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Snug German restaurant and bar with an old-world vibe, known for its elaborate holiday decorations.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 281 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 477-4750
Website: http://rolfsnyc.com/
Menu Photos
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Rolf’s NYC: The Most Festive Restaurant in New York City
Located near Gramercy Park at 22nd Street and 3rd Avenue, Rolf’s German Restaurant offers a truly unique holiday dining experience all year long.
Rolfs German Restaurant. (@rolfsny) · New York, NY – Instagram
119K followers · 107 posts · Photo by Rolfs German Restaurant. on November 10, 2024. · Photo by Rolfs German Restaurant. on December 20, 2023. · Photo by Rolfs …
Rolf’s | New York Magazine | The Thousand Best
Location. 281 Third Ave., New York, NY, 10010. 212-477-4750. http://rolfsnyc.com. Known For. Lunch · Romantic · Take-Out · Bar Scene · Classic NY · Kid-Friendly …
Reviews
Melissa Farrelly
The Christmas decor in this place is absolutely gorgeous and stands in stark contrast to the mediocre food and rude wait staff. Made a reservation by phone two months before our visit. We were not told that everyone must order a full entree. My husband and son have hearty appetites and ordered full entrees, but my daughter wanted a bowl of soup and I wanted an appetizer for lunch. We were REQUIRED to order 4 entrees. So weird. Upon our arrival, a bouncer asked us if we had a reservation and we said yes and then had to wait outside in the cold for our table. We got inside and were asked four more times if we had a reservation. The wait staff appeared to be mostly foreign and loudly shouted at each other while setting the table which did not create the ambiance I was looking for. One waiter flat out walked into me while I was online for the bathroom and never apologized. All the staff seemed stressed in a mostly empty restaurant during lunch. I can only imagine their dinner service.
The cleanliness of this establishment is questionable at best. They do not change the linens on the table, only the paper placemats so there were gravy stains on the table cloth when we were seated.
Food was bland and overpriced. My husband had schnitzel with mashed potatoes and green beans. He said it was fine, but for 38 dollars it should have been good. My son had beef stew and it was fine. It was probably the best item in the table. We had German potatoes salad which was okay. I had the potatoes pancakes which were not good. My daughter had French onion soup and liked it.
The restaurant was fun for a picture but I wouldn’t return due to the rude wait staff, odd policies, and overpriced bland food.
… moreThe cleanliness of this establishment is questionable at best. They do not change the linens on the table, only the paper placemats so there were gravy stains on the table cloth when we were seated.
Food was bland and overpriced. My husband had schnitzel with mashed potatoes and green beans. He said it was fine, but for 38 dollars it should have been good. My son had beef stew and it was fine. It was probably the best item in the table. We had German potatoes salad which was okay. I had the potatoes pancakes which were not good. My daughter had French onion soup and liked it.
The restaurant was fun for a picture but I wouldn’t return due to the rude wait staff, odd policies, and overpriced bland food.
Magdalena K OMahony
Rolf’s was great. Definately a must see if you are looking to for a restaurant witb great Holiday atmosphere. We visited on a Sunday just before 1pm. We did not have a reservation and the restaurant was just getting busy after opening at 12pm. We got seated promptly. The place is crammed but what do you expect from a restaurant in NYC, that is a given. Our server, Kelly, was amazing, attentive and very friendly. The christmas decorations at Rolf’s is what you go there for. The atmosphere is just magical. The food was just ok, rather overpriced for what you get, definately not the reason to go there. You go to Rolf’s for the amazing decorations. Another bucket list item checked!
… moreJannatul Haque
I visited Rolf’s NYC, and the experience was unforgettable from the moment I stepped inside. The first thing people always ask is “Is Rolf’s NYC worth it?” —and honestly, yes, the Christmas décor alone makes it worth seeing at least once. The ambience is insanely festive, covered floor to ceiling in ornaments, garlands, and warm lights, creating that magical holiday atmosphere everyone talks about.
Another big question people have is “Do you need reservations for Rolf’s?” —and based on my experience, reservations help a lot because it can get extremely crowded, especially during peak holiday season. The staff handled the rush smoothly, answering questions, guiding guests, and keeping the vibe calm despite the crowds.
