Dine-in
Yes
Rolfs in New York
Categories
Location on the map
New York, New York County, New York, US
Service options
Delivery
No
Health and safety
Reservations required
Yes
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible car park
No
Offerings
Coffee
Yes
Comfort food
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Dessert
Yes
Amenities
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Cosy
Yes
Historic
Yes
Romantic
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Tourists
Yes
Planning
Lunch reservations recommended
Yes
Dinner reservations recommended
Yes
Accepts reservations
Yes
Usually a wait
Yes
Phone: +1 212-473-8718
Site: http://rolfsnyc.com/
Site: http://rolfsnyc.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:12–10:30PM
- Tuesday:12–10:30PM
- Wednesday:12–10:30PM
- Thursday:12–10:30PM
- Friday:12–10:30PM
- Saturday:12–10:30PM
- Sunday:12–10:30PM
Rolfs in other cities:
Comments (199)
So the place looks amazing, well worth a drink (the beer is literally the most expensive pint in the world), the cocktails are more expensive than worlds best bars, but I kind of get it. The food is over-priced, and completely average. The service was awful, and when we said we were vegetarian, he panicked and said my gf had to order two sides which are as pictured, literally nothing else, not even a plate. Horrendous and felt nothing like a fun Christmas atmosphere, will never go back and happy to tell everyone its probably the most overrated place in NYC.
Amazing Christmas decoration that can lift up your mood right away 😍The food is great and Service is superb. The staff is really attentive
Disclaimer this review isn’t based on food or drinks. There’s apparently a 6 month wait to dine there. But just to see the bar the line wraps around the building. It did however, move quickly. Once inside it looks just like the pictures, full of christmas decorations and ornaments everywhere. But it’s SO packed in there, my cousin and I walked in, took a couple pics and walked out. We didn’t feel comfortable being around so many ppl. It was a beautiful bar, just didn’t get to enjoy it.
What a beautiful place to go to during the holiday season. The whole place is decked out in Christmas ornaments.To dine here you will need a reservation. They allow walk ins for the bar but it can get crowded. The drinks here were amazing and festive. They are on the pricier side ($24) but they were pretty delicious.Great place to snap tons of pics and videos!
This place was everything I hoped it would be as far as the decor!! Bear in mind you will probably have to wait in line to get in, there is a One Drink Minimum and those drinks ARENT cheap!!
Cute festival spot. Dine-Ins needed “call in” reservations. Decided to grab a quick drink to observe the spectacular holiday scenic
I love the decor and the drinks, but the cramped feeling by the bar takes away from the experience. Gluhwein was delicious.If you do go here, bring a big foldable/reusable bag, stuff your coats and hats in there, and hang it on the hooks. I think that’ll pretty much keep everything in one place.
We went here for the Christmas vibe, and also I love schnitzel. I was able to get some German Hefe Weiss which was tasty paired with a regular Weiner Schnitzel that came with spatzle and green beans.Overall it was only OK, Ive had better in Leavenworth, WA. Service was a little slow, and I just didnt think the price was really worth it. For 2 people with dinner and 2 drinks each it was about $150 including a 10%tip.The Christmas vibe was cool, but I dont think I would go back again just because of the price.
Popped in here because it shows up as a German restaurant on Google. While it is *heavily* decorated with a Christmas ambiance, we couldnt bring ourselves to get a table (which requires that everyone orders at least one entree) given the mediocre-looking photos. We instead opted for a couple drinks at the bar (which turned out to be around $50 with the automatically-included tip) and sipped on those while admiring the vibe. They keep your card by default after paying, and when asking for the check, they took a couple tries to find the right card/bill for us. I must say, it seems like the main draw is the Christmas decorations (which, to be fair, are amazing), but once you get past that, its... okay.
If I could give this so-called restaurant zero stars I would. I try to be extremely courteous to all those in the service and hospitality industry however, this place makes you second guess the golden rule. Of course, the ambiance of Christmas decor is absolutely stunning and instagram worthy BUT from the moment my mother and I walked through the door we were not wanted there. As soon as we walked in the door it was as if we were in an episode of the Twilight Zone, we were immediately asked if we had reservations when all but 2 tables/booths were available. When I said no we dont have a reservation they looked at as us as if we were beneath them and then sat us at a table right next to the entrance and hostess podium. I will admit I dont eat German food and I saw they had a Cheeseburger so I had my eye on that and maybe a fun holiday cocktail. My mother and I both order alcoholic beverages and then my mother ordered spatzle as a side since we had a big breakfast and I attempted to order the cheeseburger in which I was immediately told they were out of burgers... what?! I was then told about their policy that is not stated anywhere on their menu or website that you are required to order a main course/entree. Ive been to places like that before but it is all told to you ahead of time. The server was extremely rude to us when explaining the said policy - at that moment we should have paid for a drinks and walked out but we decided to stay and try the food. BIG MISTAKE! Although the portions are huge the food has zero taste and EXTREMELY overpriced. Both my mother and I only took a handful of bites and when the bus boy came to take our plates you could he was shocked we barely ate anything. Then our bill came.... $110.94. 1 beer, 1 holiday cocktail, 1 diet coke and 2 entrees. What I have taken away from this is that I pretty much paid $110.00 to take a photo with some Christmas decorations. If you go, just go sit at the bar and pay for some overpriced drinks and take some pictures besides that this place is not worth ANYONES time.
Wonderful Experience! Stunning Place! Avoid Holidays If You Want To Enjoy The Place!We went here recently and it was quiet, and perfect! The restaurant was absolutely stunning! It will take your breath away. The decorations remain all year around! We are not huge fans of German cuisine therefore, we just ordered burgers and fries, and it was delicious! The chocolate dessert was also great! The customer service was also wonderful!!This place gets so much hate, especially during the holidays, but people need to understand that the place is rather small, and theres nothing anyone can do about that. So it will get uncomfortable when busy. Also, German cuisine is not considered the best, and there is nothing that can be done to really change that. Please go during a less busy time and you will enjoy yourself completely! And research the food ahead of time instead of blaming the place afterwards.
A great hometown Christmas inviting vibe that I’ve never seen! Great place to grab a drink and relax.
Beautiful, very Christmassy place! We tried German warm wine Gluhwein. Its also an expensive place, but still worth to visit
My wife had this place as a must visit on our New York Christmas trip, its best to book way in advance because the lines here are loooong.With a reservation youll be able to dine without waiting too long in the cold. The place was jam packed but, food was good and overall ambiance was very cheerful. Christmas decorations though many, brings a warm delightful feeling and combined with good food was quite an experience.
$574 bill for breaded chicken, cucumber salad, terrible drinks, tilapia, and duck (bones and fat)…overpriced dinner for a group of 7 and terrible service. This is not a place you come for food or service. You’re basically paying to take pictures & instagram/tik tok the place, smh
A very unique place like no other just stop by to have a great german beer 😀 but this place is beautiful 😍
Decor was nice, cocktails were ok and food was terrible. Everything is overpriced. Im not sure the decor compensates for the food. All cocktails come in the same type of glass and cost $20. Cucumber salad was drowning in vinegar and the herring dish looked completely unappetizing. This place is definitely over-hyped because of the decor.
Decided to see what all the fuss was over this place. I did not have a reservation for the dining room so my husband and I waited on line for almost an hour to get into the bar. It reminded me of being 22, waiting to get into a club...... Drinks are overpriced at approximately $25 a pop but youre really going for the ambiance, not the food. Its a one and done thing. Glad I did it and Im glad I didnt have the food.
Overrated and overpriced. Cocktails cost $24 and aren’t even close to being worth the ridiculous price. Warm mulled wine comes from a bottle and the Burnt Almond drink is a glass of Bailey’s with nutmeg. I watched the bartender mix and shake the drink in the same glass he served it, using the same ice. Even I know that’s unprofessional, and I’ve never even worked at a bar. Employees were at the end of the bar hanging out and made it difficult to converse over.I came another time during the Christmas season in Dec. 2021 and it was completely packed full—we couldn’t even get close enough to the bar to order a drink, so we left. Social distancing was nonexistent that day.TLDR: Rolf’s is a completely overrated and exorbitantly overpriced tourist trap with zero value or quality to back it up. Save your money and go anywhere else instead. I’d give this zero stars if I could.
Dive bar, was empty wen my girlfriend an I were there, I was surprise of theirprices,half glass of wine $24 a glass of flat cheap prosecco $18.ALERT the alcohol menu has NO prices, that tell you what you in for.Spot for tourist I suppose, with those $$$$ lets do Oscar Wilde, is even lessCarlyle all worth the money,b/c of the atmosphere and piano player.BE AWARE BEFORE YOU GO IN
So my husband and I made reservations. We got seated and usually we like to order an appetizer and share a main course meal because we normally dont eat too much but apparently this place has a rule in their policy that forcibly makes you order two main meals. I asked the manager I, assume to see the policy and all he showed me was the reservation list. Ive been to Michelin star restaurants and was never forced ever to order a main course meal. Then on top of that the manager says well if you arent going to order you cannot sit down. I clearly stated but we are ordering an appetizer and a main course meal but we are sharing the main course meal but he insisted that it wasnt enough and literally kicked us out of our table. Do not recommend this place what so ever. Side note two holiday drinks were roughly around $60. Not worth it. ! If I could give it no stars I would. P.s they did not check for vaccination cards.
