Old Commercial Room in Hamburg

Yesterday we ate at the Old Commercial Room with three people. We were shown to our reserved table and given the menu straight away. We spent the time until we ordered looking at the pictures on the wall and reading the history on the menu. Drinks were served quickly, but the meal took a while, but it was also very busy. The food, 2 roulades and 1 plaice, were generous portions and justified the price. Unfortunately, both roulades were a bit cold, but the plaice was excellent. The service was nice and friendly, and my request for a fishbone dish was immediately fulfilled. I would have liked to have eaten my plaice with fish cutlery, but like a fishbone dish, that's no longer part of good service. All in all, though, it was a lovely visit to the OCR. Thank you.

The restaurant has a great atmosphere — traditional, elegant, and very clean. The pork knuckle and fish dishes are truly delicious. The staff are very friendly and welcoming, treating guests like good friends. I highly recommend this place!

Great Hamburg food, great photos, and excellent service! The Labskaus (sausage), as well as the fish, are highly recommended.

New tenant, with very good quality food. Portion sizes have been reduced slightly. But the taste is very good! The service is very attentive and friendly! The menu has been significantly reduced – especially the text pages with the traditional history of the Old Commercial Room are missing – which is a shame. :-)

Great!!! A place we'll definitely return to. The food was delicious, all the waiters were very attentive and attentive, and the place had a special charm!! We'll definitely be back!!!

Instead of the recommended Labskaus, we had the plaice Finkenwerder style – fantastic! Great service, very flexible, cool atmosphere (but not stylishly modern).

You wouldn't know it from the outside, but this is a truly historic restaurant, formerly a pub, whose walls are covered with photographs of famous people who have visited over the establishment's long history. I recommend trying the local Hamburg dish, Labskaus (German: Labskaus, Danish: labskovs)—a traditional dish of finely chopped meat (corned beef) and vegetables. The classic preparation involves simmering corned beef in a small amount of water with pickled beets, pickled cucumbers, onions, and Matieu herring (some recipes even include bacon) and grinding it in a meat grinder. The resulting mixture is then fried in lard and simmered with cucumber brine or broth, and finally mixed with mashed potatoes. Unusual and delicious! This is the establishment's signature dish, and if you order it, you'll receive a personalized certificate proving you've tried it. We loved it, and our table was by the window overlooking St. Michael's Church. It was perfect! The service was excellent—everything was delicious and inexpensive! I highly recommend it!

A wonderful place that takes you back in time. Here you can try very traditional food. I ordered the Labskaus, and it was very interesting and good. I had a great time here. A wonderful place that transports you back in time. Here you can try very traditional food. I ordered the Labskaus, and it was very interesting and good. I had a great time here.

Yes, because even though we didn't have a reservation and it was quite busy, we got a nice seat. We really wanted to try the Labskaus, as we'd heard it was the best in Hamburg! And it's true, it was very, very tasty, and the food was hot, too.

This restaurant was recommended to us by locals specifically for the Lapskaus. It just so happened that Lapskaus was on the lunch menu that day. A slightly smaller lunch portion, but a reasonable price. We weren't disappointed; we enjoyed the food immensely. The service was very friendly, and the ambiance is simply wonderful. We'd love to come back on our next visit to Hamburg.

Cozy place. We went there at 9pm and there weren't many people. The staff is nice. The food is delicious and plentiful.

A very quiet atmosphere on a weekday. The service was excellent, they took care of us at all times, and the food was delicious. This place is worth a visit if you're visiting Hamburg. I recommend the plaice, the knuckle, and a typical starter whose name I can't remember.

We were lucky and got a spot spontaneously. The food was phenomenal. Authentic Hamburg specialties. I can really recommend it to everyone. It's best to make a reservation in advance, though, as it gets packed even during the week. But it's good! I'll be back.

