Nagelschmiede by Christian Meierding-Schmidt in Ilsenburg (Harz)

We had a very good lunch here and would love to come back.

The Nagelschmiede is a wonderful restaurant with excellent food and cakes at a premium price. When the weather's nice, you can also enjoy your meal and relax in the beautiful gardens. The whole area can become a favorite spot. If our journey takes us back to Ilsenburg, we'll be sure to stop there again!

A wonderful evening. Outstandingly delicious food and unobtrusive, pleasant service in a family atmosphere with incredible attention to detail.

Simply delicious! We were able to enjoy the restaurant's amenities for two days in a row. I'd love to come back.

We regularly drive 40 miles to have a delicious meal at Nagelschmiede. The varied, small but fine menu offers a great selection of drinks and dishes for every taste. In addition to some spiced-up classics (e.g. currywurst), starters and desserts, there is always something with meat, something with fish and something vegetarian on offer. The variations have a twist and the ingredients are fresh - you can see, smell and taste it. We always receive courteous service and enjoy every second in this great restaurant, both in the cozy, chic interior and on the beautiful terrace. Keep it up! We are really looking forward to our next visit!

THANK YOU for the truly delicious food. The lady who served us was very nice and competent. I highly recommend it. THANK YOU

High prices create high expectations, which the nail smith unfortunately didn't live up to during our visit. The ambiance is very nice: a rustic interior, artificial birdsong in the restroom, a fountain in front of the entrance, etc. Whether you find signs on the wall asking you to keep your elbows off the table funny or intrusive is up to you. The service, however, could have been improved. Despite our half-full glasses, we were asked so often whether our drinks were alright that it became a bit annoying. We weren't asked, however, whether we wanted some bread to start with, which, of course, should be brought free of charge and without being asked in a restaurant like this. Instead, we had to ask for it and pay for it while the waitress was already clearing the plates and cutlery. The food was particularly disappointing. Even the greeting from the kitchen was unimaginative. The vitello tonnato was dry, and the duck breast (price: 39 euros), although a good portion, was very tough and also dry. We were happy to forgo dessert. Conclusion: In terms of price and self-image, the Nagelschmiede is a gourmet restaurant, but the cuisine unfortunately doesn't live up to this claim.

Can you recommend this place? Ask Google. Hmm, yes. I can, but I've done it before. Did Google forget that? Anyway, the staff are attentive and always ask, and the food is really, really good! I would give it 5 stars, too, I'm just afraid it could get any better. So, you did a great job, staff and kitchen, thumbs up!

A beautifully decorated restaurant with friendly and, above all, competent staff. The food was excellent and very attractively presented. Absolutely recommended.

Excellent food. Very friendly, attentive service. A very nice ambiance. The higher prices are therefore quite acceptable in comparison, even if we're still a bit accustomed to these price ranges.

Very friendly, competent, and efficient service Great atmosphere both inside and out Very, very tasty food

When we reserved a table for 6 people, we were informed that a private party was being hosted. Our concerns about potential problems with the service or the kitchen turned out to be unfounded. The service was perfect, the food was excellent, everything served at the same time and at the perfect temperature.

We were able to enjoy this wonderful restaurant in perfect weather. The restaurant is very cozy inside and beautifully decorated outside as well. The service is impeccable, and we were served very friendly and attentively. The selection of dishes is plentiful, with something for every taste. A very large selection of drinks, including excellent wines, is available. The food was freshly prepared and very tasty. The ambiance is peaceful and idyllic, despite the large number of guests. Advance reservations are recommended. All in all, highly recommended.

Great, thank you very much, we will be back.

A particularly beautiful and welcoming place with wonderful service and excellent food. The fish was perfect despite the restaurant being full. Absolutely fantastic!!!

Anyone who writes a critical review of the nail smith shop here will immediately have a revenge review from the owner posted on their own Google profile, from one of their many fake accounts. So don't be surprised why there are only positive reviews of the nail smith shop here. He aggressively pursues critics, and also, incidentally, his competitors in Ilsenburg. We have now hired a lawyer because he won't delete his revenge reviews.

Beautiful outdoor area, nicely decorated inside, competent service staff, delicious food—not cheap, but worth the price!

