Brauhaus Schmitz

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +13%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$$

Once I heard that there was going to be a new German restaurant/beer bar to replace Ludwig's I was pretty excited but once details of this place surfaced I had extremely high expectations. Brauhaus Schmitz met all of my expectations and exceeded them.

The restaurant itself is very narrow but is still pretty large, stretching pretty far back and with a second floor/balcony that has quite a few tables. Once you walk in there are two ailse of tables with an isle strecthing all the way to the back of the place with a very large bar and a massive copy of the Reinheitsgebot to the left. The atmosphere and vibe are very cool even though it is located on one of the busiest touristy streets in the city.

I've eaten here twice now and have to say the the quality of food and service are outstanding. Once I heard that the female servers were going to be wearing drindls I thought that it was going to be extremely lame but they actually pulled it off nicely. The servers have all been very knowledgeable and attentive, even helping me pronounce many German word that I otherwise would have no idea how.

I've sampled several of their authentic dishes and have been very pleased with everything. Brats, spatzel, Kartoffelpuffer(potato pancakes), schnitzel and potato dumplings were all amazing. I literally ate until I was uncomfortable on each visit.

Now on to the beer. Since this place is mostly focused on German beers they have a limited number of non-bavarian offerings. 20+ taps with 16 of them German, all broken down by style on the menu. They had several rarities as well including Hoffstetner Kunellbier and Erdinger Fest-weiss which are not common in the states. Other classics like Aventinus, Celebrator, Gaffel Kolsch and Weihenstephaner are always available. They also have a pretty impressive bottle list of beers from around the world but when I'm here I want German beers on draft.

I would strongly recommend this bar to any German beer enthusiasts and beer lovers in general. Even if you have friends that don't appreciate good beer they will enjoy this place.

09-26-2009 21:26:43 | More by corby112

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +13%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

Brauhaus Schmitz is my dream come true. I anticipated that this place would have it all, and it does. The front doors open up completely to South Street and you will see a high ceiling, a long wooden bar and eclectic German wall hangings. Schmitz offers a great selection of beer, a wonderful traditional wood-laiden German beer hall look, and a large array of unbelievable German cuisine. Growing up with my mother and her family coming from the Father Country, I've been immersed in German culture and cuisine since I can remember. Brauhaus Schmitz offers authenticity and exceptional quality and presentation of the food and drink. If you enjoy German beer and cuisine, you will love this place. If you have never had German beer or cuisine, you need to visit this place as you will also love it. You can find cheese and meat platters, salads of sorts, and plenty of protein and carbs on the menu (wurst, schnitzel, spaetzle etc). ALmost daily they offer specials in appetizers, entress and desserts. Many delicious German beers on tap including Ayinger Celebrator, Erdinger Weisse, Kostritzer Scwarzbier and Franziskaner most of the time. By the way, they offer Das Boot which is a boot shaped glass that comes in a 2 or 3 liter size. There is plenty of seating and moderate standing room. The service has been great including knowledgable bartenders and friendly table service. I will continue to revisit Brauhaus Schmitz for the forseeable future.

10-11-2009 00:05:48 | More by BeerForMuscle

cevafm

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +10.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

The atmosphere was good. The lighting was a little dark and our table was a little wobbly, but there was a nice big TV next to our section that I watching the Phillies game on. Would have like to see a little bit more German beer culture represented in the decoration.

Quality was excellent. The table linens and silverware were extremely clean. I sampled one of the Bavarian "Big 6" beers that I have not tried yet, Franziskaner Weissbeer, and also had a 1/2 liter of Warsteiner Dunkel. The beer was fresh and the taps were clean.

Service was great. Only thing that prevented me from giving it a 5 was that the hostess was a little on the shy side so I could barely hear her. Our waitress was extremely helpful.

Selection was awesome. Didn't even finish reading the beer list as it was soooo long.

Food was very good. You can't find this food at too many places in Philly. Reading Terminal market comes to mind. As well as Miller's in Lancaster, but that's not in the city now is it.

Value was good. Most of the beers were priced around 5.50 a half liter, with some of the more exotic micro-brews pushing 8 a bottle. I felt it was reasonable considering the combination of food, beer selection, and great service.

