Max's Allegheny Tavern

we stopped by max's allegheny tavern on a weekday night and had a great experience. a highlight we almost missed was the cinnamon cider special 🍎; i didn't see it on the paper menu, but my friend spotted it on the board near the door! it was perfectly spiced and incredibly delicious. max's sausage platter was also fantastic. quick tip: the soft pretzel is absolutely massive 🥨, so plan on sharing it with your table! our waiter was also super nice and friendly. 😊

We got there a little after 7 pm on a Saturday. We were only a party of 2 and got immediately seated at a booth in the bar, but it felt cozy. I hadn’t had German food in quite a while. It was delicious! I got the wiener schnitzel and my bf got jager schnitzel. Perfect potato pancakes! Enjoyed the beer flight as well. We split it and it was the perfect amount for two. I plan to make this q must-visit for every time I go to Pittsburgh.

Absolutely beautiful building with some cool history. Janet was awesome, and so were the patrons! The fried zucchini hit the spot, and the beautiful stained glass throughout makes this the perfect blast from the past place for lunch or dinner! Will absolutely be back!

We are visiting Pittsburgh on a work trip. We found Max's based on what is close to our lodging. The building itself is very charming. Inside is clean and super welcoming. Our waitress was Jean and she was very kind, helpful, and quick with anything we asked for. The food was fresh and came out quickly. A very authentic German menu. Sadly, our time was cut short due to a fellow patron seated behind me and with tight seating this person was very close. He proceeded to blow his nose aggressively at the table, while sneezing and sniffing repeatedly. This is absolutely no fault of the establishment. However, when I expressed my concern and wish for to-go boxes and my reason why, Jean quickly gathered everything we needed. She was very empathetic to our concern. Thank you Jean for taking care of us. If we are ever in Pittsburgh again we will most definitely come back to Max's.

My wife and I visited for the first time and were both VERY pleased with the experience. The food was great. The potato pancakes I had as a side were probably the best I've ever made myself or had in any restaurant. The sausages were excellent. Bread products were darn near perfect. Our server was very pleasant and attentive but not clingy. The atmosphere was quite enjoyable. From the menus printed inside a faux vintage newspaper, to the decor, to the German music playing in the background... terrific. Even though it is about an hour's drive for us when traffic is light, my wife and I agree it is well worth it.

Our food was awesome!! I really enjoyed it. The atmosphere was so warm and cozy. The menus described everything in great detail and they even have German non-alcoholic beer.

This place is LEGIT! Amazing food, authentic German beers, and wonderful staff. Plus the building is beautiful. If you are in the area you have to stop in!

This place brings me back to the good ole days. Excellent service and attentive server. Food was really good. I don't usually like sauerkraut but Max's was terrific, with a similar taste profile as a savory Chinese Pickled Cabbage. A good lunch spot in the Deutschtown area and convenient stop over after record shopping at the Government Center.

German food at its finest. But at a reasonable price. I was very impressed with the prices. The Max's sampler was $26.99. You were able to choose from almost a dozen different choices. I chose the Kielbasa. The Snitzel Lichtenstein and the Snitzel Royale. I chose the potato salad and sauerkraut as my sides. Everything on the plate was amazing. All items tasted great and were seasoned properly. I would give only one criticism. The portion size wasn't what I was expecting. Gina was my waitress. And she was a very pleasant person to deal with. She always had a smile on her face. And attended to my needs without any look of not wanting to be helpful.

I feel a little bit of shame that it took me this long to stop at Max's Allegheny Tavern for the first time, after living in Pittsburgh for over 20 years. But this place oozes character, from the beautifully maintained bar (with original iceboxes?!) to the decor and everything in between. While I just stopped in here for a few drinks, my mouth was watering with every plate of food being dropped off at the neighboring tables. The bartenders all seemed like tenured vets but we're all warm and welcoming and the prices are right.

What a great place! We found this on Trip Advisor and it did not disappoint. We sat at the bar. Bartenders were happy, friendly and attentive. Food was authentic and came quickly and hot. Ambiance was intimate. Dimly lit. Bar is old school gorgeous. Beers were yummy as was the food. We will be back whenever in town.

