Restaurant Review: Biergarten Restaurant in Epcot

To enjoy authentic German cuisine without leaving the United States, visit the Biergarten Restaurant at Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. Located in Epcot's World Showcase, the Biergarten Restaurant is nestled in the charming Bavarian village that is the Germany pavilion.

The Biergarten Restaurant is easy to find in the replica 16^th century village, look for the green and white Oktoberfest sign near the fountain of St. George. At the front entrance, guests are greeted warmly by Disney cast members, all of whom are natives to Germany.

With Oktoberfest for its theme, the Biergarten offers a festive, family atmosphere. Oktoberfest was originally established in 1810 in Germany as a public celebration of the marriage of King Ludwig to Princess Theresia. Epcot's Biergarten celebrates Oktoberfest year-round with regional foods, traditional Bavarian music, and servers in colorful peasant costumes.

The Biergarten is a casual dining, non-smoking, all-you-can-eat buffet. It is open for lunch from Noon until 3 p.m. and for dinner from 3:30 p.m. until the closing of the park. At lunch, adult prices are $19.99 and children aged three to nine are $10.99. At dinner, adult prices are $28.99 and children aged three to nine are $13.99. Beverages are sold separately. The Biergarten is a participating restaurant for the Disney Dining Plan.

If you are expecting a quiet, intimate meal, the Biergarten is not the place. If you are looking for a couple of hours of good food, drink, laughter and music then this is the restaurant to visit. Most tables in the restaurant seat eight, therefore if your dining party has less than eight you will be seated with another group. This is part of the Oktoberfest tradition, the sharing of food with others. Dining with another family or couple allows you to meet others from different areas of the United States and in some cases from other countries. It may seem awkward at first, but greet your tablemates with a smile and the ice will soon be broken.

The servers attend to the tables promptly, taking drink orders and logging in guests using the Disney Dining Plan. Guests are invited to visit the buffet at this time and are encouraged to sample as many dishes as they would like. Our table was near the buffet area and away from the higher traffic areas, making it hassle-free to move between our table and the buffet.

The Biergarten offers a cold buffet area, hot buffet area, seasonal soups and a carving station featuring pot roast and baked veal loaf. The dinner buffet also offers additional entrees including Sauerbraten, potato dumplings and herring salad.

The cold buffet features about twelve different items, mostly salads from various regions of Germany. Some of the items include nudel salet (macaroni salad), kartoffel salat (warm German potato salad), tomaten salet mit basilikum (tomato salad with fresh basil), Bavarian cabbage salad, senfgurken (mustard pickles), mixed greens, Bavarian sausage salad and even head cheese.

The tomato salad with fresh basil was bursting with flavor and firm, ripe tomatoes. The macaroni salad featured noodles al dente with a creamy sauce that was flavorful but not too heavy. The kartoffel salat or warm German potato salad is a dish not to miss, with potatoes cooked perfectly, firm but not mushy and a sauce with a balanced combination of vinegar and sugar.

The hot buffet has about fifteen to twenty items including spaetzle, cheese spaetzle with onions, frikadellen (meat patties in red wine sauce), schnitzel weiner art (breaded pork schnitzel), braised red cabbage, roast potatoes with herbs, salmon with lemon dill cream, glazed carrots, rotisserie chicken with herbs, and a sausage sampler that includes grilled bratwurst and smoked pork served with sauerkraut.

The breading on the pork schnitzel is light, crisp and does not overpower the flavor of the meat. A drizzling of the rich mushroom sauce over the schnitzel and a serving of the potato dumplings is delicious. Be sure to snag a serving of the sauerkraut. Cooked to perfection, this kraut is too good to smother with sauces. Another item not to miss is the cheese spaetzle with onions that are grilled soft, complimenting the delicate flavor of the spaetzle.

The cream of potato with leeks soup is another favorite. This rich, creamy soup is served with pretzel croutons and is almost sinful with its richness. Wash your meal down with a soft drink or indulge in a pilsner of German beer.

Dessert is just as indulgent as the main courses. Diners can choose from fresh seasonal fruits, apple strudel with a vanilla sauce, cheesecake, cookies, and Blackforest cake. The apple strudel is flaky and buttery with a delicious vanilla sauce. For sweets aficionados, do not miss the creamy Bavarian cheesecake or a slice of the decadent Blackforest cake.

During your meal, you will be able to enjoy the music provided by the 6-person Oktoberfest Musikanten. They entertain guests with traditional Bavarian music, songs and even yodeling. Children are encouraged to come down to the dance floor and learn to do the polka and other folk dances during dinner as well.

If you are going to dine at the Biergarten Restaurant, reservations are suggested by calling (407) WDW - DINE. Reservations can be made up to 90 days prior to your visit. Specialty cakes may also be ordered for serving during your meal. 48-hour advance notice is required for this by calling (407) 827 - 2253.

The Biergarten Restaurant in Epcot's Germany pavilion has a colorful, warm atmosphere and continually provides its guests with a high quality, authentic German dining experience.