Max's Allegheny Tavern

This place brings me back to the good ole days. Excellent service and attentive server. Food was really good. I don't usually like sauerkraut but Max's was terrific, with a similar taste profile as a savory Chinese Pickled Cabbage. A good lunch spot in the Deutschtown area and convenient stop over after record shopping at the Government Center.

My wife and I visited for the first time and were both VERY pleased with the experience. The food was great. The potato pancakes I had as a side were probably the best I've ever made myself or had in any restaurant. The sausages were excellent. Bread products were darn near perfect. Our server was very pleasant and attentive but not clingy. The atmosphere was quite enjoyable. From the menus printed inside a faux vintage newspaper, to the decor, to the German music playing in the background... terrific. Even though it is about an hour's drive for us when traffic is light, my wife and I agree it is well worth it.

Lovely spot. Tasty and filling food that's affordable, though I would've liked a bit more seasoning. Fantastic service and cozy and inviting on the inside. Would return if I'm ever in Pittsburgh again.

Visiting Pittsburgh for the 1st time. When checking in to our hotel (The Priory), the concierge recommended Max's for a great nearby place to grab lunch after our long flight. The place is great It has a very nostalgic look and feel. You can tell it's the place that the locals go to. Which means it's the real deal! We loved it! Nicole, our server, was amazing. Not only did she recommended amazing food for lunch (Reuben sandwich, cheese stuffed pretzels and potato pancakes...all so yummy! ), she also recommended a bunch of sights and other restaurants to try while in Pittsburgh! Thank you Nicole for making our 1st stop in Pittsburgh great!

Decent German pub. This was actually my first time ever having German food, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect. Personally, this just isn’t my favorite cuisine, and I’m not too knowledgeable in German food, so take my criticism with a grain of salt. I tried their kase spatzle (German Mac n cheese), potato pancakes, and bread pudding. The Kase Spatzle was my main meal, and it was pretty disappointing. There just was not much flavor to the dish at all. Bread crumbs, cheese, and macaroni. The macaroni had a strange texture, almost cotton like, where it felt weird to eat. Cheese was stringy, not flavorful. Wouldn’t really recommend, but portion was good. The potato pancakes were also just mediocre. I can’t quite describe it, but there was a rough sort of flavor to them. Not bad, but I’ve had many potato pancakes that I enjoyed far more than these. Price was fine. The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was by far my favorite part of the meal. It’s got lots of raisins, a nice sweetness, and is pretty soft, like I like it. Would definitely recommend. All in all, okay spot. Not really my style. It’s worth a try to understand a different cuisine but ill have to try out some more items to really see if I like it.

By far the best German food in the city. We stumbled upon Max's Tavern and I'm so glad we did. We sat in the bar area which was quaint. The bread basket had a delightful apple butter with a nice rock flavor. It also included a sauerkraut relish with a great flavor. I ordered the jağer schnitzel with a side of spatzle and warm German potato salad. Delicious! I can not say anything bad. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. I will be back.

The food in this place was delicious! I couldn't recommend it enough. The food is a little pricy though, but it's very worth it for what you get. My service was amazing, too. They brought things on the first time when you asked and weren't needy on the "how's the food" or the refills!

Thought I would give it a try. Ordered the sample platter. Overall it was good. Didn't care for the bratwurst. The sides of German potato salad and the red cabbage were really good. Overall not bad but definitely not an extraordinary visit. Would try it again with a different order.

This is a nice place. We sat in the tavern area, in a booth. The bar itself is amazing and they have lots of fine spirits. We ordered Jaeger Schnitzel, roasted pork, spaetzle, and a dumpling soup. Everything was very good yet not the best, even in US standards, not comparing this meal to "Deutschland" itself. Service was decent, considering the bartender was taking the booth orders and managing a full bar with people who consider this tavern a visitor center, or a tourist attraction. In hindsight, if you come here, make sure to visit the area. I didn't notice any weird or paranormal activity, neither did I inquire.

Old style bar with German menu. Building from 1800's Bar opened in 1960's & I was served a brat that was in the fridge since they opened! Enough caraway seeds in the kraut to forget that there was kraut on the plate. The veal schnitzel was the only redeeming meal.

