Gaumenkitzel in Berkeley - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I rarely rate restaurants. The food and beer here were amazing. I've never had German food before, but my dinner companion said she'd lived there briefly and this was still the best schnitzel she'd ever had. So sad to learn it is closing down :'-(

Disappointing for a German restaurant. Self service with cafeteria style seating, but regular prices. Serves mixture of southern German classics s.a. Schnitzel and some homegrown dishes. Disappointed to not find Gulaschsuppe or Matjesfilet. Better food, drink and atmosphere at Speisekammer in Alameda and Suppenküche in San Francisco.

Line was crazy but the food was worth it

I'm sad to see this place go. It is a very consistently good food. Nice place to go when you want a good schnitzel

We’ve been eating here for years and have always put up with the quirks of the owner who gets very anxious when there are more than five people in line to order. Tonight we decided to not eat here again after receiving extremely uncourteous treatment seconds after we stepped in the door—he could not have been more rude to us in telling us the expected wait time and may as well have literally kicked us out of the restaurant. For added context, we were expecting to attend a monthly event for my son’s school, and when I told him this he snapped, saying that he knew nothing about it and waved us away. It’s unfortunate because yes, the food is good, but this is no way to treat people. Thankfully, there are other German restaurants in Oakland and Alameda where we will take our business from here on.

First time having German food. The spatzle with onions was good. My friends really liked the schnitzel with red cabbage and spatzle.

this is our must visit restaurant when we visit the area …. the food is outstanding ….. very sad to hear you are closing

Food is tasty. It is not as salty as in many restaurants in Germany, which is good!

Authentic German food and yummy deserts. The interior is also beautiful!

Very much not the same place post-pandemic. Service on par with McDonalds, hot dogs in place of the advertised weisswurst, and more of a cafeteria atmosphere than a nice restaurant. Food still decent, but not the same experience.

Great spot for German fare in Berkeley. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and they sell a good bit of harder to find German food and beer as retail. The homemade Jagerschnitzel and spaetzle are on point, and the beer is excellent. I love their goulash as well. All seems to be made with love. Their breztels are a bit disappointing, however... small and not warm. They also have wierd hours, not open for lunch during the week, opening at 4pm and they close a bit early (8pm)... they should stay open longer, I'd come more often! One more negative: they're a bit pricey. Overall, however, I'm very glad they're here as they scratch my itch for great German food, and I definitely recommend Gaumenkitzel!

Do not recommend if you have babies. Chef approached our table and asked why our baby was making noise.

Great food. Seasonal beet soup with veg base! Fabulous! Wonderful service. Fabulous vegetarian options. True comfort food! Fantastic line of specialty jam and jelly at the counter. Try the gooseberry jam! Nothing beats the mushrooms spaetzel!

Good food, but pricy. Service is good. It can get noisy when busy. Order at the counter, and food is delivered to the table.

What a fantastic find! We dined at Gaumenkitzel for the first time yesterday. The food (Pork Schnitzel, Beef Brisket) was just wonderful, the German beer selection is spectacular and the staff and chef were very friendly. We will be back.

Very nice place, great German food 👌 👏 👍

As a German and someone who was raised with a heavy German population in the Midwest this food is not it. The schnitzel is paper thin and cooked in an extremely salty butter. The potato salad is not how German potato salad is supposed to be and tastes way too creamy and sweet. The curry rice that came with the rockfish dish was crunchy and undercooked. The food was bland and overpriced. And don’t let me forget the unwelcoming sign at the front door about making sure you take your kids outside if they aren’t quiet. Don’t waste your time with this place. So overpriced and overrated.

Best German food in the Bay Area by far! Get a bottle of their homemade mustard too. So delicious

Charming neighborhood diner, with great selection of beers and favorites dishes of Central Europe. Vibe and flair are somewhat minimalist but cozy. The schnitzel and brezel here always delight. Good for week night and Sunday dinner without fuzz.

One of the only German restaurants in the area, and quite the gem. Food is always delicious, service friendly and quick, and you can tell they use quality ingredients.

First time here and really enjoyed it. Tried a lot of dishes and most were hits, a couple misses. Loved the butternut squash apple soup, spatzle with cheese and caramelized onion, and jaegerschnitzel (spelling?). The beef ghoulish was to bell peppery for us and didn't really enjoy the potato salad or fish cake. But loved everything else and will definitely come back!

