Wow! What an absolute gem! You gotta check this place out for some scratch made German goodness. Such comforting grub, we were really impressed. Best sourkrout you may ever have. The owner/chef even came out to check on us and explained some of his scratch cooking processes such as hand grinding whole spices. No wonder the food is so flavorful. The mall court setting is a little strange but it sounds like they have high hopes of relocating!PRO TIP: Ask for your bread dumpling “chopped and fried”. Exceptional. Thank you for your hard work in that kitchen!
Josh Zeidlik
This great place is tucked into a small corner of the mall, and it's a hidden treasure. The food is all amazing. Probably the best German Cuisine I've ever had. Amazing fresh baked bread. The owner was very welcoming and friendly.
Harrison Heilman
The food was delicious! It was relatively simple but the ingredients were fresh and I could taste the freshness of the food. Our waitress was friendly and timely and the guy cooking even came out to see how we liked our food. I got the Spätzle with the caper sauce and I wish I got the caramelized onion and cheese. And it was really inexpensive for what you got. Will come back again
Lark Tucker
Wow! This place is beyond amazing! We're on a road trip and some of our meals have had to be defined as "true Midwest experience" rather than a truly exceptional meal. Especially for these prices! Wow!Now if you aren't used to German food, please be ready for something different. I lived 3 years in Bavaria, and this is by far a top-level culinary experience, even compared to restaurants in Germany.I'm so happy we discovered this place!I had Jäger pork roast with sauerkraut and red cabbage. The Jäger (mushroom sauce) over tender pork was wonderful. If you've never had true homemade sauerkraut, you are in for a treat! Same with the cabbage.We were too full for dessert, so we took some of the black forest cake home for dessert. Sooo good!!!!Parking: This place is camouflaged at the end of the Mall's food court. Do not let this fool you! Plenty of mall parking. Best to park behind the mall as they have a separate entrance there.Wheelchair accessibility: This is located in the mall, so has full ADA accessibility
Oz Ragland
Yet another superior meal wonderfully served by the co-owner of the restaurant. Three of us sat in our fabulous Airbnb talking about having a nice meal together. The fourth in our party was happy to let us decide on where.So, we rejected LOTS of Dubuque's most highly rated restaurants in our quest for a special meal. We read the reviews, especially the low ratings to see where exactly restaurants have stumbled. There are plenty of dining options in La Crosse, which feels really different from the more limited choices in Dubuque last nightThe negative reviews of the Black Forest Bistro are all because people developed expectations about the experience based on its location in a Food Court of an ordinary mall.We arrived around 4:40, which is slightly before the mall closes at 5pm. The co-owner was also at the counter and was the waiter. He was super friendly and helped confirm that it was a full service restaurant if that's what we wanted. We had 4 different German food dishes, including an amazing pork shank cooked for 6 hours in a special gravy sauce and the Jaeger Pork Roast and a chicken Jaeger sandwich. We traded lots of bites from both the four entrees and the sides. I had a couple of German dark beers and my girlfriend had a glass of wine.This was a really good experience. We had fun with the co-owner talking about the confusion over the location and learned more about the life of someone selling fine German food out of an awkward location. They are talking about moving to another location, which I strongly support, though I live in Washington, so am unlikely to return.All of us agreed that this was one of the best meals we've had on this trip, though the super high end restaurant in Saint Louis was impossible to beat... But comparing the Black Forest Bistro fare to a meal that cost over $200 a person is clearly unfair.Vegetarian options: I think that they would likely try very hard to meet your needs, but many of the dishes are pretty meat focused. I would look elsewhere if I was trying to care for a vegetarian that I loved.Kid-friendliness: It's part of a public food court, so the seats in the food court are probably pretty active and rowdy when the mall is open.Parking: There is plenty of parking right near both entrances of the food court. There is also a private entrance off one side.Wheelchair accessibility: Easy, fully ada compliantDietary restrictions: The co-owner was very helpful in addressing my party's special food needs. They are really nice, helpful people who are working hard to do a great job.
UTIMacko
You have to try this place if you are in the area! 10/10 amazing! Bavarian sauerkraut, the best I have ever had! The food falls off the bone!