Decent German pub. This was actually my first time ever having German food, so I wasn't too sure what to expect. Personally, this just isn't my favorite cuisine, and I'm not too knowledgeable in German food, so take my criticism with a grain of salt. I tried their kase spatzle (German Mac n cheese), potato pancakes, and bread pudding. The Kase Spatzle was my main meal, and it was pretty disappointing. There just was not much flavor to the dish at all. Bread crumbs, cheese, and macaroni. The macaroni had a strange texture, almost cotton like, where it felt weird to eat. Cheese was stringy, not flavorful. Wouldn't really recommend, but portion was good. The potato pancakes were also just mediocre. I can't quite describe it, but there was a rough sort of flavor to them. Not bad, but I've had many potato pancakes that I enjoyed far more than these. Price was fine. The standout was the dessert. The bread pudding was by far my favorite part of the meal. It's got lots of raisins, a nice sweetness, and is pretty soft, like I like it. Would definitely recommend. All in all, okay spot. Not really my style. It's worth a try to understand a different cuisine but ill have to try out some more items to really see if I like it.

This restaurant is very old! They've been around forever! German food. Many rooms and a big bar. Efficient servers. Try it! You'll like it!

All of the food was delicious. Service is great. Cozy old time pub atmosphere. So glad we walked 30 minutes to get there.

Great food for the giant menu. The service is perfect and you can play any music at any time.

This was the second stop my wife and I made on our tour of movie locales from the film, "A Man Called Otto". This particular place is where the protagonist had a dinner date with his future wife. As in the movie, the place is beautifully furnished the moment you walk in. Dark cherry wood greets you and it has that lived in, lived long look that many places in this part of the country have. The entrance are has some seating for dinner, but it's beside their nice looking bar. We sat in the back, at the first of two dinner seating areas. What surprised us was that the food served here is not the usual bar or American fare-type food. Instead, it is German - what a great surprise as I do love German food. For the appetizer, we chose the stuffed pretzels with a delicious mustard sauce to dip in, and for dinners - my wife enjoyed their calf liver while I had the Sauerbrauten. All of it was cooked perfectly, and the sauerbrauten was tender and tasty. For sides we enjoyed spatzel(sp?) as well as chunky applesauce, and a sweet and sour cabbage mix that had a spicy kick to it. Service was friendly, not as attentive, I suppose given she was the only one in that room, but she still did a solid job. We ate so much we couldn't enjoy their desserts (and they had some good ones like black forest cake), maybe next time.

Haven't been to Max's in a few years. Not much has changed however. Same interior, same staff (which is amazing). Only change I really saw was they are no longer open Sundays when h means no more Sunday brunch buffet which is a shame, we always enjoyed that. We stopped by after the Steelers holiday photos at the stadium. Max's is always super easy to get in and out which I appreciate. Started with a forgotten beer from Pittsburgh brewing. We had some apps and then entrees. I forgot to take photos of the entrees unfortunately. Food is solid, people working there are always amazingly nice. Place is clean inside as well.

My wife and I stopped in around 5:00 on a Friday for a bite to eat. This was our first visit. We were immediately seated and a few minutes later our waitress brought us a basket of fresh popcorn. Our drink orders were then placed (we both ordered a beer on draft). Shortly after we order a bread basket appears. I ordered a knackworst with potato pancakes and German potato salad. Both were delicious. My wife ordered bratwurst and enjoyed hers. Location, venue both scream stopping you to visit. Epic venue, I just wish they gave you one more sausage. Beer is crisp, service is strong, venue is vintage, food is delicious, I'd definitely go back again!

I was very excited to take my girlfriend there. She wanted good German food. This was so far from that. I am a lifelong fan of Max's. Maybe it's been going downhill or maybe I got caught there on the wrong night, where maybe the 1st, 2nd or 3rd team cook/chef was off. Not good at all. I was so disappointed. We first ordered a few appetizers and a side: Sausage and Cheese, Potato Pancakes & German Potato Salad. Potato pancakes were good. Not really a complaint there. The Sausage and Cheese looked like it was made by a guy who fell asleep on a couch and woke up facing the cushions while realizing that his buddies were coming over to watch the game in 10 minutes. Not at all professional looking, not appetizing to look at and not that good. The worst by far was the German Potato Salad, which looked like Necco wafer sized (& thickness) potatoes thrown in some sort of thin swill. That was it. Nothing else to it. Just awful. Couldn't believe my eyes. It took a lot to not laugh in the bartender/waitress's face when she asked If I wanted to keep it for when the next course came out. The b/w had a full bar and the pub booths were kinda full. She had to serve both, and the service determined she needed a little help. My girlfriend's special German burger and my Brat & sauerkraut sandwich were both barely warm, along with our dripping with oil fries (we didn't order them that way), which somehow still glistened with the cooking oil even though they also were somewhere between room temperature and cold. I can deduce those meals were set next to the heat lamps for at least 10 minutes. Portions not an issue; too much oil and not hot. Not a good combo. We didn't finish any of the items except for the side pickles and glasses of water. Also, I was baffled when the B/W asked if we wanted to get something else besides our appetizers because the kitchen was going to close. It was 7:32, and the place was scheduled to close at 9. Not sure what the hurry was, too bad our meals weren't delivered with the same urgency. To summarize: over $56 (with apple sangria) spent, two very unhappy customers that will probably not come back, and me lamenting what happened to this place? When we got outside, a guy on a bike was circling back to ask if Max's was still open. I shrugged a disgusted shrug and said I guess. He laughed and rode off. Max's owes me one.

