Teske's Germania Restaurant

To start, I like spaten optimator. The house serves Spaten Octoberfest draught. Octoberfest beers are typically brewed quickly at large volumes to prepare for the drinking season, and usually suffer in quality. I have not tried all Octoberfest beers, but Spaten Octoberfest is awful. Our waiter argued that it was wonderful. I knew enough to order a bottle of Swartzbier. The Sauerbraten was tough because it was not marinated properly. The rotkohl was just red cabbage cooked in cinnamon water. The jaegerschnitzel sauce was too sweet. Pros: Bottled beer OK Spaetzle was good Cons: Food more

I suspect sxysin and jstrauss are just shills for Hans, the owner of this dying gasthaus. It?s ironic then that sxysin unfavorably mentions the world?s most successful food franchise: a McDonald?s ?Happy Meal? is infinitely more satisfying than a dinner at Teske's, to say nothing of price. When I last dined at Teske?s some months ago, we were charged for food we didn?t want, the meal and service were mediocre, and Hans was simply the most ungracious and unaccommodating restaurateur I?ve encountered in decades of dining out. The whole experience was an expensive bummer. Jstrauss (i.e Hans) and I do agree on one thing: Teske?s is indeed the most ?incredible German restaurant in the Bay Area.? Incredible as in don?t believe it. Do yourself a favor and visit Schroeder's in San Francisco instead. If you can't make it to Schroeder's, any of the fine restaurants on Santa Clara Street (a 5-minute walk south on First Street) would be a far better choice than Teske's. Heed sjcalif's advice: ""Don't get suckered in."" And don't believe the ""incredible"" reviews by the sock puppets sxysin and jstrauss. This place is a ripoff. Pros: It's still about the only restaurant within blocks. If they pour from a bottle, it'll probably taste fine. Cons: High prices, poor service, cold lousy food, bad neighborhood, aged building, ungracious owner and host. more

Just say Prosit! more

We've been eating at Teske's for 15 years and love it. My husband's family came from Germany a couple of generations ago and practically beg to eat there whenever they come visit. We have a couple of German immigrant friends who practically wept with homesickness the first time we brought them here. The food is filling and delicious. While the desserts are nothing special, the soups are incredible and make up for it. I adore the jaegerschnitzel and the sauerbraten. The spaetzle is fabulous and much better than the potatoes. The service is European. It can be very friendly and attentive, or rather harried and curt. The underage server another reviewer complained about is a witty and self-assured grandaughter of the owner - I think she's about 16. more

Saturday, 10/7/06. Arrived at 6:30 and ordered immediately. Food not served until 8:00 p.m and arrive cold. By 8:15, they were coming up and asking if we were done yet! Male waiter was a deranged psychotic, who we saw twice and could never catch again until we received the illegible check. Waiter then screamed at us for asking him to explain it. Another woman took soup plates and asked if one person if he wanted something to drink. He said beer. She said she was underage and couldn't serve him and if he wanted something like that to ask the waiter. This, at a German beer hall! Then she walked away and didn't ask anyone else. Only twice in two hours did someone come by and ask us if we wanted drinks. Waiter was massively incompetent, angry and frightening, shouting garbled words and incomprehensible. Ocktoberfest ambiance is like attending a wake at a dusty Elk's Club with massive dead animals (including the shoulders) hanging over our heads and the next door neighbors have a small German beer garden party which no one in the restaurant could attend because it was full. Other diners were glum while waaaay in back, in the small back yard, loud polka music played. For 8 people, our bill came to $243.00 for inedible food. The mashed potatoes couldn't melt butter and were obviously made from flakes, the onion and cheese noodles were congealed, the pea soup was grainy, and there were no other staff to turn to. The place was packed and the staff totally incompetent. Don't get suckered in. AVOID Oktoberfest. TOTAL RIPOFF! Pros: A good example of what a restaurant in Hell must be like. Cons: Terrible cold food, way overpriced, poor service (1-1/2 hours to get food!) Waiter psychotic. Dirty Elk's Club ambiance. more

I was there for lunch in April 2006. The restaurant was about half full. The service was very friendly. The food was excellent! I had sauerbraten with red cabbage and homemade spaetzel. The portion was very filling. I splurged and had apple streudel for dessert that was served with whipped cream and strawberry puree. The physical setting is a little worn, but very comfortable. If you like German food, there are lots of things on the menu that I have not seen in other restaurants. You will not be disappointed. Pros: food, portions, quality more

This is the most incredible German restaurant in the Bay Area. Their food is fabulous, service is as charming as is the ambience. I have no stake in this review, but what is so dishonest about the ""Jbocher"" s review is that on every menu page it clearly states, all dinners come with soup, salad, entree and dessert. A split charge of 10.00 will apply. Anyway, experience this wonderful restaurant and bier garten for yourself, and you to will post a great review!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pros: freindly service, great food, reasonabley priced Cons: closed Sunday and Mon more

Location: Right nearby are abandoned buildings, Workmans Emporium, and a law office. Transients frequent this neighborhood. Be careful. Facility: Needs renovation. Inside, its worn but authentic. Food: The Potato leek soup tasted oddly like sausage. Salad was wilted with too much dressing. Venison was tough, though the sauce was rich and tasty. Apple strudel tasted days old. Service: Everything but dessert came out at once. Waiter was pleasant but not professional. We were told that $10 would be charged to split our $26 entree, and that extra soup, salad, dinner plate, and dessert would be served even though we didnt want them. I asked if I could please see Hans, the owner, and was told to get up go see _him_ (i.e., leave my date alone at the table)! Overall, $61 including tax and tip for one entree, one drink and the worst dining in memory. Pros: Usually empty, Only choice nearby, My cognac was good Cons: Bad location, Poor value, Unpleasant service more

Considering that I am a 1st generation German/Canadian living in America, I never expected to find food that only my own Berliner Mother has mastered. MMMM> Teske's is just like home. That is, the turn of the century homes back in Berlin. Walking into the ""Keller"" for a quick "" bier-schien"" , ""schneppschien"" or ""wein"". Only to be lead through a fine representation of my own family's wallpaper, window dressings and of course, (braggards as we Germans are), the prize of the hunt. All of these things smilling down around us as we dined. Missing, were the overzealous family members playing Um-Pah-Pah musik...But wait... that was saved for the outdoor patio... I had only intended to have a quick peak but felt obligated to have a Jaeger-Tee and enjoy the music as well as the wonderful dancing.( boy were my feet sore from all of the Polkas we ejoyed!) Pros: great food, fine beer selections, superb entertainment Cons: , partial bar on patio more

I found this place by accident 9 years ago while attending a convention in San Jose. The owners, waitresses, and staff are mostly native Germans who are friendly, attentive, and some of the most gracious people I have met in this area. They even remember my name from year to year. The menus are in German and English and the food is incredibly authentic and incredibly delicious. The price is reasonable and all courses (including desert) is included. They also have a fine selection of beers, Schops, wines, and other liqours. All in all, this is one of my favorite restaurants anywhere in the US. Pros: Great Food, Easy Parking, Great Service more

Great place - all-inclusive meals, beautiful buildling/bar, and occassional live entertanment make this place a great old-schol restaurant near downtown SJ. Pros: ambiance Cons: lots of food more