This is a quiet restaurant with good food and great staff. I am in Berkeley for 3 weeks and have eaten here 3 times.

Great selection odd German beers, awesome jagershnitzel, unremarkable goulash, horrible apple strudel.

Love the food, their practices and values running a restaurant that's good for the environment!

Eh … not German imho - no big thick juicy sausages … everything from beet salad to sauces for the skinny wiener dogs they had was high sugar content… very sad and missing my PA sausage venues … purple cabbage was a sweet mush and noodles dry .. Enough but the only “German” faire close to us … Berkeley doesn’t do great food … except the burger chains … super duper is good …

Best soft pretzel I’ve ever had in my whole life! The service is amazing too!

Come here for the desserts! When I tell you its better than my grandmothers baking, I do not say this lightly 😂 Pflaumkuchen is sublime, and Grießpudding is lifted by a fresh citrus zest. And now I'm homesick.

Loved the food and the atmosphere. The mustard is so so good. I ended up putting it on everything I ate. Can't wait to come back and try other things. Potato salad, sausage, pretzel and goulash were all great and would highly recommend.

The Gaumenkitzel is German approved. A very good variety of draft beers and even a decent wine selection. I had the Gulasch which was very good too. Service was great and I had a very nice talk with one of the owners of the restaurant. She was so kind!

Authentic and delicious German food!

Let's start with the food which is excellent. I ate the jaegerschnitzel that has mushrooms in sauce and a thin breaded cutlet. Fantastic! And the rotkuhl red cabbage was nice plus the bonus German egg noodles. It was a lot of food and I'm ashamed that I ate it all. But then I didn't eat dessert but they sounded good. It's also a little kind of German foods store so you can get sausages and jam and of course German mustard and pretzels too.

I recently dined at Gaumenkitzel in Berkeley, California, and the experience was truly delightful. From the moment I walked in, I was embraced by the warm ambiance and friendly staff. However, the highlight of the meal was the jagerschnitzel. Prepared to perfection, the fresh ingredients shone through, and the flavors danced in my mouth, making it an unforgettable dish. Its delicious taste and succulent texture left me craving for more, a testament to the chef's expertise. The side dishes were equally fresh and complemented the jagerschnitzel beautifully. I appreciate Gaumenkitzel's commitment to quality, and their attention to detail was evident in every aspect of my meal. I am not only satisfied but impressed, and I eagerly look forward to returning to Gaumenkitzel soon. For those in search of authentic German cuisine that is both fresh and tantalizing, Gaumenkitzel is undoubtedly the place to visit.

Very German food nice selection of beer...

I come to this restaurant for cannellini bean soup and I have been tolerating long wait and non-friendly service for a long time. They have always been far away from the great atmosphere restaurant and I didn’t expect much. Today I stopped by to eat and I had a surprise waiting. The entrance to the restaurant is like a DMV line or a voting facility with rules and regulations. Step here and not there, don’t do this and that…Not to mention that people working there don’t help in any way, don’t greet you or smile. I felt absolutely horrible and didn’t even want to stay or eat. On the top of all restaurant gave guidance on how to behave when with children clearly educating parents. This was well overboard. Families are not welcome, individuals have to read and follow the signs communicating with servers who don’t feel inclined to make you feel comfortable. They lost me as a customer. If you want to enjoy your meal and feel appreciated I warmly recommend to find friendlier place to go.

This spot delivers only amazing, tasty German meals. Been coming here for years and appreciate them for being around still. Every ingredient tastes fresh. The flavor is authentic, every bite is savored. Love this spot so much I come here for special occasions or take loved ones' visiting from out of town 'cause it's gonna be guaranteed delicious.

Everything on the menu is authentic and spectacular!

Gaumenkitzel in Berkeley offers an extraordinary culinary experience. The 100% Grass Fed Beef Goulash was incredibly delicious, and the catch of the day dish was equally satisfying. Pairing the meal with Plank Bavarian Hefeweizen and Kostritzer Schwarzbier from their impressive beer selection elevated the experience. The ambiance is warm and inviting, and the service is attentive. Gaumenkitzel delivers an exceptional dining experience worth savoring. Cheers!

