November 7, 2009
Nice ambiance with a rustic/old time feel. The service is friendly, but slightly slow, and the beer knowledge isn’t stellar. The selection isn’t very special, although they have a decent German bottle list and the prices are very fair. Only a small mark up on bottles, some of the imported German stuff is only $4. The food is pretty average- decent wurst, and pretty good chicken schnitzel. I ordered the bratwurst, smoked bratwurst and weisswurst. I accompanied the meal with a Schrenkerla Marzen. The bottle was $7, which is a great price, considering it’s about $5 at the stores. Not a bad place overall- again, it’s nice, but the food is only average and it’s not a place for beer geekery, but more just a conventional German beer restaurant.

April 11, 2006
Apparently, I am the only ratebeerian that visits Staten Island (unfortunately I live here as well). The best thing about this pace is the ambiance. The waitresses all dress in bavarian wear and the place looks like a German bar. The selection is ok. Lots of german brews but nothing special (Spaten on tap at all ttimes). Some micros, some belgians, and a beer from a few other countries is represented. Again nothing special. The bar service is usually sub-par at the bar. I have been here numerous times and it always the same. Tonight, I asked the bar tender what the Brooklyn Fortitude was and he said a strong ale. Thanks for clearing things up, buddy. I have visited this place just for the bar and also as a sit down restuarant. Again, ambiance is great, beer slection is there but nothing special and service could be lacking. The food is average-below average.

June 7, 2005 [ Updated May 25, 2008 ]
Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn is truly special. Their website will give you some background on the place, but it’s to be seen to be believed how authentic and charming this century-old German brauhaus/restaurant really is. Waitresses wear German Oktoberfest garb, and the beer menu features about 60 German brews, plus assorted others such as BluePoint and Dogfish Head. Yet the highlight is the bar itself. Constructed in the 1890s in the Bowery neighborhood of Manhattan (Bowery Ave. & 2nd St.), the 80-foot long mahogany bar was transported to Staten Island by boat where it was assembled. Behind the bar is a towering and intricately ornate 9-foot mahogany piece that holds the hard liquor and contains glass-doored refrigeration cases for German bottled beers. The staff were friendly and German food is served. The building’s origin dates from around 1907 when a Mr. Killmeyer opened a brauhaus, restaurant and hotel on the site. A framed copy of the Reinheitsgebot hangs on the wall. I absolutely LOVED this place’s atmosphere, as it is even more steeped in tradition than Manhattan’s Zum Schneider, which is saying something.