The Student Prince Cafe and The Fort Dining Room
1610 Main St, Springfield, MA, 01103
The Student Prince Cafe and The Fort Dining Room Menu
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Address :
1610 Main St
Springfield, MA, 01103 - Phone (413) 788-6628
- Website https://www.studentprince.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Lindsay C.
Went here for a romantic early dinner, was swept away by the ambiance and decor. Such a beautiful restaurant! We were seated in a cozy little booth for two and promptly served drinks and bread with butter. Delicious Vermont creamy butter! I ordered the bratwurst with sauerkraut and the cucumber salad. Each dinner comes with two "sides" and I was tempted to go with potatoes (I'm German Irish). The cucumber salad was light, refreshing and delicious all on its own. The sauerkraut wasn't quite as crisp and bright as I'm used to, perhaps they don't make their own. The bratwurst was... hard to eat. It was bulbous, white, and room temperature, making for an awkward texture and taste. I would not order this again. Contrastingly, my boyfriend ordered the goulash with mashed potatoes. Warm, beefy, homemade goodness that melted away the cold Mass afternnoon. A little over salted, but that's okay with me; the beef was fall-apart tender. I'd recommend this place for a romantic night out, a dinner with close friends or family, or for special occasions. Definitely a few steps above casual dining. Dress appropriately.
(4)Christine K.
I love this place, it's always the same! ( in a good way) authentic German food, friendly service, and a really cool atmosphere. Whether you come for a quick one at the bar or a big family dinner, you will not be disappointed. Take in the stein collection, the artwork, and make absolute certain you get the spaetzle!
(5)Tony Y.
This was my dads favorite restaraunt, mainly because of the iesbein which was just like the way they did it in die motherländ. It definitely feels like a German restaurant, with the waitresses wearing those traditional dresses, ornate plates and decorations. The food servings are pretty generous and pretty heavy. The service is nice and friendly.
(4)Christa F.
I don't live in the area any more, but I still stop here when I come visit! You rarely get a good German place down the street from you when you don't live in a big city! The staff has always been helpful and nice. My order has always been correct and timely! When service comes with a smile you really can't complain too much! I would recommend the K Harz Mountain Jaeger Schnitzel... My absolute favorite! Any schnitzel here is good really. The lamb shanks are good too. Oh, and you can't forget the Potato Pancakes!
(4)John O.
I went for lunch a few weeks ago....hadn't been in 30 years since my Dad's job relocated. It was a nice step back in time. What a cute place....looked like remembered it in the early 80s. It felt like my Dad was with me again for a while. The food is great and service is fast. I hope this place stays around forever.
(4)Drew F.
The best German food I have ever had served happily and accompanied by the strongest beer I have ever had, but I'll get back to that... We started with the appetizers, Nuremburg Sausage with red cabbage which was a little sweet for me but that aside very good.Then the crispy bacon wrapped scallops tender and delicious which offered a blend of flavors that made you want to skip the entrees and just order 6 more plates of. The potato pancakes with applesauce, delightfully light and crispy and never having had them with applesauce b4 my tastebuds were just enlightened. For entrees the classic Wiener Schnitzel - Hot crispy, tender on the inside and a taste that I hope to get to experience again b4 and if they close. Also the K Wurst Platte, grilled bratwurst, knockwurst & smoked sausage trio combo. Wow a trio of some of the best German Wurst's which were out of this world. Ok so here's the backstory, I went here with some very blue collar, very hardworking and very HARDDRINKING Polish customer's of mine whom can drink like fish... Really BIG FISH...We all just drank beers of which I remember the spaten optimator only but I think we had tried everyone they had on tap until I unwittingly settled on the optimators. I admit I tried my best to keep up with my now no longer customers but now new Polish friends although I doubt it but as they never made fun of me maybe I did. Things got a little blurry from there and I had a hard time finding my car which I parked on the street somewhere near the Prince however I finally found it and then the Spaten Optimizers or was that Optimators started creeping up on me, really creeping up on me and I had to drive back to Auburn. I made it to Auburn actually promising myself I will never ever ever do this again. I woke up the next morning with a jackhammer splitting headache and the most serious case of trenchmouth ever and for the first time ever rescheduled my morning customer appointment for the next day then drank about a half gallon of OJ, thanked Jesus for accompanying me home the night b4 and drove to Agawam and never mentioned any of this to anyone until now. My point in confessing my sins here is that you should not underestimate the power of the Prince's German Beers as they will creep up on you like the Central Park Mugger. Have a designated driver or get a Taxi and then you could really enjoy this place. Hopefully I will return here again to do it right with a Sams Club size bottle of Aspirin in hand for the next morning ready to self medicate with. However whatever happens with the Student Prince perhaps closing soon, it is one of my Top Five favorite Restaurants and I love the place and WILL ALWAYS love the place with its excellent German food, oversized collection of beer steins, Spaten Optimator's and all!
(5)Chris W.
I've had varying experiences here but after a 3rd time I've finally been able to compose a review. The seating is bad and really tight to get around, its a balancing act of dodging wait staff and peoples heads to the bathroom. Its pretty loud with the open rooms and large tables. The decor is pretty much original dating back to 1930's kind of like your late relatives basement/den. The back bar area is pretty cool and the best part is their care in the food. I've had steak 2 out of 3 times and this place knows how to cook it and use nice cuts of meat. Dont expect to be wowed by presentation just dig in and enjoy. The portions are nice too from 1st course to last (dessert is good).
(3)Lisa T.
This was our second time here and once again, I was underwhelmed. We went after dinner ours for a few beers and appetizers. Our waitress had an attitude to start with which wasn't helpful, she was very pushy, bringing us two plates of fried Camembert Cheese when we only wanted one. The pate tasted like liverwurst to me, the stuffed mushrooms were good, but the actual mushroom wasn't really cooked. Then we batted about the idea of ordering onion rings, but decided not to. Our waitress told me it was too late, the order was in...what's up with that?!? I just feel it's pretty pricey considering what it is. I'd much rather go to Theodore's!
(2)Samuel F.
Was only here for dessert, but I was impressed. Delicious food, impeccable service, extraordinary decor (the collection of steins), and historic location. Quite close to the bus terminal and the Amtrak station, so it's a great place if you've got a delayed bus connection or need to grab a meal when catching a late train out of town. Definitely will have to return the next time I'm in town.
(4)M. M.
The company was better than the food. I like my entrees hot when applicable. I love german done right this was american-ized german but it still beats the Hoffbraus rendition of Weight Watchers German fare. I have heard the Game Dinners are really good - but it is for men only?! The Beer was exceptional and the service was wonderful as well. It is worth the trip just not often.
(2)Christian D.
Sauerkraut too sweet and they have Auf Wiedersehen misspelled on their menu - other than that great!
(4)Matt J.
Do you get a goo meal? Yes. Is it as amazing as advertised? Heck no! The Student Prince is highly overrated. The atmosphere is amazing and the longevity helps. Bu the food and service are only ok. Worse, because it's always packed, they will rush you out if allowed. Thumbs up for old school flair. Get past that and there I better German food elsewhere.
(3)Allison C.
This is an exceptional restaurant with fine German cuisine. Back when I went to college in the Springfield area, my parents would take my friends and I there for special dinners, and when my grandmother was alive, we would take her there as well. She shouldn't have consumed the wienerschnitzel for various health reasons, but she always did without care. (Yeah. Bad ass. Loved her. Ha!) There are various rooms that are all HUGE. Having been to Austria, there is a very European large restaurant hall feel to this place, which I've always enjoyed. Their various meats and potato pancakes are fabulous. They have this salad dressing...goodness if I can remember EXACTLY what it is, but it's orange with fresh bleu cheese cut directly into it. I am guilty of consuming that dressing straight up. No shame.
(4)Irene B.
So this is a place we visit when our friends want to do a birthday dinner. However, I can't say I really look forward to eating here. It is typical German food, weiner schnitzels, sausage, potato pancakes, etc. And like all German food, it sits in your stomach like a rock. My husband gets heartburn every time we eat here. I must say the fried Camembert cheese is delicious but I could pass on the rest of the meal. We have tried the Roquefort salad dressing and i'm not sure what all the hype is all about. Sure it's still a cool place to have a beer but I'll just have the fried cheese.
(2)Stephanie V.
Came here for a birthday dinner as we were passing through the area on the way home from a road trip. The inside of the place is really interesting. There are several rooms and we were sat in what I guess was the main dining room. High ceilings, wood paneling, antique plates on the walls, oil lamp style lights on the table, etc. the decor was really nice. I ordered a green salad and the sauerbraten. The green salad was very good. I'm afraid of ordering salad in German restaurants honestly, because most times, I end up with some dried up carrot shreds, under ripe tomatoes and wilted iceberg lettuce in red wine vinegar, but this was a fresh, wonderful mixed green salad. Woohoo!! The sauerbraten was good. I've had better and I've had worse. Some of it was tender and some wasn't. I like sauerbraten to basically melt in my mouth. This didn't have that consistency, but it wasn't tough either. The red cabbage that it came with was AMAZING! The potato dumpling was super thick. Two things I wished while eating this dish were that it were less vinegary and acidic and that there were less of this gravy stuff they put on top of the meat. Service was weird. I think the woman thought we were college kids and I sensed a bit of annoyance in the way she waited on our table. After we finished dessert, a table sat down next to us and the waiter told them this long list of specials. Our waitress never said a peep about specials to us and I would have liked to order the steak I heard the other waiter mention. Also, my boyfriend asked her to put a candle in the ice cream I ordered for my birthday. The waitress came back with the ice cream and this enormous slice of cake that didn't really taste like anything and seemed slightly past it's prime. I would've been ecstatic anyway if she had just dropped it off smiling and walked away. But....she put it down in front of me and then watched as my boyfriend sung happy birthday to me by himself. Then as I was blowing out the candle, she said ' I was going to get a whole bunch of waiters to come over and sing to you....but then I just didn't....' Well happy birthday to you too Ms. Waiterlady. Sheesh!
