat chewy and on the greasy side. The sampler was basically 3 different wursts. How can you screw up a boiled hot dog? I heard the sandwiches were very good and appeared to be reasonably priced.

    (3)

  • Jeff V.

    I really enjoy going to Jacob Wirth's. The quality and value of the food is great, I love the wide selection of beer, and the atmosphere is fun and casual. Its somewhat of an historic Boston restaurant.

    (5)

  • Kimmy U.

    Think... big mess hall/beer hall type atmosphere with beer and german decorations galore. Lights stringed on the ceiling, loud hooligans with big beer bellies and beards, slamming their beers on tables and cheers-ing with everyone in sight- and bam. you got yourself some Jacob Wirth. Jk! No giant drunkards having themselves a party, but that's exactly what I imagined when I walked in Atmosphere is really interesting and fun! Never been anywhere like it, but their food was not that great to say the least.. I got the Groupon, which included an appetizer, 2 entrees, and a dessert for 2. Our waiter was kinda rude and unwelcoming.. Idk if it was because we had the Groupon or it was just a long night. But whatever, we looked passed it. They give you complimentary cornbread! Yeah, it's not much better than the boxed ones you find at the supermarket, but hey. I love me some good ole cornbread! We got the sauerbraten appetizer- came with 'sweet and sour' beef, dill spaetzle, red cabbage, and gravy. Beef was more.. sweet... than anything. I pretty much had to drench it in the gravy for it to taste ok. The bf and I shared both the entrees so we could try as much as we could -German Mixed Grill (15.95)- bratwurst and weisswurst. This was the only thing I finished off my plate. I really like the GRILLED vs. the boiled (?) sausages. Nice and crispy, and it looked the coolest too! -Jake's Special (14.95)- knockwurst and bratwurst. Not my favorite.. I think they boiled this one or something.. but it definitely wasn't grilled. Nothing special.. just regular sausages to me. I also wasn't a fan of the red beer sauce -Both came with sauerkraut, which was too sour for me.. but that's just me. It was actually my first time trying German food, but my bf really likes this type of food.. and even he said it was a little too sour for his taste. ** OH! And you can substitute sides if you want! Both came with warm potato salad, but they let us get sweet potato fries instead Dessert- Rootbeer float. MMM. I really wanted to get their apple streudel, but after the meh dinner experience, I didn't want to be disappointed by the dessert too, so we opted for the rootbeer float. And I'm so glad we did! A perfect and refreshing ending to our meal This place seems to be prettyyy Americanized. I think I only saw one other table get German food, and I bet you it was because they had a Groupon too!! Everyone else was ordering salads (.....at a German place??) and burgers! Plus, all the reviews I read were for like wing specials on Monday or something Still on the lookout for an authentic German place!

    (2)

  • Ariel Z.

    This place is the bomb. Typical German food that satisfies any meat-lover's cravings for some weiner shnitzel, bratwurst, weisswurst, or any other kind of wurst you desire. Beer comes in a pitcher...sold. And the interior resembles a cross between a sports bar and a giant beer hall you would typically associate with Oktoberfest. The cornbread they serve as soon as you sit down is to die for, as well as the bucket of warm soft pretzels and mustard dipping sauce. If you like dark beer, the Blue Hills one is your best bet (we had our waiter offer his input). Overall, a great spot to gather a big group of friends and eat/drink until there is no tomorrow!!

    (4)

  • KS J.

    Mondays 45cent wings. The best.

    (4)

  • Tamarleigh G.

    Not impressed at all. The food was mostly pretty mediocre. The service was mostly okay, but certainly not good enough to raise the rating. The worst part was the atmosphere. It was crowded and noisy, and we were seated by the door. I heard trivia starting and got all psyched -- I love pub trivia and have played at many local places on and off for years now. When I heard trivia starting, I went up to get an answer sheet. Uh, no. No answer sheets at this pub - it's all done by yelling out answers. Ok. The guy doing the trivia seemed to have a great personality. He told me that he'd hear what answers we yelled out from anywhere in the pub. "Are you sure?" I asked, "because we're sitting all the way up there" (pointing) -- Yes, he assured me. He could hear my answers from anywhere. Without belaboring the point, suffice it to say that he indeed was correct in that he could HEAR the things we yelled - but NOT in the sense of UNDERSTANDING them. He understood maybe two thirds AT BEST of what we said. But that wasn't even the worst part - the worst part was that we could only hear/understand about HALF of what HE said. Worst and most frustrating trivia experience ever, despite the guy's charming demeanor. He tried, but it was largely pointless to try to play trivia unless you were close to the guy. Overall impression: we're not going back there, and we definitely don't recommend it either for the food or the trivia. Or, if you DO go for trivia, sit in the middle and good luck to you.

    (2)

  • Gabby C.

    Recently visited from the Central Coast California and really enjoyed the atmosphere at the bar. Authentic German themed pub with a warm welcome on a cold afternoon while exploring Boston. Enjoyed a bowl of vegetarian black bean chili and it hit the spot. Bartender was friendly and helpful even with a busy bar to maintain.

    (4)

  • Vallerie C.

    #1 restaurant in Boston! Whenever I'm in the city I always stop in for lunch/dinner. Their clam chowder is PHENOMENAL! Their bratwurst is juicy and flavorful. The waitstaff is courteous and kind. I highly recommend this restaurant.

    (5)

  • Jane's G.

    The Weiner Schnitzel was tough but the pretzels and white cheddar dip was the best I have ever had. The beer list is extensive and we were hard pressed to choose just one. Blueberry beer is delicious. Waitstaff was top notch!

    (4)

  • Melanie M.

    Came here to use up my groupon and everything was just okay. When we arrived on a weeekday night, the place was packed. We sat at a table where I could literally barely sit down because the tables are so close together. The beer was great with lots of choices. I got Jake's special and the brats were good. For dessert I had the german cake whoppie pie, it was served a little cold even though the menu said it would be warm with ice cream on top. It wasn't worth the calories. The atmosphere was lively and there was a guy asking trivia questions the whole time we ate dinner. It was entertaining.

    (3)

  • Lily S.

    I cant believe this place has such high ratings. I've been going here pretty regularly for the last 3 years that i've worked in the area, and not only is the food not that great, the service is pretty awful on most visits. Doesn't matter if it's empty or packed, 9 times out of 10 the service is awful. This I honestly cant understand. To be fair, i think it's safe to say that if i were a server, I'd be a pretty terrible one. I'd be the one that everyone hates splitting tips with at the end of the night. And I think this would largely be due to my complete lack of short term memory. However, what I'd be really good at is at least making people feel like the establishment they are at gives a shit about their business. Generally when my friends and I come here after work (pretty much only because the wine is better and cheaper than at Rock Bottom), we end up sitting in the tables in the bar area because we know we'll be drinking a ton and not eating all that much. I've been inspired to finally write this review only because the last time we were at Jake's, we literally sat at the table for 15 mins before I had to get up and get a server over (who by the way was just chit chatting with someone else). And this happens ALL. THE. TIME. Someone at the table always ends up having to go either grab a server to get attention, whether it's to order or try and pay, and without fail, these people are just standing around doing nothing (with the exception of a few--hence 2 stars instead of 1). As i said above, the food isn't that great either. I'd stick to potato pancakes or the potato salad. The summer and cob salads are good too. But a little over priced if you ask me. I've tried different sausages a couple of times and was not impressed. I guess management really doesn't need to care much since the Tufts crowd will continue to come here after work or with clients/etc. because there really aren't that many options in the area.

    (2)

  • Cliff M.

    Super Casual, amazing Beer Selection, and German favorites all over the menu. Totally recommend the Jakes Special and the Wiener Schnitzel, and the Weihenstephan to sip on.

    (5)

  • Paige C.

    cold day warm up here fried fermented cabbage heart ja, ich libe dich! So, I didn't exactly come here on a busy crazy touristy day. The day I visited, you'd think I had walked into some secret German pub on the side streets of Boston. The feel of this place makes me want to put on my lederhosen and drink liters and liters of beer. There were scarce customers, the wait staff was attentive, football was on the background, the beers were good. We ordered a couple appetizers--pretzels and fried cheesy sauerkraut balls. The pretzels were pretty good, and there where about 6 or seven of them. I really enjoyed the balls (as I do), but my friends were less into them (as they are). I imagine this place can get pretty packed, no fun.

    (4)

  • Hope K.

    Met up with an old friend here and had a great time. The waitress was Boston friendly and her app recommendation was great although Asian influenced so a little weird for their Germanish theme. I wasn't sure about the sing along thing at first but after a couple if beers joined in and had some fun with the table next to ours. Would be fun with a big group.

    (4)

  • Masha T.

    I had high hopes, but was disappointed. I had the Wienerschnitzel and my husband had the Sauerbraten. He is German, and I have lived there. The waitress asked me how I liked my dish, and I told her it was tasteless (which it was). The manager came over and asked me what else I would like, and I said the swordfish, which evidently they had to cook on the spot, so it was good. They nicely comped me my entree, and were lovely about it. The meat dishes came so quickly, that you knew they were cooked beforehand. The Sauerbraten was dry, and the spaetzle was mushy. We did enjoy the cornbread and the beet salad. I don't drink beer, so I can't speak to that. We ordered an apfel strudel for dessert, and it was dry and tasteless and little bit burnt. I didn't complain. I won't be going back. Maybe their burgers and sandwiches are better. If you want real German food however, this is not the place to go. I would stick to beer, burgers and fries.

    (2)

  • Abbie M.

    Great place to drink, awful place to eat. Save yourself the aggravation and keep to the liquid portion of the menu! We went after work before Cirque one day because we had Groupons. We told the waiter that we were eating before a show, yet literally waited for about 40 minutes to order our food, despite the fact that most of our section was empty. When we finally did receive our food, the orders were all mixed up, half the food was cold, and the food that was warm tasted terrible. We were truly appalled. We couldn't even find our waiter to try and get things fixed. Finally, frustrated (still hungry!) and late, we went to the hostess. Due to terrible service, incorrect and just terrible food, they comped our bill AND we were given a $50 gift card so that we could return free. I expected that things would be different the second time, people have off days and such. However, it was just as bad the second time! Since I've eaten here for free twice, you literally couldn't pay me to eat here again. I still have the Groupon if someone wants it!

    (1)

  • Ian M.

    Clam Chowder A little too thick on the consistency. Potatoes are kinda mushy. Clams do taste good though. I think it's dill that is overpowering the overall taste. A little "smokey" flavored too, which isn't that great.

    (2)

  • Ken A.

    Sweltering summer day--went in to Jacob Wirth's with three others. After we were seated a waiter came up to us and said that management said we couldn't drink the iced coffee we brought in with us on this hot day. We explained that we were going to buy beer and lunch, but the waiter insisted we had to lose our drinks. So, instead, we just left, and will not be back.

    (1)

  • Katie C.

    I came here with a large group of people and our waiter was fantastic, very friendly and accommodating even when it came to splitting the bill. He made great food recommendations and I thought the food was delicious - very authentic. Great beer selection as well. I would definitely go back when I'm in the mood for something different.

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    I live nearby, but has never been to this classic Boston restaurant. On a rainy night, feeling like some pub type food, I ventured to Jacob Wirth. Atmosphere is fun. Drink selection is obviously a high point -- appetizers were good too (and of the "hard to screw up" variety), and the corn bread satisfying. I thought the service was good as well. For main dishes, avoid anything more complicated than a burger. My one gripe was cleanliness -- I am not OCD about it at restaurants--stomach acid deals with most dirt. This place, however, could do with a bleach hose-down and some serious Murphy's oil soap on the beautiful wood bar and features. One beautiful accent piece of wood behind me last saw a duster years ago. Also -- saw six different wait staff dip into the metal container holding the drink ice to refill their own cups (was seated at a four high top in front if the hostess stand, facing the server bar pick up). Saw several dishes (including my entree) and drinks served with the order slips dangling into the food/ beverage. Both a little yucky, but easy to fix.

    (3)

  • Linsey M.

    I did receive a personal message from the manager via YELP addressing my review which I do appreciate. I have not been back to dine at this establishment since writing my first review but am willing to increase a star from my initial review due to his response. I have shared the remainder of my experience with management privately and appreciate the attention and effort that was made to address my negative experience.

    (2)

  • Heath M.

    I hadn't been to Jacob Wirth in sometime, but I seemed to remember loving it. Location-wise, it can't be beat, especially if you're taking in anything the theater district has to offer. And as that area revives itself, JWs seeks to benefit as a source of fairly quick and somewhat affordable eats. With a respectable beer selection and ample TVs, it seems like a good hang out place on its own (though the bar area is always packed). The tables are a bit cramped and it's not uncommon to eat your meal chairback-to-chairback with the person behind you. If you're claustrophobic, you may take issue with this. The service here is actually quite good. The waitstaff are fast and friendly people who get the food out from an efficient kitchen. This time around I tried their Squash bisque...or was it soup? Honestly, I'm not sure because it was more like Gerber baby food or something you'd feed at a rest home. It lacked seasoning and complexity, but I reminded myself that there's really no reason that this bistro dish should ever be in its wheel house. Everyone raves about the corn bread. Honestly, it tastes just like that Jiffy stuff you can get for $.50 at Shaws. But that doesn't make it bad either. The Reuben I ordered was pretty basic, the dark rye was pretty dry, it was tasty though. The sweet potato fries are really good. Frankly though, I regret not ordering their German food that made Jacob Wirth famous. Maybe next time. While the food was kind of meh, my affection for this place remains. And if you are so inclined, you can buy porn at Amazing when you're done, or get some edible underwear for dessert. This is the former combat zone after all. No sense wasting an opportunity for feigned curiosity when you happen to be "in the neighborhood." Just kidding. OK, maybe not.

    (3)

  • Vivian C.

    Been a while since I stopped here, but my friend's enamored with their turkey sandwich (Warm Chipolte Turkey Sandwich Fresh Turkey Breast, Chipotle Mayonnaise, Bacon, Smoked Cheddar, BBQ Sauce, Lettuce and Avocado, served warm on a Honey Wheat Roll $9.95). We decided to go with two sandwiches, the turkey and the Wiener Schnitzel (Wiener Schnitzel Sandwich Breaded Veal Cutlet, Sauteed Mushrooms and Swiss Cheese Served on Texas Toast $12.95), and to share the Crispy Wings $6.95 (the Asian sesame version). The corn bread arrived 3 squares to the basket, cool in temperature, with a cool scoop of butter. The bread was tasty but a touch dry. One sandwich and accompanying side should fill you, no problem. I liked the turkey, but even better was the moist and tasty crisp cole slaw. The wiener schnitzel had unfortunately cooled to warm by the time I turned my attention to it, but was still pretty good. The potato salad was good, but had too much bacon to my taste (heresy, I know, but it is what it is). My favorite though is at Sam LaGrassa's. Service was friendly (our server stopped by to see how we were several times) but could be improved upon (they kept wanting to take plates from our table, even when I still had a good portion of sides in heaps on my plate; I had to ask for a refill of water thrice). Also, the restaurant was chilly... brrrr! Whoa, 363 reviews tallied since I was #100! *** 11/2013 visit *** Reviews now number 545 for this establishment. The squares of corn bread were a bit dry and crumbly, but sweet and tasty. Each of the four bread plates in the stack sitting at our table had some stuck on food remnants that we flicked off. Once again, I ordered the Warm Chipotle Turkey Sandwich $10.95 Fresh Thinly Sliced Turkey Breast, Chipotle Mayo, Bacon, Smoked Cheddar, BBQ Sauce, Avocado, and Lettuce. Baked and Served on a Honey Wheat Roll. But this time with the sweet potato fries. Good choice on the side - the fries were naturally sweet and crisp on the outside. Those were really good! As for the sandwich, I asked for the chipotle mayo to be served on the side, but somehow, it didn't seem as tasty as the first time. My DC enjoyed her burger with bbq sauce ($10.95 for the Smokey Mountain) and a dash of homemade thousand island (mayo & ketchup). I sampled her onion rings which were the thick beer batter sort - also yum! Service at lunch was mostly okay otherwise, checking on us now and then and refilling our waters without our asking. But funny enough when we needed change, we had to go get it ourselves at the bar. FYI - lunch menu is only on Mondays through Saturdays. Sundays are dinner menu all day. We ate this lunch at Jacob Wirth on a Sunday, so our sandwiches were a dollar more than if we had been able to order off the lunch menu. *** 12/2013 visit *** Reviews now number at #554. Somehow the sweet potato fries were not as good as last visit - the spuds just seemed less naturally sweet... bad batch? The Smokey Mountain burger ($10.95) was tasty and arrived with 4 fat onion rings, but the medium came well done, which was fine for me, but not as ordered. The butternut squash ravioli ($15.95) tossed in a light four cheese cream sauce served with chunks of fresh butternut squash and topped with candied walnuts arrived 8 raviolis to an order enrobed in the thick gooey sauce which made the whole dish rather filling. This is a savory type of entree, rather than sweet. Since I like my butternut squash on the sweet side, this was okay but not great. Service was a tad lacking. While plates were provided for us to share the entrees, our waters went unfilled.

    (3)

  • Christine J.

    great selection of german beers and good german food..

    (4)

  • Charles W.

    Great affordable German food in the heart of Boston's theater district. I think I walked by this place over a handful of times before I walked in. The door opens up into a long bar area and then to an even larger restaurant area. They have an a very large beer menu that changes all of the time. The schnitzel is very good, spatzel is average. The fried pickles came spear style which was the first I have ever seen. Great service very friendly and food is quick. One end of the restaurant has a lot of tv's other side is pretty quiet. A hear one night of the week they have a piano player that comes by and is a really fun and lively time. I wish Portland had a fun German style beer bar & restaurant.

    (4)

  • John T.

    Lots of great beers. Piano kareoke. Lots of fun. Big open area for a noisy good time.

    (4)

  • Abby B.

    Had the butternut squash ravioli with a waiter recommended pilsner. Everything down to the appetizer cornbread was delicious!! Unexpectedly quick service. Waiting on the oompa band to start :)

    (5)

  • Priyanka R.

    Dear Jacob, So large is your establishment, that it makes me happy that usually there is space to sit down, and have a bite/drink. There are so many beers on tap, that I just don't think you can get to them all. I've tried a few beers, and their ciders, it's been very hit or miss, and some of the waiters/waitresses don't really help much with their advice on what to order. So if you know your beers really well, and don't need any help, this may be a place for you. I'm just not that knowledgable... The first time I ate here, my friend, and I made a reservation. We arrived a few minutes early. And when it was our reservation time, we were told to wait ANOTHER 15 minutes. So we patiently did... we did not get seated for another 20 minutes. Okay, fine you're a little busy.... so we waited. After being seated, the waitstaff took another 10 minutes just to take our drink order. Just like that the meal proceeded, it was like pulling teeth just to make the meal go smoothly. Have been here a few times since, hoping that it will just get better, but as the food is pretty good, we come back, the German tapas are good, and even the safter stuff - like their burgers, are well done. Good portions, and I hear their more German dishes are delicious. Overall the food was decent and the ambiance was good, but it seemed like there were too many people and not enough waitstaff to handle the rush on many occasions. If the service wasn't atrocious, I would probably like this place more. It's a sincere shame :/ I hope you work on your service, when you do, I'll be back. Yours truly, - A Hopeful Customer

    (3)

  • Rick B.