This is a nice place. We sat in the tavern area, in a booth. The bar itself is amazing and they have lots of fine spirits. We ordered Jaeger Schnitzel, roasted pork, spaetzle, and a dumpling soup. Everything was very good yet not the best, even in US standards, not comparing this meal to "Deutschland" itself. Service was decent, considering the bartender was taking the booth orders and managing a full bar with people who consider this tavern a visitor center, or a tourist attraction. In hindsight, if you come here, make sure to visit the area. I didn't notice any weird or paranormal activity, neither did I inquire.

This restaurant is very old! They've been around forever! German food. Many rooms and a big bar. Efficient servers. Try it! You'll like it!

Nice neighborhood atmosphere with a great wait staff , my rueben with fries was very good !!!

Decent German pub. This was actually my first time ever having German food, so I wasn't too sure what to expect. Personally, this just isn't my favorite cuisine, and I'm not too knowledgeable in German food, so take my criticism with a grain of salt. I tried their kase spatzle (German Mac n cheese), potato pancakes, and bread pudding. The Kase Spatzle was my main meal, and it was pretty disappointing. There just was not much flavor to the dish at all. Bread crumbs, cheese, and macaroni. The macaroni had a strange texture, almost cotton like, where it felt weird to eat. Cheese was stringy, not flavorful. Wouldn't really recommend, but portion was good. The potato pancakes were also just mediocre. I can't quite describe it, but there was a rough sort of flavor to them. Not bad, but I've had many potato pancakes that I enjoyed far more than these. Price was fine. The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was by far my favorite part of the meal. It's got lots of raisins, a nice sweetness, and is pretty soft, like I like it. Would definitely recommend. All in all, okay spot. Not really my style. It's worth a try to understand a different cuisine but ill have to try out some more items to really see if I like it.

We used to go here for their Sunday brunch, but during Covid the stopped offering it. We have been back several times since they discontinued the brunch, and their menu is loaded with good German cuisine, a very good choice for lunch on the north side.

Super friendly good portions and delicious German food also half the price of Los Angeles which is worth the visit alone !

I just had a meal (?) at max's that was just awful. I have enjoyed their food for many years. Haven't been in a while so in honor of Oktoberfest wanted to have some Wiener schnitzel and potato pancakes with applesauce. An unappetizing plate of lukewarm food was served by a LOVELY bar waitress. A plate of gray mush. Tasteless

This was the worst Sauerbraten dinner and potato pancakes I've ever had. Of German heritage, I was looking for an authentic German restaurant. The thin-sliced meat came with a light brown gravy...it was not good. I've had a lot of sauerbraten and it never looked or tasted like this. The spaetzle was tasteless with a gooey texture. The potato pancakes were also tasteless and soggy. The red cabbage was ok. The hostess started things off on an off note with her lack of personality. If the dinner had been good, I wouldn't have mentioned this. The whole experience was disappointing. We had been to the Hofbrauhaus and the potato pancakes were delicious and crisp. I didn't try the sauerbraten there. Needless to say, I won't be going back and don't recommend it. (No atmosphere either.)

This place is a little difficult to get to, at least on foot from downtown. We had to walk under a pretty quiet underpass. However, it was worth it. The schnitzel and kielbasa were fantastic. However, I think the sides were even better. My husband is still talking about his Gouda spaetzle 2 days later. Note that there doesn't seem much else German in Deutschtown, but frankly, when Max's is so good, there isn't much need to go anywhere else for German food.

Clean the tables, the floor is SO STICKY I had to hold onto my shoes and a thousand legger in the wine. Not planning on going back!!! Disgusting!! Can't post a negative star, if I could I would!! Server was very good, the issues weren't her fault.

Have not been here in years, but it's still a great casual spot with great food and service. While not a traditional German staple the stuffed pretzels are insanely delicious.

Stopped in tonight for dinner, on the recommendation from a gentleman sitting next to us on the airplane. The service was great and the food even better. Great flavor and large portions. So glad we stopped.

Old style bar with German menu. Building from 1800's Bar opened in 1960's & I was served a brat that was in the fridge since they opened! Enough caraway seeds in the kraut to forget that there was kraut on the plate. The veal schnitzel was the only redeeming meal.