This place is so full of ornaments it’s amazing everywhere you look. Photos cannot do justice to the feeling of being here amongst all these beautiful ornaments.
Two phone numbers on their website not working. I went all the way there and they told me its booked for a month out! Line for the bar was huge, taking all sidewalk. Host was very rude when I asked how to make a reservation. Will surely never come back here.
It is a great environment. As soon as you get in, you will feel like youre in a fairytale. They have good beers.Especially you should go there during Christmas for sure...
Horrible experience.For the first time ever, after one bite, I got up and left.Bread was stale, wine was sour, and then Dinner came. Oh my…Don’t even know how to describe that meal.Veal was tough and had a funky taste, and then everything was smothered with sauce that could’ve been straight from the can.The worst meal I was ever served.
Amazing experience. It felt like Merry🌲 🎅🏼I went for drinks. The bartender Rahul made me a delish drink. I highly recommend this place.
No one answers the phone to make a reservation. If you come without it you have to wait around 30-40 min to get only a drink at the bar, you can’t order any food there. And you can’t take a nice pic because it’s very crowded at the bar. I was very disappointed.
Went there for dinner at 7:00 pm. The place was totally empty. A couple of parties arrived by about 8:00 pm and the bar picked up too. Good for them that this is where the profit lies. As for the food - meh. Not bad but low on the list for a repeat visit.
Food was fine but expensive. Maybe Im not a connoisseur of German food but others were eating with were. They thought that the food was a little bit authentic
Good for a quick stop. The place is extremely crowded but worth it because the Christmas decor is very unique.
If I could I would have given this horrible place a minus 1. Food is disgusting. Bratwurst wasnt gebraten at all but boiled and tasted sour. Sauerkraut was cooked wrong. The most horrible food you can get and its incredible that you even have to pay for this trash.
If I could rate the decor separate from the food and drinks, I would. Absolutely beautiful Christmas decor; however the prices are STEEP for low quality drink. ($13 draft, $17 cocktail that was not very good, and $15 side of spätzle). The späzle was fine.
Unfortunately the food was not good but the drinks and staff were amazing. They have lots of patience to work in a place like this and I give them lots of credit! For this place to have a sit down meal on the weekend, you need an reservation for sure. I called in the summer for mine and was told to call back in a month when the books opened. When I called, they were already booked for the month but squeezed me in. The line to get in on a Saturday for non reservation was over an hour, we waited about 15 min in the reservation line. Its a nice spot to go in to the bar but it is JAMMED packed. Specialty drinks are pricey but its expected. The food is pricey as well, just too bad it wasnt good. Zero flavor. Rules are, you have an hour to eat and then you are asked to finish your food at the bar, which would have been impossible on the night I was there. We, a party of 2, had enough time to finish an appetizer and meal within the hour. We squeezed in at the bar so I could finish my drink. Decorations alone are worth visiting, I would say skip the food and wait in line to get in for a drink or just go on the off season.
Very long wait to get into an overcrowded bar with overpriced drinks. Waiting over 1.5hrs to get in and once inside can barely move or get close to bar. The decorations are nice but very difficult to take any decent photos due to the amount of people inside. Probably better to make reservations but phone numbers did not work when I tried to call. Staff are not very friendly and bouncer was very rude. Cannot order food in bar area. Drinks are $17. Did it once and would not go back.
The schnitzel was very good. Great attention to the patrons, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Beer steins were expensive though, so be careful when ordering beer. Great Christmas vibe and the food was spot on for German cuisine. Book ahead! We had to make this reservation in October for a December visit.
Decorations are impeccable! Absolutely festive! A little bit of Christmas all year round in New York City. Beer was great. Food was just ok but too pricey. Service was nice.
Got the cider and eggnog and the total for the two drinks was 42 DOLLARS! INSANE! (Of course that’s why the prices aren’t on the drink list). I really enjoyed the eggnog but that’s ridiculous— $20 for a small drink! Was also insanely crowded but it was 9:30 pm on a Saturday night. No room around the bar at all but no line.
The wait was long in the pouring rain just for the bar, but I wanted to see the Christmas decorations. Once inside, the decora was more than I had anticipated! Its a fantasy land.I will warn you that there is a 1 drink minimum for the bar, and if you want to dine there you MUST make a reservation. The earlier in the day, the better.Go experience it! Its near the Rockefeller Center too!
We came here for the Christmas decorations, and it didnt disappoint. It was very popular, and we waited about 30 mins to get in for just the bar. Drinks were pricey, but its NYC and popular so it was expected. The drinks were pretty tasty and decent sized for the price, so it didnt feel like a huge ripoff. If you want to see some amazing decorations, and have a nice drink while enjoying them... Id recommend it!
The rules for ordering are very coarse, even more so that you do not eat too much is a food without much flavor, bad luck, only thing that saved the appetizer Mussels, a very expensive place. You can not lose only the entrance is mandatory to take the appetizer too, or the garcom will make a point of being very rude to you. But the place for beer and take picture is such beautiful.
Loved this place! Definitely need to go at least once to see it!We got there around 6:47pm on a Saturday night in December and there was quite a line. There were actually two of them, one for reservations/eating and one for bar only.We waited outside for a little over an hour and once we were let in, someone led us through the restaurant and to a spot at the bar where we could order our drinks. I was really impressed with how the handled it, we got right up to the bar and ordered drinks right away. Clearly, they have gotten this down. n this down.We ordered 5 of their Holiday Martinis and the bill came out to $85 before the added gratuity of $15.03 (total of $100.03). Drinks were quite pricey but very good.Obviously, you come here for the decorations which are definitely worth the wait.I tried to call their listed number a few times to make a reservation and was never able to get through or leave a message. I spoke with a couple at the bar who also had the same issue. They seemed to be under the impression that you have to make reservations in person.NOTE - The bouncer (who was very kind) was letting people in if they JUST wanted to take picture or two. Obviously, he escorted them out if they took to long. BUT, if that is all you want it is possible, just ask.
The food here is EXPENSIVE and tastes awful!! It tastes like take out food from a deli but the cheapest food is 35$!We ordered 2 dishes. didn’t touch one of them and the other we couldn’t finish because it tasted pretty bad!The only good thing is the Christmas decorations which I give it to them! It was gorgeous! Maybe just go there for drinks and decorations.
Ok, my wife has been trying to get in here for Christmas for a couple years. We finally got them on the phone and got reservations. We were not here for the food. German food is not really even my thing. We were here for the decorations and they were all that and a bag o chips. My wife was grinning ear to ear at all the trees and upside down stuff. She was happy so I was happy. If you git a serious x-mas nut in the family... this is the place
A neat experience to see once, but beyond that there isn’t much of a reason to return to this place. The decorations are WILD! With ornaments and festive pieces practically everywhere it is truly a sight to behold. Everything else, on the other hand, isn’t as glamorous. The drinks at the bar are outrageously priced for how average they are, granted the glasses are large, but a mixture of vodka and Bailey’s probably should cost $20 before taxes and a mandatory 18% tip. The bartenders seemed to barely be able to keep up with the crowd.
We couldnt get in this time, waited in line only to find that reservations were needed THREE MONTHS ahead of time for December visits. Rolfs is famous for their Christmas decorations if you didnt know. We walked right in and got a table back in January 2016, see pics below. Decorations stay up till May. Food is good, atmosphere is everything, staff was working hard but friendly. A must-see with kids.
An adult version of what christmas morning feel like for a child. Wow these decorations are amazing! Whats even better is that they’re up for months, so even if you can visit christmas week, you have plenty of more chances to get your Christmas picture post. I had wine, which was warm- different but it was delicious, my friend had a tall glass of beer. The wait to come inside for the bar was about 1.5 hrs so if its cold I suggest you bundle up. They also have food but I am unsure if the wait is shorter to eat.
Magical place. The decor is just amazing and one of the reasons to visit this place. I am beer aficionado and the German lagers and ales available were delicious. Food is simple (you know, German... Sausages, sauerkraut etc) but very tasty. Service was ok, I think the staff was somewhat slow even with not many customers, but no hiccups. Would definitely recommend to come here for a few beers, some Frankfurter and a good time with friends or partner.
Meal was a huge disappointment. Rahm schnitzel with paprika sauce, never heard of that before and i lived in Germany for 4 years. It looked just like the Jagerschnitzel without the mushrooms. Only part of the meal that was good was the beer and the spaetzle. Go for the decor and a cocktail, but dont waste your $$$ on the food!
If you’re smart you’ll visit after Christmas. There will not be any crowds, actual locals and you will get the full experience.A landmark for a reason
With over 100,000 Christmas lights, 800 dolls and 15,000 ornaments decorating this cozy French-German restaurant, the décor alone will make you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city. For the meat lovers, try the Sauerbraten which is marinated for 36 hours and then slow cooked. Its delicious.
