Biergarten...bad experience...should we give it another shot?

[aggielawyer]

I would give it another try. I went with my family (6 of us) and we were seated with a nice couple, then I went solo and ended up with a couple with their daughter (didn't talk to the other end of the table). Turns out that both times I ended up with DISers. I wonder if there is a way for you to arrange to meet someone from the boards to give you a little better chances of getting some like-minded people?

I understand being upset and just wanting to get out of there, but I definitely think you could have asked to be moved due to your tablemates. Maybe you can be more prepared with that strategy if it happens again? Or make sure you are on the outside end of the table, and enjoy your dinner anyway.

 

[sharadoc]

We have only gone once but had both good and bad at the same table. We sat with two women, and an "older" couple.

Our DS has ASD, so he can get "funny" about things that you wouldn't even think about. I know he would need to see us across the table from him, so I asked our tablemates as we were walking to the table if they prefer to sit across or next to each other. Under her breath, the woman said "next to". I panicked a little and the older gentleman said to me "oh, just tell us where to sit" with a big smile.

The women got their food, went up for one refill and bolted. Never even lifted their head. Tried to engage the older couple, but the women were kind of "in the way". They left and I turned to the couple and said "Okay, now that they're gone, we're the Doc family" and we had a lovely time. Found out they work there in winter, come down from Indiana. Learned about working at WDW, had a nice stein of beer and enjoyed the rest of our meal.

Hoping that we won't have to sit with anyone in January, since it's slow and we're doing lunch at 1:30. Love the place, it's DDs fave at Epcot and we're going during her birthday week!

 

[lovin'fl]

Honestly, I would say don't bother giving it another try. I don't think it's 'all that' anyway...so if sitting with strangers makes you anxious, as it does me...then don't go there. There are a ton of other yummy wonderful places to try at WDW. We went to Biergarten with the inlaws for a lunch and were seated at a table all to ourselves...that was nice. Then, my fam recently went and were a party of 5 that was seated with 3 strangers. My kids did not want to sit next to the strangers, so DH and I had the honors. They were pleasant folks, but weird. When the waitress took drink orders, the strangers explained that they weren't getting a meal for their son...not paying for him to eat, but they wanted to get him a drink and the waitress had trouble understanding. The couple went on to eat and their son (about 5) didn't eat a single bite of anything. I had been thinking they were going to share their food with him, but they ate several plates and the boy was never even interested in the food...they even got dessert without him asking for any. It was odd. And they seemed like a very eccentric couple, so it was a quiet dinner...that's for sure. Aside from all that...we found the food to be 'meh' this second trip and the show was pathetic (quick couple songs and done). We have no interest in going back, though...unfortunately, my inlaws picked it for our upcomming Xmas trip. And on Xmas Eve no less. At least we'll be a large party of 15 that should get a table to ourselves.
If you do give it another shot, I suggest lunch...we walked in the time we went for lunch and the place was empty. They do the little show twice during the lunch hours...not sure what times, but I'm sure it's the least busy in between shows.

 

[marielynn724]

definitely give biergarten a chance to redeem itself! this was aboslutely the fault of the people you were seated with, and not at all the fault of the restaurant. if you had more pleasant table companions, you would have been able to really enjoy the atmosphere, show, and food. i'm so sorry that you had such a dreadful experience! i know how obnoxious people can really affect you give the biergarten another shot - maybe this time, arrive to your ADR a few minutes early, and explain to the hostess or host what happened at your last experience. then ask to be seated at the front of a table instead of at the back of a table. or ask if there is another table made up of other parties of 2. it never hurts to ask!

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

We had a party of 9 so sat by ourselves... But our reservation was around 12:45 and the place was pretty empty. Now mind you, it had been pouring all morning (sideways rain pouring, not the regular stuff... remnants of a tropical storm)

Pretty much everyone there was sat at a table by themselves.

The food was wonderful! We loved the entertainment too... Even the vegetarian of the party was pleased with the selection.

Maybe next time, try going for one of the first reservations of the day? That way, you may be able to sit by yourselves.

 

[3pletprincesses]

did you like the food? I wouldn't let another family shy you from a restaurant. There's rude people every where and it so happend that you had one of those families at your table. I would give another try. I believe in giving a second chance to all restaurants.

 

[MichiganKris]

I would try it again. We have been seated with very nice people both times we were there. It was the one restaurant my daughter asked to go to on our coming up trip. I would also speak to the manager and get a new table if the people you were seated with are that rude.

 

[Kiwini]

My only caveat is based on our experience last year, where the lines at the buffet were over a half an hour long. It makes it really hard to go for seconds! We're going back this year with an earlier time, but that means we probably won't see the show. Not that that's a bad thing…

 

[cjdj4]

This is our favorite TS at WDW. We go every time we are at Epcot. We have had countless great tablemates, and once we had a group that was not-so great. They were not bad, they just didn't talk to us. That was fine.

I am not sure everyone really knows what they are getting themselves into when they go to Beirgarten for dinner. However, the waitress/ waiters have asked us every time if we know we will sit with strangers before they have sat us.

There is no excuse for the rudeness you experienced, but I would not let their rudeness ruin Beirgarten for you. If you never go again, then you are giving them power, KWIM?

 

[crabbygal902]

Oh Honey, I'm so sorry y'all had such a bad experience. Whatever their problem, it was about them and not you. Y'all can sit with us next time. I promise we are nice, even if my screen name is crabbygal!

 

[Polydweller]

We gave it a try but found the experience very hit or miss. It could be good with the right table mates but it could be anything from barerly ok to down right awful if we got not so good ones like others experienced. Since it was unpredictable we gave up and went now go to the traditional ones where we know it will be a pleasant evening. I really think the seating arrangements at the Biergarten need to be re-thought to be more traditional single party tables.

