T. J.

You kids do not know what you are missing. Old World food artfully prepared. It is older facade but the food is to die for. (which is better than from!) Very reasonable. (10-15 a platter) handmade desserts. (hazelnut torte) I had pork schnitzel (hand breaded cutlet) with a beer reduction sauce that while having sharp overtones complimented the pork and fried onions that were drizzled on top. Red cabbage and hot potato salad were served with a house dressed (dill) salad. Few clients/ older crowd. Get there while you can.

Aaron D.

This used to be a great place for German food, which is somewhat hard to find in the area. However, it seems they've been having hard times and the quality of the food has dropped.

Pamela C.

I've always been a fan of this place, but last night was a totally different experience. We ordered our usual, chicken, and veal schnitzel, it was so thin and dry, also the coating was not as their usual. Lacking taste, and portion sizes went way down. The drawn butter is now drawn margarine...yuck, served in cheap plastic cups, not the metal ones as before. The menu had so many cross off's, it looked so unprofessional. The bread, and black forest torte still very good. This used to be one of my favorite places, but with these "new" changes, don't think I will be back~

D B.

What a splendid lunch I just had at Richter's Chalet! I got in a little late for lunch but the owners were happy to accomodate me!! The bread was FABULOUS, the potato pancakes were the BEST ever, and the salad with house dill and chive dressing was delish!!! PLUS I had to try the roasted pecan pie for dessert....what a way to spend an hour!! I also carried home 2 pieces of struedel for husband who was unable to make it to lunch!!! Needless to say, he was a happy camper with his goodies......Did I say BEST potato pancakes ever???? They were WONDERFUL!!!! Don't miss this too cool place!!!

Jaclyn B.

The chalet is adorable. It is just like walking into a small German place in the motherland. I like the ambiance. The menu is vast, they are missing a few true of my German favorites- knuckle and weisswurst.... but I have found new loves. I have been here multiple times for lunch and am unable to venture past the knackwurst on the bun. Their mustard accents the plate well... and less than $5 for the plate, killer red cabbage (they swap it out for the sauerkraut) and a bowl of soup. I love it! It is perfect. The wait staff is very prompt and friendly. I have been very impressed with the dishes I have sampled from my dining partners. I will be back!

Michael H.

I grew up in a part of Ohio in the 1970s where the local farmers surrounding the town still spoke in German. Back then, it was still possible to find German American restaurants like this one. In fact, in one restaurant that I was taken to by my aunt when I was three, you had to place your order in German. Sadly, most of these types of restaurants have largely disappeared in my original home area due to the families being assimilated into American culture. So, finding a place like this where the restaurant has been handed down in the family from generation to generation is special. This is a gem hidden in plain sight. This place is retro cool for me. The food here is of the same high level of fresh made quality that the German American restaurants of my youth had without me having to place my order in German. From start to finish, the meal is memorable and flavorful. And it has an old fashioned German family flavor and quality to it. The bread appetizer which you are greeted with when you sit down is fresh baked and still warm. The fried breaded mushrooms are great. You can definitely tell that they were freshly battered fresh mushrooms. The lentil soup is filling and flavorful. The chicken schnitzel is divine. The chicken is moist and tender. And when you put the melted butter and gravy over it, it becomes even more so. The green beans are fresh and taste like they came from a garden. The spatzle is really nice. It reminds me of what my late grandmother used to make. The staff are friendly. The owner's wife is the head of the front of house. She is the heart of the place. If you have been here even once before, she tends to remember you from your last visit. She makes this place feel like you are visiting a friend. She makes sure that your visit to this place isn't going to be just an impersonal experience.

Andrea H.

I'm very disappointed in this Restaurant. I'd advise NOT to go there, even though they are closing for good, and their last day is next Thursday (May 28). I can make better German food, than what was served me. I ordered the Veal Goulash and they had the audacity to put chicken chunks in it to fill it out, and used canned gravy, not homemade. It should have been a paprika gravy, not a dark brown gravy. The menu didn't say that there would be chicken in it. And to top it off....NO DESSERTS! This was one of the main reason I came back to this place. I wanted my Hazelnut Torte or even Black Forest Torte....can't even order one. The place sure went down in the past few years. I guess no pride in what they make.

Liz W.