Gave it five stars for the Christmas decor. Looked as though Christmas threw up all over the place...😊 Definitely will put one in a jolly frame of mind! The potato pancakes were yummy and the hot mulled wine hit the spot on a freezing winter night. That being said, the food is just average and expensive. I fix better at home. The wait staff rushed us through our meal, there were people waiting for tables. And the place seemed a little weird. No one was German. Mainly looked like middle eastern employees. There is nothing wrong with middle easterners, just felt out of place in a Germanrestaurant.
Came here solely for the Christmas atmosphere because we had read reviews. We knew we didnt want food so we waited in a line just to get a drink at the bar. The line moved as expected but once getting inside it was still a while before the barista got to us as the place was packed like sardines. The drink was alright and obviously overpriced. But as we were expecting this, we knew we wanted to do this once for the experience and enjoy the decorations. Would only recommend if you know this is what youre signing up for.
The atmosphere of this whole place is stunning like heaven... twinkling lights and great food. Definitely try the mulled wine and potato pancakes. Best to come here with holiday season with friends.
The drinks are overpriced in my opinion, for 2 drinks we paid $51 with the automatic tip included. However, Id say its a must see Christmas tourist spot to view the over the top decor which by the way is beautiful! Be prepared to be squished like sardines because they pack everyone in the bar are if you dont have a reservation.
Don’t waste your time. They don’t answer the phone. They make it difficult to enter. No website update as the restaurant was apparently full so no kids allowed as bar capacity only.We get there and the door man just said no reservations until January. No one under 21. And apologies. So kids had to wait whilst my wife and I popped in separately to see the festive decorations.Christmas spirit killer and wished I never spent the time or money going here. Unfortunate as I have fond memories of this place. Oh well. Never again. Bye Rolf.
Waited pretty long to get a drink at the bar, even though the place was relatively empty.The beer was the most expensive I’ve paid for in my entire life, $15 for a regular pint, $25 for a “Stein”. $46 after tax and tip.Definitely not worth it, even though the place is nicely decorated. Wouldn’t go back even if the drinks were half the price
5 star on decor. Zero star on food! It was so disgusting and definitely not worth it at all. Just go to dyker heights see the decor and call it a day! Woke up with really bad stomach pain! I never write a review but omg this was so bad! It’s over priced for no reason! You would think they would vamp up the food knowing that the decor brings in customers. To keep your customers definitely change up the food. I’m sure half these customers would never come back again. This place is just a place to cross off your list of experiences. If you really wanna see this restaurant. Just go to the bar, you would just have to wait in a very long line. Definitely not worth the hype!
The wait during the holiday season is long so I recommend calling super early and getting a reservation for a table so you wont be waiting in line. The bar line is long during the holiday season and theres no room once youre inside. Also, their decor is up pretty much year round so you can always go earlier or later in the season to miss the crowd. Yes its crowded. Yes its expensive. Supply & demand! Cant wait til they reopen. Support local businesses!
I visited (during the weekend) this bar as it was recommended but as anticipated, it was nothing more than a tourist trap. Empty tables on the left being “reserved” for ghost. A club like line to form future crowds outside in the cold. The bar area was a Covid cluster crowd of bland locals overly playing stereotypes to impress tourist. One local had a “moment” to rant about her protest against QRcodes for menus, which was “1st world problems” was weird. Drinks were unworthy of the price for they weren’t special at all (eggnog + watery rail bourbon…. Beer selection was okay but the price did not match its worth).I say all this to say, the place was set up for the aesthetics for the holidays but yawn’s subpar on a regular day. My two stars are for the tourist trap Christmas aesthetics.
The Christmas decorations are just insanely over the top! Awesome! Festive!Food was very good. Very traditional Sauerbraten, Spatzle, and red cabbage. Tried my wifes schnitzel, and it was good too. The restaurant was very cramped, which is to be expected, I suppose. Overall a great family outing!
Fun & festive. You need to go at least once. The food is good. I was a little nervous reading some of the reviews, but German food is hardy, stick to your ribs fare. The portions were large and it was well prepared. We havd schnitzel and meat loaf and each enjoyed our entrees. Lots of beer and cocktail options, some wines also.
Great atmosphere. What a wonderful place to visit in NYC especially during the holidays. It for sure made me feel like I was in the North Pole. The only thing that was missing was a fire place.The only negative is that when using a credit card they are automatically applying a 20% gratuity without my consent. Last I checked I didnt think I was dining right on Miami Beach. There is nothing posted in the restaurant that states that. Also the menu should have prices and they dont. Bring cash and tip accordingly would be my suggestion if you are just taking some photos for the Gram. Definitely not worth tipping them 20% for a quick in and out trip.
The only good thing about this place is the obscene amount of Xmas decorations. There is a bouncer at the door - have to have your ID out and ready or you get kicked of the line he says. Basically they pack as many people as they can into here, you can’t even move. I can just imagine what a safety hazard this is. There is apparently a one drink minimum but we couldn’t even get anywhere near the bar. The menu has no prices by the drinks but another person in line said they were around $20. We ended up just leaving.
Ive walked by this place many times but never gone on. Around Christmas there is a line down the block. Tonight, finally decided to walk-in. Host asked if I had a reservation, I said no. He said you have to make a reservation and asked my name, which I did, and he promptly led us to a table. The inside decor is like walking through a holiday wonder and the food is delicious.
The atmosphere was really cool. Except it was really crowded. There are so many rules about what you have to order to sit at a table and the food is REALLY overpriced and not very good. The French onion soup was $17 and it was honestly gross.
The best thing I can say about Rolf’s is that the ingredients in the food seemed good. Entrees are all above $40, but the quality of the food is the same as the German food you would get at a cafeteria in a high quality ski resort- on top of a mountain. The potato salad was the low point of our dinner. If money is no object, get a $25 cocktail of the day, enjoy the over the top decor, and skip the food.
Xmas decorations - 100%However, the bar is very small and theres literally nowhere to even turn. Its a good spot for a bar crawl, for one drink only. Again, if youre looking for a Xmas mood, thats the most decorated place Ive even seen. Yet its just too small to relax, as bar area is standing only section.
We went to this place because my wife saw a video on tiktok, and thought it was a cute place to go eat and take pictures. First of all you need to make reservations way in advance. There is no leg room at all, place was super overcrowded, we were cramped up with very little space between each table just about rubbing shoulders with the table next to us, the aisle between tables to walk to the back is only big enough for one person to walk through, people leaning over our table to make room for another person to walk pass them, it was super uncomfortable. The service sucked, its like they want you in and out quick to get the next party in, the servers were like “hurry up, what you want”, they seemed miserable…the food was meh, underwhelming af and overpriced. And forget about the bar area, it was so packed like a can of sardines, like there no vibe whatsoever. They only nice thing is ceiling décor, the holiday aesthetic was nice, but you cant enjoy it. It would be a nice place to take pictures if it wasn’t so overcrowded inside…..definitely overrated, a one and done place.
We waited 10 minutes for the host to show up at the front. When he finally appeared, he didn’t even ask for our proof of vaccination card, he just seated our party of 8 (which w reserved in advanced and immediately told us we had to order by 8:00. That left us 6 minutes to decide what to eat. The bathrooms were the final nail in this hellIishcoffin. Soiled toilet paper littered the floor. It looked as though it hadnt been cleaned in weeks. If they spent even a quarter of the time on their customers as they did on their decorations, maybe their rating would be a tad higher.
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT KILLERS!Rude staff from doorman to the manager (short, balding caramel skinned guy). No reservations until January…”not our problem”. No one answering the phones…”not my problem”. Your website does not say under 21 can’t step into the bar area…”sorry, it’s just the way it is”. Your website does not give any of the information you are telling me right now …” it’s all there, go read it yourself (waving my phone away as I ask him to point out what he is telling me on Rolf’s website). Travelled 1.5 hours to experience a quick festive bite & beer with our kids (this was an intentional destination) …”sorry, has nothing to do with me”.WOW…we should have heeded the recent negative reviews. They are obviously resting on their laurels & have forgotten about the clientele who made them so popular. We will never be back…you should reconsider too. Doubt they will make it many more Christmases…good riddance Rolf’s .
The place is incredibly decorated, definitely puts you in holidays mood. In terms of the drinks they are okay, not very strong and mulled one is nothing special but a very light wine heated up with a cinnamon stick in it definitely had better ones.
Firstly, do not try calling either phone number for a reservation as no one ever answers. The decorations at Rolfs are extensive to be sure, but its so tight and crowded in this restaurant that its hard to look around or get a photo. If you dont have a reservation, there is a line to go into the bar; however, there is a minimum of one drink you must buy or you cant go in and believe me, even though its ridiculously crowded, the bartender will be certain you buy your very over-priced drink with gratuity automatically added. If you are at all claustrophobic, do not attempt to go in - its shoulder to shoulder and almost impossible to move. If you do get a table, youll be served some very average but again very overpriced food. I had the jaeger schnitzel which consisted of a few slices of pork, mushroom gravy, about a cup of spaetzle, and about a cup of over-cooked vegetables at a cost of $38.While this is a popular spot at the holidays because of the elaborate decor, but Id recommend looking at other peoples photos online and skipping this spot for other festive places in NYC.