(3)Tony P.
Having grown up in Western Massachusetts and now living in Southern California, it is easy to miss The Fort. This is a great restaurant and should be experienced at least once. The Fort is a Springfield institution and has been a local see and be seen hub for business and local politics for many decades. The shabby genteel décor reinforces this sense of nostalgia and hints at the history of the restaurant and city, and serves as a reminder of past deals made by local power brokers. Some of the menu items are more authentically German than others; there are other European influences at work here and also some more traditional American standards. If your sole criterion is authenticity, you may be disappointed, but that disappointment is likely to perpetuate for most if not all US German restaurants. Many come close, but few are exactly German, and Germany also has regional differences in its cuisine. Just remember, every country has its version of foreign cuisine (compare Chinese food in the States to Europe to China itself, quite a big difference!). Having spent several years living in Deutschland while in the military, I've found only one restaurant in the US that is very German, and that is in Killeen, TX and run by Germans who are recent immigrants as spouses (or often former spouses) of US service members. This restaurant is great for what it is, and it has some special menu items and events that are worth exploring. A short list of highlights: Several of these have already been mentioned but are worth emphasizing: -Fried Camembert (others have mentioned this, it is quite good) -Roquefort Salad Dressing: made table side with a fresh chunk of cheese, if you like bleu cheeses, a must try. -Wiener Schnitzel: if you like schnitzel, it's quite good here. You can also get traditional sides of spaetzle, pommes frites, and bratkartofeln. -Game menu: this is seasonal and provides some great opportunities to try some new types of meat. -Hurley Burgers: these aren't on the menu but you can get them upon request. Named after a former mayor of Springfield, they are small burgers you order by the half dozen. Yummy. -Chauvinettes: a delicious ice cream drink with a variety of complimentary flavors. They have a fair amount of booze in them so recommend limiting to one, but worth experiencing, especially at Christmastime. -The bar: has a solid selection of German beers, fine wines, and can make good martinis and cocktails as well. -Christmas Carole Dinners (three weeks leading up to Christmas): this is a GREAT family dinner around the holidays, make a reservation early as it tends to book fast. There are carolers in the dining room with a giant Christmas tree which glows in the dark. Most if not all of the decorations we use in the US for Christmas are borrowed from the Germans, this is a very festive activity to put you in the holiday spirit. -Other food choices: if you want something more traditionally associated with fine dining such as a filet mignon or salmon, etc., you can get that as well. Enjoy!
(5)Kate B.
The service here is really, really good. The food is also pretty good, I may just not be a huge fan of German food. My hubby and his mother LOVE this place, though. The portions are certainly huge and well worth the price. This is a well-loved restaurant in Springfield.
(4)chris p.
If I had one last dinner granted to me, "the prince" is where I would go. It is decidedly old school....rich with ambience that I know is probably largely unchanged since the 1940s....have never had a bad meal...but it is a an entire experience..the food, the decor, the service....an absolute throwback. Very down to earth, not stuffy but elegant in it's own way. Order the fried camembert cheese, oyster sampler, smoked glazed pork chops with spaetzle...don't forget the home made roqefort salad dressing made at table side. Start with a martini, order a glass of german white wine or a "shell" of spaaten dark fresh from the tap...and finish with a glass of their special Chauvenette desert cocktail...then call a cab and go home. I love this place.
(5)Ted A.
I had the goulash. Great! My wife had the lamb stew and my Friends had some deep fried fillet of beef. We have been traveling through Springfield for 30 years and this is my favorite place. Park down the street in the lot or on the street - if you can find parking. this place has a great German feel and a terrific staff. They have been doing the same thing for so long they have become the standard bearer for the theme restaurant. I am sure they have gone through several chefs and yet they always maintain a rock solid high quality ability to deliver great, authentic German food. Great service, great food - terrific quality, authentic and tasty in a clean, fun environment. The beer selection is terrific - if you are in the area this is a must!
(4)Christian C.
Only had time for one beer but wow what a cool place. The bar area has an amazing collection of beer steins, mugs, figurines, clocks, etc. that has been collected over the years and will have your head constantly turning and pointing saying, "Oh wow, look at that." The wood paneled walls and vintage atmosphere make it a great room to sit back and enjoy your mug of Spaten in. While I did not order any food, one look at the menu assured me they have quite a decent, if a little pricey, selection of authentic German dishes. Most dinner entrees ranged towards $20.
(4)Maria A.
I liked the fort.
(5)Robert H.
When we first arrived in Connecticut in 1991, I met someone who was close friends with Ruprecht, the man who made this place famous. We were introduced many years ago and I can only tell you that he was a fabulous human being; a very classy guy. May he rest in peace. So there's my disclaimer; I'm quite fond of this wonderful restaurant and even the pretentious machinations of Ruprecht's son, who now holds court every now and again, cannot tarnish the experience for us. The cuisine here proves that there is such a thing as German "haute cuisine." My foodie friends tease me about the fact that I call myself a gourmet but still insist on having a German meal out at least once a month. There are waitresses at this place who've been there since I was about eight years old. (That makes 'em about 90 years old... just kidding). They can be a bit off-putting if they don't know you. However, if you're a regular (or, for that matter, if you're tolerant and friendly) you'll soon receive the broad smile and genuine concern for your happiness and well-being that set them apart from the legions of mediocre servers I think we've all come to accept, albeit reluctantly. So where does one start? Oysters, if they have them. Smoked fish. Pickled herring. Potato pancakes. I'm not a big fan of the baked cheese, although it's very, very European and very beer-friendly. Sadly, I'm not a big beer fan. But I'll tell you that the bartenders make a superb martini -- and so much of the appetizer menu here is martini-friendly (goose liver pate, anyone?) that I could make a full meal of just the appetizers, the old-school salad and lots of martinis. Schnitzel is tender, perfectly golden-brown and appropriately buttery. A fish selection one evening was a study in freshness and simplicity (and who the heck orders fish as an entree in a German restaurant?!!) Wild boar tends to be on the dry side but the delectably rich side dishes make up for what the boar may be missing. Speaking of side dishes... It's a tradition that one can only have Spaetzle here in October. Take it or leave it. But there's enough variety here that one should be happy that they serve it at all. The Oktoberfest Spaetzle is unlike anything you've had in either New York or Boston. Veggies are standard fare out of season... however, summer brings the bounty of the local farms to the tables here, and what wonderful treats they offer. Perhaps their competition (a distant third-place) in New Britain, Connecticut should take a cue from this place; cut it out with the damned canned corn and frozen string beans! Back to the issue at hand... do not order the white asparagus (canned) nor the hearts of palm appetizer at The Student Prince. These things, of course, are demanded by some of their patrons, but they're forgettable in quality and presentation. The general tone of the cuisine is understatement. A whisper of nutmeg here, a bit of tarragon there... just a bit is all, but it's all-important. I've never been told that they make their own sausages; they're from a purveyor... but if one didn't know better you'd think they were made in-house. The veal (white) sausage is a study in the judicious use of garlic, onion and nutmeg; all barely detectable but you'd miss 'em if they weren't there. All the good things from the "Wald" (the forest) are here; rabbit, venison and wild fowl are all present and prepared in archetypal fashion. A little bony, (isn't rabbit that way anyhow?) this rabbit (at about $18) is better than the rabbit we had as a special at one of New York's most famous French food palaces (where it cost about $50). Wines are expensive but there are some very, very interesting selections. The French selections are value-priced; some are very obscure but definitely worth a try. So old-fashioned is this place that one can get hollandaise sauce (or Bearnaise) on just about anything you want. I usually never opt for filet mignon because it's flavorless. At this restaurant we like to order it merely as a vehicle for the perfectly-made Bearnaise sauce. So then they clear everything off and bring out the strong coffee. Dessert is an affair that just begs for eiswein (a sweet dessert wine made from grapes dessicated by freezing and harvested by hand) -- but get ready to pay for it. A good bottle of eiswein will set you back about $150. And it's only 500 ml! It's hard to make up one's mind about dessert here. Sometimes a simple berry tart with loose whipped cream ("Schlag") is appropriate, but sometimes the rich, decadent cakes and tortes win over. Then you must have their own version of the herbed brandy with honey (Jagermeisster to you whippersnappers; but then again, so much more than Jagermeisster). And just when you're ready to cry "uncle!" either your server, the captain (or the boss himself) will come around and perhaps give you a little cognac to help you brave the cold, hard outside... on the house. Two words: Eat here.
(5)K. D.
My favorite restaurant in the entire world. I don't live in MA but anytime I drive through I make sure to stop here. Try the roquefort salad, fried cheese, cucumber salad... it's all SO good. Highly recommend!
(5)Thomas N.
have had this on list of places to try for a long time now so decided to take a ride and try it out.....interior is very old germanic looking, many rooms scattered around, lots of german memorabilia, plates, steins etc, two bars......waitress was very pleasant.....food was ok, it seemed over cooked and i suppose some of these types of meals are cooked a lot, but it was only ok....hunter soup was good but sort of tasted a little like bullion, wife liked the sauerbraten and esp the red cabbage, my hunted plate was decent......have been there
(3)Scott F.