I am so torn on a review for here. It was good but not great. I liked it but its quirky and not as great as the build up was. Our experience was a bit surreal here. We were the youngest by at least 20 years. The oldsters ran to the loud and crotchety variety. I had to listen to one woman ask for more info on every single chicken dish on the menu, then follow the waitresses patient description with "YES BUT IS IT TENDER? I DON'T LIKE TOUGH CHICKEN, YOU BETTER NOT GIVE ME TOUGH CHICKEN!" said complete with condescending attitude as well. The poor waitress kept reiterating that all the chicken is very nice here, quite tender. Gah. Needless to say it could either add or detract from the overall experience depending on how much humor you can muster. My husband and I had fun with it but we are that way. The restaurant is the type of place where things have not been changed one iota in thirty years. The menus are fragile and musty. The waitstaff is the type of old where you feel wretched for having them wait on you, I mean seriously, I was raised better than to let my granny tire herself out. The whole joint is just a time warp and not in a cool or retro chic way. The service is very interesting. The tender obsessed got her meal before us even though she ordered way after. No hard feelings there at all though, I would have fed that barracuda first too. Good call for the whole room really, no further bluster as she ate her tender damn chickie. Our waitress really hustled and was so super sweet but somehow the meal still dragged on and on, it felt like we were there a few years. Our food was tasty for the most part. I liked the freebie cheese topped crackers, surprisingly though my husband did not. Ding ding for me as I got another crackerful. The bread was dense and happily enjoyed while we waited. I ordered the schnitzel a la holstein and it was good. The meat was a bit tough in spots (don't tell the tender police) but the flavors made up for it. I adore capers and the anchovies and egg jazzed up the schnitzel, which can be a bit boring on its own. The breading was just right. With it I had the salad with creamy dill which was a bit too thick for my taste but again was happy flavor wise, a little buttermilk would have added a little pop and thinning I think. Still a dill dressing is rare enough to find I should not bitch. I chose german potato salad as another side and really found it delicious. The best thing going though was the red cabbage which was a sweet and sour delight. My husband had chicken schnitzel which was very tender indeed, if a bit boring. He did not jazz it up any with his side choices. His chicken soup was a from scratch creation and tasty. His plain mashed potatoes were real mashed potatoes but snooze worthy, even after he dumped some of his melted butter on them. The green beans looked like they started out fresh before they were over boiled. We ended up boxing up leftovers because it was just too much food all at once. This did not mean no dessert though, I have a thing for strudel so it is a must. We told the waitress we were splitting it to get two forks but she went the extra mile and split it onto two plates for us. My husband still ate all of it except for my two bites but we thought the gesture was nice anyhow. The strudel was crispy but not phyllo cheat type thank the lord. It made me happy to eat real apple strudel, it has been quite awhile for me. Paying was an adventure, the very sweet very chatty owner did it herself. It took awhile but oddly I did not mind too much. My husband did have to yank me away or we might have been there all night. She really is interesting to talk to. I will return for another adventure. Definitely not a quick stop but you are sure not to see a single douchebag hipster or poser here ever.

Detroit R.

Richter's Chalet has closed, apparently. I attempted to have lunch there (July 2015) and was informed it was closed for good. I'm sorry to see this place go.

Christopher W.

Few of us from work went to Richter's today for the first time to try out their lunch. To our dismay, all the lights were off and an external lock was applied to the main door. Makes it appear that this place is permanently closed for business. Would call before venturing out to confirm this, but they were not open for business during their posted hours.

Christopher W.

I love Richter's. While I can't give it a perfect review, I love it more than many of the 5 star reviews I've given. My family has been going here for my entire life. The German dishes are flavorful and unique. The house made mushroom soup is a must. With any meal you get a mini-feast, crackers and cheese, warm bread and sides galore. This restaurant is dated and old fashioned. Nothing has changed for decades, you either find that charming or you don't. I do. The wait staff is courteous, professional and well informed. You'll be well taken care of. Make sure to get dessert. We are very fond of the cakes, the hazelnut a personal favorite. Enjoy.

Marc B.

We went here for dinner. Sat at 5:45 and took too long to get drinks. Also ordered an appetizer. It was ok. Waitress disappeared. No water refills. No clearing of table. At 7pm we decided to leave since we didn't have our dinner nor could we find our waitress. The menu had items crossed out and even handwritten "discontinued". We were told before we ordered that they were out of fried chicken. After ordering the waitress came back and told us they were out of orange roughy and asked the two vegetarians to chose something else. Bad service ruined out night and our chance to rate the food.

Allison F.

I've got this friend who constantly insists on trying new places where we're the youngest patrons by at least 30 years. I'm not sure where he finds the places (or how he convinces me to go) but his suggestion somehow landed us at Richter's Chalet. We were greeted by a friendly waiter who gave us plenty of time to look over the menu. While were perusing the offerings, he brought us crackers with (squeezy?) cheese as well as a loaf of fresh-baked bread and real butter. As expected, we were incredibly out of place compared to the other two tables of diners. We each ordered an entree with two sides apiece. The food came out in a timely fashion. The main entree came on a large plate, with sides coming out in their own bowls. This presentation not only made the table for three cluttered, but also presents way more dishes for the restaurant to clean. We looked like fatties with our 15 plates and bowls on the table. The food? Yea, it was good. The entrees were all great and the sides were okay-to-good. The service was adequate as well. But this just really isn't a four or five star place. It's terribly outdated, from the carpet to the menus, and the prices are pretty high, at $13-$18 per person without drinks. The guys ordered a beer and were surprised to be charged $7 for a 20-oz draft. Way too expensive! If you feel like dropping $25 on a good meal in a relic of a restaurant, then this is your place.

Andrea E.

First of all this place is very cute. I love all the German decorations, and the old fashioned cash register. The staff is very friendly. I love the little details like the free ritz crackers with cheez whiz on them that they give you as an appetizer. The bread is excellent too - it comes in cute little loaves and it is delicious! I really liked the saurkraut bites, but the sauce they're served with is sweet, so I wasn't too excited about that. I'm not really into banana cream pie, but I have a friend who sometimes come to Richter's all the way from Ann Arbor just for the pie, so I imagine for anyone that likes it, it's pretty amazing.

Jim A.

Excellent. ...brown away by their home made dishes and desserts. ...will be back. They owner took care of us personally

Joe H.

I live in the Detroit area and I absolutely love German food. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of German restaurants between the Detroit/Ann Arbor areas, but fortunately, Richter's is one of them. Every form of Schnitzel is excellent. The Rouladen and Saurebratten are awesome, as well as the sausages. Same for the potato dumplings, saurkraut bites and other sides. Of course, they also have American fare, prime rib, etc. and they also have Beef Wellington. All the desserts are made from scratch at the restaurant: Black Forest Cake, Apple Strudel, Cherry Strudel, Chocolate Mousse, Cheesecake, and other excellent treats. The decor is the classic, old-world German style. Some people criticize Richter's because it has the same decor that it did 30 years ago. Well, so what? Not everything has to be trendy, does it? If you want trendy, go to a modern chain restaurant instead. Bottom line: Richter's is a nice little jewel in Dearborn with good food, good service, and character.

