You’re walking down Adams Street in the Chicago Loop, the wind is kicking up, and honestly, you're just hungry. You see the sign. 1898. It’s a date that carries a lot of weight in a city that likes to tear things down and start over. Most folks think they know exactly what’s waiting inside. They expect heavy lace curtains, maybe a dusty accordion player, and a plate of meat that hasn’t changed since the McKinley administration.
Well, they're halfway right.
The Berghoff restaurant menu is a weird, beautiful paradox. It is one of the few places where you can actually taste history—like, literally eat a recipe that survived Prohibition—while simultaneously finding a poke bowl or a gluten-free chicken schnitzel. It’s a bit of a head-trip. You've got the fourth generation, Pete Berghoff, running the show now, and he’s somehow managed to keep the "old world" fans happy without letting the place turn into a museum.
The Mount Rushmore of the Berghoff Restaurant Menu
If you go to The Berghoff and don't order the Wiener Schnitzel, did you even go? Probably not. It's the anchor of the entire experience. We’re talking about a veal cutlet that’s pounded thin, breaded, and pan-fried until it’s that specific shade of golden brown that makes you forget your diet exists. They serve it with creamed spinach and house-made spätzle.
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The spätzle is key. Those little German dumplings are basically tiny clouds of dough that soak up whatever sauce is nearby. At around $27.95, it’s not the cheapest lunch in the Loop, but it’s a massive portion.
Then there’s the Sauerbraten. This isn’t just "pot roast." It’s beef that’s been marinated for days in a mixture of vinegar, water, and spices until the fibers basically give up and melt. It’s tangy, sweet, and served with ginger snap gravy. Yes, ginger snaps. It sounds like a dessert mistake, but it works. It’s a flavor profile that has stayed pretty much identical for over a century.
Not Just Meat and Potatoes
- The Sausage Trio: If you’re indecisive, just get this. You get a bratwurst, a knockwurst, and a smoked Thuringer. It’s the "Greatest Hits" of German encased meats.
- The Soft Pretzel: It’s huge. Kinda ridiculous, actually. It comes with house-made beer cheese and sweet mustard. It’s the perfect thing to split if you’re just there for a drink.
- Potato Pancakes: They serve these with apple chutney and sour cream. Pro tip: if you’re doing the "Smoked Salmon Napoleon," you’re basically getting these as the base with caper dill cream cheese on top. It’s $22.95 and worth every cent.
The "License No. 1" Factor
You can't talk about the menu without talking about what's in the glass. When Prohibition ended in 1933, Herman Berghoff stood in line and snagged Chicago’s very first liquor license. They still have it. It’s framed. It’s a whole vibe.
Today, the Adams Street Brewery operates right on-site. They aren’t just doing old-school lagers either. Sure, you can get "Herman’s Dunkel" or "Hubert’s Hefeweizen," which are fantastic and traditional. But they’re also brewing stuff like "Dat’s Da Joose," which is a hazy IPA that’s actually quite fruity and modern.
And if you don't drink? You get the Root Beer. It’s iconic. It’s thick, creamy, and served in a frosty mug. They started making it during Prohibition because they couldn't sell the real stuff, and it became so popular they never stopped.
Why the Gluten-Free Options Actually Matter
Usually, when a historic restaurant says they have "options," it means they'll give you a sad salad. But The Berghoff is different. This part is personal for the family. Back in the day, Carlyn Berghoff’s daughter was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Instead of just making her a side of steamed broccoli, they overhauled a huge chunk of the menu.
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They have a dedicated gluten-free kitchen space. You can get gluten-free schnitzel. You can get gluten-free gravy. They even have a gluten-free beer, usually "Meteor Shower," which is a pale lager. It’s one of the few places in the city where a Celiac can eat "fried" German food without having a panic attack.
The Cafe vs. The Dining Room
There is a major tactical decision you have to make when you walk in: upstairs or downstairs?
The main dining room is where you go for the full experience. It’s got the murals, the wood paneling, and the "Chicago history" feel. This is where you sit down for the $26 beef medallions or the Alsatian Meatloaf (which has roasted pistachios in it, by the way).
But if you’re in a rush or want to spend less, hit the Berghoff Cafe in the basement. It’s cafeteria-style, mostly. You’ll find the famous hand-carved sandwiches there. The corned beef is legendary. Honestly, the Cafe is where the locals go for a quick lunch. You can grab a bratwurst for about $14.95 and be back at your desk in 45 minutes. Plus, they have weirdly good modern stuff down there, like ramen and poke bowls, because Executive Chef Matt Reichel likes to keep things interesting.
A Quick Reality Check on Prices (Early 2026)
Prices have crept up everywhere, and The Berghoff isn't immune. Here’s a rough idea of what you’re looking at:
- Appetizers: $9 to $18 (The pretzels and cheese curds are in this range).
- Entrees: $19 to $32 (Vegetarian gnocchi is on the lower end, Wiener Schnitzel on the higher).
- Desserts: $9 to $12 (The Apple Strudel is $9.25 and honestly, you should split it).
What to Do Next
If you’re planning a visit, don't just wing it on a Friday night. The place gets packed, especially during Restaurant Week or the holidays.
- Make a reservation. Use their website or a booking app. If you show up at 6:00 PM on a Saturday without one, you’re going to be staring at that liquor license for a long time while your stomach growls.
- Check the Brewery list. The draft lines rotate. If they have the "Steam Engine" Kentucky Common on tap, get it. It’s a historical style that’s hard to find elsewhere.
- The Bread Basket. It’s two bucks. Just pay it. They bake the rye bread in-house every single day, and it’s basically the soul of the restaurant.
- Save room for the Strudel. It’s made with Granny Smith apples and pecans. It isn't overly sweet, which makes it the perfect end to a heavy meal.
The Berghoff restaurant menu isn't just a list of food. It's a weird, successful attempt at keeping 128 years of Chicago history alive while acknowledging that people occasionally want to eat a salad. Whether you go for the $28 veal or a $15 brat in the basement, you’re participating in a ritual that has outlasted two World Wars, a pandemic, and the entire Prohibition era. That’s worth a visit.