Thinking of dining at Biergarten in Epcot? We cover the buffet food, prices, entertainment, and pros and cons to help you decide in this Biergarten Epcot review.

Biergarten in Epcot’s World Showcase area at Walt Disney World offers unique German food and entertainment. Should you try it on your next visit to Epcot? The Biergarten Restaurant possesses a large fan base. Nevertheless, many people avoid this table service restaurant. While Biergarten offers an all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet, the detractors mention a dislike for German food and limited options for certain diets.

The Biergarten Restaurant is located in the back of the Germany pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase. Admission to the Epcot theme park is required to dine here. Lunch runs from noon to 3:55 p.m., and dinner service starts shortly after at 4:00 p.m. Advance dining reservations are highly recommended.  

This buffet costs less than many buffets on Walt Disney World property. Adults pay $49, and children aged three to nine pay $28. That lower price relates to this buffet offering a non-character dining experience. Those using the dining plan will appreciate that Biergarten only costs one table service credit. If you’re looking for character dining, then a visit to Garden Grill or Akershus makes sense during your Epcot day.

Biergarten Epcot Review: The Experience

However, that does not mean Biergarten lacks entertainment. In fact, many fans of this Epcot table service dining option speak highly of the entertainment within this restaurant. The restaurant somehow captures much of the charm of Oktoberfest. Of course, it stays family-friendly. Still, this dining option does not make an ideal romantic dinner at Epcot based on the periodic shows and overall noise at Biergarten.

The ”oompah” show creates great interest in Biergarten. It generally happens hourly and lasts about 25 minutes. The German band shows off their talent with several upbeat songs that encourage audience participation. This can be especially exciting for kids. Adults who have been sampling German beers appear to enjoy it as well.

After two songs or so, guests should see the notable performances of bell ringing and/or alpenhorn playing. Near the end of the set, the band will invite anyone in the restaurant to the dance floor as they play a last song or two.

Germany Pavilion

Biergarten sits tucked in the back of the Germany Pavilion of Epcot’s World Showcase. This takes diners from the more boisterous areas of Epcot. Once you check in, you will be guided into the restaurant. Our most recent experience involved the hostess having a bad day. Still, most guests appreciate the care of the check-in process at Biergarten. However, we recommend the mobile check-in system here in My Disney Experience.

The Biergarten dining area looks a lot like a tiered semi-circle. The seating focus revolves around the main stage and the dance floor. The stage takes up very little room compared to the rest of the restaurant. Like San Angel Inn, the dining area resembles a nighttime outdoor area. However at Biergarten there is plenty of light to see your food.

This setting provides a pleasant break from the potentially warm and sunny day at Epcot. We appreciated the calm, darker setting during our most recent visit to Biergarten. Biergarten offers quality air conditioning like San Angel Inn in the Mexico Pavilion. The restaurant’s design allows guests to stay in the themed environment without as many crowds as they would experience in the rest of Epcot.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Seating

The tables are laid out with a focus on groups of eight. You may be seated at a table for four or eight, even as a group of two. Unless the restaurant is very busy, you will not be seated right next to other groups. However, this can happen at Biergarten.

The tiered seating set-up means guests must take more steps to get to the buffet queues. Guests should expect to take several small areas of steps depending on where they are seated. Nevertheless, this seating structure creates a good view of the show from wherever you are seated.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Dining Packages

We visited Biergarten using an Epcot concert dining package. For those unfamiliar, Epcot hosts many concerts during the year. Guests interested in guaranteed seating for one of these concerts can buy a dining package with seating and a meal. As you might expect, these packages cost more than a standard table service meal and do not offer annual pass discounts. Still, these dining packages provide significant value for those interested in the musical artists performing. If interested, please check the festival schedule at Epcot since the concert, shows, or the Candlelight Processional take place during the four festivals.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Buffet Arrangement

The Biergarten buffet is at the top of the restaurant, near the entrance. It divides into two separate queues, which match each other regarding menu items. A shared carving station sits in the middle of these two buffet lines. Though we have heard theories about which side to choose, our experience did not match that. However, we found acquiring the food we wanted easy on our latest visit.

Having visited every buffet at Walt Disney World, we found this one provides the best pure buffet experience. Now, we are not necessarily referring to the food quality. Our positive experience pertains to the ease of acquiring food. The buffet queues were easy to negotiate. Also, we never saw any food items sections on the buffet that lacked the proper product. In fact, we saw menu items, like sausages, replaced well before the items in the serving pan were empty in that spot. This serves as a distinct contrast to our experiences at places like 1900 Park Fare, for example. This positive aspect enhanced our dining experience.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Beverages

The buffet price allows guests one standard non-alcoholic beverage. Guests should think of lemonade, tea, or soft drinks. Fans of Coke Zero Sugar may find themselves disappointed at Biergarten. However, we will discuss that more later. Guests can purchase a large selection of German wine and beer at an additional price. These can also be bought as flights.