 

[POLY1985]

We go for lunch on every trip. I really can't say we've ever had a bad experience. We've had people who did not want to interact, and that was fine but we've never experienced anyone who was rude. If I did get table mates similar to some of the stories, I would ask to be moved even if I had to wait for another table. We like to take our time here have beer and wine and watch the show. The food is good but definitely nothing fancy. I prefer more gourmet type food but my DH and DS's love brats, sausages, etc. I just really enjoy the atmosphere of this place.

Try it again and if you get seated with someone who makes you uncomfortable, ask to be moved.

 

[wen8jr]

I was on the fence about our first ADR at Biergarten, but after reading this thread have cancelled and am going with San Angel (where we've been before). I just hate the thought of spending over $100 for a meal for our family of 4 while trying to eat with strangers who may or may not act decently. I value my privacy a little too much too when eating and enjoy a sit down meal just with my family in the middle of a very busy day...without worrying who's elbowing me or who I'm elbowing that is not friend or family or asking strangers to move aside so I can get a plate of food.

Sort of sad, I would like to go just to check out the atmosphere...but probably won't unless they change the seating arrangements. It's just a huge put off for us. I'm not sure why they have it set up this way, I suppose it must be traditional style seating.

Anyway, thanks for helping me make up my mind that this is definately not the right place for us. This was the only ADR I was nervous about. Now I can sit back and relax. LOL

 

[Simba22]

Although the family sitting with us wasn't rude, our overall experience was similar. We went in 2010, it was just me and my DBF... we were seated again the railing on the 2nd tier, and then they sat a family of 6 (2 adults and 4 small kids) at our table. Thankfully, we were there for about 15 minutes before the other family came, so we were able to get up and get our food without having to bother them much....but we were seated just as the band finished so we had no entertainment, our server took our drink orders and didn't come back until the other family was seated (at which point he took THEIR drink orders and never came back), and to top it all off...we didn't find the food all that spectacular...and we are NOT food snobs, we really enjoy a lot of the restaurants on property that other DISers do not like. I rarely eat at buffets because I have had cold food more often than not, and this was exactly that. The food was cold and mostly bland. I was more impressed with the Bavarian Cheesecake I had for dessert than with anything else. I'm sure it's a fantastic meal for a large group, and when the band is playing, but other than that...I kind of just felt like I was eating at a public cafeteria. Was it the WORST experience I've had? Not at all....but there are a ton of places to eat in Epcot and I'd rather spend the money elsewhere.

 

[hpygrll]

DH and I went there for the first time this past October. I won't go back. I thought the buffet was just ok...much better restaurants in EPCOT for us.

Also, I am not a fan of sitting with strangers. While I did know that going in, it was confirmed after being there. I just don't like forced chit chat.

This one is definitely off our list.

Jenny

 

[AlohaAnnie]

We have a reservation at Biergarten on Christmas Day for Dinner.
This will be our first time at Biergarten.

We are looking forward to having a new experience and we understand that it may not be what we like and that we will be seated with strangers.

That is ok with us.

We have met some wonderful people at Disney World and had many wonderful converstations! We are looking forward to meeting someone new. Now, if we end up with someone that is uncomfortable, oh well!! I am not going to let them ruin my vacation or dinner!!

We try to make the best of every situation and look to the positive. I know being positive doesn't always work out but you can't control what others do but you can control how you react.

On a side note, we have also experienced some people at Disney we prefer to forget about and we do!

I would definately try again!!! Don't let someone get you down!!

 

[emma'smom]

We've eaten here several times and almost always end up with another family with whom we exchange a a few pleasantries and that's it---then we focus on our own party and vice versa. I always find it too loud to chat too much...

 

[seashoreCM]

You should have gotten up and asked to be reseated right away. With the manager and the maitre d' together discussing it if needed.

If the restaurant could not reseat you reasonably promptly and you then decided to leave then it should have cancelled all charges.

It is okay for a restaurant to seat several parties at the same table but the restaurant is responsible and accountable for everyone's comfort including some breathing room.

I don't like booths at buffet restaurants because it is so cumbersome getting up to get food.

 

[aubriee]

I'd give them another try. I've been many times and only twice have had a bad experience. The very first time I ate there, I was solo. I assumed I'd be seated with a couple of families and was not at all concerned. However, I was seated with a party of four men. I was still OK, thinking that at least a couple would be seated with us. No, I went up to get my food and when I came back, found I had three more men on the other side of me. I was the only female at the table. I don't know who was more uncomfortable me or them. I quickly ate my one plate of food and got the heck out of there, swearing I'd never go back. I couldn't believe they'd seat a lone female at a table with seven men. A few months later I went back down there with my husband who wanted to try it. We were seated with three other couples. We had a great time and even hung out for a little while after eating. About a year or so later, we ate there again and were seated with two older couples. Two of them were locals there with friends and we were having a nice time, when they seated a young couple with us. The woman threw a fit, loudly demanding their own table. Her husband finally told her to shut up and sit down. She scowled and pouted the entire meal, making comments only to her husband about how miserable she was. He spoke a little, but spent most of the time telling his wife to shut up and stop complaining. She refused to speak to anyone, other than glaring at all of us and saying that if she'd known they were going to have to share a table with strangers, there is no way her husband would have gotten her in there. Other than those two instances we've always had an excellent time there. However, because of my first experience, Biergarten is one of the few restaurants that I'd not go solo to (Tepan Edo being the other).

 

[mmay60046]

Biergarten is one of those restaurants where I think the bigger your party the better time you're going to have. Especially if you have a few beer drinkers in your party. We had our own table to ourselves for our party of 10 last May and we stayed for over 2 hours dancing and laughing and ordering another round (and another).