Gustav’s Pub & Grill

I’ve never had an issue every time my husband and I have eaten here. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Only time I ever had a complaint, it wasn’t to anyone there. I go often enough that when they had a change of chef, I knew by the slight changes made in the dishes. But it was a good change, just different. I love eating here. Though if you want more authentic atmosphere, go to Rheinlanders, which is a Gustavs affiliate but without the chain feel.

Food has really gone down hill. Prices have gone up while the quality, and quantity, have gone down. A woman who I assume is in charge, some kind of accent, is really a snob. Bad attitude and talks down to her staff. After I requested to have Pam wait on us if she was working, she was great on our last visit and made out experience a lot of fun, I was informed she was no longer there and manager seemed quite put off with us. Our waitress was ok but after the way the manager acted, the food being sub par and our favorite waitress gone, we won’t be back anytime soon.

Came here and had a wonderful meal. The place is delightfully decorated, maintained, and the staff is great.
We started with the bread and sausage fondue. I’m not generally a swiss cheese fan but I felt I had to try it. It was good although huge for 2 people as an appetizer. The waiter did warn us though :)
We ended up splitting the pork and noodles which was great although didn’t end up being as big as I expected. Wasn’t sure how much we would eat after the huge appetizer.
I tried one of their german beers and my girlfriend had the lemon drop, both were awesome. Can’t wait to come back and try the veal schnitzel and more of their drinks.

Gustav doesn’t taste the same as it did years ago. It has changed from good to I don’t care to eat there anymore. However they make really good drinks, that I would recommend.

Our group of 7 went to Gustav’s Clackamas on Friday the 27 for HH. We were seated in the far booth in back of bar and added a chair at the end of booth. One person ordered a drink, the waitress came back to inform him they no longer have it. His second attempt with a different selection did not go well either. The HH food however was excellent, from the fondue, to wedge salad, chicken strips and fries, sandwiches, and the Shepard’s pie was perfect. Please bring back the banana beer.

This is the second year in a row that our family group from both sides got together and had Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant. When we get together for holiday dinners, it can number from about 10 to 20 people who show up. It’s a lot of work for the people hosting, so I really enjoy doing this a lot for the chance to see my brother and sister-​in-​law relax.
Our choice this year for Thanksgiving dinner was Gustav’s Pub & Grill. Great choice because everyone had already been to eat there before, so it was familiar with just the choice of Thanksgiving dinner being a bit of a surprise. It worked well for everyone in our party (ages 20 to 91) because of location and price. The «Thanksgiving Feast» was in the range of $ 18 to $ 25, which was especially great for two or three young college graduates in our group working to get established in their various fields.
We had an excellent server by the name of Collin (hope that spelling is correct) and got our dinner started with our orders for wines, beers, and ciders. According to our young college graduates, the beer list for Gustav’s is excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed my cider (great balance of flavors). Our group mostly ordered from the Thanksgiving feast selections (turkey or prime rib). Someone ordered an appetizer of fondue and it did look very tasty and those who ordered it affirmed that was so. I requested horseradish with my prime rib. Collin mentioned that it was very hot. I took a little bit more than expected on my fork tines with a bite of the meat and he was right; it can be a near life-​transforming experience, even a little out of body.
I had to admire Collin for his dexterity and great customer service in getting our food out in a timely manner to our large party in a crowded busy restaurant. Overall, the food was excellent and in an amount just enough to fill your belly, but not so much one would have to be rolled out in a wheelbarrow oinking all the way to their cars from overeating.
I’m giving a solid four stars to Gustav’s Pub & Grill for everything. I’m taking one star away for the mashed potatoes, which although fresh, had been overworked and became paste-​like on the plate, and also for not having dressing (what? do not comprehend why this was not part of dinner, but yet they included sauerkraut as part of the turkey dinner; again what??). There was also confusion regarding dessert availability; some of the Thanksgiving Feast items came only with pumpkin pie and other choices came with a choice of pumpkin pie or apple strudel. This was not mentioned on the menu or when we first ordered our food. I believe a few in our party weren’t crazy about pumpkin pie and would have ordered differently knowing that information.
Those were some glitches, no big surprise during service at Thanksgiving dinner, which would not keep me away, and most definitely bring me back because they were handled with great manners and service. I think I may want to try some fondue and sausage and another cider. I think you might like it too.

