Rasselbock Kitchen & Beer Garden — Restaurant in Long Beach

This is going to come off as a rant, but I encourage you to look at my other reviews - most are positive.

The problems started upon arrival - we had to wait almost 45 minutes for a table despite several open tables the entire time. I think it was a staffing issue, which I understand. But it was frustrating. This, in isolation, would have been no big deal - it happens. We were seated around 7:50 or just after.

Our waitress seemed friendly and responsive (I later figured out she was one of the bartenders - seems like an odd section for a bartender to serve since it's as far from the bar as possible, but whatever. That may have been part of the upcoming problems.)

We got our drinks reasonably quickly and put in an order for the giant pretzel (they were out of the regular ones). It took probably 25 minutes for the pretzel to arrive. While waiting, maybe after 10 minutes, we ordered. Several items were unavailable - one beer, 2 sides, and one entree. Our food didn't arrive until close to 8:30 or just after - nearly 40 minutes after being seated.

They delivered my food to the wrong table, at which point the patron there happily started eating the wrong meal. A different server came by, was apologetic, and explained the situation and offered me a beer. Since I was drinking an entire stein, I declined, because I didn't need or want more beer, but I thanked her. She assured me the kitchen was working on it ASAP.

Everyone in my party finished eating (and they didn't eat very quickly) before my replacement food arrived with a muttered "sorry". It was probably close to 9:30 now - about an hour and 45 minutes after we were seated. My food was also incorrect - they had put the wrong side on my order (checking the receipt showed the correct side had been ordered). It was crazy how long it took to get my order from the kitchen, and the order being incorrect was insult to injury. I didn't even bother to mention it, because at this point I just wanted to choke down my food and get out of there with my family, who, as I said, were all finished and bored.

It took forever to get our receipt and pay - probably because our waitress was a bartender and was eating behind the bar instead of coming to our table. I think I saw her 3 times in the almost 2 hours we were there. We had to ask numerous other people for help throughout this process, even for just refills and stuff. Our waitress never even discussed the issue that had arisen with our table and the food - I'm not sure she even knew it had happened. When the check arrived, nothing was taken off. I kind of expected SOME kind of accommodation given the disaster that had happened, but nobody went an extra inch for us on this proactively. We did NOT ask for an accommodation, so perhaps that's on us, but given the situation, I thought it was pretty evident they should have done something. At the end, we just wanted to get out of there.

The food that was correct was good, although the portions were small for the prices. The schnitzel photos I see on other reviews look about twice the size of one we got. The bratwurst, while on the long side, was the skinniest I'd ever seen. But the food was largely excellent. Not a great value, but quality.

It was a very disappointing experience. When a family of 4 go out and spend over $160 on dinner, you expect better. It was my first, and quite possibly my last time here. I'm including a photo of the bathroom - I couldn't believe how trashed it was. It sums up the night for us nicely. With just a little more care and attention to detail, this could have been a fine experience. Probably not 5 stars because of the value issue, but certainly 4. Instead, it was pretty much a disaster. My family got home after 10pm, and we had no intention of spending almost 3 hours on dinner.

Edit: I appreciate the comments from the restaurant, and acknowledge that this may have been a "hangover" from Octoberfest the day before. I'll...

This place is easily my top pick in California right now. The food is absolutely incredible: rich flavors, hearty portions, and everything feels made with care. Whether you're going for schnitzel, sausages, German classics, or something lighter like a salad or appetizer, you really can’t go wrong here. This is the kind of place where I find myself recommending everything on the menu.

One dish I especially loved was the Goulash - beef stew with carrots and potatoes, served with homemade spätzle. It’s hearty and flavorful but not like a soup and yet not greasy at all. In fact, what I really appreciate about this place is that the food isn’t oily or heavy, and it doesn’t leave that unpleasant "junk food" aftertaste. Everything feels clean and satisfying.

The atmosphere is another highlight: cozy, not loud, and perfect for a relaxing evening. We came on a Saturday night and the place was packed, so I definitely recommend making a reservation in advance.

Here’s a quick summary of the prices by category:

Schnitzel (includes 2 sides): Ranges from $19.5 to $22.5 (most between $20–$22)

Sausages (with 2 sides): $16 to $17.5 depending on type Includes traditional, spicy, lamb, vegan options

German Classics: $16–$19 (Goulash, Beer Braised Pork Shank, Käsespätzle)

Appetizers: From $7.25 to $13.5 (pretzel, pate, deviled eggs, salads, currywurst)

Burgers & Sandwiches:* $14.5 to $15 With optional side (+$4–$4.5)

Soups & Salads: $7 to $14.75 depending on the portion and protein added

Desserts: $10 to $11 (apple strudel, bread pudding, blueberry cobbler)

Drinks:

Draft Beers (0.3L / 0.5L / 1L): Around $7.5 / $17.5 / $33 Kölsch Kranz (11 small pours): $34 Das Boot (2L): $33–34

Bottled Beers & Ciders: $6 to $13 Good German selection (Weihenstephaner, Ayinger, etc.)

Wines: Glass $12–$16 Bottle $42–$56

Non-Alcoholic: $4 to $5.5 Great options like Apfelschorle, Paulaner Sunset, Fentiman’s sodas

Extras: Dog-friendly menu (Dog Bratwurst!) Seasonal mulled wine (Gluhwein $8.5) Birthday boot promo: free 2L beer with 10 friends in your birthday month

This place is such a gem. Cozy yet lively atmosphere, extensive beer list, thoughtful menu (even vegan options), and everything we've tried has been consistently excellent. Highly recommend it for...

Had an AMAZING first-time dinner and drinks here. Will DEFINITELY be back. 3 people dining, we ordered the Sausage Platter, a side of spicy green beans, the Rasselbock Schnitzel with sides of sauerkraut and German potato salad, and an appetizer plate of cheese, apple and meats with delicious bread and fig jam. The sausages were juicy and well seasoned with the delicious snap of natural casings, served with three mustards--two were sweet-ish and one was whole grain (which I preferred). The schnitzel was tender & moist, the sauerdraut was REALLY good--not overrun with vinegar. The appetizer of meats and cheeses were all delicious, the fig jam was actually jam, not jellied fruit. The potato salad had a delicate hint of mustard flavor and was very good. My personal preference for potato salads is to have some crunchy onions or celery, but this salad was great without my preferred additions. I can't remember the names of the two beers we had, but one had interesting banana overtones, and the other was a great dark beer, not too hoppy/bitter. The only criticism, which might be personal preference, is I thought the green beans were a tad too soft, but their flavor with the wild mushrooms and spice was excellent. We all loved the food so much we ordered takeout while we were there lol. We'll be back to try the other unique dishes & save room for dessert. Thanks for...