Biergarten in Germany- Good or Bad ?

[SnowWtch]

I love the food at Biergarten but I hate the seating arrangements. I'm not one for talking to strangers so it makes me really uncomfortable. I'll usually only go there with a group so we take up most of the table.

 

[cdel73]

I was worried about this dinner last time. I just wanted to try something different. It ended up being one of our favorite. The food was good. Not over the top good, but good. The atmosphere and the show were excellent. We had a good time. I am not big at sitting with other people either, but it was actually fun. We will be doing it again next time.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

Great food, beer, fun music and table-pounding with friends. What more can one ask for? Biergarten is definitely the sleeper of WS dining; overlooked by many but well worth a visit.

And what most guests there don't realize is they are eating in what was originally built as the pre-show/queue area for an attraction, one which was subsequently cancelled and never built.

When the World Showcase was being designed, the original plan was for the Germany Pavillion to contain a boat ride, themed as a cruise down the Rhine The whole things was supposed to be based on Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" opera; it would have included a Black Forest sequence, an encounter with the northern god of ice and cold winds, elves and a climax of plunging into their caves of gold.

The design included a ride entry area themed as a Bavarian village at night and that was built when construction started on the pavillion. But as plans progressed Disney decided not to put an attraction in Germany. So the space was reworked into dining.

And a sidebar: observant Epcot WS visitors may notice that in the space in-between and in back of the Italy and Germany Pavillions is what appears to be a large building. That is the space that was originally built to house the Rhine River ride; it's now used for storage and rehearsals.

Thanks for this interesting info - I had no idea. I love learning new things about my favorite vacation dstination!!

 

[mommiebyrd]

We ate the Biergarten this past January. We waited at least 40 minutes to get to our table. The whole waiting area outside was jammed packed, but luckily some nice gentlemen gave up their table so we could sit down our little ones.

Interesting to see that it was originally designed for a ride, because I kept saying to myself while we were waiting that it was really an awkward set up for a restuarant.

The items on the dinner buffet menu were good. Plenty of choice for everyone even for fussy eaters. I love desserts, but the ones they had our looked disgusting. It looked like they had been sitting out for hours and had started to "run" so I didn't even try any of them. I am not a beer drinker, but I did try the flight of three Reisling wines and they were great!

The entertainment was slightly amusing, but then again, I have been lucky enough to have attended similiar dinner shows in Europe, so I am probably a being too critical. Better to have a "taste" of a foreign culture than nothing at all.

I didn't mind sitting with other people..when in Rome. We only had another gentlemen sitting at our table. Other than a friendly hello, he seemed kind of standoffish so we didn't converse. He made a comment to our waitress about how slow the service was, which is it was. The place just seemed to be a little out of control probably due to the huge crowds.

All in all give it try.

 

[keylimepie]

I just made a ressie here. Good to see great reviews. It was between here and Coral Reef, but with a 2 yr old who can eat here for free, and a hubby who loves german food, plus my basically picking all my first choices for everything, I decided to go with Biergarten.

We live near Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and they have Das Festhaus there that we always enjoy eating at. Seems pretty similar to here in regards to entertainment. They also have the same sort of seating, so thats no big deal to us at all. But they are not a buffet, and I think the buffet may work out a bit better because we can try more! I am looking forward to it. Even if it is pretty similar to a set up we are already used to, at least its a set up we enjoy and have frequented for years!!!

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Two thirds of our party loved it. One third of our party made a mistake and accidentally ate some pickled herring, which is the reason he didn't love it. The entertainment was fun! I actually liked sitting with other families...we had a fabulous couple sitting with us, and they really added to the atmosphere. They have the super big beers, but we got a beer flight each (and traded off...DH got the dark beers, and I got all of the lighter ones). I really enjoyed the food and my 7 y.o. son really liked the atmosphere. He loves to dance, so this was right up his alley.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We went about 3 weeks ago and it was too die for. I have a TON of pics and a review from our March/April trip on my signature.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

My hubby asked to go to Biergarten during our first trip together and as I had never been before, I agreed. Little did I know that we would be seated with "strangers." Hubby sometimes does not play well with others. I, on the other hand, love talking to other guests -- heck, I'll talk to anyone -- in an elevator, in line at the bank, the grocery store -- it doesn't matter. Anyhow, as a couple we were seated with a group of 4 men and then a couple was seated with us. We all got along famously -- even hubby found something to add to the conversation.