Paul K.

Decent German place with pluses and minuses. Plus- Good Food (Schnitzel and Potato Pancakes were excellent) Lotsa food for the price- even salad and bread comes with it Good German beer (though not the biggest selection) Minus- A little run down inside Yodel Music Limited hours

Sarah S.

Loved it! First time trying German food and didn't know what to expect but I ordered the Wiener Schnitzel, equivalent to a country fried steak..but soo much better and really good.. I also got the potatoe salad which was really flavorful. And for the icing on the cake, the desert was awesome! We tried the Black Forest and a raspberry lemon pie--absolutely delicious. Hard to find authentic places like this, so definitely worth a try!

Roseann J.

Don't waste time or money. Took my German mother in law for dinner, with the family. She couldn't even eat half her food. They first ignored us standing at the front to be seated. Once seated, they offered us Ritz crackers with cheese swirls and stale bread. Presentation is lacking. My daughter got 2 pieces of kielbasa, plain, put on her plate with a rotten tomato. Another had brown lettuce in his salad. My veal was plain also. Mashed potatoes and gravy was cold. My mother in law looked forward to the spaetzle but it was mushy and she couldn't eat it. The vegetables were mixed, overcooked, and lacked seasoning. All in all, the worst place I had ever eaten, and totally disappointed. The only good thing, was the desserts. Be forwarned. Maybe these people had never had REAL German food.

Ken G.

Rinderroulade is great with red cabbage and potato dumpling.

Liz R.

I've driven by this stretch of Michigan Avenue for years and never noticed Richter's. When Ken and I knew we'd be in the area, I yelped up this new find. 5pm on a Saturday, and we were one of three tables in the place (and definitely the only people in there, besides one of the workers, under 70). I must admit I was ready to bolt when I saw the lack of people, the tiny freezing women's room... and then my shoes made sticky noises on the carpet as we were taken the our booth (old carpet, with worn out track). Our waitress was very nice. We ordered beer - a German wheat draught for Ken and a bottle of something German dark for me. Out came the afore-mentioned cheese on the crackers for both of us (strange, but delicious) and the bread and butter. The bread was not as good as I was expecting, based on the reviews - ours appeared almost freezerburned. Oh well, I don't need bread... right? I asked if they would do a combo of Bratwurst and Knackwurst, which they would normally do but they'd had a run on Brats the night before. Darn. So, I went all Knock... and they were wonderful. Juicy, meaty, excellent by themselves or dipped in mustard. My sides were German potato salad (I'm always a fan of GPS, but this was milder than I'm used to - Ken and I both loved it) and red cabbage (perfectly sweet and sour). I chose the salad with Dill dressing and agree wholeheartedly with Liz W that some buttermilk is much needed to thin and de-sweet it. Ken had the veal dish with 'Jager' (sp) in the title. It was thin cutlets of veal with mushrooms in a brown gravy with two puff pastry moons and a piece of canned pear with cranberry sauce inside. The veal was not tender, so he won't recommend it. He had the potato dumpling (think bloated gnocchi or matzo ball-type consistency) and cabbage. He enjoyed the cabbage, my potato salad and any piece of Knackwurst I tossed his way. I brought home one of my two sausages, and Ken can report that the leftovers were delicious. We both want to return, but Ken'll try something new (plus cabbage and German potato salad), and I want to taste some Bratwurst... and leave room for dessert. Ample parking behind the restaurant. They accept credit cards.

Kelly S.

I have grown up in Dearborn my whole life & never made it in to Richter's but tonight....I finally did & thank God because my dinner was wonderful. I had the beef ala deutsch which was chunks of beef tenderloin with tomato, onion, green pepper & mushroom in a gravy like sauce served in a crock so it was kind of stew like. I had mashed potatoes & gravy as well as sauerkraut as my sides which were both really tasty as well. I also got the sauerkraut bites which I loved but my friend didn't care for, they were hush puppy like & very fluffy with a sauce on the side. My friend had something with a german name that started with an L, it was beef rolled around bacon & rice with an onion gravy...this was also very yummy, he cleaned his whole plate. We both left super full & super happy & will definitely be back again! I do have one complaint...this place needs new flooring...the carpet that was probably installed back in the 60's is still in here so the floor is sticky, that's right sticky but carpeted so ignore that part. I put below that they have beer & wine, not sure if they have liquor or not but they might.

Debbie Z.