    Good beer selection. German food was not cooked to order, served luke warm and is overpriced. Much better pubs in the area.

    (2)

  • Cathy Z.

    A quick place to eat before the theater? My burger took over 30 minutes to arrive (at the same time as my salad?), and it had clearly been under the heat lamp for quite some time. A quirky spot to grab a drink? The waiter didn't even take drink orders--we had to flag him down halfway through eating when we couldn't choke down the salty food dry anymore. A fun place to go for trivia night (Mondays and Wednesdays)? ...okay, you got me there.

    (2)

  • Jaime H.

    Picked up my wife at South Station Sunday night around 6:30, and as we were both hungry from being on the road all day, she suggested we get dinner at Jacob Wirth since I'd never been to this Boston classic. Well, truth be told, I don't think I'll ever go back. As we walked in, the bartender motioned for us to go to the hostess stand to be seated. A waitress forced a smile and faked a wave before leading us to a 4-top round table (for two of us?); there might have been maybe 15 other patrons in the joint. She gave us two menus, a bowl of vaguely stale bread, and disappeared. During the ten minutes that followed, I watched the two tables next to us get food and drink, I watched America's Funniest Home Videos playing on 3 of their big-screens, and I watched several staffers walk right past us. After ten minutes without anyone coming to the table - not even with waters on this 90° day - we left our menus on the table with the sad bread and walked out. I'd say better luck next time, but I think I've gotten all I need to get from the Jacob Wirth experience.

    (1)

  • Scott S.

    Pros: It's styled as a beer hall, with a very good beer selection, live piano music, and a spot in Boston history (reported to be the 2nd oldest continuously run restaurant in the city after Union Oyster House). Cons: Some of the beers are overpriced, and the food can be hit or miss. Still and all, you can sit down, listen to a live piano player, get yourself a knockwurst, some spaetzle, and a Spaten Optimator, and enjoy the atmosphere. It won't disappoint; it just might not wow.

    (3)

  • Bob M.

    The good: a very extensive selection of beers. Conveniently located next to the theater district for after-show drinks and dinner. The food here is solid American and some German fare, although the selection of the latter is limited. The bad: it's loud. Incredibly loud. The night I was there they had a mediocre piano player who was encouraging sing- alongs from a table of partially pickled guests. Maybe they're trying for a beer hall atmosphere, and that's great if that's what you're after, but the high ceilings and hard walls in this place mean that once the "entertainment" is going, you can't hear yourself think anywhere in the place, let alone carry on a conversation. The service was also pretty spotty (hint: people, it's usually considered a good thing for the appetizer to come out BEFORE the entree). The verdict: potentially a good place, but the rough edges cost them a star. May go back if I'm in the area - but there are a lot of good options nearby in Chinatown, too.

    (3)

  • John Y.

    Jacob Wirth is nothing short of legendary. There are very few bars/restaurants were you can enjoy essentially the same experience your father did 60 years ago. That is not to suggest this place is retro, or has not moved with the times, rather it is timeless. Great authentic German food, real deal atmosphere, and beer second to none connects us to this place spanning time and generations. Try the Jake's dark, and as much of a variety of German sausage as you can consume. You will not be hungry, but go for the dessert. Disappointment is not on the menu. The worst part of the experience is parking, but that ordeal with fade after your first beer.

    (5)

  • Jeremy K.

    Diz German restaurant is like going to Oktoberfest without the 7-hour flight ja? You like das beer, sauerkraut and sausages ja? We give you all of that in a casual atmosphere ja? Sit down and we'll take care of you ja! We proceeded to go there for dinner to sober up from our adventures at the Sam Adams brewery in Jamaica Plain. After circling for a spot for a few blocks, we finally managed to park the car and walked in. We had an OpenTable reservation but made it almost thirty minutes early and because of the late hour, tables were available and we were seated immediately. Although I really wanted beer, I had my fair dose of it and stuck with water. As for my order, I decided to go with the Jake's Special - Beer-steamed Knockwurst and Bratwurst, served with Sauerkraut, German Potato Salad and Topped with Bitter-sweet Red Beer Sauce. At $17, it was a meal for for the king. Although not 100% Authentic, it was close enough and I was too hungry to care. The food came fairly quickly and both sausages were pretty good, each having a fair amount of seasoning in them. The sauerkraut and potato salad were good as well and I promptly cleaned my plate. The atmosphere of the place is pretty awesome - it's very well light and features a lot of wood everywhere: the tables, the chairs, and the bar. The casual and relaxing atmosphere is awesome and although it was fairly busy it wasn't too loud in there. On one of the main room's walls, near the ceiling, hung a giant chalkboard that was covered with 4 columns of various beers, some from Belgium, from Germany and some from here as well. The prices for most entres are kept under $20 and the food portions are more than reasonable. I'm not quite sure why the reviews of this place have been so bad as of late - There was an article in the Herald that talked about how they were going to emphasize the quality of the service there and the service we received was fine, even when we redeemed a Groupon; friendly, quick, effective. No complaints really. If you come in there expecting the place to be an Authentic German brasserie-like spot, don't even bother to walk in. But if you want some German-influenced fair with some cold beers in a nice atmosphere, this is definitely a nice spot.

    (3)

  • Cindy C.

    The first time I went here, over 10 years ago, I had the Jaeger Schnitzel, and it was wunderbar. I had a German beer with it, which was also wunderbar. The next several times I went, they served my meal room temperature, and the spaetzel and gravy were congealed. It ruined it for me. I went a few nights ago with a charming friend, who is outspoken and has a great sense of humor. My friend told the waitress that I wanted my meal piping hot or I was going to be a real bitch. She laughed, and I got the Jaeger Schnitzel piping hot, and the veal was crispy and wunderbar. The atmosphere here is charming and old fashioned. The beer selection is awesome. The glasses are interesting, too. On Fridays, they have a sing along after 9 pm, which is fun.

    (4)

  • Matthew P.

    The potato pancake appetizer is absolutely amazing. One of the best apps I've ever had. The ambiance was great too. We went on a Thursday and their was a piano player singing 80's covers which was a pleasant surprise. They have a huge beer list with something for everyone as well. Definitely coming back.

    (5)

  • Cornelia M.

    This bar is always packed! It's a very popular place to you might have to wait a little to get seated! I was "lucky" in the fact that my friend had scored a seat at the bar but that's it just ONE seat! Not one guy offered their seat to me so yeah thanks guys for putting that whole chivalry thing to bed once and for all! It's much appreciated! As for the food they have some really awesome German sausages and I would go back for their food if only I could find a time when it's not packed to the gills! Their pretzel bites with melted cheese is awesome!! Can you really go wrong with ooey gooey melted cheese?? I think not! Despite the fact that this place is usually overrun with people the bartender was actually super attentive and kept my drink full the entire time I was there!

    (3)

  • Tina W.

    It is the best place where I had great fun in Boston. despect the fact that UNC lost to UCLA, the ambient is so good that made me forget about that. After 10is, a old guy would play piano and people ordered song from their list. It's just unique for me and I love it

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    This place has the worst customer service I've experienced in a long time. The first time I went there, it was for watching a German soccer game with some friends. We were seated at a table and no waitress came for an HOUR. So I flagged down another waitress and she informed me that "This is not my table" and walked away without ever getting our real waitress. Finally, a waitress came but only took orders from half our table and then never spoke to the remainder of the table. It was just bizarre. Finally, being dehydrated from lack of air conditioning, I actually went and sat at a table of strangers, ordered from their waitress and paid the strangers in cash for my Diet Coke. That's insane, people!! The second time it was for a dinner party. Again, we were seated at a table for ten and there was no server for half an hour. So, I flagged down someone who said, "I don't know" and went away. Finally, an actual server did come, but he was inattentive and took orders from only half the table. I also attempted to get beer at the bar but the bartender completely ignored me. I have absolutely no idea how this place stays in business. If you can't get people's orders, how do you make money?

    (1)

  • Katie C.

    I found this place while I was on travel in Boston. It was within walking distance of my hotel, and thankfully, only required one turn. This is important when going to a place with a significant beer list and some nice cocktails. I ordered the small plate wiener schnitzel (because hell yeah, wiener schnitzel!), and it was more than enough for me. I was honestly hoping I wouldn't be full, since there were other small plates that looked awesome. Alas. The wiener schnitzel was perfectly fried, the sause was well-seasoned, and the spaetzle was awesome. I went with the suggested beer, Paulaner Hefeweizen, and it paired well with the meal. It was served in a bigger glass than my dinner partner's, so yay! After dinner, I got a butterscotch cocktail, and it was totally yummy. Very much a sipping drink, though. Slam it at your own risk. The drink and tasting menu aren't updated on the site, so don't get your heart set on a certain cocktail or doing the tasting before you get there.

    (4)

  • Aina B.

    Great fun at the singalong, tons of beers, food is fine- we had a blast!

    (4)

  • Katrina L.

    Good service. Comfortable environment. They have a small outdoor seating area. They brought delicious cornbread to the table while waiting for my main meal. Ordered the chipotle turkey sandwich with bacon and avocado -- it was delicious!

    (4)

  • Melanna C.

    Let me share a word to the wise: Bring a freaking appetite. HEEEAVY. If you aren't in the mood for rolling away from an establishment after being a Bostonian glutton, just come here for a snack and beer. Also, be aware that there is an epidemic of extremely close-talking waiters. My experience is that they stare into your soul like they just popped out of the Matrix and are very confused to find themselves in a faux German establishment serving food. The French Onion Soup is awesome. They have massive types of yummy beer (including their own brew). And, lastly, the ambiance makes you want to whip out a tuba.

    (3)

  • Michael D.

    Solid restaurant.. even though it's slightly out of place in CHINATOWN. HUGE selection of beers, and during the summer, they have $1 floats! The foods not bad (the free cornbread and creamy whipped butter they give you always puts a smile on my face). Service is hit or miss.. sometimes you get some amateur waitstaff that mess up your order or is clueless about the beers on tap, while other times they have your order and the whole bar menu memorized like nothing. So in sum, come if you want a wide selection of beer, but let it be known.. there's a premium on the price of both food and drink for that diversity.

    (3)

  • A V.

    Shnitzel, shpaetzel, praytzel!!!!

    (5)

  • George M.

    The food was very good. Jagerschnitzel with spaetzle and red cabbage was very tasty and the beer selection was quite good. The one reason I didn't rate Jacob Wirth much higher was the service. Our server took forever not only to bring our food but even worse, to bring the bill. This would be a solid 4 star restaurant with better service.

    (3)

  • Kyndall W.

    Food is 3-stars but it's a fun bar with lots of good beer. Good place to have a beer and watch a game that isn't too touristy.

    (3)

  • Tanya S.

    #1 - get a reservation!!! The wait can be long and there is no good place to wait! Who puts a hosting table in the middle of the restaurant?! And they weren't very friendly about it either. But the food and waiter service has been great. Very basic, good german food. I'm very biased towards potatoes, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and sausage; and it is all very delicious. Can't wait to go back! (Only with a reservation)

    (4)

  • Shawn D.

    I had lunch there on Friday. The food was terrible. The German potato salad tasted like plain warm boiled potatoes, the wurst was tasteless although the waiter described it as spicy, the braised red cabbage serving was tiny and the coffee (a single cup with no offer of a refill) was $2.75. Very disappointing. Don't plan to return.

    (1)

  • Lisa B.

    Fun place! I wasn't there for the sing-a-long, but the restaurant did a good job resembling a German Bier Hall (especially considering it's location in Chinatown). Fun server, lots of beers & nice-sized menu. Cornbread was super yummy (and I have high standards for cornbread!) and the potato pancakes were unique and tasty. I wasn't blown away by my entree, but the menu looked huge so I'll be sure to try something different next time. Warning: No AC. The fans are helpful, but avoid if you're on a date during which pit stains are not acceptable.

    (3)

  • Mai L.

    Nonexistent service on a somewhat busy night. Sat down and waited idly for a good five minutes before anyone brings us a menu. Another ten before we get the yummy free cornbread with plates but no utensils. Waitress comes by to finally take our order after sitting another ten minutes but it's ok since I'm happily munching on cornbread sans utensils. Ten minutes and 2 pieces of bread later, I'm parched. Water eventually comes to our table. I should've rationed cuz apparently refills and service are hard to come by. Food came in a timely manner. Sadly, the burger was fully cooked when med rare was ordered. Beer braised short rib was salty and lack depth of any flavor or presentation. Two generous stars for wide beer selection and free yummy cornbread. I'm disappointed given the good reviews I've read. Maybe they had an off night?

    (2)

  • Ed R.

    Review of the beer and evening atmosphere, NOT the food. Our waiter was generally pretty knowledgeable about the beer, which was nice - so if you need help you can ask. There was also a pianist playing various tunes (Friday night ~8PM) Their beer list is pretty extensive, IMO, they have ~30 on tap and a bunch of bottles. The kicker is they are extremely well priced. Great place to grab drinks with friends.

    (4)

  • Adam P.

    Came here last night for the first time in a year or so, armed with a Groupon for 1 app, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert. Even though I had been here before and enjoyed it, reading all the negative reviews before my visit had me pretty bummed that the food wouldn't be any good. Very happy to report I was pleasantly surprised! We split Jake's nibbler as our app, which was pretty tasty, albeit small had you paid the full price. Like others mentioned, the potato salad is definitely a winner at Jacob Wirth. Entrees were wiener-schnitzel and sauerbraten. The former was breaded/fried perfectly, but underseasoned (sauce on top was awesome though). The sauebraten was so tender that it literally fell apart when I dug my fork into it, not to mention the incredibly tangy sauce they smother it in. The spaetzle that came with both dishes was also yummy, although my girlfriend suggested that it should've been crispier on the outside. Dessert was a pretty bleh slice of cheesecake. Finally, my beer geek self thoroughly enjoyed that they serve their beer in the proper glassware. My non-beer geek lady friend enjoyed the first root beer float she had since she was a kid (and for only $1!). If you're here and you don't want a simple burger/salad/etc., definitely go for the sauerbraten. Cheers!

    (4)

  • Steve P.

    Amazing selection of beer, very good food, and great atmosphere. The cornbread is always a little disappointing, but the main courses are hot and filling. There are probably thirty or forty different beers, many of which are offered as a pitcher or draft. Additionally, the service has always been pretty good. Definitely a great place for a quick lunch, a few beers after work, or even a full night out.

    (5)

  • Morris M.

    Great German food and beer in Boston. Best night is Friday night. There is a guy plays piano ONLY on Friday night. All are famous songs from the old days. Right next to Chinatown, walking distance to T. Bravo place!!

    (5)

  • Andrea L.

    Really quiet during lunch, which is great since you'll need a nap after the gigantic sausage and potato plate you're going to consume here. Get the Nibbler for a good sampling of what's available -- it's a skewer of grilled bratwurst and knockwurst served over warm potato salad and sauerkraut. It comes with a small cup of tasty sauce, but I like to cover everything in mustard. Friendly service and an amazing beer selection as well.

    (4)

  • Meizi H.

    Very charming German family style in the middle of Chinatown. The price was reasonable and chipotle warm turkey sandwiches was yummy, especially their sweet potato fries. The services was shabby at the time we dined. There were only two waiters serving at least 20 or more customers. We only see our waiter once and we had to ask for a check after a half hour wait. I def. would go back to check on their beers and other food selections.

    (4)

  • Amyn G.

    Wow bad food and pathetic service. Not only was the food worse than what you'd get at McDonalds but the service was appalling. We gave our order and than just sat there. About an hr later our food comes out - wait where's our drinks and where's the appetizer?! Needless to say we will not be going back.

    (1)

  • Melody N.

    We went here to use our Groupon consisting of 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, and 1 dessert. First off, for being probably a 25% filled, they are super slow. There was some lag between reading the menu and getting a server to come to us. Also, when we asked another server to take away our food, the server just walked away. The food comes out pretty fast - but the rest of the time, they are pretty slow. Once we got a server, we got a couple of beers - which we both enjoyed. They have an extensive beer list on tap. We got potato pancakes which were crunchy and were alright. The entrees came out where the portions looked impressive. We both got wienerschnitzel and jagerschnitzel. Both dishes were pretty similar to us. The wienerschnitzel had a white lemon sauce and the jagerschnitzel had a brown mushroom sauce. We both never had German food before, both we thought it was bland. The wienerschnitzel tasted a little better with the lemon and dill. The breading is so thick, I don't think it would have mattered if they had put a random meat in it. We both couldn't finish the dishes and didn't even want to take it home. For dessert, we got a root beer float. The root beer part was pretty good and the ice cream is pretty creamy. Overall, the food is pretty disappointing and we wouldn't come here again.

    (2)

  • David C.

    There's nothing really notable about about a place like Jacob Wirth if you're not a beer drinker (I certainly am not). The food is good, but unmemorable. The potato pancakes with cinnamon creme fraiche are tasty, but only come two to a plate, a paltry pub serving by any stretch of the imagination. The jaegar schnitzel, served with a side of sweet pea spetzle, is a little more satisfying. The veal, tender and juicy, is the star of the show. The sauce drizzled atop the dish is so flavorless, however, and served in such scant amount, that it may as well be left off completely. Service is friendly and cordial, especially from the hostess up front, but the kitchen mixed up my friend's order when we went and left us waiting for dessert (a German whoopie pie that may as well have been bought at the Hostess store) for an inordinate amount of time. I doubt I'll be back, but dinner, despite my gripes, was still worth it thanks to an affordable Groupon deal.

    (3)

  • Jeff C.

    Decent meal, impressive beer list. 40+ draft beers the day we visited. We had one order of fish and chips, nothing special but good, chips were not impressive. Drunken meatloaf was very good, veggies weren't anything special, but core meal was very good. Mostly we came for the beer list, which didn't disappoint, would try the schnitzel next time. Tried Jake's house lager but wasn't particularly impressed, not as clean as I like my lagers. 2.5/5 there. But definitely recommend checking out the rest of the list.

    (4)

  • Christa H.

    Good German bar. The beer battered fried pickles were tasty. The draft selection is very extensive.

    (4)

  • Corey L.