Springfield, MA is not exactly the hot spot of culture or cuisine, but The Student Prince is a not-so-little place that's still trying. I do wish I had read the Yelp reviews before I had been there, as it would appear I missed out on some insider secrets. For another, in the future I'll try not to take the server at her word - her recommendations seemed phoned in. If anything, my biggest complaint was that the staff seemed bored - and didn't try to hide it. Many of then showed up only minutes before opening. It's not been my experience to see staff doing their side-work IN the dining room. That being said, they did seem to take care of their regulars, and I was happy to see the Manager spending extra time with an elder customer. The food was pretty good. I had the "Graved Lox" which was fine if a bit over-salted and over whelmed by pickles and sauces. The Goulash was tasty. The Paprika Schnitzel was the winner. The Wurste Platte [sic] was decent, but I found the sauerkraut to be a bit too sweet and very runny. And the boiled potato had all the excitement of a basically boiled potato. One interesting note: We were trying to go for German recipes, however, I'm curious why they put a plastic jar of Grey Poupon mustard with the dish? So, in the end, it's an interesting place with a lot of history. Lot's of interesting stuff on the walls. Food is good. Perhaps we got the staff on a sleepy day. But it's not a place that I'll readily drive out of my way for.
(2)Matt K.
Interesting find. Interesting menu. The decor alone is worth seeing. Lots to choose from and if you like different German food this is a good place to go. Staff are very friendly.
(4)Robert G.
I've been studying Reuben sandwiches at restaurants far and wide. This place has the best I've tasted! Add wonderful drafts and cole slaw along with its old world ambiance = a must repeat stop. And you'll be delighted with the professionalism and charm of its waitstaff! Enjoy!
(5)David L.
I've been to "THE" German places in Chicago, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and other cities with a German history and population and The Student Prince is as good if not better than any of them. It's been in the same location for 75 years and has been owned by the same family the entire time so don't expect a new and creative menu or decor. This is your classic, dark wood, steins and antlers on the wall kind of place. The menu is classic old world German with all of the standards. The Veal Medallions with Blue Cheese and Mushroom caps in a brown gravy is great as are the Tornado's Neptune when they have them on special. The house salad with homemade french dressing prepared table side is a staple and must try as is the Fried Cheese with Beaver Mustard on the side. Don't forget to ask for a twist of fresh ground black pepper on your salad. Home made spatzle, red cabbage and some great potato and vegetable sides can customize your entree to your liking. Their meats, poultry and seafood are all top shelf, their shanks are fall off the bone and they have a great bar with a varied beer selection. The "house" beer is a Spatan 1/2 and 1/2 which pairs perfectly with German food. I have not found a dessert that I love there but that's OK. The have a dessert ice cream and liquor drink called a Chavinez that comes in both chocolate and vanilla so if you still have room after a very hearty meal you should try one of these. At Christmas, the place goes all out for the holidays and they put a huge Christmas tree in the main dining room and hire a small chorus to sing Christmas Carols in all of their dining areas. If your lucky enough to get seated in the main dining room, they dime the lights every 45 minutes, the tree illuminates and everyone sings a few versus of Silent Night. A must try for anyone coming into town or if your a local and have not turned onto this place yet.
(5)m b.
Strange that there arent many reviews for this place. yes- i know its in springfield, ma- so maybe thats why- but still- wouldda thpught there would have been more reviews of this unique place. german restaurant with a very dated feel, but the food is authentic! looking through the menu, i was transported back to some of the food i was familiar with growing up- some good, some bad. everything from goulash to liver. and of course- lima beans made the menu- ughh! two things i never wanted to see ever again once i was past 10 years old: lima beans and liver! i remember being forced to eat lima beans- which were so dry- i feel they could be better purposed as some kind of miracle industrial moisture absorbant- maybe to sop up some oil spills or some shit like that?? and then theres liver- ughh! heres some bacon with your liver- well no shit ya need bacon- bc that f'in shit is gross!! thats the only way most normal people could even possibly consider ingesting liver- its horrendous flavor needs to be very, very heavily masked with bacon. how bout this- maybe we just scrap liver as a human-compatible food product? its probably best served as dog food, altho even dogs know that crap isnt good. i once saw a dog eat a paper towel covered in feces, tearing away at that shit like it was a lobster freakin dinner! you take that same dog & feed him liver- hed probably starve before eatin thhat crap! anyway- i had the goulash at student prince (i dont like calling this place the fort). the goulash was excellent and genuine- chunks of beef in gravy just like my grandmother used to make!!!! i ate the whole thing even tho i was full three quarters of the way through the dish. home fries were excellent as well- yet another demonstration of how only certain places know how to make home fries. decor was badly dated, but its an old german theme- which is fine. the hallmark of the place is their crazy collection of german steins- which was cool. they are all over the walls of the bar, etc. service wasnt great. not horrible, but could have been better. im gonna be real blunt here, so sorry if i offend anyone: i dont like being served by old people. whats old?- hard to say exactly, but its anyone who i feel is over the age of about 45 who is clearly burnt out in life & just kinda playin out the string. i find it sad & depressing to be served by these people. im not gonna get any further into it here, but you may know the feeling im talking about. our waitress was in that category- old. she was ok, but not incredibly friendly, and would probably rather be somewhere else in life. ill just leave it at that. bottom line- good place to go for some authentic german food- but only if ur sumhow near springfield.
(4)Hunter G.
Incredible German fare. Fantastic bar and impeccable service. Fried cheese is a must have. Chased down with a little Spaten Optimator and wow. Stein collection is great and the historical location just adds to it. If it's not the best restaurant in Springfield, it sure is close. Must-see if you're new to the area.
(5)Lisa J.
I have been going there for over 30 years. Very old crowed and some of the wait staff have been there for decades. Good service, good food and a real bargain during lunch time. Its a safe bet in Springfield and its the only restaurant in the area with an old world charm. Great for a business meeting.
(4)Paul S.
All weekend, we kept talking about going to "The Fort." We get there and I find it's the Student Prince, a place I've heard of but never tried. Very glad I finally made it! We were shown into a large dining room off the bar with old, pine panelled walls and lots of delft blue plates. Very old-fashioned and charming. Our waitress was friendly and seasoned. I asked if we should have the pate or the smoked trout to start, and she rattled off the pros of both. We were swayed by her report that the trout was served with a fresh horseradish sauce. The smoked filet arrived and was excellent, as was the horseradish sauce. The filet was intensely smoky and firm, without any aggressive fishy smell, but plenty of flavor. The horseradish sauce was creamy-sweet and chilled, with a bit of the required horseradish bite. We had side salads with the house specialty Roquefort dressing. It's delish! Not exactly cutting edge, but so tasty in that old-fashioned way. It's a kind of French dressing into which our waitress mashed a ball of Roquefort cheese before putting it on our salads. The salads themselves were absolutely standard, but loved that dressing! I had Oma's Roulade, a thin serving of beef, rolled around a pickle (!) and pan fried, then served with a brown gravy. It came with home fries and red cabbage. A delicious dinner. The roulade had a mild, beefy taste and the gravy was well-seasoned, if not outstanding. And who doesn't love a pickle surprise!!! The home fries were great - crispy brown edges, but generally soft, white, just-done potato. This is exactly how I like them - not at all overdone. The red cabbage was tart and vinegary, with a touch of sweetness. Very nice. My date had the Wurst Platte and said it was delicious. Since I wasn't about to part with any of my food, I felt it in poor taste to ask for some of his. The sausage all looked well-made and carefully cooked. For dessert, we shared a portion of Indian Pudding, which I love. I found theirs to be substantial and full of molasses and cinnamon flavor. It was served warm, with vanilla ice cream. I had two beers - Spaten Maibock - they were also delicious. And they were served just right - cool and refreshing, but not so cold that they lost their flavor. My date told me about another place in town that prides itself on serving a beer at a computer-controlled, precise temperature. So what? Want to impress me? Do it without a computer, like they do at Student Prince. So, this place ain't cutting edge. It's got charm, it plays host to Springfield's movers and shakers and down-home types too. It's got great, mature, professional wait staff who know their stuff. And it offers traditional, substantial food at pretty good prices. I would consider this a great dinner most any night, especially with good company over a few perfect beers.
(4)Gretchen E.
The bar at the student prince is my favorite bar in town, with it's kistchy-cool German beer hall decor and yummy hard-to-find beers. The restaurant food is tasty, but dated and a bit overpriced, but I like the atmosphere so much that I like to go anyways. During the Holidays the restaurant is elaborately decorated and there are carol singers several times a week- its worth making a reservation ahead to go for this!
(4)Missy S.
Ok, I will concede, my opinion of this place has gone up since dining in twice after my last review..... my initial opinion of this place (due to take out order) was on the money as far as take out goes, some of their stuff just didnt travel well. However, I have been two times, the latest was this afternoon, and i must say, its much better in person. I am still miffed that they do not serve Spaetzle, and for that reason I don't consider them true authentic German food.... BUT, they do make a few German Specialties that are delicious, such as the Schnitzel and Red Cabbage....and their Roquefort dressing is AMAZING! (and they sell it by the pint, quart, or single serving! We came home with a pint today! LOL) Hubby did not care for the potato pancakes (they are more like smushed balls, not flat airy pancakes made with shredded potatoes as they should be)...but they are decent if eaten when piping hot. Last time I had the French Onion soup, which was decent, but nothing to write home about. I usually will always get that if its on the menu somewhere, but last time it didnt knock me out....I was much more interested in having a salad with the awesome dressing! (weird, today the damn salad was LOADED with radishes, hubby and i had to pick them all out! LOL).... Today I had breaded Pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes and red cabbage. Hubby had Braised short ribs and red cabbage and buttered noodles. THIS PLACE HAS GREAT LUNCH PRICES! and the portions are very similar to the dinner ones, but yet the prices were soooo much cheaper! We definitely will go back again for lunch next time! I know this may not sound like i cared too much for it, i am very fussy about German food, having been brought up with it. Hoffbrau Haus has gone downhill greatly, so this place is our new 'go to' place....The prices make it worthwhile , other than going to the much closer East SIde Restaurant in New Britain, because they are extremely pricey, and they charge you 5 bucks if u want red cabbage with your German food, same for if u want Spaetzle, so u end up paying an extra ten bucks to your 28 German entree of Chicken Schnitzel...i hate paying 38 bucks for a chicken dinner. RIDICULOUS.....and we just paid today, 7.95 for my dinner and 8.95 for hubbys dinner! all because we were there before 4pm while they were still serving lunch!