I have driven past this restaurant many times as well as walked by it. It took my sister from about 20 miles away for me to finally go to Richter's. The parking was convenient, you park in the back and they have a back entrance into the establishment. Once in you are greeted and seated by a host or hostess. The waitress was very friendly and offered her suggestions as far as the menu goes. Explained a few things on the menu and told us how fresh everything is. At the time of seating there was one other table of customers. By the time we left the place was pretty crowded. My sister YELPED this place and saw all the good reviews and surprised me with this venue - maybe 2 miles from my house!!! There were 3 of us and we ordered 2 entrees - a combination (Wiener Schnitzel, pork chop, and a bratwurst) and the chef's special - which was a beef wellington. The Beef Wellington was meh, the butter-dough that was wrapped around the steak was not good at all, as a matter of fact it tasted old, ugh. We asked for the Wellington to be medium-well, but definitely it was well done, absolutely no pink!!!! So, if you want medium order medium rare! The pork chop, what can I say, the waitress had already told us it tasted like ham, and it did. Oh well, if I had just ordered the Pork Chop I would have been very disappointed. The most tastiest item on the menu was the Weiner Schnitzel. If I ever go back it definitely will be my choice! Finally, I found some food in German that tasted good and not just blahhh. The other two guests decided on desserts. Since German chocolate is supposed to be the best they decided on ordering something chocolate - they both said that they were just taken out of the cooler, not the freshest. Oh well - empty calories when they could've enjoyed a good German brew!!!!! I think that the establishment needs to spend some money on redecorating and possibly a good cleaning. All in all I would go back a second time just to see if that Wiener Schnitzel holds up to my taste buds!!! If you have a large party you are sort of out of luck because the place is not all that big! A group of 4 is ideal anything larger you are taking a risk!

Charisse W.

We ordered the Raspberry Hazelnut Torte 1/2 sheet cake for our wedding - it was so pretty and Oh So Delicious! Very reasonably priced and made fresh that morning. We have enjoyed the food many times and even love the oldish decor, it wouldnt do to modernize the interior of this special place. Like stepping into another world. Love it.

Sherry S.

Two of us shared the beef wellington, salad with house dressing, chicken noodle soup, green beans german potatoes and black forest torte. Everything was flavorful. The soup was a bit too salty and the desert was good, but not so good that I would order next time. The hostess as well as our waitress were personable and prompt. We would definitely go back.

April S.

I might be slightly biased, since my mom worked here when she was pregnant with me and for a few years after I was born, and we visited regularly. Well I returned with my husband a little while ago for the first time in at least 20 years, and the food and the restaurant has not changed one bit, except that now they serve beer! The food is fantastic, and the service is friendly. My favorite thing there is the chocolate mousse, but I was so disappointed that they didn't have any left the night that I went! Chicken cordon bleu also can't fail. The bread is so good, the weird cheese crackers are good...It's so nice that some things never change--if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Please stay open at least another 30 years!

Sandra C.

Debbie Z and I went with our sisters for a girl's night out at Richter's Chalet, which is located at Michigan Ave and Telegraph in Dearborn (Near the NE corner). For an appetizer we had the saurkraut bites. They were like eating hush pubbies stuffed with saurkraut. AWESOME! I will never go back to Richter's Chalet and not order the saurkraut bites. Debbie and I enjoyed a glass of Cabernet with our meals. I have to insist that if you have a salad make sure you try the house salad dressing. It was too awesome to describe, but I remember dill and chives in the description. Denise was our server and she was outstanding. We ordered a couple of desserts to share and opted on the dark forest chocolate cake with a cherry filling between the layers and a piece of carrot cake. I liked the carrot cake the best. The first time we ate here the chocolate eclair was our choice. Out of the three, I preferred the eclair because the chocolate topping was amazing. The speciality of the restaurant is the Beef Wellington which is a favorite of many. Next time I go, I'm getting the beef wellington. I love the saurkraut, the red sweet and sour cabbage, and the german potatoes. All outstanding sides. We had a great time and I can't wait to go back again.

Mic M.

As someone who lived in Germany for a few years as a kid, I can verify that this place is the real deal! (The breading on the Schnitzel is done just right) This place is so awesome and quaint that I have gone here for more than one anniversary dinner with my wife, as well as other occasions. The food is really tasty and made as it is supposed to be, the employees here are so nice all the way to the bussers, who are just kids but work their tails off! From the second you get started here, to the minute you get up to leave, this is a complete package...(and it wouldn't be the same without those little crackers you get with the cheese spread as soon as you sit down) A +++ and worthy of 6 stars! Not only will I be back...I will likely see you there!!

Kristin G.

The Food: The closest I've found to the real deal- don't take it from me- take it from my friend from East Germany who accompanied me there. Words out of his own mouth. And if you know Germans, they typically don't compliment unless they REALLY mean it. I've been to Germany several times and loved the food. So when I feel the hankering for some delicious authentic German sausage, this is where I go to satisfy the urge. The Knackwurst is absolutely spectacular. It's shell is nice and crispy, as it should be! (That's where it get's it's name...Knack...is similar to the English word for "Snap") If you've never had it, I'd say it's comparable- not identical by any means- but comparable to Polish Kielbasa. The Weisswurst is delicious as well. Both come with German Potato Salad and a side of Sauerkraut. Oh, and for mustard...they give it to you in a container reminiscent of a toothpaste tube. Don't be put off, it's delicious! Germans know their mustard. Oh and Germans, also know their beer. You have a limited selection at this restaurant, but that's pretty true to the German experience too. You don't find millions of brands of beers at once place in Germany. They all have local beers that they support and this place is not an exception. I assure you though, it will be better than any domestic beer you can find here. So worry not! I do have a few recommendations if sausage is not your thing. Try the Rindroulade. It's thinly sliced steak that is "stuffed" (rolled around a mixture of rice bacon and onions) and then doused in beef gravy. Germans love to douse things in gravy. And that's fine by me! It's delicious! Very heavy comfort food. Great for winter months. Also, if you're new to German cuisine either Weinerschnitzel (Breaded veal patty) or Chicken Schnitzel might be a good introduction. It's very easlily approachable and almost always a crowd pleaser. But WAIT! I have not gotten to the very best part. The Dessert. So I hope I haven't lost you with my ramblings yet! The chef and honor is rumored to have studied at a culinary school in France that specializes in pastry. Do you see where I'm going with this? Ok...a MUST TRY is the Strudel. Either Kirsche (Cherry) or Apfel (Apple) I assure you, you cannot go wrong! The flaky, crispy pastry is sprinkled with powdered sugar and inside you have this wonderful, flavorful fruit filling- I love the cherry personally. Another recommendation: Schwarzaelder Kirsch Torte. (Don't worry if you don't understand. I'll translate for you: DELICIOUS!!!) No but seriously, it means Blackforest Cherry Torte. This cake is layered chocolate cake with cherry and chocolate mouse, shavings of chocolate on top. It's simply divine! Rich, with light fluffy mouse textures...and as my German friend reminds me..."No awful fake icing on top." Hey, Germans have never been the types to hold back how they really feel! Wheew. That was tiring. I hope you all appreciate this =P lol.