Very good service. Very rustic decor. The food is really good, tasty, and hearty. The Labskaus, a classic, is also really good. Good German cuisine with many fish dishes. From herring and pan-fried fish to Labskaus, currywurst, and pork knuckle—the biggest in town... (really the biggest—I couldn't make it...) But... the absolute highlight—SORRY for the ladies(!!!)—is the men's restroom (although I don't know the women's restroom... 😄🤣😄)

When we walked in, we were worried we weren't dressed up enough for such an impressive ambiance. The friendly waitress immediately lightened the mood with her hamburger-like style. After a truly exceptional meal, the lovely owner even gave us a tour of the rest of the premises, which were truly worth seeing. We chatted casually and relaxed for a while, and then headed home. We thank you for an unforgettable evening, and we will definitely be back :)

Hanseatic understatement on the outside, magnificent on the inside! A small but very fine menu, with very friendly service. A must-visit if you want to treat yourself and value an exquisite ambiance!

It was very good. I’ll recommend

We were there with four people and a small child. We were the only guests at the reception and had to wait, even though there were two waiters there, who preferred to chat. It took some time before anyone came to order. The manager then continued to loudly talk to his delivery man near our table. The Labskaus was very good, but the Pannfisch was just dry, too expensive for the quality. We had to ask for the bill twice. We haven't experienced such poor service in a long time.

It's always been our favorite restaurant. Butsche is amazing. The staff used to be sensational. Since COVID, they haven't been so great. The food has almost always been delicious. I love the ambiance more than anything.

The location and ambiance are very cozy. It fits Hamburg and the city's theme. The service is courteous and prompt, even with larger groups. The Labskaus tastes great, but the fillet steak isn't a fillet, but more like a sirloin steak.

A historic restaurant right next to St. Michael's Church. If you're looking for authentic Labskaus, this is the place to be. The service is fantastic; it seems like the staff are trained professionals who truly care about their job. There's plenty to see on the walls, including old pictures with a Hamburg theme.

A famous North German dish: Boiled pork feet (Eisbein) is definitely worth a try!

Super delicious Labskaus, a wonderful atmosphere, and a super-friendly, humorous Mrs. Rauch and her daughter. We felt very comfortable. Thank you for your hospitality!

When visiting Hamburg, you should enjoy the excellent Labskaus.

Delicious food and the portion is huge.

A super interesting and iconic location near St. Michel's Church. Lunch was okay at just under €15, but the value for money was rather poor. Service was friendly. The food was delicious. A must-visit restaurant, especially for tourists, as the entire walls resemble a museum.

Only the ambiance and decor are great; otherwise, it's just mediocre. The restaurant is completely overrated. Neither the staff was particularly friendly, nor the food particularly great! We had Hamburg-style pan-fried fish with fried potatoes, spinach, and mustard sauce. The fish fillets were deep-fried and greasy. The fried potatoes had no flavor and were far too greasy, and the mustard sauce was far too thin. This restaurant is no longer an option for us.

Highly recommended. And in a great location, opposite the Michel Hotel.

A 230-year-old gem next to St. Michael's Church. Unassuming from the outside, but with a stunning interior. The Labskaus has fully earned its gold medal!

Highly recommended. Excellent food. Excellent service. I'd be happy to go back.

We arrived without an appointment and therefore had to wait. Not necessarily for a free table, but until one was cleared and set. That can take up to 10 minutes there. The welcome wasn't particularly warm, but that only changed when the waitress took over the reins to serve us at the table. All our questions about the food and the ribkaus served there were answered comprehensively and understandably, and we were given some good advice to boot. The food that was served was among the best I've ever eaten in a restaurant. The mixed fish platter consisted of three different fresh fish with side dishes and was absolutely worth the high price. The ambiance is also unbeatable. Who can say they've ever sat in the same seat as Sir James Stewart, aka Jean-Luc Picard, Captain of the USS Enterprise? The only downside is the parking situation. There are plenty of parking spaces – for €3 an hour. Almost all of the parking spaces are occupied by local residents. What a shame.

A popular place with history. Please reserve in advance. Nice vibe and most of the customers seem to be local. Btw, the giant veal sausage is really giant. The employees there don’t seem to speak fluent English (no complains) but communicable :) and you got English menu anyway.

A beautiful, pleasant establishment with history. Delicious food.

It's incredibly annoying when everything online says it's open, and you take a long walk there, only to find the doors locked. The phone number on the door was, of course, unavailable! We're talking about lunch!