(4)Larry M.
I Was in the Springfield area and have been craving some real German food having spent 6 years in Germany. I started with a Franziskaner Weissbier which was good. We ordered the Potato Pancakes for an Appetizer which was also good. I ordered the Bratwurst with Spätzle. I love Bratwurst but this was terrible. The worst I have ever had. The Spätzle was flavorless. We also ordered the Hungarian Goulash and Pork chops which were OK but not great. For desert we ordered the chocolate cake with Orange filling which was excellent. Definitely the best part of the meal.
(1)MarissAlex D.
Apparently my grandfather was a big fan of the place so I was compelled to check it out. The GF is a local law student and the Student Prince is located right downtown making the location a plus. Ambiance is really cool. A good...if not great place to have an evening with friends around Oktoberfest. Authentic Bavarian decor and steins litter the place and the waitresses dress in the traditional garb. The menu was a bit pricey for my mid 20something budget but they do have some AWESOME offerings. The wild game being particularly noteworthy. And you can't complain about their German beer list. Overall its a top foodie destination in Springfield. I'd go back, but only for special occasions. Good job Student Prince.
(4)brian s.
In 1975 I made my first visit here and I've been coming back through the years. The food is simply wonderful. Oysters are the best here. Its German cuisine at its best
(4)Pamela M.
I can't comment on the food at this place, but have only been here for drinks once or twice when the ole Springfield crew gets together on holidays when everyone is home. Good selection of beers, and the bartenders are always fun to talk to and friendly. Will more than likely be back here on one of my trips home.
(3)Coren D.
During my last trip to Germany, I learned that German cuisine was more than sausages, pretzels and beer, so when I returned to the States, I sought out German restaurants and found the Student Prince. I came here looking for one thing: Schweineshaxen (pig knuckle.) The menu lists it as "Large Pig's Knuckle, served the traditional German way $16.95." As I waited, I flashed back to a beautiful summer evening in a country Biergarten, whilst enjoying a slow roasted pork hock with crispy golden skin and succulent tender meat that falls off the bone. When the dish arrived, I got a grey slab of unseasoned boiled pork, swimming in water on the plate. Just wrong...so so wrong.
(1)Mike M.
We had a party of 10. Decent and VERY patient waitress who took care of us. Some of us were late for our 7pm reservation, but the rest of the folks were seated promptly. We were, by nature, a group of loud guys, so sitting us in the very back was a good thing! As far as I could tell, everyone enjoyed our apps, meals, and desserts. Apps ranged from the "Hunter's soup" - the tiny bits from the "Hunter's Kabob" to house salad. Meal-wise, the overwhelming table favorite was the "Oma's Beef Roulade", as well as the Sauerbraten (my choice) - served traditional style with the red cabbage and dumpling. One of the guys had the Hunter's kabob with various game meats (Elk, Bison, Bear, etc.), and his plate was clean, so it must have been good! I was so full, that I passed on dessert! So, two-thumbs up. I would go back again and try something different.
(4)Eric S.
If you are a carnivore then this is the place for you. I honestly can't speak to there regular menu but every February, The Student Prince has "Game Month" where they have a plethora of wild game you regularly don't see on menus many places, much less in the same place for all of February. I had a kabob containing Bison, venison, boar,yak, Antelope, and Elk. All were outstanding. Aside from awesome game meats, there sides such as spatzle and there beer was great as well. In past years, they've had bear and they were out of gator but between main dishes and sides there was meat a plenty.If you read this before the end of the month, I recommend high tailing it down there or you'll have to wait until this brigadoon of yummy carnage reappears next February.
(4)T L.
Wish I could give it 3.5 stars (or even 4), but the most recent time I was there it left me a bit disappointed. I've been here twice before in the past few years, and it's always been decent. Mainly I wanted to check it out because of all the history behind it, and I'd have to say they must be doing something right (this most recent time could have been a fluke). I'm no expert on german food, but the bratwurst I had in more than one restaurant in Germany looked nothing like the one i got here...? Spaten on tap is always tasty though!
(3)ALISON Q.
Seriously delicious! Grew up in Western Mass and this was one of the best memories of my childhood. Consistently delicious food no matter what, go back at least once a month with my Husband. I have also had numerous parties here including my Wedding Rehearsal Dinner in their new side room. Great bar area and history for Springfield. Definitely a must-see if you are in the Springfield Area. Recommended: Baked Stuffed Shrimp drizzled with Sherry as well as the Fried Cheese,Wiener Schnitzel and Chocolate Crepes or Chauvenet.
(5)Devin C.
one of the greatest restaurants in the state of Massachusetts,
(5)Edward S.
I typically go here for lunches so this will be a lunch only review. For less than $10 you can't get more food anywhere. You'll get a side, awesome homemade chips, a great sandwich or wrap, pickle and drink. The menu is pretty extensive too. The holiday wrap is a personal favorite. - NOW CLOSED FOR LUNCH =(
(4)chip m.
How could this place not have been rated yet? Excellent German food and beer. Grab the Wiener Schnitzel, get the special salad with roquefort and a tall half-and-half beer and you're all set. Also, much more pleasant service since Herr Rupprecht went to the big Prussian restaurant in the sky!
(4)Adam A.
Was passing by Springfield around lunchtime today and finally took the opportunity to check out this famous establishment. I gotta agree with the comment below that it's disappointing that they don't have Spaetzle-- but hey, not every German restaurant serves Spaetzle, y'know? :) Found the food to be quite solid. The German sides like sauerkraut and cucumber salad were spot on, and even the more boring veggies (cooked carrots, squash) reminded me of why I like eating in Germany--just enough salt and butter to make things tasty, but not overwhelming. Frying was competent (e.g., for schnitzel), but the winning meat was the weisswurst. It's a pretty meat-intensive place, though the vegetarian plate was also surprisingly respectable. (Probably wouldn't go there specifically for that, but it makes a totally reasonable option for non-meat eaters) All-around high marks for authenticity. Service was also friendly and moderately efficient-- I think we just beat the lunch rush, so the wait for food wasn't too bad, and we got to admire the wood paneling and animatronic christmas decorations while we waited.
(4)Evan S.
If the fort served nothing more than fried cheese and their delicious roquefort dressing, I would still give them four stars. The fact is however, they have, and always have had one of the best Rueben's I have ever sampled. Their game menu is amazing, and is a great segway for people wishing to try game meat, but unsure how to do so. Though I have not eaten their in a long time, I can say with certainty I've never had a bad meal there. Im not here to argue the authenticity of it being German, just whether or not it tastes good! Many may dislike the drab dim-lit interior, but I feel it only adds to its rich history. If you take notice, they have an amazing stein collection and used to have a great cigar lounge, which has since been shut down. The fort has been a past-time of my grandparents for over 50 years. Rudy, knew my grandfather by his first name, and would let him bring his own bottles of wine to pair with his meals. A great old school feeling, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 1 of about 4 decent restaurants in all of Springfield.
(4)Tressi J.
I heard about this place as being a classic, so I had to check it out. The interior was really cool and old, so I knew I was going to like it from the time I stepped inside! Wood paneling, and steins all over the place, it feels very 1930's. Anyway the food! It was really good--the best german potato salad I have ever had. And they have this salad dressing with roquefort cheese that is rich and delicious. My pork was a little bland and needed salt, but I should have ordered a brat anyway! Definitely a go to again place!
(4)John R.
Very cool place. An old land mark that has been making German food for as long as I can remember. If you are in the mood for bratwurst, knock wurst, bear stew or pigs knuckles, this place is for you. Great table side service and wait staff is friendly and very accommodating. Parking can be a bit of a drag but if you drive around the block, you can usually snap a decent spot.
(5)Dave B.
Oh yeah, nothing beats a trip to the Student Prince. Great beer, great food, and the service is okay too. One other thing I've noticed (and maybe it's 'cause I just don't hang out in downtown Springfield much), but downtown Springfield isn't a place you want to hang out in much. I've spent a lot of time in a lot of cities (Hartford included, which has its own issues) and Springfield can be pretty hardcore...like checking your back as you're walking to your car type stuff, then walking faster, clicking the remote yanking up on the door handle and pirouetting into the driver's seat before hitting the "lock" switch and getting the hell outta Dodge. Kinda like Jodie Foster in Panic Room. Except she didn't have a car. Anyway, Student Prince rocks. Go there.
(4)Ellen B.
We were excited to find a German restaurant it had been recommeded. I walk and it took about 10 minutes before anyone spoke to me. My husband had to track down the hostess. They had a nice collection of beer steins I think that is th nicest think I can say about my experience at the Student Prince. The food was AWFUL if you have had real German food!!! Since we had spent a number of years in Germany and my mother-in-law was German and an excellent cook. We left feeling very disappointed. If you are looking for a sports bar with fake German food this is a place your you!
(1)Jason C.
I've been eating here for 30 years. It's classic. The food and beer are outstanding. However, the service and quality have gone slightly down hill since Col Klink died (the old owner), but the SP is still awesome.
(5)David E.
