Allgauer’s on the Riverfront

I’ve been dining at Allgauer’s as long as I can remember. I’ve attended a number of Easter brunches here, celebrated New Year’s Eve, anniversary and birthday celebrations, and have had lunch and dinner in between throughout the years. I’m not sure if they recently changed management, but the quality of the food has changed dramatically. It has gone way down.
Most recently I was here for lunch. I immediately noticed that their menu had changed. They don’t seem to have a lot of the items that they used to have. I started out with the French onion soup. I love French onion soup and even though it tends to be on the salty side, I don’t mind. Allgauer’s French onion soup was quite the opposite with it being too sweet. How can French onion soup be sweet? I tried to convince myself that it wasn’t that bad, but I couldn’t keep lying to myself. After a couple of tastings, I told the server that I didn’t care for it and they switched my order to lobster bisque, which was actually quite good. I ordered the penne pomodoro as a main entrée. It wasn’t awful per say, but there was something off with the flavor. The pesto was lacking salt and the Italian sausage didn’t have much kick or flavor to it. Overall, it was just mediocre and I would definitely not order it again. The thing that really got to me was the lemon meringue pie that my dad ordered. In my mind I thought it was going to be a nice slice of delicious pie, but instead it was a little itty-​bitty lemon tart. It was totally misleading. Four bites and a person would literally be finished with it. It also tasted like it had been frozen and thawed out. The lemon part of the tart had a congealed texture to it. That little tart cost $ 8. Can you say rip-​off?
I don’t think I’ll be dining here any time soon. Like I mentioned, it’s been a staple for our family, but something happened and it’s definitely not for the better. The food is below average as well as the ambiance. This place is never crowded even during peak lunch hours. I wouldn’t be surprised if this place ends up closing.

We have had a long history with this restaurant over 40 years. From Sweet 16 parties to Anniversary celebrations and multiple Mother’s Day brunches. We hadn’t eaten at the Sunday buffet for awhile and we were looking forward to eating there. We were sorely disappointed in the food. Tasteless and sloppy presentation. The omelet station didn’t have spinach and the salmon was never replenished over the 2 hours we were there. Service was good but couldn’t overcome the food.

It’s been many years since I’ve been here. Our friends picked this place because of their Sunday brunch. It was maybe at 25% capacity when we got there at noon and never got busier. Table service was slow and we had to remind our server twice that we wanted water and we had to grab another server to get coffee refills. We sat near what seemed to be a kids buffet and it wasn’t once refilled or checked. Food seemed very cheap but it’s kids stuff so I didn’t think much of it but even cheap food get worse, in time, sitting in a chaffing dish. So we hit the main buffet. Cold salads area was maybe the most appealing but that wasn’t saying much. Wilted Cesar salad and mixed green salad. Burnt roasted/​grilled vegetables. A jello mold that was from the 60’s. Techno colored jello. It’s seems old and began to see it drying out. Like nobody was walking the buffet and keeping it looking fresh. In the center was shucked oysters and shrimp and crab. The oysters sat there for the entire time we were there. Nobody was touching them. Not fresh to me. The composed salads were dried out and were almost all some sort of ceviche or overcooked pasta/​rice salad. Went to carving prime rib station. And what’s seemed to be horseradish sauce had a dried out yellow ring around the bowl. What a turn off. The hot food section was a mix of different foods swimming in sauce. Very turned off. I barely ate much except what I saw the staff bring out that was fresh which wasn’t much. Lastly the desserts. I thought this place had a pastry kitchen back in the day. Obviously not any more. All store bought pastries and the like. Probably the most notable was the chocolate fountain. Talk about a nasty out dated gimmick. I watched as people dipped fruit and cake into the fountain. Literally standing there and dipping then taking a bit then dipping again. One older gentleman actually was walking back to his table with his hand covered with chocolate. He was literally dipping items in the flowing chocolate with his hands. Overall as you can see it was a total let down. Back in the late 80’s this was a very busy place with amazing food. Table side cooking and great service. I hope that someone who reads this and works with the organization goes to brunch next weekend and sees the potential of an upgrade and understands the impact it can have on business to constantly replenish items with fresh product. We will read future reviews to see if it improves and to judge if we will return ever again. The name Allgaure’s in the past denoted quality to the area. We hope they wake up and turn it around.