Was told to come check this place out by a relative from Denmark. It doesn’t disappoint. Food was great. Service was great. Such interesting decorations. We were asked if we had reservations when we walked in, which we didn’t, but they sat us immediately. The schnitzel is huge, share it with someone, unless you’re Matt stonie.

Despite being highly recommended on TripAdvisor, this restaurant is mainly frequented by locals. This is definitely a plus. The waiter was very helpful and friendly. The atmosphere and interior are reminiscent of a pub, albeit quieter. The food was good, but we've tasted better German cuisine. Celebrities have been at every table, and the menu also lists who sat at each table. We were a bit disappointed that there weren't many big names at our table, but that's just coincidence, of course.

Easily the best restaurant in Hamburg, and what a historical environment! I've returned multiple times and was always impressed from the seafood to the schnitzel. Don't forget to sample the schnapps!

A restaurant that's unique in Hamburg. A top-notch Labskaus!

The food was undoubtedly good. The initial positive impression of the service quickly faded. Problems with the service (stress?) should not be taken out on the guest. Complaining about the amount of the tip is the height of impudence.

A quaint restaurant with excellent local dishes. The service is excellent and caters to special requests. They are very understanding of allergy sufferers. Very good value for money.

We were traveling in Hamburg and discovered this restaurant by chance. As soon as we entered, we were impressed by the beautiful ambiance; everything was truly tastefully decorated. The head waiter immediately came to us, was very polite and friendly, and showed us to a table. We ordered Labskaus (a kind of sausage) and were pleasantly surprised. The food was not only delicious but also beautifully presented. Overall, we can absolutely recommend this restaurant. The ambiance is great, the food is good, and the service is particularly attentive. A big thank you for the delicious food and the friendly service.

We only had a drink! We were greeted very warmly and looked after very well. A stop by is definitely recommended!

Best location for the visitors! Service is nice. Dishes are delightful

Awesome pork knuckle and plaice fish!

If there were 10 stars, I would give it 10. The food is delicious, the service is excellent, the place is elegant. You must go.

A historic restaurant with a wealth of history and stories. And delicious food, too.

The best restaurant in Hamburg by far. Excellent typical cuisine and very friendly service. The cost is proportionate to the location. Highly recommended

A tourist trap? Yes. A Hamburg institution? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. I go to Hamburg about once a year, and a visit to the Old Commercial Room is always on the agenda and has become a ritual. I only ever eat Labskaus and/or eel soup there, and there's nothing wrong with those two dishes if you like them. I don't know the rest of the menu. I also like the ambiance, which has remained unchanged for decades and fulfills all Hamburg clichés as reliably as the fish market and the Landungsbrücken, while the city is rapidly changing all around. You can also have the dishes sent in cans, and they taste just as good as if you ate them on the spot, and my cat likes it too. Why "only" four stars? Simply because even the best Labskaus, and there is undoubtedly some here, tastes superb, but there are even more exclusive delights, and five stars should, in my humble opinion, be reserved for gourmet restaurants. The Old Commercial Room certainly lives up to its claim.

Price-performance ok, service good, quality very good

A very quaint restaurant with a unique selling point! Lots of pictures on the walls and a bit of a nook and cranny. However, this has a very positive effect on the room layout: it creates nooks and crannies, making the place very cozy. The food is first-class; I had the Labskaus. I highly recommend a visit!

2025.06.10: we had Labskaus. Was really creamy, I loved this texture and the taste is super good too. The toilet looks fancy, the atmosphere is very special. Good traditional place.

We visited the Old Commercial Room based on a recommendation. We wanted to try Labskaus. The ambiance is incomparable. It's a must-try. The Labskaus was perfect in our opinion and tasted excellent. We'd go back anytime!

The food here was okay – the fries deserve a special mention: crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside, and perfectly salted. The service itself was also meticulous without leaving a lasting impression. What's really unfortunate is the kind of music they play here: EDM mixes of really good original songs in such a venerable and quaint space are completely out of place and somehow completely ruin the ambiance. A shame.

