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Every now and again you find yourself lucky enough to find a
bar/restaurant that has the perfect combination of good food, good beer
and atmosphere. Rolf's (381 3rd Avenue at 22nd Street) is just such a
place. This is an extremely comfortable restaurant where you can sit and
leisurely enjoy a good meal, easily forgetting the hustle and bustle of
the big city... at least for a little while. With excellent service and
a rather unique menu (in a city where the unique often becomes
common-place) you will find yourself coming back again and again.
The Holiday season is the perfect time of year to visit, as the
entire establishment is transformed into a Christmas paradise,
reminiscent of something out of a Fairy Tale set in Germany's "Black
Forest". As soon as you walk through the doors you find yourself
transported back in time to a restaurant celebrating a traditional 19th
century Christmas. There are two beautiful Christmas trees at the front
of the Bar, all decked out in what appears to be antique decorations.
Pine branch garlands are draped down from the ceiling beams with lights,
strings of beads, toys and nut-crackers of yesteryear... a sight so
beautiful mere words do not do them justice!
The entire restaurant is done is dark wood that is old and in places
worn with age. This gives character to the place. It has the feel of a
restaurant that has been around for a century or more even though it has
only been open for 37 years. Along one wall are a number of booths with
a row of tables nearby. The back of the restaurant has a number of
larger tables available for groups. The restaurant is a bit small so it
is does get rather cozy. The furniture appears to have an antique
quality, with richly carved tall backed chairs rather than the small
plain chairs most establishments use. There is a several truly antique
pieces of furniture to be found, including a gorgeous enamelled
wood-burning stoves bearing a traditional German scene and a fully
functional street lamp (the type that used to grace many a store front
in the last century) is near the bar, which is itself a work of art. It
is has beautiful carved features including animal heads and other
details. The hinges on the cabinet doors look to be hand made, as are
the nails used to fasten them. There is even a old clock, like a
miniature Grandfather clock set into one of the bar's shelves. The
entire restaurant is adorned with old paintings and artifacts which
further accent the 19th century mood.
The food is as beautifully prepared as the decor. As the name implies
Rolf's is a traditional German Restaurant, where you can choose from a
wide selection of German dishes... some well known, others
unpronounceable by this writer. Appetizers range in price from $3-6. And
Entrees can run anywhere from $12.95 to $16.95. There are daily specials
that include some combinations of their usual entrees, with prices
ranging from $15.95 to $21.95. For those on a budget there are
sandwiches that average around $8. Their Weisswursts and Bratwursts are
a pure delight, unlike many store bought wursts that don't live up to
their name! All their wursts are served with a boiled potato (with
gravy) and German style sauerkraut. The portions are quite large, so
bring an appetite! Due to the small size of the restaurant it's
advisable to make a reservation for dinner or if you intend to go with a
group.
While dining, be sure to quench your thirst with a nice .5L glass of
beer. While they only have three taps the selection includes two brands
you don't often find... Bitburger Pils and Kulmbacher Dunkel. The
Bitburger makes an excellent companion to a plate of wurst. Rounding off
the taps is Dinkelacker, a standard at most German bars. Their bottle
selection is equally small, consisting mainly of Spaten Lager, a Dark
Weiss and a Hefeweiss. For those not inclined to drink German Beer they
have a fully stocked bar, as well as bottled Bud. A .5L glass of beer
will run you $5. Rolf's is definitely not the place to go if you require
a large beer selection. Their limited size has caused them to choose a
few good beers that accentuate their German fare, rather than offer a
huge supply of unrelated beers.
So if you ever get a craving for excellent German food in a setting
that reminds you of days gone by, head over to Rolf's... you won't be
disappointed!
Rolf's Bar & Restaurant
281 3rd Avenue
Phone: (212) 473-8718 or 477-4750
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner
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