Worst Dinning Experience Ever
We arrived at Allgauer’s at the time of our reservation for our Thanksgiving dinner. We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated. During our waiting time we noticed that many tables and booths were not occupied because they had dirty dinner ware still on the tables. The three of us viewed the menu and noticed that on this special day there was only a choice of two entrees, turkey or salmon dinner. After about 15 minutes we manage to get our waiter and order cocktails. After another 15 minutes the cocktails arrived, two were wrong and the third questionable. Since we could not get our waiter’s attention to correct the cocktail order, we decided to drink them. After another 15 minutes we finally got the attention of our waiter and ordered our entrees, salads and desserts. We also asked for bread to be served with the salads. It was now an hour since we were seated. The salads finally arrived but, the salad dressing was wrong on two of the salads. My wife decided to eat hers salad even though the dressing was wrong. I asked for the correct dressing for mine and asked where the bread rolls were. The waiter said he would take of the problem. After another 10 minutes waiting for my salad dressing and the bread rolls I went looking for anybody who can help. I was told the problem would be taken care of. Finally after another 10 minutes my salad dressing arrived and bread rolls for two people. There were three people in this booth, not two. There were no napkins or bread plates on the table. Later, during the night, the napkins arrived, but we never saw any bread plates. It was now an hour and twenty minutes since we were seated. Finally our entrees arrived. It was now an hour and 45 minutes since we were seated. By this time, the turkey was dry and over cooked.
We were not the only people in the restaurant that were having problems. At the next booth the people ordered a turkey dinner and a salmon dinner. They were served two turkey dinners. One was taken back and a salmon dinner was replaced after about 20 minutes. Another table with about six people had the entrees served before they had their salads. The waiter took the entrees away and served their salads about 20 minutes later.
We tried to explain this bizarre dining experience but could only come up with only one explanation; that the bus boys were doing the waiters’ jobs. If the bus boys were doing the waiter’s jobs, who was cooking the food?

I had gone before when they had lobster and prime rib night. Apparently it does not exist anymore and the rest of the buffet was not substantial enough to keep me interested. I could even tell the crowd had changed. When I had gone in the past there were always people and the environment was friendly. Now, it is quiet and empty. The staff looked like they were itching to get out faster than the guests. The meat carver stood on his cell phone behind the table. They don’t rotate the food very often. About 1.5 hrs before closing the staff was just condensing food on the tables and were not replacing anything. Everything just sat in the pans and did not look fresh. Definitely not going back!

Went here for all inclusive Friday night seafood and rib. The food was unpleasant. Didn’t feel good all night and manager was rude. He didn’t want our business and told us he was fine with us never coming back.

Discount is misleading-​you are not able to use it for brunch. Next time call ahead-​or don’t even check in!

I was here the other night enjoying Allgauer’s beer garden. They had excellent beers on tap and the ambience was perfect. The beer tender Jonathan was excellent with customer service and made the overall experience very enjoyable. Will definitely be back.

Food is very good but they need a few more staff members during the lunch hrs with a large conference. The staff is very friendly.

My daughter created a reservation on open table for the brunch on Mother’s Day upwards of six weeks ago. Yet upon arrival we were told that we didn’t have a reservation.
The man at the podium flippantly indicated that they haven’t taken reservations through open table for months.
Adding insult to injury, the people at the front podium were so arrogant and rude that I will never return to Allgauers again.

Wow has the Sunday brunch changed!
Used to love this place, it was our go to brunch.
The entire buffet has been condensed, no longer two large rooms full of choices. It’s not impressive and awe inspiring anymore.
I’m so sorry that this amazing place has decided to pare down the offerings, and the quality.
Empty chafing dishes remained empty, it was like child day camp with screaming kids running around unsupervised (shame on the parents, not the restaurant)
Live and learn, we’ll be looking for the next great place

My family and I went here for Easter brunch. Insanely crowded but it’s understandable.
Parking was already hard enough though and people really parked like jerks in the parking lot. There were at least 5 spots that were un-​parkable because there cars were way over the line. Thanks.
We had reservations for the buffet but weren’t sure which line to go in. My dad and I were in one line and my sister in another. We ended up having to go to her line to get in.
Our reservation changed from 5 people to 4, we were still seated right away but we were put at a table that wasn’t ready yet and we sat for about 8 – 10 min without being acknowledged by any waiter. Finally a really nice waiter asked if we were being helped and when we said no he said ok fine I will be! And we cheered
The food was incredible. Really fresh and made well. We took advantage of the unlimited mimosas too. This was my first time here and I see why people like it but avoid it on Easter if you don’t like crowds.