    Popped in with a Groupon to check this place out. Turns out I'd already been there. WHO KNEW?! Anyway, I had enjoyed it the first time and this turned out no different. First, super easy to get to via public transportation. Second, my goal was basically to try German food as if we were sitting in Munich chowing down. So we tried all the stuff that sounded German. Appetizer was Wiener Schnitzel, which was quite tasty. It was accompanied by corn bread - which I loved. It's hard to mess up corn bread and they did not. Mmmm, corn bread. Then we had the BBQ steak tip and Sauerbraten dinners. Both were quite tasty. Tender, very sweet sauces. The red cabbage was really good too, very sweet. I have no idea how traditional these things were, but I enjoyed eating them. Just like being in Munich. Finished up with a piece of German chocolate cake - which was great. Normally I'm okay with German chocolate cake, not loving it but fine with it. Usually not worth the calories. But this was warm, the sauce was really good, and it was totally worth it. We enjoyed quite a few beers, which tasted just like beer. So we were happy. Finally, we sat next to the piano dude. Pretty sure he had more to drink than me, but it was pretty cool to sit next to the dude and his fairly crappy piano. He was playing good piano man songs.

    (4)

  • Leila Y.

    This was definitely one of the strangest culinary adventures I've had. And I say adventure because when you go to the bathroom you honestly feel like Indiana Jones and that you'll need to pull out your whip because something scary is about to pop from the stall. Yes ladies and gentlemen, the bathroom is in such shape that you either expect to die from a disease here and wonder about the conditions under which your food is prepared. So start saying your farewells as soon as you step into the quaint little restaurant. Oh well. So my husband's Nana is German and when she decided to visit us for a bit I had the brilliant idea to take her to a German/American place so she would see our rendition of sauerkraut and sauerbraten! When we first came in I prayed to God that earth would swallow me. Right beside the host stand was a water bucket catching the leaking water from the rain. The saintly old lady didn't say anything but oh I'm sure she was wondering how her darling Paul ended up with a woman who can't find a good place where to have dinner. Since it is almost Oktoberfest the restaurant was crowded with German wannabes from the universities nearby. Herds of undergrads who mispronounced the names of the German beers to the obviously non-German servers who assented in confusion. So the host who seems to have had his fair share of schnitzel and potato salad told us to wait by the bar. 30 minutes later I get my name called on a microphone like I was in the Jacob Wirth's most wanted list. Swallow me earth oh please! Ok, I understand that it's a busy place but our server took her sweet time coming to greet us. 10 minutes after we had decided that the menu look decent enough (with very traditional German swordfish kebabs of course and black bean soup!!) a very sad and frail looking girl came to take our drink orders. 15 minutes later I get a flat beer and Nana's beer was forgotten amongst the pitchers for the undergrads at the large table next to ours. The singer (singer?) was blasting Sweet Caroline at the top of his lungs and the German wannabes were howling along. Dear Nana doesn't speak English but at least she didn't mutter anything in German to my husband hinting her unhappiness. So after the situation with the forgotten beer was solved we finally got to order our food. It looked good enough and I've seen the pictures online so for the price I guessed it would be just fine. On the 45 minute mark we got to savor a fine weiner schnitzel, a sauerbraten and a bratwurst sandwich. To be honest, for the price and the atmosphere I should've guessed that the food was going to be as lousy as the ambiance. My cheap tasting sausage, Nana's dry and tasteless sauerbraten and my husband's tough as a shoe sole veal, I honestly was severely disappointed at this place everybody talks about. The service wasn't grand either. The sad looking Russian sounding waitress reserved her smiles for the noisy undergrads in the large table next to ours while she barely check how we were doing and after we finished she didn't even ask if we wanted dessert or coffee and just handed the check like we were taking the space for free. Summing it up: the service was pretty lousy and the food was far from decent. Next time I'll just take Nana to Faneuil Hall and have lobster rolls while being stalked by seagulls but I bet they make better dinner companions and they'll pay more attention to us than the little server girl who could use a smile once in a while. And as to the bathroom: after the meal I decided to hold it until we got somewhere safe because I sincerely didn't want to end up with a nasty disease from that run down and rusty bathroom. (Can't they honestly invest on the building a little bit? It's not like they don't have costumers!)

    (1)

  • Jonathan S.

    I assume that Jacob Wirth is good when you go for the beer, and not much else. Unfortunately I go to restaurants for their food, and service. Fancy that: I pay some one to cook, and serve me, because I value food, and service. Jacob Wirth consistently disappoints in that regard. I have been to Jacob Wirth a handful of times over the last few years, and I seem to pretty regularly get the same server: Sheila. She is a nice enough woman, but she also pretty regularly manages to screw up our order. Most recently I went as part of a large party; most of us ordered drinks, and an entree. I ordered a clam chowder, and burger, and ONLY GOT THE BURGER. I know that it might be challenging to hear an order, and remember it long enough to write on the pad of paper you have in your hand; perhaps my standards are too high, but I am a jerk like that. Trying not to raise a stink with my large party, I would have kept it to my self, and grumbled internally. Nope, Sheila strikes again when another guy orders a follow up beer all by him self; he got her attention to order another beer, and she forgot to bring him that too. The kicker for me was when the time came to pay. I am always in a grumpy mood when a restaurant distributes one check to a group of adults, knowing full well that we are more likely to pay individually than pay as a party, but that is probably too meta for this review. No sir, we worked out the math our selves, assigned values to cards, and gave them to Sheila. She then returned all of the cards to the host of our party, and made her distribute them, effectively deputizing one of her guests. At that point I am just like, "Hold on. What have you done to justify the mandatory 20% gratuity associated with large parties? Walking back, and forth between the kitchen, and the table is not service. Hell, we could have all gotten fast food, and saved that eighty bucks." The food at Jacob Wirth is german themed, which sounds exotic, but it actually readily palatable, but still just average. The service at Jacob Wirth has always been awful, and I have never had a positive experience there, so one star for you. The clam chowder is pretty good though when you can get it.

    (1)

  • Tina D.

    I came here with one of those coupon deals before a 7pm show at the Boston Opera House. I made a reservation several weeks in advance. This is one of the few restaurants that requires your CC when reserving on OpenTable. Their cancellation policy is a little stricter than other places as well, so read carefully. When I arrived, I was seated right away. The decor confuses me, though I was told it is supposed to resemble a tent atmosphere during Oktoberfest. As you can imagine, they had a good selection of beer, and being the cider fiend that I am, I enjoyed a bottle of Magners Pear for something like $6-$7 (I don't remember, exactly). The service was good without being overwhelming. I did not feel rushed at all. For an app, I had the fried sauerkraut and sausage balls with the mustard sauce. They were good, but nothing fancy. My entree was the veal wiener schnitzel. Again, it was good for what it was, but I almost thought it needed something extra, maybe some salt or seasoning? It was weirdly citrus-y yet bland. For dessert, I had the apple strudel. There is definitely a theme here as all the food was just okay, but I would never crave it and most likely won't be back to try more. The prices are not bad given the area, so at least that is not a deterrent.

    (3)

  • Melissa W.

    This is a very cool restaurant with a lot of potential. Too bad the service was the worst I've ever received. We chose to go to Jacob Wirth because of the great German menu and beer selection as well as the 'sing-a-long' which sounded really intriguing. When we got there it was a half hour wait, which was not a problem at all. We put our name in and waited. And waited. And waited. Groups that came in after us (with the same amount of people in the party (2) or more) waited and were seated before us. I think they forgot us. Finally we got a table, but no menus. Our server didn't appear for quite some time, so I grabbed a menu that had been lying on a ledge near by. When our server finally arrived, she didn't introduce herself or offer any suggestions, we got a cold 'what do you want'. Having a craving for some juice suddenly, I asked what types of juices they had. That was met with an even colder look and an 'orange'. She was very impatient and took our drink order. My boyfriend, who doesn't look a day over 18, got a beer. Note: She did NOT ID him. Several minutes later, when we still didn't have our drinks, a bowl of cold, stale tasting cornbread was dropped off by the host. The waitress came back with our drinks and took our food order. My boyfriend's drink had a cork in it and you would think that she would have opened it with a cork screw, but apparently that was too much work for her. We ended up having to go up to the bar and asking one of the bartenders to open it. Half an hour later our food came, not from our waitress- we hadn't seen her since she took the order, and we started to eat. We didn't have any salt or pepper at the table or ketchup for our fries. My boyfriend liked his burger, I don't remember exactly what type it was, but it had bacon and onion rings on it. I myself got the potato pancakes. I hoped that the food would at least be worth the terrible service, but apparently it was not. It was cold, flavorless, and overcooked. After picking at our food, and sitting with empty drink cups for quite some time, I finally flagged down our missing server to get our check. I love dessert and had wanted to get something, but at this point, we had had enough. It took her another ten minutes to get us the check even though we were sitting directly across from the computer and printer. When she eventually dropped it off, that was it, no thanks, no have a good day, nothing. My only good things to say about this place is: large beer selection, nice decorations, and central location.

    (1)

  • Cecilia J.

    Good food in a pub-like atmosphere. A bit pricey but came here using a Groupon Now deal. Food wasn't mindblowing but it was flavorful and delicious.

    (3)

  • Nikolette C.

    Jake Wirth's has possibly the best clam chowder I have ever had. Their chowda definitely gets 5 Stars from me! And I absolutely love the free cornbread that they bring to your table. I have had a few other items there, the pretzels, the fries, turkey wrap, the beer, and its all pretty good but none of it compares to the clam chowder. I also do love the beer selection though and it is usually not too crowded for lunch. They also have good lunch specials too! And Yelp deals!! The service is usually pretty good too.

    (4)

  • Martin N.

    We loved it there. If you love German food and European beers this is the place for you. The only downside is the service less than satisfactory at times.

    (4)

  • Inna H.

    Pretty cool place, but it is alway very busy due to its location. Funky german food and most importantly great selection of beers.

    (4)

  • Jason M.

    Adorable. Not sure if it fits in the with the rest of the area, but I love it. It's like your crazy German uncle decorated a giant barn while your fat German aunt made you dinner. First, the beer is great. Lots to choose from, although the servers never seem to have any clue about the beers. Don't ask them questions about the beer because they won't know, or they'll be underage and tell you that they're really into beer, citing Guinness as an unusual beer (its also Irish, not German). And for the love that is all pure and true, do not order Bud, Miller or Coors here. The appetizers are certainly proficient. The fried pickles are delicious (and a total southern throwback), as are the pretzels. If you're going to be here, you might as well have a doughy, salty pretzel. Its kinda perfect when you're drinking a cold beer. In staying true to my mission to only review burgers, the Blue Cheese Burger here is good, as is the Boursin Mushroom Burger. Skip the fries and get the German Potato Salad instead, you are a German restaurant. For what its worth, the other dishes are also good.The buffalo mac and cheese was tasty, as was the schnitzel. Its certainly worth a cold beer and a meal. Check it out.

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    This is one of those places that just about everyone (except maybe vegetarians) can get behind. Great super old-school feel, bierhall atmosphere, ancient Boston institution, and one of the only traditional German menus left anywhere in town. I've been here a number of times, great for birthdays. Weiner schnitzel is to die for, as are their bratwurst. Come here with a large party of friends, you absolutely will not regret it.

    (4)

  • Lauren V.

    Had I just gone for the beer, this could have been a solid 3 star rating (A-OK). But unfortunately for me, I went for dinner and so 2 stars it is. Having read the reviews, I anticipated slow service. Jacob Wirth did not disappoint. Despite being there for an early mid-week dinner, we still waited over ten minutes for a server to acknowledge our presence. Not really an issue. It will give you plenty of time to peruse the lengthy board of beers on the wall. And peruse you shall because beer is the highlight of this place. The food...is...not good. I think the corn bread was the best part. I had a sausage that was sadly and inexplicably well-done. As in rock solid. As in, a couple more years of heavy compression and I might have a diamond. Luckily, the tables are set with mustard so I could dunk it in some flavor. The sauerkraut was okay. The spaetzle was tasty, but how can you mess up that? Would I go back for dinner? No. Not unless they start offering spaetzle as a meal. Would I go back for drinks? Definitely.

    (2)

  • Kenta K.

    One of Boston's oldest establishments. They keep it real by never using air conditioning (just like in the 1800's!). If you like to sweat into your schnitzel it's worth trying. If you prefer a more comfortable environment this is not the place for you. For the masochists there's a row of tables parallel to the bar. During peak bar hours people will need to squeeze by you to get in and out of the restaurant, often placing their buttocks in close proximity to your food. Temperature aside not a bad place to have a beer or two. I've been for both lunch and dinner and both times it was OK. So there you have it, the food was OK and it has BEER. Solid two stars!

    (2)

  • Ashley H.

    Went here without a reservation on a Tuesday before a show at the Wang Theater. It was PACKED but to make a reservation you have to use Open Table AND provide credit card info. We were told the wait for 2 would be 45 minutes and it was only 30. The restaurant was pretty cramped, especially the bar area, but the bartender was surprisingly attentive to everyone and we were able to get a couple rounds with no problem. I was surprised this German restaurant did NOT have reisling, but the glass(es) of pinot I had did the trick. My boyfriend ordered the mixed grill and I had a turkey, swiss and sauer kraut sandwich on rye. It was a "make your own rueben" deal. It was our server' s first night and she was clearly frazzled with the crowded set up. She did well though, major props to her. The best part was my boyfriend had a crack in his beer glass and did not want anyone else to be served out of it so we called over the Maitre'D and let him know. Not rude at all, just trying to "pay it forward". The gentlemen who we kept referring to as "Mr Jacob Wirth" was VERY apologetic. He returned with a $25 gift card just for a crack in a glass we weren't even upset about! Turned our 4 star experience into 5. With that kind of service you can't help but return. If for nothing but to use the gift card. For 2 of us with dinner and 2 drinks plus a 20% top it was $63. Not shabby.

    (5)

  • Michelle A.

    My brother and I went there last night before the Eddie Vedder concert at the Wang Theater to grab a bite and some drinks. For my first time I will say I enjoyed it. If you are a beer aficionado you know you can not beat German beer. Their selection is vast and the waitress knowledgeable on what to choose. My brother was stationed in Germany while in the Army and he can attest that the beer was right on point. He ordered some sort of breaded veal sandwich and made quick work of it. I ordered the baked haddock expecting the typical dish with the fish doing the backstroke in butter. Not the case at all. It was light and delicious. I will say that the only real problem I have is the cramped bathroom. 2 stalls for such a large place should be illegal in my opinion. That being said, if I am in the area again and wanting some great beer I know where to go.

    (4)

  • EricaLynn J.

    Oh, this place is AWESOME. It's spacious, the place has character, and it's usually packed - but never uncomfortably crowded. And the food is deeeeelicious. I would have never guessed that there would be a great German restaurant amidst all those old theatres but color me happily surprised.

    (4)

  • Tyler A.

    I wish I could leave negative stars after this evening. I have many good experiences at this restaurant, an have always enjoyed the food. But after this evenings service dining here this evening, it is not worth it anymore :(

    (1)

  • Nick D.

    My wife and I only got appetizers but they were delicious. Try the Reuben Stix and the Sausage & Sauerkraut Balls. They have a great beer selection as well. A tad on the expensive side but we'll worth it for craft & small batch import brews.

    (5)

  • J. W.

    If you're looking for good food, steer clear of Jacob Wirth. I was really disappointed in my experience. The bar has a lot of character and if you're there to drink some good beer, go crazy. Unfortunately I wanted to enjoy some food and music along with my beer and I went 1 for 3. I ordered $22 Jaeger Schnizel for my meal along with a beer. The dinner was REALLY bad. The Schnizel was over-battered, dry, and generally gross. The mushroom sauce was thin, lacked flavor, and had no discernible mushrooms. The Spaetzel was also mushy and lacked flavor. For entertainment they had an 8th grade music teacher banging out The Sting and Fools Rush In on a 50 year old piano. The place is so loud with it's wooden floors and high ceilings it was really difficult to hear the piano. Given the quality of music I'm undecided whether that should take away stars or add them!

    (1)

  • Bill E.

    This is an interesting, noisy and busy, busy, busy place worth eating and drinking at once in a while. I was looking for a french joint while thinking about dim sum along the waterfront. I had walked for a few miles through the city and was going back to my hotel when I passed Wirth and looked at the menu. It's a real deal old tavern with German fare. They have tank loads of beer. Frankly the hefferweissen was great. I had sauerbraten and needed to ask for more gravy. The red cabbage was great and I enjoyed. It was noisy as hell and the baby at the next table looked like a regular. Service was better than expected for an out of control busy restaurant. Today was Friday and I was there just after work. It was a tough time for the staff. The cheesecake was very good, but the strudel was different and mediocre. All for $75 before the tip. It's really a fun place for a hot Friday night and if you're in downtown Boston eat here once.

    (3)

  • Cole A.

    I'm really conflicted about how I feel about Jacob Wirth. It's a fine place to go get something to eat or even a beer, and it's in a very convenient location for me. The Good: The beer selection is great. The have a great mix of the local brews (including Sam Adams Brick Red, for instance), German beers, and some they label as their own (Jake's Special Dark is quite good). Don't bother buying in bulk, however - the pitcher prices give no real discount over buying individual beers. Also, their sweet potato fries are really good. The "Meh": The food, for the price, is not the best. Their burgers and sandwiches are standard fair, in my opinion and the prices ($9-12 for a burger, $9-13 for sandwiches) are on the higher side for the quality. The bad: On the weekend, this place gets packed during dinner, and there's nowhere to wait for a table. The waitstaff will push you out of the way if you obstruct their path (fair enough, but there's nowhere else to go), and the staff doesn't get much friendlier once you sit down. Our waiter during a recent visit seemed so rushed and unhappy that we felt afraid to ask him for simple things like another bottle of ketchup. This isn't exactly service with a smile, and I know there is a well-publicized dispute between the waitstaff and ownership, but if I'm paying $12 for a burger and $25 for a pitcher of beer, I don't want to have to deal with disgruntled waitstaff. Bottom line: If you want to go to a historic German-themed beer hall that serves half decent food, this is the place. If you're looking for value and service, keep walking.

    (2)

  • Bobby C.

    Grabbed a quick bite to eat after a movie. Service was pretty good considering that there was 8 of us. Can't comment on the beer since I didn't have any but the Smokey Mountain Burger was amazing. I rarely

    (4)

  • Wolf L.

    I had just arrived in Boston and checked into my hotel. I had a long week of business ahead of me, but it was Sunday night and I seriously needed to get my grub on. I flew United, so I didn't even get any free peanuts or party mix on the long trip in. (I didn't want to take a chance on those "mystery snack packs" United sells. I bet they're filled with Soylent Green.) I wandered down Stuart and spotted Jacob Wirth Restaurant from across the street. Cool old building. I jaywalked on over and went inside. Awesome. It's a German beer hall! Wood floor. Big open room. They had a ton of beers on their blackboard menu--including seasonal Oktoberfest brews and some Belgians. I got myself some Sauerbraten: braised beef served with spaetzle and red cabbage. Man, did that hit the spot, as did the beer. Not the best German food I've ever had, but it was certainly more than acceptable. This place certainly has character and I could almost feel the history oozing from the walls. The service wasn't necessarily friendly, but it was efficient and fast. I'll definitely be back next trip to Boston.

    (4)

  • ells w.