My family has been coming to the Student Prince and Fort since the late 1930s. In fact, my father who used to work for the Springfield newspaper, told me that the paper used to be run from upstairs, and partly in what is now the Heidelburg Room. Just about the best, friendliest bar in the world. The extended the bar into another room and added a television which is regrettable (they used to have a tiny black and white TV with rabbit ears that they would only break out during the World Series). Also regrettable is that they no longer serve their beer in boots, which was classic (they even used to have double boots). The food is fine. The best part of the Prince is the history and atmosphere, you can have a great meal or you can have a so-so meal there. The filet strogonoff is a winner. The cheese on the bar comes out at 4:30; the expensice a la carte shimp is delicious (and kind of double what you think -- order some and you'll see); You simply have to have the salad dressing "Rupprecht's way"; Holidays are what the Prince is all about. The eggnog that sits on the bar, ready to order. The carolers are not to be missed. You can also order a chauvinette for a drink treat. The lunch specials are a real bargain, don't miss the Vienna meatloaf. Game night (and month -- February) is amazing if you are into exotic meats. Some of the bar tenders and wait staff have been there for decades and are real nice people. Rudy has done a fine job for the most part, of keeping tradition after Rupprecht passed away. If you are going to or through Springfield (and everone in New England does at some point) don't miss out. It won't last forever.
(5)Ron L.
Hadn't been here in quite while - since right before the place almost closed for good. Service was as good, if not better than the service I used to enjoy. Atmosphere is on the money - warm and German. The Sauerbraten is a sure thing as well as the Hungarian Goulash. If you want the Roquefort dressing - its worth the three dollars extra - but for some reason doesn't have the same mystique/excitement around it as it used to have. I was there on a holiday (Labor Day) that is usually not too busy for any restaurant. It wasn't here either - but the staff was still attentive and friendly. Unlike many restaurants that seem to 'let their guard down' and give less than attentive service - it was great here. We used a gift card from our awesome friend Kevin - and highly recommend this as a gift for anyone else YOU might want to spoil. We will be back. Maybe you'll be there?
(5)Mark M.
I was so surprised, the interior and the food were wunderbar! Being Austrian I Love German food but usually have low expectations of German restaurants. The food and beer were great! I had the paprika schnitzel and my husband the pork chops, both moist, crispy and delicious. Service was fine and the IPA beer cold and crisp. Decor was tasteful and interesting. Lots of steins and stuff. Can not wait to go back and try other items on the menu.
(4)Fred Z.
I've been coming here since 1970 when I was 6 years old. I've always loved the fried Camembert cheese, Roquefort dressing and Indian pudding - all of these still hold true to the old menu. I miss the jumbo shrimp and escargot. Today we ordered a hot lobster roll and it was a hot mess. The lobster was shredded and seasoned oddly with rosemary. I've never had such a horrible lobster meal in New England. I felt they were cutting corners and charging more without adding quality. I'm giving it two stars for the friendly wait staff and memories. Unfortunately, without a change, I think the memories will fade.
(2)Sarah O.
I have mixed feelings on this one, and am torn between two and three stars. I hadn't been to the Fort in years, for the same reasons no one under 70 had been to the Fort in years-- the interior was tired, the menu hadn't been updated since the Carter administration, and the food wasn't that good. But my in-laws and our family friends wanted to check out the renovations and revamped menu, and we were curious as well. The renovated bar area definitely flows better, but it looks as though a modern bar was dropped in the middle of a historic Bavarian-style restaurant... which it was. It doesn't seem like any effort was made to integrate the new into the existing, and the dueling aesthetics look bizarre. The bar is composed of a lot of black wood, for example, which clashes with the mahogany-ish stained wood throughout the rest of the restaurant. On the plus side, however, they made some sense of the former chaos in the dining room, by simplifying the wall decor a bit and adding some fresh paint. We ordered a few starters-- smoked trout, brussels sprouts, and fried camembert. They were all average, with the trout being the best of the bunch. I ordered salmon with pastrami seasoning. I've made a similar dish at home, and wanted to see how they prepared it. "Not well" was the answer. The salmon was cooked fine, but there was no pastrami seasoning flavor at all. The fish was served on top of a lentil mash that was interesting, but extremely salty. The dish was supposed to come with a cucumber yogurt, which wasn't present. On the whole, my meal wasn't terrible, but it wasn't really as advertised. (A side note on the salmon: the dish is listed as "salmon three ways" but described as "pastrami seasoned, broiled, or mustard glazed." As in, pick one. "Three ways" is a term of art, guys!) My husband ordered the German sampler, and liked it a lot. I tried some of his red cabbage, and it was awesome. My sister-in-law, on the other hand, ordered a mushroom risotto that was very heavy and the wrong consistency. On the whole, it seems as though the food is still pretty hit or miss. Our waitress, while nice enough, was not entirely on top of her game. She did a fine job taking our drink and meal orders, but didn't really check in once our entrees arrived. At one point, every single person at the table had an empty glass in front of them, and when our waitress finally came over to take a few dishes away, she didn't ask anyone if they'd like another drink. After our meal, my husband and I went over to the bar for an after dinner drink. The service was fine, and the bartenders were friendly, but the townie barflies were loud and eye-roll inducing. This was well and good, and certainly not the restaurant's fault, until the bartenders got into a conversation with one of them (a Springfield cop, who was telling anyone who would listen that he was a Springfield cop) about Caitlyn Jenner. Among other derisive comments, they were in agreement that she was "ridiculous," shouldn't have received an ESPY award for "that," and that they would continue to "call him Bruce." It was offensive and unprofessional. We were willing to give the "new" Fort the benefit of the doubt, but I don't think we'll be back.
(3)Moe B.
Used to be great. Now it's just plain average. Been there four times since the re-opening and it's been consistently ok. No more multiple bargain lunches choices. The portions have gotten smaller. The management isn't as friendly or gracious. Used to be a reason in itself to come to Springfield. Now there isn't much of a reason at all.
(3)Dave S.
Stopped in for a beer, $7 for a mug. Tasted kinda "stale". After drinking bit more than half, noticed a fairly large paint chip?? swirling around down low. Quietly notified Dan the bartender , who looked in the beer to see if I was lying. Please guess his next move: A: Immediately apologized after inspecting the beer, and poured me a new mug. B: Scooped in out with a spoon, and returned the beer to me with a smile. C: Replaced my mug of beer with a small glass of beer. Ok...it was C. thats about it for me at this place.
(1)Richard R.
I've been coming to this icon of restaurants for more than 20 years and looked forward to dinner this evening but was very disappointed! Simple expectations from a restaurant of this caliber to have soup hot or hot German sides was not experienced! Ordered veal chop that was very tough and not acceptable - substituted for veal schnitzel w/mushroom gravy was very appetizing. Service was good but slow on a Tuesday night. Not sure I would return!!
(3)Mark F.
The legendary Student Prince. I remember trying this place out way back when I was a UMass undergrad. That's how well known the place is. Since it briefly closed, I was able to try the restaurant again for the first time in a long time. It was around Christmas right around when they reopened, so it was a very busy night. Luckily, anyone can use the valet service the restaurant provides. Once you enter, you have a very large bar area to your right, a small dining area in front of you, and the larger dining area to your left. All drinks came in appropriate beer glassware such as the classic glass stein. The menu was special that one night we went since carolers were going to sing for the evening. We started our meal with the fried camembert cheese served with honey mustard. I then had a sampler plate of different German meats for my entree. Overall, we had a lovely evening and the atmosphere at the restaurant is so vibrant and joyous since the re-opening. Even if those emotions cool, the Student Prince is still a fantastic restaurant in downtown Springfield.
(5)Jamie T.
I have loved this place for years, especially when they have the game dinners. I was filled with trepidation after they re-opened with new owners and a renovation; one of the great things about the place is the 60's ambience... You could easily imagine Robert Deniro and Joe Pesci out of Goodfellas in a corner table (I know it's German not Italian, but that was my impression lol). The renovations opened the place up and showcased the fabulous beer stein collection wonderfully. I must say, when we went the staff seemed miserable... Not one had a smile; they all seemed like they were being beaten in the kitchen... maybe it was a bad night? The food has retained its quality and taste though. All in all, absolutely still worth the price. If you don't get the house Roquefort dressing, you're missing 75% of the experience. Just saying. :-)
(4)Angela m.
Interesting atmosphere, annoying car salesman server and just okay food. Didn't have a bad experience yet nothing stood out either. I would've given a neutral 3 stars but the server was so obnoxious I had to deduct 1. Just take the order and serve. No need for anecdotes or force up-sales.
(2)Carlos O.
For how ghetto the whole area is, for a tourist finding this gem is amazing. Historic, memorable and affordable. After going to the basketball hall of fame, this was the perfect stop to end the day.
(5)Michael B.
Best german food I've ever had. I had the sampler and one of their pilsners, both were delicious, as were the apps that we got- the pretzel and the potato pancakes. Will definitely come by here next time I'm in springfield.
(5)Kym F.
Best place to have a beer in this area!!!!! The bar area is very nice too!!! I actually prefer it over the restaurant.
(5)Nicola S.
Wonderful atmosphere and amazing food. The waitress was very friendly and was very helpful with suggestions.
(5)Bradford C.
So there was an announcement that the resteraunt may close. My family has been going there for 35 years. So when I heard that I immediately flew up from Florida for what I thought would be my last meal at this iconic and amazing place in my hometown. It's not home unless I have dinner at the student prince when I come back to Western Mass which is very rare. The meal did not disappoint, the fried cheese app. The Spaten beer the classic German fair is so unbelievably authentic it's like you are eating in a tent at Octoberfest. Of course a resteraunt is only as good as its staff and owner. In this case it makes the experience that much better. I only flew in for the night to have dinner, without hesitation because of the above factors. I grew up on this food every Friday night seeing the owner Rudy and his father Ruppert everytime. So now the good news besides the unbelievable food. You will have a chance to try it again. They found a buyer for the resteraunt and Rudy will still be there. To be honest I actually discussed with my group of investors buying the place because it's that amazing. So September 2 they will reopen and I am already planning my trip. If you don't stop in and you are in western mass then you would be remiss. I already marked my calendar.