W. John R.

Fantastic food; if you're into German food this is the spot in Southeast Michigan. Service was so-so; my biggest complaint about the place is the hours. I've shown up at 7pm on a weekday and been told their kitchen was closed. If you're hankering for a delicious sauerbraten, try to show up when they're open. For some reason, their website is closed/down at the moment so I can't recommend their menu.

Kate B.

Such a tradition in the Dearborn area! Right off of Michigan Avenue as you approach Telegraph, you will see a Barvarian-style facade. You need to park in back and once inside you are serenaded with German music and delighted with old-fashioned German specialities like weiner schnitzel and sauerbraten. The rice pudding and apple strudel are great ways to end the evening!

Jessica S.

On a trip up from Indy I wanted to eat at this high rated and reviewed German place and made plans with friends to eat there. We showed up at 7pm, and found it closed.. IT IS CLOSED MONDAYS, the tiny hours on here missed all of us, who read up on the place on yelp... SAD.. Really wanted to eat there, next time?

Claudia G.

Great food, lovely staff, awesome beer on tap. Veal goulash highly recommended.

Nina J.

Came here on a school field trip with my German class and everything was excellent! I have been dying to come back since. Very authentic food and delicious cake. You have to try the wiener Snitzel and Black Forest cake when you come here! Divine! Only disappointment are the hours and size of the restaurant. Closed on Mondays and the restaurant can't fit that many people. There is one main room and another that is closer to the kitchen.

Adam W.

Ok I read the reviews prior to going to Richter's, so I was prepared for the condition of the establishment. And yes its very dirty and I left feeling sticky.That being said, I am basing this rating strictly on the food and the waitstaff. I am torn between 3 and 4 stars and here is why. I went with three others and we each had three different entrees between us. I will only rate on what I had. First off, the beef wellington is superb. A stellar choice, tasty and tender. Small enough not to overwhelm you but enough to be filling. The sides were German potato salad and red cabbage, both outstanding. A salad comes with the meal and is just...meh. Deserts are another reason to come here; all of them made my mouth water. The hazelnut torte was wonderful, but the rice pudding ensured that I would be back. So it all sounds good so why torn between 3 and 4 stars? Well here is the bad. When we arrived we all wanted the beef wellington, but unfortunately they only had two left.(apparently they run out of it early everyday we were told). We wanted baked potatoes, but unfortunately they only had one of those left. We all wanted hazelnut mousse, but once again unfortunately they were completely out of that all together.(apparently the owner only makes this occasionally anymore we were told). Lastly, I love German beer. Unfortunately, they only stock like 3 kind. The waitstaff were really great. Accommodating and pleasant and really aimed to please. I am from out of town and am used to really good food. This food is really quite good German fare. That being said, in an area that is already painfully short on decent places to eat, it sad to see a really good place not living up to it's potential. Mainly the condition of the interior is a real turn off, and it wouldn't take much to turn it around. Finally, I give 4 stars because the food was just too good not to. Next time I'll just eat with my eyes closed.

Joan B.

Food is pretty good here, predictable German with no real surprises. The hot German potato salad and red cabbage are outstanding, and all the schnitzels or breaded veal cutlets are always very good. They did have French onion soup on my last visit, and it was the only bad thing I have ever ordered here. The soup was extremely salty, the croutons in the soup extremely stale, and had a simple sprinkling of Parmesan cheese on the top. I sent it back.

Shelly M.

I love this place! Good German beer and good German food! Their potato salad and sauerkraut are the real deal for sure. It tastes like your grandma's kitchen, well in my case both my grandma's, my German grandma and my Irish Grandma's kitchen (she was raised by a German woman). The polka playing in the background and decor is really done right, my husband lived in Germany for two years and it made him all nostalgic. I had the Pork Schnitzel with deep fried onions on top and it was very yummy.

Ken Z.

Had lunch here yesterday. Homemade chicken noodle soup - available everyday plus a soup of the day. Chicken noodle had real chicken, good quality broth with those shiny magical bubbles of chicken soup goodness. Decor dated. They probably call it "German village theme". Service was good, but not a lot of customers so take it with a grain of salt. Chicken Schnitzel - two huge pieces of lightly breaded and fried chicken. Well seasoned. Fresh and hot. Came with "drawn butter" which I wouldn't bother with. Canned green beans, mashed potatoes and a good gravy. Prices - good question. White-out on the menu and not sure my bill was right. Bathrooms - down the hall by the rear entrance. So cold I was surprised that the water in the toilet didn't have a sheet of ice across the top. Obviously, the unheated portion of the restaurant. Homemade pies - I did not try. Visa/Mastercard (or cash) only.

Dan D.

