We had a great time at Biergarten. But I could see how who you sit with could make a difference... but we were so busy eating and drinking and listening to the music, I don't think it would matter for us.
We did lunch twice, last in Dec. 2011. Food was great both times. I remember the sausages and German carved meats (pork roast and German meatloaf) being very good. The German potato salad was delicious (just like Mom used to make it) and the red cabbage and beets too. The beer was fantastic (real beer!) in a very tall big (I mean BIG) frosty mug! I think there is enough food variety to suit most people. But the food is German for the most part. I don't remember any kids station with nuggets, hot dogs, and pizza. Although... some of the german sausages were very hot dog-like. We grew up on German food (kraut, beets, sausages, sour beef, etc.) so we loved it.
We enjoyed the German band, bells, and horns... especially when the bells did Christmas music. DS6 had fun when the children were invited to hear a story and made friends with another young boy from a different table. We were a party of 3 right by the dance floor seated with a larger family (6 people?). Didn't talk much with them but we were all basically friendly and cheered with our glasses together.
Service was good, not much to servicing with a buffet... but plates were cleared promptly and drinks were filled quickly. After checking in and seeing a mob waiting to be seated.... I got in line for the bar in the waiting area to get a beer. It was slow.... I paid the cashier then got in line for the beer. While waiting, DW was waving to me (they were ready to seat us). With wall to wall people, no way I could get there quickly. The cashier was hollering something in German to the person seating but they didn't notice. So the cashier got my beer ahead of others waiting and walked me to DW and all of us into the restaurant and made sure we were seated right away.
I paid out of pocket for this instead of using up 2 dining credits for the candlelight processional package. I think Biergarten is a good deal -- it is much less expensive that our bills at other Disney restaurants and the entertainment is a bonus. Lunch does cost less than dinner. But the food and entertainment is nearly the same. Dinner has sauerbraten (sour beef) as one of the meats. As much as I love sauerbraten, will have to go to dinner next time.
Below is a copy of my review from our 2010 visit to Biergarten. The menu was pretty much the same.
2010 Review
Finally made it to Biergarten! Rearranged our schedule while there so moved Biergarten to our last day. Epcot was not busy at all.. it was cool outside and a rainstorm blew over earlier. Scheduled around 12:45pm. Several web sites give 1:15pm as the time for the first music show.. so that's why we didn't schedule our ADR too much earlier. You can find videos of the music on
YouTube.
Total cost = $61 (or 1
DDP credit per person) not including tip for 2 adults and 1 child. I think that's a good price for 2 adults and 1 child, especially considering we are in Disney, and there's music entertainment. After lunch, we used up the rest of our snack credits at the Werther's caramel shop. Yummy.
Sitting with other people didn't bother us. We sat with a local couple who had an older son. We talked a little but no one was real talkative... we were tired and just happy to be warm (it was cold outside!). I took DS5 to the floor to dance, but he wanted to break dance or something so I showed him how to do a little polka (like I know what I'm doing!).
My cousin was in a polka band! I wonder if Biergarten can be louder and more fun at dinner. I don't recall the (ziggy, ziggy, oy, oy) cheer.
In Dec. 2011, the band did holler this out and we did several cheers with our table mates.But I did love my draft beer in a giant liter mug!
The buffet had a large variety. I'd like to return for dinner on a future trip since that's when they have sauer braten. I tried a little of most things...I'll highlight a few... The pretzel bread was very good, soft and delicious... just as good as Le Cellier's. I liked the Lentil soup but probably not for everyone's tastes. The German meatballs were delicious. The carved pork and German meatloaf was delicious too, I liked it with the apricot chutney and sweet mustard. I skipped over the cold salads but liked the red cabbage. The desserts were all mini-desserts, nothing spectacular. But my favorite had a bavarian type creme in the middle and powdered sugar on top (triangle shaped one in the pictures).
Beer
Music - band plays on the stage. Dancing is where the instrument you see is resting on the floor.
Lentil Sausage Soup and Breads
Pretzel Bread
Salads and Slaws
Beets, Meatballs, Sausage, Mac Salad
Sausage and Potatos
Meatballs, Chicken, Salmon
Carved Meats - Pork and German Meatloaf
Cheese Spatzel, Red Cabbage
Chicken Schnitzel, Hunter's Sauce
Desserts
And More Desserts
Our tablemates were very friendly, that was probably the best part of the meal. 
I hated Biergarten. The smell of sauerkraut at the check in station should have told me to turn and run. I ended up eating off the kids area of the table because everything I tried had an awful sour taste or a sweet taste that was not right. Even the desserts were terrible. Biergarten and Garden Grill are the two worst meals in Disney to us - but I know lots love them.