(5)Matthew G.
Undeniably great. Appetizers were excellent. Best pretzel I've ever had. So delicious with a beer. Bratwurst sliders were great. My entree was the traditional Weiner Schnitzel which was just ok--a little disappointing. But as a whole, it's a place you want to experience and I will definitely go back. Without a doubt. Also good service and ambience.
(4)Laurita M.
You should go here even just to have a drink and take in the ambiance. It is such an institution with such a unique feel you can't get anywhere else. They have great, classic German food, but I can only handle such cuisine once or twice a year. I will definitely be back for a good cocktail and to take part in the scene.
(5)Casey W.
I'm about to begin residency in Springfield, and today I arrived in search of not only a car and an apartment, but a decent meal. Twenty minutes from starving I asked the leasing agent at the hipster apartment complex where to get something delicious, and I was was told the student prince was a unique local favorite. Wiener schnitzel a la Holstein (sounds right) was top notch, the only thing that I would have added to the plate would have been another fried egg on top. The "baked onion soup," which was French onion soup but HEY this is a German joint, was 9/10, would eat again. The beer selection was European from what I could see at the bar. Their house bock was great. The Student Prince is cozy for being a labyrinth of connected rooms. Apparently back in the day it was divided into the male dominated tavern, and ladies dining area. The restrooms are located as such, kinda funny. I'll be back here for more schnitzel.
(4)Dirk S.
This place is an institution in Springfield it almost closed has since reopened even better. The bar is unbelievable, it is honestly stunning. I have always enjoyed coming here to eat or drink, the bartenders are professional in every sense of the word and know their liquor and beers. The food has also always been a highlight from their annual game months to their daily menu. Five stars
(5)Bradford D.
The Student Prince/Fort Dining Room was recommended to me by a colleague who lives down here in Hartford, CT...so I made the drive up last night for dinner. Totally worth it! Had a very nice steak salad (could have used a bit more steak than what they provided...but it was still good...), with a custom Roquefort/vinaigrette dressing made table side, and a killer jumbo prawn cocktail with some extra horseradish to kick it up three notches...all washed down with two steins of some de-lish Warsteiner Maibock beer, and I was set. Oh, and EXCELLENT service from Janet...she was a treat and made my dinner a real pleasure. Looking forward to coming back later this summer and have some real German dishes (sausages, kraut, etc...) A little hard to find down a small one-way alley (Hertz Neverlost was not much help...) but I eventually found it.
(4)Nobbi L.
As some of you may know, I'm a food snob. And when it comes to German restaurants in the US, I'm usually disappointed. Often the meals are "not right", i.e. the veggie or starch does not go with the meat. German food rules (regulations)! At the student prince this is not a problem. Whereas the "non-German" dishes give you a choice of "Beilage", the traditional dishes are set. So, I like the place. The atmosphere is ancient Bavarian hunting lodge. The waitresses wear Dirndl. When I asked our American waitress what type of Pils they had, she gave me an appropriate answer. Jack had Gulaschsuppe and I ordered the cold Vichyssoise. Both were good. For our main course, he chose the pot roast and I the Sauerbraten. It seemed that we both had exactly the same beef, just with different gravies. Whereas my sauce was quite good as restaurant sauces go, the meat had not been marinating for a week. I don't believe it was marinated in vinegar at all. The red cabbage was good. The dumpling was not a potato dumpling but a Semmelknödel (bread dumpling). It had zero flavor. I'd like to try the dinner menu one day. So I'll be back!
(4)Jeffrey G.
A Springfield Classic! True authentic German food, prepared with old school excellence. Well trained bartenders. Seniority matters. The pace has slowed down some since the time of the original owner. My grandfather would tell me stories of the masterful table turners at the Fort. Still a bit quirky where if you are sitting at the bar and want to eat, you end up with two tabs. One for beverage and one for food. Decorations and collection of antiques are wonderful. Be sure to take a moment and wander around to take it all in. Christmas is a particularly great time. They go all out with decorations, hand made egg nog, etc.
(4)Dan M.
Very impressed. Best corned beef ruben in Western Mass. My new favorite restaurant in Springfield.
(5)Robert A.
Phenomenal in every sense of the word. This place is a piece of Springfield history and I can see why. The atmosphere alone makes you feel like you're in Germany between the stained glass and the steins lining the wall. They definitely did an amazing job with the recent renovations as it looks a lot more polished. As for the food; excellent! Consistent quality and flavor and this is coming from a guy who typically dislikes german cuisine. The beer selection is extensive too with every variation of german and even local craft beer. Try the half and half; it's like a german version of a black and tan. This along with the giant soft pretzel is worth the trip alone. I wish I worked closer to downtown just so I could make it more often but I don't know if my bank account could handle that.
(5)Christine C.
This was a great find! My fiancé and I had an hour wait for the bus in Springfield so we decided to explore. This place was a 5 min walk from the station and looked promising. The traditional German food made for a nice comfort meal before our bus ride home to Boston. The restaurant itself is really fun and quirky. We ordered a few apps which were all great and the server recommended a couple of beers that we enjoyed as well. If you ever find yourself in the Springfield area this is definitely worth a visit.
(4)Anne H.
A colleague introduced this place to me years ago-- now it's my go to every time I'm in town. I love the old school vibe, even if it means I'm one of the few people there under 50 years old at dinner time. The beer list is the bomb, even if the server says it so fast that you forget which one you wanted by the time she's done. The German food is pretty damn close to the real deal, even if the portions are totally American (read: humongous.) The great little gem nestled on a side street in Springfield = Yum.
(4)Roberto C.
What ruined the experience is that the person that I was waiting for was forced to use valet parking, having a spot available almost in front of the door of the restaurant. City ordinance, prohibits exclusive use of the street for this service, when the provided in a public right-of-way like Fort Street. What should have been an optional service, was awful bullying after driving six hours. Otherwise food and beer were OK.
(2)Joseph B.
So, The Fort has re-opened. Well, my strong advice is to avoid at all costs. Literally every aspect of lunch was subpar at best. They seated us ten minutes late, after our reservation. It took the waitress about 15 minutes to even ask us what drinks we wanted, and we were in somewhat of a rush, so we ordered food as well. Silverware and plates were stained, and not clean. But that didn't matter since we waited over an hour after ordering before getting our food. We had to ask three different waitresses (ours kept telling us the food was "almost out" and will be ready "in four minutes") and then the hostess. Everyone simply ignored us. We first started asking 40 minutes after we ordered, and then every ten minutes after. Total time after we sat down was 90 minutes before we even saw any food, and then it was just two side salads. They didn't even bring us out any bread. I guess they thought we could use a diet. When they brought the food out, it was, to be brutally honest, rubbish. The salads were a pile of limp lettuce with a tomato wedge on top. The schnitzel sandwich I ordered had no dressing or sauce, and when I asked for some, they first accused me of lying ("The sauce is on the bottom!"), then said "well, they have to make the sauce to order!". Then why didn't they make it when I ordered it? I asked for some mustard or mayo, at least, to go on the dry bread...the waitress instead stood over the Point of Sale machine and complained loudly she didn't know it worked. She finally yelled at a younger waitress to go get me some sauce for the sandwich, but that one just walked out of the dining room. 20 minutes later they brought out some mayo, but with a cold sandwich and a member of our party late to catch a train, we just left. During our trip we had every single table around us complaining repeatedly about late food and then, when it arrived, bad food. At least one waitress straight up quit and walked out during the service. And when we complained to Rupert, the previous owner (who was walking around greeting people), he broke down in tears and said "This would never have happened when I fucking owned this place!" He literally was crying about how awful the service was. We drove home and I heated up some left-over soup in the microwave. It was about 100 times better than the crap they (eventually) served me, I left 95% of the dry, cold sandwich on the table when we left. TL;DR: Horrendous service, awful food, and then they still charge you an arm and a leg for it. Pray this re-incarnation of the Student Prince closes down before anyone else is forced to fork over actual money for such a hellish experience. $80 bucks, down the drain. Do not eat here!
(1)Timothy M.
Went to the bar last night and it was very good. Staff is very friendly and knows the food and drink menus well. excellent selection of appetizers, the pretzels were very good with nice sauce options. The staff is also able to make accommodations, such as horseradish with the pretzels. Good beer selection, a dozen different things on tap, maybe more. Very good wine list with several options for red & white by the glass and more in bottles. I will return for dinner at some point
(4)Lisa G.
This is the place for German Food. Very sad to hear they sold the place to owners of Huke Lau in Chicopee. I hope they don't change a thing on the menu. Pot pies, Roquefort dressing, game night. Need I go on. Will have to wait and see.
(5)Rick T.
Awesome German beers with ton of beer steins to look at !
(4)Sarah S.
Great food, friendly service. Get the red cabbage!
(4)Dodie D.