The ambiance was amazing loved the lights but that’s about all that we liked. The French onion soup tasted like dish water with salt. Food was terrible and WAY OVERPRICED. If youre going to come here just get drinks.
Drinks were a bit pricey, but good. Nice place to sit by the bar during off peak hours and have some Christmas “spirits” in spring :). Brought some friends who were visiting out of town, and they absolutely loved it. I would call ahead to make sure there’s no line, because it can get ridiculous. Not sure how the food is. The menu seems to be overpriced, but I guess it’s all about feeling like your dinning inside a Christmas tree, which is lovely. Would say grab a drink here, and walk over to Irving for dinner.
Unacceptable experience. I have been going here for years for the decor (not the food). Made a reservation for thanksgiving 1 month ahead of time and when I got there with someone who cannot get around well, was told there was no reservation. They did not apologize. They did not accommodate. And when they asked if I wanted to get drinks at the bar, initially I said I came to eat, I had a reservation for thanksgiving. After 30 minutes of standing around and waiting while they pretended they were going to explain what happened, I asked to just sit at the bar they said no you cannot and took the people behind us and told us to leave. I’m so disappointed that my thanksgiving and Christmas tradition with them is no longer.
ROLFS SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN after Christmas. HUGE MISTAKE to go here for any experience post Holidays due to the FAILURE to reveal drink prices which are $24+ and subpar. FAILURE to mention on the receipt , menu or signage that they will automatically include their own tip on your bill regardless of total number of people and amount- they will also DENY adjustments and refunds to the point where you must call your bank to dispute the charges on your card. The staff begins closing procedure before closing hours and begin to roll garbage out the front entrance while you’re trying to enjoy your cocktail with friends. THEY WILL FORCE YOU TO LEAVE at the exact closing time by shutting off the lights, even when your beverage is only 1/2 way done. The 3 men at work on Jan 8th, 2022 during the closing shift clearly DID NOT WANT TO BE THERE.The ambience of this place lost its magic or maybe it feels better when your squished in like a sardine because they like to OVERFILL SMALL PLACES PAST MAX CAPACITY during Christmas. Would loved to have seen their covid protocols for 2020-2021.TERRIBLE WASTE OF $$$.
Stopped here just to grab drinks. They had wonderful Christmas drinks (try the toasted almond). The room is beautiful with all the lights and decor. Just very crowded at the bar with limited seating and a bit pricey for drinks. Otherwise great experience!
This place has really taken a hit. They turned all the lights off but somehow forgot to close the restaurant. No lights, no people. The food is inedible. The potato pancakes did not contain any potatoes, just clumps of tasteless fried dough. The schnitzel was made out of the cheapest lowest quality meat. Nothing was seasoned at all, not even salted. Out of the 4 things we ordered, the gluhwein was the only thing we could consume. It’s a shame. We used to love this place.
🇩🇪🎄🎅🍻⛄🌭🥃🍷🍸🍺 ✔️Delicious eggnog (no spiked) but 💲💲💲Note: my rating is not of the food here it is only of the experience at the bar.I had the egg nog with vanilla and cinnamon and it was so good I basically gulped it down. I went in December.We couldnt go in to eat because it was booked for the entire month. We waited in line for the bar for some time - it seemed like a popular spot because the bar was very packed.
Nice Christmas decorations, very festive. Snug is an understatement for the establishment. Prices are outrageous and you only get to be at your RESERVED table for one hour. Tourist thing, bucket list and done.
Although the decorations are flattering, this will never compensate for the incredible rudeness from waiters and host/manager.We were a party of 5 and they wanted to force us to either order a dish per person in the table or leave. Each dish is ~$40-$50 and the servings are generous, which is why we wanted to share. This was not allowed in Rolf’s. Note- this was never mentioned on the phone upon making the reservation nor was it stated in the menu, like it should be. I’ve probably visited hundreds of restaurants in the 20+ countries I’ve been in, and this is by far the worst treatment I’ve ever received. Paradoxically, the staff in this restaurant fails to embrace the joy of Christmas, which is what we were looking to experience.We were not the only ones leaving without eating in this place. But we left and had a GREAT rest of the night in Eataly, just a few blocks away! 🇮🇹Bonus- this picture shows how they left the check on the table for the three beers our party had ordered before we were essentially kicked out for wanting to share several $50 dishes. They left it on top of the bread basket - YUM! 🤪
The place is just amazing, it feels like a dream. You spend the whole time staring at the sealing. Unfortunately, there are not many choices for the drink and the one are over priced, my drink cost me $21. But over all it was an amzing experience.
Made a reservation on November 5th for December at 8 pm. Arrived at 8 pm to be told to wait in line outside in the freezing cold for 20 minutes to be seated. Finally told to wait inside another 30 minutes without being seated and being told their is nothing we can do. Walked out will never recommend or promote this place in any capacity. Wish them the worst moving forward. The decorations are cool for about 5 minutes then you’re over it. Save yourself the trip and money since the food is awful apparently.
I’ll give them four stars for the decorations alone. The service was great when we went, but the food was just mediocre. I had what was essentially a glorified hotdog with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes for the price of a filet mignon. The desert left a lot to be desired. As a restaurant with elaborate Christmas decorations, I would’ve expected a bigger dessert menu. That being said, the decorations are so intricate and beautiful. It is definitely worth coming here at least once to experience the ambience. I recommend coming before Halloween, otherwise you are bound to be waiting in long lines and end up in an extremely overcrowded restaurant.
Honestly this place is all about the Xmas decor and not much else. We went in midday on a Saturday in mid November ( off season we thought for the holidays) and still waited 40 mins in a line just to get in for drinks. There were approx 10 people in front of us. When we got in the bar was so packed with bros ( standing room only and about 3 people deep, hard to get drinks) we snapped a few pics and left
It was a Christmas decoration place. The place was super crowded and we couldnt even enjoy the vibe or the decoration. There was no entry fee but the drinks covered that part since they were mandatory.An okay place not the way it looks in most pictures especially for Christmas decoration
I have to say - I was nervous about going to a German restaurant because I do not have a taste for German food. When we ordered the potato salad I was skeptical and when I ordered the baked tilapia I thought it was a safe option.The potato salad was wonderful and nourishing, and the tilapia melted in my mouth! Warm, buttery, comforting, and filling. I am so glad I came here and I know you will have a wonderful experience too no matter your palette.Pro tip: come during the holidays - the Holiday Martini is to die for! 😍✨
Line is crazy, but worth the experience. Reservations are encouraged if you want to dine in, if youre in for drinks only, bar area is available (but a tight squeeze). We waited for 50 min, made new friends, and had a blast!
LOL is this a joke!?!? No, I didn’t get inside to have overpriced foods. First of all, they don’t have reservation option in Google or in their website, then I called 10 times but no one picked up. Voicemail isn’t set up either. Okay fine. Walked in and the guy in the door (11/27/21 at 7 PM) kept telling me to call and make reservations a month and half early. I tried to tell him how can I make reservations if no one is picking up the phone?!? Instead of listening, he kept telling I need to call to make reservation. I’m glad with the service!!!
Legit only went for the ambiance. Food was okay, but WAY overpriced (2 beers, 1 entree and 2 extra sides came out to $105 with tip). More of a bucket list place. We went so.. never again.
An Instagram spot masquerading as a restaurant.You know those Instagram friendly pop up’s that charge you $40 for 10 minutes of photos? That’s the vibe I get from this place or perhaps that of a Times Square tourist trap. It looks really pretty and the reviews everyone raves about it but when you get there you’re basically are forced to spend money on disappointment.You can probably get reservations if you know someone or have a contact at the restaurant but otherwise don’t expect anyone to answer the phone. I suspect this is intentional to drive people to the bar of overpriced drinks and have a very high turnover of people. Get in order your $25 drink, snap a few photos, chug the drink and leave.Perhaps if you’re an Instagram influencer you have an easier time getting a reservation.Reading the reviews , It feels like there’s a clear change of management roughly a year ago.
Tourist trap!!!!! There’s no longer anything German about Rolf’s. What a shame how the current owners have failed the legacy of this place. Food is mediocre at best. Notice how hurried the service is! The host (a wormy fellow) asked us to leave because we were 30 minutes over our “1 hour table slot”. Hey, if you want a below average meal under a lot of Christmas decor with an obscure shroud ofGerman decent then go and enjoy your food in glorious ignorance. Or, I’m happy to share far more authentic experiences worthy of your hard earned dollars.
If you can get a reservation this is a must go during the Christmas holiday. Very traditional German food and beer. Busy and crowded but a fun spot.
