Tuesday 14th of September 2010 10:08:18 PM

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Stopped here last weekend to see if had improved at all... sadly no. When it first opened, it seemed like little more than a "concept bar" for Hofbrau beer. Every last thing is branded with the HB logo, and the atmosphere is very "faux bierhalle". A back area had 20 racks of antlers hung randomly, and above the bar there were soccer scarves and hanging soccer balls. Wrigleyville denizens couldn't care less about authenticity, there were more $6 blue bud light bottles on the bar than steins. Do you enjoy chest bumping and fist pumping with your bros? Richard Marx greatest hits blasting at full volume? Uberstein may be your scene.

$8 mugs of overrated Hofbrau beers... 7 HB options plus Warsteiner, 4-5 bottles: Bud Light, Berghoff, Franziskaner, Lindemans. Not a tremendous selection, but you really won't care if you're wasted already, like 90% of the crowd here.

The bartender was sweet and quick to help. She said the mugs were around 14 oz., though they were marked .5l, which i'm sure they were. Mugs were filled with the tap completely submerged in the glass. To their credit, there was fresh Oktoberfest beer flowing. They do have liter mugs and boots, which are sternly referenced by a door sign "if you abuse our glassware you will pay" lol.

Overall a lame experience, not planning to return. Probably a bit less lame in the off season, but there are far better German options around town (Laschets, Resis, Glunz, Mirabell). Goose is across the street, why bother with the generic scene here?

Originally reviewed on: 2007-11-09
Selection: 4 | Service: 2 | Atmosphere: 3 | Food: N/A
emerge077's (276) Overall Score: 60.0

Popped in here before a show down the street at the Metro. Hofbrau banners and signs were everywhere, and pretty exclusive on the taps. The atmosphere was a bit gimmicky, and felt like a textbook version of how to camouflage a restaurant as an Oktoberfest tent. Checkered tablecloths, wooden beams, and lanterns.

At the bar, I had a half-liter Maibock, which was overpriced at $8-9. Bartender was aloof and would have possibly been more happy working at a TGI Fridays. I had high-hopes for the place, but it turned out to be just one more faceless bar on the overloaded Clark St. strip in Wrigleyville.

Thursday 14th of May 2009 10:23:38 AM

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Forced our way in hear before the Cubs opener in April, nice surprise. I looked beyond the crowd to imagine what it would be like on a normal day. It's a bright, friendly atmosphere. Nice bar, a bit skinny to get to the bathrooms, but ok.

While limited to one maker on tap, the selection was good, I did love the Maibock. The pricing is a bit much but what can you expect for this location on Clark Street. The service was fine, the food did look good, and the fine half liter did us well until we made it into Wrigley.

Saturday 17th of May 2008 10:03:02 AM

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I stopped at Uberstein during my most recent visit to the Wrigleyville area. Some friends and I enjoyed a liter apiece of various different HB beers. Mine was the dunkel and it was pretty drinkable.

The wait staff wasn't bad, but they weren't exactly excited to see us. The prices really weren't very good. Those liters were paid for by my company, so that worked out well for me!

We did not eat, but I did see some good looking plates pass by our table.

While I would have rather been across the street drinking a Goose Island beer, I would probably go back to Uberstein if I were in the neighborhood looking for German food or beer.

Parking in the neighborhood is not good, but the El is only a few blocks away and there are so many cabs in the area, you'll be lucky if they aren't driving on the sidewalk.