Judy Meinking
I got the Pork Schnitzle sandwich. It tasted ok. But I wish I would have been told that the fries did not come with my meal. I didn't even touch those! And the $2 extra that I had to pay for the tiny dab of mushroom sauce was way too much! Don't think I will be back.
Mai Cif
The meals were delicious, we made a reservation and the table was set up very nicely. We recommend
Ashley Nelson
The food was 9/10 I had the chicken schnitzel with bacon beans.The chicken schnitzel itself is a 9/10 the breading was crispy and wonderfully seasoned.The bacon beans are a 8/10 the way they are seasoned isn't really for me but thar shouldn't take away from the fact that they are very delicious and the bacon flavor was definitely thereThe atmosphere can be a little noisy but you are also located in the mall. Over all 5/5 for it. It's got some seating but not a ton and has some that flows right outside into the food court of the mall.The service was a 4/5 server should always have a notepad. They could of been new so I won't knock it a lot. Just a tip to always bring a notepad so you can remember the entire order. The server was very sweet but soft spoken. That can be a little bit less soft spoken as there was talking around us. Otherwise very nice server that day.This is definitely a must try for German Food. It felt authentic and overall was a pleasant experience.Kid-friendliness: They do have a nice kid friendly selection
patn03
We were excited to find a quick service German restaurant when we were looking for lunch! Two challenges up front: we almost gave up on this place when we saw it was in a mall food court. (I'm very glad we stuck it out!) Also, Google Maps does not actually bring you to the restaurant, it brings you to a different mall entrance right by a Hu Hot. You have to drive around to the other side of the mall to go right into the restaurant, or you could probably walk through the mall. The food here was amazing. It's been a really long time since I've had such a perfectly made pork schnitzel- I was extremely impressed. The spartzle, German meatballs, sauerkraut and red cabbage were also all really good. On top of all that, the service was extremely quick and friendly. In spite of an unexpected location, this was the best German restaurant we've been to in years.
The schweinshaxe special was delicious. Compliments to the chef. Moving near the Oktoberfest grounds would be a fun location.
Ed Larson
This place was great! My wife loves German food and couldn't have been happier. Happy wife, happy life! We'll be back! Highly recommend!
Chad Hanson
I've been to Black Forest Bistro several times, and have always been delighted with the food. For an area with so much German heritage, it's about time we finally had a good German restaurant.I would have rated the service higher, but they have a fairly small staff, so be prepared to occasionally have to wait a bit longer than you might be used to if they happen to be busy when you arrive.It's off in it's own section in the food court, so it's nicer than a typical food court area, but it's still limited vs a standalone venue as far as atmosphere is concerned.Overall, I think this is a wonderful restaurant, and I hope they eventually get the chance to get their own place so they can really come into their own as a full experience.
Corvo Attano
I don’t write reviews, but this definitely deserves one from me. I’ve been coming here for a few months now, and have tried a few different plates. This has easily become my favorite restaurant in town though. I’ve lived in Germany and a few other places around the world and this food is easily 5 star restarting quality even around Europe.The food itself is so flavorful and tender and all matches so good together with each plate. The photo I’ve linked is probably the best thing on their menu (even though they don’t have it all the time) schweinshox’n. This right here has a deliciously crispy outside that is seared to perfection, allowing the juices and flavors of the meat to marinate inside as it cooks. When biting down on it, the flavorful crunch of the skin gives way to a beautifully cooked, and juicy interior that literally falls off of the bone with every bite. Paired with some fresh made pasta and drizzled with gravy made from the juices of the meat itself makes this dish alone something to come back to again and again.Now as much as I praise this plate alone, the rest of the menu is top tier quality that is definitely something to write home about and keep you coming back for more. Friendly staff and a comfortable atmosphere paired with very appropriate prices make Black Forest Bistro my new favorite place in La Crosse to eat.
Troy Brindle
I received the pasta bolognese from a family member and was pretty underwhelmed by the portion size. The dish was mediocre in flavor( sauce mainly). My recommendation would be not to order something like this from a mainly German restaurant. But not being a fan of German food, I tried something else on their menu. No disrespect in any way by the opinion. I just thought spaghetti and a simple sauce would come with a decent portion size for the price. I'll try something else next time, if there is a next time.