The second time we went, we sat next to a couple with a young baby who just happened to be from hubby's home state -- so it worked out well -- so well, in fact, he added more to the conversation than I did.

The food is great -- nice change from foo-foo food or too many steaks. It is comfort food. And hubby loves getting a "tall" beer for himself as he rarely drinks anything at home.

 

[englishrose47]

I went for the first time in Feb as a solo and loved it. Sitting with others was great I soon was chatting to teh couple across from me I loved the food!! The roast pork was the best I ever had and the black forest cake was to die for !! The entertainment was great as was the service!!

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Please tell me if you liked the biergarten in germany for dinner, hows the food, atmosphere etc. Also do kids like it. Can you get beer in litre steins? Thanks for youre help

They don't have anything spectacular there. But it is very good solid food and the price is very reasonable relative to the other World Showcase restaurants for what you get. If you really don't know whether you will like something, just take a little bit and try it. Generally, most of the tables in there hold 8 and if you are under 8 they will place another group with you. the tables surround a stage with a little show every so often. It's really quite fun and if I'm paying out of pocket it's the first place in World Showcase I'd head to.

 

[rico567]

"I think it totally depends on who you end up with at your table. For us it was a nightmare. The most obnoxious family sat at our table- screaming kids cursing, hitting, burping, it was out of control. Parents were smashed. By the time we were ready for dessert- they actually were asked to leave by the management!"

.....sounds like a normal night in most pubs in the U.K.

And as for having to sit with strangers (Horrors!), we've managed to meet nice people everywhere this arrangement prevails, I'm thinking primarily of Germany and the Czech Republic. Last Fall in Munich we went to the Hofbräuhaus and drank Massbiers (the 1 liter suckers), ate big pretzels and liver dumpling soup, and met a hilarious group of Czech soccer fans, in town for the game, and had the best time. What a nice bonus with the meal! (Of course as we went back on the street, the German riot police were massing and putting on armor and polishing their batons, but we were well out of there before the fun started.)

 

[keylimepie]

"I think it totally depends on who you end up with at your table. For us it was a nightmare. The most obnoxious family sat at our table- screaming kids cursing, hitting, burping, it was out of control. Parents were smashed. By the time we were ready for dessert- they actually were asked to leave by the management!"

.....sounds like a normal night in most pubs in the U.K.

And as for having to sit with strangers (Horrors!), we've managed to meet nice people everywhere this arrangement prevails, I'm thinking primarily of Germany and the Czech Republic. Last Fall in Munich we went to the Hofbräuhaus and drank Massbiers (the 1 liter suckers), ate big pretzels and liver dumpling soup, and met a hilarious group of Czech soccer fans, in town for the game, and had the best time. What a nice bonus with the meal! (Of course as we went back on the street, the German riot police were massing and putting on armor and polishing their batons, but we were well out of there before the fun started.)

Too funny. here in the states it is liek some huge deal if there are riots, cops so are not already prepared for it...seems pretty much like a given in Europe that there may be some!!

 

[perla75]

I honestly didn't think I was going to like this place. I went because it was DF's only ADR request. I don't eat sausages or anything sausage related and I was planning to just eat some chicken strips from the kids buffet and grab a CS meal afterwards. I was also expecting a ton of drunk and obnoxious adults I'm not a big drinker and not a PI kinda girl.

Much to my surprise, this is now one of my favorite WDW restaurants! I ended up eating TOO much! My favorites were the cucumber salad, shnitzel, spaetzle, and bavarian cheesecake. I also got a beer flight and it was great! We had a fantastic server, the restaurant is so cute inside, and the band was great! This restaurant is also very family oriented. Lots of kids dancing with their parents and their siblings to the band's music. The only obnoxiously drunk people we noticed was this smashed couple in front of us in line at check-in. We thought we were going to have to sit with them, but luckily we weren't.