The food is excellent, the prices are reasonable and the service was great. So why only 2 stars? Simply put, the building was deplorable. Let's start with the bathrooms, oops I mean bathroom. There are actually two bathrooms, but one was out of order while I was there and the sign on the door looked like it had been around for a while saying that repairing it was not a priority. When I did get into the bathroom it had a 70's paneling motif going that did nothing to make me feel more comfortable. Oh, and BTW, if you do need to pee when you are here, bring a flashlight, this bathroom is dark and the floors are sticky. I recommend just holding it. For the rest of the restaurant I'm fine with the Bavarian style decor; that was exactly what I expected. However, it looks like the paint has been fading far longer than Michigan's economy. Seriously, it is OK to at least touch up once in a while. If rundown was the style the owners were trying for, then congratulations, otherwise close down for a week and give this place a makeover. Look, I don't care how good the food is if I see dust on the top shelves. This place was dingy, dirty and disgusting. You might do schnitzel the way it's supposed to be done, but you don't know squat about ambiance. Clean your building or I won't be back.

Jane H.

Like eating at the home of a German family whose grandma prepared her favorites. They were ours too. The schnitzel and sides were delicious. Richter's isn't fancy, but it's might fine and the price is right. The proprietors are very friendly, again making you feel like family.

Meg R.

We visited this location on April 2, 2011. We walked in and the smell should have sent me running it was kind musty smelling. We pushed ahead because we had read good reviews about this place and have been looking for a good German Restaurant. To start my visit I ordered a Diet Coke at which point the waiter announced they had run out the night before and the owner had not yet sent him to the store for more. The restaurant opened at noon, seemed like someone could have swung by a store on the way in. I had my doubts but my husband had a positive attitude so we stayed. We ordered the French Onion Soup and when it arrived it had no cheese melted on top but rather had been sprinkled with Kraft Parmesan Cheese. OK so maybe it will be OK....wrong the soup was cold. The waiter came and asked how we were and he then reheated the soup. Flavor was good, cheese not so much. I wanted Spatzel which is a German noodle dish. No such luck in this German restaurant. Lets recap no diet coke no Spatzel, I surrendered. My husband forged on much to his dismay. After reviewing the choices and taking a look at the very old dusty restaurant he decided a sandwich was probably the safe bet. Wrong, he ordered a Reuben and the corned beef had no taste which I guess was better then a bad taste. Anyway we will not be back. Metzgers in Ann Arbor still the winner for German cuisine.

Jennifer H.

This was my first experience having German food, and I ended up really liking it. The decor of this place was cute, and it was very inviting and comfortable. The staff was very personable, and helpful with suggestions. Our party of six was seated immediately. There was a convenient coat rack area, and as soon as we were seated, they brought bread and water to the table, along with plates of crackers with some kind of soft cheese spread on top. After scanning through the menu, I decided on the Knackwurst. I figured a sausage sounded like a safe choice. My sister got a schnitzel, and I didn't even know what that was. Turned out it was a breaded chicken, that came with melted butter and applesauce...pretty good. Each entree came with a few choices of side dishes. I got the German coleslaw, which was tangy and sweet, but pretty good...not creamy like American coleslaw. I also ordered the potato dumplings as my side. I wasn't too fond of them...kind of sticky and bland, but hey, it's a dumpling...what was I thinking? Some of my family members got the German potato salad, and I was envious when I found out how tasty it was. The entree, knackwurst, turned out to be excellent. It was two large links of juicy smoked sausage, with just the right amount of snap when bitten into. They were accompanied by a tube of some kind of yellow German mustard...the perfect accompaniment. We didn't try any of the appetizers, desserts, or the imported beers, but I wouldn't mind sampling more if I come again.

Wendy C.

The place looks charming from outside as you drive by. Inside it's homely, perhaps a little dated. Excellent bratwurst and knackwurst, they know their sausages. Schnitzels are too wimpy, not enough coating for me. This may just be a personal preference. Because other Yelp reviews were ogling about their homemade dessert, we tried black forest torte and apple strudel, pretty good in comparison to what else is available in Dearborn, and good value.

Sharon T.

My husband & I decided to go to Richter's tonight for dinner since we are moving out of state and are trying to get to all of the places that we have enjoyed over the years. I am SO glad that we went! I had forgotten how good the food is. We started with the cheese crackers (delicious!!) and bread (yum). Moved on to salad - I had the dill dressing which is awesome. My husband had ranch and he ended up pouring the remainder of my dill onto his salad. I ordered the weinerschnitzel and he ordered the veal cordon-bleu. We both had hot German potato salad and red cabbage. Everything was so good and we were both stuffed! Of course, we had to also split a dessert (Black Forest Torte). Reading other reviews, I noted that some people mentioned the dated decor. My opinion is that it adds to the experience - beautiful pictures of Germany and beer steins - however, everything was very clean and comfortable. We enjoyed our evening at Richter's so much, we are wondering if we could go back again before we leave town!

Shawn C.

Wow, this place is small but BIG on food and service. The deserts are made in house and it was hard just picking one off that try of yummy. I will be going back again.

Matthew H.

Eh, it was ok. Having been on a recent trip to Austria, I developed a real taste for german-style food. My wife was put off by the reviews here that mentioned the "sticky" interior, so I went with some work friends for lunch to check it out. I had the pork chop with sauerkraut and potatoes, it was alright but not as flavorful as I had grown accustomed to overseas. It also did not have any gravy, which I found odd (they serve it swimming in it in Vienna) and disappointing. Following, I had a chocolate eclair for dessert; it was ok but it tasted like it had been sitting out for too long. The place was nearly empty at 11:30. Service however was very attentive, to the point where it was almost annoying. I like being waited on, but they kind of gave that desperate vibe, hinting and prodding constantly that we should come back every week. Overall this was positive though, just a little pushy, especially when they tried to sell us dessert before we had our appetizer. I would try again, but skip the pork chop and the dessert, maybe give the wursts a try.