    Classic Boston. I just realized it's 2011 and I've yet to speak of the Jacob Wirth Restaurant....our little slice of Germany right under our noses here in Boston. It's only been here since just after the British left and feels it in a comfortable way. Like all comfortables in life there are bumps in the road along with smooth sailing. But I've been going here on and off for over 25+ years. And still, they know how to make you feel - not comfortable necessarily - but, at home with what feels like home cooked German food + beer. Probably the most extensive beer selection in the city. This alone speaks to par-tee. Great for groups as they have a couple of large tables, one for 12+ tucked in the back. Let's speak to some of the downsides. Like most restaurants, they too have succumbed to those movie sized BOOB TUBES every where ... except in the toilets where they belong. Lose 'em, at least, in the dining room; so we who come to your restaurant to eat, laugh and celebrate our friends may leave with memories and less MEH. Of course, we'll be back; but, one time I may be with a sledge hammer.

    (4)

  • Lindsay B.

    Positives - fun atmosphere, quick service, gluten-free menu, German food; Negatives - bratwurst was really dry, fries were chewy, waiter was confused when we ordered small salads

    (3)

  • T S.

    We went to Jacob Wirth's and had Wiener Schnitzel with Spätzle. This was likely the worst Schnitzel we ever had, and the Spätzle were close to inedible. Whoever recommends this place for Schnitzel has probably never had a good one. The ones we got served at this place were small, breading wasn't crisp, meat tasted sour - I wonder how much more one can do wrong. Also, how a simple recipe like Spätzle can be screwed up so badly is beyond me. If you have some basic cooking skills, I recommend simply making this great Austrian-Swabian recipe at home. On the plus side, wait staff was friendly and the beer hall atmosphere is at least remotely reminiscent of similar places in Germany.

    (2)

  • Alyssa J.

    Mmmmm....tried the soft pretzels this time. Holy delicious Batman.

    (5)

  • Megan S.

    Fun and festive atmosphere, this place is a favorite downtown group dinner spot for me. Their beer menu is long and features a lot of local as well as imports. Unfortunately, the staff are usually not very knowledgeable about any of it. Being a vegi, I stick with sides and the vegi burger. My latest delight is that they will substitute spaetzel (German noodles my mom used to make when I was growing up) for fries with the burger! This isn't on the menu, but they do it every time for me. (Thanks, JW!) I even took a German friend here - who dubbed the place as not very authentic, but definitely a good time. Hot Tip: Make a reservation on opentable.com - this place often has a +1 hour wait for dinner and barflies take up all the seats at the bar. They're also on Groupon Now.

    (4)

  • DonPaul N.

    This beautiful old restaurant has been serving up German food and beer for generations. Jacob Wirth's has been in this historic building since 1878 when Herr Wirth, a German immigrant, opened the restaurant. It's open floor plan, dark mahogany wood work and noisy atmosphere lend it a German ambiance. Favorite Dish: I have had the pork schnitzel, which was tender and delicious. I've also had the mac n' cheese with chicken, which was absolutely awesome. The cuisine is really good comfort food. They have several traditional German dishes and also serve a good selection of German beers on tap.

    (3)

  • Jason L.

    This place seems to be a convenient after-work, cheap drinks with the boys kind of place. It's a large bar/restaurant, old, with a fast open kitchen. They boast a good beer selection and a cool history of being one of the oldest places in Boston, and that's about it. Grilled bratwurst w/ fries - was pretty underwhelmed by the bratwurst at a german restaurant. It wasn't flavorful, and was mediocre. Steak tips, mashed potatoes, onion rings - once again, nothing special, just typical bar food. Basket of soft pretzels was nice and hot, a welcome change, with a mustard dipping sauce. But overall, the food is nothing to make a trip for, just your standard bar food with expanded beer selection in a cool laid-back ambiance. I do appreciate that they carry Magner's, which I have trouble finding in Boston for some reason. (I must be going to the wrong places). Food (3/10) Service (2/5) - spotty service Plating / Decor - N/A

    (2)

  • Lindsay B.

    Beer selection is awesome, the bar area isn't that big, but if you can, stop in and try some of the beers. Food is mediocre and service is really hit or miss. I've gone a few times and it's been fine, but lunch time is always terrible, even if you're one of 3 tables there at 2pm. Very odd. It actually seems like the fewer people that are there, the worse the service.

    (2)

  • Jackie K.

    I'm somewhere in between 2-3 stars and I will never come back here but my experience was not bad...just not great. Food was eh. The crabcakes were fair (more fried than pan-seared), pretzels were good (but like the pretzels they sell on the sheet), mustard was delicious (but they didn't give enough for me to dip my crabcakes in. Corn bread was probably the best thing. (it's free). I thought the beer list was okay--if you really want a choice of many different types of beer then I would not come here...or for the food. Our service was not great either but did not bother me as I was at a birthday party. We also tried the sheet cake---it was fine. Everything adds up to Eh.

    (3)

  • Sharon T.

    I had the worst experience today. I came in on a nice Sunday afternoon and sat at the bar. There were other patrons seated at the bar that had been served. The dining room wasn't full, however. I waited 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged me. Finally, I was served a lukewarm Irish Coffee. Maybe it was an off day. But, I will not return.

    (1)

  • Angel C.

    I'm not a huge fan of German food because I like vegetables in my meal, and Germans are apparently like Hispanics (which I am). Where do you get your nutrients??? That said, I love sausage -- insert joke here --, and Jacob Wirth can serve some tasty links. I had the butternut squash soup, which was creamy, but not too much, and just tasted like fall (the season). I also had Jake's Nibbler, which is a "small plate" with knockwurst and bratwurst, served with sauerkraut, red cabbage, and potato salad. (Yeah, I know some of those qualify as vegetables, barely.) That was way more than enough food! If that was a "small plate," I could've fed two 500-lb guys with a regular-sized plate. All that, plus a beer (which they have plenty of to choose from!), made for a delicious German meal. And it's ok to not get all your nutrients in a meal every once in a while. Service was good too. My friends and I were a little short on time for a show after dinner, so we asked our host and server if they could squeeze us in, and they gladly accommodated us and made sure we were out on time. Plus, we were seated by the kitchen, which I enjoyed because I like to see the action. Great job, guys!

    (4)

  • Jonah K.

    Good beer, and a cool old bar. If you like german beer, its a must stop. They often have rare german brews on tap, which are tasty. I was upset they were out of the dunkle weiss and the hoffbrau house on tap last night, but oh well. The bartender was very nice, and gave me quite an education on beer. Having spent time in Munich I am a big fan for bavarian beers.

    (4)

  • Michael R.

    If you're looking for German food in Boston, this is usually the first place one would turn. I stopped in for lunch, to finally use my Groupon that I purchased awhile back. Surprisingly, the place was dead right at 12:00 on a Saturday, which allowed our friendly waiter to give us a great amount of attention. My dining partner for the afternoon, Victoria R., and I got the Buffalo Bacon Chicken Wrap, and the Jake's Special. Although it wasn't truly German, she enjoyed the meal. The Jake's Special included a beer-steamed knockwurst and bratwurst, along with German Potato Salad and Sauerkraut. While it all tasted great, it was a little cold when it got to the table. A few other things of note: -Table was a little sticky when we sat down -Prices are solid for the Downtown area of Boston -Extensive draught beer selection All in all, a solid, but not spectacular restaurant, and I will certainly go back.

    (3)

  • Mike S.

    Can't be beat draft beer selection. Awesome to think it's been around since something like1886. Usually get Jake's special which is a plate of two kinds of sausages piled on kraut and potato salad. It's a no frills kind of place that's always loud and packed. Wish it was a little cheaper as service tends to be spotty as they are always playing catch up. A big improvement would be to make the bar area bigger and pipe in some music to drown out all the noise.

    (3)

  • Howard G.

    Excellent burgers. Fries are average. Huge beer selection that is probably the largest and most diverse in Boston. This is as old school as it gets and is a place everyone should visit once. Not a tourist trap like Faneuil hall. Parking is difficult.

    (4)

  • Dave M.

    My friends and I went to Jacob Wirth's on a Friday night at 10 p.m. We were sat right next to the piano (which is only there at certain times). The tables were closer together to make room for the piano. Our waiter and the other patrons in the restaurant were able to make their way past us by walking around near the railing which separates the dinning room from the bar. One waiter, however, kept asking me to stand up and move my chair so that he could get through. After stand up four times I asked the waiter (who was the only person in the restaurant who wasn't able to find another way around me) to walk around. I was subsequently kicked out of the restaurant by that waiter. It was the worst restaurant experience I have ever had.

    (1)

  • Johnny Z.

    I'll keep it short and sweet. I love this place. These Germans do it right. The bar has a tremendous selection of draft beers. The food is good. And I've been here with several of my jewish friends, and they were never made to feel uncomfortable in any way. As a caveat, I did swing by here on a weekend night a couple years ago and they had some weird guy playing piano while the customers sang along. It sounds innocent enough, but it had a very strange vibe. Everyone had a glazed over look and I felt the people there were all in the same cult. The weird piano dude was their musical Charlie Manson. I finished my delicious hefeweizen beer, called the cops, and got the f*ck out of there.

    (4)

  • Mike C.

    The menu here is phenomenal for anyone who enjoys German food, or wants to try it out. Beer selection gets pricy, but the options are great (Don't even go if you want a Bud Light, you're in the wrong establishment even though they serve it). We've tried both Schnitzels, both sauerkrauts, and an assortment of other dishes on a few visits. Schnitzel is always a favorite, but remember that German food Healthy food (lots of fried things, wurst, etc). Overall it's a great place to come and be in one of Boston's oldest establishments. Try different beers (they'll let you sample one if you're unsure) and just come to have a fun time. Obviously the after-work rush is going to mob the place, so plan accordingly. The only negative is that some of the chairs are close together, but it's really not an issue unless you're a 300# moose. Solid food, Solid beers, Solid establishment.

    (4)

  • Benjamin S.

    I've been here a few times, I like it. The beer is really good. HUGE selection on tap. I requested the waiter's recommendation of a pale ale and he picked me out something great. I usually order sausage entrees from here which you cant go wrong with, especially for the value. I ordered shnitzel last time which isn't like the authentic shnitzel I've had in Germany, the veal is a bit too thick and over breaded here. Service is good. I went on a Sunday, not very busy. The atmosphere is a reminder the establishment goes far back into Boston's history.

    (4)

  • Jeremy S.

    Huge list of beers, normal bar food and some descent TV's. That's all I can say about this place. The food was nothing that stood out, but the beer list did. They had a huge selection on tap and bottled. Including organic bottles that I have never heard of before. It ended up being a great place to grab a beer and watch a little Euro Cup.

    (3)

  • Christopher M.

    All apologies to the Jacob Wirth staff for my tardiness in updating. This is long overdue. I was contacted by the manager some months ago (well before the infamous memo) to discuss my experiences at JW and to invite me back. As I've said before, if any company takes their yelp reviews seriously enough to contact me, discuss it, and attempt to make things right I'm willing to give them another chance. As you can see, this worked out well for dear old Jacob. Admittedly, the night started off a bit bumpy with them losing our reservation (they seemed a bit confused that we had one, actually), but we were seated fairly promptly and were served by a genuinely sweet and attentive waitress. I figured if I was going to measure the food, I should do so by ordering their most expensive item, the wiener schnitzel. Now, I have no idea what wiener schnitzel is or is supposed to be. 4 years of german and seriously, no idea. . . but I know that what was on my plate was good. Not flavorful the way indian food is, or waist crunching the way water-pops are, but genuinely good. I enjoyed it, and would order it again. The date had a sandwich. The sandwich was good. The bacon on the sandwich was good too, which to me is certainly the earmark of a good sammy. mmmm bacon. But I digress. The atmosphere was less. . . sportsbar-y but it was still present. This time around I felt more as though I was surrounded by people and not drowning in assholes. Finally the check was perfectly timed and we were allowed to linger without even the slightest dirty look. I gotta say Jacob, you really stepped up your game. Kudos (or bratwurst, or something) to you!

    (4)

  • Robert C.

    Jacob Wirth is a great place to go! 25 cent wings on Monday, Amazing beer list and German foods. Who could ask for more! Unfortunately I only found out about Jacob Wirths only a few months ago, and recently moved out of Boston. I have to say that if theres anything I'm going to miss about living in Boston, Jacob Wirth would be it. On Thursday's and Friday's they have sing alongs and heard they were a blast! Next time I visit Boston I'm definitely going to stop by for the sing along!

    (5)

  • Narin N.

    Went here a while back looking for some good German grub, schnitzel, brats, spaetzel all that good stuff. I ordered the Jaeger schnitzel (one of the very few German offerings) it was pretty good with spaetzel, although I've had better at mom n pops German places back in PA. The potato pancakes with apple were pretty good. Beer selection is amazing, had a couple different burs from an Oktoberfest lineup. The service was pleasant although they did take some time but the place was packed during Oktoberst time. Bottom line: Go here if you want either so-so German fair But go here for the beer and beer-hall type atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Daniel S.

    Awesome German beer, the food was incredible, and they have different events depending which night you go. Very considerate staff. The hostess saw I was tall and made sure we got a better table so I wouldn't be banging my knee's underneath it.

    (5)

  • Alicia B.

    Will never, ever, EVER go back hare -- no matter if you offered me $1,000. Awful, horrendous experience after awful, horrendous experience... and you have to ask yourself, 'Am I insane?" Because, let's face it, the definition of insanity is going the same thing over again but expecting different results. The last time I was here it was Christmas Eve 2010. Our waiter was "new." We're talking new-new. As in he didn't speak English. He apologized and smiles. I felt bad for the guy. He had no idea what beer we wanted to order. Worse yet, they were all out of the beer they had on their draft boards... the very beer we were trying to tell our non-English-speaking lad what we wanted to whet our whistle. Needless to say, like the Sox, we knew when our time was up. Three strikes, Jacob Wirth, and you're out.

    (1)

  • Alison F.

    Thought I'd take my kids -- who are Austrian -- here for a special meal before the Nutcracker. I'd picked up some food for a school event a few days earlier and noticed that it was all decked out for the holidays. Since my kids love traditional Germanic comfort food, I thought it would be a big hit. But the food they serve is not recognizable as the food you get in Germany or Austria. The Wiener Schnitzel was smothered in creamy SAUCE!!! If this doesn't bother you, fine -- enjoy it. But it should be called something else... The fresh pretzels tasted old. The sauerkraut was bland. Anyway, this place has an interesting and fun atmosphere, and if you don't care if the food is "genuine" it's probably not bad. But the more you like what you think is German food, the less likely you are to like this...

    (2)

  • Rob F.

    In town on business, looking for a good Reuben. Place was fairly busy at 6ish on Sunday night, got seated right away. Place is pretty tight as the waiters/waitresses kept squeezing between tables and diners. I had a grapefruit beer which was really good, and the corned beef Reuben which came with a spicy thousand island dressing on the side. I prefer thick cut corned beef to deli sliced, and this was thinner than I Iike, but at least it appeared to be cooked in house. I also had German Potato salad which was excellent and what appeared to be a house made sour pickle. I would have given this four stars but the service left something to be desired. My waiter took my order, and delivered my beer and then I didn't see him again until ten minutes after a busser cleared my dishes.

    (3)

  • Joey C.

    I haven't been here in ages. Groupon got me to come back with their 50% off gc. Cool, y not? Besides, I recently saw Rachael Rae eat some spatzle on tv so I figured I could try it @ JW. I ordered the wiener schnitzel with spatzel (pls forgive my German misspellings). What I should've added was the fried egg and gotten the jager version. I was hesitant with the lemon and dill but the beer that was recommended did help wash it all down nicely - Heffenweizer Paulaner (?) Anyways, it was a nice lunch and I would be back for the Reuben. Mondays for lunch mention the Yelp special and get 15% off. Unfortunately they wouldn't combo it with my Groupon gc. Sux

    (3)

  • Craig C.

    Nearly every time I finish up work in Downtown and want to have a beer I head towards one of the bars in DTX or towards Quincy Market or North Station or the North End or generally in the direction of the North Shore where I live. Which is stupid because I can't walk home and have to take the T to my car so it doesn't really matter which direction I go in. Weird? Yup. I ran into a friend of mine who told me she was worked at Wirth's so I made a note to go there soon since I hadn't been there in years. I've been there several times since and I have to say they do several things right. 1. Awesome beer menu. They have many taps, cask conditioned selections, Belgians, Germans, Great micro- Brewed American beer and lots of specials 2. The ambiance is good. I love the bar although it may be hard to get a seat there. The bar is too short. I wish it ran the whole length of the place. The bartender is hot but sometimes you have to wait to get a beer. Big TV above the bar to watch the game and free WiFi makes it a good after work or lunch spot with the laptop. 3. Plenty of tables to sit and eat or just have beers and conversation with friends. A few things need a teensy weensy bit of improvement. 1. The food is a bit over priced for what it is. Not all the food, the entrees and German food. I would be here twice as much if there was more value. I'll pay 7$ for a good beer but if my dinner is another 30$ then it has to be much better quality. This is mostly comfort food, nothing fancy. Sauerbraten is a great dish but not a lobster. 2. Sometimes there can be ten waitresses standing around and you can't get a beer. 3. The set up around the bar can get crowded and it doesn't need to be. I wish the bar was bigger. Did I say that already? I've had pastrami and thought it was just ok. The Wings were great. Nothing memorable really. I love to go for BEERS and maybe an app. It IS a Boston institution and I will be back for sure. I'd like to see them kick up the game a few notches. Make it a place to seek out. Especially with the huge Beer bar competition in greater Boston. BUT I'll meet you there after work any day.

    (3)

  • Sami W.

    Let's do the math: We ordered 3 burgers, $9.95 each, 1 drink, $7.00, and 2 pitchers of beer. The bill came to $91.00. So that means the pitchers were around $54 which I think is where we got a little ripped off. However, I enjoyed the Boursin/Mushroom burger I ordered!

    (3)

  • Em K.

    Jacob Wirth is always one of my top 5 recommendations for restaurants in Boston! My father is German so I like to think I have some clout when speaking on bratwurst, sauerkraut, and beer and let me tell you, Jacob Wirth never fails to exceed my expectations! The food doesn't need flair, fanciful presentations or wordy explanations because it truly does speak for itself. Hearty meat and potato meals all year round, a beer list to boot and staff that is always prompt, courteous and ready to share some laughs along the way. If you find yourself intimidated by umlauts and the thought of sausage a few great dishes to start with are the potato pancakes, wienerschnitzel (lightly breaded and friend veal cutlet), and anything with spaetzle (the German equivalent to noddles). But if you need to start slower their burgers are fabulous and the buffalo chicken mac n' cheese is well worth the calories! OH! and don't forget to check it out after 6 or 7 on a Friday when they have a piano player/sing along of all the greatest classic rock/pop songs.

    (5)

  • Kyle R.

