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Rolf's

281 Third Ave., New York, NY 10010 40.73785 -73.983813
at 21st St. See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
work212-473-8718 Send to Phone

Cuisine: German/Austrian
Price Range:
$$$
Key to Prices and ratings
Upscale

Almost Perfect

Exceptional

Generally Excellent

Very Good

Good

Cheap Eats

Best in Category

Excellent

Delicious

Very Good

Noteworthy
Very Expensive

Expensive

Moderate

Cheap
Reader Rating:
2.3 out of 10
|
7 Reviews | Write a Review

Map Rate & Review

Hours

Daily, noon-10:30pm

Nearby Subway Stops

4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W at 14th St.-Union Sq.

Prices

$19.95-$23.95

Payment Methods

American Express, MasterCard, Visa

Special Features

Good for Groups
Kid-Friendly
Lunch
Prix-Fixe

Alcohol

Full Bar

Reservations

Recommended

Profile

Ignored by New Yorkers much of the year, the rustic, tchochke-packed dining room at Rolf’s is transformed into a Christmas spectacular that’s as much a December institution as the Rockettes and Rockefeller Center. Twinkling lights, Teutonic dolls, and green garlands like so many boughs of Black Forest don the front bar, while a seasonal roast suckling pig is ceremoniously served at the roughhewn tables and booths in back. Not surprisingly, the food is a mediocre throwback to another era, so don’t be surprised if the stringy sauerbraten can’t hold a candle to your grandmother’s three-day ginger snap-marinated wonder. But crispy potato pancakes and simple, hot-dog-like wursts keep kids complacent, while a few steins of the remarkable array of German pilsners and hefeweissen will find mom and dad satisfied, if not altogether oblivious. — Carla Spartos

Recommended Dishes

Potato pancakes, $9; wurst, $23.95

2.3

"Not Recommended"
Average Reader Rating
on a Scale of 10

14%	Would you go back?
14%	Would you take a date?
0%	Would you take kids?
0%	Would you go on business?
14%	Would you go on a special occasion?

Food:	2.0
Service:	3.1
Décor:	8.1
Value:	2.0

Rolf's

should be called Ralphs

blackfin from 11565 | Posted on 1/20/10

Overall Rating: 101 (Not Recommended)


Food:	2
Service:	3

Décor:	8

Value:	2

We went there for the holidays, after not being there for over ten years. Yes they decorate it beautiful, but thats where it ends! This restaurant is no longer a German restaurant. The menu should have different curry dishes, because it feels like little India. There isn,t a German to be found there , including the chef. The food was horrendous. It brought back memories of a trip to seattle , where I found a pizza place called Real Italian Pizza, and the guys flipping and making the pies were Japanese, It was hilarious! anyway,After eating at Rolfs, my immediate reaction was to want to Ralph (as in toss my cookies) If you want holiday cheer and real German food, go visit the tree and eat at Zum stammtisch instead, and avoid this horror show

Rolf's

Valentine's day HORROR!

kirillis from 07104 | Posted on 2/15/09

Overall Rating: 101 (Not Recommended)


Food:	1
Service:	1

Décor:	8

Value:	1

Rolf's restaurant used to be one of those gateway places in the city. We'd always come back during holiday time, as Rolf's would transform into a magical fantasy world; Tons of decorations, great food, fun personnel...... NOT THIS TIME! Well, the place look well prep'd with decorations-the remains of good ole' Rolf's...what a hoax. We placed a reservation a week an advance, usually it takes a month, and arrived to celebrate valentine's day to find out the place didn't seem a s busy and happy as it used to. It didn't even seem that the damn reservation was necessary to squeeze in the almost empty restaurant. We ordered the usual "good stuff"....But, we received BURNT potato pancakes, RAW rack of lamb, instead of medium rare, topped with long wait, non existent service (the host was reading a newspaper throughout the whole time we were there). We left Rolf's hungry. I guess Indians, the prime personnel of the place, is not well suited to cook and serve German food.

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