Steirer Hof/Christl's German Inn: User Reviews

Charming Place - Great Service!
By Bill from Arlington Heights, May 24, 2008

Overall rating:

I was looking for something simple, casual and different for my wife's birthday. We found it at Steirer Hof. The food was pretty good. We started with the liver pate app and had the liver dumpling soup (my wife loved it!). I had Chicken Schnitzel and my wife had sauerbraten. Both were pretty good and the portions were very large. Elegant it is not but that did not bother us.

The BEST part of this restaurant is not the food! It's service and charm. Very old school. The stuff that's lost with all the chains replacing great Mom and Pop's like this. We didn't know German food that well but the waitress was very good at working with us and explaining all the dishes.

The BEST part was that Rosie (one of the owners) - an adorably sweet older woman came over to our table to introduce herself. (I LOVE when the owner or Mgr at a restaurant stops by to chat! That's missed today). She told us about the 28 years she's been there and her trip over from Austria, etc. Very nice. Then, I mentioned it was my wife's birthday. Normally, they send over the apple streudel with a candle. Rosie really took to my wife and went back and broke out the batter and made their speciality - German style Apple Pancakes!! Then, she put a candle in it and brought it over herself and her and our server sang Happy Birthday. The other diners all clapped. We were laughing at how cute it was and were very touched. The server said that Rosie told her "Let's do something special for her. Don't bring out the pancake until I can come over with you. I want to sing to her." She came by again and gave us hugs and talked to us. It made our night very special and Rosie is one of a kind.

I usually bring my wife someplace a bit more elegant for her BD (in the $100-150 range) but this place ended up being very special. With appetizer, salads, bread, soups, two LARGE entrees, a glass a wine, a glass of Weiss beer and a HUGE desert (not to mention a huge tip) we got out of there for about $60!

I strongly recommend you go and see Rosie and the staff at Steier Hof for breakfast or dinner! My wife will remember that for a long time.

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