Wow! What an absolute gem! You gotta check this place out for some scratch made German goodness. Such comforting grub, we were really impressed. Best sourkrout you may ever have. The owner/chef even came out to check on us and explained some of his scratch cooking processes such as hand grinding whole spices. No wonder the food is so flavorful. The mall court setting is a little strange but it sounds like they have high hopes of relocating!PRO TIP: Ask for your bread dumpling “chopped and fried”. Exceptional. Thank you for your hard work in that kitchen!
This great place is tucked into a small corner of the mall, and it's a hidden treasure. The food is all amazing. Probably the best German Cuisine I've ever had. Amazing fresh baked bread. The owner was very welcoming and friendly.
The food was delicious! It was relatively simple but the ingredients were fresh and I could taste the freshness of the food. Our waitress was friendly and timely and the guy cooking even came out to see how we liked our food. I got the Spätzle with the caper sauce and I wish I got the caramelized onion and cheese. And it was really inexpensive for what you got. Will come back again
Wow! This place is beyond amazing! We're on a road trip and some of our meals have had to be defined as "true Midwest experience" rather than a truly exceptional meal. Especially for these prices! Wow!Now if you aren't used to German food, please be ready for something different. I lived 3 years in Bavaria, and this is by far a top-level culinary experience, even compared to restaurants in Germany.I'm so happy we discovered this place!I had Jäger pork roast with sauerkraut and red cabbage. The Jäger (mushroom sauce) over tender pork was wonderful. If you've never had true homemade sauerkraut, you are in for a treat! Same with the cabbage.We were too full for dessert, so we took some of the black forest cake home for dessert. Sooo good!!!!Parking: This place is camouflaged at the end of the Mall's food court. Do not let this fool you! Plenty of mall parking. Best to park behind the mall as they have a separate entrance there.Wheelchair accessibility: This is located in the mall, so has full ADA accessibility
Yet another superior meal wonderfully served by the co-owner of the restaurant. Three of us sat in our fabulous Airbnb talking about having a nice meal together. The fourth in our party was happy to let us decide on where.So, we rejected LOTS of Dubuque's most highly rated restaurants in our quest for a special meal. We read the reviews, especially the low ratings to see where exactly restaurants have stumbled. There are plenty of dining options in La Crosse, which feels really different from the more limited choices in Dubuque last nightThe negative reviews of the Black Forest Bistro are all because people developed expectations about the experience based on its location in a Food Court of an ordinary mall.We arrived around 4:40, which is slightly before the mall closes at 5pm. The co-owner was also at the counter and was the waiter. He was super friendly and helped confirm that it was a full service restaurant if that's what we wanted. We had 4 different German food dishes, including an amazing pork shank cooked for 6 hours in a special gravy sauce and the Jaeger Pork Roast and a chicken Jaeger sandwich. We traded lots of bites from both the four entrees and the sides. I had a couple of German dark beers and my girlfriend had a glass of wine.This was a really good experience. We had fun with the co-owner talking about the confusion over the location and learned more about the life of someone selling fine German food out of an awkward location. They are talking about moving to another location, which I strongly support, though I live in Washington, so am unlikely to return.All of us agreed that this was one of the best meals we've had on this trip, though the super high end restaurant in Saint Louis was impossible to beat... But comparing the Black Forest Bistro fare to a meal that cost over $200 a person is clearly unfair.Vegetarian options: I think that they would likely try very hard to meet your needs, but many of the dishes are pretty meat focused. I would look elsewhere if I was trying to care for a vegetarian that I loved.Kid-friendliness: It's part of a public food court, so the seats in the food court are probably pretty active and rowdy when the mall is open.Parking: There is plenty of parking right near both entrances of the food court. There is also a private entrance off one side.Wheelchair accessibility: Easy, fully ada compliantDietary restrictions: The co-owner was very helpful in addressing my party's special food needs. They are really nice, helpful people who are working hard to do a great job.
You have to try this place if you are in the area! 10/10 amazing! Bavarian sauerkraut, the best I have ever had! The food falls off the bone!
