Gunk Haus

We had an excellent dinner at The Gunk. It is really a hidden gem with solid and homey Central European food, wonderful service and a good ambience. The dining hall is thoughtfully laid out and creates a perfect setting for the place. Our waittress was very attentive and made sure we always had what we needed, and she did a great job of explaining the different dishes, the history of the place and its quirky details. We will definitely be back next time we are in the area, and we can only give our highest recommendations!

Gunk Haus was a major, positive surprise. We came through the area not knowing about the place beforehand, but had simply found the Google description of a German eatery. Already when we arrived there, the place sent really great vibes: its main dining hall has beautiful, exposed beams supporting the roof and the atmosphere is subtly supported by classical music which never threatens to drown out conversation. Only improvement would be to expand the playlist a little from the select highlights of the classical repetoire, but that’s a minor point. In general, the owners clearly put a lot more thought into the creating a relaxed, cozy ambience than 95% of other restaurants.
The menu offered a good selection of German and Central European classics including at least three different wursts (sausages), schnitzel and a goulash. We went with the mixed grill to try out the different wursts and cabbage, and we were pleasantly surprised: As a European, you’re often disappointed with American bangers, but this was the real deal. Slightly more stewed dishes would fill up the menu nicely within the style, but again, this is a relatively minor point. A decent selection of draught beer, including both American and European craft brands, accompanied the food well.
Finally, the service was among the most friendly and efficient we have had in a long while: Everyone we encountered was both helpful and chatty, and our assigned waitress was really easy-​going and polite; she was patient with our orders (lots of good options to choose from!), but also gave us some space when we couldn’t initially decide. Efficiency and privacy can be a hard balance to strike, but Gunk Haus’s staff are good at it.
All in all, Gunk Haus is worth a detour and shouldn’t be missed if you’re in the area.

We finally ate at the Gunk Haus based on Unilocal reviews– it’s way off the beaten track and NOT worth the money !!
I went for the Hungarian Goulash, big disappointment, my grandmother was from Germany & used to make it like a stew or soup which is exactly the the way I’ve had it in other German Resturants including Karl Ehmer’s.
There were only 8 – 10 people there & we were greeted by «Kristina» who didn’t appear to be old enough to be serving beer. After she brought our beverages she went two tables away and started talking with 2 guys at the table for at least 12 minutes or more. I called her name politely twice but no response she was too busy acting like a teenager who is star struck. I finally found another waitress (Rosie) who was very nice efficient.
After we were almost done «Kristina» came over to apologize telling us that the guys wouldn’t let her leave the conversation which is anything BUT TRUE we could hear most of it. What is really troubling is it appears the owner or Manager is right in the bar area on his laptop oblivious to the service being provided !!

Excited to try a new German place my fiancé and I came out for a nice dinner. The staff was very nice and I liked the little bakery section up front. We were somewhat disappointed with the menu but it was priced very nicely. I had the burger with kraut and coleslaw and she had the spätzle primavera and we shared a pretzel roll and cheese spread app. The app was ok, the cheese was very sharp! Funky flavor which I appreciated but certainly not enough pretzel roll to enjoy it. The spätzle primavera was mostly red sauce which I don’t believe is supposed to be in that dish, the spätzle was a little lacking and it was riddled with olives for some reason? She did not enjoy it very much. My burger was good, loved the meat, hearty and cooked just right. I liked the idea of the pretzel bun but it was very hard to bite through causing my burger to be a complete mess. I didn’t notice the kraut much which is a shame. The coleslaw was very peppery/​oniony. Very interesting. We both enjoyed the warm German style potato salad though, delicious! They had a few good beers, nothing crazy. We were disappointed that the chicken schnitzel was run out of, that was Rachael’s first choice. It’s just mashed chicken breast beaded over spätzle… Not sure how they were out on a Friday evening. In the end I asked for an espresso and the waitress stated she wasn’t sure if the machine was working and she would go check, she came back five minutes later with the check and no word on the espresso or even coffee so we just paid and left. I feel that a more German oriented menu would be nice, maybe some more décor and re do the bathrooms! We will not be coming back

The schnitzel and cheesy spaetzle are to die for! Deck in the warmer weather overlooking the orchard is beautiful! Good German beer selection! Just go!