The Food Options at Biergarten

The style of items on the Biergarten buffet leads to the most divisive perspectives about this place. Many people have some stereotypes about German cuisine. Biergarten does offer lots of potatoes, sausages, and sauerkraut.

The official menu looks like this:

• Seasonal Salads
• Traditional Sausages
• Rotisserie Chicken
• Sauerkraut
• Potatoes
• Spätzle
• Schnitzel
• Nudel Gratin
• Assorted Desserts.

Still, guests should expect to find more than just those items at the Biergarten buffet. We found Biergarten to be an excellent choice for picky eaters as there was a great variety of German classics, but enough of them were familiar, like German-style mac and cheese.

The buffet line starts with the salad section. However, the salads vary from your standard United States of America salad station. In this section, guests will find items like potato salad, macaroni salad, bean salad, and cucumber salad. Butter, cheese, beets, and meats like liverwurst and bologna are also available.

As guests move on to more stations at the Biergarten buffet, they will encounter a few more vegetables but mostly meat and potato-style dishes like chicken, fish, meatballs, pork schnitzel, and various sausages. We enjoyed the preparation of these items during our most recent visit.

Buffet Aroma

Guests sensitive to certain smells while dining should avoid the warm potato salad and the cabbage. Though each offers a solid flavor, the aroma might be off-putting for some.

Of Course, There are Dessert Options at Biergarten

Biergarten offers a wide variety of desserts. In fairness, none of them will blow guests away with a unique or upper-echelon-level flavor. Still, they each fit this meal very well. Desserts will vary slightly based on your visit. However, guests should expect a warm apple strudel, which is generally the top pick.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Our Dining Experience

We arrived for our reservation time at 1:30 p.m. and checked in with the hostess. Saying it nicely, the hostess was having a bad day. Still, we were seated soon after checking in. Even though our initial experience with a cast member at Biergarten was not stellar, our server was fabulous.

Our server took out drink orders, and this table service restaurant received a bad grade because it had Diet Coke but not Coke Zero Sugar, which saddened one group member. Still, we enjoyed a table with plenty of space for just our group. The buffet placement demanded that we walk up some stairs. However, since we came at lunchtime, the buffet never got very crowded.

Guests should note that the restrooms are on the left of the buffet area when viewed from their seats. All seats have a solid view of the stage. Still, there are usually no shows for the first hour or so that Biergarten is open. It opens daily at noon. The first show we saw started at 1:28 p.m. and stopped at 1:42 p.m. A second show started at 2:15 p.m.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Our Feelings About the Food

Biergarten offers a wide variety of food. We enjoyed the carved meats. On this day, we found the food more enjoyable than at a place like 1900 Park Fare, for example. We never had to wait for a buffet dish to be filled or replaced, unlike at places like Chef Mickey’s and 1900 Park Fare.

Our favorite items on the Biergarten buffet were the fish entrees, pretzel rolls, and meatballs. The warm apple strudel did not disappoint either, but there are also plenty of better desserts found at Epcot. For full disclosure, we had three plates of food and then a plate of desserts, so we appreciated the buffet. Also, we are looking forward to doing another Biergarten Epcot review in the near future.

On the negative side, most theme park guests will not appreciate several German salads. We found the heavier salads tasted fine, but better options exist on the Biergarten buffet than the salads.

Nevertheless, we doubt any guests will fail to find several items on the buffet that fit their culinary cravings. Most of the food on the buffet will satisfy taste buds without being too far outside the diet of most theme park guests. Regarding a true all-you-care-to-enjoy experience, Biergarten offers good food at a reasonable theme park price. Walt Disney World annual passholders do receive a discount, which helps in terms of value.

Biergarten Epcot Review: Final Thoughts

Biergarten in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion offers a memorable dining experience that blends hearty German cuisine with lively entertainment, all within a unique and immersive setting. While it may not appeal to every palate, especially those with dietary restrictions or an aversion to traditional German fare, it stands out for its efficient buffet layout, consistent food availability, and festive atmosphere.

The live “oompah” band, family-friendly ambiance, and themed decor elevate the experience beyond a typical buffet, making it an excellent choice for guests seeking something different from character dining. Although the seating style and occasional shared tables may not suit those looking for a quiet or romantic meal, the lively shows and quality service make Biergarten a strong contender for a fun group outing or family meal.

Reasonably priced by Disney standards and offering solid value, especially for those on the dining plan or with an annual pass, it is worth considering for anyone open to trying German cuisine. For guests seeking variety, entertainment, and a break from the Florida sun in an air-conditioned, themed environment, Biergarten is a rewarding and enjoyable stop on your Epcot adventure.

For more theme park dining reviews, visit MSM News every weekday at noon Eastern Time. As always, eat like you mean it!

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