German/Eastern European

Biergarten

Address
City
Phone
Price

Epcot Germany Pavilion
Lake Buena Vista
407-939-3463
$$$

It’s Oktoberfest year round, although anyone who has been to the real deal in Munich won’t have any trouble confusing the celebration here with the beer tents of Bavaria. Then again, you’re not likely to have underage drinkers throwing up on your shoes at Epcot, so it balances out. The food is served on a buffet here and includes your basic bratwursts, red cabbage, spaetzle and such. It’s kept tidy, and while nothing is extraordinary about the quality, the food is mostly palatable.

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Buster’s Bistro

Address
City
Phone
Price

300 Sanford Ave.
Sanford
407-732-6880
$$

Buster’s Bistro is a bar. A Belgian bar, to be precise. But BB’s menu is more ambitious than most bars, with such selections as Short Rib Carbonnade, Vol-au-Vent, and Tikka Masala Curry. The results are as varied as the selections.

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Enzian’s Eden Bar

Address
City
Phone
Price

1300 S. Orlando Ave.
Maitland
407-629-0054
$$

A recent addition to the area’s only art movie house, Eden is an outdoor venue next to the theater. The menu is an odd mix but features some Austrian specialties. If you’re up for a splurge, ask for a shot of pre-Prohibition bourbon.

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Heidelberg

Address
City
Phone
Price

7 N. Orlando Ave.
Cocoa Beach
321-783-4559
$$

This longtime Cocoa Beacher has been serving good German food for decades. The dining room was recently spiffed up and a patio was added. Next door is Heidi’s Jazz Club, so you can make a night of it right here.

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Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café

Address
City
Phone
Price

205 E. 1st St.
Sanford
407-321-2204
$$

Voted the second best German restaurant in the U.S. but readers of GermanDeli.com for 2009. (Bavarian Grill of Plano, Texas, was number one; go figure.) I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I’m prepared to call it the best German restaurant in Central Florida.Although the surroundings leave something to be desired, there’s good German food to be had here. Have a schnitzel, or the sausage platter, but beware: it’s a lot of food.The place is especially festive Thursdays through Sundays when there is entertainment. Oom-pah-pah!

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Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill

Address
City
Phone
Price

1514 E. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista
407-815-2100
$$$

The website admits that the dining experience is meant to be Spago-like, though they chose not to name it such, even though there are now five Spagos worldwide. But the food is classic Puck, with touches of his native Austria and of course the designer pizzas that made him famous.

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