Himmel’s

Quick review (though it was a while ago) of their brunch buffet table — I’d add buffet as a category but it is already taken up by Modern European which is the category I’d sacrifice (since German and Italian cover it their bases already).
We did get in close to opening time, so all the food was hot. PIzza as I remember is better than a few of the Napolitano dedicated pizzerias in town. (oven is right next to the serving station, so it is being kept as fresh as it is being consumed). The other offerings were strong as well.
So even though, it is buffet only for Sunday brunch, it’s a contender for those Unilocaler’s keywording for buffets in town.

Food was good, but service was terrible. They didn’t give us water, bread, or dessert plates.

OMG! I love me some Himmel’s Chicago. Let’s see where do I start? The pork shank is to die for, the spaetzle melts in your mouth, and then there is the red cabbage… perfection! I am super picky about my fish… LOVE the salmon at Himmel’s. It is always delish. I love the salads too — don’t miss the pear and gorganzola. SOOOO, Yummy! And I literally am dreaming about this appetizer… prosciutto wrapped shrimp drizzled with some amazing balsamic vinegar reduction that I keep trying to recreate and can’t! They also have a really great wine selection and Stella on tap. Do yourself a favor, go, eat, enjoy!

Went there for Oktoberfest this year, I ordered the same thing — pork shank.
The service was extremely slow this time — the ordering system was down, the waiter seemed to also have forgotten to put in our order, so we ended up waiting for about 50 mins to 1 hour for the food (and there were only 3 more tables besides us when we got in around 6pm.)
The complimentary bread was cold as though it just came out from the fridge, onion soup was too salty and I did NOT like my pork shank at all.
The meat was partially burnt, dry and tough to chew. I had a hard time chewing and my jaw was sore because of that.
Very unlikely to go back again.

It’s been quite a while since I visited «the restaurant formerly known as Pizza DOC,» mainly because the food (especially the pizza) seemed to take a nose-​dive after the new proprietors took over. However, I noticed that Himmel’s was getting favorable reviews, so recently gave it a try. The German/​Italian menu is novel in concept, featuring standards from each cuisine. The wine list is all-​Italian, with an acceptable array of choices. I was surprised the beer menu didn’t offer a broader array of German beers.
VIBE: Less trattoria-​ish, more German beer hall. Comfortable enough, if not cozy. Conversation was possible, even in the face of live entertainment the night we visited.
SERVICE: Our server was friendly and helpful, and filled us in on what had changed since Pizza DOC became Himmel’s.
LIKED: The meat on the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel entrée and the Sauerbraten was good, as was the red cabbage, though neither was remarkable. A tri-​color salad was also OK.
DISLIKED: The spätzle served with both entrées was dry & lifeless; we assumed it was pre-​cooked and had been sitting around for a while. Lots of it, though…
We wanted to try the German dishes this time. We may come back to see if the pizza has been resurrected, per our server’s account.

My wife and I tried this place last night. We started with the grilled calamari, which was delicious! One of the best I’ve had. My wife had the fruti del mar and I had the pork medallions in a mushroom cream sauce… it’s called something else on the menu. While she thought her dish was good, I thought mine was excellent.
They had live music and a friendly atmosphere. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because the service was pretty slow. They appeared to have the appropriate amount of staff, but it took almost two hours to eat dinner and my water was only filled up once.
If it was closer to my house, we would return.

I love this little not so hidden gem. The food is tasty and fresh, and served with personality! The atmosphere is quaint, local, and very inviting. Tip, try this a place with a small group of close friends when you are not in a rush and you will have a great experience.

Himmels’s has it in the bag for a specialized experience. Everything is exactly one half German, one half Italian. You probably won’t find this mashup anywhere else in the city so go for it!
You’ve got the German style exterior, with the Old English style font of the sign and the heavy stone, as well as some old style looking murals on the inside walls. But then you have pure Tuscany, with the warm wood tones, mustard yellow walls, and grapes hanging from the ceiling. The menu is just as extreme, with Bucatini all’Amatriciana — (Onion, guanciale (smoked Italian bacon), extra virgin olive oil, spicy tomato sauce, Parmigiano & Romano cheese, which is what I had and was incredible) alongside of Wiener Schnitzel — (Pan fried breaded veal scaloppine, served with red cabbage and potatoes which is what my date had and was equally as incredible).
I don’t know how you do it Himmels, but keep it up! I normally don’t like mashups but you guys know how to make it happen in a fantastic way.

Downgrading my review and will most likely never return. I ask for a side of Marsala with my chicken schnitzel because that is what I want as I’m the one paying. I was told no as the chef apparently has an attitude. The first time I visited same answer however I ended up getting my request. Then they had to nerve to charge me $ 4 for this cup of sauce when if I ordered the chx Marsala the price is a dollar difference.
The females servers their always have a gruff attitude and make out feel uncomfortable. Especially the one with a bun on head. It’s almost as I’m doing you a favor by eating here. Actually I’m paying your tip!!!
The owner needs to stop doing shots from behind the bar and become aware of these shortcomings.
Every time I’ve been here around 7 or 8 the place is a ghost town. You are alienating your clients. Too bad, the food isn’t that bad either.

