My great grandparents were German (mostly from Bavaria) and emigrated to the US settling in Cincinnati and the Indiana counties adjacent to it. German was spoken in their household but was strongly discouraged in my grandparent's generation.

My grandfather took us to German American events at Kolping Grove in Cincinnati where he sould speak a bit of German and we could enjoy the German fare. He was a member of the Turners in Cincinnati.

Having said all that, I have seen very few really good German restaurants in the midwest. Most of the GOOD ones in Cincinnati died off in the '70s as my grandfather's generation died off. His theory - before he died 20 years ago - was "who eats all that heavy food anymore." It wasn't that he did not like the food but he ate much lighter as he grew older.

Thomas Sowell wrote a book on culture and migration and noted that Germans were more likely to assimilate into a host culture once they felt comfortable with the culture. For example, most Germans in the US assimilated pretty quickly and you see relatively few 3rd and 4th generation speaking the mother tongue. On the other hand, Germans in Brazil still speak a lot of German and maintain a separate identity.

For the record, I never considered Berghoff a great restaurant although some of the food was pretty good. It certainly was NOT worth the hour wait on Saturday nights that I experienced the two times I tried it. The Gasthaus in Elgin had a lot better atmosphere (although musty) and lot more authentic food.

I went to two other German places recently. The better of the two was the Edelweiss Restaurant in Staunton, VA which had truly excellent food and was where I celebrated my 1st and my 21st wedding anniversary. Also, my nephews and nieces had a blast there. The Gasthaus on 18th St. in St. Louis had above average food but our waiter was totally the pits insisting that we order in English (translating the menu for him)..

ChefGEB wrote:Maybe we could do a group dinner at The Berghoff to celebrate their legacy, and what their presence means to this great city.

I'm still up for an LTH send-off to the Berghoff, but I do have a warning.

A few months ago, a client gave me a $100 gift certificate for the Berghoff, which seemed hard to use at the time (who spends $100 there...), but as this would soon be useless paper, I went last night with another Oak Park family.

They are NOT taking reservations anymore. At 5:30 there is a looooooong line out the door and down Adams. On the other hand, the restaurant was emptying out by about 8 PM. So, we need to plan accordingly. Of course maybe someone here, either ChefGEB or a certain pony-tailed Berghoff regular can pull some strings.

Foodwise, it was about the same as always. It's been about a year since dinner, and I did notice that the prices were slightly higher. My wife and I split two not so German dishes, a rib-eye with blue cheese crust and a lamb shank. The shank was in a sauce too goey and fatty, but the rib-eye was excellent. I've said this before, but to me, I prefer non-prime ribeye for its better combitation of chew and fat--prime ribeye I find too fatty/soft. I liked the way, when cole slaw was out, the waiter brought me red cabbage. "Closest I could find."

Of course it was very sad talking to our waiter, a vetern of 17 years, who had no idea where he would go.

Finally, we sat in the small room off the back of the main room, a room full of Berghoff trivia. Like who knew Bergo Tang brewed by Berghoff Brewing, Ft. Wayne, Indiana? Also, many old menus. The old menus surely disprove the notion that Berghoff was always purely a German restaurant. It would be a good room for the LTH dinner.

Let's set a date soon.

Has anyone been for lunch recently? Even to the cafe? Maybe we could do a separate Looper Lunch event...

They are NOT taking reservations anymore.

They are taking reservations. I was there for lunch today, and some people who had made reservations were showing up, and their reservations were being honored. They didn't wait in the line that stretched down Adams, but rather went to the hostess station, where they waited in a cordoned off area just to the right of the line. The ones I saw were seated pretty promptly.

Lunch was terrific--better than my last several experiences there. I had the Schlacht-Platte. Smoked pork loin, bratwurst and thuringer, with sauerkraut and a couple of boiled potatoes. Wunderbar!

riddlemay,

That's good to know they take reservations. I also have the feeling that my next (i.e., my last) meal at Berghof will be better than any I can remember ( )

Hammond

riddlemay wrote:They are taking reservations. I was there for lunch today, and some people who had made reservations were showing up, and their reservations were being honored. They didn't wait in the line that stretched down Adams, but rather went to the hostess station, where they waited in a cordoned off area just to the right of the line. The ones I saw were seated pretty promptly.

Just as it has always been . . . at least for a little while.

riddlemay wrote:

They are NOT taking reservations anymore.