The food and drinks here are excellent! Everyone loved it! Very quiet location, right on the Ilse River! It's a great place to go hiking!

We were in Ilsenburg yesterday. We had a lovely evening at the Nagelschmiede. Such a high-quality restaurant with such delicious food makes it worth the hour-long trip.

We visited the restaurant several times and were always impressed: wonderful food, great staff, and a beautiful location... We were incredibly impressed by the young people employed by the two owners who serve there. It's rare to experience such thoughtful, attentive, and casually friendly service... A huge compliment to the entire team!

Great ambiance, very friendly and attentive staff, and a good menu with daily specials. The currywurst (beef) and the cheese platter are highly recommended.

We went to the Nagelschmiede for lunch today with four adults and one child. In short, it was truly outstanding. The service was very attentive; you can immediately tell the staff is professional. The food was very fresh and wonderfully tasty, and the portion sizes were just right. The atmosphere is truly comfortable; we'll definitely be back.

Delicious food. Great service. Fantastic atmosphere.

We came here for lunch on a recommendation. Great location. We sat on the terrace by the pond. It's a wonderful ambiance and very well-maintained. There's nothing withered in the flowerbed... Sunbeams winked through the tall trees, and goldfish basked beneath the water's surface. We had redfish and potato gnocchi with a truffle filling for the fish of the day. The plates were very decoratively arranged, and the food was truly delicious. The portions were just the right size to fill you up. We also had panna cotta and espresso for dessert. It's worth mentioning that the plates and espresso cups were preheated. We find this especially important when dining outside on the terrace. The topic of napkins is always a different story. But here, too, I was impressed because these were made of good paper and large enough. Not that cheap stuff, like sometimes, where the napkin falls apart into its entirety when you wipe your mouth. The staff was very friendly, accommodating, and fulfilled all our wishes. The "Nagelwasser" (nail water) was very delicious. A spirit with a very interesting flavor. Of course, a look into the restaurant was also a must. Everything is very lovingly decorated, not overly elaborate. Decent tables and chairs where guests can sit and dine properly. Not just any small, fussy stuff. Here, someone understands aesthetics and the meaning of good gastronomy. Two comfortable wingback chairs and a small table are grouped around the fireplace in the center. We'll definitely have to try this ensemble again sometime :-) I won't comment on the price. We've worked in the restaurant industry ourselves and therefore know the effort required to create such an experience. Everyone can decide for themselves what good food, friendly and attentive service, and a great ambiance are worth to them.

Actually, it's a lovely restaurant with a great outdoor terrace. But with a currywurst for €22, I expect a culinary highlight. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it was just average craftsmanship without inspiration. The "Happas" appetizer platter, on the other hand, was nice – I'd happily give it another star. Unfortunately, my children felt extremely uncomfortable. I also had the feeling that we, as a family, weren't welcome. The owner should simply decline family requests (we had spoken on the phone beforehand) and openly communicate that young children are not welcome. Then we would save ourselves an evening at the Nagelschmiede, and the owner this review. We really, really go out to eat with our children quite often. Very regularly at much more upscale restaurants. We haven't had that experience with our children yet. In my opinion, the place takes itself far too seriously for the rather average quality of the food. It's a shame, since the ambiance is really good. A little more relaxed would really do the Nagelschmiede a lot of good – this is Ilsenburg, not Hollywood.

Beautiful location right on the water! The food, the service, and the ambiance—both inside and out—are simply recommended! We'll definitely be back.

Freshly cooked food, excellent quality and taste, very good service and a great location.

Great food, service and atmosphere 👌🏻

A nice restaurant in the upscale price range. However, the food and service are reasonable.

We enjoyed our lunch here today. The Königsberger Klopse (meatballs) and corn-fed chicken breast were excellent and tasted very good.

I have nothing but good things to say about this restaurant. Very delicious food. Excellent service and cozy surroundings. Definitely recommended.

A beautiful place, very attentive service, and excellent quality products. We'll be back!

Truly great café! The cherry cake was delicious, along with equally good coffee and a refreshing shandy. The service was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was very pleasant, especially in the lovely beer garden. I'd love to come back – highly recommended!

