Essen Haus Banquets
The Essen Haus is the perfect destination for any special occasion. Your guests will be amazed by our authentic food, German decor and live polka music (on the weekends). We can accommodate groups of up to 100 or more people, and look forward to hosting your event. Please scroll down to view our standard banquet menu, outdoor tailgate options, private rooms and policies.
Or download our Banquet Menu here
“You did a wonderful job of getting our group fed, entertained, and ready for the game. In particular, I appreciate how responsive and nimble your team was on getting things set up inside after the inclement weather during set up.” -Northwestern University
Banquet Menu
Drink Selections
Cocktail Tab
All drinks on one check
You set a dollar amount limit and we’ll notify you when the group reaches it. At that
time, you are welcome to close the tab or extend it.
Cash Bar
Guests pay for their drinks
No matter the choice, we will have cocktail servers able to bring drinks out to your
group, and guests are always welcome at the bar.
Private Kegs
Have a keg just for you
Choose from our extensive list of beers and we’ll put it right in the room for you on
ice. We’re always happy to pour pitchers, boots, and individual glasses to your party.
Wine Carafes
Choose one or more from numerous options
Let us know what you would like from our full wine list, and we can always bring more.
Hors D’ Oeuvres
Cold Options
Assorted Meat and Cheese
Fresh Vegetables and Haus Ranch
Fresh Fruit Tray
Jumbo Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce
Tortilla Rollups with Cheese and Salmon
Pretzels with Mustards and Dip
Warm Options
Cocktail Meatballs in choice sauce
German Stuffed Potato Skins
Stuffed Mushrooms with Four Cheese
Crab Cakes with Caper Sauce
Assorted Sausage and Sauerkraut
Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Salmon Cakes with Dill Sauce
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
Bufflo Wings
BBQ Porkribs
Main Dishes
Choose three entrees for your banquet
Sauerbraten
Beef marinated in a red wine vinegar with herbs and spices. Served in a robust sweet and sour gravy.
Spareribs
Extra meaty and tender ribs baked with herbs and spices.
Schweinelendchen
Tender pork tips in a mild sour cream gravy with mushrooms, onions, and green pepercorns.
Baked Chicken
A classic German and American favorite, cooked to perfection.
BBQ Pork Ribs
Tender and meaty pork ribs, basted and slow roasted in our own BBQ sauce.
Konigsberger Klopse
Pork and veal meatballs in a white wine and caper sauce.
Fish Fry (Fridays Only)
Beer battered, deep fried cod with tartar sauce and lemon.
Tenderloin Tips
Bite size pieces of tenderloin tips with mushrooms and onions in a perfectly seasoned au jus.
Baked Ham
Slow roasted and savory.
Assorted German Sausages
Bratwurst (veal and pork), Thuringer (smoked beef and pork), and Knockwurst (beef and pork).
Kase Spaetzle (available vegetarian)
Homemade spaetzle (soft egg noodles) mixed with fresh vegetables, cheeses, and ham baked into a casserole.
Sides Options
Choose two for your banquet
German Fries
Seasoned, baked, and pan-fried potatoed.
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Baked Potatoes
Spaetzle
A soft egg dumpling-noodle.
Vegetable Options
Choose two for your banquet
Red Cabbage
Sauerkraut
Vegetable of the Day
Add-Ons
Prime Rib
One 6-7 oz slice per person. Substitute prime rib for one of your entree selections for ad additional $3.25 per person.
Beef Rouladen
Fresh-sliced prime rib wrapped around tender ground pork & beef, bacon, onion, a thinly sliced dill pickle and Dijon mustard. Substitute beef rouladen for one of your entree selections for an additional $2.50 per person for the entire party.
Apfel Strudel
Flaky butter crust filled with warm apple slices and cinnamon. Topped with confectioner’s sugar. An additional $3.75 per person for the entire party.
Banquet Rooms
Essen Haus has three seperate dining areas, each ranging in size. The smallest holds 60, while the next largest holds 100 and is always offered unless already booked. If you have a party too large for either of those banquet rooms, we offer our main dining hall.
Should you like to hold a banquet during non-business hours, we are happy to open our doors to you. In this case, we can accommodate much larger parties.
Click on the links below to take a look inside…
Konig’s Halle – Capacity of 60 people
The Treft – Capacity of 100 people
Main Dining Room
Essen Haus Tailgates and Outdoor Parties
Custom Tailgate and Outdoor Parties
- Brats and Burgers prepared on our huge outdoor grill with condiments, potato salad, and baked beans.
- Party Area with outdoor and indoor seating, generous amounts of space, and a covered patio.
- Kegs of beer available.
- Unlimited complimentary non-alcoholic drinks.
- Friendly staff to enhance your experience.
Tailgates and Outdoor Events Receive
- Free Parking
- Free Shuttles to Camp Randall football games
- Indoor Restrooms
Optional Add-ons
- Pig Roast
- Additional Food Choices
- Kegs of Bier
- Tents
- Live Music
Essen Haus Banquet Policies
We do not charge a room rental fee. We do require a Visa or MasterCard to hold on file, or a $50 deposit, to reserve a private room on your requested date. The credit card on file will not be charged unless requested and cash deposits will be deducted from the final bill.
We do not issue separate checks for banquets. Only one check will be issued for the event. All bills must be paid the day of the event unless prior written arrangements have been made. We accept Visa and Mastercard. We cannot accept out of state checks.
Food and beverage sales are subject to 5.5% sales tax and a 18% gratuity charge. Tax exempt groups must provide a copy of their tax exempetion certificate in advance.
We reserve the right to seat groups in the area most suited to size and type of function. We also reserve the right to substitute rooms or private areas depending upon the final guaranteed guest count. We can not guarantee a private room during special events.
There is a $500 food minimum to guarantee a private room on Friday and Saturday nights. Main floor seating is also available.
Banquet menu prices are subject to change without notice unless a price has been guaranteed in writing and a deposit has been received.
All food and beverages must be purchased from the Essen Haus, with the exception of sheet cakes. No other carry-ins of any kind will be permitted.
Minors are welcome in the restaurant and bar area only when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. We will not serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Please inform your guests to bring along two forms if ID if their age is questionalbe.
We request your final food and beverage selections a minimum of two weeks prior to your event with a guaranteed final guest count three days prior to your event. We allow a 10% leeway on the final count.
The Essen haus will open up exclusively for your banquet during non-business hours for groups of 40 or more. We can also add live entertainment for an additional cost.