Excellent authentic German food 👌

a true berkeley classic - serving classic german food. come for the large selection of really incredible beers but don’t forget about the food that part is also to die for. i ravenously ate a schnitzel tonight and was delighted as always, and finished with a rhubarb streusel that was perfectly tart and rich and sweet. the staff are so accommodating and sweet and the ambiance is chill, yet sophisticated, yet approachable. i grew up going to this restaurant with my family, and it’s just as good as i can ever remember. overall it plays a beautiful part in the overall culinary landscape of this part of berkeley, around university and san pablo. it’s a must try.

One of the best spots in the bay for German fare. Not only is the food delicious, their market area is great for all the imported German food items I love. If you're even close to Berkeley, this place is worth a stop. The spaetzle basil is my favorite as a vegetarian, but I've never seen a dish that wasn't thoroughly enjoyed here.

The only nice thing about this awful place was my server. As a German I was disgraced by the cooking. even worse whole place had a distinct miasma of pee.

We started with the butternut squash apple soup. Heaven. The savory veggie cake was amazing. It’s something I never had before. The sides made a great addition. The next dish was fish. Cooked to perfection. The only caveat was that it had the same side dishes. We ended with an authentic Black Forest cake. It was delicious and light and low on lactose if any at all. Only our own cake can compete.

Every choice at Every visit is always exceptional food and informative service

Great place. Among the best genuine German food I‘ve had, including while living in Germany. Many ingredients are homemade, which is a rare find!

Lovely German restaurant with great beer options, authentic cuisine and lovely interior! The owner is very nice and from Hamburg City! We had the spätzle with pesto, the potato salad and a pretzel which was delicious. I also tried the Rotkohl that comes with the Jägerschnitzel and it tasted absolutely delicious as well. Definitely recommend!

Great service and food was excellent. Hat gut geschmeckt! Alas they had to close early due to universal staffing issues. Highly recommend. One in our group is a vegetarian, his plate looked sehr schmackhaft, that means "tasty" in German. Draft Bier was excellent 👍. Will go back next time I'm in the Bay Area. Sorry they had to close early otherwise we would have had another Bier 🍻. The Hungarian goulash was good, Spätzle, Bretzel mit Senf (German mustard), all were authentically Deutsch. Thought I'd interject a tad bit of a German lesson. Anyway PROST!!!

Great little German store & restaurant in the middle of Downtown Berkeley. Pretzel was simple and served with a housemade honey mustard, little sweet, little spice. Spaetzle was on point for its traditional texture and flavor, which paired beautifuly with the mushroom rague. The fish cake sandwich had great flavor, good texture, just need a touch more salt for the everyday American consumer's palate. Of course, the stollen has stolen my girlfriend's heart away. Great texture, not too dense, fabulous flavor with a touch of citrus and dried fruits. No marzipan in the center. I can't wait to share it with my family.

Excellent food. Great selection of beer and wine. They had children's silverware, which was much appreciated!

Yo aquí trabajo paisanos la mejor comida orgánica las mujeres bebidas de el área de la bahía

I heard about this restaurant on the PBS show, Check Please Bay Area. My experience at the restaurant was excellent. The staff was friendly and helpful and the service was great. We ordered jagerschnitzel and goulash, and both of the dishes were delicious! We also really enjoyed the butternut squash soup and the desserts we ordered. I’m looking forward to coming back to Gaumenkitzel soon!

Had the special. It was mushrooms asparagus and loads of deliciousness. Will be back for sure!!

My first visit. Cafe style service. Half a dozen German beers on tap. Simple fare but the spaetzle with mushrooms and semolina pudding were tasty. Got very busy after 600 pm on Sunday so consider reservations or takeout. Many of the menu's entrees and sides can be purchased in mason jars from a refrigerated case. Also sausages, pork and liverwurst. Large wine selection. I'll be back.

Abysmal evening. No table service which is fine but when we reached the end of the line to order they told us we had to use the communal tables even though there were two tables that have been “reserved” for the past 25 minutes. Worst bit is they expected a gratuity for the meal. The best part of the meal was the bretzel, but don’t order it in the evening as they do not bother heating it up and you’ll eat hard bread. The beef goulash was unremarkable, I never thought I could eat noodles that had no flavor. The black forest cake was ok, you taste the cherry and the cream but no chocolate. If you want german food try across the bay.