Complete chaos for the brunch held on Easter Sunday. We have eaten brunch here during past major holidays and have NEVER experienced the complete disorganization and chaotic situation we experienced yesterday.
You would think they were giving away free food.
We waited in line for over 30 – 45 minutes just to check-​in. Food dishes were often empty. They ran out of clean plates repeatedly.
We also noticed much less variety from our previous visits. Very sad as we have been coming to Allgauer’s a few times times a year for the past 10 years.
Yesterdays experience left us no desire to come back. Way too many other establishments where we can dine and enjoy a family brunch.
Very disappointed to say the least.

Friday buffet is a complete rip off
They no longer serve lobsters and prime ribs
There is not much to select from — 10 salads, baked salmon, shrimps, oysters and crab legs
There is roasted beef instead of prime ribs and this beef is overcooked
Desserts are very cheap
Instead of good desserts they used to have now they serve you the cheapest cakes cut into small pieces
You are paying $ 40 for what you can get for $ 15 anywhere else

This restaurant is wonderful! My husband and I go there at least for my birthday and our anniversary and then a few times in between.
The food is always excellent and the staff is, too. It’s a bit pricey so I go to
and buy a $ 50 voucher for $ 25 or less (they have sales all the time).
It’s a warm, cozy restaurant in spite of being a wide open space. The colors are muted and the lighting is romantic.
Just thinking about this place makes me want to go and get their French onion soup!

Last Sunday the whole family 20 of us went to brunch!
It was excellent, I must admit I was hitting the dessert section hard.
Life is short, eat dessert first is my motto
There wasn’t anything that wasn’t fresh or amazing, I had a major pig-​out!
This was a place I went as a child, so it’s been there at least 40 years.
The service was on point and I will go again on my next trip to Chicago
Major yum factor

Generally pretty terrible. I had a friend visiting from Toronto and he was staying at the hotel next door. I saw an online ad for their Friday prime rib and seafood buffet so I thought it would be worth a try.
The restaurant itself seems to have been decorated in the late 80’s and not updated since. Space was dark and the furniture was well worn. I don’t know if it was just our booth but the space was very tight.
Our booth was next to a server’s station so while we were eating, we had to stare at a pile of dirty dishes and a bucket of crab and lobster shells.
The food was entirely forgettable. To be fair, nothing was horrible. Just all really kind of bland. The prime rib was probably the best thing. Fairly tender, but not a lot of seasoning. A little more salt would have been nice. There was some shrimp pasta dish that didn’t really taste like much more than pasta with no sauce and some over cooked, tough shrimp pieces. Baked Cod was again overcooked, very dry and tough.
For the price we paid ($ 42 each) I would have expected more.

Came for Easter brunch and was not disappointed. We didn’t have to wait (we had reservations) to be seated. It was reasonably priced and the vast selection was excellent. Chilled shrimp and crab legs, oysters, omelette station, eggs benedict, waffles, French toast, bacon, sausage & gravy, prime rib, pasta salads, seafood salads, smoked salmon, poached salmon, soups, desserts, etc.
I loved that even though it was Easter Sunday, it was very quiet inside and there weren’t a ton of kids running around (they were all having brunch in the Hilton ballroom down the hall).

An Easter favorite, I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed it already. This is how you do Easter brunch!
Other than the wonky, creepy, dingy looking Easter bunny, the place is top notch. Pricy but not when you consider the quality, variety, and manner in which they handled the crowds.
Food was decadent, (and completely undid my entire week’s worth of training) plentiful, and in well kept serving dishes. Everything that should be served hot, was, and vice versa. Oysters were fresh-​yes buffet oysters done right!!!
Beverages (mimosas-​hell yes!) were filled and plates removed without having to ask– staff was friendly and accommodating.
If you’re going to do a holiday brunch, own it, pay for the full experience that Allgauers serves up. Your mouth will be happy, and you will too, if you don’t wear restrictive clothing.

Delicious and semi fancy hotel food, yay!
The restaurant is pretty big, quite and cute. The food was actually pretty good. My salmon was a little dry… but the mushroom risotto was amazing. The mahi mahi had a strong char grilled flavor, but the pumpkiny trout was amazing! ALSO, the appely crabcake is a must try. so fresh and flavorful and different. Do NOT get the peach cobbler as it was cold and kind of gross (and I rarely. ok never… not finish dessert). BUT the crème brûlée was sooo good and creamy, and the key lime pie was good but just tasted store bought.
Definitely a good option to eat at the hotel since there is nothing else around within walking distance.