November 21, 2009
Went relatively early on a Friday night (5 PM) which was a good thing because by 6 you would be waiting a couple of hours. They don’t try to rush you out while you’re there which is good for those lucky enough to be seated and bad for the rest. We were seated in the separate dining area off the main beer hall. Too bad because when we went into the beer hal to look around it was definately livelier. Next time we’ll have to try to get seated there. They had four beers available, none of their seasonals. I’ll hold off overall judgement on the beers until they get their own brewing. Of the four I tried only the dunkel was worth drinking (the weizen wasn’t bad either). The food was pretty good with the appetizers outshining the main courses. Service was good also considering the number of people there. It’s hard for me to compare this to the other German beer hall in the area (Penn Brewery) because this one definately has the feel of a chain while PB is more authentic. I will go back to Hofbrau at elast a few more times. I guess it’s a good thing when you have two good German beer halls in the city.

November 7, 2009
Somehow today was my first time at this Hofbrauhaus. I’ve been to the Munich and Sydney locations and they have done a good job in Steel Town. There are multiple locations to pull up a chair. There is a smaller room with maybe 20 tables closest to the street, which is the quietest place. The main hall easily has 50 tables and there is an outside deck with maybe another 30 tables. It appears there is another level below the deck but I’m not sure what that is used for. Service was alright, generally fast but it seems some employees chose clothing maybe a size or two too small. Selection of beer is somewhat disappointing. Four standards and one seasonal that rotates monthly. Really? I’ve been to much smaller places that can put out better selection than this... Food was alright, standard fare of Spaetzle, Pretzels, Schnitzel and Burgers. Appetizers are ridiculously priced at $10, but entrees range from $10-20 and seem more reasonable. Sandwiches and burgers are $7-9 and probably the best deal. My favorite part was observing the German touches. If you have lived in Germany for any time, you will notice things like the picnic tables and silverware/napkins in a stein on the table that are distinctively German.

September 18, 2009
Cool ambiance. Like a modern beer hall. Good service. Poor selection of house brews. Good German food. Cheap!

August 26, 2009
The food is not bad, although there is better German fare available in the city. The beer is solid and consistent for the various styles offered. Go here for beer hall atmosphere or on nice days sit on the veranda with downtown in the background.

July 30, 2009
Having never been to the original Hofbrauhaus, I can’t comment on its authenticity. However, this place makes you feel like you are at Oktoberfest. The ambience is awesome, the food is great, and the beers are well-priced, if basic German lagers. Overall, a great time.

July 26, 2009
The wife and I visited recently on a trip to Pitt. Great place with really nice ambiance, German beer hall theme with the brew tanks behind the bar. Huge thick butcher block bar and plenty of interior-exterior seating. Many German choices of food and it was delicious, washed it down with a huge mug of Dunkel. Nice Pittsburgh views from outside in the beer garden. Gifts were a little pricey although I did pick up a large glass fest mug. Pleasant servers and loved the girls in the traditional dresses ;0). Wonderful place to visit, great place to eat German food and drink there style of beer.

April 8, 2009
I loved this place. It was not completely done (the biergarden was still being built) but the atmosphere was perfect. Long German style benches/tables with normal booths/tables around the edges. Long bar and a nice deck that looks over the dirty river. I sat outside but when the doors open you could hear the whole room singing German folk songs. At one point I went to the bathroom and the accordion player on stage had a row of people doing the chicken dance. Beer was good, if not typical. They didn’t have the monthly specialty beer ready yet, so I had a litre of the dunkel and hefe. Beer cheese was great as well as the hot girls dresses as German Oktoberfest servers. Will definately go back.

March 28, 2009
I saw this had recently opened and decided to make a trip during my recent visit to the area. It was very busy, but the service was very efficient. The food and beers came quickly, but they didn’t rush you out if you wanted to stay and drink another when your meal was done. I tried the soft pretzel and cheese dip appetizer, which was very good. For dinner I had the Hofbräuhaus Würstlteller platter, which was excellent. My only gripe was that they didn’t have any good German mustard, just Guldens. The ambiance is great: it looks just like a German beer hall. Even some live German music with the musicians dressed for the part. Well worth the trip. The beers were 4 of their standard offerings, but they are brewed here instead of Germany. There are seasonals on the menu, but none were up yet. Most will be brewed here. It looks like they will have one a month.

March 22, 2009
Enjoyed Sunday lunch here. Started with a couple of half liters with the pretzels and sauerkraut balls. The pretzels were good but nothing like the fresh ones in Germany - the beer-cheese sauce kicks!!!! Sat in the beer hall section and listened to the German music while watching the Pens up on the wall. Good food, good beer (not spectacular, but true and traditional to the original Munich location if my memory serves), good service. The hostesses all were wearing the traditional beer wench costumes. Highly recommended - should be really nice once the whole place is opened up.

March 21, 2009
One thing I don’t care for in Southside is the traffic and the problem of parking. However, I overheard they will have their own lot soon. This place is off on a side street in Southside, a part of real estate seeing new construction. Outside are the big tanks near the entrance and you can touch them and have pictures taken with them. I saw many a photo being taken this day. Inside is big open and brand new. Smells is that of a brewery. Large horseshoe shaped new wood bar surrounds Big brass colored elevated brew tanks inside the horseshoe. Ed the master brewer is constantly attending the brew tanks. Friendly and polite help and if you have questions about beer, big Ed comes down to talk to you. Wide screen projection TVs on the big white walls. Overall, except for the parking, a good experience. However, there are no big hop beers or impy stout styles here. Average high prices and the food looked good. 5 beer sampler for 5$.