This review maybe a little biased because of how much fun I was having on this night, but I must say, this place is A GREAT TIME!
I had been once before for lunch with my parents when there was no band, no crowds, and hardly any beer drinking.
On Saturday night, my girlfriend and I came here with a friend not knowing what to expect. We were wandering the gift shop waiting to be seated and all we could hear were screams and cheers and loud music and grown men screaming in pain as they are paddle spanked by adult women. WILLINGLY spanked by women with a large paddle. Hysterical.
We were seated at a table right in front of the band where a group of four were already sitting, drinking, and having a great time. Immediately upon our entrance, the band asked everyone to stand up or stand on the tables for the National Anthem. Drunk people swinging their mugs around and shouting out their American pride! Such a funny experience!
We immediately ordered beers and a pretzel. The Hofbräu Original beer was delicious! I am not a huge beer drinker, but this beer was smooth and had a wonderful light taste to it. We must have ordered at least 8 of them throughout the night. When the pretzel came out, it was huge and salty and soft and delicious. The dipping sauces (there were two different mustard and one cheese) tasted great, especially the cheese! It may have been because we were feeling a bit tipsy, but we really enjoyed the pretzel and the three of us ate it up in a hurry.
My girlfriend and I shared the HB Riesenbratwurst, which was a slightly small sausage on a roll with sauerkraut and onion mustard. It tasted delicious! The sausage was a bit smaller than I expected, especially for the price, but the overall flavor combinations were wonderful. Again, this may be attributed to my buzzed taste buds, who knows?
As the night progressed, there were many toasts made and many people brought up to the stage for chugging contests and songs and dances. People watching was the greatest and everyone was really friendly and excited to be there.
Bottom line: it's impossible to not have a good time here on a Friday or Saturday night UNLESS you do not enjoy the following: making friends, loud music, toasts and drinking delicious beer, German horns, and some good old fashioned comradery.