Zeitgeist @ The Jolly Gardener, Lambeth, London

I really quite liked this place. Definitely somewhere to go, if you fancy vast amounts of various German beers, many on tap, and if you’ve just been paid – it is a little pricey. (but then this is London and not far from thames, westminster and co)

It’s also a great place to watch the football. You’ll hear lots of Germans cheering for their team which gives it an immediate authentic feel. The smell of hearty German food also contributes to this. The selection of traditional German dishes is almost as vast as the choice of beers, but I’m curious to see how such a mix of traditional cuisine from all parts of the country (Schnitzel, Spätzle, Leberkas and Currywurst if they still do it) can be authentic each and every time… Anyway, give it a try, if a German evening/beer in London is what you’re after.

DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THE FOOD. I took my Mum here who is German and we ordered the currywurst and also mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. Currywurst sauce was ketchup with curry powder..no kidding. Absolutely disgusting. When we mentioned this to the barman he said that they couldn’t import the sauce from Germany so the chef had to make the sauce himself. Hello …isn’t that what a chef should do ? I’m sure it doesn’t say open bottle of ketchup and sprinkle curry powder over the top of it. BE WARNED. Beer was good but pricey especially for the lousy location.

A few weeks ago I had the idea, that I could try some Schnitzels in London. I looked for some restaurants that serve proper Schnitzels and yesterday I began my Schnitzel journey through London at Zeitgeist near Vauxhall.

I ordered a real veal Wiener Schnitzel and expected perhaps a bit too much. What I got was a not too big (not as big as I expected based on their menu) Schnitzel with chips. It tasted okay, but not like something you will remember. Perhaps it was my fault to expect something as delicious as I got at Moldau restaurant in Stockholm (http://www.qype.co.uk/place/1976296-Moldau-Stockholm) ...

Anyway, the Schnitzel was okay and the Grüner Veltliner white wine I had was really very good. If you're looking for German food, the menu offers a lot of dishes you you won't find at many other places in London.
No question, I'll go there again to try another dish from their menu!

And besides the food, Zeitgeist is definitely much more a pub than a restaurant.

the lager is amazing 4 pints and your on your way. wahoo!

Horrible food and ver expensive, my roast beef looked like the animal was dead decades ago, staff didn't seem motivated at all, bad experience , im not going to visit again

Love this place. Nice vibes, friendly German staff, lovely selection of beers, really decent food.

It is a weird location, but only 5 mins walk from Vauxhall station and well worth the trip :)

loveed it yummmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Full review at www.grumblinggourmet.com

It seems slightly incongruous, a chocolate dark inside hidden away down Black Prince Road in Vauxhall within a barely rebranded frontage bearing the Jolly Gardener brand. We walked past it twice before realising where it was. Described as London's first German gastropub (a fairly safe claim) they offer 40 odd different beers. Some excellent choices, if a little pricy. DAB, a light and crisp easy drinker from Dortmund is a semi regular treat when bought from Oddbins, here it's over £4 a pint.

They offer a range of wurst (including the ubiquitous currywurst) alongside a selection of schnitzels, a more Austrian treat, but one known across both countries. On previous visits I've sampled these, and can particularly recommend the Schnitzel Kolsche Art, the traditional pan fried pork escalope coated in breadcrumbs, served in this instance with a black pudding and apple sauce mix. It isn't gourmet, but does as its makers intended and serves up a hearty filler to put a cap on the foamy lager you've just sculled.

was dragged here by some German friends to watch the football.
very good fun
Great German beers

What on earth is this bar doing in Kennington? This is a really really good, fairly unique bar..I would expect to find it somewhere more commercial. Still, maybe it’s location helps as it would surely be packed solid in a busier location (probably is anyway on Friday and Saturday nights…and when the German football is on).

So this is a German place. We already know they do good beer. I mean…it’s not real ale, but there are so many beers, light and dark. My personal recommendation would be the Rauchbier (or bacon beer as I heard someone call it) but everyone should be able to find something they like. Just try going alphabetically down the menu (the Rauchbier is first :) )

There are two sides to the bar, one has lower more traditional tables, on the other side the tables are quite high..so high a few of my more vertically challenged chums started questioning just how tall the average German is.

What else is good…well the food probably is but I haven’t had chance to try it yet. I love German food and will update the review when I get to try it. There are also a few tables outside for a bit of sun and fresh air.

I once again have a German bar in London to love!

It's such a shame it is such a shlep to get there because the food is proper hearty german fares like you don't find in many places in London (I demolished my kasespetzle), and the selection of german beer on top is spectacular: all your classics plus nice rare additions like Kolsch.

Top pub. I would call this THE top place to watch Germany in the European football finals. As part of my search to find London’s sixteen nations watching the games with people from their home countries I get a tip off about this place being the bees knees for watching with Germans. Dead right it was too. This old English community boozer, known as the Jolly gardeners is now Zeitghesit at the Jolly Gardeners. It has two bars separated by a bar and at the back is a small beer garden.

On each of the three visits I made during Euro 2008 I found it hard to get into the pub, thought it would be impossible to get to the bar, but someone made it each time. The selection of beautiful German beers and lagers is immense in this venue. Jever, Becks, Warsteiner, Holstein, Schneider weise and so many more. Their was no cover charge to watch games so that meant more money for beer.

Some are on draft, some in bottles, some in both. The staff whilst rushed off their feet, as excellent and always make sure they serve a beer like a German would expect it, but in a hurry. I would thoroughly recommend this place at anytime and have heard good things about the German food served at times when people are not spilling out into the street singing ‘Deucthsland, Deucthsland”

I’ve been on secondment to London for several months and just stumbled upon Zeitgeist @ The Jolly Gardner a week ago. This is one of the best hidden gems in the entire city.

The food is outstanding compared to most of the local fare. It is traditional German food, prepared authentically, and the taste is outstanding. I would particularly recommend the Goulasch mit Semmelknoedeln or the Zeitgeist Schnitzel. There is a wide range of German beers behind the bar, both on tap and in bottle. Best of all, if you are a fan of Heffeweissen, Zeitgeist has several outstanding Heffeweissens on tap and in bottle.

The best part is that the prices are affordable, even by London standards, without compromising the quality of the food or drink.

Rare gem hidden in the Vauxhall area. Amazing German food with a wide selection of German beers to choose from. I recommend their daily special which I think is extremely good value.