If you like authentic German food, Max's is the place to go. When in the mood for some schnitzel, this is a must. I always think I am going to just order one, and always end up going for the sampler and picking from there. I'm a big fan of the potato salad, and we always have to go with some spatzel, and my kids always get a reuben. Einlauf soup is always a must, as well. A visit always lets you feel like you're stepping back in time. Great service always.

My Fiancé wanted to try this German Restaurant. It is a smaller restaurant. Older building but interesting to see. My Fiancé ordered the Hot Pastrami and Swiss on Rye. He loved the sandwich. The sauerkraut had a funny taste to it. I had the Allegheny Club on white toast and fries. It was good! The pickles was really good too! However I asked for Ketchup and she brought me out a half full ramekin of ketchup and the ramekin was busted up on down the whole side. Looks like it was dropped and busted and still put on the plate. I ordered a mixed drink , sex on the beach. It tasted like mint. It was the worst drink I have ever had. We asked if they had Captain Morgan Private stock. She said No we don't have anything fancy. She turned and walked away. She didn't bother telling us what kind of Rum they did have. Our Waitress Nichole wasn't the nicest, she was making snide remarks to me. Food was decent overall. But we won't be going back.

I don't know what happened to this restaurant, but the food quality has gone downhill. Our pierogis, as an appetizer, were like eating leather, the Einlauf soup broth was missing any flavor and the carrots were still somewhat raw, the potato pancakes were lacking any potato flavor and disintegrated when touched, and the sausages were cold. The service was Ok but I am sorely disappointed in the food. Max's has always been consistent for me. Not this time. Hope that the management recognizes this soon.

Love this authentic German restaurant in the heart of Deutschtown! Max's is a staple for those in the neighborhood and in-the-know, but most people won't come across this place by accident. My mom's family is German and there are so many menu items that remind her of my Grandma's cooking - most of them things that are hard to pronounce ;) I don't eat meat so admittedly there aren't a ton of options, but the potato pockets and other appetizers are great! Especially love the French onion dip that comes with the potato pockets - so flavorful and delicious. Also a big shout out to the staff who were super busy on a Friday night before a North Shore concert, but they were so kind and did a great job.

Stopped in for dinner. Food ordered was excellent. Service wasn't that great but overall good value for the dollar!

Max's is a Pittsburgh staple and a classic. If you have not been to this iconic tavern, get there as soon as you can. Amazing German food and a great staff! I guarantee that yinz guys will love it!

I came here from Philadelphia we walked in and had to wait 15 minutes just to be set the server was extremely rude she didn't even come over to us about 15 minutes to the point that we had to move to the bar and then we were at the bar I asked the server where the special was she didn't even help me after waiting another 15 minutes and being there for 40 minutes we had to walk out worst place ever would never recommend or go to sad because all the other reviews say otherwise I guess they treat the locals differently.

Great German restaurant in North side. First time there and our meals and service were excellent.. we had a sausage appetizer platter which was a perfect amount and for our meals we both had different schnitzels which were excellent. Ended with a cream puff to share and our waitress was so nice she gave us two! Sorry, it was so good I forgot to take a pic! Next time!

We had lunch at Max's, our first visit in many years. We avoided the place, waiting for an interior refresh to the carpeting, furniture, and painting, all of which originated in the early baby boomer days. We were glad to see that the refresh had occurred some time during our long absence. It remains a friendly, efficient, local spot. We had a simple lunch of potato pancake Reubens with German potato salad on the side. The sandwiches were fine, although the pancakes, like all restaurant versions, were disappointing, lacking flavor and delicacy. The potato salad was greasy and bitter. To be fair, neither of us likes German food, so our dissatisfaction could just be our bias, not poor execution by Max's. Either way, Max's is back on our approved list, but we don't really like the food, so we won't be back soon or often.

My recent visit here was a mixed bag. Some of the dishes were tasty, others just ok, and the atmosphere was definitely historic, but not the cleanest place around. The potato pancakes and fish sandwich were good, while the Max's Bavarian Club wasn't my favorite. Very nice server and a solid tap list.