Food here was great! I got the Hamburg classic traditional pannfisch with spinach and fried potatoes. Pannfisch was 3 different fillets of white fish, each tasting distinctive and very flavorful. The sides were delicious and balanced the dish perfectly. Service was a bit underwhelming. We got seated way in the back and forgotten about, despite the restaurant being only half full. We had two waitresses who didn't really coordinate well so there was too long of a delay in taking our food orders. Otherwise a fine service experience. The interior of the restaurant was very full of character, highlighting the many famous people who visited since 1795. Lots of nautical decorations as well, so it almost feels like the inside of a ship. Recommended.

La comida aquí era genial! Tengo el clásico pannfisch tradicional de Hamburgo con espinacas y patatas fritas. Pannfisch eran 3 filetes diferentes de pescado blanco, cada uno con un sabor distintivo y muy sabroso. Los lados estaban deliciosos y equilibraron el plato perfectamente. El servicio fue un poco abrumador. Nos sentamos en la parte de atrás y nos olvidamos, a pesar de que el restaurante estaba solo medio lleno. Tuvimos dos camareras que realmente no se coordinaron bien, así que hubo demasiado tiempo de retraso en tomar nuestros pedidos de comida. De lo contrario, una buena experiencia de servicio. El interior del restaurante estaba muy lleno de carácter, destacando los muchos personajes famosos que visitaron desde 1795. Muchas decoraciones náuticas también, por lo que casi se siente como el interior de un barco.

Das Essen war gut. Aber das Preis Leistungs Verhältnis stimmt für mich nicht ganz. Der Kellner war freundlich aber er musste gefühlt die ganze Arbeit im Restaurant so gut wie alleine machen. Damit wirkte er etwas gehetzt. Das restliche Personal wirkte desinteressiert. Wir wurden zum Tisch gebracht und dann warteten wir ca 30 Minuten auf die Speisekarten und nochmal so lange bis wir bestellen konnten. Die leeren Teller wurden auch nicht abgeräumt bis wir bezahlt haben obwohl das Personal mehrfach am Tisch vorbei gelaufen ist.

A particularly authentic restaurant with delicious food and friendly service. Prices are too high in my opinion.

Great, authentic restaurant. Top-notch food and service.

Great atmosphere with excellent food. The traditional labskaus and schnitzel were very delicious. The atmosphere is very impressive and the employees are very helpful.

A traditional restaurant with excellent cuisine. The Labskaus dishes are particularly well-known and highly recommended. The walls are decorated with pictures of the numerous celebrities who have visited the restaurant over the past few decades.

Food is amazing, service is amazing, ambience is amazing. Labskaus is the best in Hamburg. We also tried the Rausmatjes vorspeisen and the hummer suppen and they were all stellar. As dessert the Rote Grütze is highly recommended as well. Portions are good and not too big but prices are lowered accordingly - which is perfect if you want to try many things. Overall great place to eat and experience proper Hamburg cuisine. Highly recommend.

Thank you for a lovely evening with excellent food, super-friendly staff, and a fantastic atmosphere. Best wishes from Osnabrück Christina & Andree

Such a nice boss, daughter, and Chamber of Crafts 😉😅 Best Labskaus and currywurst ever. We'll be back, I promise 👍👍

Wir waren 37 Personen mit eingeschränkter Speiseauswahl: Labskaus, Pannfisch und Wiener Schnitzel. Wir hatten uns vor Wochen bereits als große Gruppe angekündigt und reserviert. Das Essen war gut und der Kellner versuchte uns mit schneller Getränkeversorgung bei Laune zu halten. Wir hatten für 18:45 Uhr reserviert und waren bis 19:00 Uhr alle anwesend. Unsere Plätze in der 1. Etage. Das Essen bekamen wir ab 20:45 Uhr. Unsere Beschwerde über die lange Wartezeit wurde mit 5 Vorspeisen von 5 Personen zurück gewiesen. Tomatensuppe, Hummersuppe und Matjes auf Salat - alles Vorspeisen, die aufgewärmt oder schnell auf dem Teller angerichtet sind. Unten wurden ständig neue Gäste bewirtet. Das konnten wir auf dem Weg zum WC beobachten und unsere Stimmung 👎

Cozy, traditional restaurant Small but delicious menu. Labskaus is a must-try. Can also be enjoyed as an appetizer.