This is actually the most disgusting restaurant with the worst service EVERRRRRR. It smells horrific when you walk in and if you don’t order an entree or two appetizers each they tell you get up. For two drinks the bill came out to $60.00…. HORRIFIC. The only good thing about it is the ornaments are really pretty by the bar.
If you are looking for an exorbitant amount of Christmas ornaments this is your spot. German cuisine - not so much. A quintessential tourist trap. Save yourself 30 dollars and get a bowl of French onion soup from Panera, I promise it will have more flavor. Food was almost inedible. I can’t believe this place has a line around the block. Not worth the decor, go hang at a Michael’s.
Literally man handled out the door by a burly doorman while politely telling the host/reservationist that I thought he was rude for telling my boyfriend and I that we had overstayed our welcome. We had apparently only were allowed to be there for one hour and we were there for an hour and thirty five minutes. I was not told this when I made my reservation. We made our reservation two months ago for my birthday. My boyfriend is of German descent and I thought at holiday time it would be a double treat for us! I remembered going to Rolfs years ago with my parents and how much we enjoyed the old school charm. Well, that’s gone for sure.Not a gentleman in sight.The burly bouncer in charge of taking the fragile host’s complaints, literally grabbed me by the arm with force and shoved me out the door while I was politely telling the host that he was rude for rushing us then grabbed my boyfriend and told him to step out of the view of the security camera if he had something more to say to him. Disgusted. Rolfs is disgusting. Not what it was. Shame on the management. P.s. our waiter Stephen was great and the food stunk.
The Christmas decoration is everything and only for that I would say is worth the visit. But the food was very bad. Pricey+ bad food+good decoration.
It’s certainly a Christmas Fantasy Land.Long queues outside for hours, then once you get in, you wait for quite a bit to order your drinks at the bar and push through the crowds. Each drink is $22 and they charge you direct 18% gratuity at the bar.But in the end we feel it’s all worth it for just one click in this beautiful place. NYC is expensive and crowded during holidays and so is this place. But I don’t think there is an equivalent place as surreal as this when it comes to the Christmas decor.
Fun to see but probably would not go back. Slathered in influencers but we met a few nice couples. Drinks are crazy expensive, even for Manhattan prices.
I hate to write reviews but felt like this place warranted it. Absolutely gorgeous decor. It was wonderfully christmassy and if you’re looking for someplace “Instagram worthy” then this is the place to go. However, they have an unmentioned policy that everyone is required to order an entree dish or its equivalent (all of the entrees are priced between 35-60 dollars.) I’m all for paying whatever price is asked for good food, however this food was tasteless and poorly prepared.I ordered the Weiner Schnitzel and (while is was crispy) it had no flavor, as did the spatzle and limp green beans. The apple crepe is ok (and I honestly would have just ordered apple crepes x4 to make the minimum per guest) but the cucumber salad is woefully overpriced for 2 chopped up cucumbers in vinegar. Mulled wine was good but also 24 dollars (which was a bit much.)Service was friendly but mostly absent (on a slow, Monday afternoon) and had to ask to have water refilled. Overall, I feel like this place could have been an amazing experience but lacked due to bland food and less than sparkling service. I’m sorry to be so blunt but wouldn’t want anyone to have my same experience without being prepared.
The place is good but the food is horrible and the drinks are 25 each, they don’t show the price and the tips is included without your consent!
Its a beautiful spot in the city. The decorations make this a Christmas wonderland. I wish the food was better. In fact its overpriced and terrible even if it was budget friendly. I felt like I was eating stuff taken out of a can and heated. Def skip the food. Go in for a drink. #skipit #german #christmas
Beautiful place to stop in have a drink & snap a selfie!! so expensive but worth the scenery around the holidays. I ate potato pancakes but $21 and it was just okay. Must make reservation if your coming here! We got lucky and got a table but I rather have just stayed at the bar!
This place is stunning during the holiday season! They serve authentic German beers and egg nog which I highly recommend. If you go during the Christmas season, be prepared to wait outside in line because the bar area is small and cant fit a lot of people.
This is a particular place for Christmas lovers, the food is good but a little pricey, being a German place in NYC, should be nice in terms of managing customer’s expectations if the menu has a little English description, that way people will know what they would like to have and the experience could be greater.The waiters are really nice and patient, open to gently explain and ask questions.
Cute spot to visit during the holidays food is nothing special but the drinks are delicious So come in take a few pictures have a cocktail
What an experience! One of the most festive restaurants Ive ever seen. Food is actually decent too. People come to see the decorations which is great, but just make it a little crowded.
Go for the experience. Amazing ambiance with all the decorations. The food is good but quite expensive and the menu somewhat limited. Still quite enjoyable.
Great place during Christmas time. Expect at least a 30 minute wait for the bar and drinks will be around $20. Mandatory drink if you’d like to enter.
Honestly been here few times food was excellent. Some people like to try non standard German food I guess. Decorations are amazing drinks are great. My only reason for 4 instead of 5 is due to prices. German food is expensive but this place is tad higher. I definitely recommend giving it a try.
So Id rate this much higher if only the service was better.The place is beautifully decorated and appearance alone exceeded my expectations of a christmas Wonderland, truly brings out your holiday spirit. However, the staff seems to be unable to take care of the volume of the crowd, although they only let in about 35 people per hour. Everyone who works there seems very annoyed and just overall somewhat of an uninviting attitude. The manager was pushing people to the bar, but there was only one bartender (obviously the crowd wasnt moving)Im just saying, the restraunt industry is customer service, appreciate the people who are keeping it open. We came here because of the spirit you represent. Lights dont do that alone, people do.
A truly magical place and experience with great Christmas music, drinks and holiday spirit. Security is on point, accommodating and very helpful. Unfortunately the food, drinks are extremely overpriced and space is extremely limited. Nevertheless, I had best time being immersed in the Christmas spirit
If you are interested in looking at Christmas decor great. The food was fair. The price HOLY HELL what a rip off. Four brats of different varieties sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. FORTY NINE freaking dollars Got got to be kidding me. Never again. Pop in have a beer take a picture and get out before they empty your wallet.
Decor 100% food even more exceptional. Worth the visit and will be back.
Rolfs is an iconic German restaurant that never disappoints. I was fortunate to be here in July when there were minimal crowds. (Holiday time tends to be nightmarish with unbearable waits and loud crowds). The food was so satisfying and lived up to memories of homemade food at home many years past. the ambience is...unique...wont be to all tastes...It is always Christmas time at Rolfs. It is pricey but so worth it. One cannot eat this way too often..hearty, heavy and rich...but when you want authentic flavors..this is the place to go.
The doorman was suuuper rude. I was standing on PUBLIC street thinking if it’a worth waiting in a long queue and spent my money in this “lovely” place. Then this guy scolded me for just looking inside the pub without even coming or trying to come inside. Good that he convinced me that there are many places with better and polite staff.
Cool place to experience but the line was short when we went. Dont go if your claustrophobic and be aware the specialty drinks are expensive, but tasty.
Sat at the bar for about an hour and 4 employees sat at the corner laughing and giggling while the poor bartender yelled at them to help out other customers. They just sat there and stared. This place needs to clean house and bring in a whole new crew of workers. What a joke. Besides that the drinks and environment was pleasant.
Rolf’s is a charming German restaurant with a classic menu. Christmas is the most classic time to go but anytime is always a treat. My father use to take me here as a little girl and I’m just so thankful that it’s made it through the hardest hit of the pandemic. Truly a lovely place, with wonderful portions, and tradition hospitality worth preserving.
One of the most beautiful Christmas displays around, and I dont even like Christmas. The food is ok, you really go here for the old school atmosphere.
If you dont have a christmas reservation you can get in to the bar, cocktails are $25 each, and the inside decorations are second to none
Got super into the holidays only to be turned into a grinch by the waitstaff . Yes- Beautiful decorations but drinks are WAAAAAAAY overpriced. Not worth the wait if there’s a line. $20 mulled for mulled wine? No thank you 🤮
I’ve been trying to make a reservation with no success for more than a week: Both numbers on the website just rang forever and nobody picked them up! Mention apart to the very odd website, come on guys, it’s almost 2022!! I also left them an Instagram direct message that-as of today and more than a week after- wasn’t read. Me and my friend finally decided to make all the way down there last Saturday night: there are 2 lines, one for the walk-in bar and other one for the those lucky ones that somehow made a reservation 3 months in advance. The entrance/security guy was one of the rudest person I’ve ever met in the city: he talked to me like if he wasn’t us there. Honestly, I just went for the Christmas decor, for sure there must be much better german places around. It’s a pitty because I’ve been willing to check this place in a long time, but had one of the worst experiencies in the city in many years…. not even having the chance to get into the restaurant, just at the front door!! Definitely, this place needs a better management and employees!
We tried multiple times Making a reservation on the phone before our trip but git no answer. We showed to the place just to ask to see if they where taking walk ins and the guy at the door was so rood pretty much kick us out of their side of the street on Christmas Eve I did not even get to finish my question.