Kelly B.

Ich liebe dich Richter's! For my entire 30 some years on this planet we have been coming to this restaurant for fabulous german food. My grandmother loved it here, and she was of 100% german heritage - and not easy to please! Yes, they are closed on Monday. And they have NEVER made potato pancakes on the weekend, but everyone deserves some time off. The potato pancakes are hand grated, and thus labor intesive which is why they are only available on weekdays. The decor is kitchy and wonderful, exactly what you would expect and hope for in a german restaurant, it puts you in the right mood. Dinners start with their famous cheese spread on crackers - people in my family have been known to brawl over the last one. But now the cheese is available to go - don't ask how quickly my cup o' cheese disappears. Then the salads, which are wonderful - try the house dressing, it is homemade creamy dill - I am drooling right now. Served with the best warm bread loaf you will find anywhere - again someone could get hurt over the last piece. Potato pancakes are out of this world, applesauce AND sour cream please, with onions. Sauerbraten is fantastic. Kids love the knackwurst. Hubby had the schnitzel - thought he was getting sausage (dummkopf!). I looked at him incredulously when he told me what he was expecting and reminded him that his grandmother is german too, did he learn nothing? It was good anyway! I would shy away from the sauerkraut bites as an appetizer, not that great, save room for your meal. At lunch specials abound, and potato pancakes are available, but do not come with cheese and crackers - but hey, just order it to go! I have never made it with enough room to even contemplate dessert, but they do all look really good!

Mark G.

Food good SERVICE BAD! My family and I went there for lunch on Saturday April 20, 2013, and had a bad experience. First of all no water was served to us, we had to ask for bread replenishment, bills were all screwed up and had to be rewritten and my brother asked for a carry-out and it never happened....AND this place was not busy, so no excuse. One redeeming factor - Hacker-Pschorr beer on draught! AND served in large steins like in Deutschland!

John N.

I have a couple of beefs with Richter's. First, the potato pancakes are not available on weekends. Second, the list of available German beers is pretty limited. Third, they are closed on Mondays and I always seem to forget that. But the food is always good and abundant with excellent service. Try the petit filet.

M S.

Overall yummy food. I always ordered a cheeseburger as a kid, and it was always great. The mashed potatoes and filet mignon are great, as well as the German potato salad. The hot bread at the beginning of the meal is delicious and moist and perfect. Friendly waitstaff, many of whom have been working at the restaurant for many, many years. Kind of a unique place, German restaurants aren't exactly common around here.

Janis C.

We were there around 3:30PM on Saturday. I am somewhat at a loss for words on this whole experience. Let me try. First of all this place needs a serious redecoration and cleaning. The menus are so old and fragile that they are of museum quality, seriously. The carpet is so old and worn that the walk path has a black patent leather like shine. I honestly thought about bolting for the door then my draft wheat beer arrived.That along with the cheese on crackers kept me occupied until I noticed the clock and that the time was now 4:05PM. I commented to my companion that the table next to us had both arrived and ordered after us and it appears they are now half way through their meals. Just then the waitress arrived with my soup and his salad. The chicken noodle soup was definately made from scratch and good. His salad was meh, but the ranch dressing was thick, creamy and flavorful. Oh gee, another lull. Then at about 4:25 our meals finally arrived. Both meals were very good. Made from scratch even the mashed potatoes. His roast turkey was real and not processed. My stuffed chicken breast was lightly crispy on the outside and tender with morsels of mushrooms. Good size portions enough to take home for another meal. Let's not forget the dessert tray. All made in house. My choice was the Black Forrest Torte and it was superb. Light, fluffy and rich. The three stars is for the food and the accomodating waitstaff. Speaking of the waitstaff. The ladies were both in their early seventies, to say the least. Both very friendly and always smiling. Perhaps members of the owners family. So, the question is would I return? Probably not. The whole thing was just too surreal and there are other german restaurants to try.

Stephanie C.

Had dinner here last night with the fam. I was pleasantly surprised to note that everything seemed clean and without the sticky carpeting that other reviewers described. I'd like to think that someone there was paying attention to the lovely yelpers and did something about it! The carpet did look like it could have been new. As a previous reviewer mentioned, our waitress was an elderly woman who couldn't have been any more adorable and sweet if she had been holding a basket of puppies. We did feel bad that she had to wait on us, but she didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up (though we never asked her for anything more than a refill because it just felt wrong!) Everything we had was good, nothing really spectacular, but there were a few bright points in our meal. For instance, what appeared to be the oh-so-familiar "cheez" from a can that came on crackers at the beginning of the meal was anything but! It was actually really delicious. It was light (a whipped consistency) and very garlic-y, so, so good! Lucky for me, my 4-yr old found it to be "too spicy" for her, so I gobbled hers too :-) My husband and I got really tame meals (weiner schnitzel and chicken schnitzel), so maybe we missed out on what's really delicious here - they were perfectly cooked, just not very exciting. The german potato salad was ok, but definitely not the best I've ever had. The flavors were good, but the potatoes were really overcooked and everything was starting to turn into a mash. The red cabbage was very tasty and went really well with my chicken schnitzel. The hubbs got green beans as a side and they were just plain ol' boring boiled green beans with seemingly nothing on them, he didn't eat them. If you are going to Richter's, do not miss out on that gorgeous dessert tray, people! We were stuffed after our meal, but got desserts to-go anyway. We got the cherry strudel, the hazelnut-raspberry torte, and cherry-topped cheesecake. As a previous reviewer mentioned, the strudel here is the real deal and very good, we had cherry :-) The cherry cheesecake, was cherry cheesecake and fine enough. But the showstopper for me was that hazelnut raspberry torte! It was delicious! This morning I was thinking "I wish I would have gotten two of those bad boys and had one for breakfast!" Anyhow, to sum up, this is a really interesting place to check out and you should, but don't forget dessert!

