Friday 4th of June 2010 08:17:38 PM

link
2009 pub crawl: Got some bad goulash here, felt sick until the next day...only thing I ate that day too :(

This was the first stop on the BA German pub crawl '07.

Laschet's has a nondescript appearance from the outside, but once you enter and pass through the swinging saloon doors, you realize that it's a well-appointed and inviting place. Lots of dark wood on the bar, wood paneling, and even stained glass. Lots of decorative touches, including a mounted deer in the back, and a large painting of rowdy, beer-drinking angels in heaven. A whopper of a beer stein sits above the bar, with a sign proclaiming it's 15 liter capacity...wonder if there are any stories about that one!

Tap selection was good, I started off with a Julius Echter Hefe-Weisse, then had a Gaffel Kolsch with my lunch. Both were served with branded glassware. Bottle list was solidly German, with a few Belgians and UK selections. The Thuringer sandwich I had was smoky and tasty, it came with soup, sauerkraut, and fries for under $10. Others tried the Weinerschnitzel and Hackepeter, which also looked good. Service varies, the bar has always been great, table service can be flaky at times. Waited 45 min. for food last time at a table. Fortunately, they offer a complimentary Schnapps after dinner, if that's your thing.

If you enjoy German beer and cuisine in any capacity, you owe it to yourself to check out this underrated neighborhood gem.

Tuesday 22nd of January 2008 01:37:17 PM

link
my last name is tohtz... I'm german.

I haven't been to laschett's before... wtf?

Anyway.

Beer selection is about 12 drafts of fine german lagers. Somewhat decent bottle selection, but the drafts go with the food, so dipping into that is only for those who feel the need to. I had a nice alt and and optimator and was good on that front.

It's a german place, a restaurant in nature with a good bar selection... It can handle larger groups and does take reservations for such things... the interior are mostly 4 seat tables in the back section, with a larger benched section in the front for said larger groups located right across from the bar. the bar and it's collection are worth taking a gaze over as it has lots of fun german relics, steins, and other said german swag.

Service with a larger group is excellent. As that's the only experience I've had here, I can say it's good.

Food is german authentic. I recommend the goulash.

Monday 8th of October 2007 12:07:00 PM

link
After two+ years of hearing about Laschet's, finally went for luch Sunday. Enjoyed the best German food I've had in Chicago. Great German tap list -- wish I wrote stuff down. Had a good lager -- BBK? -- and a fantastic alt. Can't remember the brewery, but I think it was Kutscher. And there were many other handles I wished to try. Dark wood, German decorations -- great for sitting at the bar, probably less than great in the dining area. It's a bar that's been converted into a restaurant. Server/tender asked questions, answered questions, introduced me to folks walking in off the street. Met the cook. Had a lovely herbal cordial to close the day (Killepitsch). The beer prices were low for the city, the food pricing was reasonable to low. Yeah! I look forward to working my way around the food menu and the beer list.

Edit is just to move from 1 visit to 2+ visits -- hope eventually to get "regular" status! 1/13/08

Tuesday 7th of August 2007 04:20:25 AM

link
Here is a beer bar with some legacy. Karl Laschet's has _always_ been a tavern in which you could get a very good beer, even back in the prehistoric days of the early 1980s. That the beer was from somewhere in central Europe probably added to the mystique. But unlike the other mystique beers then available from macro brewers; these brews had hops, malt, and body.
The beer selection continues to uncover brands and styles which have only recently been plundered by U.S.A.-based craft brewers. Every one of these beers could reasonably have the "ur-" prefix adhered to their names. Most of the taps are from Europe. I think I espied one tap of Samuel Adams, and one tap from Summit [the Hefeweizen?].
I was last here on a Thursday evening in late May of this year, during a particularly upheaving week in my personal life. I went here because I felt it would be a relaxing venue where I could sip good beer, write down the outline of what I was going to scribe on-line later, and not be particularly bothered by baseball fans craving another megabrew light.
I must have brewer radar or something in my genes, because 30 minutes after I arrived here, who else comes in for dinner? Just Jonathan Cutler from Piece and Nick Floyd from Three Floyds.
I forget exactly which beer I settled upon, but I am fairly certain it was a black lager (but not a smoked beer). It has been a while since I ate here. I seem to recall that I was most pleased that I could finally have a sausage with *something other* than pork; and the potatoes were very tasty, probably due to the sauce.
Transit: The #80 Irving Park bus quits at 12:20 am. The #50 Damen bus inexplicably ceases at 10:00 pm. The #11 Lincoln bus? Ehhh boy - forget it [8:45 pm!?].
But the Irving Park Brown Line “L” station has reopened. Take it.
In summary: This is a tavern which won its medals, and its place in Chicago, a long time ago; and it continues to display the Teutonic discipline which put it there.

Thursday 7th of June 2007 10:50:47 PM

link

This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

I've been to Laschet's twice now and both times were quite fun. This is one of a few traditional German restaurants/bars complete with a wonderful atmosphere and a great selection of German drafts.

Roughly 10 or so taps ranging from pilsners to bocks to hefeweizens. Weihenstephaner is usually on top which is always a treat. If you enjoy German beer you'll find something you like here.

They also have a nice bottle selection to compliment the drafts. Be sure to check out the huge stein above the bar which is quite a sight.

I've never had a full meal here but the food I've had has been very good. Straight up traditional German food that's really well done. Overall, a fun place to check out for both good brew and good food.

Monday 4th of June 2007 07:29:19 AM

link
I'm convinced that Laschet's gets very few visitors that are new to the german food scene. The food menu can definitely not be seen as coddling to someone who doesn't know what a Schnitzel, Rouladen or a Frikadellen is. There is nothing wrong with this though, because the staff on my visits has been helpful in choosing and studying the menu.

The draft beer selection is almost entirely German (with a smattering of Austrian options). If you are looking for a German beer you will have no problem finding something you'll enjoy here.

I have eaten here twice and both times it was very good. I do not eat German food very often, but the food at Laschet's Inn has thus far been some of the very best. My most recent visit (for the starting bar of a pub crawl) had me enjoying a very nice dish of Weiner Schnitzel, red cabbage and roasted potatos.

If you are craving a new experience or a much better than average German beer and food experience in Chicago, Laschet's Inn might be the spot for you.

The Brown Line Irving Park El stop is about 6 blocks east of Laschet's. Parking in the area is all street parking.