Finally checked this place out. Pros: It's not an Irish bar! I've always said we need more German beer halls in Boston and less "gastropubs" and Irish bars. Nice selection of German beers, solid variety of styles. Didn't get food, but I saw the pretzels, and they sure looked authentic to me (I've been to Oktoberfest). Outdoor biergarten looked a bit small, but also looked quite inviting. Nice to see a hall with no tvs and people just sitting elbow to elbow downing liters of German goodness and enjoying eachother's conversation. Cons: This place is expensive. It may not be a "gastropub" but it sure as heck is priced like one. $17 for a liter of Weihenstephan Original (the house beer) and inexplicably $12 for a pint of EKU pils. Most beers were in the $7 to $9 range, but a few like Notch were $5. We only stayed for a drink because it would simply cost too much to have multiple pints there. We strolled over to the Independent after we finished our drinks. I also thought the place was a bit small, it wasn't packed so this wasn't an issue, but it's a very small space. There's only two long tables inside, and then the bar. I would have liked to see a large beer hall akin to Harpoon's new space. Overall impression: I love the idea, and I love authentic German beer on draft. But the prices are insane (sadly not uncommon for Somerville, the most expensive place to drink beer on Earth) for some of the drafts. I could see myself swinging by again because the atmosphere and decor inside are quite inviting, and the beer is definitely good. But if I drop by it'll be a short trip again, my wallet can't take that kind of abuse.
My co-worker is German (not German-American, German) and I asked him how the food was. He said the sausages and the pretzels were great, don't get any other dishes.
I was offended by the prices when I first saw the menu a few weeks ago. TW has great food so I'd assume this will follow suit, but I have no intention of buying beer from these people at prices like that.
I tried to go once and there was a 90min wait. Hello independent. Also, 3 picnic tables doesn't really count as a beer garden.
I agree with you. This area desperately needs some good German grub, but sadly, Bronwyn is not the solution. The place is simply not worth the price. I did enjoy the wursts — as hilariously expensive as they were for such small portions — and the very refreshing Polish Warka (sp?) pilsner, but it will very, very quickly put a dent in your wallet.
I guess we shouldn't be surprised that the 1st long-awaited, proper German restaurant/biergarten in the Boston area ended up being bastardized as some sort of overpriced hipster interpretation of one - especially in Camberville. I think the market exists for a reasonably priced, non-pretentious one though (like you'd actually find in Germany or many other major metropolitan US cities).
I wonder at what point a place will actually start to suffer by pricing beers in the stratosphere... I'd whine, but it's hard to argue with a 90 minute wait. Good for them, I guess.
A lot of that is the curiosity factor. Only time will tell to what degree they can maintain that sorta crowd. I can only speak for myself and three other who are in no rush to go back.
I was there on Saturday night at 8 pm. There were seats at the bar, seats at the long tables inside, and seats outside....while it wasn't empty, it was a far cry from a 90 minute wait to get in.
