Heidi's German Restaurant — Restaurant in Florida

Husband and I decided to go out of our comfort zone and try another ethnic restaurant in the Fort Myers area. Heidi‘s had good reviews and was only a 35 minute drive from our home so we decided to give it a try. We are so happy we did! Heidi’s is in an adorable building off of Highway 41 in Fort Myers. Upon entering, we were greeted by a joyful host who we later found out was Heidi. After seating us, she quickly retrieved our drink order of different beers and was back to explain the menu. Everything, and I mean everything, in this place is homemade. We opted for splitting a bowl of goulash based on the description on the menu as an app. If you are not German, think hearty beef stew. The flavors were incredible – this would have been perfect for sitting on a cool night with a big glass of wine. The broth was perfectly seasoned and we had to restrain ourselves from licking out the bowl - it was THAT GOOD! We decided for our entrées to conquer a few different items and share them. I loved that you could substitute chicken, veal, or pork loin for most dishes to satisfy cravings. Husband had sauerbraten and I had jagershnItzel (but made with chicken). Both were absolutely outstanding! Heidi shared with us her recommendations of sides, and she did not steer us wrong. We had dumplings, spaetzel, and cabbage. All I can say is WOW! Sadly, we had no room for dessert. Their desserts are also made in house and looked absolutely fabulous. Once we got home, we regretted that we did not purchase a piece of Black Forest torte to go. The extensive German menu that was very authentic. Atmosphere was fun in that you could have your beer served in a traditional boot or standard pint glasses. It was evident there were many regulars in the restaurant as they were greeting people by name all around us. If you’re in Fort Myers and craving something different, Heidi’s is definitely a wonderful spot to try! Fabulous food, very reasonable prices, and an excellent staff to make sure your needs are...

10/19/2024 update: Brought another couple to dinner with us. They were absolutely impressed and loved their meals. The two hubbies got the mixed platters with bratwurst and knockwurst and thought they were delicious. The other wife had the simple pan seared chicken breast (she's Irish) and enjoyed it I had the Jaeger Schnitzel with mushroom gravy (again!). Should probably try something different, but I absolutely LOVE this dish. I get the gravy on the side and just put it in my spaetzle so the schnitzel would remain crispy. I'm promising myself to try something new next time. 😉 Heidi and Axel work so hard and it shows!! Melanie was out server again and she is the best!

We've always said that we miss some of the many ethnic restaurants available to us when we visit the Metro Detroit area (our former home). Heidi's is a gem we truly appreciate!

2/13/24: We first started going to Heidi and Axel's place on FMB, then here after they reopened following Hurricane Ian. Hubby & I went here on the 13th for our "Valentine's dinner." It was wonderful (again!). Melanie, our server was great...so friendly. We both had the veal Jaeger Schnitzel w/mushroom gravy. I had the red cabbage and spaetzle (extra gravy on the side!) Our veal was fork tender, the breading was perfectly crispy, the red cabbage was sweet and tangy and the spaetzle were nice and tender. Paired it with the dark German beer (hubby had the lighter beer). Too full, so we got a piece of German Chocolate cake and Apple Strudel to go. Had the cake last night... delicious! It is a small place, so it can get a little loud if everyone is having a good time, but small price to pay for authentic...

As a Continental Airlines pilot, our crew layovers in Frankfurt, Germany were at nearby Mainz-um-Rhine. Usually, the entire 777 crew (about 7 flight attendants and 3 pilots) would head over to our favorite restaurant, where the most popular menu item was a chicken schnitzel smothered in a brown gravy with lots of peppercorns in it. I'm not a huge fan of German cuisine (or chicken, for that matter), but this dish was excellent! (By the way, crews from our competing airlines also seemed to frequent the place.) For all the twenty years since my retirement, I've kept my eyes peeled for a German restaurant around here that lived up to my memories of that Mainz café. Yesterday, I found it! And it's near my home in South Fort Myers, Florida. As chicken schnitzel may not be your favorite, be assured the menu has a wide selection of not only main courses, but appetizers, sides, desserts and drinks. The atmosphere is quietly intimate, but not cramped. There is a low-level of ethnic music playing in the background, so we appreciated that we could have a pleasant conversation at our table. The location is charmingly hidden near but just west of and off the bustle of Highway 41, south of College Parkway. For reference, it is about a block west of the Olive Garden. Be sure and check out their website for pictures and more details. This is a locally owned and managed business, with a very friendly and attentive wait staff. With 40 years experience, Heidi’s has just re-established itself at this location after being blown out of Fort Myers Beach in 2022. YES, Heidi is on the premises looking after everything. Say "HI"...