This is an update of the review that I posted in February that was far less than complimentary. My friends and I returned to the Student Prince 3 months after having a bad experience because we loved the SP and wanted to give it another chance, just in case things improved. We arrived on time and were seated immediately. We had requested that Jeff be our server; we have had him a few times in the past and he is always wonderful and entertaining. As usual, he delivered stellar service and was very knowledgeable and entertaining. He took our drink order, filled us in on the specials and answered our questions about changes made to the menu items. The oyster bar was not yet available, but oysters were on the appetizer menu and one in our party ordered them and was very happy with their quality. The remaining three of us nibbled on an appetizer of potato pancakes because we wanted to save room for dessert. I missed having a choice of soup or salad included with the meal. After learning that his favorite dish, the smoked pork chops, is now prepared differently, this friend ordered the pork shank and was pleased with it. His wife opted for the swordfish special, served over vegetables and olives and she also was very very pleased; the fish was tender and moist, not at all dry like swordfish can be at times. We can credit our waiter Jeff for discussing how the dish was prepared with her and making the suggestions that he did that made it exceptional. The Kaiser schnitzle was very good, but could have had a bit more of the mushroom sauce that was served underneath the pork cutlets. The paprika chicken was also very good with a side of spatzle. Then came time for the best part of dinner: DESSERT! Right? um, no, not exactly. The creme suchard was superior, decandently chocolate with a hint of some sort of liqueur. However, when we ordered the dark forest chocolate cake, our waiter had to come back to tell us it was unavailable. Seems they no longer employ a pastry chef to make all of their desserts in house and the dark forest cake was still frozen. FROZEN? Imagine my disappointment after saving room for a gooey, chocolately rich cake only to find it unavailable because someone forgot to take it out of a freezer, yet I think I was more disappointed to find out it was outsourced. So much for the SP's reputation for incredible cakes. We resigned ourselves to a chavinette (an ice cream shake with galiano and other liqueurs), another creme suchard, and a strawberry shortcake. The shortcake was very disappointing, there was a small pressed layer of a strawberry substance at the bottom of a cake. Not exactly what was expected and probably was frozen only hours ago. And why is there not apple strudel at a German restaurant? We spoke to the manager, John, about some of the changes to the menus. While we understand the SP had to make changes to become profitable, the new version of the restaurant was not able to salvage the original elegance and exceptional quality we had become accustomed to. Change is inevitable in life and the Student prince is an example of an inevitable change that is not for the better. The restaurant still serves decent food, just don't try to compare it to the old days; they are gone and they are not going to return. *sniff*
(3)Mike B.
First german food experience! place was packed, and requires valet parking. Overall food was delicious!
(4)Jon M.
My colleague is enthusiastic about German food to say the least. So it was with great excitement we headed downtown to the Student Prince. We headed inside and I was really impressed with the real wood paneling and beer stein collection. Straight up I ordered a Spaten bier and have to say it was delicious. The menu has a lot of very German dishes, so if you're not familiar ask the wait staff, they were very helpful. I ended up ordering the Jaeger Schnitzel and my friend ordered the sampler platter. Both come with spaetzl, which was super. His order also had sauerkraut and white bratwurst which he really liked. My schnitzel was unbreaded which surprised me, but the mushroom gravy was great and I enjoyed it very much. The red cabbage was sweet and pretty good. After dinner was desserts: brownie sundae and strawberry-rhubarb pie, both good but someday I want to taste a pie with a lot more of that sour rhubarb flavor. Alas today was not that day. Thumbs up to the most German-like meal I've had in years!!
(4)Susan G.
Tried the roquefort dressing as rec.and it did not disappoint_over all the food was good but very under seasoned - both the chicken paprika and the kaiser schnitzel - but would still recommend it for a hearty Sunday lunch!
(4)Ethel G.
We had a fantastic experience shortly before Christmas. This was The Fort we remember! Great food, fine service, lovely atmosphere. Great salad. I am guessing the new version is a work in progress.
(4)J C.
This is a great place a block away from all the gentlemen's clubs in Springfield. Yelp says classy, which is true for the dining room. For a more casual experience, you can sit at the bar or in the booths. It has an epic collection of beer steins and a decent beer selection to boot. I got a Spaten Lager and the German Sampler, which came with a Sausage, Sauerkraut, Pork Chop, and Goulash. Overall, this was an excellent dish. First, the sausage was good. It was very fine and didn't have much fat in it. The lack of fat made it an odd choice to pair the sausage with sauerkraut/mustard/ginger. I find that the sourness of sauerkraut or the taste of mustard and ginger cuts the heaviness of fats, making the fatty food much more palatable. In my opinion, the sausage didn't need the sauerkraut. But pickled vegetables are cool. Second, the goulash was pretty standard. The stew was good, but the beef was somewhat overcooked and dry. I wonder if it was because they didn't stew the beef long enough. The chunks of beef that contained tendon displayed the primary evidence of overcooking. I'd expect stewed tendon to be springy and not chewy. Third, the pork chop with some kind of sweet sauce was the highlight of the meal. The sweet sauce had a hint of tartness that ensure the sweetness was not overwhelming. The pork chop was thin, but it was tender and not overcooked. It's the true demonstration of skill to cook a thin pork chop to the perfect doneness. Fourth, there was some kind of fried potato thing. That was glorious. This review might sound like hating, but I'm only pointing out the flaws. Overall, it was pretty good.
(4)Taylor V.
I came to The Fort for the first time a little over a year ago, and I have been back dozens of times ever since. For starters, their authentic German cuisine is incredible. Everything is always hot and fresh and comes out quickly. Like most, I love their fried cheese, and their crabcake is also an excellent appetizer. I have never had anything that I did not enjoy here. The bartenders and waitresses always make you feel like you're "right at home", and the laid back, old school atmosphere makes it a great place to just relax, unwind, and chat with a friend. I also greatly appreciate the fact that they offer valet parking. Considering that it is in downtown Springfield, parking is not always easy to come by, so this certainly makes dining here more appealing. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a great meal, or just looking to hangout and have a few drinks.
(5)N D.
Wonderful ambiance and food with tremendous service on an extremely busy night. We went the day after Christmas and the place was crazy busy. Reservation for 6:30 and we were seated at about 7:15. Manager bought our first round for the delay. Service was excellent. Bottom line: I was there with a German friend and he gave The Fort a thumbs-up and said his mother would approve (I think that's a high compliment). The bar is a stunning room and the beer selection was great. I hope the casinos will give this place a stronger financial base than it has had since Springfield's catastrophic decline. This place is worth the trip, absolutely.
(4)Captain Stanley T.
50 years ago this was.the place for Lobster American and the flaming Baked Alaska., just as I remembered even Rupert is there in the person of his son who assured me with advance notice he could duplucate his father's recipes. The place is exactly tge same. It is wonderful to find a place that carries on the same passions that made it famous in the first place. What a gem!!! You will be pleased.
(5)Bob M.
I am 1/2 German and live in East Haven (Staven) I have been trying to find a good German restaurant for years. We didn't get the fried cheese to start but we started with the potato pancakes and they were great. Then, my lovely wife got the scallops and it was great. My friend, Paula got scallops blackend and she said they were heavenly. My best friend got the wurst platter. He loved it. I got a traditional weinersnitchel they put an egg on top for me. It was great. All in all the food wad great. One of the best parts is that I wanted German food and the rest of our party not so much. And we were all very happy.
(5)bahhhoo b.
I love this place. Try going near Christmas. Nobody does Christmas like the Germans. I hope the new owners don't change a thing. When we have guests over, we always head over to the prince.
(5)JP N.
It's possible that I am biased because I grew up nearby, but the Student Price is a special place. First off- I've visited Germany several times, even living there for a period of time, and the Student Prince has a certain vibe/authenticity that is hard to beat. The food is excellent and it makes me marvel that a place this good still exists in downtown Springfield. Their drink selection is incredible. As other posters have said- come here on the holidays and you are really in for a treat. The best eggnog I've ever had. This place is a western Mass institution, but it remains as such for a reason- it's great.
(5)Amelia H.
This restaurant is a Springfield landmark. It serves authentic German food and it is delicious. Parking can be tough but there is a lot at the end of the street which is reasonably priced and also the restaurant has valet. The fried camembert is a must!!! My husband loves the homemade sausage platter and I love any of the schnitzels. Thus Thursday I had the harz mountain schnitzel and it was so tasty. This place is great!!
(5)S R.
A colleague of mine raved about the student prince, and told me that it was one of the better German restaurants we had visited. I must say, I was not impressed. The decor is great. The service was mediocre. The beer was fresh, but the draft selection is limited. The Wurstplatte was bland, and the Potato Salad was subpar. Perhaps I should have wandered into other parts of the menu, but I can't rate the food beyond 2 stars based on what I had. I may give it another shot, because my review is not inline with the rest, but Springfield is not a frequent destination for me, so my 2 stars may persist for some time.
(2)Scott M.
A brightly lit and claustrophobic German, with decent cocktails and good food. We had a large group, and everyone had something different. I had the Pork Hock, with all the usual crap the Huns put on the side. Spätzle, Kraut, Cabbage, etc. It was all edible. Not extraordinary, but good. The Booze was good, with decent prices and service. I've had better Deutsch in Chicago and Milwaukee, but this was a decent feed.
(3)Marina S.
Was craving German food and though it was an authentic menu, I was a bit underwhelmed. The food was on the dry side and I enjoyed the company of the friendly lederhosen-wearing staff more than my meal. *Good selection of beer
(3)Sylectra D.
Good selection of dishes from entrees to salads to sandwiches, and the German beer selection is great. Good service at the bar over the lunch hour. I had the turkey wrap but it was kinda too mayonnaisey. The salad was delicious. Friendly staff.
(3)Nancy H.
No one wants to wake up to sad news, but to hear the the Fort was closing, brought tears to my eyes. We were Married in Germany on Valentines day 56 years ago. We have been in Springfield 50 years and for Lunch we have gone to the Fort. We always had the same table, everyone knows us and after dinner they bring us an anniversary cake and sing to us. We even had or 50th anniversary party there.I don't want this tradition to end. When we have friends come to visit we bring them there.I am praying that some mirical happens and they don,t close. Rudy you have been so wonderful to us ,we love you and know this has been a difficult decision to make. With all our hope for your future , we will so miss you. Love, Jack and Nancy Holowitz
(5)Ann E.