Its called German Restaurant but not not a single German looking person works there, kind of changes the vibe once you come inside and it makes it funny when you hear Hindi language/accent. Just a heads up: drinks are 24$ each.
I write this review COMPLETELY with the intent to change it and with the hope of getting a response, but PLEASE tell me why you are impossible to reach by phone. Every time I try to call your two different numbers (not sure why you have two) I get a busy signal or a message that your voicemail inbox is full. This has prevented me from coming to your restaurant which I would really love to do, because as I do not know if I need a reservation because I know you are popular and can get crowded, I do not want to make the trip just to be told there are no tables or that there is an astronomically long wait.
Overpriced and food was not good. Rude staff. The mashed potatoes tasted like they were from the box. It’s fun to go once and take pictures during Christmas, but I’m not sure it was worth it. Definitely wouldn’t go a second time.
Service was quick and kind. Decorations were beautiful. Food was overpriced and horrid. All style, no substance. But that isnt a secret. And you dont go here for the food obviously.
Delicious German cuisine with pretty Christmas decor from November to March (or May, sorry I cant recall!)
Such an incredible experience, the food was delicious but a little pricey, and the decorations are like something from a dream!! It is most definitely a place I recommend all my friends to check out!
Well vodka soda is $18... Same price as ketel prolly the same vodka !!! Turrible !!!
Totally love this place. We came during Christmas and stopped by to enjoy the decor and drinks. Truly an amazing experience. Drinks were a bit expensive, but good, and hey, its a pleasure to pay for the experience
Beautiful place, worth going to see. Very, very crowded. There is a 1 drink minimum. Paid $40 for a beer and a spiked eggnog. Very expensive.
Most antiquated website and reservation system in NYC. Waited in line for over an hour with my 6 year old only to be told by the bouncer/hostess that children are not allowed in the restaurant without a prior reservation. Nowhere on the website does it mention that. What a complete disappointment.
Beautiful and amazing RestaurantGet inside for something to drink or make a reservation for your dinnerA little expensive but deserve it !
Amazing Decorations! But very packed, a lil exspensive, and expect to wait in line for 20-30mins for a drink. Dining only takes reservations... that are impossible to get lol
Nice place, rude service. They kicked us out without even saying anything. Reservations needed. Bad attitude. Go to Lillies Victorian, its a different world.
Everyone has to stop by and get the picture. It is pretty impressive. And I love the German beer selection. Seats at the bar are hard to come by.
OK, yes, the decor is fabulous. But $20 for a regular sized glass of mulled wine? Goodbye. Youre paying for the Instagram.
$46 for two drinks standing at the bar. A $7 tip was automatically included. The service was mediocre. Pretty expensive for what we got.
The most decorated place Ive ever seen around Christmas.To avoid during peek hours.The decorations are incredibly not dusty at all
I would recommend you go in, look at the decorations (Around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays), take pictures, and leave. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING, you will be disappointed. They dont display the prices on their drink menu because the drinks are way overpriced; My drink alone was $20 (Toasted Almond) and they automatically slap on the tip and a bar tax, best of all, they dont tell you. Theres no German feel in this place. If you dont have a reservation, be prepared to wait in line outside from 20-30 minutes, and this is just to visit the overcrowded bar. I only give it two stars because the decorations are nice.
Fun, Christmas overload. Expect to pay an ungodly price for a cocktail ($20 without tip), but this isnt unheard of in NYC. Go for the odd decor and stay for a drink, but not for more.
The decorations are absolutely gorgeous!! The drinks were really good. My food was ok, Felt it could have been seasoned a bit more. But everyone else loved theirs. My only small issue was that the bathroom had a really strong odor of urine. Everything else was wonderful. We had a 6 oclock reservation, we were sat at 615 which was fine. If you love Christmas you will love this place!!
Finally able to go inside . This is the best time of year to check it out without all the holiday craziness. Nice to grab a window seat and people watch . Can now say been there and done that .. in all honesty it’s ok. No need to really go out of your way . If you are out and about and stumble across it , stop in -otherwise keep it movin .
I ate here many times before the pandemic. It was a few weeks after they reopened post pandemic one Sunday in May we decided to return. The prices have risen the cooking, is very much the same, the vegetable portions were large. I ordered Jaeger schnitzel. I was about 2 or 3 small bites of meat, I had difficultly finding. I don’t know what happened to the larger portions they served before the pandemic.
Cant say much about pricing... My husband purchased a pint of beer it cost us $26 plus tip .. The place is very small.... You really can not move. Tiny bathroom .. We waited in a 2 hour line just to get into the building.. But what I can say is.. It definitely felt as if i jumped into a box of ornaments. Definitely worth seeing.. But be prepared to wait. And to feel extremely claustrophobic
The place is overrated and crowded. The glasses unclean with lipstick stains on it and drinks are served without straws.
Simply delicious. Excellent dishes and great waitresses!
Decor and drinks great, service spotty, food average and overpriced. I have had better German food in Oklahoma
Lousy food, completely over rated and over priced! Management was extremely rude about vaccination discrepancy of a young girl! Never ever going back to Rolfs! Ps ornaments are old and dingy.
We arrived close to opening and only waited about fifteen minutes. The decor was very over the top and would put the Grinch in the holiday spirit. Cocktails were delicious and also pricey! Be prepared to spend $22 for each. They also crowd the bar area so it is tight but everyone being in the spirit makes for a communal experience. Everyone will help you her your shot for your social media account.
Nice decorations, food was fine, but for 120 dollars for two mains, and one drink of beer and mulled wine. It isnt worth it.You can put aside the fact its overpriced for what it is (we had smoked sausages mash and Sauerkraut) and that its very rushed. However when you are told you only get the table for an hour, and they ask you to leave after 45 minutes because others are waiting, that is not what I would consider fair, customer friendly or a good dining experience.I never like to post bad reviews, as I wouldnt want to affect someones business, however I am hoping this feedback is taken on and they improve the experience for customers. Their waiters and waitresses dont talk to you, dont ask you how you are, how the food is, they are almost like robots, I dont blame them, I blame the owners for abusing the fact they know they will be busy, so customer service goes out the window.Taking advantage of customers because you know you will be busy, is not the way forward. Please consider this for future visitorsI will add, decorations are nice, and it is a cool setting, but please dont take advantage.
Absolutely amazing Christmas decorations. Yes, its almost impossible to get dinner reservations during the holiday season unless you plan FAR ahead, but the atmosphere cant be beat. You can always pop in (if you time it right, if not you will wait in line before popping in) for a drink at the bar to see how gorgeous it is inside.
Certainly a over-the-top holiday experience but one that is not to be missed every Christmas holiday! Plus the overly sweet holiday drinks are delicious!
After a week of trying to make reservations, someone answered the phone. Reservation made, the day arrived and we were super excited to go. The bouncer was nice and welcoming. After entering the restaurant we realized that it was nothing close to what we were hoping for. My friend was in line waiting to use the only toilet available and heard the staff making inappropriate jokes about all the ladies waiting in line. Back at the tiny and cramped table, the waiter was rushing us to order foods and drinks - drinks were good but the food was absolutely tasteless. He had no manners and kept watching us eating as if we had to eat and leave as soon as possible. Not only that, he made us choose our dishes fast because, allegedly, the kitchen was closing at 9 o’clock (same thing with the ridiculously expensive drinks). We were obligated to order at least an appetizer for person. After finishing our drinks, the waiter tried to make we order more drinks; we said we were fine and asked for our check. After having the worst service ever, we decided not to pay tips. They were rushing us to pay. We gave them the money and left. One of us was held inside and one of the waiters was yelling to the bouncer “hold them! Hold them! They didn’t pay tips.” They wanted us to go back inside to talk. We didn’t go and told them why we had not paid tips: service sucked, food was terrible, the place was cramped and dirty, waiters were being unprofessional and inappropriate to the ladies in line, and everything was ridiculously expensive. The bouncer was nice and told us that we could go. This is THE tourist trap. Not worth the hassle to make reservations and not worth waiting in line to go to the bar - an eggnog costs $18. If I could give 0 stars, I would. This place should go out of business. Save your time and money and don’t EVER go to Rolf’s.
Bouncer unfortunately rude for no reason. Be aware, PICTURE ID is required regardless of ordering drinks or not, and they are very strict about it, many other forms of ID theyll reject.There are two lines one for the bar only and the other is for people who made a reservation. You need to make a reservation to get on line for a table.Can only order drinks at the bar. Heavily decorated which is nice, and heavily packed. Be prepared to be shifting left and right. Drinks about $25 each with an auto-gratuity of 15%. Drink tasted festive and pretty well made. Decor worth a one-time visit, but other than that would not go back.
Beautiful decor and their Christmas eggnog and martini was delicious. Food was mediocre and the service was poor.
The decorations are stunning but drinks are extremely expensive (and arent that great) and it gets super crowded.
