Zeppelin Hall Biergarten and Restaurant

The weather was GORGEOUS and I just had to find a place where I could sit outside. I wasn’t in the mood for a fancy restaurant and searched on Unilocal for someplace close to home. I found Zeppelin. I don’t drink beer and thought why the hell would I go to a beer garden but I’m so glad I did. Ive only been to one beer garden before in Astoria, Queens and remember it being packed on a summer night. I figured since the weather was nice this place would also be crowded. I arrived around 7:30 and it was pretty empty. I guess that was a good thing but I was looking forward to working on my introvert issues and talking and mingling with strangers.
When I first pulled up I thought I was at the wrong place. It actually looked like a fancy restaurant from the outside. But once you walk in, and go past security (who stopped us for about 15 minutes to ask my b/​f about the guitar pic necklace he had on), the place is HUGE and very much a beer garden. Long, wood community tables in every room. there is an outdoor an indoor section both which are quite big. I saw a stage in one of the bigger indoor rooms.
You go to a counter to order your food and you are given a pager to let you know when the food is done. We sat outside while our food was getting ready. Again it was pretty empty (maybe I had just missed the after work crowd?).
Once our food was ready we decided to sit inside. They were already out of a few items like the brisket and shrimp when we ordered. We decided on the meat sampler with (chicken, sausage and pulled pork) and the pork ribs. We had corn pudding, mac and cheese and french fries with vinegar as a side. where have i been that i’ve never had french fries with vinegar?!! so yummy. All the food was good and very flavorful. The corn pudding was amazing! wish it were a bigger size!
I was happy that they had vodka available and would definitely come back here!

One of the selling points of the place is that it’s not family friendly. And I love this place for that.
Where is the stroller mafia? Completely locked out, yes banished, from this place. No mom’s groups meeting to discuss diaper rash and vegan alternatives to olive oil.
Apart from these benefits, the bierstube comes with all the correct German attributes, including bier und currywurst.
The bouncers should mellow a bit, and perhaps learn rudimentary social skills, but otherwise the place has everything in place for a weekend long party and hangover.

In my opinion, the best biergarten in Jersey.
Authentic with 144 beer taps of mostly European beer (and some American craft beers), traditional food, and big long tables. I should talk about the space first — this place is absolutely massive, indoor and outdoor. They have three full bars to cover the space, and tons of seating, although somehow it still manages to get packed.
The beer list is impressive and always solid. The prices, whether you’re getting a flight, regular, or large beer are good (especially for the area). Do yourself a favor and try some beers that you can’t pronounce — there’s not many other places around here that you can find some of them.
I have to admit I come here sometimes just for the food. I think it’s that good. Massive pretzels, a few different types of sausages, and much more. Good sized portions, always satisfying, and great to pair with a beer if you’re so inclined.
Added bonus for people who don’t live in Jersey City, they have a free parking lot. Now that you know that, I don’t think there’s any excuse to not make your way here and give it a shot.

Checked out Zeppelin Hall on a Saturday night. Overall good experience.
Service was a bit slow but the grilled chicken wings were delicious and drafts were plentiful.

I wish I could give this business a 0-​star. Terrible service and treated rudely by both the bouncer and manager. Was cursed at and they wouldn’t let my friend in saying there was a dress code for wearing boots (when everyone else was wearing the same thing in the bar. Mind you this is the weekend after the blizzard that hit the tri-​state area and there was «slush» and deep puddles everywhere).
Will not be back. Do not recommend.
Update: After checking out the other 1-​star reviews seems this is not the first incident. Such a shame.

I’ve been to Zeppelin about 20 times now — maybe more. They have a great selection of beers, but I am gluten-​free so it’s kind of a let down. They only have Red Bridge in a bottle, which is not very good. They have a few ciders on tap which is what I have to resort to. There is also wine and hard liquor, but it seems strange to drink those at a beer hall.
The food is OK — I usually get the kielbasa or bratwurst which are fine, but the fries are not great. The pretzels look pretty good, but again, being gluten-​free, I can’t eat them.
The atmosphere is nice — good for big groups of people, especially in the summer. Overall, they just need to add some gluten-​free beer options and they’d get 4 stars from me!

It’s a great place to hang with friends because it’s so spacious and the have a good amount of options for beer. The food is also tasty. It’s not the best German food ever but it’s pretty damn good. Definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a chill pave to hang out. The only thing it’s hot going against it is that the live band that plays here once in a while is a bit too loud. The fact that they play is awesome, I just wish it was a little quieter.