Lesley K.

I'm not a huge fan of German food, but I loved this place. The decor is retro (check out the photos of the original meat market in the back hallway), the service was fabulous: my iced tea was refilled at least 3 times during dinner, and I was kept well-supplied with fresh lemon; both the waitress and owner checked on us repeatedly (without interfering with our conversation) just to make sure that we had what we needed. The potato pancakes (get them with onion) were the best I've had in a restaurant. The daily special was pork loin with apple-cranberry compote: delicious. The red cabbage was reminiscent of pickled beets, which I love. Really good bread--a very small loaf for three of us seemed chintzy, until we got the rest of our food--we were very happy we hadn't filled up on bread. We each ordered a dessert and split them--chocolate mousse and black forest cake were great, carrot cake was good. The only off note was the menu--held together with scotch tape, with items noted as discontinued and prices changed in ink. I'll return soon.

Richter's Chalet is a cozy little German restaurant in Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit. It's been around for years and serves some of the best Wiener Schnitzel outside of Germany. The service is always wonderful. Some of the staff has probably been around since the restaurant opened its doors years and years ago. They are fairly knowledgable and aim to please their customers. The meal begins with a basket of crackers and breadsticks, and there are crackers with some kind of soft cheese topping that are quite tasty. I've loved the crackers and cheese there since I was a Kind (child for you non-German-speakers). It's a simple snack, but it gets your appetite going. Then they bring out a loaf of soft bread, usually fresh out of the oven. By the time your entree with choice of veggie and potato arrives, you are already on your way to being well-fed. I recommend ordering a cup of Chicken Noodle soup. It's homemade soup, I believe. It's great comfort food in the winter, but I'd even order it in the summer! After dinner you might want to give the Black Forest Cake a try. It's very rich and absolutely delicious. My family has been customers of this family-friendly restuarant for years, and we will be until the day it closes its doors. Great Dearborn establishment! Update Jan. 2010: I dined here recently with my parents, who have been long-time customers of this German restaurant in Dearborn. I have to admit, it wasn't quite the same as I remembered from my many previous visits over the years. Sure, the photographs from Germany still adorn the wall, the same waitresses work here, the meal still starts with crackers and cheese and a small loaf of bread. Yet, something was off. On a high note, the restaurant now serves German beers. I noticed a few customers enjoying a bottle of Beck's, while I was not enjoying my Sauerbraten. I thought I'd try something new. I should have just stuck with the Wiener Schnitzel. They also eliminated the basket of breadsticks and crackers as well as the fun placemats that had puzzles to solve as you waited for dinner to arrive. While the atmosphere was the same, the service was below par. The waitress was actually a bit short with us. The last disappointment was the Black Forest Torte. I've been ordering it for dessert since I was a child, and it just didn't impress me this time. Perhaps, my taste buds have changed or my perception of German desserts has changed since living in the country. Regardless, the cherries seemed tart in an unpleasant way, the cake portion sponge-like and the frosting like whipped cream. While I still hold this establishment near and dear to my heart as it is the closest thing to Germany I have here in Dearborn and holds many childhood memories with my family, I feel I must amend my initial rating of 4 stars to 3 stars. Hopefully after my next visit, I will be able to reinstate the 4th star.

Vince N.

The Beef Wellington here is to die for. All the sides, soups, and bread are also a notch above. But what really sets Richters apart is the In-House made desserts. The Desserts are simply terrific and also friendly to your wallet.

Jack T.

Very good reasonably priced food, especially for lunch. The Wiener Schnitzel breading could have been browned more. I really liked the Veal Goulash with Spatzel.

Nicole M.

OK, I usually just read reviews on Yelp. I had to sign up and leave a review after going to Richter's Chalet last night. I was with my boyfriend and 4 year old son. First off, if your afraid of old people, steer clear (patrons and waitstaff are average 60+) Fortunately we are not. We received the cheese and crackers and bread, which we enjoyed. When ordering our drinks, the waitress stated she had to go "next door" to get our son milk. So time to order. Hamburger for the little one, which she said they were out of. So he went with Chicken Fingers and fries. (Can't really screw up deep frying food). I ordered the Chicken Schnitzel. She again that they were out of it. So I ordered the Rindsroulade. My boyfriend ordered the Black Forest Chicken - was told it is a special order and would take 25 minutes. So he ended up with the Wiener Schnitzel. Ok now the sides. We were offered soup or cole slaw. I wanted salad, guess what, they were out. We both went with cream of broccoli, which I dumped a ton of salt in to get some flavor. Both of us had the dumplings which were dense and lacking flavor as well. My Rindsroulade, round steak rolled around rice, onions and bacon was dry on the top, no bacon flavor, and bland to say the least. When asking my boyfriend he said his was ok. (Man term for I'll eat it because I'm hungry, but won't ever again). All in all the experience turned us off to never return again. O and not to harp on a trainee, but my check out time was 15 minutes while our waitress was taught how to run my credit card.