Skip this place unless you really love German food or honey mustard. The honey mustard was perfectly sweet and tangy here - an embodiment of everything a good mustard should be. Unfortunately, that’s the only positive thing I can say about the food. The bretzel was served unheated and hard, the beef goulash was bland and tough, the spatzle was soft but flavorless, and the black forest cake was unremarkable. Additionally, they have a very slow seating process and counter service only.

I would rate Gaumenkitzel as one of the top twelve restaurants in Berkeley. Impeccably fresh quality of ingredients, from start to finish. All prepared in an admirable, central European culinary spirit, and an unpretentious, comfortable setting. Don't worry: its not all about meat and potatoes, either.

very delicious German comfort food!!!

Great food and great selection of German imports!

Wonderful food and helpful staff. They have a pantry option for takeaway that’s really reasonably priced.

Authentic German food and market items. Simple and tasty. Feels more like what your German grandma would make than a restaurant, if you had a German grandma.

This was a really fun diversion. We weren’t expecting to go to a German restaurant but just stumbled upon it. I had the snack sampler and my partner have the soup. Both were very good. I definitely want to come back and try some of their entrées. They also have quite a few good looking desserts. Of course there were quite a few German beers on tap. I had a Pilsner and very much enjoyed it.

Check out the market they have stocked with sausages, sauces, and some of their house sides and soups ready to take home.

Me, my wife and sons ordered multiple meals today. We had rockfish with rice and red cabbage and salmon/ling with mashed potatoes. My son had Jaeger Schnitzel with Spaetzle. My wife also ordered Spaetzle with mushrooms. At the end we had pear ginger tart desert. I would give it 10 out 10 mark.

I just went there today. It was very German. Loved it.

Great mustard, needs more Einstürzende Neubauten tunes playing.

Solid food and beer. A little bit on the pricey side especially depending on what you order. Street parking, but normally not too difficult to find a spot.

I look forward to the return of table service post covid. Especially when you're rushed at the counter. Schnitzel was ok, but the spaetzel not so much. Nice airy space.

Really impressed by this place. It’s a very chill German place and the food’s flavor work really nicely together, not too greasy or heavy. We ordered the crispy snitzel, the brezel, the potato salad with 2 wieners, a soda, a buttermilk dessert and a piece of strawberry-rhubarb streusel. The soda was amazing. The desserts were not too sweet and extremely pleasant. The textures and flavors of the entrees were 👌 I feel very unbothered ☺️

Great food and the staff were friendly. They even have some gluten sensitive options. My partner and I will be back again!

Absolutely everything vegetarian that I've tried has been outstanding, which really makes it fun to try new dishes because you know they're going to be great, you just don't know exactly how this time. I have only tried a few of the beers but they've been tasty, too, so the owner and staff really care about the quality. I love going here, but have to moderate my desires because of how expensive it is

Very good lunch/dinner. I had the schnitzel sandwich and black forest cake, very good. My favorite was the strudel!

Very good , great food , large selection of Beer ,,, Sehr Gut ! Eine große Auswahl von Bier Sorte … 👍🏻

I've seen this place for years and always wondered about it. Wish I had tried it earlier. The food is fabulous and much lighter than I expected. We enjoyed each of the four dishes we ordered--potato salad with fish cakes, brie sandwich, rock fish and hunter's style schnitzel. We'll definitely be back.

This place is authentically German down to the font on the menus. Delicious food, friendly staff. Would visit again!

The place looks great, you order at the counter and the server delivers the food and drink to the table. A selection of German wines and beers are available. But the food itself was unremarkable and a bit pricey. I had the fried Schnitzel and it was okay. My friend had the sausage plate and they tasted like hot dogs, expensive hotdogs. Probably would not go back.

Better schnitzel than what I've had in Köln. So so yummy. Can't wait to go back.

Delicious food, amazing beer selection, fun and relaxing atmosphere. Really loved the original vibe, and authentic product selection. And, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the very friendly staff.

Wonderful place with a truly tasty food and great interiors! Loved both entries and the desserts.