Super crowded, bouncer made me kinda uncomfortable, decorations are nice but they honestly look better in the pictures
The door staff have to be some of the rudest individuals. They are not nice or respectful. I made my reservations in October, tried to call for 2 weeks to verify, no one would ever answer. When I asked the host if there were issues with their phone he dismissed it by saying they can only answer 20 calls a day. After waiting out in the cold because we could not enter until the time of our reservations, we were told to go to the bar area.Which is so packed you can not order drinks. Finally were seated, drinks were ok, but the food is really not worth the rudeness..Decorations are wonderful and festive. This place is definitely a 1 time experience, and never go back!!!!!They definitely have the system down, imagine if they showed a little holiday cheer with the experience..Instead it turns out to be a mediocre experience..Sad, they have the opportunity to be such a better holiday experience.. I definitely won’t go back..
After seeing pictures of this place during Christmas time, one would think it’s a must place to visit. A group of friends and I went and waited in line for about 15 minutes. We did not eat here just went for a drink. The drinks were not that good and very expensive. After waiting about 10 minutes to get a drink as the place is extremely small and crowded, we posted up in an emptier corner spot. After a few minutes we began to notice this horrid smell, soon to discover there was a pile of poop on the floor in which one of our friends stepped in.The staff didn’t seem to care much and they cleaned it up with a wicker broom, to only smear it more on the floor. It seemed as though the didn’t use any kind of disinfectant. After proceeding to ask the bouncer for a pitcher of water to clean my boyfriends shoe he said to ask the bartender. They Provided us with a pitcher of water to clean the shoe.Safe to say the decor is very nice but will not be returning.
The decor is gorgeous but smothering. There is not a lot of room to move about the restaurant. The service was cold and rushed. The food was just OK, mostly under-seasoned and plain. The potato pancakes were overly chewy, doughy, greasy, and under-seasoned. The best thing we got was the shnitzel, which was pleasantly crispy. Make sure your entire party is present if you want to be seated.
Christmas bar. Huge lines. $60K in decorations. Only rated low because a beer will cost you 30 bucks.
Food is pretty bad, almost uneatable and way overpriced. Two schnitzels ($30 each), side of cabbage ($10) and one beer ($16) were $94. People that like this place prob never had a real German food. Schnitzel almost seemed deep fried and the breading was way too salty and there was no meat really. Side of red cabbage was good. The service was good as well.
As i German i can sayThis don’t Look German i don’t Taste German and Its completly overprized Even the half of the Price is extensiveThis isnt a Trip to Germany it is a Trip to a Gebrüder Grimm on Cr*ck Restaurant
Walked out without ordering. $45 for a plate of sausages with cabbage that I can easily make at home for a quarter of the price. Not a single fine wine or beer on the list to go with those sausages. And the service as welcoming as a corporate cafeteria. Xmas decorations in March are cool, but not that cool. One cant leave on 50 year old reputation without upholding it.
Its worth going once for the ridiculous display of Christmas decorations. Definitely go around least once and get your Instagram fix. Otherwise its suffocatingly crowded and packed. (This was on a Tuesday night). The cocktails were pretty decent, they are mostly creamy cocktails. I had that toasted almond which which tasted kind of like a chocolate liquor and was pretty good. However they were a bit pricey at $21 dollars. The food was very dull German food that looks like a fancy version of a TV dinner but its German food so didnt expect much from a schnitzel.
First of all, someone needs to teach Rolfs about a little thing called the INTERNET. Because #1- it would make their ancient call-in reservation system 100 times easier and #2- they could read their terrible reviews and know that they suck and their bouncer is a Grinch that drives business away.Although it took 10 million tries to try to get a reservation, I finally got through and got a 10pm reservation. We show up the day of our reservation at 9:50 pm and get in the reservations line outside. When we checked in with the host guy, he said they were just now seating the 9:30 pm reservations. We stood there till about 10:20 pm and I finally ask the Grinch/Uncle Scrooge bouncer why the line for no reservations is going quicker than ours. He said its just for them to have one drink at the bar and leave. So I say ok, makes sense. While we were standing in line, we figured one of us would go next door to the liquor store and grab some wine to have when we got home later. So one guy from our group went and bought the wine. When he brought them back to us, none of the mini wine bottles were open, we were just putting them in our backpack and the bouncer said open container, your reservation is cancelled. Moral of the story, if you do end up going to this establishment, which I really hope you wont, be sure not to piss of the bouncer or that reservation that you tried calling in for a million times, will get cancelled. On the other hand, if it does get cancelled, there is a really awesome Irish Pub right down the street that we received the most excellent service from during our trip to NYC.
The only thing special about this place are the decorations. The food was nowhere near being German and super expensive! Very bland and dull. We ordered potato pancakes which were the only thing worth getting. The potato salad was just horrible. Not vinegary, no bacon, as a traditional salad would have. Marinated cucumbers tasted like they were just placed in a watered down vinegar with very little onion. No flavor at all. I ordered the meatloaf which was ok. The mashed potatoes had no flavor. The red cabbage accompaniment was decent. We ordered strudel for dessert. It was good. But I would save my money. Go in for the pancakes and take pics then go home and eat there.
We had a reservation for 8pm but were told it would be minimally one hour or more wait... Not really sure the point of a reservation in that case. Given they close at 10pm, we decided not to wait around just to be crammed in and rushed out. I’ve been for just drinks before, it was overcrowded and you can barely enjoy... definitely festive decorations but not sure it’s worth the hype. I’ve seen/heard very mixed reviews on food quality; but can’t speak to that myself.
One of the places we wanted to experience in NYC. After going there, we are really surprised by the great reviews. They pack people into this place like sardines. We waited about 40 minutes in the cold rain to get in. Even if you have reservations, which are very difficult to make since they don’t seem to answer the phone much, you have to wait in line to get in. (Make reservations several months before you go.) It’s the decorations that draw the crowd and there are plenty of decorations but in an old tawdry way. The place is small and the ceilings are low. After a few minutes in there with all of those dolls in the Christmas decorations staring at us, it just started feeling like a scene from a bad hack and squirt movie plus it way too crowded for us. We couldn’t stay, so I can’t tell you if the food was good or not. I hope it never catches fire, a lot of people will get hurt trying to escape. who do they 💰 to get away with breaking 🔥 codes? Hmm 🤔.
We went in January a couple of years ago for our sons 21st birthday. The food was pricey but edible. We were a large party of 8 tight fit but I have to say we did not experience any rudeness at all from any staff and do not remember a bouncer. We waited just a bit with a reservation. I dont remember it being difficult to make one but yes you do call its not online. Apparently its gotten worse over the years thats too bad. I may try it again just my husband and I for a holiday cocktail at the bar on a weeknight soon. Wish us luck!
If your planning on actually eating at the Restaurant and not just going to hang at the bar, (which is VERY crowded) and enjoy the ambiance , you MUST have a reservation. Waited in line, yes a line, that extended down the block to be told only once we got into the restaurant that the reservations are two months deep around the Christmas holiday and they do not seat unless you have a reservation. So... in short if you want to sit and eat call for a reservation in October for a date in December. Would be great if there was a posting on the website... or even a sign at the door informing people of this but alas there was not.
The Christmas decorations are insane! Great for picture taking, but be prepared to wait in line for quite awhile. Even if you go on a weekday in the late afternoon, you’ll probably still be stuck in line. It’s crazy packed inside (but that’s not a surprise. The bar area is small and everyone comes to see the decorations). The drinks are tasty - I love the holiday martini.
Nice restaurant for the holidays. Food was okay. If you have reservations expect to wait an hour in the cold line. Only issue I had to be honest was the person seating people down. Once seated down every time he passed the aisle I almost lost my appetite. In the nicest way their hygiene got me nauseous. My waiter was good though.
This is a MUST VISIT during the winter time, with the place decorated so intensely that it feels like youre on the inside of a Christmas tree. The bar is small but cozy if you can find room. Drinks are slightly pricey but the bartenders are friendly. Ive never eaten here but theres table for dining.
The pricing is a joke. 2x mulled wines 50$ plus tip ( which has been added without our knowledge)
Do Not Waste Your Time! Overpriced tasteless food and horrible service. My friend from Florida and I decided on this place for a Friday night as she wanted the admire the decorations. We were not very hungry so we asked to share a main course or get appetizers and we were told that as restaurant policy that wasn’t allowed so we had to ask for 2 dishes. As the bill reached $150 for tasteless food and 2 overpriced drinks each, we overheard people at next table say that they did share a dish. We tried to talk to the manager and the person in charge said he wasn’t the manager, although waiters were directing us to him. We explained the situation and he gave us a name and number to call next day. He did nothing nor took responsibility of his waiter demanding us to order main dishes so we would spend more money. Tried the number and there’s no answer. Very disappointing time as we were taken advantage of our excitement to be there and see the deco. I would give them half a star if I could. They lost our business forever and I’ll make sure all my family and friends never visit this place.
