Louise F.
Yelp
I'm so glad I decided to try Max's Bratwurst und Bier after reading all the great Yelp reviews! When we arrived, the place was busy, and the indoor seating seemed a bit tight. But upon closer inspection, we noticed a covered, heated outdoor area in front and to the side of the restaurant. Despite it being a chilly November day in New York, we had a warm, cozy, and bright experience dining in the outer area of restaurant.
With a German restaurant, beer is a given, but since I'm not a beer drinker, I opted for a Riesling. It was crisp, slightly sweet, and the perfect choice - I ended up having two during lunch. We started with a Bavarian-style pretzel, which came with a scoop of Obatzda (a creamy cheese spread), sliced red onions, and mustard. A bite of pretzel, red onion, Obatzda, and mustard made for the perfect combination.
All entrees come with two sides, with a mix of typical and some not-so-typical German sides. My friend and I both chose the roasted potatoes with bacon, while she went with sauerkraut and I picked the creamy dill cucumber salad. The cucumbers were sliced extremely thin yet managed to remain crunchy . The dill sauce had a sweetness note that I thoroughly enjoyed. The roasted potatoes with bacon were roasted perfectly.
For the main course, I chose pork schnitzel (two crispy fried pork cutlets topped with mushroom gravy) and a "wurst" platter with many sausage options for my friend. She asked the waiter, who's been with the restaurant for 10 years, to choose her sausages, and she loved them! I didn't have any of her lunch, but I did get all the leftovers, so I was able to enjoy the sausages the next day - they were delicious, snappy, and full of flavor.
For dessert - I know, right? We were stuffed, but we couldn't resist. I went for something light and chose the Heisse Liebe - vanilla ice cream with hot raspberry sauce. It was refreshing and the perfect way to wrap up the meal. My friend, who lived in Germany for a year, called the apple strudel the best she's ever had - and I'm taking her word for it! The service was excellent, with friendly and attentive wait staff. As we left, we noticed additional beer barrel tables on the sidewalk with high wooden chairs, as well as a significant amount of picnic tables behind the outdoor enclosure - probably used during warmer weather.
Parking is tricky, but if you have patience, you can find a spot. We got lucky and found one just a block away. Overall, a great experience, and I highly recommend it!