Quaint restaurant - very tasty and a good location to let colleagues from abroad try a Hamburg specialty.

A super authentic atmosphere, very friendly service, and great local specialties. It's not for nothing that it's a Hamburg institution and definitely worth a visit.

Unique location with great food.

Was refused on the grounds that we were Danes, because Danes never tip.

Delicious labskaus! Quaint restaurant with super friendly owners!

Hamburg institution. The atmosphere is unique and cozy. We found the food very good and all I can say about my first Labskaus... very good! The desserts are uniquely good! Very happy again! The only drawback... beer is only 0.3. That's better ;)

It took the kitchen three tries to get the steak medium rare. The service's handling of the legitimate request for correction was mediocre, otherwise the service was ok. The lap kaus was really good, the pan fish was fried very dry. The atmosphere is really great!! Overall, our expectations were slightly not met. Too bad.

Great atmosphere. Unfortunately the food wasn't good. My medium steak was completely cooked through in the first attempt. In the second attempt it was raw. I added it again to “fry”. The waitress probably didn't have her best day. The problems in the team were resolved in front of the guest. The bottom line is unfortunately not recommended.

Great restaurant, food was so awesome. The ambience and service are simply an experience. 🤩

Super great restaurant and atmosphere. Great service and top food worth a clear 5 star recommendation

Ate super tasty. Class service. Nothing to complain about

Best restaurant ever in Hamburg...

It’s a really cool place, looks amazing, everything is great! I really liked it — very clean and pleasant. We decided to try the local cuisine. The portions weren’t huge, but I definitely got full, and it was really tasty, which is the most important thing. Great prices, and I enjoyed it a lot!

In short: There's a lot of tourist hype here about the ambience and long-dead celebrities, but the food is rather so-so. The pan fish came with an indefinable mustard sauce, the breading on the Wiener Schnitzel was uncharacteristically flat, the piece of meat was beamed into four individual pieces and no cranberries were served with it - I expected otherwise for more than €30. The Labskaus, about which there is a lot of fanfare, was mashed like baby porridge and very peppery - a matter of taste 🤷‍♀️

I have always eaten well here and have never been disappointed; However, the prices are ambitious and the portions are sometimes clear; reservations are strongly recommended due to the usual rush, especially for the evenings and weekends; you eat in the '2. Shift' - hopefully - there will be more time to linger. The staff seems very experienced, but remains attentive and friendly

Great, delicious food in an absolutely great and rustic atmosphere. Friendly quick service. Greetings from the pot.

A pub with a great interior that you can't tell from the outside. Offers delicious local Hamburg food, as well as good local beer. The prices are also relevant.

If you are in Hamburg and have the opportunity, you should definitely stop by the Old Commercial Room. The prerequisite is that you have reserved a table in advance. In this rustic restaurant you can have a cozy meal and drinks. Many pictures from the past and of prominent personalities who have already stopped here invite you to look at them. I ate the traditional Labskaus here, which was awarded the gold medal, and I can say that this award was rightly given. My companion was enthusiastic about the panfish. The service was very friendly and very attentive even though all the tables in the restaurant were occupied. I felt very comfortable here and will definitely come back

Gutes, preislich angemessenes Essen in wunderschönem Ambiente; sehr nettes Personal! Originelle Hamburger Küche!

The place is nice. The food is delicious. The service is not good. The people are unfriendly.

Very bad service!!!!! The waitress is very rude!!! I won’t recommend to go there

Delicious food, clocky ambience, a must every time you visit Hamburg

Well, classic tourist trap. Viennese schnitzel with fried potatoes 29.90. Probably not again...

It was pretty good but unfortunately it smelled really unpleasant.

We visited your restaurant a few weeks ago. The restaurant looks nice, and we expected a great Hamburg experience, but unfortunately, it wasn’t. Our visit was ruined by a waiter who only let us in after we promised to tip him. The service was poor, and we had to wait a long time for everything. While the food was decent, we were pressured to leave a larger tip than the waiter deserved. He even suggested we leave a €50 tip on a €140 bill. This kind of behavior should not be tolerated in your restaurant, as it damages your reputation. I visit Hamburg often but won’t be returning.