06-12-2010 21:46:41 | More by cevafm

dwaz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

A great dining German beer hall experience with good food and a well rounded draft list of German beers make this place exceptional. An extensive list of bottled beers from all over the world(Belgium, Kenya, Japan, Italy, etc.) will surely accomodate anyone, but the great German beers(sorely missing from Philly beer scene) are the reason to go here. Nothing quite like some German bratwurst, sauerkraut and Kolsch beer. The wait staff was friendly and knowlegable about beer. High ceilings make the atmosphere light and airy alng with the giant arch doorway,

07-13-2009 04:31:23 | More by dwaz

TheFightfan1

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$$

After my wife and I took a tour of Yards brewery. We drove down the street just for this place. Parking was great right in front of the building do to the snowy weather. As you walk in a curtain blocks most of the view of the restaraunt. We were greeted with sounds of a man playing an accordian right behind that black curtain. Bar is to the left stretching down the building to starcase and on the opposite side there are some boothes. Our table was upstairs and if you have been in this place the ceiling is not meant for us tall people to be walking up there. A little tight but never uncomfortable.

It took a little time for our server to greet us and take our order it was a Saturday and right around dinner time. Luckily we were able to get a seat in time as it did get very busy. Very nice to see all the waiter's and waitresses dressed the part as well.

Everything tasted like it was home cooked and very good at that. Food was a bit pricey but he isn't everything on South Street but it is well worth the money. An amazing place and a definite try if your in the area.

01-31-2010 19:50:44 | More by TheFightfan1

GeoffFromSJ

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +6.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$$

Got here Thursday afternoon of the opening week in the early afternoon. I'm loath to make any review final, let alone one this early on.

From the outside of the hall to the inside, this place exudes a very cool vibe. Lots of wood, which would explain why the carpenter's union was protesting outside. We ate at the long bar.

Our bartender was great and we even had good interaction with another server. Granted, we were there during an off-hour. They give tastes, which was nice for my non-beer geek friends.

As for the selection, I didn't bother looking at the bottle selection. That said, Brauhaus Schmitz is off to an auspicious start. I had the Uerige Sticke, a schwarzbier, and the Aecht Schrelenka Helles. For a German restaurant, the selection is great and well-rounded. Except for eisbock, I think every major German style was represented.

The food menu looks good & interesting. I had the schnitzel sandwich, which was solid. But I think I should have gone for the wurst sandwhich instead. The fries were solid as well, and the ketchup seemed to had an interesting spice in it. Honestly, my impressions here need more sampling to be accurate.

After the close of Ludwig's, we needed Brauhaus Schmitz in Philly if we are to truly be the greatest beer drinking city in America. This fills a huge gap and is easily Philly's most important opening of 2009.

Update: 7-24-2009 They just had a Gose on-tap which is very rare. Given they are hitting major and minor German styles, as a German restaurant, they have to get a 5.

07-06-2009 03:27:30 | More by GeoffFromSJ

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Went here recently on a Saturday evening for dinner. Large wooden entryway really sticks out on south street. Got a table along the right wall, underneath a bunch of old pillboxes from the previous tenant. Lots of wood and exposed brick throughout, with a rather high ceiling in the main room. With the way the tables are up front and the way the acoustics are, it really has a beer hall type of feel.

Decent sized bar about 25ft from the front door along the left hand side that extends for maybe another 25ft. They had 20 tap lines with all beers served in appropriate glassware. They also had a bottle list, but I didn't even bother to look seeing as how the draft list was so good. There was an upstairs dining area that I did not have an opportunity to check out.

I had a Spaten Optimator and a Warsteiner Dunkel along with my jagerschnitzel and potato pancakes. Arguably the best potato pancakes I have ever had.

The service was a little slow in spots, but it sputtered along adequately.

I would love to make it back over here on a weeknight and post up at the bar for a bit. My first impression was very good though.

08-24-2009 19:39:05 | More by ColForbinBC

WunderLlama

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

A brief visit to Philly brought me to the steps of Brauhaus Schmitz. I was there very early (5pm) for dinner. Nice atmosphere with German travel posters and the Rheinheitsgebot posted on one wall. A classy bier Halle! They also earn special marks for being a soccer pub. Although there were no Bayern pennants, they had an Eintracht Frankfurt and Philly Union scarves.

