Hi - We’re going to be in Mountain View with my son’s soccer team for a tournament, and I have been tasked with planning a team dinner. Since we’ll be there at the end of September, I though an Oktoberfest theme would be fun. It looks like there are three potential places within close proximity to each other: Steins, Ludwig’s and Das Bierhauz. Does anyone have any recs between the three? Is there another one that I’m missing? Any help you can provide would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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Depends a bit what you are looking for - if you want at least food which has some resemblance of German food avoid Steins (fish tacos, nachos etc has nothing to do with Oktoberfest or German food and Steins in general isn’t great)
Ludwigs and Bierhauz are both not really great but they are both OK with decent food. I am not sure how big your group will be as that might be a deciding factor wrt reservations.
There are better places for German food but they are too far away (Alameda, SF) - the only other good option would Gourmet House Staudt in Redwood City
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Thanks for the color. Out hotel is close to these spots and I’m likely not going to get buy-in from the rest of the team to go much further than this, so it sounds like it’s down to Ludwig’s and Bierhauz. The group will probably be around 30-35 people. Which one is preferred between those two?
If I had to pick between both most likely Ludwigs but I am not sure how easily they can seat 30-35 people - just give them a call and if they can’t seat you Bierhauz is still a decent option
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Hey, my 2c, I have gone to all these places a number of times.
I’m a little surprised about your choice of theme, as oktoberfest revolves around beer, and the majority of people won’t be drinking.
Stein’s originally had more german flair, is more american (craft) beer and burgers, but they usually keep a few german things on the menu. They always have fresh pretzels, although they’ve changed styles from something very typically german to something new. I wouldn’t say they don’t have any german - they almost always keep the schnitzel and spatzel on the menu, and always keep two actual german beers, although it’s something like HB. My food experiences with them the last two or three times have been decidedly downhill. They fallen from high rotation to maybe mid rotation. I do think the atmosphere can be fun and AFAIR there are two areas that could fit 35 to 40 people (the far patio and I think there’s a back room). I wouldn’t write them off if you’re choosing german - but I would because the strength of the place is beer and you’ve got non-drinkers.
Ludwig’s has a shorter menu generally but a longer german menu, and it’s in a much smaller space. You’d have to buy out something like half or 1/3 their capacity. They are more specifically german, but I’ve always wanted to like their german food more than actually liking it. The only space big enough for you is outdoors and it can be festive. The vibe there is usually local office workers (tech folks), which will always be true in MV, but it’s really specifically an after work kind of place. It’s also a “I wouldn’t go there for german food” place, I agree with honkman. At least it attempts to be german, but look at the menu, it’s short. I go there for beer.
Das Bierhauz is another odd duck. The outside seating right on the walking street and under the big tree and across from the train station is pleasant. The german menu is longer. The food is pretty decent, filling and stick to your ribs as german should be, but the place is an arab-ish brunch menu most of the time, which has always been confusing. If you’re not there for the beer, of the three of these, I’d probably consider them the best option. They have a selection of benches and tables and getting a clump of them together would probably be a lot of fun.
Since you are planning for a group, focus on food not beer, I’d put Bierhauz first, Ludwig’s second, Stein’s third, but I think it’s a close call between Beirhauz and Ludwig’s. I’d give Bierhauz the nod because of longer menu (thus more accommodating to a group), and more seating.
The best german even reasonably proximate to MV is certainly Staudt, and besides being too far I think it would be too small. It’s actual german food and quite good - I ate there about two weeks ago as a pregame before going to Berlin, and i don’t think I had better german food in berlin. [ And before anyone gets on my case, I am fully aware that what we are discussing as “german” is actually southern german and berlin isn’t in the south, which is why we weren’t even focused on that genre in berlin. ]
If I was going to add to your list - maybe Laughing Monk / old Faultline? Although they won’t be german, the food is pretty good and they’re used to groups. They have an “overflow patio”. While it’s not exactly in MV it’s not far… probably too far for you.
The other place I’d put on your list would be Alpine Inn which now goes by Rossotti’s. It’s a HUGE outdoor space with a long menu. While it’s pan-american-ish, it’s got a great hanging out in the sun vibe. I suspect they are used to large reservations. They currently have a digital ordering system which I find rather cumbersome but it actually works well if you have multiple adults - each I think can open their own tab. There’s nothing particularly german about it, it’s just a fun place for a boisterous group. AFAIR they don’t take reservations so you’ll have to call them and see if they’ll do something specific for you, which I bet they would, it’s that kind of place. They also support local sports teams so mention the soccer tourney. It’s either in MP or RWC and will be a little drive but worth it - depending on where your hotel is / tourney is, it might be closer.
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Thank so much for the great info, it’s super helpful! Staudt sounds like a great place and one that I will definitely be visiting on my own. I actually got a Laughing Monk rec from someone else and I was able to make a reservation there, and it’s close to our hotel, so that sounds like the winner. Thanks again for your help!
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staudt is known locally as the iphone bar because an apple employee lost a preprodution model there right before a launch. Great little joint.
https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bay-area-german-bar-iphone-security-breach-18130468.php
A group that big is always a compromise. You won’t have great food but you’ll have pretty good food and a good time.
If im not mixing my memories, i think my go to at faultline was the skirt steak, but that was prior owners, so don’t quote me. The menu at laughing Monk remains Faultline (the original lm has no kitchen). If you like beer, the goto move is ‘whatever is on cask’ (faultline has a single cask pump, laughing Monk in sf has none). Lm was originally long on belgians (foaf was a college buddy of a founder), but they have really limited belgians now, and probably none in Santa Clara.
Oh, the memories of Rissotti’s Alpine Inn. I lived in Palo Alto/Mountain View as a grad student from 1978 to 1988 except for 2 years in Spain. We called it Zot’s and I spent lots of time there! No recent experience, remember the great outdoor setting. The food was secondary and whatever there was to drink was outstanding.
You almost might not recognize it anymore. It is mostly vcs in black puffer jackets and their dogs. Food has been upgraded, and a very large outdoor expansion. Still has good vibe though.
As the Yogi said, ‘no one goes there anymore, it’s too crowded’.
We have lost a lot of the old watering holes from those days but Dutch Goose is pretty unchanged. That’s a solid 40 year time machine.
oh yes, Dutch Goose in Menlo Park, that as well. Loved it. Longer than 40 year time machine, I first went there in 1978 and it wasn’t new then. Wasn’t there a third one beyond Zot’s and Dutch Goose? Can’t remember…I’m old now!
Now I remember two other area dive bars: The Oasis and Antonio’s Nut House.
Both gone.
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too far away for your preferences (downtown san jose), but
is actual german and was quite good for many years. not been recently.
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The Menu has all the Bavarian Greatest Hits and a nice Drinks list.
Welcome and thanks for Posting!