Not only is the ambiance great, but so is the exceptionally friendly staff. The food is a delight. I would give it 10 stars 🌟 if they existed. 👌

A wonderful place 2024 - After receiving a very unfriendly welcome at a nearby hotel, we stumbled upon this café by chance. What a difference. A wonderful ambiance with a lovely terrace right on the water, a delicious menu, and impeccable, very friendly service saved the day. We had apple pie with cream and a blueberry tart. Both were truly wonderful. We would love to come back. Many thanks to the entire team, especially to the young waiter who served us. Addendum: We were there again in 2025. Everything was as great as last year. Many thanks to the wonderful team; you are especially wonderful.

Great restaurant with excellent service and a very pleasant ambiance. Plus, good value for money.

We're regular guests at Nagelschmiede, whether as a couple or in a larger group, and we always have a great time. The (daily) menu ranges from sophisticated to down-to-earth, but the taste is always impressive. All this is always accompanied by extremely attentive and friendly service and a fantastic ambiance. We wish the team all the best, keep up the good work!

A work of art: service, quality of food, ambience.

Highly recommended. Incredibly good service and very high-quality, delicious food. We've been here two years in a row now and would love to come back!

What a location! And the service doesn't rest on its laurels: incredibly attentive and courteous. And the food is delicious, too.

Very tasty restaurant a bit expensive but the taste saves this price

On June 21, 2025, six of us went to Nagelschmiede for dinner. It's a bit on the higher end, but the food is of high quality. The service was super friendly and answered every question. We'd be happy to come back.

Yesterday, after a hike up the Brocken, a table was reserved here. Due to the weather, seating and dining were only possible outside. The reason was explained to us later in the evening. Five of us opted for the pasta of the day. It was pasta with a ham and cream sauce. It sounds very banal, but the taste was different than one would have expected. High-quality ingredients, nicely decorated, and truly delicious. At €16 for that amount, it was certainly not cheap. Nevertheless, we all agreed. It was worth the price. Not the cooked ham from the Norma around the corner. Cress was for decoration. Service was very friendly. For dessert, we had some ice cream. It's from Mövenpick and tastes good too. They had stracciatella, strawberry, vanilla, and walnut flavors. A scoop costs €1.90, but surprisingly, they are quite large. The restrooms were very clean. We also bought a small bottle of Schmiedewasser to take home with us afterward. We were satisfied. Card payments accepted!

Too expensive, corn-fed chicken breast and salad 30 €, portion medium large...an hour waiting time

A very nice restaurant with delicious food. The service is phenomenal! We'd love to come back.

Highly recommended! Excellent cuisine, a lovely ambiance, and very attentive, extremely friendly staff. We're from Halle, but we'll definitely be back!

Great cake eaten, too few staff available

We felt completely at home, the service was excellent, and the food was of a high standard. Advance reservations are definitely recommended.

We highly recommend it. The atmosphere is lovely, and the service and staff are all very warm, friendly, helpful, and courteous, and always up for a laugh. We haven't felt this comfortable in a long time; we'll definitely be back. Best wishes to everyone!

Wow! What a great restaurant! What a pleasant, cozy, and cool atmosphere. The look was absolutely our style. The food was of high quality, and our companion particularly enjoyed the selection of vegetarian dishes! The service was incredibly friendly and extremely competent; finally, some staff who know their stuff.

Super nice restaurant. Great food and a super professional team. 🤌

This won't be the last time we've visited this upscale restaurant. We were looked after throughout the evening by an attentive and friendly young man. The food is lovingly prepared and of excellent quality. Unfortunately, the wines are only available by the glass in 0.1-liter glasses; however, you can take the bottles home with you for a 50% discount. The ambience is very inviting, with beautiful decor and attention to detail everywhere. We look forward to our next visit. Many thanks to the entire team for the wonderful evening.

Excellent food in a wonderful atmosphere and a fantastic location. A special stamp from the HWN (Hungarian Winery) is available at the entrance. We felt extremely well looked after throughout! Reservations are definitely necessary during the hiking season.

I've rarely experienced such a great restaurant with such reasonable prices. Great service, a lovely atmosphere, and excellent food and liqueurs. We'll be back!