Immediately greeted and seated. Very attentive and knowledgeable waiter( despite being a St Pauli fan). Very impressive beer list with some beers exclusive in the US only at BS. Tried the Andorfer doublebockhefeweizen. Interesting and very good. Order the tasting course and tried the following:

Sauerkraut croquettes. - very good with speck / bacon mixed with emmentaler cheese and sauerkraut deep fried into delicious nuggets

Goulash - absolutely sensational . I would come back just for this dish alone.

Jäger schnitzel - pork steak coated and pan fried, spatula and asparagus. The pork was too filling (typical German food reaction) , the spatula were good the asparagus was very good and reminded me of my Mothers recipe.

Appel Strudel- a thick delicious wedge of flaky pastry and apples.

This was served with a draft Hacklberger Humorator. An amazing delicious bock bier . Loaded with malty goodness and an earthy, fruit taste that reminded me of figs. Loved it and only on draft in the US at BS.

Very good food, excellent beers, excellent service, nice atmosphere (although early) . I recommend it and will be back the next time I am in Philly.

06-14-2013 11:33:14 | More by WunderLlama

BeerDetective

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$$

I wandered down to South Street for probably the first time in 5 years or so to check this place out. My flatmate and I were greeted by a carpenter's union guy handing out flyers hassling people. We ignored that dufus and went inside and had a wonderful time. Mhy weinerschnitzel sandwich was very very good, and the potato salad side was awesome. My non alcoholic flatmate even got an apple soda from Germany that was very good. I had a Franzikaner Wiezen and a Hofbrau Haus Dunkel, both of which were good and from clean lines. The restrooms were clean. Our sever was nice and helpful, and apologetic about the idiot outside with his flyers..all in all a place I am heading back to next week.

08-04-2009 22:20:19 | More by BeerDetective

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

The beer selection cannot be denied. 20 taps. Lots of good Germans, including some fairly unusual stuff. Also some good German-style American beers. Stoudt's does their house brew, and has a few others on tap, and Sly Fox has some footing in there as well. I was pleasantly surprised to find a Berliner-style Weiss on tap, and an Alt from Dusseldorf (Zum Urige). Oh, and Schlenkerla helles. Philadelphia has had a hole in it's beer scene regarding German beers for too long, and this should fill it.

The food is quite good, really fresh - and when we're talking about German-style foods, that's important. The food I had here was better than what I've had at Zum Schneider in NYC. I've given them good points for that. But at the same time, it is a bit expensive - such is South Street!!!

As for atmosphere, well it's clearly a new place, but they've tried to make it look old in spots. And it's not that they're trying to fool you, you can see the differences quite readily. It's just an interesting mix. The antique booths (old church pews) surround new wooden tables, and I love the exposed brick walls (here and there), and all of the wood. And they went to great expense to have the arched wood on the back-bar mimic the arched entranceway that they inherited from "American Pie". Very nicely done.

Ahh, I almost forgot the beer hall feel. Well, the old and new mix doesn't stop at furniture or finishings. When I first sat down Oom-pah music was playing! I thought I was in for an afternoon of tuba, but the next song switched to something really interesting and alternative. I'm not sure if that was because of the time of day or something, but I really liked the odd mix. A little German brass now and again can be fun!

As to the sound, the music is set up in a really good way. I'm not sure if that was planned, or if it just happened. The mezzanine gives it a lot of acoustics, and with the wooden floors the entire place acts kind of like a speaker box. It can get loud, especially when a larger table gets a few brews in them, but the music somehow still gets through. And on that note, it really does have a beer hall feel to it. There aren't the long communal tables, but it is kind of close, and it is kind of loud - and in my experience, that can be a good thing because it gets people talking.

So, overall impression, excellent!!! South street really needs a solid anchor along this block to keep it from shrinking more towards Front, and I think Schmitz has the magic to make that happen. And, as South Street is already a destination in Philly, I can't imagine anyone coming through town and not stopping in for at least one beer.

07-05-2009 22:22:53 | More by NeroFiddled