People also ask “How long is the wait at Rolf’s?” —the wait can be long, but once you’re seated, the service is steady and surprisingly attentive. The drinks are another popular curiosity—“Are the holiday cocktails good?” —and yes, they’re festive, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The food was comforting and rich, exactly the kind of hearty winter meal that fits the theme.
Another common question is “Is Rolf’s NYC expensive?” —it definitely leans pricier, but considering the immersive décor and seasonal experience, it feels like part of the holiday tradition. Overall, Rolf’s delivers a warm, spirited, incredibly decorated Christmas atmosphere with solid service, memorable drinks, and that one-of-a-kind holiday charm people search for all year.
… moreAnother big question people have is “Do you need reservations for Rolf’s?” —and based on my experience, reservations help a lot because it can get extremely crowded, especially during peak holiday season. The staff handled the rush smoothly, answering questions, guiding guests, and keeping the vibe calm despite the crowds.
People also ask “How long is the wait at Rolf’s?” —the wait can be long, but once you’re seated, the service is steady and surprisingly attentive. The drinks are another popular curiosity—“Are the holiday cocktails good?” —and yes, they’re festive, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The food was comforting and rich, exactly the kind of hearty winter meal that fits the theme.
Another common question is “Is Rolf’s NYC expensive?” —it definitely leans pricier, but considering the immersive décor and seasonal experience, it feels like part of the holiday tradition. Overall, Rolf’s delivers a warm, spirited, incredibly decorated Christmas atmosphere with solid service, memorable drinks, and that one-of-a-kind holiday charm people search for all year.
Angela Armagost
Very unique local restaurant. Serving traditional German food, with over the top Christmas decorations. Fun experience during the holidays. Very cozy inside, definitely make a reservation ahead.
… moreemily malin
Honestly I’m not sure why this is getting such negative reviews! Every thing was amazing!!
RESERVATIONS: I called about 3 weeks before our trip to make a reservation on December 17th. I called the number on their website- they picked up, took down my name and that was that. Easy peasy!! Not sure why everyone is saying they don’t answer the phone, they definitely do. The line was busy the first time I called but when I called back it was fine.
PRICES: it is right in line with any other tourist trap, around 40$ a meal but it’s hefty food and we had to get a to go box! Yes, drinks are expensive but they’re so so delicious!! I didn’t mind paying about $13 per.
EXPERIENCE: it is so fun and gorgeous in here!!! It’s exactly what you expect- it looks like Christmas just threw up all over the walls. This is the reason people go! It fully lived up to the hype.
All of the wait staff were super nice except the doorman/host. He was pretty rude and wouldn’t even take our photo which I thought was just odd. But other than that it was perfect!
I highly recommend and definitely do recommend the reservations! There was ZERO bar space the entire time we were there- people posted up and stayed about 30-45 min once they got a seat and it’s such a tiny area.
We absolutely loved it!
… moreRESERVATIONS: I called about 3 weeks before our trip to make a reservation on December 17th. I called the number on their website- they picked up, took down my name and that was that. Easy peasy!! Not sure why everyone is saying they don’t answer the phone, they definitely do. The line was busy the first time I called but when I called back it was fine.
PRICES: it is right in line with any other tourist trap, around 40$ a meal but it’s hefty food and we had to get a to go box! Yes, drinks are expensive but they’re so so delicious!! I didn’t mind paying about $13 per.
EXPERIENCE: it is so fun and gorgeous in here!!! It’s exactly what you expect- it looks like Christmas just threw up all over the walls. This is the reason people go! It fully lived up to the hype.
All of the wait staff were super nice except the doorman/host. He was pretty rude and wouldn’t even take our photo which I thought was just odd. But other than that it was perfect!
I highly recommend and definitely do recommend the reservations! There was ZERO bar space the entire time we were there- people posted up and stayed about 30-45 min once they got a seat and it’s such a tiny area.
We absolutely loved it!
Keenan Grana
What a special experience! The atmosphere was a beautiful Christmas filled atmosphere with ornaments and lights around every surface of the ceiling. Faux garland and lights around the frames and light fixtures. The lighting was dim and perfect! We had the mulled apple cider, Pilsner, French onion soup, pork and veal sausage with masked potatoes, sauerkraut, and gravy.