This was the second stop my wife and I made on our tour of movie locales from the film, "A Man Called Otto". This particular place is where the protagonist had a dinner date with his future wife. As in the movie, the place is beautifully furnished the moment you walk in. Dark cherry wood greets you and it has that lived in, lived long look that many places in this part of the country have. The entrance are has some seating for dinner, but it's beside their nice looking bar. We sat in the back, at the first of two dinner seating areas. What surprised us was that the food served here is not the usual bar or American fare-type food. Instead, it is German - what a great surprise as I do love German food. For the appetizer, we chose the stuffed pretzels with a delicious mustard sauce to dip in, and for dinners - my wife enjoyed their calf liver while I had the Sauerbrauten. All of it was cooked perfectly, and the sauerbrauten was tender and tasty. For sides we enjoyed spatzel(sp?) as well as chunky applesauce, and a sweet and sour cabbage mix that had a spicy kick to it. Service was friendly, not as attentive, I suppose given she was the only one in that room, but she still did a solid job. We ate so much we couldn't enjoy their desserts (and they had some good ones like black forest cake), maybe next time.

Ambiance is perfect; great Old World, German decor and feel. The food is delicious. I had the hot potato salad, the red cabbage and the spaetzle with gravy. Our waitress was very good and very helpful. I'm looking forward to the next visit.

All of the food was delicious. Service is great. Cozy old time pub atmosphere. So glad we walked 30 minutes to get there.

Everything about this tavern is amazing The food, service and atmosphere. Absolutely highly recommend. We will be back when we are in thw area again!

Great food for the giant menu. The service is perfect and you can play any music at any time.

Very good wurst! We really like the red cabbage and potatoe pancakes. I was especially happy they had Spaten bier.

My wife and I stopped in around 5:00 on a Friday for a bite to eat. This was our first visit. We were immediately seated and a few minutes later our waitress brought us a basket of fresh popcorn. Our drink orders were then placed (we both ordered a beer on draft). Shortly after we order a bread basket appears. I ordered a knackworst with potato pancakes and German potato salad. Both were delicious. My wife ordered bratwurst and enjoyed hers. Location, venue both scream stopping you to visit. Epic venue, I just wish they gave you one more sausage. Beer is crisp, service is strong, venue is vintage, food is delicious, I'd definitely go back again!

Max's is a Pittsburgh staple and a classic. If you have not been to this iconic tavern, get there as soon as you can. Amazing German food and a great staff! I guarantee that yinz guys will love it!

Love this authentic German restaurant in the heart of Deutschtown! Max's is a staple for those in the neighborhood and in-the-know, but most people won't come across this place by accident. My mom's family is German and there are so many menu items that remind her of my Grandma's cooking - most of them things that are hard to pronounce ;) I don't eat meat so admittedly there aren't a ton of options, but the potato pockets and other appetizers are great! Especially love the French onion dip that comes with the potato pockets - so flavorful and delicious. Also a big shout out to the staff who were super busy on a Friday night before a North Shore concert, but they were so kind and did a great job.

Haven't been to Max's in a few years. Not much has changed however. Same interior, same staff (which is amazing). Only change I really saw was they are no longer open Sundays when h means no more Sunday brunch buffet which is a shame, we always enjoyed that. We stopped by after the Steelers holiday photos at the stadium. Max's is always super easy to get in and out which I appreciate. Started with a forgotten beer from Pittsburgh brewing. We had some apps and then entrees. I forgot to take photos of the entrees unfortunately. Food is solid, people working there are always amazingly nice. Place is clean inside as well.

Was disappointed in todays service. Waited 15 minutes after seating for a wait person. Brought our salads, then immediately our soup, and before we could start eating either of them they brought our entree which, of course, was cold by the time we ate it. Waiter didn't bring our drinks (which were the very first thing we ordered) until we flagged him down near the end of our meal.

What an old world old school classic. Was there Friday night with friends and the Food was outstanding and the service was off the charts featuring wonderful authentic German dishes!

If you like authentic German food, Max's is the place to go. When in the mood for some schnitzel, this is a must. I always think I am going to just order one, and always end up going for the sampler and picking from there. I'm a big fan of the potato salad, and we always have to go with some spatzel, and my kids always get a reuben. Einlauf soup is always a must, as well. A visit always lets you feel like you're stepping back in time. Great service always.

We had lunch at Max's, our first visit in many years. We avoided the place, waiting for an interior refresh to the carpeting, furniture, and painting, all of which originated in the early baby boomer days. We were glad to see that the refresh had occurred some time during our long absence. It remains a friendly, efficient, local spot. We had a simple lunch of potato pancake Reubens with German potato salad on the side. The sandwiches were fine, although the pancakes, like all restaurant versions, were disappointing, lacking flavor and delicacy. The potato salad was greasy and bitter. To be fair, neither of us likes German food, so our dissatisfaction could just be our bias, not poor execution by Max's. Either way, Max's is back on our approved list, but we don't really like the food, so we won't be back soon or often.