This is the 2nd time I have eaten here in the last year and although the waitress was very good, I can't say the same for the food. The potato pancakes were bland and the sauerbraten gravy was very unappetizing. I liked the red cabbage a lot. I don't intend to return

Fantastic German comfort food in a frendly neighborhood corner bar. Service was great and our server took the time to explain the extensive menu and offered some great suggestions.

This spot is such a homey little gem. I love it! From the cozy booths with pretty Tiffany style lamps to German comfort food and nicely priced mixed drinks in giant goblets, it's a great spot for a low key, fun night out with friends in Pittsburgh! We were surprised by how small both the pretzels and especially the cheese spatzel were, but both tasted really good. Service is fine, nothing over the top but friendly and matches the space.

I have eaten lunch and dinner there and everything was delicious. I've had many different meals with no complaints about anything. My favorite for lunch is the potato pancake Reuben. I highly recommend it.

I am an OLD time patron of at least 45 years. My husband and I have taken many of our friends here in the past, because we like to share good food. We used to get the hunter style pork chop, which was out of this world, but unfortunately, they no longer have that selection. Since the pork chop is no longer available, we have changed to Jager schnitzel, with the red, sweet, cabbage, and potato pancakes. Unfortunately, it will never be the same. I usually start with the Einloth soup, which now lacks flavor, and the Pastina and butter that used to be in the soup. We are also missing the Pumpernickel rolls. On our most recent visit, I have to admit, the veal was definitely not the same. The ridges appeared to be freezer burned. The gravy was not up to Max's standards. We may not visit as often as we used to, but will give it one more try. However, they do have good service.

Great service and good drinks! I had a frozen strawberry margarita and it was huge! Plus they have a cool old jute box!

Greaet german restaurant in Deutschtown on the north side. We visited before going to a Pirates game right after July 4th. I had the turkey reuben made with potato pancakes instead of bread, it was awesome. Great sides and sausage dishes too.

A fun local restaurant with very good German food. ( I am now recommending a German restaurant on every trip; they are usually in interesting buildings and feature tasty food for meat eaters.) Parking is surprisingly easy for Pittsburgh. Two hour street parking almost everywhere. ( I sure got tired of $10 parking lots!) Lively and noisy diners right at your elbow. (During a political season like this one you may hear more than you wish from your neighbors.) Very good service. Our waitress was super friendly and could carry huge plate loads. The wait was a bit long for food on a very busy Saturday night. Dining rooms are small. You can tell this building wasn't designed as a restaurant. You may wish to eat at the bar. Prices are reasonable. If you get a seat next to the window you get a lovely view of the church across the street. An interesting Pittsburgh neighborhood. Sadly my partner was not feeling well (happens at the end of a 7 day trip) so we didn't finish everything. No dessert but they looked tasty. The ham steak is a little much on the Peasant's Platter. Sausages are delicious as are the potato pancakes. Plenty to take home, though. Hopefully your hotel has a fridge and a microwave. Recommended if you like down to earth places to get a feel for a neighborhood and don't mind feeling stuffed walking to your car.

On this particular night, I have nothing but praise for Max's Allegheny Tavern. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. While it's not always this perfect, tonight it was and people need to give it a try if they have the chance!!

Edited to add: Since this review was posted, we have received our credit card statement. It appears the 20% gratuity we left in CASH for the waitress was not enough for her. She also decided to add another, nearly 25%, gratuity onto the slip after we left. Not only has the food gone downhill, they also employ a THIEF!

This was a great and quick experience...45 minutes here and we loved it! We had a little less than an hour before we had to get ready to go out to an event. We had some great and different popcorn and the bar and ordered a flight of beer. My husband loved them all. We would love to go back and get appetizers or even dinner, and we will for sure!

Quick and accommodating service. I had the ham and Swiss cheese sandwich and subbed for a side of applesauce with a cup of the chicken soup. Wish I would have opted for a bowl, the soup was a delicate flavor but hit the spot. Our server was very attentive even though it was busy with people watching the Steelers game at the bar. Would highly recommend stopping in.

Stopped in after a pirate game and everything was AMAZING!!!! Cheese wheel appetizer, and me and my wife shared a Reuben and veal shintzel royale, and the service was excellent

Took my kids and grandkids for dinner. Excellent food and service! Will definitely go again. Server was very friendly and efficient!

Great little local food spot. Had the potato pancake Ruben and it was delicious. Good selection of beers and fun and inviting atmosphere. Met friends here for lunch and to catch up and it gave a good balance of food, drink, and ability to talk and hang out.