The Student Prince is the best German restaurant in the area. I have been here about 5 times. I went here recently with my husband as a treat from one of our sons. The atmosphere is very interesting. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable. We usually start with some appetizers. This time we started with the Fried Camembert Cheese and the Nuremberg Sausage over Red Cabbage. Both were delicious. The Rye Bread is excellent and we each had about 4 slices!! My husband and son both had a Garden Salad with Roquefort Dressing, a favorite for both of them. For dinner, I had the Wurst Platte-delicious. My husband had the Classic Wiener Schnitzel, he ate it all. My son had a special, I think it was called the German Sampler-a Pork Chop that was really good, some Goulash that was just okay and a Bratwurst. I wasn't wowed by the sauerkraut, but liked the Spaetzel. The Potato Salad is very good. Also, it's a special treat to be able to indulge is some delicious German beer.
(5)Wilbur B.
I have been to the Fort twice, before it closed for renovations back in July. I really like this place; it has a lot of charm of an old-style restaurant (especially its Stine collection, which is predominantly displayed in the main room).,..and the food was excellent both times. I look forward to going back very soon.
(4)Alex H.
Welcome back Rudy and the Student Prince! First visit since the re-open last Friday night w/ my bride and we absolutely love the new look. Hands down - the best bar scene in Western Mass! Look forward to many nights w/ friends in your establishment. Great drinks, great food, fun crowd and excellent bar/wait staff. Let's hope the casino doesn't create problems for the business. Maybe a year or two of casino diversion but back up to speed when people realize the wonder of this classic Springfield gem.
(5)Reid F.
Excellent German food, but a tad less excellent than Munich House in Chicopee. Nonetheless, you won't go wrong at the Fort.
(4)Mark M.
Very excited about the reopening. My favorites are still available and am looking forward to the menu changes as well.
(5)John L.
I've heard about the Student Prince as long as I've heard about things. However, I had never been until last night: The Good - - The fried cheese is excellent, and a nice touch. - The sauerbraten (which I got a sample of) was quite excellent, and tasty to boot. :) - the potato pancakes were also really nice, both with apple sauce and sour cream. - The ambiance is nice, especially the carolers around Christmastime, which is a really nice touch - The egg-nog is perfect. Absolutely perfect. The Less-Good - - It's my fault for ordering it, but the Garlic Shrimp, while okay, left much to be desired (5 shrimp for $20? Really?) I should have gone with the veal and the sauerbraten, but that's what I get for panicking while ordering. - It's a crowded place, and hard to move around. If you get into the back room, you're likely better off than if you were in the main room. Overall, the food is excellent, and the ambiance is nice, and it's definitely a place to check out.
(4)Sue W.
Welcome back Old Friend, we had the pleasure of getting reacquainted tonight. While the restaurant was always a favorite, the changes are welcome and wonderful. A few of the old timers might balk at a few of the changes, but the good out weighs the different. Look forward to seeing you again in a few weeks for a magical night of Christmas cheer and caroling.
(5)Danielle L.
Gonna make this short and sweet! German restaurants are a little, uhh, less, well....not so up to date and fancy which is totally fine because it's German! We were in Springfield for a basketball tournament and heard from word of mouth about Student Prince...and being on this German kick we were there! The waitress was very helpful and friendly, service was great and the food was phenomenal and not overly huge portions so you don't leave stuffed...as German food can be filling and heavy. We all really enjoyed our meals and if in the area again will certainly give it another try!
(4)J J.
I came here primarily because of Rudi's responses to customer's comments. I stopped by just for a couple of beers as I wanted Indian food to take back to the hotel and watch the masters. The bar was a blast. Friendly customers, friendly and helpful staff, and really good beer. Don't know about the food, but the folks at the bar proclaimed it good. Next time I'm in town I'll give the food a try. Rudi! Good job!
(5)Keith A.
This use to be such a great restaurant. Some friends and I went for dinner the night they reopened and were extremely disappointed. The waitress took 20 minutes to take our drink order. 10 minutes later our drinks came only to find out they were not what we ordered. So at this point we were understanding after all mistakes happen. We ordered soup and appetizers. Our appetizers came but the soups never came. We asked again for our soup and were told "I'll have it right away". 10 minutes later our meals came. We asked again where our french onion soups were and we were told " let me see what I can do". We made a complaint and were told they would not charge us for the soup since we did not receive it. Our reaction was "are you joking, of course we are not paying for the soup." Dissatisfied with the managers response we spoke to the owner. He was very condescending and rude. We will never again dine in that establishment again.
(1)Jean A.
We were a group of 9 coworkers celebrating Christmas on a Thursday night (5PM). When we made the reservation several weeks ago we were told we could have the table for 2 hours. Oh, okay. Several of us spent time during the day looking over the menu and making our selections only to find out when we arrived that they were using a limited menu that night because they were so busy. Several of us were not happy with that at all. This information should have been relayed to the person making the reservation or at least it should be on the website! There was nothing on this limited menu that appealed to me so I asked our rather confused server if I could get the chicken schnitzel that is listed on the standard menu - she had to check with the kitchen and she returned sometime later with a yes. We ordered 2 servings of the fried Camembert cheese to share, which was good. When our meals started to come out I was rather surprised that our server was the ONLY one serving a table of 9. Four of us got our meals and everyone told us to start eating which I was uncomfortable doing. I was raised to wait until everyone was served, then eat. Good thing we started without them, it took awhile for the others to be served. However, one person in our party had no meal...her order was not put in. After everyone had their meals she flagged down the server to ask where hers was. A few minutes later the waitress came running back with a salad and said the order is being rushed. Our friend was upset and said to cancel her order she was not going to eat alone as most of us were well into our meal. The manager came to the table to apologize and tried to get her to eat her meal, she refused and I don't blame her. He took a bottle of wine off the bill (the wine she was sharing with another woman) but when the bill arrived they took the cheaper bottle of wine off, not the one she was drinking, when we brought that to their attention they took both bottles off the bill. I can only speak for my meal - the chicken schnitzel - very disappointing. Piles of thin, fried chicken breast that was totally flavorless, some home fries that we just ok and red cabbage that was pretty good. I had a friend sitting across from me taste it, to make sure it wasn't me and he totally agreed...tasteless. Which, by the way, I did tell the waitress when she asked how was everything. The portion of chicken was more than generous but the sides were rather small. I took more than half home and will try to flavor it up in a sandwich! There were Christmas carolers and that was nice but we felt rude opening our gifts and finishing up our allotted time while they were singing but time was running out! Several members of our group were dissatisfied with the service and meals. It was very crowded, noisy and seemed chaotic. Needless to say, we will not be returning to The Fort.
(2)Mj W.
I haven't been to this place in years and just stopped in for appetizers and it was just great as I remember. The collection of beer steins are amazing and it's worth stopping in just to see them. We had Fried Camembert Cheese, one hot and one cold Vichyssoise soup, Potato Pancakes and Mushroom Caps stuffed with Fiddleheads and parm cheese. All were very very good. Of course the black and tan was wonderful as expected. The offer Valet service for only $4.00. If you are looking for a bit of Germany, this is the place!
(5)Peter Y.
I absolutely love the atmosphere in the Student Prince. With its dark wood, stained glass windows and an amazing beer stein collection, the restaurant takes me right back to Bavaria and Austria. The manager quickly made a space for me at one of the small tables near the bar. The menu is pretty extensive but I settled on the bratwurst with sauerkraut and German potato salad. The promise of bratwurst made in house won me over. Unfortunately, the bratwurst was under seasoned sending me looking for the salt shaker and more mustard. The sauerkraut was pretty sweet and but was nicely flavored with juniper berries and bay leaves. I was confused when I first saw the potato salad - it looked like a scoop of mashed potatoes with a lettuce leaf underneath and a flourish of paprika on top. The cold potato salad seemed muted, lacking much flavor. On the whole the food/plate presentation seemed old school, perhaps in a style common in the 70's. Service was average. One concern is that almost all of the clientele, seated for dinner, was older. Areas of improvement include replacing the old and dingy flooring, more attention to flavoring the foods properly, adopting a newer serving style (More modern plate presentation) and more energetic service. This place has a great potential given the restaurant's history and esthetics. I just hope that they adjust so that they can thrive.
(2)eric l.
Driving through Springfield I wanted to find a spot for dinner that was historic and unique. Google lead me to Student Prince and I was quite impressed. The dishes were daring and definitely unique -- I had the hearty game stew with bison, venison, wild boar, kangaroo, antelope, and elk! It was wonderful! Our service was excellent as our waitress and host had personalities and pride in their work at the Student Prince. As for the location's historic ambiance, it did not disappoint. Their walls of beer steins, china, and corkscrews were intriguing as was their old-wood, old-world charm spread throughout the place. I'd definitely recommend!
(4)Rob D.
This place is absolutely amazing! It was my first visit to the Springfield area and I decided to visit based on other good reviews. I had the Stroganoff and it was the best I have ever had. Also try the apple strudel. You can't go wrong! I've been to several German restaurants in my travels and this is one of the best!
(5)Patrick D.
First off, someone should fix this listing...the Student Prince is NOT closed! Second, I can't believe it took me so long to go here. It's a classic old German restaurant in the heart of Springfield, serving authentic dishes and steins of beer. The ambiance is excellent...very old-school with a historic feel. And the service was excellent. Our waiter was extremely helpful, knew his stuff and had a fun "no nonsense" attitude, too. Only negative was the game kebob which is a limited-time thing and easy to avoid -- I discovered antelope, kangaroo, bison and elk are not really my thing. Will definitely return.
(4)Tim D.
Another great meal at the Fort. We often forget about it as we get into other dining out ruts. We had veal paprika and stuffed veal steak, both were great! Only thing keeping off the fifth star was the waitress from 1950 that was slow.
(4)