My recent visit here was a mixed bag. Some of the dishes were tasty, others just ok, and the atmosphere was definitely historic, but not the cleanest place around. The potato pancakes and fish sandwich were good, while the Max's Bavarian Club wasn't my favorite. Very nice server and a solid tap list.

I was very excited to take my girlfriend there. She wanted good German food. This was so far from that. I am a lifelong fan of Max's. Maybe it's been going downhill or maybe I got caught there on the wrong night, where maybe the 1st, 2nd or 3rd team cook/chef was off. Not good at all. I was so disappointed. We first ordered a few appetizers and a side: Sausage and Cheese, Potato Pancakes & German Potato Salad. Potato pancakes were good. Not really a complaint there. The Sausage and Cheese looked like it was made by a guy who fell asleep on a couch and woke up facing the cushions while realizing that his buddies were coming over to watch the game in 10 minutes. Not at all professional looking, not appetizing to look at and not that good. The worst by far was the German Potato Salad, which looked like Necco wafer sized (& thickness) potatoes thrown in some sort of thin swill. That was it. Nothing else to it. Just awful. Couldn't believe my eyes. It took a lot to not laugh in the bartender/waitress's face when she asked If I wanted to keep it for when the next course came out. The b/w had a full bar and the pub booths were kinda full. She had to serve both, and the service determined she needed a little help. My girlfriend's special German burger and my Brat & sauerkraut sandwich were both barely warm, along with our dripping with oil fries (we didn't order them that way), which somehow still glistened with the cooking oil even though they also were somewhere between room temperature and cold. I can deduce those meals were set next to the heat lamps for at least 10 minutes. Portions not an issue; too much oil and not hot. Not a good combo. We didn't finish any of the items except for the side pickles and glasses of water. Also, I was baffled when the B/W asked if we wanted to get something else besides our appetizers because the kitchen was going to close. It was 7:32, and the place was scheduled to close at 9. Not sure what the hurry was, too bad our meals weren't delivered with the same urgency. To summarize: over $56 (with apple sangria) spent, two very unhappy customers that will probably not come back, and me lamenting what happened to this place? When we got outside, a guy on a bike was circling back to ask if Max's was still open. I shrugged a disgusted shrug and said I guess. He laughed and rode off. Max's owes me one.

Stopped in for dinner. Food ordered was excellent. Service wasn't that great but overall good value for the dollar!

Great menu, excellent food and the service was perfect. I really liked this place and will go back to try more amazing German cuisine.

Great service and good drinks! I had a frozen strawberry margarita and it was huge! Plus they have a cool old jute box!

My Fiancé wanted to try this German Restaurant. It is a smaller restaurant. Older building but interesting to see. My Fiancé ordered the Hot Pastrami and Swiss on Rye. He loved the sandwich. The sauerkraut had a funny taste to it. I had the Allegheny Club on white toast and fries. It was good! The pickles was really good too! However I asked for Ketchup and she brought me out a half full ramekin of ketchup and the ramekin was busted up on down the whole side. Looks like it was dropped and busted and still put on the plate. I ordered a mixed drink , sex on the beach. It tasted like mint. It was the worst drink I have ever had. We asked if they had Captain Morgan Private stock. She said No we don't have anything fancy. She turned and walked away. She didn't bother telling us what kind of Rum they did have. Our Waitress Nichole wasn't the nicest, she was making snide remarks to me. Food was decent overall. But we won't be going back.

This was a great and quick experience...45 minutes here and we loved it! We had a little less than an hour before we had to get ready to go out to an event. We had some great and different popcorn and the bar and ordered a flight of beer. My husband loved them all. We would love to go back and get appetizers or even dinner, and we will for sure!

Quick and accommodating service. I had the ham and Swiss cheese sandwich and subbed for a side of applesauce with a cup of the chicken soup. Wish I would have opted for a bowl, the soup was a delicate flavor but hit the spot. Our server was very attentive even though it was busy with people watching the Steelers game at the bar. Would highly recommend stopping in.

