Suppenkuche

08/15/2008 Posted by 94123

I made a reservation for my and myy friend's birthday party for 12 people a week in advance and later confirmed it by phone. Everything seemed to be OK, but when we arrived we were told that we had only 2 hours and then had to leave, and nothing could change it. It was a "nice surprise" because we were planning to spend a lot of time with friends, relax and not look at the watch every 10 minutes drinking beer in a hurry. And noone bothered to tell us about this policy before, if we had known beforehand we would have found a much better place. (We've been to this place before on Fridays and Saturdays and we spent there as much time as we wanted!). So my 30th birthday party was spoiled, my guests who arrived later barely had time to order anything. A very dissapointing experience. Avoid this place if you want to spend a good evening.

12/13/2007 Posted by awolfey

It was funny how much this place felt like a real German restaurant - there's big wooden bench tables, glass boots of beer, and really good cheese spaetzle. It a great place to go with a bunch of friends you want to drink and eat a hearty meal with. It's almost always full, but thats cool because you can hang at the bar and get one of their many foreign brews.

Pros: Glass boots of beer!

Cons: Super popular - always have to wait for a table

03/29/2007 Posted by sf_delight

Good luck getting into this place and finding a seat. Also good luck trying to hear a conversation. You're packed like sardines in this place, but if you're looking for a lively atmosphere with decent German cuisine, this is your place. I overheard a couple who had been waiting over an hour for a table and complained that several other people got seated before them. We waited about 30 minutes for a table.

11/30/2006 Posted by vinture

Every time I visit SF I have to swing by Suppenkuche. The beers are everything you could ask for, especially if you're asking for a two-liter boot. The venison is cooked perfectly with red cabbage, and the schnitzels are all solid, reliable meals. The German staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The scene is cozy hipster, and though it does get loud, you never feel cramped or rushed. Great place to spend an evening.

Pros: Beers, food, friendly staff

Cons: none

11/22/2006 Posted by jenlove

Very expensive, very average food. Sure they have good beer; but you may get injured by the stranger next to you, stomping on the floor and smashing his beer stein on the table.The patrons are a mix of loud frat boys and eurotrash types- bring your earplugs and plan to text message your dinner companions-you won't be able to hear each other. The parking is the worst in town.

Pros: Good beer

Cons: 2 hour wait

11/13/2006 Posted by sfconnoisseur

I love this place! Again, It's one of those places I've taken everyone I know at one time or another. Completely unique. The interior is designed to look like a wine cellar. Everyone dines by candlight on long wooden benches like at a bier garten. Be prepared to share your table, but everyone's doing it so it's european and cozy, and not intruding. Speaking of cozy, they've got the cutest candle-lit wooden box of a bar where you can also eat, and another cozy dining room in back. The food, alas I must say, is authentically German in it's slightly bland side, but very well prepared and enjoyable at the same time. The most excellent of beers ON TAP are served in their appropriately brewery-created glasses. It's always full after 6 because it's so popular, but (most of the time), one doesn't have to wait too long for a table. Oh and they have a great brunch on Sundays. Sehr Gemuetlich! (cozy) and PLEASE! the last part of it's name (Suppenkueche) is pronounced with a "sh" or a throaty "kh" sound depending on what part of Germany you favor, never a "ch" as in "please choose to say it becomingly". Had to throw that last bit in. Enjoy!

Pros: unique beer selection on tap, ambience and popularity

Cons: authentically German food (a little on the bland side)

11/02/2006 Posted by bottino

Great experience...The food is just fantastic. Heavy, comfy, exotic. The atmosphere is fun. Keep in mind that you wil probably share that table with strangers but that's part of the fun.

Cons: No reservations for party of less then 6

08/24/2006 Posted by ellman

food is great, authentic. beers are flowing - no stale pipe deal here. social setting - great mix of people instead of the old lederhoesen kraut (I meant crowd)

Pros: enough food/beer for 2 days

08/07/2006 Posted by highwire

If it weren't for my sainted grandmother Id say German food is a contradiction in terms. Even so I go here once in a while to remind myself why I don't try spaetzle at home. Noisy crowd here is mildly entertaining and the trout here is as good as you can expect trout to be.

Pros: Good beer selection

Cons: Crowded

07/25/2006 Posted by moolatte

My boyfriend & I go to this place quite often. [Delicious Food, Great Beer, & Wonderful Service] Can't say that we've EVER had a bad time here. We mostly go for dinner, but went once for their brunch. Go early to the brunch, it gets very busy, very fast. Woohoo, Mimosas! I had a fantastically Cheesy, Vegetarian Omelet & my boyfriend got the Potato Pancakes. Wonderful! When we go for dinner we usually get the same thing each time, because we're Vegetarians, but it never gets old! There is a huge beer menu & if you get confused, the servers aren't shy about giving a recommendation about, or a quick sample of the drink in question. We've actually never asked for a sample, but we've gotten a few here-and-there, if we ask about something we've never tried. [a great help for picking out your next beer, if you're worried about commiting to 0.5L of something new] When it comes to the food menu, The Cheese Spätzle is to die for! & with a Side Salad, it just can't be beat! I also recommend the other Vegetarian dish, the Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms, with Spinach, Feta & Pepper Sauce. If you're like me, and you want to eat light sometimes, they cater to your needs as well! [Unlike my boyfriend, I still eat fish... so...] I'll order their fantastic Salad, with Beets, Carrots, Cabbage, etc. & have them add Prawns to it. [most of the time it's not a problem, unless it's pretty busy, but it always gets done right] If there's a wait, chill at the bar until you get a table. 20 minutes goes by fast, on the busy nights, when you're kicking back a nice cold beer after a hard day of work. Prost! Sharing the tables when you get one is fun as well, sometimes you talk a bit, sometimes you don't. When the tab comes, we usually get out at about $40-something, [excluding tip] on the two-beer nights, so not that bad, and worth every penny. All-in-all, this place is like a chameleon. Whether you like to eat/drink light or heavy... they can help you out!

Pros: Food, Drink, Service

Cons: No Fresh Ground Pepper (but i'm a pepper-a-holic)