Zeppelin Hall is located right next to the Jersey Ave light rail station. The décor is a little cheesy. It almost reminded me of EPCOT’s Germany.
My boyfriend and I came in on a Thursday at around 7. It seemed like most people were just drinking and not really having dinner there. I can see why. It’s endless happy hour on Thursdays — half off drinks, so a beer will only run you about $ 5. Plus, the food isn’t very good. Here is everything we ordered:
Smoked chicken wings — this had a nice smokey flavor to it but the chicken was extremely dry. I thought I was eating chicken jerky. It’s served on top of a bed of onion straws but those just tasted like a giant ball of grease.
Sausage sampler — you get to choose 3 out of a list of 5 sausages. I picked the kielbasa, chicken bratwurst, and cheesy bratwurst. The best one was probably the cheesy bratwurst but only because I love cheese. The chicken was just alright. After about halfway through, that’s when I realized how salty it actually was. The fries it came with didn’t help because they dumped a pound of salt on that too.
The Hindenburger — a burger topped with a quarter pound bratwurst, sautéed onions, thick cut bacon, and your choice of cheese. Again, super salty but it’s not something you realize until later. The few bites I had were pretty good.
I can’t remember all the beers we had but the system is kind of weird. Certain beers are only available in the hall and others are only available at the pub. So if you’re getting a few different beers, expect to possibly be running back and forth.
I would definitely come back but probably just for Thursday happy hour. I wouldn’t mind trying a pretzel but that’s it, as far as food goes.

Cool bar with outdoor area. Great for the summer. Only thing is for the price I rather just be in NYC than be in jersey and pay NYC prices

Amazing IPAs, hard ciders, and seasonal/​local brews plus your typical domestics and imported on tap. The best part is that there is always seating, whether outside for the summer or inside at these long bench tables for colder days, so great for groups. I do need to try the food at some point…
They have a free lot but weekend nights can get crowded so you might need to walk a bit!

My observations: The space is great! The beer selection is amazing! The food is good but not great. The staff is accommodating but not overly friendly.
I would definitely hit the spot up for German food and beer with my buddies… or I would even host a birthday or other event here. I wouldn’t go back with just one or two other people, however. It just seems more like a place for groups.
Note that the space is not fancy but rather a no-​nonsense beer tavern look, which perfectly fits the goal of Zeppelin. It’s more like a warehouse that was renovated to look like a beer tavern over a creepy, old building that was reconditioned as a beer hall (the latter really being my preference).

I must say, the crowd at Zeppelin Hall varies from day to day. Sometimes you’ll have a lot of twenty somethings, or some days you’ll see a lot of children and their parents. I’d call it a sports bar if anything. Very large space. Lots of benches, a stage for bands that play from time to time and a large outdoor area. Great for big groups and not so much the smaller ones (2 – 3 people). Everyone just keeps to themselves and their parties so its not great for meeting new people. A huge plus is their free parking. If you happen to have one too many drinks, I think they can give you an overnight parking pass and you can take a cab home.
Good beer selection and hard liquor for those keeping track of their waistlines. Food is often great. I stick to my usual currywurst and pretzel but everything I’ve had is typically good. Portions are huge and are very affordable.

«No casual wear» dress policy. I got turned away on a Saturday night because of my Steve Madden leather fashion boots. I can get into upscale nightclubs with these but not you’re almost empty bar? Lol
The bouncer was polite and even joked about it but he had to follow rules so I understand.
Looks nice from the outside though! Haha
You’re loss, and the nearby bars’ and restaurants’ gain.

I’ve only been here once with my friend recently, and I’m so glad I came. I was in beer heaven lol. Very very big selections of beers on tap. (Craft, imported, american, etc you name it) This place is huge… lots of space inside and outside as well. Live music inside and they also have food which I didn’t try but I will next time. Parking was a little tough but probably because I went so late. Great crowd, fast and friendly service. I would definitely go back, I left happy!

When it comes to the big picture stuff, Zepp Hall has got it covered. It’s a massive beer hall with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, they’ve got a mighty fine selection of craft brews and you can get any sort of authentic German fare that you are craving. If a tall beer and a brat doesn’t make for a satisfying biergarten trip, then I don’t know what will!
The reason that Zeppelin falls short of five, or even four stars is because of some smaller details. I don’t want to sound nitpicky, but there are just a couple of things about this place that really irk me! For one, the glasses here are always smudged and dirty. And, speaking of dirty, it’s just generally not that clean inside. The tables feel cluttered and unkempt, and I just wish that their cleaning crew came through a little more then they do now. There’s also always a kids birthday party going on which I think is kind of odd. It’s weird not to be able to get a seat at a bar because it’s been taken over by a child’s birthday party.
Babies in biergartens and dirty conditions aside, Zeppelin hall is fun. It’s fun for a sports game, it’s fun for a day drink and it’s a great addition to the neighborhood. Needless to say, none of my qualms will ever deter me from coming back!