    First of all, this was my first time really eating German. THe food was different, but good. kinda place i wouldnt go more than once a month if i was going to stick with the authentic german dishes but their menu has enough choices to appeal to anyone We had some soft pretzels with their own grain honey mustard which i wanted to take a bath in it was so good. Fried pickles are a must on any menu i see. GREAT BEER LIST! Atmosphere was cool. good bar with TVs and tables surrounding. This is the kinda place i wanna go back on a friday (when they have the live music/piano sing alongs) have some food but more importantly drink pints to the dome till i can speak German. Will deffinatly return on a good drinkin night and have a blast.

    (3)

  • Robby T.

    I tried to love this place. Good rotating beer selection with some quality staples, old-school vibe, reasonably priced tasty food. All I can say, is that if you go here for the food, you wont be disappointed. For the beer, you might. The food is very German-American, great sausages and the reuben and pastrami sandwiches are excellent. Try the fried pickles as a warm up. I've been here three times, each time, the servers have had no or next-to-no clue about the beer offerings. For a place the hypes its beer so much, you'd think the waiters would actually know whats on draft....or have a darn clue. The last time I went, the waiter literally told me not "to worry about those." "Those" were about half of their draft selection. And thats before he brought me the wrong beer twice. However- the brats are still amazing.

    (2)

  • Alex k.

    Went here twice. Once for lunch with friends and another time on a Friday night with my GF. The atmosphere is nice, the beer selection extensive but the food was ok. I'm not a big guy but the Wiener Schnitzel was a little pricey for what I got, I had to order an appetizer to feel full. The fried calamari was a terrible deal. More hot peppers that calamari. The sausage dishes were just really sandwiches that really wouldn't fill anyone up. So, go there on a Friday night after you've eaten elsewhere, order some apps, a pitcher of beer, and enjoy the sing along. That's the only reason I would be back.

    (3)

  • Mark A.

    Chowder was excellent. As for the Jaegerschnitzel, spaetzle was also great. The schnitzel was good just not what I'm used to having lived in Germany. The mushroom sauce was lacking whole mushrooms as they must have been pureed into the sauce which tasted nice. Also, it's all rather herb-y. I love fresh herbs and the twist worked for me. I'd repeat and recommend to others for a great place for great food.

    (4)

  • Evan C.

    Essentially this is an indoor beer garden with one of the best beer selections I've seen in New England. It has a nice atmosphere: loud, but not overwhelming. I can't say much about the food since we came to the restaurant on one of the hottest days of the year and everything sounded just too heavy for the sweltering temperatures outside. we tried the German Potato Salad which was very good and the fried pickles, which were fried pickles. That said, the food coming out of the open kitchen looked great I'm definitely coming here again in the fall when the weather is a little more appropriate for sausages and potatoes. In the meantime, while the weather is hot, this is a great place to go for a cool afternoon/evening pint.

    (5)

  • JJ G.

    I had such a fond feeling about this place based on a memory of going there as a child that I do not actually seem to be able to access. And that is why I thought it was a good pre-Wilbur Theater dinner spot choice. So we went And we ate 3 'small plates' between two people, the size of which explains the problems people are having with obesity in this country. They were all kind of gross. Clearly no one in the place particularly cares about what the food is like when it hits the table, and the place was drafty, brightly lit, vacuously empty, and not so pretty. All in all a disappointing culinary experience that came back up at about 3am. I am not saying it was the food... I'm not saying it wasn't. I'm just saying maybe oversized plates of low quality grease laden crap meat isn't the best thing to eat when you have started the evening with big glasses of vodka. Lesson learned

    (2)

  • Guy M.

    Great selection of beers & German comfort food. While German food is not at the top of my list for "go to" dishes, it was nice to go to pre/post theater or comedy show. You can go for a Bucket of Soft Baked Pretzels and some drinks to hang out, or sit down and enjoy the German Mixed Grill for a full meal. As an aside, the history and story behind Jacob Wirth is great. Check above the bar for the establishment's overall motto, SUUM CUIQUE, Latin for, "Each his own."

    (4)

  • Casie G.

    I should've read the Yelp reviews before going in because I wasn't ready for what I experienced. My roommate and I went in on a Friday around 7. I figured it would be busy but that is probably an understatement. We waited over an hour in the smallest space possible while waiters and patrons pushed between us. Ooh did he call our name? I'm not sure because he is eating the microphone as he's talking! When we were finally seated, we were so close to the table behind us that me and the girl behind me were touching heads. Our server was very nice but just trying to do too much. We only saw here 2-3 times so when I saw her coming I would chug my beer so I could get another one. The food was fine (I had a corned beef reuben) and they really do have an awesome selection of beer. I guess if you want to go to a restaurant where you can't hear the person next to, you don't want good service and you like being on top of your neighbors, this is the place for you.

    (2)

  • Sara D.

    Fun place to visit and try a few new beers, however as a place to hang out it is just too pricey for a regular domestic beer. The mussels are lush, the rest of the menu is pricey German Inspired Beer food. Avoid the Nacho's not the best thing on the menu. A must for the occasional stop by or visitors

    (3)

  • Jess E.

    This is a pretty cool restaurant. This is a good place to chill with friends after a long day at work. Basically, don't expect to eat a peaceful meal here. Not sure if this is a daily thing, but they had a piano player who played from a long list of songs. I dug that. This place has a large selection of drinks and the food is good. I had never eaten German food before coming here and I enjoyed it. I would definitely go back.

    (4)

  • Amit A.

    During my many trips to Boston, I usually stop by for a drink or at least want to stop by until I get distracted by another bar on the way here. This place has a good selection of beers on draft and definitely try the fried pickles, yes you heard right

    (3)

  • Ellie W.

    All I can say about this place is meh. Food isn't very good, and it's crowded as hell. My visit here wasn't very memorable. Almost forgettable, really.

    (2)

  • Katie H.

    This place is all around GREAT! Excellent German food, a favorite of mine. Great beer selection. Knowledgeable and polite staff. And of course, the best part, singing along with Mel on a Friday Night! You'll want to get there early to grab a table and your food, then spend the rest of the evening singing along to the songs he plays on the piano. The whole place has a very homey feel and it is great for families, friends or a date. A few weeks ago I bought the Groupon for this place as I plan to bring my famly when they come to visit me.

    (4)

  • Bret C.

    Jacob Wirth is a blast. Really old/classic place that has a massive beer menu and solid food. Buffalo mac 'n' cheese is great. And my favorite appetizer was the hot pretzels - yum. The best night to come here is on a Friday night when they have the piano singalong. Really unique thing they have going on here. Apparently it's been going on since 1988?!? Big thumbs up that they use OpenTable for reservations (which I'd highly recommend getting because this place gets packed!)

    (4)

  • Louis A.

    Went to Jacob Wirth for the first time yesterday with a bunch of work friends. So much as been said in previous reviews, I will be short and sweet. The atmosphere is really cool, the staff is friendly, the beer is cold, and the food is hot. I got a reuben and it was one of the best I've had. Complaints: not good for large groups, we had about 10, which made it very difficult to carry out a conversation (tables are long). They may have had a larger round table somewhere but I didn't see it. Also, I had read that parking was free in adjacent lot if you had it validated and stayed less than 2 hours. This is no longer true. It is 3 dollars off, which still came out to $12 for less than 2 hours. Wouldn't have parked there if we knew that! But that isn't really Jacob Wirth's fault, so not docking them for that - just wanted to throw it out there in case anyone was thinking they could park free in the lot next door.

    (4)

  • Onur U.

    Food is three star, but the atmosphere bumps it up a star. Standard german food. Breaded veal cutlet, sausages, cabbage, etc. It's done capably, but I wouldn't go here just for the food. They have a pianist playing sing-a-long songs on Friday nights, so the atmosphere is a lot of fun. They hand out song books so you know the lyrics. And the beer selection is solid. Grab a liter of german beer, knock back a knockwurst, and sing till you're hoarse. It's a good time, if you go there with the right approach. Great for a group who are looking for a loud, drunk time.

    (4)

  • Jonathan W.

    Could be so much more, Patrick the piano man was fantastic! The staff needs to learn how to pour a proper beer for different beer styles. The selection of beer is great, but the presentation is lacking. Lots of potential,let's step it up and make this a real beer garden. For a place that claims to be a german restaurant, it made my native german family say... Meh. So please, teach your bartenders how to pour beers properly and don't leave us with empty glasses. Cheers.

    (2)

  • Afshan K.

    Perhaps we don't have a taste for German food, but then again, we'll never know because this food is certainly not a good representation of it. Hubby and I ordered Wiener Schnitizel and Jaeger Schnitzel each - both dishes were practically the same: dried veal cutlet over spatezle (which was not bad). Even the chocolate cake art of the German Chocolate cake was burnt! The food aside, the service was pretty awful - we got our main entree before the drinks and appetizer arrived. Even though we were sitting right in front of the host's table, our waters weren't refilled unless we asked. But worst of all - tiny ass drinks for $11!! If you're going to charge that much, please at least have a regular sized glass instead of a sample size. Overall, just bad and not worth the exorbitant prices! (We went because we had a Groupon) Will not be going there again.

    (1)

  • G S.

    Hmm...the whole German bar thing...having German beers does not make you a German bar. The food was not authentic and I would not recommend it. Lobster mac 'n cheese? Uhh not German food, people! I want a big pretzel with my Paulaner! Maybe they serve these and I just overlooked it (I hope that's the case). Real German bars serve big beers and real German food, but then again maybe in a predominantly Irish city like Boston I shouldn't be so picky. Three stars because at least they do have a decent German beer selection. Oh, if only they could get Augustiner...then it would be 5 stars even with the mac 'n cheese dish.

    (3)

  • Ashleigh P.

    I came here last night with three other people. Two people were there for a bit before my other friend and I arrived, and they told the waiter they were just going to "booze" for a bit. And with the beer selection, why not, right? So my other friend and I got there after the first two people had finished eating, but they were very much still drinking. I was just drinking water last night, but the guy that came with me had two drinks, and he wanted more. But as soon as we finished our food, the waiter brought the two checks. He didn't even ask if anyone wanted more to drink! Aren't you supposed to sell the alcohol, because that's the big money-maker at a restaurant? He was also kind of rude to us as well. He overcharged the other two girls by one beer, and when one girl said she didn't have that many, he was kind of crass and said "are you sure?" Yes, she was sure! And there was also no way she lapped the other girl by two beers, Mr. Waiter. The waiter also was barely near us, and while it was nearly empty in there, we were wayyyy in the back corner, which in reality was fine, but my friend and I sat down, and it took a while at the beginning to even get a food menu! Anyway, as for the food. My friend ordered a regular reuben. I got a Reuben with a veggie patty --same dish, right? Well why did my friend get a pickle and I didn't? That makes no sense. Also, the veggie patty was really thin, and the sandwich was mostly sauerkraut. I love sauerkraut, so it's okay, but there was barely any cheese, and the Russian dressing was on the side. I've never seen that before. I like my Reubens to be gooey, and gooey it was not. I also think a portabella mushroom would have been better than the veggie patty. Now I'm thinking of the delicious portabella reuben at Christopher's in Porter...

    (2)

  • Aditi R.

    Awesome beer selection - $5-12 Awesome food - $5-$20 Guy playing your favorite songs on about a 100 year old piano with 100 of your closest friends around - priceless. I seriously fell in love with this place which pretty much is in the shadiest part of town and looks atleast 50 or so years old. The place is packed on a friday night but even then the service is good. There's a book of songs on your table with numbers and the piano man just yells out the number and the rest is up to the crowd. The night starts calm and gets to be just as rowdy as the beers pour in. A great mix of people, awesome songs, and a relentless musician backed by great service makes this place incredible. I can't wait to go back there again.

    (4)

  • Tess F.

    There is a skylight in the ladies' room. I can't get past this so I'm going to get it off my chest first thing. If you go for lunch in the middle of the day (nothing wrong with a few lunchbeers) and happen to utilize the facilities, you will be greeted by the pleasant surprise of a streaming ray of sunshine beaming down upon you as you, as my aunt would say about her dogs, "take care of business". This weirds me out to the point where it is almost cool. Almost. Anyway. To the point. Wirth's has good food. Solid beer selection, particularly if you enjoy beverages of the Continental persuasion, except they are WITHOUT FAIL always out of the first two or three beers I order. The service can often be atrocious-to-ghostly, particularly during the dinner rush, though I have certainly had many positive experiences with the staff. The decor and history are awesome. This is truly a Boston landmark. I'll keep coming back, ordering beers they don't have, settling on my fourth choice and a plate full of sausage, and being pretty happy about the whole thing.

    (3)

  • Hilary J.

    A guy walks in to a bar carrying a boat... There is no punch line - this is for real. One time we (myself and boyfriend) were sitting sipping our Wild Turkey's (yes, indeed) and a guy walked in carrying a boat. The hostess seated the gent at a table next to us, and he proceeded to enjoy his meal along side his boat. Same day, shortly after, in comes a piano. A large piano, escorted by two gentlemen with lifting powers. 'Twas an afternoon of randomosities, which has been forever burned in to my heart, creating a special place in the ol' ticker for Jacob Wirth's. But that's not what you care about, I'm sure, dear reader. Because the chances of you experiencing these events upon YOUR visit to this darling establishment, are slim to none. But hopefully it speaks a little bit to the atmosphere? I like it here. It's a hodge podge of good things - boats, pianos, beers, and bites. My advice: (a) Try the pretzels. The mustard that accompanies these delicious morsels is phenomenal. (2) Don't order Bud Light (if they even offer it, I'm not sure? But you probably shouldn't be doing this anywhere anyway) - venture out onto their extensive list. Just close your eyes and point. (3) Go German all the way... sauerkraut's your friend, believe me. (c) And finally, German Chocolate cheese cake. That's all folks.

    (4)

  • John C.

    jacob wirth... i thought you were a big deal. but in the end you're just a poser, channel 5 news team member. upon entering i notice a long line at the bar area. i had reservations for 7:30 so it wasn't too big of a deal, i figured i'de be able to get to my table rather quickly. apparently that was not the case. regardless of whether or not you had a reservation you had to wait in the line. not the most efficient way to run a business, but hey, it works for them. while we are on efficiency, the line to get a table also runs along the bar, at the end of the bar is where all the bartenders and wait staff get their drinks to serve. what better a place to line a group of people up. you can't help but be in the way and the staff can't help but get annoyed at you eventually, i don't blame them. i was annoyed that i was in the way too! i get my table and notice that there are a good 5-6 empty tables that are not reserved in the large seating area. whoever is seating people needs to get a drill in speed seating. i was seated in a 4 person table (for two of us) which is fine. i hung my jacket on a chair that i was not sitting at and we ordered. started with the crabcakes and we ordered one each of the schnitzel entrees. i also had a mug of the franziskaner dunkel. the food was pretty decent. nothing too amazing. i was really surprised as to how fast everything came out. looking over the menu i didn't see anything that required a chef. i hate to be rude, but this place is a bar that serves food. it's by no means a restaurant. everything appears to be pretty premade. it's either baked, fried or grilled, pretty quick processes. you might be asking, why the 2 star review then. well here goes: while a waiter walked by (not mine) he decided that the other chair was in the way (it was pushed all the way flush with the table) and decided to move it so he could take a quicker route to wherever he had to go. in order to do so he placed his hand on my coat and pushed the chair over. not kosher, i have no idea how clean or dirty your hands are, if there is grease on there or not. don't touch my coat. about 5 minutes later the host decides to walk by while leading new patrons to their table and moves the chair. again my coat is touched. at this time i move my jacket to my chair. my note to JW. learn proper restaurant layout so you don't have to touch other peoples jacket. dessert: we had the choc cake with coconut pecan yadda yadda. it sucked. the whip cream was crap can whip cream and the cake was dry. i've had better cake from stop and shop. all in all, the place is fun to go to with a bunch of friends for some decent beers on tap. i wish i could say more than that, but the decor was like taking a classy pub and mashing it with tgifs. but for good food, there is just too many places in the area to go to instead.

    (2)

  • Mrs. G.

    This place is a hilarious time with a large group of friends to participate in the late night piano requests and sing-a-longs. I am more of the type to listen-a-long because after you suck back the huge beers they give you it is hilarious to hear what people come out with. The food is good and hearty and they assortment of beers are diverse and delicious! This place is great for birthdays and other celebrations!

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    This is my favorite restaurant in Boston, hands down. The place is laid back, the beer list is great, and the German dishes offered are outstanding. Even a German teacher of mine was shocked at the quality of the food and gave it a B+. Despite my love for this place, I see plenty of opportunities for improvement which could take this place to a much higher level: 1. Total Redesign A. The bar area is far too crowded. The wall adjacent to the bar should be knocked down altogether, and the entire restaurant made larger. B. The whole place looks tired and somewhat plain. A restaurant can be relaxed-looking without looking tired. It also needs to look more German. Take a page from the Hofbrauhaus in Munich, the Hofbrauhaus in Vegas, or even the German restaurant at Epcot. 2. More German Beers This is a German restaurant. There should be more German years available year round, and not just during Oktoberfest. Where's the Augustiner Brau? 3. Better Entertainment / Ambiance The piano guy is nice, but take a lesson from Hofbrauhaus in Munich or Vegas. Build a stage, get some oompah-bands in there, pull people out of the crowd for various competitions, host a German dress-up night, put the waitstaff in traditional Bavarian outfits, etc. The current situation is somewhat half-assed in all of these respects.

    (5)

  • Johanna D.

    I decided to try Jacob Wirth because it is pretty much the only place in the Boston area with German food. Finding a parking spot was a nightmare! We ended up paying 20 bucks to park. The place was super crowded and pretty loud. Our waiter kept disappearing when we needed beer refills and the food was just mediocre. The tables are also super close together and not very organized. I'm glad I tried it but I don't think I'll be returning anytime soon...

    (2)

  • Dan m.

    Great Food, Great Beer. With that being said the food took a while to get to us as well as our beer. Our server was great, funny and very personable however he seemed to not pay to much attention to our party even though the restaurant did not seem to be too busy (There did only seem to be 2-3 waiters though) However Great German food and even better beer list is well worth going to Jacob Wirth's. Plus its a really great atmosphere inside.

    (4)

  • Joe G.

    I went back again later in June to try the food and have a few drinks. I was not disappointed. Their bratwurst was flavorful, juicy, and cooked just right, and came with a side of great, potatoey french fries. Plus, they have Paulaner on tap, which might be my new favorite beer.

    (4)

  • Erika M.

    I went to Germany years ago, so this was a fun throw back. The food was great (pricey, but that's Boston). The atmosphere was as it should be (beer hall) and the selection for beer had a lot of variation. I would go back in a second. It has it's problems though, and I'd go back the second time to see if it was just the waitress or if it was the restaurant itself. Dishes were NEVER cleared, from ANY table. They just piled up! ---And the waitress couldn't pronounce the beers. She thought she could, she tried to "correct" me, but I think when you are working at a great place centered around beer....learn how to pronounce the names!!!! Know your product! Aside, from the waitress, awesome place!

    (4)

  • Stephen Y.