My oh MY, the food here is OUTSTANDING. Stopped by for some delicious wurst & black bean soup, pfannenkuchen and apfel strudel for lunch with friends. I dig the rustic, farmhouse style with alpine accents in the décor. GREAT coffee, DECADENT desserts, über friendly & smart staff, too!

Had a delicious lunch here on our way back north from New Jersey — it’s a couple miles off the Thruway but well well worth it. Relaxing atmosphere, great service, and amazing food, including some vegetarian/​vegan options. And the view is incredible. I wish I could have had some of the beers on tap, maybe next time, because we’ll be back.

Good food, great location. We went on a slow day & it took a while for everything to come out but overall I really enjoyed it and will go back.

The Potatato Croquettes stuffed with goat cheese and scallions were to die for. We went with a large party and sat on the early side due to few children (5:00). The lady at the front could have been a bit more friendly with all of the customers but it was a busy night. In fact, I felt there wasn’t enough staff on hand for a busy Saturday night. We all got something different in the menu and everyone loved the food (I went with the Short Ribs and they had a mustard taste to them that made them different from most dishes I had… Very good though). The beers on tap were unique and had a nice seasonal selection (I even walked out with a growler of beer).
How can it be a ⁵⁄₅? Waitress took a while from when dinner was finished to get us the bill. The place is great in that they don’t rush you, but adapt to your clientele; we had 4 children under 5 and when dinner is done, ask for desert or give the bill… Took way too long but will definitely be back. Highly recommend this place for adults as they do not rush and be sure to get dessert on the way out in the front bakery.

Went here for a birthday dinner. The service was on point. The food options were excellent. The atmosphere was completely perfect. Overall I can’t wait to go back.

Although they claim to open at 11:00, at 11:30 the goulash wasn’t ready yet. The food was first rate, the French fries were literally the best I’ve ever eaten! A quaint little out of the way place with beautiful scenery. The menu is pretty complete as far as German dishes. Worth the hunt to find the place.

Came here for a Saturday lunch based on the recommendation from a bartender at Bad Seed. We weren’t disappointed.
We started with a pretzel. It was pretty good but nothing special. It came cut up into pieces, not as a whole pretzel.
I had the goulash sandwich — it was super yummy. My husband had the sauerbraten sandwich and really loved it. He especially loved the pretzel bun. The portions were really good sized and it was a filling lunch.
We sat outside which was really nice. The view is great and the outdoor seating area is really nice. What a great find for the area!

Food and beers were great. Beautiful view of Mohonk Preserve and tower. Outdoor seating was very nice and our server was friendly. Only complaint was the host was a bit on the rude side and refused to seat us at the table we requested because he said a large party was just seated in that servers section. Frustrating because five minutes later another party of two was seated at the table we requested. Definitely didn’t make us feel too welcome off the bat.

We love this neighborhood gem, and go as much as our budget allows! We always take friends and visitors there when we can.
Atmosphere is casual, family-​friendly, room-​to-​breathe, with Hudson Valley views from the terrace. Dirk and his wife are always there making sure things run as they should, and it is very much a family business. So long as you get a reservation on the busier days (they prefer it), there is always room. You can take large parties, which are easily accommodated in the large dining area.
They source local ingredients, the meat is raised sustainably, the food is tasty, the beer is delicious, the flourless chocolate cake is just the best. The prices are very moderate considering the emphasis on high-​quality, local food sourcing.
Recommended: whitefish crostini, spaetzle, Jäger Schnitzel, German short ribs

Food is always great. Views are amazing. Great beer selection. Good for family or dates!