They are taking reservations. I was there for lunch today, and some people who had made reservations were showing up, and their reservations were being honored. They didn't wait in the line that stretched down Adams, but rather went to the hostess station, where they waited in a cordoned off area just to the right of the line. The ones I saw were seated pretty promptly.

Lunch was terrific--better than my last several experiences there. I had the Schlacht-Platte. Smoked pork loin, bratwurst and thuringer, with sauerkraut and a couple of boiled potatoes. Wunderbar!

Well, maybe lunch they are taking reservations, but I doubt it...

They told me last night that they were honoring reservations for people who HAD made reservations, but were not taking any new ones.

Maybe when I called yesterday AM for dinner reservations was an abberation

I made a reservation for Berghoffs for the Jan 25th for lunch. They take the reservation for lunch for the times before noon and after 1:30. I didnt ask about the dinner reservations which Im sure you could do as well.

Well, maybe lunch they are taking reservations, but I doubt it...

You can't really doubt it, can you, since I already reported that with my very own eyes I saw several parties with reservations for lunch today show up and have their reservations honored? But I guess you do doubt it, since you say you do. Which leaves you in the position of pretty much saying that I'm on hallucinogenic drugs.

Not sure what to make of your doubt.

You can make reservations whether VI or anyone else says you can or cant. Who cares?

Good point.

(Other than the possibility that some on the forum who were inclined to make reservations might be convinced that they shouldn't bother, when, in fact, they should.)

Vital Information wrote:They told me last night that they were honoring reservations for people who HAD made reservations, but were not taking any new ones.

Riddlemay wrote:I already reported that with my very own eyes I saw several parties with reservations for lunch today show up and have their reservations honored

Riddlemay, you and Snark don't seem to realize that there's actually no contradiction between these two statements.

What VI said (that they aren't accepting new reservations, but are honoring existing ones) is not incompatible with what riddlemay saw (people getting their reservations honored).

I don't see why riddlemay is getting up in arms about it.

Now, what VI said is incompatible with what Snark said, but that could also merely be a matter of information given. If VI tried to make a reservation for noon, they might have simply told him "we aren't accepting reservations, but are honoring existing ones" without mentioning the time windows where they are taking reservations.

Anyway, it's awfully silly. If you want to try making a reservation, call and try. The cost of the call will hardly break the bank.

edit: bah, mike g beat me to it by a minute.

Riddlemay, you and Snark don't seem to realize that there's actually no contradiction between these two statements.

It's possible there's no contradiction; that would depend on when Snark made his reservation for 1/25. If he made it some time ago, there's no necessary logical contradiction; but if he made it just yesterday, for example, then there's a strong possibility that there is a contradiction.

riddlemay wrote:It's possible there's no contradiction; that would depend on when Snark made his reservation for 1/25. If he made it some time ago, there's no necessary logical contradiction; but if he made it just yesterday, for example, then there's a strong possibility that there is a contradiction.

No, there is no contradiction between the two quotes Mike provided. You said you saw people getting their reservations honored, VI said some people were getting their reservations honored.

You can change your argument, but that doesn't mean you were right the first time.

This is what VI said:

Well, maybe lunch they are taking reservations, but I doubt it...

This is getting silly.

I made the reservation yesterday at around 5:30 PM.

riddlemay wrote:This is what VI said:

Well, maybe lunch they are taking reservations, but I doubt it...

This is getting silly.

I agree.

I can see why VI's remark may be off-putting, but I think the simplest thing to do is simply to call and see if they take your reservation.

It's possible, as the place slouches toward closure, that things are getting a bit confusing, and staff may be a little vague about protocols, so people may actually be getting different stories from different folks at the restaurant.

Hammond

Hating to get off the exciting topic of reservations, but how has the food been lately?

I've only been in Chicago since October, and heard that the food had really gone down hill. With this in mind I have made no effort to go and eat there. Now with it closing in under two months, I feel that it is something that the wife and I should do. (Kind of like Mardi Gras in New Orleans, I did it once, and I don't feel the need ever to do it again....)

Is it worth the (some would say) substandard food to see the inside of the restaurant, and to check the block on the imaginary list in my head?

Thanks
SSDD

headcase wrote:Is it worth the (some would say) substandard food to see the inside of the restaurant, and to check the block on the imaginary list in my head?

Thanks
SSDD

Yes.