Very friendly service. The food came very quickly. My noodles were a bit too mild for me, but that's a matter of taste. The fish soup was very good, and the large lemonade is truly perfect after a hike. I'd definitely go back!

A gem in Ilsenburg! We visited this beautiful restaurant for the first time yesterday and, in addition to excellent service, were treated to incredibly creative and high-quality cuisine. Combined with a wonderful ambiance, there's nothing a guest could wish for more. I rarely write such extremely positive reviews, but the Nagelschmiede truly deserves it! A return visit in a few days is already planned. Many thanks to the competent team at the Nagelschmiede!

A must-eat when you're in Ilsenburg.

We were very satisfied; the food was delicious, and the service was extremely attentive. The atmosphere outside in the beer garden in spring was also absolutely lovely.

Absolutely recommended. First-class service, first-class food, first-class ambiance. Unfortunately, it's not for the average budget, but every bite and sip is worth the price. Fresh ingredients, a balanced drinks menu, and expert service. Perfect. I rarely give this rating, unfortunately, but this time it absolutely fits.

Such a great restaurant/café, with extremely friendly staff. The cakes tasted truly amazing, and the decor was decorated with attention to detail. Such a pretty place! Highly recommended!

It's unbelievable that you have to drive all the way to this small village to find this shop. The interior is beautifully decorated, and everything is clean. The waitresses are all incredibly friendly but not overly pretentious, and so discreet that they're there but not annoying. And they also have incredibly delicious cakes, coffee you rarely find, delicious beer, and all at reasonable prices.

Everything is very nicely done, and you immediately feel very comfortable. The service was very friendly and prompt. Definitely worth a visit.

We got a table spontaneously (Friday), and our service was very friendly and attentive. The asparagus was delicious! Here, you are definitely treated as a guest and pampered. Many restaurants could learn a thing or two from their experience. I'll be back! Thank you for the consistently positive experience.

Fantastic place. Can be highly recommended. Both the food and the service. 5 stars out of 5. We will definitely come again.

Despite a failed online reservation, we got two nice seats in the guest room, which was decorated with a good eye. Service and food were very, very good! Thank you for the great time!

Like every year, we come here for dinner on our special day. The service is top. The food was fantastic, I would give it 10 stars. See you next year 👍

Very nice location, service excellent and food very tasty. One can only recommend

Highly recommended! The food was delicious and the service was attentive. We'd love to come back😍

A really great restaurant! With special service. Pascal in particular gave us a great evening! The food is also excellent and the atmosphere is great.

We were guests at Nagelschmiede in Ilsenburg for the Easter menu. From the very friendly welcome to the ambience, the top staff, the drinks to the choice of food, it was a perfect evening..!! We'd love to come back...

Best place to eat at Ilsetal, but reservation recommended. Nice wine, nice food on the fancier side.

A wonderful place with style, taste (in every respect), friendliness, peace....just great. More than recommended. Quality has top priority. Thanks for that.

Unreserved recommendation! Excellent cuisine, excellent service and a pleasant atmosphere. We'll be back and will have to travel several hours to get there.

Once again an incredibly delicious taste experience. Very competent, courteous and friendly service. Thank you very much. 👍🤗

Very good food and the excellent staff make this restaurant highly recommended. We would love to come back :)

I can unreservedly recommend this restaurant. You just have to be aware that this is fine dining. Quality that has its price. The restaurant is apparently very busy, so we strongly recommend that you make a reservation in advance. The toilets are very clean and well maintained. You can be inspired by the sayings you can read there. It's a very pleasant area to go for a walk after eating; there's a stream and a small pond. There is also parking, but the space is manageable.

Super, super delicious food, in a beautiful location. Service perfect. Food perfect and location perfect. We had the tomato soup and herb cream soup (hmmmm) very tasty as well as the schnitzel and the vegetarian gnochi. Super tasty. 👍An absolute recommendation. 👍👍

Super, super leckeres Essen, in einer wunderschönen Lokation. Service perfekt. Essen perfekt und Lokation perfekt. Wir hatten die Tomatensuppe und Kraüterrahmsuppe hmmmm sehr lecker sowie das Schnitzel und die vegetarischen Gnochi. Super Lecker. 👍Eine absolute Empfehlung. 👍👍

Excellent cuisine and excellent service. Reservation recommended! One of the best restaurants in the Harz district.

