Bier Garten Experience

[trjme]

Was there on Friday July 4th and was seated rather quickly. There were four of us and we were seated with a family of 3 and a gentlemen who was by himself. The company at our table was great because the gentlemen who was by himself was in the trucking industry. The father of the family of three was in the airline industry and myself, I am with the railroad industry. We all had alot in common and alot to talk about. Also the the family of three had a daughter about the same age as my youngest. The line for the buffet was about 20 minutes and the place was really loud. I dont care for German food but my wife likes it so I knew what to expect ahead of time. Our waiter was an older gentlemen. Seemed rather friendly for the 3 times we saw him the whole evening. The first time we saw him he explained how it all worked and took our drink orders. The second time we saw him was when he brought the drinks back. The last time we saw him was when he brought the bill. He never once came back to the table for any refills or clearing of dishes. My wife who is german said well we actually are getting the real german experience because you dont get refills in Germany unless you pay for them. I told her at these prices he should of been to the table quite a few times. Oddly enough out of 6 table services he was the only server to tell me that the tip was not included. At every other table service I went with the 18% suggested and then rounded up to the next dollar. This time I got my calculator out and got the 15% and then rounded down to the next dollar. To be honest he shouldnt have gotten anything. His tip for bringing our drinks one time was 16 bucks. Im not much for making of any scenes but this time I wish I would have said something to somebody or stiffed the guy all together.

Next time we go to Disney no matter how much my wife wants to go here again I will refuse.

 

[psindone]

We were there on the 4th as well. Although we were lucky to have a wonderful young man as our waiter. Your right he should have been refilling your drinks during your meal. We have eaten there many times over the years and never had a problem with refills, if anything we would get to many.
I did find that the food was not as good as it used to be. They used to have a wonderful pork roast, now its some sort of pork shoulder. They raised the price a few dollars for the 4th which I know they do for many holidays. Overall the food is good and you will leave feeling very full.

 

[marlower]

Sorry to hear that your experience at the Biergarten wasn't up to par! That is my favorite place to eat in all of WDW. I'm sure I will get flamed for this, but we would have just tipped 10% for that kind of service.

 

[VAN]

Given that it is a buffet and you had such bad service (no refills or dish clearing), you would have been justified to have tipped even LESS than 10%.

It is a discretionary tip for good service. If he only did 1/2 his job, than 9% or less would have been more appropriate.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

Sorry to hear that your experience at the Biergarten wasn't up to par! That is my favorite place to eat in all of WDW. I'm sure I will get flamed for this, but we would have just tipped 10% for that kind of service.

We loved Biergarten when we went last year.

I agree with 10%. That seems more than fair tip for a server that just brought drinks and the check. It seems like most servers expect 20% for just showing up at the table. I won't reward that with a 18% plus tip. I have waited tables and tended bar and know what servers make and how tough a job it can be. If you can't or won't put in the work, don't expect to be rewarded.

On a recent trip to a local longhorn steakhouse we tipped more than 25% of our check, because our waiter was outstanding. We also told the manager how great our experience with him was. The manager appreciated it, usually they only hear the gripes about poor service.

Oops. Sorry I drug out my soapbox....I will put it away now.

 

[Tricia1972]

I am sorry that you had such rotten service and that the food was sub par.

I am a German food lover though, and will probably give this a shot on our next trip regardless.

 

[disnut8]

I'm not justifying the man's not clearing the table but I am curious about something I read and it's OT.

Is it true that the clearing of dishes right away is an American custom? That is other countries, the dishes are only taken away when the last person has finished his meal? I don't know since I've never been out of the United States but it has intrigued me.

BTW - been to the Biergarten several times and loved it every time. Of course, we get the huge beers so no need for refills! Only to get that "to go" cup at the end.

 

[trjme]

I'm not justifying the man's not clearing the table but I am curious about something I read and it's OT.

Is it true that the clearing of dishes right away is an American custom? That is other countries, the dishes are only taken away when the last person has finished his meal? I don't know since I've never been out of the United States but it has intrigued me.

BTW - been to the Biergarten several times and loved it every time. Of course, we get the huge beers so no need for refills! Only to get that "to go" cup at the end.

I lived in Germany for 8 years and honestly cant remember if they cleared the tables during the meal. I do remember not getting refills or even asked if I wanted to buy another refill while in Germany. If you wanted ketschup you had to pay for that as well. At Mickey D's a ketschup packet went for 50 phenning back then in the early 90's and that was about 35 cents.

 

[bavaria]

Is it true that the clearing of dishes right away is an American custom? That is other countries, the dishes are only taken away when the last person has finished his meal? I don't know since I've never been out of the United States but it has intrigued me.

Definitely. It is considered the height of poor service in Germany to remove any diner's plate until all parties are finished eating.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

I'm not justifying the man's not clearing the table but I am curious about something I read and it's OT.

Is it true that the clearing of dishes right away is an American custom? That is other countries, the dishes are only taken away when the last person has finished his meal? I don't know since I've never been out of the United States but it has intrigued me.

BTW - been to the Biergarten several times and loved it every time. Of course, we get the huge beers so no need for refills! Only to get that "to go" cup at the end.

Never needed a to go cup for the big beer. They are awesome.

 

[disnut8]

Definitely. It is considered the height of poor service in Germany to remove any diner's plate until all parties are finished eating.

Thank you. Here, I bring this up to others I am dining with who start complaining when the dishes aren't cleared as soon as they are done eating (meaning one person). Now I have a bit of proof when they look at me like I have two heads.

Heh - I'll get all of my knowledge of the practices of other countries just by being on the Dis boards!

 

[Brian Noble]

It is considered the height of poor service in Germany to remove any diner's plate until all parties are finished eating.

Some Americans were raised that way, as well.

 

[bavaria]

Interesting that you bring that up; I did some research and apparently it is only a fairly recent custom in the US to remove individual plates.

Now, don't ask how I feel about servers kneeling at the table next to diners - I was once dining with a Swiss colleague and he certainly had quite a bit to say about that practice.

But customs are different in different countries; just as I eat with both a fork and a knife and don't transfer from hand to hand, many Americans put down one utensil and transfer the other.

Neither is wrong or better, just different.