Yes. And some of the food can be quite decent, actually. The various threads about Berghoff here have some recommendations for what to avoid.

Make sure to check out the bar, also.

gleam wrote:Yes. And some of the food can be quite decent, actually. The various threads about Berghoff here have some recommendations for what to avoid.

Make sure to check out the bar, also.

Yeah, I've read most of the older threads, but they are just that older. With the restaurant getting ready to shut down, things definitely could change in the next couple of weeks.

Thanks
SSDD

Just so people are aware of the current situation at the Berghoff, their website says:

We are not accepting anymore reservations. Patrons will be seated on a first come, first serve basis. The restaurant will be closing on Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Also they are planning to offer a cookbook in Fall, 2007.

Yesterday, was a day off so we decided to go to the Berghoff while we could. We figured a late lunch or early dinner was a good bet. At 2 pm I phoned and was told the wait was about 30 minutes. He also said the menu changes from lunch to dinner at 3:30 pm.

We took our time driving in and arrived at 3:40 pm. There were plenty of open tables and we were seated immediately.

My wife and I had our usuals -- Weiner Schnitzel for her and Lamb Shank for me. Our son opted for the Burger. The food was quite good, just as we remembered it. Also, we quite liked the bread, and the dark beer was as good as ever. We finished off bysharing a slice of Black Forest cake (good, but not great).

The waiter was very jolly and making with the jokes. Total cost was a tad over $70 with tax and a healthy tip.

As we left at about 4:50 pm there were still a few open tables, but the hordes were gathering.

Based on our experience it appears the best time to avoid long waits is mid to late afternoon. Perhaps arriving as they open at 11:00 am will also work.

Of course, all depends on what fits your schedule.

Thought this group might be interested in reading about my own pilgrimage to The Berghoff for a final meal there over the weekend.

It's posted on my blog at:
http://serenadeingreen.blogspot.com/

permalink:
http://serenadeingreen.blogspot.com/200 ... ghoff.html

I still can't believe they're going to be gone in a matter of days.

I was thinking about setting up a "Berghoff Memorial Blog" or something where people could go to share stories, memories, outrage, etc.

Do you think that's worth doing?

cheers

funks wrote:I was thinking about setting up a "Berghoff Memorial Blog" or something where people could go to share stories, memories, outrage, etc. Do you think that's worth doing? cheers

Why not just start a discussoin on LTHForum? Perhaps you already have!

I remember when I was in high school, some hippie friends and I went to the Berghof during an Art Institute foray, and after dinner, we asked the stern server what was for dessert. "Cake," he said.

"What kind of cake?" my innocent flower child girlfriend asked.

"Cake," he said, as a smile of withering contemp curled like a snake across his thin lips.

I enjoyed reading about your experience on your blog, but was struck by the line, "Thankfully, the actual food and beverage choices on the menu were exactly the same as they have always been (although I think the prices were a little higher...)" If it's true that they elevated the prices expecting that they'd make a little more from pilgrims such as yourself, well, that would be truly sad.

Hammond

yeah, I'm almost 100% certain the Wiener schnitzel in the menu in the window was like $13.75, but on the menu inside was $14.75 (I'm sure about the $13/$14 part, not the cents...)

Even if they did increase the prices a bit, that's ok by me. Frankly, if they charged "whatever the market will bear" they could probably double them. (I've paid twice that for far inferior Wiener schnitzel elsewhere...)

One of the saddest things about Berghoff closing is that their prices are very reasonable for dining in The Loop.

No reservations, I know... If I go at noon or 1pm, am I going to have to wait an hour? Has anyone gone in the last week or two?

Scotty2Hotty wrote:No reservations, I know... If I go at noon or 1pm, am I going to have to wait an hour? Has anyone gone in the last week or two?

I walked by yesterday after work (5:15 or so) and there were some people waiting inside, but no line down the block. My wife and I are going on Thursday before going to Wicked.

headcase wrote:

Scotty2Hotty wrote:No reservations, I know... If I go at noon or 1pm, am I going to have to wait an hour? Has anyone gone in the last week or two?

I walked by yesterday after work (5:15 or so) and there were some people waiting inside, but no line down the block. My wife and I are going on Thursday before going to Wicked.

Thanks. I see the replies above my post now...

In case anyone wants to know about wait times...

I got there today at 11:30 and waited for almost an hour outside. I left at about 1:30 and there was a line out the door, but it was very short.