Cozy and tastefully furnished. Great service, was very pleasant.

We were very impressed. Initially, we only had a drink, but the very friendly service was so good that we went back the next day and had something to eat, which didn't disappoint. It was delicious. We sat outside with our dog, and that worked out well since it wasn't too crowded. If we're ever in Ilsenburg again on our next vacation, we'll definitely be back!

This weekend, after a hike in the Harz Mountains, we stopped by the Nagelschmiede for coffee. It was a pleasure to be there from the first moment to the last. From the ambiance to the first-class service to the coffee and cake. Simply fantastic! We will definitely be back for lunch or dinner.

Prices are really steep. The ambience and service seem super classy - if you like that, you're welcome. Far too exaggerated and intrusive for us, we felt really uncomfortable...

First-class food and professional service at an acceptable price.

On March 9th, 2025 we were guests at the Nagelschmiede. Our table was booked at 12.30 p.m. and prepared accordingly. The attentive service brought 3 menus for 4 people. :) The white wine served afterwards tasted excellent! For lunch we ordered 1 x the fish of the day, 1 x the spinach dumplings and 2 x venison ragout. Unfortunately, the quality of a deer ragout fell by the wayside. There were excessive amounts of tendon on several pieces of meat, making these pieces unedible. Even the dumplings served with it couldn't save the deer. Just carelessly prepared! The price/performance ratio here is in absolute disharmony (€28 for this ragout). This is what the plate looked like when it was cleared away. When I answered negatively about whether it was tasty, there was no apology or question!

I'm still impressed with this restaurant. Not only is the ambience an eye-catcher, but also the outdoor area. The Nagelsschmiede is located directly on a street, but this has no influence on the mega-cool ambience. Why? The restaurant is surrounded by forest on three sides. Everything is perfect here, the service, always very polite and courteous staff were always at our table to ask if something, drinks, etc., could be served. The kitchen, sorry for the expression, is also super awesome. Absolutely high quality food that I would rate in the star range. So completely consistent and highly recommended. I ask you to keep it up!!!!

Great service and good food, not cheap but good. In general, the price level in town is very high.

We haven't been here since September 2024 due to illness and were warmly welcomed again. It was very nice to be with you again. Thank you and see you at Easter at the latest.

Upscale cafe. It was a pleasure for us to stay there. The cake was excellent. But the service even more so! You can tell that they pay attention to quality.

A very nice atmosphere! The service was extremely courteous and always attentive! Food was perfect. Definitely coming back!

Every short vacation in the Harz includes a visit to the nail smithy. The ambience, whether on the terrace or in the restaurant, is simply perfect. The staff is always super friendly and attentive. The food, from starters to dessert, couldn't have been better. We'll definitely be back.

Excellent service, very nice rustic location. Great ambience, food very tasty. It's beautifully located in the Ilsetal. Parking spaces available in front of the restaurant. We can definitely recommend it. 👍😋👍

A really nice shop and the food was very tasty. P.S. The service is great

Yesterday afternoon to refresh ourselves after our hike... and we were lucky... there was a spot available. We were served very friendly and quickly. There are such delicious tarts and cakes in the “Nagelschmiede”… so far we have only been here in the evening. We decided on the delicious house cake... with marzipan. We always enjoy coming here... It's so cozy... with a crackling fireplace... a real feel-good place 😍

Very nice rustic-modern ambience, upscale food selection, super nice service and dogs are also allowed after registration. Nice visit :)

Beautiful restaurant cafe in a wonderful location, great ambience

We received a very friendly welcome and immediately felt at home in this atmosphere. We were also thrilled with the food we ordered. Another visit was spontaneously decided. We would love to come back.

Great service that wants to ensure an optimal stay. Coffee and cake were very tasty at a common price

Unfortunately, more stars are not possible. The food was great and nothing out of the ordinary. Ambiance very chic Great evening

Great local. Only recommended.