Review - Biergarten

[Tiggerella]

My family of 4 were there a couple Thursdays ago for a 7:25 ADR (we checked in about 10 minutes earlier than that and got right in).

The ambiance is so fun; that you are inside with the feeling you are outside and the party atmosphere that abounds really set it apart.

We ended up getting seated way to the left of the stage (if you are looking at it from the audience vantage) near the waistaff service door in..... a 4 seat table!!! That's right, there is one here! Now I know some would have really enjoyed not sitting with other people, but I was actually looking forward to that, so i was a little disappointed!

We caught the end of the 7:05 show and it obviously not the best viewing from our local but we could hear just fine and also caught the whole 8:05 show. We loved the music and it did add to the dining experience. Oy Oy Oy! The huge horns were really entertaining, as well.

Myriam was our waitress and she was the best of our trip overall- really pleasant, friendly and attentive.

The food was great: plentiful and fresh. And this from someone who didn't eat one sausage while there; there were plenty of other protein choices like roasted pork, the beef roulade, the chicken schnitzle, & salmon. And if you are a salad person, this place is for you as well- green leafy, potato, macroni, cabbage. Some stand outs for me were the califlower soup, the red sauercrout, and the bavarian cream dessert (so light and yummy).

We actually have some really great German restaurants near us at home here so my husband had questioned why I had selected this restaurant. Once experiencing it, he was glad I had! It was my son's favorite and my husband and my second favorite TS of the trip and we ate at a couple of signatures to give you a point of comparison.

Good time and would definitely return!

 

[sweeteypie1118]

I ate there this past week for the first time. I was worried about sitting with strangers because of some of the negative experiences people have had, but we sat with a couple with 2 children who were very friendly and we had fun chatting. We enjoyed the show too.

As for the food...I agree that I found some of the meats dry, but other were pretty good, and the sides and desserts were very good. Not the best meal in Epcot, but I still enjoyed the experience.

 

[PanFan01]

Our family tried the Biergarten for the first time on our trip a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say, everyone in my family said, "Please don't make us go back there again!" I was very excited about trying it, but given what happened, we will probably never go back. It all started right when we checked in for our reservation. We had just got done walking from TT in the pouring rain and was looking forward to sitting inside and enjoying a good meal as we were all starving. We did arrive about 20 minutes prior to our reservation time so I knew there would be a little bit of a wait. We sat there and watch quite a few parties of four with no ADRs get seated before us. After about a 30 minute wait my husband asked the girl at the check in podium if they were running behind. She said no we actually are ahead since we are not completely booked for tonight. He informed her that we had reservations for about 10 minutes ago and had been sitting there for about 30 minutes. She said, "Well you must not have checked in." He then showed her the pager she gave us a half an hour ago. "Oh, I guess I forgot to put your pager number in our system. We'll get you seated as soon as possible." Ten minutes later, and after they sat two more non-ADR parties and after my husband went and stood in front of the podium so no one else could check in, the girl then said, "Oh yes, you need to be seated." She then handed our slip to the next hostess who then took us to our table. No, "Sorry about not entering you into the system" or anything like that. So not only are we really starving at this point, but my husband was fuming. Then we were seated. From the moment we walked up to our table I knew it was going to be bad. It was a family from Jersey (could tell by their very heavy accents). They were seated with mom and dad on one side of the table and their 8ish year old daughter and about 1 year old son in a highchair on the other side. Good choice of letting the 8 year old be in charge of the 1 one year old. They spent the entire meal trying to explain to their daughter what her heritage was. Mom - "I am 50% German and 50% Italian. Your dad is 50% German and 50% Irish. That makes you 50% German, 25% Italian and 25% Irish." Daughter - "I don't get it." They went on for a good 45 minutes trying to explain this to their daughter. They even tried using spoons, forks and knives to explain this to her, but she still didn't get it. Meanwhile, the one year old was getting his hands on anything he could and then proceeded to put all of these things on me. My water bottle strap, my sleeve and my napkin had cheese from his mac & cheese all over them. Great. To top it off, when we returned from the buffet with our desserts we sat down at the table to find out that the one year old had soiled his diaper and apparently mom, dad and older sister couldn't smell it. Well we all did. It was acutally difficult to eat and in fact half of us couldn't finish our desserts. We could not get out of there fast enough. We had gotten our drinks, eaten our entrees, part of our desserts and paid for our meal before they even went up for dessert. We laugh at it now, because it has become "the story" from our vacation this time. I would go back to Biergarten if I were with a large party - it would probably be fun. However, if it is just the four of us, we'll pass. Don't want to chance being in the same situation again.