I would never have found this place if not for Unilocal.Though it’s only a few miles from the NY State Thruway, one must travel down some lonely rural roads to find this place. Casual, inviting, and quaint, it was everything we needed it to be. Our server was friendly and attentive, and the place was pretty happening for a weeknight. One constant theme of my meal was the combination of two things that I would never have thought of putting together, but it mostly really worked.
First, their haus iced tea is a combination of Earl Grey and chamomile, and it was really good. For my entrée, I had the Portobello Paprikash. The pretzel bun was not too pretzel-​y, kind of like an everything bagel, and the mushroom could have been more flavorful, but the salad came with a blue cheese dill dressing that was to die for. I believe Mr. H had the Currywurst. I found the fries to be the perfect thickness and crispness, and the accompanying «gunk dunk» was also very tasty, kind of like a garlic aioli. The only thing I didn’t really love was the obatzda, which was a little too funky for me. Neither of us had a drink as we were in the midst of a road trip, unfortunately. I could easily imagine planning a weekend trip to the Gunks purely so I can eat at this place again.

I went to Gunx Haus after going to another local German restaurant for the second time only to be turned away with over an hour wait. We waited for 15 min; played cards by the bar (they have a nice selection of games). Painless wait. We all ordered the amazing cheeseburgers which have no hormones served on a pretzel roll. Nice helping of the most delicious fries. Dessert was also amazing. My son had the apple strudel, I shared the banana cake with peanut butter icing with my other son and my girls shared a chocolate cake with mint ice cream layered inside. We were all very very pleased. This is a beautiful location. Homey atmosphere. I brought my four children but didn’t feel out of place. Huge thumbs up to the staff and owners of Gunx Haus

I’ve lived in Germany, and I love Germany!
I love German food!
I love German Beer, so I really like Gunk Haus!
Modestly priced, Gastropub is a casual and easygoing atmosphere.
The menu is simple and short. I found traditional choices like wursts, sauerbraten, and schnitzels readily available. I also noticed that many of the dishes use fresh and local produce. On both visits, I saw that the small but respectable list of brews is ever changing with local and regional offerings. Not a beer lover? You can choose from several wines and a cider too, all local.
On my most recent lunch visit, we started off with the fresh-​cut french fries. For an extra $ 5 you can get them smothered in bratwurst gravy. It’s a bit of an up-​charge, but it’s absolutely worth it. Rich with flavor, they don’t skimp out on the bratwurst, and it’s downright heavenly, you must try it! I went for the roast pork loin sandwich. Made with local, pasture-​raised pork, it was tasty. It came on a pretzel roll, dressed up with braised leeks, gorgonzola, and spicy mustard, with crisp mesclun greens in a sherry vinaigrette on the side. She had the «Quiche of the Day». Tall and served in a flaky pastry filled with seasonal vegetables, I had a small bite and it was wonderful! Something I would order next time after having tried hers! We didn’t have room for dessert but the hot fudge cake sounds and looks amazing. Out front, there is also a small stand offering yesterday’s breads and pastries as well as fresh-​baked goods to go.
Overall, this is a casual, fun spot where the beers are good, and the eats are hearty. I look forward to coming back when it’s warmer on the outdoor space, where views of Mohonk Preserve and the Catskills await. Open daily except Tuesday for lunch and dinner. Sandwiches and entrées range from $ 8-​$ 18; desserts from $ 3-​$ 6.

Atmosphere and service were very good.
Beer was pretty good too… Definitely better than the Guilded Otter. Make sure you try the Royal drink… Mix of cider and wine. Quite yummy.
Steer clear of the cheese dip that comes with the pretzel. It’s served cold which shocked all 6 of us. The taste was too gross. Tasting.

Great find close to New Paltz, 4 stars for food, beers, and service!
We were recently on a trip from NYC to Kingston and stopped by here for lunch. It’s about 5 minutes off thruway exit 17, in the direction opposite from New Paltz.
It’s a German chalet in the midst of applebgroves. The atmosphere inside is authentic with great views of the gunks.
Service was good and they had a nice selection of German and regional beers. Now the food was good overall. We ordered the brisket which was delicious. We had the pretzel and cheese spread appetizer. The pretzel was yummy but the cheese spread not, it tasted like pâté (if you like that sort of thing).
I would definitely come back and recommend it to fans of German fare!

Gutes Essen. Große Bier. Tollen Blick auf die Berge. Ich werde hier wieder essen.