Old Black Forest Cafe and Gasthof

Vibe Restaurant Review — September 8, 2015: Old Black Forest Restaurant — ⁴⁄₅ Stars
Unlike our last review for a restaurant under new management, The Old Black Forest Restaurant has been family-​owned and operated by a lovely German couple, Thomas (cook) and Barbara (baker/​server) since 1998. Customers appreciate the clean, cozy traditional décor, authentic menu, good home-​style cooking and friendly service which account for good reviews from South Shore locals and visitors.
Old Black Forest’s menu and cooking style are pretty standard fare based on our experience with German restaurants in Canada and abroad. Old favorites, German beer served in traditional mugs, schnitzel, wurst, spätzle, mauftaschen, home-​made black forest cake and Vienna apple strudel are all on the menu. Food was freshly prepared, generously portioned, delivered hot and good value. The well-​prepared Swiss Schnitzel was under-​seasoned for my taste. James thoroughly enjoyed the grilled pork schnitzel and spätzle with its deliciously rich, creamy mushroom sauce.
No meal would be complete without trying the black forest cake at a restaurant of the same name — it did not disappoint. The chocolate cake was moist and light, layered with kirsch-​soaked cherries and whipped cream that was not too sweet.
With so many amazing restaurants in Mahone Bay and Lunenburg, the Old Black Forest Restaurant is a testament to the comfort in knowing what to expect… no surprises here. Open seasonally from early spring to late fall, locals know to reserve in advance to not be disappointed.
Lunenburg Vibe

Not fancy, but family owned, family friendly and authentic German fare. We had the sauerbraten and «King Ludwig’s Bowl.» Both had appropriately piquant sauces over enormous portions. I agree that the Spaetzle was a treat. Comfort food, indeed. As one would hope the Black Forest Cake was delicious… and perhaps surprisingly, so was the Key Lime Pie.

This German retaurant is the best in the area. I checked Unilocal and this place was recommended. The reviews are RIGHT. The food is great. The décor goes well with the menu. You cannot go wrong.

The apple crisp was AMAZING! Surprisingly the fish and chips were great, and the beef ravioli was definitely german, but a little bland. Sort of an odd place right off the highway, but worth stopping for the apple crisp alone! Exactly the kind of straightforward German service you might expect! I bet it would be a wonderful winter comfort food place!

Another amazing visit to the Old Black Forest Restaurant.
The schnitzel with herbed sunflower seed coating was probably the best I ever had and can’t get enough of their Spaetzle. The service is excellent with no attitude. It is a family owned place and everything is home made. Can hardly wait to go back few more times this summer.

We come to this German restaurant every summer and are never disappointed. Reservations are a must as they get very busy in tourist season. he spaetzle here is the best I’ve had outside of Germany, and the fish, schnitzels and chicken (I never venture beyond these three) are amazing — no stodginess here — forget your prejudices about German cooking and enjoy! (PS – if visiting Lunenburg don’t forget to pick up some of the area’s fresh (not canned or bottled) sourkraut — sold in milk cartons in area grocery stores — amazing! They have turnip kraut too — look for Tancook and Krispy Kraut brands in the refrigerator aisle.

Okay, the Old Black Forest doesn’t have a sea view (or any view at all), and it’s not very prepossessing from the outside and it’s tiny and humble inside, but none of that really matters.
The family here serve the best German food you’re going to find outside a large city or Germany itself.
We’ve been coming here for ten years, and over those ten years it has remained our very favourite place to eat out in the Lunenburg area (especially after sailing when you really crave some serious food). We always have the Wiener schnitzel, which ranges from very good to mind-​blowingly good. I don’t love the vegetables, myself, but the owner is happy to substitute a salad, which comes with a delicious dill dressing. We’ve brought many people here and they’ve raved about the food they’ve had. I’m possibly addicted to the Black Forest Cake, which is homemade and perfect — light, full of kirsch and cherries and not too sweet. I always give my husband some of my schnitzel so I have room for cake!
There’s a big patio outside the front of the restaurant which can handle the overflow crowd on busy summer evenings.
Barbara, the owner, is friendly and accommodating, and always treats her customers well. The service is attentive without being obtrusive. In the busy season reservations are a must.
The restaurant is seasonal, so we look forward to its opening each spring and happily eat there all season until it closes in the late fall.

This is a GREAT restaurant. It is a family owned, authentically German establishment that is located on the back route between Lunenburg and Mahone Bay, the two most beautiful towns in all of Eastern Canada.
The Old Black Forest has wonderful food, service with a smile, and a cozy atmosphere. There is no view but it does not matter. Once you eat here, you will come back again and again. It is that good in every way.
The Old Black Forest is my favorite South Shore restaurant.