I came here for Thanksgiving this year with my girlfriend and her family.
Pros: The quick seating even with their busy day and one of the waitresses came up and gave us some drinks while we waited. In conclusion, the door service was nice.
Cons: When we were seated, our waitress was nice but didn’t seem inviting. This was especially concerning because it was a holiday. Becky, our waitress, then seemed to lose interest in our table since we were taking such a long time to figure out our order. Her smile dropped and suddenly seemed annoyed after awhile. We asked her to come back when we had made up our minds, and she went about her way to help the other guests. When she came back, we ordered the turkey dinner, two prime roast and the salmon of the night.
She asked us how we wanted our meals, and my girlfriends brother and I said that we’d like our prime roast med-​rare. She then asked how my girlfriends father how he would like his salmon. He replied juicy with confusion, so she asured him medium would be good.
When a we received our food, we had a «Thanksgiving Dinner» instead of the turkey dinner and both of our roasts were quite rare. The salmon turned out to be dry which was obviously not what was asked. After we had nearly finished our food, the waitress brought out the fresh dinner roles. They were so fresh in fact that the heat radiating from them could’ve probably cooked my roast closer to med-​rare than their grill. By the time we left, the roles had turned to stone which we found humerus and joked about being able to knock somebody out with them. Then, when we asked the waitress if the salmon was wild or farmed, we got quite a response. Instead of saying she didn’t know, she agreed and said that the salmon was wild-​farmed. I was baffled at the fact that she didn’t know, but then, I was just thrown off by that response. It devalued her staff and the way they presented themselves. She could’ve asked the chefs or somebody with more knowledge on the subject instead of saying something that was completely uneducated and quite frankly rude. It was insulting that she actually thought that would pass and that we didn’t know the difference.
In all, the sides of my dish were nice and the dipping sauce for the roast was done well. The Thanksgiving Dinner was good but the wrong order. The salmon could definitely use some work, and the team needs to be educated on the menu before they present themselves to their guests. From the good talk of other reviews, I had higher expectations for this place. I may come back in the future to see if changes will be made because the food that was done right was great, but for now, I will stay far away from this establishment in fear of those «wild-​farmed» salmon.

Worst this time around… The potato pancakes that were recommended tasted and smelled like fish!!! We complained, it was taken off our tab. The waiter said they use the same grill for the fish and potato pancakes. Does that mean they didn’t cleanse the grill in between cooking food items? Weird and doesn’t make sense to me.
They were out of 2 of the 3 beers my brother-​in-​law attempted to order… Another oddity.
I do agree, that Gustav’s has lost some of it’s charm it had in the past. No rotisserie anymore… Less and less German every time.
Their fondue serving gets smaller every time. The bier onion soup was not as good as I remember it being. The only thing I truly enjoyed was the schnitzel club and hot cider.
We won’t be back anytime soon.

Atmosphere: They play popular music. I really wished they played German music, but that’s not the kind of place this is. It looks more like a chain restaurant, but it’s really gigantic. They can hold meetings and events here. The place has dark wood and white walls, and the place is split off into areas. There is ample parking.
Service: Our hostess was nice. She complimented my child, which always gets a gold star in a mother’s opinion. Our server was Morgan. She was attentive, friendly, and she refilled our drinks, and that’s always one really good sign of service for me.
Food: We started off with two pretzels. They were good. They came with a spicy mustard dipping sauce. I wish mine had more salt on it. We split the Melty Feta sandwich with fries. They were nice enough to split it for us on separate plates, and both plates had a pickle. Thanks! The sandwich was fantastic. If I came back, I would definitely order it again. No questions asked. It was on a brioche bun. It had arugula, onions, tomato, and the best part was the feta stuffed pepper that was breaded. Yum! Our child got the sausage children’s meal with fries. I don’t eat sausage, but my fiancé said it was just good. It’s a children’s meal, so I don’t expect much… but I usually hope that it’s an elevated meal. I can’t complain, though, because my child did eat it, and I’m a happy mother when he actually eats.
Overall: ⁴⁄₅.

Gustavs have stepped out their customer service and food quality, good job! Five star!