I don't know what happened to this restaurant, but the food quality has gone downhill. Our pierogis, as an appetizer, were like eating leather, the Einlauf soup broth was missing any flavor and the carrots were still somewhat raw, the potato pancakes were lacking any potato flavor and disintegrated when touched, and the sausages were cold. The service was Ok but I am sorely disappointed in the food. Max's has always been consistent for me. Not this time. Hope that the management recognizes this soon.

Great German restaurant in North side. First time there and our meals and service were excellent.. we had a sausage appetizer platter which was a perfect amount and for our meals we both had different schnitzels which were excellent. Ended with a cream puff to share and our waitress was so nice she gave us two! Sorry, it was so good I forgot to take a pic! Next time!

This spot is such a homey little gem. I love it! From the cozy booths with pretty Tiffany style lamps to German comfort food and nicely priced mixed drinks in giant goblets, it's a great spot for a low key, fun night out with friends in Pittsburgh! We were surprised by how small both the pretzels and especially the cheese spatzel were, but both tasted really good. Service is fine, nothing over the top but friendly and matches the space.

I am an OLD time patron of at least 45 years. My husband and I have taken many of our friends here in the past, because we like to share good food. We used to get the hunter style pork chop, which was out of this world, but unfortunately, they no longer have that selection. Since the pork chop is no longer available, we have changed to Jager schnitzel, with the red, sweet, cabbage, and potato pancakes. Unfortunately, it will never be the same. I usually start with the Einloth soup, which now lacks flavor, and the Pastina and butter that used to be in the soup. We are also missing the Pumpernickel rolls. On our most recent visit, I have to admit, the veal was definitely not the same. The ridges appeared to be freezer burned. The gravy was not up to Max's standards. We may not visit as often as we used to, but will give it one more try. However, they do have good service.

I came here from Philadelphia we walked in and had to wait 15 minutes just to be set the server was extremely rude she didn't even come over to us about 15 minutes to the point that we had to move to the bar and then we were at the bar I asked the server where the special was she didn't even help me after waiting another 15 minutes and being there for 40 minutes we had to walk out worst place ever would never recommend or go to sad because all the other reviews say otherwise I guess they treat the locals differently.

AMAZING German food. They have amazing sauerkraut and schnitzel. Service was incredible and all of the food was delicious. The bar is over 100 years old and used to be a hotel in 1852. It has original tiled floors and the bar has original metal rails and an Brunswick bar. This find has an amazing history and good heart warming food. The plate I ordered had two different types of sauerkraut and came with two sides! I received a lot of great food for an impressive price, which was just a bonus. They had German beer on tap which was also nice. I'm not a beer drinker, but I liked the German beer I tried. Would definitely recommend.

This place is just the best. Great German food with an old school atmosphere that you can't find anywhere else. It feels and tastes like you're hanging at your German grandma's place. Unbeatable pretzel appetizer.

This is the 2nd time I have eaten here in the last year and although the waitress was very good, I can't say the same for the food. The potato pancakes were bland and the sauerbraten gravy was very unappetizing. I liked the red cabbage a lot. I don't intend to return

Great little local food spot. Had the potato pancake Ruben and it was delicious. Good selection of beers and fun and inviting atmosphere. Met friends here for lunch and to catch up and it gave a good balance of food, drink, and ability to talk and hang out.

Love Max's. There are multiple occasions and reasons to visit. One, it's a great place to make reservations with family. It's a got a wonderful old school vibe with delicious German food and cozy dining. My second go-to scenario is sitting in the bar area for drinks and a constant flow of tasty buttery popcorn. It's a beautiful bar preserved with interior details and charm you can't just find anywhere. We need to protect Max's Allegheny Tavern at all costs. Honorable mention: the incredible weekend brunch spread.

Max's is the bomb! It's been in Deutschtown since the 1890's and has a super cool aesthetic. The front is a bar with little booths and a couple different tv's. There are also two or three other sitting rooms for large groups and those not interested in being at the bar. My wife and I walked over on a Friday night and the barroom was packed. We took a table by the window in one of the other rooms and had a nice view out onto Suismon. We were hungry, but not too hungry so we shared a sample platter and got the Jäger Schnitzel, Pork Roast, and Chicken Viennese. For sides we got potato pancakes and warm potato salad. I thought absolutely everything was perfect! Food was warm and flavorful and the service was prompt and helpful in their recommendations. Will definitely be back.