Steven N.
Yelp
Berliner Pub has a very distinct personality compared to your typical bar or pub. With a thick emphasis on German food and beer, ample seating for groups of all sizes, and sports on all the TVs (and occasionally karaoke), Berliner Pub has established itself as a well-known gathering place. It's nice seeing a restaurant with the updated menu and prices listed on their website.
I've visited on several occasions, usually to grab some food and beer while hanging out with friends. It's a fun spot, though weekend nights can be crowded as can be expected. For warmer nights, there is also an outdoor seating area in the back of the restaurant. Their theme really comes through in the menu. They have a large selection of German classics such as sausages, schnitzels, and spätzle. Not to mention their rotation of German beers.
On my last visit, I came by on a weeknight and it was relatively empty. Took a while to order since they were only taking orders at the bar and the bartender was busy making drinks. When he got to us, we were informed they were only doing food on their smaller late night menu. Ended up ordering a Berliner Bratwurst and a Berliner Bacon Burger, with an Ayinger Brau Weisse to drink.
The Berliner Bratwurst is a plate consisting of a huge 12 inch pork and beer sausage, large portion of sauerkraut, mustard, and a bun. It also comes with a side of your choice, for which I went with fries. The sausage flavoring is simple and meaty. I glad it comes with sauerkraut to add an edge. The bun was surprisingly soft and buttery, my girlfriend's favorite component of the meal. They give you very generous portions of the fries. They are slightly thinner than a standard french fry, and they're lightly crispy with some soggy bits here and there. Really easy to munch on.
The Berliner Bacon Burger had its ups and downs for me. The patty lacks flavor but the thick bacon tasted great and was cooked very well. The veggies were notably fresh but it only made the very average bun and lack of flavor in the patty more noticeable. I would say this burger was not terrible but I probably only order it in a pinch, like off the limited late night menu.
The Ayinger Brau Weisse beer is one of my favorites. A more wheat forward beer with hints of clove, banana, and vanilla. I always order this beer when I see it on tap. They have a variety of different German beers on tap which can be found on their large beer board in the middle of the seating area.
Others I've tried on past visits are the spätzle, the bratzel, and landjager platte (charcuterie board). The spatzle is like a mild-flavored mac and cheese. The noodles are soft and the dish is saucy. However, because it's much milder than American mac and cheese, it may not hit the spot for everyone. Might be better with the bacon added on for the salty flavor. The bratzel comes with a beer cheese that my girlfriend (not a beer fan) unsurprisingly did not like at all. It does have a very strong beer taste compared to other beer cheeses I've tried. The landjager platte is good for sharing and munching on while sipping on a beer, though some components are better than others and the cheeses can be overwhelming.
Overall, this place is a great stop if you are a beer drinker. My girlfriend is indifferent about this spot but I think it's worth stopping in just for the variety of beers that are different from the majority of restaurants in the area. The food was fresh and well prepared but overall can be underseasoned and underwhelming.