Really used to like this place but recently they seem to be in cost saving mode. I mean the fondue used to be large enough to have to ask for more bread but lately it’s barely a small cup. Had the turkey dinner a while back and roasted pork more recently and was dissapointed both times by the small portions and fatty slices of pork. Now don’t get me wrong I think fat equals flavor but chewy fatty edges equals a sub par experience. And please provide a little more sauce if the potatoes are going to be that dry.
Another thing that recently seems out of place is the new signage. I mean it looks like a cheap 1970s sizzler sign. What happened to the old guy we always called Gustav on the signs?
Not sure I’ll make the trip back as I was that dissapointed.

Always liked the food, service, décor, blah blah blah! Awesome fondue and the rest ot the menu is great too! Great drinks, wish they had a couple more ciders, but I always wish that: D Find the staff to be very knowledgeable and sophisticated and yet not snotty if you need anything explained in a more layman way, which is often difficult for a place to be both. Fancy setting yet casual atmosphere… Ace’s in my book, unless you don’t like yummy food and good beer, you weirdo!

Good service from Matt. Drinks were cold and snappy. Fondue was very good as was the turkey dinner. The dressing and cranberry sauce were particular highlights. Good ambience except for the drunk table of Office Space diners who felt compelled to loudly proclaim their stories of public drunkeness and the yakking that followed.
We’re not holding that against you, Gustav. ;)

Me and my family have always loved Gustav’s. But now not so much. The fondue used to be served in a fancy bowl thing now its in a small basic plastic cup/​saucer thing. Like the fruit cups at Sherri’s… I sent back my hutchenbrust meal which was chicken, spatzel, and mushrooms. It was so salty i couldn’t eat it. Same with the chicken plate my dad ordered, so we sent it back. The sweet sausage was good. The service was awful!!! I can still taste the salt. :(sorry Gustav’s. It’s just not the same.

Years ago when Gustav’s opened I entered to try the best Prime Rib Dip of my life. Perfectly cooked pink rotisserie rotated beef of the gods. Tender, juicy and rich on grilled bread with a thick slice of munster cheese all to be dipped in a au jus with more depth of flavor than I have ever had before. Though they removed the item from the menu over three years ago, I can still taste it. I call to ask them if they will bring it back every few months. I have had no such luck. This was the beginning of the end of my love affair with Gustav’s. (I am now updated that they no longer have any rotisserie chicken or beef. The rotisserie oven has now been replaced by merchandise). Along with the Prime Rib Dip we all loved they also removed their once excellent standards. Four years ago I would be giving Gustav’s five stars.
Gustav’s has a great selection of beers on tap if you are looking for domesticated German style ales and Imports alike. I am fairly sure if you are looking for a specific style of German ale you have a decent chance of finding at at Gustav’s. This restaurant is a prime example of a food destination that slowly dropped quality and standards as time went by. The ambiance is wonderful. The food use to be spot on but in all honesty, I just do not like Gustav’s anymore.
We tried the Pretzels (which are new to the menu) served with Gustav’s signature fondue. I have never been fond of Gustav’s fondue (pictured below). Too me, it tastes like processed cheese food. I crave the salty bite of good aged swiss and the tangy white wine flavor that is found in fondue. Sadly, Gustav’s offers neither flavor. The pretzels were not soft and chewy as expected. They were very dark brown, slightly burnt (pictured below) on the bottom and so very dry. I have tried many entrees at Gustav’s over the years and in the beginning was very impressed. Now we no longer order meals aside of small starters to go with the beer we seek out. We decided to try the Crème Brulee. Crème Brulee soup I should say (pictured below). I would not repeat that experience. Enough said.
The service is hit or miss at Gustav’s. Sometimes we have a great server or bartender and sometimes we encounter someone who seems to hate their occupation. We will stop by on occasion for memory’s sake. The décor and beer selection call us back. The food however, keeps us at bay most of the time.

Good beer, good service, good meat and potatoes. What more do you need? The jäger schnitzel and sausages were super delicious… Sauerkraut was a little bland, tho. Cozy atmosphere, bigger than I expected inside with a charming European architecture atmosphere.

I’m so sorry if I only gave 1 star. The old Gustav’s though was 10 Million stars. I knew when they change their sign something must have change, and yes, Gustav’s changed. This is my Before and Now review.
Fondue:
Before: The fondue was in a very fancy bowl or plate.
Now: It was just in a simple plate.
Before: The bread and cheese are the BOMB.
Now: Meh, it’s alright.
Menu:
Before: Very German-​y style and the menu are almost German cuisine.
Now: Very Applebees style.
Music:
Before: Fancy restaurant songs.
Now: Katy Perry.
Whatever happened to Gustav’s, never coming back. I miss the old Gustav’s. I’m sad now.