Love Max's. There are multiple occasions and reasons to visit. One, it's a great place to make reservations with family. It's a got a wonderful old school vibe with delicious German food and cozy dining. My second go-to scenario is sitting in the bar area for drinks and a constant flow of tasty buttery popcorn. It's a beautiful bar preserved with interior details and charm you can't just find anywhere. We need to protect Max's Allegheny Tavern at all costs. Honorable mention: the incredible weekend brunch spread.

This place is just the best. Great German food with an old school atmosphere that you can't find anywhere else. It feels and tastes like you're hanging at your German grandma's place. Unbeatable pretzel appetizer.

I thought the food was awesome , I had the sauerbraten , I would definitely go back , I ordered from Uber eats

Max's is an absolute institution in Pittsburgh and maintains the best draft list in town -- where else will you find famous German beers from Warsteiner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, and Kostritzer? Sit down, grab a pint or two of cold German beer, and soak in the atmosphere. This place rules.

Located in Germantown section of Pittsburgh and easy enough to find parking. Max's Allegheny Tavern has been around since 1900 and also was a hotel at one point and time. You can tell where it was a hotel depending on your seating. We sat in what could have been a hotel room and had that kind of feel to it. Everyone was nice and the food came out hot and fresh. The spatzel was not great, but the waitress was able to get it switched out for some German potato salad. If you like German food you won't be disappointed with this place, but be prepared to take a nap afterwards.

I had a awful meal at Max's last night. The Ruben sandwich only had a small amount of corned beef on it. It was mostly greasy bread. The spatsel tasted like flour paste. The potato pancakes were as thin as crepes. I have been going to this place for 30 years and always enjoyed my food. Not anymore.

Service was great along with the food. Nice atmosphere. Parking is like any other place in the city tough. Worth a wait

My love affair with Max's began too many years ago to count. It's a family favorite and a destination to which we all flocked for every birthday, anniversary, and special occasion worth celebrating (in some cases, that was a random Monday night). The food is the stuff comfort is made of, and so is the staff. If heavy food isn't your thing, please carry on, but if you love a good helping of schnitzel or sausage, Max's is the place to go. Equally as important, if you like a heavy POUR, then Max's is DEFINITELY the place to go. Their drinks are served in the heaviest glasses you e'er did lift, and they're worth every bicep flex. If you're a local and haven't yet tried Max's, do it. If you're from out of town and are in the mood for some local flavor, do it.

Forgot to review fresh , but the pumpernickel bread here was just a s fresh as any i had in Germany, sausages were just spot on, Music wand beer was spot on. Vibe and service were solid 4-4.5/5

Max's is the bomb! It's been in Deutschtown since the 1890's and has a super cool aesthetic. The front is a bar with little booths and a couple different tv's. There are also two or three other sitting rooms for large groups and those not interested in being at the bar. My wife and I walked over on a Friday night and the barroom was packed. We took a table by the window in one of the other rooms and had a nice view out onto Suismon. We were hungry, but not too hungry so we shared a sample platter and got the Jäger Schnitzel, Pork Roast, and Chicken Viennese. For sides we got potato pancakes and warm potato salad. I thought absolutely everything was perfect! Food was warm and flavorful and the service was prompt and helpful in their recommendations. Will definitely be back.

Food was delicious, and the waitresses are very nice and friendly. I had bratwurst with potato pancakes and red cabbage. All tasty. I highly recommend Max's Allegheny Tavern.

Food was good and service was excellent. Came here Monday night for the first time for dinner. We were seated in a back room with 2 cuckoo clocks (which my daughter enjoyed). We ordered the soft pretzels for an appetizer and I chose the turkey reuben as my entree. The soft pretzels were GOOD. I could eat those any day of the week. My turkey reuben was a little dry. It was also made with potato pancakes instead of bread. They were good but man was it heavy! I could only eat a few fries because I was so full from the sandwich. Next time I would opt for a side salad instead of the fries. Important things to note: - they have a decent beer menu - they have a kids menu - they apparently have a brunch which folks rave about (need to come back to try that)

We went there Tuesday for lunch, me, Mom, Wife and Aunt. We had the max burger, fish sandwich, chicken and liverwurst. Everything was great! It was all fresh. The onion rings were perfect. I normally get the hot German potato salad but got coleslaw this time. I will be getting that again, it was that good.. The staff are always great. You can't beat the ambiance. Old German, and a historic building.

German fare so good I'm at a loss for words. I was sorry I couldn't eat more. German beer on draft, friendly and attentive wait staff. The sauerbraten is delicious. Red cabbage and hot potato salad just ramp up the goodness.