Abdul is an excellent server. The space can be crowded for servers to walk through and he was so patient. His service was personalized even with it being so busy! They are booked out until January.
I would definitely recommend coming here 🙂
… moreAbdul is an excellent server. The space can be crowded for servers to walk through and he was so patient. His service was personalized even with it being so busy! They are booked out until January.
I would definitely recommend coming here 🙂
Pablo Torres
The Christmas décor was beautiful and the staff was extremely attentive and friendly. Make sure to book reservations in advance if you want to dine in. The food was actually pretty good with great portion sizes — it just could’ve used a bit more seasoning. Overall, a really lovely experience!
… moreKat K.
Went for the Christmas decorations. At the door, the bouncer aggressively asked if we had reservations (this was 3pm on a Sunday) we said we’re just getting drinks at the bar, he said no reservations required for standing room only at the bar. We were then confronted by the wall of humans with their cocktails bunched around the bar- as well as the amazing canopy of decorations above. Someone commented “At least we don’t have to wait outside in a line in the snow-“ this is the first time I’m getting in here and yes, I’m aware that usually there’s a line down the block to get in. We ordered the mulled wine off the menu, I overheard a group near us be told their bill for drinks was $130 per person and wondered what the heck they’d been drinking. We admired the decorations and moved to any available standing spot we could find. The decor is splendid, like a Christmas jungle inhabited by doll nymphs in the trees, every inch packed with glitter and sparkle. When we got the bill, $56 for 2 glasses of wine, I checked over the bill to see if there was a mistake- the drinks weren’t actually even listed on the reciept. I thought about asking the bar tender if it was correct, but he was too busy to bother- I later found out from other people’s reviews that yes, that was no mistake. Pretty wild for something I know is $8 a glass most other places. Well, it felt like I paid for admission for 2 to a Christmas carnival and 2 drinks were included… nice to experience once. After realizing there was no mistake about our bill, now I realize that group next to us who had to pay $130 each for only drinks probably didn’t go as crazy as I first thought… that’s between 3 and 4 drinks there lol
… moreApril KO
We had an amazing holiday lunch with friends.
The food was very tasty & came out steaming hot. Our waiter Kelly was very friendly, (Took a photo with us ) knowledgeable about the menu & make our experience extra special. The drinks were also fabulous we had eggnog and mulled wine. It was totally worth the value and we all really enjoyed our meals! The atmosphere was off the charts! We couldn’t stop smiling the entire time wherever you looked it was sparkling & festive. We had a most excellent lunch and totally recommend! Thanks for a lunch we will soon not forget.
Cheers
… moreThe food was very tasty & came out steaming hot. Our waiter Kelly was very friendly, (Took a photo with us ) knowledgeable about the menu & make our experience extra special. The drinks were also fabulous we had eggnog and mulled wine. It was totally worth the value and we all really enjoyed our meals! The atmosphere was off the charts! We couldn’t stop smiling the entire time wherever you looked it was sparkling & festive. We had a most excellent lunch and totally recommend! Thanks for a lunch we will soon not forget.
Cheers
Faruk Canatar
We had Monday evening dinner around 19:00 hours. We made a reservation a week before but when got there only one table was dining. Waiter was friendly but small place and tight seatings.
Ordered Wiener schnitzel. Portion was pretty good but spätzle (kind of round noodles) was meaningless and too much.
They put 2 lemon wedges but no butter on top of the meat.
But luckily meat was real thin and tender.
Most disappointing thing was mulled wine 26 dollars just for a glass.
Are you kidding me???
My fault did not check the price beforehand.
Overall it turned out to be a real tourist trap with an overpriced location.
Think twice… wanna pay for the festive decor or food!!!
… moreOrdered Wiener schnitzel. Portion was pretty good but spätzle (kind of round noodles) was meaningless and too much.
They put 2 lemon wedges but no butter on top of the meat.
But luckily meat was real thin and tender.
Most disappointing thing was mulled wine 26 dollars just for a glass.
Are you kidding me???
My fault did not check the price beforehand.
Overall it turned out to be a real tourist trap with an overpriced location.
Think twice… wanna pay for the festive decor or food!!!