Echoing the same comments as Philo Ramen. You probably don’t want to come here if you look Asian. The first waitress looked at us and immediately shook her head and said something along the lines of she doesn’t serve minorities. The saving grace of this place was the kind older gentleman with a beard who decided to serve us instead. The labskaus was also good so if you don’t mind a little bit of xenophobia, it’s not bad.

Used to be great. Now it's awful. The menu is old online, and half of it's missing on the menu because the chef is no longer there. The unseasoned Labskaus with the skin on top was probably old. It's pretty embarrassing when you go there with customers. Never again!

4 or 5 stars, that was really a tight call. But first things first. The ambience would theoretically have earned ten stars. “It’s the inner values ​​that matter,” they say. And that’s definitely the case with the Old Commercial Room. From the outside you can hardly imagine the gastronomic history that lies inside. All places are surrounded by countless photos of the guests who have settled there at some point over the years. And my goodness - it feels like the whole world has eaten in the Old Commercial Room. It had a special aura, there's no other way to say it. About the food: I didn't miss a phenomenal Hamburger. I almost never eat fish and German cuisine in general is not really my thing. But a visit to Hamburg MUST be a visit to a real Hamburg entity. I then had the schnitzel and, as a fresh accompaniment, the cucumber salad. The latter was bombastically good. As if my grandma (God rest her soul) had made it for me herself. The schnitzel was what a great schnitzel should be. My companions also raved about their food (Labskaus, fish, etc.). The service was also very nice and accommodating. Unfortunately, we were somehow overlooked in the last half hour. Order new drinks and/or bill? Temporarily out of service. But it was also quite crowded, so of course we understand. That's why 5 stars (and small mental deductions).

I had booked a table and wanted to eat ice time with friends. It was always a blast at the old commercial. Now we were cheekily told that there hasn't been a dish like this for two months. In my opinion it is a disgrace for this long-standing establishment. I will no longer recommend the restaurant. The service was also very, very rude.

The food tastes delicious, decent portions.

Traditional and rustic. The main courses are very filling but also come at a price.

*too bad* My impression is that it now only lives on the name and the history. I have very fond memories of the Old Commercial; the family used to enjoy it for celebrations and the like. visited. Today we went there with friends for kale. Not exactly cheap, but there was a small portion of kale, 4 small potatoes, cooked sausage, pork belly and smoked pork (for us it wasn't smoked pork 🤨). Not appropriate for the price. The service wasn't well received by everyone, but the fact that she was gossiping about us at the next table above us is not acceptable. For decency they could have waited until we had left. So a 🌟 from me, even if it is undeserved.

If you're in Hamburg and craving a taste of tradition, the Old Commercial Room is one of the places to try for sure. Located opposite the iconic St. Michael's Church, this restaurant has been serving regional delights since 1795, or so they say. Food & Drinks: Labskaus: Ah, the infamous Labskaus. Imagine a colorful mash-up of corned beef, potatoes, and beets, topped with a fried egg and a side of pickled herring. It's like a culinary dare that surprisingly pays off. Give it a try; you might just become a fan. Probably not though. Aalsuppe: Despite the name, this hearty soup is a delightful mix of meats, vegetables, and dried fruits. It's a sweet and savory hug in a bowl. The beer selection complements the hearty dishes perfectly, offering a genuine taste of Hamburg's brewing traditions. Drink responsibly. Personally I find the portions should be adapted for fit people, they were on the smaller side for me. Ambiance: The interior exudes old-world charm with wooden panels and maritime décor. It's like dining in a cozy maritime museum. Service: The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, always ready to guide you through the menu's curiosities. During peak hours, they might be busier than a sailor in a storm, so patience is key. Overall Experience: Dining at the Old Commercial Room is like taking a flavorful journey through Hamburg's history. It's a must-visit for those eager to experience local cuisine in a setting that whispers tales of the past.

Very good shop, highly recommended

Had dinner there before the musical. Reduced menu because two chefs quit. Unfortunately not mentioned when booking. Food was delicious, service was very nice