A very beautiful place to enter into the Christmas spirit. 2 years trying to go there but it was always full ... take 2 weeks to finally take the call and make the reservation. Many conditions. Finally the day of being there arrived. Absolutely no one smiles, nobody is friendly. The employees are aggressive, they look angry. The food very poorly presented and tasteless. Its a shame a place so nice and have such unhappy people working in that place. Definitely that site has clients for its decoration otherwise no one would go. DONT SPENT TIME AND MONEY
Second year going here for the holidays and as usual a great time! The drinks a little pricey, but youre paying for the drink and the ambience/decorations. The drinks are also pretty hefty, so its not like youre getting a tiny glass. Great photo
Awesome themed German restaurant. They keep their holiday decorations up nearly year round. They only come down around the summer months. Service and drinks were very good with nothing to complain about.Food was pricey and nothing to rave about. Ive had much better German / Eastern European food at smaller places outside of Manhattan for 1/4 of the price.Definitely a must see at least once though for the atmosphere.
Disappointing is the right word for Rolfs, from the lackluster service and cramped uncomfortable seating, to the overpriced sub-par food, everything was disappointing. The only reason to go to Rolfs is the chistmas decorations, and you can see those just fine through the front window. There is no need to actually step inside.I had the beef stew, which wasnt really a stew, and was just a bowl of large, completely dry and overcooked chunks of beef haphazardly thrown in a bowl with some spaetzle.My wife had the chicken schnitzel, which was fine, but was nothing special, and was certainly not worth the ~$30 cost. Weve had better schnitzel for $8 at our local German fests from a cart. The mashed potatoes and green bean sides looked like they came out of a frozen meal.The staff was rude and inattentive, good luck getting refills on your drinks. To make it even better, the servers are constantly standing in the very small walkways and make no effort to move for guests. I watched a server push a women into my table while she was walking with her baby.Would never go back and will make sure to tell everyone visiting NY to skip Rolfs and go literally anywhere else. Christmas decorations dont make a horrible restaurant any better.
Unique place that was definitely eye catching. It is filled with Christmas lights and decor. German food is authentic. Waiter couldnt answer all our questions which was annoying. Potato pancakes were very good, as were mashed potatoes. Portions were humongous which is good considering that it was a very pricey place to eat. Its more of an experience and something you could say you have done, rather than a place to eat at ever again.
A little pricey but the decorations were fantastic!
A must see at least once, especially during the holiday season as its more fitting. It has a warm, inviting atmosphere and the beer selections are great albeit pricey. We had no problem getting into the bar area on a random Wednesday night in December but if you also want to eat there it is highly recommended you make reservations 3 - 6 months in advance. No such thing as walk-ins during the holiday season.
I was there during December. Arrived before it opened. Waited about 40 min outside. Finally got into the place wall to wall people and expensive drinks. Host was a bit rude. Need to make reservations 2 MONTHS PRIOR. They disconnect their phones after that. Don’t think you can get lucky and get 1 of the 10 tables they have. I wish I knew all this before paying toll amount to cross the bridge and waiting in the cold just to walk right out.
We love hanging out. Last night we came to this excellent place which we didn’t know before. We enjoyed a beautiful evening there with great cooking and a nice crew and a distinguished cook. We added this fine restaurant in our list and we shall certainly return soon. We warmly recommend.
Prosecco 3 glasses $53
Total reviews rating 3.4
199 Reviews for Rolfs 2023:
Review №1
2022-01-03Before I came to this photo-generic Instagram- famous restaurant, the overall low average review threw me off, yet I decided to give it a try.the three stars go to the decor and my table waiter’s service. Of course, this place is uniquely famous for its distinctive Christmas decorations. So it’s true. My table service was pleasant.However, the food is less than average German food you can find in Manhattan, not mention it’s over priced (so are the alcohol drinks). not exaggerating, I had the worst Black Forest cake ever.Host at the door who checks in for dine-in table acted like it’s the customer’s honor to be even admitted in. didn’t feel like I came for service but to be ruled.My recommendation is, pick a week day at an an off peak time, just order a drink at the bar, take a few photos, that’s more than enough
Review №2
2021-12-14The most beautiful Christmas decor in a restaurant I’ve seen so far 😍😍😍 Such great holiday spirit and music. The servers are really attentive and nice too and the food arrived quickly. It was completely packed so there was a 15 minute wait for walk-ins. I found the restaurant from all of the Instagram posts and decided to drop by and take a quick look. Their phone number doesn’t work and hasn’t for over a week, probably because it’s very popular, so I didn’t have a reservation. I planned to get something small and simple ~$10, take pictures, and leave after a few minutes, but I ended up having a main entree and spending $50. I’m not a big fan of schnitzel but it was recommended for a meat with vegetables dish and it was fine. The food is standard, but the decorations are so beautiful and worth it!!
Review №3
2022-03-07Only rating the ambiance, the friendliness of the bartender, and the ridiculousness of the decorationsI was surprised that everything wasnt covered in dust because it looks like its been up there foreverwe had already eaten so we were just stopping for a cocktail, but the food smelled delicious!I would definitely go back for lunch or an early dinner one day because it is quite a small spot and Im not a big fan of being squished.
Review №4
2021-11-08Bucket list fulfilled! I have been wanting to go here for a very long time. I had dinner here last week and the food was amazing and so filling. I had the Chicken Schnitzel and my guest had the Paprika Schnitzel. The restaurant is brightly decorated for the Christmas Holiday all year long. What a wonderful way to start the holiday season.....
Review №5
2022-01-14Wonderful ambiance accompanied by delicious and authentic German cuisine. The drinks were also excellent.The staff were a good help in navigating the menu while respecting tastes and preferences.
Review №6
2022-07-06I have been reading great things and the reviews from Rolfs for about a year until I had the chance to fly to NYC. The repeated feature was about its unique Christmas decorations. I was proud I picked out Thanksgiving time to visit the restaurant, assured I would see the marvelous display of lights. Funny, it is on year-round. Probably too much of a hassle to mount them on and off. It is acceptable because it is worth it all year round. The decoration is incredibly remarkable. Pretty at is best. Cute. Homey. Enchanting.While you are that distracted, they are preparing the best German food I had in the US. Very good Geschnetzeltes; rich and creamy. Very well prepared. Beef Stew in the Style of Burgundy with Spätzle is delicious rich meat just as a stew should. Their classic: Wiener Schnitzel, never fails, and it proved. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, perfect point of fried, not too greasy.There is only one issue I had and the reason for my just three stars: Service. I know how hard it is working in the kitchen. The line in high-pressure restaurants like this can be stressful. So they would even have an excuse, you could say. The ones who have fewer excuses are the servers and Maitre. Especially the Maitre. Rude and even aggressive. We were summoned for not having reservations when there is no link on their precarious website for such. I also called and left a message with no answer. So that was our crime. It felt like that. I have one last thing to say to the Maitre: Der Feigling droht nur, wenn er in Sicherheit ist. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)Enjoy Rolfs. Prost!
Review №7
2021-12-14Space: Dined in on Friday evening 6pm, prime time for dinner. It was overly packed, could barely move around the bar area. This is to be expected during this time, so no fault of the restaurant. Just be prepared for the large crowd if you go at this time. The Christmas decor was outstanding! Best Xmas decor I’ve ever seen in a restaurant. I’d you’re in to that kind of thing, this location should be #1 on your list for Christmas time.Food: The food was decent. Nothing over the top, but still good. The spatzle (egg noodle pasta) was so delicious! favorite part of the meal. Give it a try!Service: our server was quick, friendly, and knowledgeable of the menu. Be sure to ask questions if you don’t know the differences between some of the options.Gave 4/5 because hostess rushed us a little too much. And the environment was not relaxing because so many people. I would suggest going at an off hour of the evening.
Review №8
2022-01-08Overall, great atmosphere and ambiance. Great if youre looking for a festive holiday outing with friends and family. Not very large dinning space so parties / seating is limited. Many have made remarks that the food is not great but in all honesty please do yourself a favor and take a look at the menu before you go, that way you have realistic expectations. I went with a party of 6 on December 11th in which my wife had to make a reservation in October. We ordered appetizers, drinks, entries and dessert. I would recommend the chicken schnitzel and house meat loaf as entries. We were also told that the restaurant leaves the decorations up all year round so if you are unable to make a reservation or visit during the holidays as there is often a line down the block to get in, then you can always stop by later on in the warmer months for your Instagrammable moments.
Review №9
2021-11-28We were only able to stand at the bar and order drinks. The decorations are great and the best part about this place. The mulled wine was okay but overpriced at $20 a glass, plus 20% automatically added gratuity on any drink order (even 1).They dont answer either of their phone numbers but it seems like at least some people are able to get through and make reservations, which are usually made 1.5 months ahead of time.The staff was all really nice but the process was a little confusing and seemed a bit sneaky. The doorman said he could let us into the bar and then we could get a table after that. 15 minutes after we were inside I talked to him again and he said there would probably be no tables for the rest of the day, and it was not even 1 PM yet. So seems like they said whatever to get us in and order drinks at the bar.
Review №10
2021-10-26Excellent German food! The decor inside makes you ready for Christmas any day of the year. Service was quick and very friendly. I would highly recommend this spot if you are in the area. The walk from Times Square is not too far either.