    Jacob Wirth is exactly what I'm looking for in a German restaurant; something that's very hard to come by in the Boston area. An extensive collection of German beers - Hurrah for Oktoberfest! Beer recommendation with every entree. Tender wiener schnitzel on tasty spaetzel. A wide variety of sausages, each of which being a good example of its variety. The weisswurst was mild, the knockwurst robust. Amazing sauerkraut. Very tangy; in the running for the best I've had. It's a great complement for the sausage. A large, well lit room where the dominant sounds are kitchen clatter and people dining instead of obtrusive bar music.

    (5)

  • Lena N.

    Because of its proximity to the Tufts health campus, it became the go to after-class/after-exam bar for my friends and I because you need to drink every now and then to get through grad school. It's surprisingly big inside for how small it looks from the outside. They have a really good beer selection so that's a plus. It has your usuals (Sam Adams, Harpoon, etc.) but it has also some more uncommon beers. I have never really eaten here except the cornbread and sweet potato fries. And extremely surprising, their cornbread is delicious. Even my friends from the south approved of it, which says a lot. The only problem I have ever had with this is that the service is only so so and could be more friendly at times. But otherwise, this is a great bar.

    (3)

  • Alexa E.

    Great beer selection! Great food! Great dessert! Awesome atmosphere!! I took off a star due to the host's not being quite so friendly up front.

    (4)

  • Diana G.

    Jacob Wirth has an impressive list of German beers! I recently tried the Aventinus Weizenstarkbier, a tall dark wheat beer w/ high alcohol content. I highly recommend it! :P

    (4)

  • Scott C.

    Great beer selection, yummy food. Seemed a little on the pricey side to me, though. I had the weinerschnitzel and enjoyed it! The wursts, red cabbage, potato salad and sauerkraut were also excellent!

    (4)

  • Chris L.

    I've been coming here for 50 years. First with my parents, then by myself as a late teen/young adult, now I come here with my kids. In all the time I've been coming, the place still smells the same - beer and sauerkraut - and the place still looks the same - beer hall. And as it turns out, I pretty much keep ordering the same thing - corned beef sandwich and Jake Wirth Special Dark. I hope Jake Wirth is still here when my kids have kids. If it keeps doing what they've been doing since my parents were kids, I don't see why it won't be.

    (5)

  • Chris L.

    We came in from a recommendation from the desk clerk at our hotel around the corner. I had asked her where we could get the best chowder in the city and this is where she sent us. We had tickets for a show in 40 minutes across the street and didn't have time to wait. So, I told the guy who sat us to just hook us up with a couple of bowls of clam chowder and 2 minutes later we were eating. Now, the best chowder in the city? I'm not sure of that but it was pretty damn good. I was not used to having thyme in a chowder so that was unique and I rather enjoyed the twist from the traditional. Go here and try it, you will not be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Ami R.

    So given that this bar/restaurant is right in my 'hood, I frequent this place quite a few times. It definitely has that homey old school german feel and from what I've heard, most of the german dishes are really good. The reason I give this place 2 stars is mainly due to the service. For the most part, the waiters and bartenders are sorta aloof. Many a time,we've found it hard to locate the 1 or 2 waiters that seem to wait on the entire restaurant. Same goes for the bartenders--I was here on a fall weeknight with no special sports game on, and yet, I still had to wait a good 10 min to get a beer, while seated AT THE BAR!! (I think that's pretty much unacceptable) I must admit, however, the beer selection is hard to top. This place offers great local/seasonal brews, which I love. The food isn't bad either. I've had the best fried pickles, and vegetarian chili to date at this place. DON'T try the pizza, however--it looks and tastes like a frozen pizza straight outta the box. Great for big groups, and to sample Oktoberfest brews, but if you're looking for your typical beer picks with better service and typical pub food, I'd opt for one of the smaller bar/taverns in the area.

    (2)

  • D K.

    I met a buddy of mine here for some after work drinks and appetizers. The asian wings and wedge salad hit the spot as did the Stellas and PBR's. This is my kind of place. Good food, lots of different beers on tap, fast and friendly service, no frills layout, and decent prices (considering the location). I like this place a lot and I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • Alli K.

    This was a stop for me to celebrate someone's 21st birthday. We arrived after 9pm and Opera night was in full swing. Not bad. Not great. Definitely best on the shock value of walking into a beer house like this and being greeted by opera singers. Our group ordered a pitcher of beer to start, and I ordered a hard pear cider (always excited when I can find hard cider). The cider came in a bottle -Magners. Not fantastic. But decent. $7 for it was a bit much. While the singers continued belting out the notes, we ordered a round of their special martinis. Their martinis are amazing, and strong (seems like some over pouring is going on here). The Spicy Coconut martini was great as was the Breakfast of Champions. The opera singers sang happy birthday to our friend, which was very nice, but overall the entertainment wasn't what I had hoped it would be. We read an earlier review about a piano man entertaining on Saturday nights, and I was really hoping for some more lively music. Our bill was astronomical --$10+ shots (not priced on the menu), YIKES! Beware of the cost of things before ordering --obviously something that is difficult to do after you're a few drinks in. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but not worth going back soon.

    (3)

  • Sandy L.

    Food was good and cheap. But the wait for food to come out was very long.

    (3)

  • Garrick R.

    Great sausages, great atmosphere, great beer. When given the option, take the German potato salad over fries. The potato salad is the best I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Jack M.

    LOVE IT. I have NO idea why there are so many terrible reviews here - this place is EXCELLENT. Maybe you guys don't understand the type of place this is, or the food they serve here. Let me break it down for you: If you are a guy who likes beer and food that goes with beer, then you will love it here. It's enormous - I had no idea it was so large inside. It's a giant room with a very tall ceiling. A unique space for Boston, if you ask me. Big ol chalkboard up on one wall with the beer listings, etc. The waitress did not skip a beat when we questioned her about the Octoberfest beers they had on tap. She was great. For an appetizer, we split a small plate of Sauerbraten: it's this crazy tender beef round with a side of spaetzle. If you don't know these terms, google them. I'm not going to explain what spaetzle is or why I love it. I know, that's bad for an awesome reviewer like me, but hey - I can't do ALL the work for you kids, right? Right??? Anyhow this plate is an excellent appetizer for two men. For dinner, I got the Wiener Schnitzel, which was good, but not great. I didn't think it had a whole lot of flavor going on. It was somewhat bland. I did enjoy it, and it was cooked well, but compared to what my friend got, it just didn't pack any punch, flavor-wise. My buddy got the Jake's Special, which was knockwurst and bratwurst and they were EXCELLENT, especially that Knockwurst. That was perfect. So flavorful and nicely cooked. Man I'm drooling thinking about it. If you go, I recommend the special, and any beer they got. You'll be happy.

    (4)

  • Lauren B.

    I've only been once, but it was a fun experience. Some friends and I went before a show at the Paramount theater, drank a few beers, and shared some appetizers. Our waiter was great, as was our food - nachos (no meat), pretzels and beer battered mozzarella sticks. I'd go back for more!

    (3)

  • Kaela M.

    I visited this establishment on a week night with a few friends. We were impressed with the beer list. That was all. Everything else was so sub-par or downright dreadful that I will never again grace Jacob Wirth with my presence. The primary reason I will never return was the waitstaff. They were absent, incompetent, and blatantly rude. One of my friends was ordering and the waitress said to her "I can't even hear what you're saying right now" with such strong disdain I swear it was palpable. (Side note: we were the only people sitting in our section and the distraction of piano music, although it would have been welcome, was not present.) We had ordered sauces on our veggie burgers: these did not arrive, although we were charged for them at the end. The veggie burgers were either burnt or too dry to eat. Water? With your meal? Not in this place. We did not order fried pickles. Two baskets of them arrived. (We ate the first, obviously we weren't going to pass up free fried pickles.) If your heart is set on spending your hard earned money here, please do yourself a favor and eat at the bar. Even if the service doesn't improve at the bar, at least you can drown your sorrows without having to wait 20 minutes for each beer you order.

    (1)

  • Jennifer M.

    SUCH a fun place! I went here with a groups of friends for a birthday, and we had a blast! We got nachos and pretzels (can't go to a German restaurant without trying their pretzels and mustard!), and everyone loved their meals. I was lame that night and ended up just getting a wedge salad, but I tried my friend's buffalo mac-n-cheese, and I'm certain that is what I'll get the next time I go there...so good! We had an awesome time with the sing-along, and the Mel (the pianist) is absolutely adorable! It gets really loud, so if you're looking for some kind of intimate date night, DO NOT come here! However, it's perfect for a group gathering, especially birthdays, and they serve a good pitcher!

    (4)

  • Laura D.

    So we were a good two hours ahead of schedule and needed a place to hang before a comedy show. This place was great. So we arrived and sat on the sidewalk/patio area and people watched over some cocktails. They were great! Then we discovered this Octoberfest special. A three course meal with a large beer for $30. My fiancee who never turns down a special or a good beer was excited. First, he got a german apple potato pancake, it was amazing! Next he got some german dish. That too was very good. Lastly, german chocolate cake. It was yummy. I stuck with a sandwich and picking at his food. He is braver than me when it comes to trying food I cannot pronounce. The server was helpful with making drink and beer suggestions. He even said that if we didn't like what he suggested he would get us something else. He told us a big party was coming and told us so we could place our orders of courses as we desired and never complained we where taking our time. He was a fantastic server and very fun. He made wonderful suggestions. This place is fun and absolutely worth a visit.

    (4)

  • Thomas N.

    not too many german restaurants in this area and jacob wirths is usually pretty good, had lunch there recently......good things, my german burger was great......ok things calamari was wimpy and the sauce it was served with bland, lunch portion of weinerschnitzel was small.....the bad, service was so slow, they just did not have enough help, the beer board was half full of listings they did not have!!!!sort of a disappointing visit....

    (3)

  • Jax B.

    The last time I went here was last weekend with a friend from Mexico. It didn't take long to get seated, but from there, it went downhill fast. Our waiter was quick enough with the drinks, but we spent forty minutes waiting for him to take our order. Sometime during that forty-minute span, he approached our table and told us he was missing something to write with, but he never came back. What he did instead was serve the tables of non-foreigners around us while ignoring us completely. So while I really can't speak for the food, the price, or the ambiance, the service was absolutely nightmarish, and that's all it really takes. I will never go here again.

    (1)

  • John O.

    What isn't to love about Jacob Wirth? The food is good, the beer list is LONG, and the live music is awesome. This is a great place to come mid-week when there isn't a huge crowd.

    (4)

  • Max G.

    I may be hyping this place up a little bit, because I had an fantastic date here. Regardless, we started out with drinks. There is a whole wall with choices for drafts. We both got the UFO on draft. I don't know how, it was better than usual. Maybe this batch had more hops in it, I don't know. All I know was that it was magnificently good, mate. We got the Calamari as an appetizer. Hands down, possibly the best I have ever had. The actual Calamari is in a bread batter that is fried slightly. Don't be confused. It isn't drenched in batter. Just enough to be crunchy, but you can still enjoy the flavor of the fish. Mixed in with the calamari is red bell peppers and spicy jalapeno peppers, which were also fried in orgasmic batter. These compliment the rest of the dish perfectly. For an entree, I ate the barbecued steak tips dinner with mashed potatoes and onion rings. Usually, steak tips come a little chewy, so I order them Well done. However, this time around I ordered them medium well. They came out to perfection. They were covered in a savory bbq sauce. It was sweet, but had a little kick to it. The mashed Potatoes were very good. They still had the skins in it, and was seasoned with a little bit of paprika and celery salt. This came with Cole slaw on the side. I can't critic it, because I didn't eat it. My date said it was very good, though. My date ordered a garden vegetable burger with various veggies on top. She said the burger was "Fookin' Excellent" Finally, and what I believe is the most important part, was the service. I have never had better service in all my life. Our server was right on the ball with everything. He came by several times to ask us how our food was. It wasn't an annoyance. It seemed he genuinely cared about how our food and wanted us to have the best experience we possibly could. I also love the atmosphere. The tab with tip/tax came out to be about $80.00 which isn't bad considering how much we ordered. Like I said before, I may be over hyping it because I was with an amazing, amazing, girl, but this is definitely a spot that everyone should hit.

    (5)

  • Jessica Y.

    the apple strudel was absolutely fantastic but our waiter was slow, inattentive, and rude. I had a groupon for the Oktoberfest set meal and the food was good but the service was sub par

    (3)

  • Bridget B.

    I really like Jacob Wirth. It has an interesting history, the inside is large and spacious, the beer menu is good and they offer a fair amount of fairly authentic German Fare. I had a fabulous pork knuckle there that rivaled one I had in a teeny bar in Germany (for the record they were both excellent). They also have good sauerkraut and wursts and spatzel too. I've only been twice, but I was exceptionally happy both times.

    (4)

  • Robin S.

    We came here for dinner during our trip to Boston. The menu looks great and the atmosphere and service are welcoming. But the food fell short. It wasn't bad, but it was uninspiring. I had the drunken meatloaf and it was just a little too sweet or something. I don't have any real complaints, and you will certainly not leave hungry. The cornbread they start you off with was particularly good, and the beer selection was decent. But it was not a particularly striking meal.

    (3)

  • Amanda J.

    Okay, the food was three stars, but I'm giving this place four stars for two reasons: 1) Awesome atmosphere 2) Sam Adam's Boston Brick Red on draft We'll start with the atmosphere, this place was really spacious, not like the many crowded bars of Boston where I constantly feel in the way. Our waitress was attentive but not overbearing, and I liked the overall feel the place had. On to the beer! This is my favorite Sam's brew and almost impossible to find, but I was in luck. Aside from that they have what seems like a never ending list of draft beers, I could spend night after night in there just to try them all! For dinner I got a mushroom burger. It was well cooked, but nothing that made it stand out. Very good fries as well so that helped. I am not terribly into German food, thought to be fair, I've really only ever had one German meal, so maybe I'll try it next time I go back.I would definitely recommend this place to my friends. It was also very reasonably priced.

    (4)

  • Raymond W.

    Have you done a search for German food in Boston? Yeah, that's why you're reading this review. Among one of the few places to get German fare, Jacob Wirth offers a casual environment with big portions. I first came here in college and got some brats and more recently got the wiener schnitzel. The pork was juicy and crispy and enough for 1.5-2 people.

    (4)

  • Kenneth R.

    When we were students, bunches of us would drive over from Cambridge, usually on a Sunday night, and we'd have a really fine time. I loved the beer, and I usually ordered the Sauerbraten. A+! I actually like traditional German food. I've had it in Germany from time to time, although the Germans I know try to steer me toward an Italian restaurant, or something else that's "international." When I'm with a bunch of Germans and I tell them that I'd like some Eisbein or Sauerbraten, they look at me as if I'm nuts. I went back to Jake Wirth's last year with my old roommate. I suggested it, and he jumped at the opportunity. Nonetheless, I think that we both walked in the door with really low expectations. We had evolved, but had Jake's? I was delighted to discover the large assortment of really good beers on tap. I ordered a couple, and was very happy with my choices. I should have ordered the Saurerbraten for old times' sake, but I went with something more international. Hey, the food was really OK! The ambiance was a winner as well. I'd come back any time!

    (4)

  • Joanna C.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Boston. I'm not a huge fan of meat and most their dishes are quite meaty, but I always find something on the menu that I really enjoy. Definitely my favorite caesar salad EVER - with anchovies and it's just so good, I know it's just a salad but still...so good I thought it was worth mentioning. Also - fantastic corn bread! Mmmmm...

    (5)

  • Steve K.

    Can I write a second review of this place? Is that allowed in Yelp etiquette? Anyway, I had a bad experience from Jacob Wirth's which I yelp'd about a few months ago. They contacted me, we chatted, and I went back last night to try things out and see if my experience improved. To keep things short and sweet, and for the purpose of showing both sides of the coin, Jacob Wirth's really came through this time. Ba-boom!

    (4)

  • Keith W.

    First time eating in a German pub/restaurant, and was pleasantly surprised. While many people may know this already, but it was interesting to find out that a wiener schnitzel is not just a hot dog chain, but is actually breaded veal... who knew?!?! So I had to try that, which came with spaetzel (another dish I had only heard of on an episode of dinner impossible). Although I don't know how authentic it was, it was definitely delicious and something I would get again. Also incidentally, they claimed to have award winning clam chowder. I didn't know that German's were known for their clam chowder but tried it anyways. The chowder was nice and creamy with a hint of pepper to it and chunks of meaty clams. I have to say that this was actually better than the clam chowder I had the previous day at Legal Seafood.

    (4)

  • Michael C.

    I've been here twice and is one of the few German places I know of in the area. The food is fair and they have a good selection of beers for normal Boston beer prices. Overall if you want some German sausages and beer, this is your place to go. Expect nothing spectacular, but you will get a decent meal and enjoy yourself.

    (3)

  • John A.

    Finally! After a recent trend of food coming out of restaurant kitchens at remarkable slow paces, I am happy to report that the food from Jacob Wirth came out quickly even on a busy Friday night! I had the burger with the weird cheese and mushrooms and my hottie date had a chicken BLT. Both meals were delicious and reasonably priced. The food here is up to par but the beer left something to be desired. Restaurant and bar owners need to understand that it is so obvious when they don't have their tap lines cleaned. The result is a beer that tastes flat and old. Unfortunately this seems to be the case with the tap beer at Jacob Wirth. Discerning beer drinkers should choose a bottled beer selection. The decor at this place is unique and features antiques on the wall and old paintings. They obviously try hard to be a restaurant but the truth is that this place is really just a bar dressed up to look like a restaurant. I realized this when I walked into the bathroom and nearly fell over from what I saw. The bathroom here is a mix of Fenway Park and the Eagle Bar. That's certainly not company you want to be with when talking about bathrooms. Overall the food here was good, making Jacob Wirth an option for a quick bite and a beer (bottled) if you're in the area.

    (3)

  • Victoria J.

    Maybe I've been spoiled actually spending a year in Germany, but this was underwhelming. My beer tasted flat, my meal was...Meh. Good, but nothing out of the ordinary. And nothing I would crave ever again. As for the prices, $22 for a Schnitzel?! Are you kidding?! Because it's listed under "Classics" that means you have to charge people an extra $10? Yeah, I don't really feel that. My friend had the mixed grill, nice presentation of Weiswurt & Bratwurst over potato salad & cabbage. It was one of the blander Wursts I've had, and the cabbage was boring. The service was good, the atmosphere inside is that of Bierhaus. Or at least as much as it can be located right next to Chinatown. I don't think I'd be too bothered if I never came here again... And next time I'll make an even bigger stink about coming here.

    (2)

  • Bryan W.

    Ok first let me begin by saying that I have been here before and I enjoyed that first experience but after returning last night I was so disgusted with my service that I decided to write this. So after waiting 45 minutes for our orders the food finally comes out, but is delivered to the wrong table. While being delivered the waiter managed to drop my friends chicken in some guys lap. Realizing he brought the food to the wrong table the waiter cleaned up the chicken from the mans lap, throws it back on the plate, stacks the plates and disappears with the plates. Not even a minute later the waiter then brings the food out and serves it to us. I just watched the guy spill our food in another man's lap put it back on the plate and served it to us. Needless to say we left. I've never had a worse restaurant experience in my life. I will never return to this place and will never recommend it ever.