I loved Pizza DOC. When it closed, my Husband and I were devastated. Then, the same family opened Himmel’s. A German/​Italian restaurant? Might sound odd, but IT WORKS, and works WELL. They’ve kept the pizza oven & continue to have the great Italian favorites from DOC. My favorites are the pizza (same quality as before, which is FANTASTIC), the spaghetti carbonara, and the gnocchi. The German fare is great too! In a prior review I stated some issues w/​customer service on one night that left a VERY sour taste in my & several friends mouths. I even stayed away for awhile. But the carbonara & pizza kept calling to me & I couldn’t be denied! I’ve been back twice since then, and the food AND customer service were fabulous. Hey — we can all have a bad night, and the food is worth it. So glad they’ve found their grove!

last friday we tried this restaurant for the first time. i liked that the dinning room had seating for all types of parties. i did not feel over crowded. a very talented singer entertained us with a wide variety of songs. the chef came out and greeted us. nice touch. i had a delicious saurbraten dish. the red cabbage and schnitzel was yummy! my friend tried the wood-​burning cooked pizza and loved it. friendly enviroment, good service and well priced food is how i would describe Himmel’s.

A new favorite for a relaxing meal. Himmel’s unique Italian and German menu offers something for everyone. This neighborhood gem is mostly filled with locals that have ventured off the main street in Lincoln Square. The atmosphere is inviting with live music playing in the background that contributes to the experience. It was difficult to decide between the Italian and German items on the menu. Ultimately, I settled with the Wiener Schnitzel with a side of Spatzle. Even after trying this at Laschetts, Chicago Brauhaus, and Berghoff’s, I think this was the best of the bunch. I will definitely be back for more and look forward to trying their pizza as well!

Himmel’s is unique– the menu combines Italian and German cuisine and excels with both. Great wood-​fired pizza, too. Friendly atmosphere– must be a nice place to work because the staff is always cheerful and relaxed. Try the braccio di ferro– heavenly. Sometimes live jazz. You can’t beat it!

First time here and have to agree with some of the other recent reviews. The food was good but the service was very bad. We waited way too long for each course, spending almost 3 hours total for dinner. The bus-​girl spilled olive oil on one of our guests while clearing plates and we could not get the attention of anyone else for at least 20 minutes. When the waitress finally returned, her solution was to bring a bowl of flour and spread it all over the guest’s sleeves with a ‘just wash it later’. You could tell that the chef’s friends were seated towards the front and served most efficiently (with chef hugs all around), having come and gone before we even got our entrees. Unfortunately will not be returning.

I wrote a raving review about Himmel’s back when it was Pizza D.O.C. I figured it was time to write another review since I got married on May 16^th and had my wedding reception there. We chose Himmel’s since it was where we ate on our 1^st date and has become a regular spot for us ever since.
It was amazing. They made sure that everything went off without a hitch. They bent over backwards to make sure we had anything and everything we needed for our special day. The service was perfect. All our guest raved about how fantastic the food was. We, of course, have always thought the food is fantastic. My husband is a very picky eater and loves many of the dishes at Himmel’s. They were even able to accomodate some special food needs for some of our guests. All our guests had a great time! We just can’t say enough good things about Himmel’s. They are and will always be a part of our lives. They are like family to us.
Go to himmel’s. You won’t be disappointed.

The wife has been coming here since approx 1998 when she claims that it was all old Italian men smoking cigarettes. She says it «used to be a great establishment.»
Tonight is different. The spinach gnocchi the wife used to love is gone. It has been replaced with a salty bowl of heavy cream with gnocchi that is good, but not excellent.
I had the trout special. It was good, but crazy salty. I like salt but this was insane. Side of Potatoes was so over cooked as to be inedible.
I note that this place is no longer as busy as it used to be. It was nearly cleared out by 8:00 p.m. The chef spent at least an hour playing the drums for a terrible singer. The live music has to go. I would suggest checking to see if there is live music before making a reservation. If yes, go somewhere else.
Service was good, but waiters used to bring shots for the table. This restaurant has descended into mediocrity.

Came on a Friday night and the place was busy, but comfortable. We didn’t have to wait and service was good. They also had an excellent singer who also played guitar. The bar area is very nice and near the live music.
I ordered the salmon, which came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. Everything was disgustingly drenched in butter. It seemed liked they plated the food and then ladled butter over it. Too bad since the salmon looked like a quality piece of fish.
Our arugula pizza was OK. The ingredients seemed fresh, but the crust was undercooked for my taste. I personally prefer it to be at least slightly crispy. Also, it seemed to lack or was completely void of the cherry tomatoes that were listed within the description.

Food was really really good, and a nice variety on the menu. We went on Sat night at 7:30pm with reservaand there were two big parties there, so my only gripe was we waited for our entrees a *tad* too long, but our lovely server provided a round of free schnapps at the end of the meal (and did one herself). I’m a fan of this place now. Will be back (which only proves that good service has its rewards). I will try the oven pizza next — it looked really good too — and they deliver!

Wasn’t really sure what to think of this place as German/​Italian fusion is not too common. I guess the owners inherited an amazing wood-​burning oven and the pizza connoisseur of our family approved heartily – our six year old wolfed down and entire small pizza while my husband and I tried two entrees. We missed the fabled pork shank as it is only served on weekends, but the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel was quite good and the sauce very delicious. The red cabbage served with it had the perfect tang and crunch. The steak was very good and grilled nicely but for the price the frozen fries and pathetic vegetables it came with did not quite live up.
The atmosphere was quite cozy what with the woodburning stove crackling merrily and some guitar strummer unobtrusively adding a little background music that allowed us to relax and enjoy a meal with our son without living in terror that he might speak too loudly and annoy those of the children-​should-​be-​neither-​seen-​nor-​heard-​anywhere camp. I guess the beer selection is not to extensive, so if that’s your main point it might be a disappointment.
Will come back to try another pizza and the pork shank.

I ordered pizza for delivery from this place. It was amazing! You definitely don’t find a lot of places with such good pizza.
I ordered pizza with prosciutto crudo arugula blue cheese and parmesan. All the ingredients are top quality and the crust was pure perfection. I wish I could add funghi porcini also but they didn’t had the option on grub hub. I’m gonna check out the restaurant too.
Very good!