I got the Pork Schnitzle sandwich. It tasted ok. But I wish I would have been told that the fries did not come with my meal. I didn't even touch those! And the $2 extra that I had to pay for the tiny dab of mushroom sauce was way too much! Don't think I will be back.
The meals were delicious, we made a reservation and the table was set up very nicely. We recommend
The food was 9/10 I had the chicken schnitzel with bacon beans.The chicken schnitzel itself is a 9/10 the breading was crispy and wonderfully seasoned.The bacon beans are a 8/10 the way they are seasoned isn't really for me but thar shouldn't take away from the fact that they are very delicious and the bacon flavor was definitely thereThe atmosphere can be a little noisy but you are also located in the mall. Over all 5/5 for it. It's got some seating but not a ton and has some that flows right outside into the food court of the mall.The service was a 4/5 server should always have a notepad. They could of been new so I won't knock it a lot. Just a tip to always bring a notepad so you can remember the entire order. The server was very sweet but soft spoken. That can be a little bit less soft spoken as there was talking around us. Otherwise very nice server that day.This is definitely a must try for German Food. It felt authentic and overall was a pleasant experience.Kid-friendliness: They do have a nice kid friendly selection
We were excited to find a quick service German restaurant when we were looking for lunch! Two challenges up front: we almost gave up on this place when we saw it was in a mall food court. (I'm very glad we stuck it out!) Also, Google Maps does not actually bring you to the restaurant, it brings you to a different mall entrance right by a Hu Hot. You have to drive around to the other side of the mall to go right into the restaurant, or you could probably walk through the mall. The food here was amazing. It's been a really long time since I've had such a perfectly made pork schnitzel- I was extremely impressed. The spartzle, German meatballs, sauerkraut and red cabbage were also all really good. On top of all that, the service was extremely quick and friendly. In spite of an unexpected location, this was the best German restaurant we've been to in years.
Restaurantji Recommends
The schweinshaxe special was delicious. Compliments to the chef. Moving near the Oktoberfest grounds would be a fun location.
This place was great! My wife loves German food and couldn't have been happier. Happy wife, happy life! We'll be back! Highly recommend!
I've been to Black Forest Bistro several times, and have always been delighted with the food. For an area with so much German heritage, it's about time we finally had a good German restaurant.I would have rated the service higher, but they have a fairly small staff, so be prepared to occasionally have to wait a bit longer than you might be used to if they happen to be busy when you arrive.It's off in it's own section in the food court, so it's nicer than a typical food court area, but it's still limited vs a standalone venue as far as atmosphere is concerned.Overall, I think this is a wonderful restaurant, and I hope they eventually get the chance to get their own place so they can really come into their own as a full experience.
I don’t write reviews, but this definitely deserves one from me. I’ve been coming here for a few months now, and have tried a few different plates. This has easily become my favorite restaurant in town though. I’ve lived in Germany and a few other places around the world and this food is easily 5 star restarting quality even around Europe.The food itself is so flavorful and tender and all matches so good together with each plate. The photo I’ve linked is probably the best thing on their menu (even though they don’t have it all the time) schweinshox’n. This right here has a deliciously crispy outside that is seared to perfection, allowing the juices and flavors of the meat to marinate inside as it cooks. When biting down on it, the flavorful crunch of the skin gives way to a beautifully cooked, and juicy interior that literally falls off of the bone with every bite. Paired with some fresh made pasta and drizzled with gravy made from the juices of the meat itself makes this dish alone something to come back to again and again.Now as much as I praise this plate alone, the rest of the menu is top tier quality that is definitely something to write home about and keep you coming back for more. Friendly staff and a comfortable atmosphere paired with very appropriate prices make Black Forest Bistro my new favorite place in La Crosse to eat.
I received the pasta bolognese from a family member and was pretty underwhelmed by the portion size. The dish was mediocre in flavor( sauce mainly). My recommendation would be not to order something like this from a mainly German restaurant. But not being a fan of German food, I tried something else on their menu. No disrespect in any way by the opinion. I just thought spaghetti and a simple sauce would come with a decent portion size for the price. I'll try something else next time, if there is a next time.