Biergarten is original to Epcot's opening in 1982, and has therefore remained one of the more authentic dining experiences in World Showcase. As Disney characters have been creeping into some of the otherwise very authentic pavilions, Germany is a nice change of pace to focus on the country itself, rather than the ways that characters could potentially be incorporated into the dining experience.
One of the most unique things about dining at Biergarten, is that you will most likely be seated with other guests. The scene is an evening Oktoberfest celebration, with long, eight person tables, that are authentic to the restaurant's theme. If you do not have eight guests in your party, you are more than likely going to be seated with other guests. The only time I've dined here and had our own table has been when we've been seated later at night, right before the park closes, which I'm assuming was only because it's not a very popular place for late-night dining. Before you are seated, you are generally reminded of the family-style seating at least once. The host or hostess typically mentions it and asks if you're okay with it, and you'll usually be reminded again before you're seated. (I'm not sure what would happen if you said you weren't okay with it, but the fact that they ask makes me believe that they would accommodate you with your own table if you were really uncomfortable with it).
When it is your turn to be seated, the host or hostess will again bring up the family-style aspect of the restaurant, and (awkwardly) tell you to say hello to the other people you'll be dining with. I say "awkwardly" because in the handful of times that I've dined here, I've never had this initial interaction not be awkward. It's not the waitstaff's faults, it's the guests, and this is why it's important to think about how you'd feel about the seating in this location. About half of the times I've dined here the people we've been seated with have been approachable and everyone's had a good time, but the other half of the time we've been with people who clearly do not want to sit with strangers. I enjoy the food and entertainment enough that I'm willing to take a chance with who we'll be sitting with, but if you're looking for a romantic experience, or if you're simply not into the idea of sharing a table, this might not be the restaurant for you.
It should come as no surprise that liters of beer are encouraged at a German Biergarten. While I do enjoy some of the beers offered, and I will admit that having a liter really does complete the experience, I'm partial to some of the wine offerings, and lately I've been going with the Dr. Loosen Riesling, which the drink menu describes as "lightly sweet, green apple and citrus flavors elegantly laced with racy acidity and minerality from steep slate slopes." Solid beer offerings include Schöfferhofer Pink Grapefruit Hefeweizen, and Altenmünster Oktoberfest. The grapefruit beer is one of the more unique beer offerings in Epcot, and is great for guests who want beer while in Germany but do not typically enjoy beer, as it is much more refreshing and doesn't have the same kind of flavor that most non-beer drinkers dislike. The Oktoberfest is the way to go if you're looking for a classic German beer, and ordering a liter is the best way to get the most of this experience.
photo: Disney Food Blog
The meals at Biergarten are lunch and dinner buffets, that are all-you-care-to-enjoy. The buffet features two sides of salads, breads, and entrees, with one large dessert station in the middle. Both sides are identical, with the exception of the carving station being located towards the right. Unless you are going right for the carving station, choose the side with the shorter line. Many reviews I've read of Biergarten in the past mention that the food is adventurous in that there are authentic German options, but there are less adventurous dishes for picky eaters as well. While there are definitely some options that would please picky eaters, if most of your party is not interested in the German theme, I would choose a different location. The less adventurous items, like roasted chicken and macaroni and cheese are delicious, but not worth the price of the all-you-care-to-enjoy German dining experience if you're not going to be eating them with sauerkraut and sausage.
You can view the entire restaurant menu (including drinks) here. I always start off with salads, my favorite being the tomato salad and the lettuce with tarragon dressing.
photo: Disney Food Blog
I do admittedly skip salads most of the time at Disney buffets, however the dressing and tomato salad make it worth it for me at Biergarten. Though I'm not a fan, Chaz loves the cucumber salad, making the salad bar a must-do for him as well. Next to the salad, there is a selection of cold cuts, cold sausages, pasta salad, pickles, and cheeses. I generally just pick up some cold cuts here and move along, though the pasta salad and pickles seem to be very popular.
The hot items buffet begins with a variety of breads, the best in my opinion being the pretzel bread, and a soup of the day item. I've lucked out in that almost every time I've been the soup of the day has been cheddar cheese soup (which makes excellent dipping sauce for the pretzel bread) but the cream of asparagus is up there as well for me. If you can't get over to Le Cellier on your visit to Epcot, the pretzel bread at Biergarten is very similar, especially if you're also able to get the cheddar cheese soup.
The other standouts on the hot section are primarily the German staples-- the sausage platter of Bratwurst, Regens Burger, and sauerkraut, Pork Schnitzel, and Spätzle. The lunch buffet also includes roasted chicken and potatoes, macaroni and cheese, meatballs, and a fish of the day in cream sauce. Each time I've visited Biergarten, the carving serving has featured both German style meatloaf, and roast pork, both of which are delicious.
photo: Disney Food Blog
In terms of food, I'd suggest going for dinner over lunch. While dinner is pricier, about $30 for lunch vs. $40 for dinner, some of the items that are only offered during dinner are favorites of mine (potato dumplings), and I'd pay the extra $10 to have them.
Dessert varies with the season, but the standout is always the warm apple strudel. Even if you're not a dessert person be sure to save some room for it!
The real reason to dine at Biergarten is of course the entertainment. The performers really bring to life an authentic Oktoberfest atmosphere, and the audience is encouraged to get involved by taking to the dance floor for the polka and waltz. They use a variety of instruments, including Alphorns, bells, glass harmonicas, and more.
photo: Disney Tourist Blog
The dance floor is another component of this restaurant that really depends on how the guests are during your meal. Sometimes the dance floor is packed, sometimes it's empty, and sometimes it's full of kids just running around. Either way if you have enough beer, you shouldn't be concerned about what the atmosphere on the dance floor is like.
I would highly recommend Biergarten if you're looking forward to unique entertainment during a meal (especially if you enjoy dinner shows and are looking to try something new) or if you're a huge fan of German food. The standouts on the menu are the more traditional German items, so for the less adventurous options for Disney buffets I'd try Hollywood and Vine or Chef Mickey's instead.
Lunch at Biergarten gets a score of 78% from us. It's a fun place to go if you're looking for a meal and a show, especially without a reservation, at World Showcase. The real high points here are the beer and wine and the entertainment, and while the buffet does have some standout options, most of the food is average. The sausage, meatballs, and pretzel bread stand out to me, and while nothing is necessarily bad, this is the kind of restaurant you really choose for the unique entertainment over the food.
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