Summary; a far cry from its early days, and not a fun place to watch NFL games
Zeppelin Hall has long been a staple for NY Giants games for my friends and I. The big projector screen in the main room offers good viewing angles. However, on my most recent visit (Sunday night), I was actually denied entry into the beer garden because of my shoes (Timberland boots)**.
Now, I know better than to wear Timbs out if I’m going out on a Friday night in Manhattan… but Sunday afternoon at a beer garden in Jersey City? You’re telling me that you allow babies in strollers to enter your bar, but not sports fans who happen to be wearing boots? Give me a break. This is not a knock on the bouncer, who I assume was only doing his job, but rather on the inane rules of the establishment (for another example — you can’t smoke cigars outside anymore).
My guess is these silly rules have driven away some fans, as the place was empty during the Giants v Cowboys game (I would have expected a big crowd). It doesn’t help that the parking lot is now a long hike from the front door.
Now that winter is coming (Ned Stark), I don’t see any good reason to continue visiting. I’ll stick to the Hoboken beer garden instead.
** As a true testament to my resourcefulness, I phoned my good friend Jennson W. who lives nearby. He brought me a pair of flip flops that I changed into so that I would be graciously allowed into the beer garden. I proceeded to change back into my Timbs once I was seated inside watching the game.

I’ve been to this location a bunch of times because my brother lives in the building across the street. We came here after the fourth of July fireworks and it wasn’t too crowded, but it soon would be. We ordered a few beers for the table and appetizers too.
We ordered the huge pretzel which was doughy and amazing. Came with a few mustards on the side and a cheese sauce as well. Next item was the pretzels stuffed with cheese. I have a thing for anything stuffed with cheese so this was delicious in my mind. Last item were the pierogis. These were very good to my surprise and glad we ordered them.
Great place for beer and pretzel lovers.

In addition to the giant screens where one can catch pretty much any sports venue being shown, there is the dozens of tap beer from around the world. They used to serve Aventinus (17% ABV — yikes) and hopefully they bring it back.
The food as improved considerably from a couple of years ago, good basic Bavarian-​inspired bar food.
Some evenings you can belt it out with the Karaōke band and there is free Bacon Thursdays.

Zeppelin Hall is a pretty cool and casual place to hang out. It’s huge in comparison to some other biergartens I’ve been to. I gave it a three star rating because I’m not a fan of overly crowded anything, especially when children are present.
That said, I love the outdoor, picnic style seating. The food is pretty good but the wait time is a bit too long. I’ve been here twice and both times I enjoyed myself.

5 Stars for the huge outdoor area, happy hour, and craft beer selection.
3 Stars for the food.
The outdoor area is awesome. It is huge and has tons of seating. They just redid the outdoor bar to include more seating around the whole bar (all sides) as well as created a nice large covering over it as well. They have probably about 40 different beers on tap at a time. My husband and his friends love the beer selections. Not being a craft beer lover myself, I can usually find 1 or 2 beers that I will drink. The happy hour is awesome! It runs from 4 – 7 pm weekdays and ALL liquor (beer, wine, hard alcohol) is half-​price. I definitely recommend stopping by for happy hour. In the fall they have a great selection of Oktoberfest beers.
The food is still pretty mediocre in my opinion. After reading all of the reviews raving about Pat LaFrieda burgers, we decided to order one. We ordered a Pat LaFrieda burger and a ¼ pound hot dog. We ordered the burger medium and what we received was well done. Not cool Zeppelin Hall. You really need to learn how to cook a burger properly, especially since it’s one of the most common items on your menu. The ¼ hot dog was in actuality 2 small hot dogs on one giant pretzel bun. The bun was good, but I never would have ordered this for two «normal» hot dogs. They weren’t too good either. Both items are served with french fries. These were alright. Our table got an order of the 3 smaller hot pretzels, and I must say, these were definitely an improvement over the previous pretzel which was just downright gross. I really liked the «newer» pretzel and would order it again.
They have a parking lot on the other side of the light rail station with free parking during business hours. Very convenient (as is having the light rail station in their backyard).
Overall, Zeppelin Hall is a fun place to hang out and great for happy hour. Leave when happy hour ends and get dinner elsewhere.

This is one of my fave biergartens to kick back and enjoy some great beer outdoors. I do have some faves in NYC which are superior in food yet always crowded every day of the week. Zeppelin Hall does the trick for me when I’m looking to grab a German beer and some pub grub with friends.
The food is definitely all over the place. some really tasty, some just okay. The pretzel is oily and the fries are meh. The pretzel is saved by the trio of honey mustard, spicy German mustard, and cheese spread that accompanies it. The fries? Topped with bacon and bacon salt. Yep. We had to get in there in time for their bacon festival thing… I really enjoyed the cheese stuffed bacon sausage, and the «Bacon Bouquet» with sweet potato puffs and nutella? Genius, I tell you.
Plus, where else can you get a LITER of Carton Brewing’s 0077XX??? Be still my heart! (Actually, it will be after chowing down on all that bacon!)

One star for their customer service. A shame because I don’t mind the venue and their beer selections at all. But I’ve been calling non stop from open to close for almost a week now and no one EVER picks up the phone. So if you have a question about the place and want to call and ask, forget about it. I resorted to sending a facebook message and someone responded, but they gave a short answer and has not responded to any of my follow up questions. I have never seen such abhorrently inefficient phone customer service for a bar/​restaurant. My friend also sent an email to them on their website because they are unreachable by phone, but no one has responded to that either. They obviously don’t care about customer service at all unless you’re there, but from what I’ve read on here, it seems like they’re not so great even when you’re there anyway.