We were aware of the seating arrangements prior to our trip (they informed us when we made the ADR's). Our table was ok-me,DF, another couple, and a bunch of business men. I felt a bit uncomfortable, but that's just me-I get really shy in those situations. The business men were pleasant and polite and pretty much kept to ourselves. The other couple seemed a little stressed like I was-feeling obligated to interact and be social. Thank goodness for my DF who can talk to anyone and feel comfortable.

I definately plan to go back here-it was too fun not to! and it's a good place to work on my shyness/people skills!

 

[monty]

I loved the food and the atmosphere but my DH and DS were so so about the food. We were a party of 6 and other than saying hello to the party of 4 that sat at the other end of our table we just chatted amongst ourselves as they did.

 

[crzy4mk]

I just made a ressie here. Good to see great reviews. It was between here and Coral Reef, but with a 2 yr old who can eat here for free, and a hubby who loves german food, plus my basically picking all my first choices for everything, I decided to go with Biergarten.

We live near Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and they have Das Festhaus there that we always enjoy eating at. Seems pretty similar to here in regards to entertainment. They also have the same sort of seating, so thats no big deal to us at all. But they are not a buffet, and I think the buffet may work out a bit better because we can try more! I am looking forward to it. Even if it is pretty similar to a set up we are already used to, at least its a set up we enjoy and have frequented for years!!!

Oh, you will love this so much more than German place in Busch Gardens! When I lived in VA, I went there a couple of times. You're right, the set up and atmosphere are similar, but the food (and beer) at Biergarten is far better.

Also, to the OP . . . just a small thing, but the beer is not actually served in steins (at least I've never gotten one). Just very large glass mugs, filled with wonderful, wonderful beer!!!! Especially Spaten Optimator, the best beer ever!

 

[Anc96]

I'm not a big german food fan, but I find lots of things that are very good.
My dd LOVES german food so she's in heaven.

We both LOVE the atmosphere! It's a lot of fun! We've been many times, and have always been lucky enough to be seated with friendly people. We're both pretty outgoing and it doesn't make us the least bit uncomforatble.

This year, dd's dad is coming down for a few days (his first time!) and she wants to take him to the Biergarten. He loves german food too so it's a great choice.

Our favorite is Boma though.. it's more about the food, but we love AKL too!

 

[keylimepie]

Oh, you will love this so much more than German place in Busch Gardens! When I lived in VA, I went there a couple of times. You're right, the set up and atmosphere are similar, but the food (and beer) at Biergarten is far better.

Also, to the OP . . . just a small thing, but the beer is not actually served in steins (at least I've never gotten one). Just very large glass mugs, filled with wonderful, wonderful beer!!!! Especially Spaten Optimator, the best beer ever!

Well thats good to hear! The food at Das Festhaus is prety good, except for one funky sausage that I dont like...but if this is better, than that is great! And I am sure there are many more beer choices there...not just Busch!

 

[hmillerbarilla]

Also, to the OP . . . just a small thing, but the beer is not actually served in steins (at least I've never gotten one). Just very large glass mugs, filled with wonderful, wonderful beer!!!! Especially Spaten Optimator, the best beer ever!

I love Optimator! So glad to hear that I can order that here! Yay!

 

[crzy4mk]

I love Optimator! So glad to hear that I can order that here! Yay!

The only place I can get it on tap is at Biergarten. It is soooooo good! Rich, dark, slight coffee/chocolate taste . . . I want one right now!

And to the earlier poster that talked about drinking a beer and walking around in the FL sun all day . . . try one of these bad boys. I drink a liter, and I'm buzzing for a couple of hours. Strong for a beer.

 

[vettegirl]

Love the Biergarten, ate there a few weeks ago on our first trip to DW. The food was outstanding, the service was even better!