Best Schnitzel (sandwich) I've had, and my wife and i spent a week cycling and eating Schnitzel in Austria 4 years ago. Mushroom pasta dish (shared by 3) had lots of flavor, and very hearty, filling. German beer on tap was a big plus, with tastes before we ordered. Fresh.

A lot of food. A variety of food. Food for everyone. A lot vegetables and etc and salad bar its buffet.

It's the people. My husband and I were ordering for this evening when he said, "Is there anything in our house that needs fixing so we can mention it to Kai? It happens that he had been chatting with Kai at an earlier visit and mentioned a problem that had been bedeviling us. Stunningly, Kai offered to take a look one day. Better than that, Kai came by and with such skill and craft and attention to detail, solved the problem. My brother is a cabinet maker in Vermont. When I described Kai's process to him, he said, "We call that craftsmanship exemplified." Perfect.

Excellent food. Excellent service and help navigating the menu . Just delicious food

My first time here- just the best help deciding what to order. The German food was so deliciously good. Just outstanding. I am so pleased this restaurant was recommended to me to try. The food was sooooo good

One of our favorite restaurants in Berkeley. The food is delicious, service is great, family friendly with a nice ambiance, and we’ve also gotten takeout during the pandemic.

Always a good place to get German food and beer. I'm partial to the spatzle and goulash. But the Weiner Schnitzel is also delicious. There German beer selection is excellent.

The best German food I had in Berlin couldn't even compare to what we can get right here in Berkeley. It's that good.

Great vegetarian and omnivore food! Good service despite COVID restrictions. Clean place. Very comfortable. Great for take out as well!.

Great local produce cooked and presented with care. And great German beers. Nice staff.

Really delicious schnitzel and large beer and wine menu to choose from. The lovely smell of pretzels coming from the kitchen convinced me to give this place a try and it was really worth it.

Terrific! We had the butternut squash soup, veggie sandwich and brie sandwiches. Everything was delicious!

Great alcohol selection and tasty food. I really enjoyed the salmon sandwich.

Excellent food. Butternut squash and apple soup is delicious. Jaeger Schnitzel is some of the best I've eaten and I have had it in Austria, Germany and the USA!

I love the food but it is too far away to go to often

Great Beer & wine selection from Germany. Menu was fine, small selections, no chicken option !! Good Snitzel 👍

We chose Gaumenkitzel for our first indoor dining experience in such a long long time, a gathering of family to celebrate birthdays. We knew it would be great, as we have frequented this restaurant since it opened years ago, most recently ordering from their takeout menu. So delicious! So generous we brought home the rest for dinner this evening. Lovely chef/owners who treated us like family. An outstanding experience.

They require a vaccination record and have clean facilities. The food is excellent. The drinks are German beers.

German food is pretty far down on my list of favorite cuisines, having eaten my fair share of salty, heavy German food in Germany. But one day, somehow, I craved for some sauerkraut. Frankly, this place is better than most of the German food I've eaten in Germany. Their schnitzel and sauerkraut are nice. They also sell jars of pickles and soup at reasonable prices. The place is clean. Would definitely come back again when my sauerkraut cravings return.

Great food and a wonderful staff.

I love German food and was excited to try Gaumankitzel. I was put off my the lack of atmosphere. No table service. You had to order from the counter. I still had a positive attitude while we sipped the excellent beer and awaited our food. The food arrived. I asked for some extra mustard because I love condiments. We dug in to the crispy schnitzel, sausage platter and potato salad. The food was not very hot. The schnitzel was very good. The potato salad was very good. The sausages were mediocre. The bratwurst was pretty good but the bockwurst and frankfurters were only so so. Then, the server showed up with a small ramekin of mustard, WHICH THEY CHARGED 28 CENTS FOR! Come on - really? After I spent over $80 for a meal, not including tip, you are going to charge 28 cents for a little (and I mean a very little) extra mustard? I am spoiled. I live in San Francisco and enjoy eating at Suppenkuche. This place does not measure up. It's not horrible but I'll never go back and cannot recommend it. If you want the real thing, with atmosphere, try elsewhere.

The schnitzel and vegetarian fried cake were delicious!

Very delicious German food. Wide range of beers available.