So, another year, another family Birthday at Gustav’s.
It’s hard to find a lot wrong here. Except that if you remember what it «used» to be, then there’s a few problems.
Service was very good, so extra points there. Cleanliness in the dining area and bathrooms was exceptional.
On to the food…
The menu has been tightened and played around with in recent years, so the options are fewer, the prices higher, and the portions smaller. You end up with a lot of salad and sandwich options, the entrees kept to a minimum which I assume was to keep the prices down on the menu overall and to focus on the dinners that had the best margins.
Fondue starter was excellent as always. This is one thing they haven’t messed with and they know how to make it right.
Being a vegetarian, my options are very limited here. The only true option is the feta stuffed red pepper that’s fried with arugala, a decent aioli. While the taste was decent, the trouble is that you have a fried item on a brioche bun that is also greasy with butter. It’s just way too much. Served with fries and you’ve got a grease pit on your plate. Not German, and certainly not well executed. So many better options out there, and could be kept within a German taste.
There used to be a nice spaetzle option done with cheese and veggies and mushrooms. It was a fantastic dish but looks to be long gone. For my money, some roasted potatoes, red cabbage, and a mushroom steak would be a great option.
The menu is basically German-​esque now instead of having mostly German classics. A shame, because there used to be at least a healthy amount of authenticity. The whole atmosphere has changed at Gustav’s which is sad. No more dining area viewing of the roasting chicken and beef on the spits with the fire, no more hot tea for those waiting in the dining area, and an overall blandness has set in. Naturally they have had to change with the times, but turning into a chain with a cookie cutter mentality is certainly not what Horst Mager set out to achieve, and the legacy of Der Rheinlander and Gustav’s has been tarnished.
A shame, but keeping things honest, this is still a great place to get a good meal at a decent value, and drink a stein of beer and have a good time. However if you’re looking for something special, I’d be looking elsewhere.

Gustav’s is an above-​average restaurant. It is a solid experience every time. One big plus is their gluten-​free menu, so those with Celiac disease can dine here as well.
Our last visit was particularly good because of their seasonal menu. I indulged in the «schweinshaxe», which was simply superb! HUGE portion size, unbelievably crispy skin, and brilliantly tender and flavorful on the inside. I’m going to make a return visit so I can get this again while it is still available on their seasonal menu.
You can’t go wrong with their sausages or fondue. If you’re in the neighborhood, Gustav’s is definitely worth a visit.

I had the privilege of living /​working in Munich for a year. I am still nostalgic for the food. Gustav’s seems to be some of the most authentic German fare I have had.
The place is decked out like you would expect an authentic German restaurant to look. Big, dark wood tables /​beams lightened up with white paint in between.
We’ve been here several times and have had to wait about 5 – 10 minutes most of the time.
The service is good but nothing you’d feel was spectacular. The seating (did I mention hard wood) isn’t as comfortable as I’d like. The place has always been very clean when we’ve dined there, which is also what I would expect at an authentic German place.
The menu has quite a few options — the schnitzel’s are all good — I’ve tried all of them I think. The fondue is pretty good, the soft pretzels are a good pairing for it.
My wife has the spaetzle that she remembers so fondly and thinks it’s quite good. I would have to agree with some of the other reviewers in warning you that it can get pricey, quickly. I don’t argue that quality food in a quality place is going to cost some money, it just seems more pricey than I’d like.
Their happy hour menu is pretty good — I’d suggest giving it a try. They have about 15 – 20 options and the chicken schnitzel is good but it’s served «naked» — so be prepared (the schnitzel club is a better option for me). Just get there well before 6 because you have to be seated before then to order from that menu and sometimes there is a wait for a table. It looks like they have changed their policy and it’s only available in the bar except for sunday.
Between the draft and bottled options, there are over 20 beer choices. I have tried a couple of the Weisbier’s and found them to be very satisfying.
It’s probably going to be ~ $ 50 for two once you include the tip. If you try a little harder, you can get it to $ 75. Either way, it’s a nice place for a special treat but too pricey for my budget to be a regular hangout.
Taking someone to lunch –Their website says: Monday — Friday from 11am — 2pm, let us know that you would like a 45 minute lunch and we will have your bill to your table within 45 minutes from the time you were seated — or it’s free.