January 23, 2012
This place is a staple of my life in SF! I wish I could give it more than just 5 points for ambiance: the superb decor, the sound of the bell and the entire restaurant yelling for "DAS BOOT!!", and the the German Polka music’s tuba which is barely discernible over the noise of the crowd having a good time make this the first genuinely *fun* place to eat in Russian Hill. Good food; I especially recommend the duck and sausage appetizers. The beer selection is sufficient to go with the food; if you’re looking for huge selections then hit Toronado or La Trappe but if you’re looking for great Bavarian food and atmosphere with some beers to match, give Leopold’s a try! Also, I have to add that this place is very popular; they do their best to accommodate groups but don’t expect to be able to walk in on Friday or Saturday at 7:00 pm and grab a table. Klaus, the owner/maitre d’, is a reasonable and friendly guy. He’ll take your number and put you on the list so you can wait it out at the bar, or even at another nearby bar if you want to make a mini-pub crawl of your evening :-)