    (1)

  • Edrees H.

    So I was randomly exploring the streets of Boston and I decided to go into this place on the whim that it looked very busy and a lot of the other places in the area did not! Heh..yeah, I sure am good at planning ahead. But sometimes you find the best places by being random.... ...which, I did not do. It was a solid, solid place, but I didn't think it was amazing or spectacular. The service really made it quite enjoyable though. I was on my own (as a tourist) and the waiter kept attending to me pretty frequently. I got a typical Jacob's burger (with everything on it), the "award winning New England Clam Chowder" and a beer on a draft, I forgot which as I am writing this review a month after the trip. I remember that the food was decent, the clam chowder was really really good, and the beer was...well, beer. They were really friendly, and attentive, and made it enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. Note: This review was a lot longer than it should have been.

    (3)

  • Mary B.

    The next time I'm having a crap day I'm going to get my butt into Jacob W's, order a Belgian, and go straight to the strudel. THE studel to end all strudels. And then I will be reminded of the good that's left in this world.

    (4)

  • J L.

    good food, great atmosphere, and validated parking - what's there not to like? I had the tasting menu and it was great. Their selection of beer is also pretty good.

    (4)

  • Anna P.

    If this review was for Mel's piano night ONLY, Jake Wirth's would get 5 stars. Every Friday, you can sing your heart out to oldies tunes (and one or two REM songs) while Mel plays along. Part of the fun is having Mel yell at your table for not singing loud enough or for requesting Piano Man before it's time to go home. Trust me, it IS fun. However, I have been really disappointed with Jake Wirth's food. I seem to always go home hungry and without any cash left in my wallet. Maybe I'm not ordering the right thing, since so many seem excited about the fare here. The pretzels are tasty, and the beer selection is mighty long, but if it weren't for Mel, I'd probably pick a different place on Friday nights.

    (3)

  • Scott P.

    good food and beer resonable prices for Boston

    (3)

  • Sherry B.

    I've had better, I've had worse. We were a party of 6. 4 people ordered burgers. They said it was awesome, said it was great, and they cleaned their plate. When you go to a place like this, I'm not really a burger diner. I leave burgers to Chili's, but whatever. My husband and I ordered clam chowder, lobster bisque, pulled pork wraps, mussels and braised ribs. The clam chowder tasted like gravy (think biscuits and gravy). The lobster bisque was great. It was sweet and delicious even though my husband didn't care for it. The mussels themselves tasted good-as expected, but the juice/sauce was horrible. I had to curb my thoughts of relating the smell of it to sweaty gym clothes being wrung out. Ugh, I cringe to think of the taste right now. And the entree was bland and greasy and quite a bit of fat. The entire plate was doused in this thick brown gravy so I ate a lot of fat vs. spitting it out in front of other table members. So gross. For what I experienced, I would not go back to try something different. The cornbread is fantastic and the fried pickles were good, if you take the pickle out of the breading. It will light you up though!! All of the men of the party thoroughly enjoyed the beer. And if you are looking for excellent clam chowder-go to Ruby's in York, ME And if you are looking for excellent mussels-go to Bonefish Grille (nationwide) And if you are looking for excellent scallops-go to Jumpin' Jays in Portsmouth, NH

    (2)

  • Loan V.

    I never knew a German restuarant existed anywhere in Boston! My friend took me to this place and although I'm not sure if I ordered German food their Lobster Mac & Cheese was amazing! The place is really clean for a pub in the Chinatown area and it's pretty spacious compared to how it looks from the outside. I would totally go there again to try some more yummy food!

    (4)

  • Mike M.

    The food here is atrocious, but I don't really think that's the point of Jacob WIrth. It's a fun upbeat environment, with great beer selection and piano+karaoke. I think the next time I come here it'll be just for the beer and song.

    (2)

  • Jocelyn G.

    While talking at dinner the other night, I found out that my parents used to go here about 37 years ago and the waiters were all old men in their 60s and were very rude. They woud make fun of my mother for not finishing and have my dad clear her plate. Oh, how times have changed. We got seated immediately and a few moments later, our drink order was taken. The food and drinks seemed to come out fairly quickly, but that was probably because it was 5 PM on a Thursday and no one else was there yet. Definately love the cornbread. The tips were tasty, as were the mashed potatoes. My boyfriend enjoyed that he could have the same beer here that he had in Germany. All in all, a solid place to come in an area with too few options.

    (4)

  • Ki G.

    Holy sh*t the Mac & Cheese was good. However, they didn't have to add the grilled chicken and asparagus spears...it was bizarre "healthful" addition to an otherwise sinfully scrumptious dish. The four stars are for the Mac & Cheese only. They also have a decent selection of local and imported beer, a relaxed atmosphere and you can bring your mom, pop, girlfriend, boyfriend and their rowdy friends and it'll definitely be a party. I'm coming back for the back for the Mac & Cheese. I wonder if they do delivery?

    (4)

  • Eddie W.

    Wow, I have no idea how can I be born and raised in Boston city proper and have never been Jacob Wirth until tonight. I guess I always thought it was just your run of the mill theater district bar. Boy was I wrong. It is so much more. First off the beer selection is fantastic. Tons of domestic and imported draughts. All that mattered though was the fact that they have Staropramen. Hands down one of the best Czech beers made. I will go back just for this fact. The food was actually pretty good as well. The German mixed grill was two wurst with German potato salad, red cabbage, and sauerkraut. It was good as your going to get in Boston for authentic German fare. You can get the wurst grilled so it looks like the top of Bowsers shell from the way they cut it to let the steam vent out, or you can get the wurst steamed in beer. The place itself is huge. The inside is modeled like a German beer hall. Can't wait to get back there for some more Staropramen. Ziggy Zaggy, Ziggy Zaggy oy oy oy!!! Ziggy Zaggy Ziggy Zaggy, oy oy oy!!!

    (4)

  • Nick B.

    As always Jacob's comes through. I had a delicious cup of clam chowder and a Jake burger. Everything was perfectly cooked. The fries where the best fries I have ever had there or elsewhere. The only downside is they did away with the validated parking next door, so better find some place else to park.

    (5)

  • Francisca W.

    (review dated 12/07): my colleagues and i would go there for happy hour purely bc it's conveniently located in our area, but once and again, if you arrive too late you won't even get one of the few high tables at the bar section (as opposed to dinner section) because they'll either be occupied or reserved. waiter service has been apathetic at best and sometimes bordering on rude. on a good day, you can order one thing at a time coz they'd usually disappear before your first sentence ends. we've had mostly bar food (sweet potato fries rock! some like their pretzels); a couple of times we had dinner. main courses... i can't really find many items that suit me (could be an cultural thing but i'm not used to calling a link of sausage and some mashed potato "dinner"). i once had a dish i think it's some kind of stewed beef; the sauce was good but meat too dry and chewy. only reason to return? they're one of the few places i know that serve hoegaarden (belgium white beer), and sweet potato fries. they also have an unbelievably large selection of beer; all kinds of brews, many different locations--local and abroad. one thing special about this place is that they have a live piano sing-along group that gathers every friday night. they have a whole book of lyrics for anyone (old and new) who inclines to join. these people are hardcore, man! :)

    (3)

  • Stephanie B.

    lots of beers. schnitzel. what more can you ask for? if you want german food, it's the best you're going to get in this area. a few friends and i brought our german teacher for dinner and she was impressed. the fried pickles are good but the pretzels are wayyy good. i had the jaegerschnitzel. it was heavy, and a whole lot of food, but if you plan for two meals you aren't disappointed. again, lots of beers. i might come back just for the bar.

    (4)

  • Gary B.

    OK, background first, leading to content, then punchline - literary agents, brace yourselves. Friday night, mid-May, warm and sunny, my wife and I with 3-year old daughter and 5-year old son need a place for dinner at 6:30 pm. Later than normal for the kids but due to work commitments we were all ending up near the Theater district so looked locally for a good spot. My wife's call was someplace like Rock Bottom (Google it, I'm not making it up) whereas I, being of fine Irish heritage, prefer a pub on a Friday night so tended toward Jacob's. Been there before, fun environment, good food and beer, and someplace that kids making noise are not going to be noticed amongst the other adult diners. And they have great beers(did I mention that?). So happily to Jacob's we went... ...in the door @ 7:00 pm, maitre d'esse understands that we have no reservation but finds us a great table beside the window. Everybody was great - waiter who brought menu's & humored orders from kids, service was fast and good, menu was good for adults and kids, food worked for all, beer choices were great (only tried 3 - more next time, and no, I wasn't driving, thanks for asking.). Everybody really had a great time - it was an excellent Friday night family dinner in a downtown spot. Punchline: we leave at 7:30 or so, get back to the car when i realize that I have left my work binder there with various reasonably useful items safely stored therein. Back to Jacob's I go in brisk fashion: people now sitting at our table dig deep but find nothing, waiter checks but finds nothing, maitre d/d'esse checks and finds nothing and...and then suggests asking Aisling behind the bar. Did you know that Aisling is Irish for beautiful dream? Well you should. I introduce myself, never having met her before, explain the situation, and she checks first behind the bar and then comes out and checks with various others, and ends up finding what i had stupidly left behind and was handed in by somebody else. Dismissed effusive thanks and offers to buy her a drink (that she was in the middle of her working day and knowing that my wife and 2 kids were waiting outside, probably a good call), Aisling was all-round just a really good person: she went out of her way to help me, really did help me, and then got right back to her job. Outstanding - couldnt ask for more. Summary: great food, great beer, great environment, truly outstanding people & service. You should go there and enjoy it.

    (5)

  • Sara M.

    I've been twice now and I quite enjoy this place! They have an incredible beer selection and the menu has much more than just German fare (for those of us that don't like sausages...). Prices are reasonable. I think the German-beer-hall atmosphere is fun, but during the evening (esp. Thurs. - Sun.) it can get very crowded. I recommend trying the pretzels and fried pickles with a Leffe Blonde!

    (4)

  • Emily B.

    I love the beer & entrees here, but every time I go my boyfriend and I get horrible service! We just went again last night around 9:30 for beers and pretzels (which I enjoy even though they are just the SuperPretzel variety). We ordered our beers and waited, waited, waited for pretzels. Then we saw our server (we were sitting in the front my the bar, so she was a bartender) leave for the night. We flagged down the other bartender and he delivered our very cold pretzels, which we promptly sent back. We did get new, hot pretzels a few minutes later and another round of beers. By that time we were ready to leave, with another disappointing Jacob Wirth experience under our belts. I really do like this place and if I got better service I would definitely go more often!

    (3)

  • Lex T.

    I visited Jacob Wirth in April and was not at all impressed. I was in the area again yesterday with a friend from out of town who saw the German items on the menu and wanted to give it a try. I decided to have the same thing I had before (wiener schnitzel) -- strange choice, since I didn't enjoy it the first time -- but this time I asked for it without the "lemon sauce" and with just a lemon wedge. What a difference! The meal was wonderful -- the schnitzel was tender and tasty, and the spaezle were terrific. Highly recommended! My friend has the German Mixed Grill with wursts, sauerkraut, potatoes, etc., and thought it was delicious, too. Glad to have had this experience, as it's a handy location and has a lot of atmosphere. I'll have no reservations about returning in future.

    (4)

  • Lester H.

    After reading the reviews on Yelp and seeing the price and variety of beer, I decided to give Jake's a shot. I was not disappointed. The beer selection on tap is incredible. I didn't like everything I had, but most were great. I also enjoyed the basket of pretzels and found them to be terrific, along with the horseradish-laden mustard. Mmmmm. I had the Jake's Nibbler as an entree and found everything to be very tasty. Red cabbage, boiled potatoes and assorted wursts definitely hit the spot with all the beer I was downing. I felt at home again. My grandmother was German and the food here would've made her proud. Update: I have completed my effort to drink all beers sold at Jakes. It was a great deal of hard work, but I'd like to thank everyone who was there to see it happen. From the bartender who put up with me one weekend night every week for a month, to the two guys I befriended who meet their weekly. Here's to you!

    (5)

  • irene p.

    well, its really a 3.5 stars restaurant. jacob wirth's & CO. TOTALLY own the whole cornbread thing. omggggg instead of mexican restaurants serving chips and salsa, this restaurant serves CORNBREAD. its sweet honeyed with a slightly sweet butter. YUMMMMM. however, my burger (the jake's burger ordered with chili (extra price)) was REALLY flavorless. while it was an 8oz angus beef burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, side of sliced pickle, & fries, my chili was not flavorful at all. and my meat was more than medium. it was like a medium well / borderline well done. everything with peppered ketchup, and a dash of salt, made everything taste so much better this place has a great thing called the taste of germany or something like that - 3 courses (at least. maybe 4) served with 6 6oz of imported beer. i didn't have it, but i saw someone eat it and it looked soooo good. fried pickles apps were okay, n had a kick to it. the veggie nachos were pretty good too tho. anyhow, any time for a weinerschnitzel is never not taken care of at jacob wirth's.

    (3)

  • Irene R.

    The beer selection is amazing, you can get beers from almost anywhere in the world. The pretzels and the desserts are very good. But I've never really been impressed by the regular food. Friday nights they have sing alongs, but unless you reserve a table by the piano it can be kind of difficult. It is T accessible and has a great atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Chelsea J.

    I really wanted to like this more than I did. Considering the theme though, I feel like the servers should know about German beer. Or they should at least know a tiny bit about any beer. We had some Reuben egg rolls (i think) that were really good, but I don't actually remember much of anything else, which doesn't seem like a good sign.

    (3)

  • Christopher S.

    Finding a restaurant that serves German food in Massachusetts is difficult and surprisingly hard to find. So, when I found that there was one close by naturally I had to go and see if it any good. A couple years ago I went to Germany on a two week vacation and since then I've been craving all the food I ate on my trip. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find Weisswurst here in the states?! Last night my best friend and I meet up here for dinner at 8 o'clock ready to have a hearty meal. We actually were in the mood for the same meal and order two "German Mixed Grills" but what meal would be complete without the beer and an order of soft pretzels?! My friend orders one of the dark beer and I have a Hofbrau Munich Original (very tasty). The basket of soft pretzels (about 6) that came to our table were nothing more than microwaveable Super Pretzels but still good with the side of House-Made Spicy Honey Ale Mustard. When the meals arrived at first glance I was worried if it would hold us over but the portions were well balanced for a single person. Now, I've never liked Sauerkraut in general but still gave it another shot; Unfortunately, for me, it's one of the items in German food I'll never enjoy. But the red cabbage, potato salad, Bratwurst and Weisswurst that were in my meal were delicious! You really have to take your time and saver every bite; wolfing the meal down will actually fill you up faster and there will be no room for dessert. The dessert menu was only a few items and I really had to think about what I wanted to finish off with. After a few minutes I decided to go with the Cherry Apple Strudel and was very pleased with my choice. Two big pieces with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, each bite was a nice warm smack of apple and cherry with hints of almonds. It wasn't until I was almost done I began feeling full. When it comes to atmosphere at Jacob Wirth's I felt welcome from the beginning. Being a Friday night it was busy but thankfully I booked a table for two not too far from the piano. Not long after we sat down music song books were passed out to every table and the Friday night sing-a-long began. The pianist Mel Stiller belts out well known songs from all time periods but sadly no German polka music. The growing crowd begins to sing louder and louder as the night goes on. More well known popular songs will often get a louder singing section. Tips for Jacob Wirth's is to come hungry and be prepared to eat. Parking in the area came be trick being the theater district so it's best to either walk or hope the green line. If you anticipate coming on a busy night try to make a reservation ahead of time. You'll be happy you did!

    (5)

  • Paul H.

    As someone who has noshed in many a German beer hall, I must say that Jacob Wirth's does a great job in recreating the home country's ambience and menu. The mustard with the pretzel appetizer was excellent, if you like spicy things. The schnitzel wasn't the best that I've eaten, but it was decent enough. Truthfully speaking, I tend to go here mostly for the beer selection, which is excellent; there are always solid beers (and many of them) on tap. I also like the feel of the place when you walk in, the dark wood paneling, the long hallway into the dining room. It's as if one is being transported straight to Bavaria.

    (4)

  • .amy E.

    7 Popular Expressions of My Love for Jacob Wirths - Love, I get so lost sometimes. Days pass, and this pretzel and honey dijon mustard fills my heart. - And when I get that feeling, I want cornbread healing. Cornbread healing, baby, makes me feel so fine. - You can't tell me it's not worth dying for. You know it's true, everything I do, I do it for erdinger dunkelweiss. - And I don't want the world to see me, 'cuz I don't think that they'd understand...when everything's made to be broken, I just want paulaner hefeweizen to know who I am. - Every night in my dreams, I see weiner schnitzel, I feel weiner schnitzel. That is how I know you go on. - I don't want to close my eyes, I don't want to fall asleep, 'cuz I'd miss you, jaeger schnitzel, and I don't wanna miss a thing. - And I would do anything for black forest parfait, I would run right into hell and back. (However, unlike Meatloaf, I would do "that.")

    (5)

  • Katie L.

    I had fun with the trivia, but wouldn't go back (used a Groupon deal). The food is pretty bland (at least what I had). I guess try it for yourself but I wouldn't recommend spending the money on it.

    (2)

  • Liz H.

    It should really be 4.5 stars, but I hold back on the 5 because I'm not a huge fan of the atmosphere. It's the "oldest restaurant in Boston" and it looks like they haven't fixed it up much since Day 1. I've been here a bunch of times with boyfriend, friends, cousins. The food is fantastic -- better than you expect (especially given the atmosphere), the beer selection is amazing, and the staff is friendly. I took my mom here for a birthday dinner this weekend and she told me it was literally the best meal she had ever had. She got the lobster macaroni and cheese and was beside herself with how good it was. They used to have a butternut squash ravioli on the menu which was similarly amazing, but that may be a seasonal autumn thing. I had a very good caesar salad and the delicious potato pancakes (I cant go without getting them). We had the German chocolate cheesecake for dessert and it was also incredible. Our waitress and the other staff were all extremely nice. Bottom line: it is so much nicer than it looks (from the outside and even from the inside) and the food is really outstanding.

    (4)

  • Alyson G.

    The Germans are a people who do not mess around with beer. I mean, BY LAW they are only allowed to have four ingredients in beer, and they consider beer a soft drink so they don't have to tax it. Awesome. Jacob Wirth has an impressive selection of brews from not just Germany, but the rest of Europe and America as well. The server was not the most attentive I've ever dealt with, but he knew what he was talking about and offered helpful suggestions. I thought the food was good; vegetarian options are slim (obviously) but if you are into tube-shaped meats then this is the place for you. Personally, the beer is the main draw for me. I love trying new beers from around the world, and Jacob Wirth has a lot to choose from. It is a little pricey (I mean, even on the normally less expensive brands you are paying for real estate and atmosphere), so I would not go here for, say, a Sam Adams or something else I could easily get elsewhere for less. But for the most part, if you're into German beer served in a somewhat authentic German setting, it's worth the trip downtown.