 

[CruznLexi]

We love it so much it is our first ADR this time we are eating twice!

 

[missmd]

Does anyone who has been to Biergarten recently recall if they still have the pretzel bread? Thank you!

 

[PanFan01]

Does anyone who has been to Biergarten recently recall if they still have the pretzel bread? Thank you!

Yep, we were there 8/27 - 9/3 and they had it there. Very yummy.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Gotta chime in. I've been going to Biergarten since the days of the menu, and agree, the first time I went to the buffet it was disappointing, but has always been great since then. I always joke I've never had dessert there, but last time made the effort to stop eating roulade and sauerbraten and try dessert. It was good, but dinner is the star. I will be there Oct 4 again with a group of 5. Hope to have some good dinner company. Always do.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

It's funny I must have a really bad palate. I love the food at this place but so many people I know hate it.

I, too, enjoy the communal seating when I am seated with others who "get it". I'm usually seated with at least one group who don't "get it" and sit stone-faced when I try to strike up a conversation. They actually seem shocked and scared that some "stranger" not with their group is speaking with them at dinner, even though we're all seated at the same table. This has happened to me at Biergarten, Teppan Edo and a long gone holiday dinner show.

I go on cruises where you are seated with other passengers so I "get it". I guess it's outside some people's comfort zone.

 

[kkerbys]

Does anyone know how many can fit at one table at Biergarten? We are looking forward to lunch with our group of 11 total: 8 adults, 3 kids ages 8,6,and 5. Hoping we won't have to split up!

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I'm pretty sure the tables seat 8. Certainly not 11.

 

[mimmi]

I've always wondered why Biergarten is so popular, as here, German food is not very popular. I always have the feeling that there's nothing but sausages and Schnitzel (and that's an Austrian dish)

 

[zorro77]

Yes tables do seat 8, but we have done large groups many times and we have spit like 4 on one and 8 on other. Tables are close and they will work with you. Food their is consistent and never over done, just plane good. We have taken people there and its Germany but anyone can find food to eat their of all ages. Salad area is great.

 

[LuzzBightyear]

A party of 9, which includes two pre-schoolers...would they split the group up or allow the group sit the group at one table?

 

[princessSunshine]

It's funny I must have a really bad palate. I love the food at this place but so many people I know hate it.

I, too, enjoy the communal seating when I am seated with others who "get it". I'm usually seated with at least one group who don't "get it" and sit stone-faced when I try to strike up a conversation. They actually seem shocked and scared that some "stranger" not with their group is speaking with them at dinner, even though we're all seated at the same table. This has happened to me at Biergarten, Teppan Edo and a long gone holiday dinner show.

I go on cruises where you are seated with other passengers so I "get it". I guess it's outside some people's comfort zone.

I'd visit with you, I "get it" and enjoy talking to my neighbours - unfortunately we've had two dinners there with stone-faced people, not much fun.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Just like every other restaurant at WDW, some like it and some don't. We happen to love Biergarten!

 

[Highlander82]

I've been going to the Biergarten for about 10 years now and have never had a bad experience. Always amazing!

 

[missmd]

Yep, we were there 8/27 - 9/3 and they had it there. Very yummy.

Thank you, PanFan! That helps with my planning

 

[GoHerbie]

Another tip is when you're making your Biergarten reservation, ask what times the shows start and plan your arrival accordingly. We choose an arrival time early enough so that our trips to the buffet are done when the show starts.

 

[mmay60046]

We went in May and it was one of our favorite dinners the entire trip. Not because of the food, but because it was so dang fun.

We had a party of 10 and so had one whole table to ourselves. I do remember enjoying the "cold" side of the buffet more than the "hot" side. But the liters of beer and the dancing was what made this meal so fun for us. We actually stayed for 3 sets of the band and 2 rounds of Liters. My girls, age 5 and 11, had the best time dancing when the band was playing and I had the best time taking turns dancing with them.

Probably my biggest complaint was that we heard some of the same songs during all 3 of the band's set. Would have liked to have heard some more variety from set to set.

 

[lurkernj]

From the moment we walked up to our table I knew it was going to be bad. It was a family from Jersey (could tell by their very heavy accents).

Wow, what's up with that.

And we don't have accents in Jersey, it's the rest of you that have accents.