Food and Drinq

Now where am I gonna go for vienerschnitzel??? Dagnabbit, all the indies are closing up. What's the difference between center city and King of Prussia these days? Just what we need, another center city restaurant "like Capital Grill."

It's about time? Ok, so there are plenty of places that feature Belgian beer and food, and plenty of places featuring local beers, and two Trias, a Vintage, a Beneluxx...but how many places left featuring German beer and food? How many places that have an authentic theme (for lack of a better word) and setting? Yeah, the food was pretty spotty, but I'd gladly take that to go somewhere that had a real sense of place and was a little more timeless than the latest trendy fetishistic beer and wine spot. I'm not even German but I already miss the sauerbraten, spaetzle, wurst.

From Michael Klein: "It's about Time" referred to the name of the new restaurant. It was not a judgment about the changeover.

Thumbs down on this move! Where will I go for german food and that excellent beer selection!?!

I am sorry to see Ludwig's go, and as much as I'll miss the beer menu and fun atmosphere, the interior was definitely in need of a makeover (i.e., the bathrooms were a disaster). But to compare the new place that the Evenchik's will be bringing to Center City to what KOP has to offer is about as ignorant of a statement one could make. Last time I checked, Vintage, nor the new place, Time, are chain restaurants. I look forward to trying Time...especially given what a hit they have on their hands with Vintage.

What a shame about Ludwig's. It was a great place to watch soccer, especially Bundes Liga games. During the World Cup in 2002, the owner opened up his restaurant early Sunday morning for the Germany/Brazil final and gave away free cooked breakfast to everybody and, of course, beer. It is too bad the city couldn't support this great place.

Ludwig's had a way of bringing out the good side of people. I always felt I could talk to the person on the bar stool next to me. I'll miss it.

I'm going to miss Ludwig's though I rarely went there but for their awesome Oktoberfest each year. Shame to see it go. Loved their beers, staff and atmosphere (but agree that the bathrooms were horrendous).

It hurts to lose a German restaurant. But Ludwig's really went downhill in recent years. The place was so dirty, especially, those bathrooms, it just felt like no one cared.

Wow, this is really awful news. I was a big fan of Ludwigs, and introduced it to a lot of people who also really enjoyed it. I agree with the other poster who said we don't need another Capital Grill. Ludwigs was a unique downtown dining/drinking experience for me.

Any plans for Ludwigs re-opening in another location?

ps...that's a really bad title for the article if you aren't "making a judgement on the changeover." I also instantly assumed you were saying good riddance.

From Michael Klein: Thanks for the feedback. I don't think Paul Olivier will be reviving Ludwig's anywhere.

First Lakeside Deli, now Ludwigs Garten. I'm glad i'm reading this in private...when I read your post on Lakeside Deli closing in the course of a meeting, I blurted out (expletive deleted).

This was in my mind one of the special places in Philadelphia, where you could get great food, great beer and for the time there, feel you were in a different place and time. And it's the only restaurant where I've seen Pike on the menu, short of as an ingredient in Gefilte Fish.

I hope [fill in your own long-time favorite] isn't next!

Nuts. Ditto on most of the comments. I discovered the joy of beer at Ludwig's, introduced by my connoisseur buddy Bill. I returned the favor to many others. Where else can you find Aventinus on tap?

Ludwig's offered a great German beer selection and I'll miss this place very much. we had some great times in that place knocking back Scheider Aventinus! The beers were wonderful.

yes, the place was dirty and one night we witnessed a roach cruising the top of the bar, but that was recently. in all, it was a great bar. Auf Wiedersehen Ludwig's