    (4)

  • Christine C.

    Having lived in Germany, I was happy to come to this place. It's been years since i've had a paulener Hefe-Weissbier. My first sip brought back so many memories. The food was good, considering it's not every day that i can get sauerbratten and spatzel. Was it like what I could get in Germany, no. But come on, it's pretty close and satisfying. It's not like there's a huge abundance of german restaurants around boston so beggars can't be choosers! Overall, it's a good place to go though I would not be there on a Friday or Saturday night...too many students!

    (3)

  • Steve A.

    They offer a $5 special of a hamburger and bud light which is a good deal considering bud light in the city goes for $4-$6 a bottle. The burger however is extremely thin and unable to fill up a small child and came a la carte. I went back a second time and tried one of the burgers off of their menu and it was much better. The burger was much thicker and more filling and it came with french fries. I'd recommend staying away from the specials as you will end up ordering more food in the end.

    (3)

  • Vito M.

    I used to really like Jacob Wirth, but the quality has diminished over the last few times I've visited. The beer selection is fairly good, but doesn't really change that often. The food is somewhat forgettable and portions are small for the price. I'd recommend trying the appetizer order of the home-made pretzels. Aside from that, haven't really found a meal to write home about between the schnitzel, bratwurst, or even the burgers. If you've got some time or find yourself in western MA, take pit-stop in Springfield and try the Student Prince. In any case, Jacob Wirth is a good place for a pre-theater pint. Everyone should at least experience one of the sing-alongs on a cold winter's night.

    (3)

  • Jackie D.

    + Fried pickles were excellent! Had an unexpected kick to them and the sauce was delish + Presentation of food was also stellar + Beer menu was extensive...for better or worse + Service was good. Friendly host and waitress + Arrived 30 mins before our res

    (3)

  • Jill S.

    I was contacted by a very nice assistant manager and I agreed to give them another shot. This time we had Grant M. wait on us and he was excellent. All the staff should be as pleasant and customer service oriented as him. Everything was excellent overall.

    (5)

  • Christopher R.

    A wonderful old restaurant with great food. I had fried pickles (delicious) and the soft pretzels (watch out for that spicy mustard) and the Veggie Burger. The veggie burger was wonderful with the Boursin cheese. It really made the burger something special. Their sweet potato fries were cooked well as well. They have a pretty good beer selection. Yay for the Spaten Optimator even if it was bottled. I would go back to this charming place again. Service was pretty good too, except for the guy who kept interrupting our meal and trying to take our plates. That would have been okay, but we were still eating off of them.

    (4)

  • William N.

    I wanted to comment on my Grilled Weisswurst I had over the weekend. Even though the menu advertises this exactly as it is, I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't the authentic Bavarian preparation. Traditionally, these sausages are made fresh and served at the table floating in a bowl of its own cooking water. Sounds strange, but there is nothing quite like it, and it tastes great with sweet stone-ground mustard. Maybe the owners of Jacob Wirth thought that traditional weisswurst was too out-there for American diners, so decided to make it more like a bratwurst sandwich. I think they should reconsider. On the other hand, I did appreciate that my beer came in its matching, super-tall Paulaner glass. Great beer list.

    (3)

  • Karl R.

    I was really torn between giving 3 or 4 stars. I really wanted to give 4 stars based on atmosphere, uniqueness and beer selection, but I just couldn't give more than 3 stars based on service, so-so food and the prices for the so-so food. I really enjoyed my experience at Jacob Wirth. The ceilings are very high and the decor is very interesting. I really felt like I had stepped out of day-to-day Boston life and into a German beer hall. The beer selection is excellent, with several interesting European beers. I like that they have pitchers, but there is no price advantage in ordering a pitcher. But I do recommend you get a pitcher because you might go awhile without seeing your waiter. The service really suffers. My friend and I were seated and handed menus. When our waittress arrived moments later, she didn't ask if we'd like a drink. She asked if we were ready to order. Whoa! Let's slow down a bit! We ordered an appetizer and dinners. We weren't even half way finished with our app when the dinners arrived. Whooooaaaa!!! It's a good thing we had ordered a pitcher of beer because she only stopped in once to check on us the entire meal. She was actually very pleasant when we did see her, but the conversations I heard between the waiters and the tables around me sounded pretty gruff. The food was tasty, but not fantastic. I like that they have some German food like wienerschnitzel and saurkraut. But my wienerschnitzel was in dire need of proper seasoning (salt.) I would have felt better if the prices were a bit less. Beers are about $7 and my wienerschnitzle was $22. It should be more like $6 and $18.

    (3)

  • Sarah D.

    This is a fun place to go every now and then. The restaurant is huge with high ceilings and has a real old school beer-hall feel to it. The menu features some german style comfort food mixed in with typical american bar food. They have a vast beer selection. I like coming here. There aren't a lot of places in town to get sausages and german potato salad with your brew. But honestly, the sausages here are dissappointing! They aren't bad, but i get better brats from shaws. I still order them because i like a sausage from time to time. They have great soft pretzels that come with amazing whole grain mustard; but when you order mustard on your brat-wich they give you the boring bottled kind. I love the pretzels though really. Also i like the potato salad and i love being able to eat red cabbage at a restaurant because that's comfort food to me. The beer list is huge but mostly boring german beers. It's nice to get one in a giant glass though. It's worth coming here because there aren't many options for this kind of food in the city, but the food itself is just okay.

    (3)

  • Ali E.

    I haven't worked here in over six months so I feel like it's kosher of me to finally review. Jakes does a few things really well, everything else decently. The sweet potato fries are awesome, as is the clam chowder and the complimentary bucket of cornbread. Of the german food, the schnitzel is better than the wursts (ha). Anything made of red meat is stellar - burgers (the boursin in particular) and bbq steak tips especially. The other entrees and salads are pretty standard, but very well priced. Jakes made me into a beer snob (mmmmSpaten...), but they have PBR and 'Gansett on tap as well, so you're not forced to spend 4 dollars on beer unless you want to (coughpublickhousecough). And there are almost 30 beers on tap to choose from (and a bunch more bottled), so you have a lot of options. I hated working friday nights because it would get so crowded and loud in the bar but I can imagine it being a good time with a big group; if you don't need thirty people yelling WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE the next table over, be sure to get seated in the dining room by the window, it's quieter and cosier there.

    (4)

  • Neil B.

    Pretty disappointed with this place I have to admit. Having walked past it several times it looked like a decent place. When I actually walked in and saw the beer selection I was very optimistic. Unfortunately it was disappointing all round. All the beers I tried tasted bad, like unclean line bad. The food was very average and nothing to write home about. The service was pretty poor as well. Doubt I'll go back again.

    (2)

  • Kip L.

    I had been thinking about going to Jacob Wirth for a long time, so when Harpoon advertised that they were having an Octoberfest event there, my girlfriend and I finally decided to go. The first time we went it was only for a beer, but that in itself was quite the experience. The beer selection is quite expansive. They had a couple of my favorite German beers on tap - Paulaner and Franziskaner - which was a pleasant surprise. As we were enjoying our beers, we got a chance to watch the food come out from the kitchen. It all looked incredible, so we decided to return a second time for dinner a few weeks later. First, the atmosphere is vaguely reminiscent of a German beer hall - only with circular tables instead of long rectangular tables. It can get pretty loud, so it's probably not a great place for a first date. The waiter immediately brought out a basket of warm cornbread with some butter. I think I can safely say that it was the best cornbread I've ever had. It just melts in your mouth. We ordered a couple of beers - I got the Erdinger Dunkel Weisse. My girlfriend ordered a beer which they unfortunately had just run out of, but the waiter recommended a similar beer, which she really enjoyed. We each ordered a different type of wurst - one veal/pork and one beef/pork. Both were really tender and full of flavor, and the open-faced bun was fresh and warm. We each got the sauerkraut and a side of sweet potato fries. The fries were salted perfectly, and the sauerkraut was great. Sadly, we were too full to get desert, but the German Chocolate Cheesecake looked incredible. Next time, I guess. The only downside was that the beer was a little expensive. However, the atmosphere and food certainly made up for it. I was not disappointed with my experience at Jacob Wirth, and I plan on returning in the near future.

    (4)

  • Wendy K.

    I think this place gets three stars for the potato pancake alone. It was delicious. I also had some clam chowder, which was good, but very floury and thick (sometimes this is done well, but here it was hard to finish). They had a great beer selection (I had La Chouffe in a bottle - poured into a glass) and a friend and I shared a sausage which was fine, but I'm not really a German Sausage person. I'll go back, definitely, and I'm trying the Spaetzle next time.

    (3)

  • Laura H.

    My husband and I made reservations for an early dinner before going to the theater. Hubs made the reservation through Open Table, and someone from JW's called soon after to inquire whether we planned to stay for the piano entertainment. It sounds like they don't take reservations specifically for that area, but that they try to keep it open for people who are interested. Since we were leaving for the theater we told them we did not need to sit near the piano. We were seated as soon as we arrived, no wait. I selected Sam Adams American Kriek to go with my meal. My husband was interested in trying one of their German imports, however they were out of quite a bit that afternoon due to prepping for their beerfest. Fortunately our waiter was very amicable and assisted my husband with selecting something similar to his 1st choice. I don't remember what it was, but my husband was happy with it. We had both reviewed the menu online earlier that day & decided on the soft pretzels, wiener schnitzel and Jaeger schnitzel. We asked if the small plates portions would be enough for a meal or if they were more of a "tasting" size. The waiter told us it would be plenty for a meal, and boy was he right! The regular portions are enormous, so we were both glad that we ordered the small plate size. The soft pretzels & spicy mustard were so good that we had to make ourselves stop munching on them so that we'd have room for our meal. We had just enough time with the pretzels when they brought our meal out. Both schnitzels were very good - though I've never had it before, so I can't vouch for authenticity, but they were very tasty! Even though we ordered the small portions, neither of us had room for dessert, so we were finished in plenty of time to make it to the theater. The atmosphere was great. Exactly what we wanted, relaxed and down to earth. The only negative I noted was that it was quite noisy. If my husband and I had been seated across from each other instead of next to each other, I'm not sure we could have had much of a discussion. However, I find that noise is a common problem in restaurants these days, and this certainly wasn't the worst that we've ever encountered. All in all, we enjoyed it and we would return or recommend to a friend.

    (4)

  • Howe L.

    Unique atmosphere, but food fails to deliver in quality. Or maybe I'm just not a fan of German food. The food is simply plopped onto the plate, so I guess there's the homey feel. Of course, lots of beer and action, so never a dull moment.

    (3)

  • Erin G.

    For lunch, Jacob Wirth is really a hit or miss. Some days you can go in and there's hardly any other customers, which means you'll get seated promptly, a waiter will be at your table almost immediately to take your drink orders and the food will come out quickly. Other times, like today, you walk in, the place is packed with business suit types and you wait 5 minutes to be seated (which doesn't sound like much, but if you're on a tight lunch break, it is) then another 15 minutes for a waiter to take your drink order. But, by then, you're almost halfway into your lunch break and can't stay. This place seriously needs to hire more waitstaff, line cooks or both to handle the waves of large business that come in the door. I don't know if it's certain days or just coincidence, but every other time I go there, I run into this problem where I'm neglected by the waitstaff. Yet, I keep going back because the food is good. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I guess I need to find a new lunch hour spot that's reliable, too. If you do go and you're not ignored by the waitstaff, then I would recommend the Reuben. It's delicious. The french fries and the sweet potato fries are crispy and fresh with just enough salt on them. The veggie burger is yummy and not at all bland. I would also recommend any of the burgers. That is, of course, if someone is nice enough to actually take your order.

    (2)

  • Dana L.

    I had high expectations, I really did. The decor is pretty nice, and the beer selection was great. Alas, the food left something to be desired. We started with an appetizer consisting of some sort of sausage. It was actually pretty good, I think that this review might have come out better had I ordered a meal of sausages. However, I ordered the baked macaroni. It consisted of a plate of bland macaroni and cheese, covered with some strips of dry chicken. It was supposed to come with asparagus - my waiter delivered a dish with about three pathetic stalks of asparagus. Sounded good on the menu, but I wasn't exactly impressed. I'll have to try something else if I come back, or maybe I'll just stick to the beer.

    (3)

  • Snuffles B.

    I'm not an expert on schnitzel or spaetzel or anything, but I think theirs fared well compared to the ones I've had in Vienna, in fact the schnitzel was BETTER at Jacob Wirth. I know, thats not German, but is corn bread (an average version) really German either? Or a (fairly pedestrian) Strudel? Overall the food is decent but not memorable. The service was curt but to the point, as was the overall dining experience, kinda like the Germans, or was it the Austrians?

    (3)

  • CaT P.

    have been there twice now. the first time we were excited to find a restaurant with supposedly real german food. and then all the beers..! the beers were good indeed. the food? ok-ish, but rather expensive. and a bradwurst on a bun? weird, very weird. last night we went again, and that was the last time. i had salmon with spaetzle and tomato-sauce. tomato-sauce was nothing special. salmon OK. spaetzle totally awful. beeeh, bad tasting balls of flour. and mind you, making spaetzle is really, really easy! bf had the wurst again; it seemed like he got 2 small halves of 2 different wursts. dont know why we didnt complain about that. it was mostly just the skin of the wurst, an awful bun, tasteless sauerkraut. ah, and the first 3 waiters we met didnt say a word to us. one brought us wordless to our table, the next dumped a basket of cornbread and the 3rd brought menus. not a single word was said. the fries were actually the best. isnt that sad?

    (2)

  • Stephen C.

    This particular experience was 5 star because it was 25 cent wings for the Bruins Cup Finals (however they do have this deal on Mondays too). Wings were meaty and flavorful. Asian wings? Usually not a big fan. Here? They rock my effing pants off. If their beer selection was a woman I'd marry her on the spot and I'm not one for commitment. Tasty beer and solid selection, great location and atmosphere, and the fish and chips were astounding. Let's just say I was a very happy camper.

    (5)

  • William B.

    Going into this restaurant I didn't really know quite to expect, except what my dad told me about it. I definitely enjoyed it. Their beer menu is large enough to accomodate just about any taste. The food is also killer. On top of the varied menu selections, each entree is listed with a prefered beer compliment. This works very well with the burgers (the french fries are mouyh watering). Seriously, just talking about it makes me want one of their bugers. The laidback, open aired, beerhall atmosphere only adds to the charm.

    (4)

  • Johnny Y.

    The Good *Pretty good sausages, sauerbrauten, excellent doughy things whose name I forget, and great sour red cabbage *Beer by the pitcher *Singing and piano if your into that The Bad *Price-$20 for a plate of 3 sausages? a bit much, almost $30 for a pitcher of mid tier lager? common *limited tap, the beer selection is actually quite anemic for a german pub, and they don't brew their own beer which is fine, but ain't no haubrahause. Tap list is very limited, and a lot of common fair like bud, miller, etc that really shouldn't be there, while didn't have a single belgium triple on tap. *bottle list was ok , but common, bottles!? for real? forget that, and the prices were pretty sharp, I believe $10 for a duvel...for real? Overall, not a bad place to go I guess, but way over priced with limited selection of good draft beers.

    (3)

  • Anthony L.

    Excellent authentic German Bar/ Pub. Over 20 imported beers on tap mostly from Germany and Belgium. I absolutely love the beer selection. I recommend that you come on monday for the 25 cent wings. I tried three flavors and they all are delicious, meaty, and swimming in sauce just how they should be. If I had to rank them in order it would be Teriaki, Buffalo, BBQ. If you dont come on Monday for the wings, the Wurste is delicious as well.

    (4)

  • Tracy L.

    Went here with some friends on a Friday evening. It is the only German pubs in the area (to my knowledge...). The atmosphere was appropriately noisy -- and I enjoyed the Veggie Burger and Jake's Lager. The burger, while not home-made, was very good. There was also a piano sing-along going on at the back of the pub -- which sounded like it could have been fun... Nothing spectacular sticks out about the place -- but given its location -- I would go here again. : )

    (3)

  • John V.

    Jacob's is a decent place, with emphasis on "decent" I have to say I was very disappointed by their lack of selection of beer. Yes they had a lot of German beers, and a cask selection which is nice, but other than that, they lacked many of the local New England Breweries I am beginning to love. No Cambridge Brewing Co. ,No Smuttynose, no Pretty Things, nor any Berkshire selections. I don''t get why these local bests are so hard to find in the city of Boston. I decide to try a bratwurst and it was good, with red cabbage on a nice kaiser roll. I was also surprised by their lack of mustard selections and expected more than just Goulden's Brown mustard for my German inspired brat. I guess I had high hopes for this place, and was surprised at the size of the restaurant, it's freaking huge! Not at all what I expected when I saw the antique clock outside the door. If you are in the area and crave a beer, it's probably the best selection in Chinatown, but I wouldn't seek this place out necessarily.

    (3)

  • Brant E.

    3.5 stars. I'd go again, but I'd do things differently. Service: Based on all the Yelp reviews, I planned ahead for slow service. The service was slow. Our server was nice, but made a major error with the credit card. It took two days to sort out and involved the management at the restaurant, but all was resolved very professionally. Food: We ordered some of the German-y food as we've both been to Germany (and Oktoberfest!) and were excited to find a local eatery. My husband's food was excellent. He had one of the specials and we'd both order it again. We ordered soft pretzels; they were alright, but tasted suspiciously like Super Pretzels. Wouldn't get those again. I got the bratwurst and while the meat itself was good, it was served American-style on a burger with cheese. Not really what I was expecting, but it's sort of my fault for expecting authentic German food in a German/American restaurant. Next time we go, I"ll probably forgo the German and get a burger. Beer: A+++ Excellent selection of harder-to-find-on-draft German beers. I have to take one "+" away for not having full liters in which to serve beers, which is how the Germans do it :) I know my review is mixed, but this place has a lot of potential. It seems like the sort of place where you have to try a few things to find what's really good on the menu. Or just go for the beer. Not sure what this perpetually bad service is about...we knew about it in advance so it didn't impact our evening.

    (4)

  • Kristen H.

    I appreciated the follow-up from the management and gave this place another go. The experience was an improvement from my first experience, though it still fell short. I am not sure I will be returning.

    (2)

  • Loan C.

    I've been back here a few times. The first time was just to pop in for drinks. They have a great beer menu. Dark & Stormys, yum ;] I later tried a prefix menu as well as just popped in for dinner. I've still yet to try everything on the menu but the food I've gotten so far have been good. For one of the holidays they made and amazing shepards pie, but when I asked the waiter, he said that it wasn't always on the menu, bummer. This place is realyl great for a casual dinner, a large group, or even a relaxed date ;]

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Accepts Bitcoin : No
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Loud
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Jacob Wirth

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