The Bavarian's Wirtshaus — Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach

My spouse and I went to this restaurant for the first time on a Friday for lunch. While this was the first time, it definitely will not be the last time. We loved the place and can highly recommend it for a true German dining experience. I am almost all German by nationality and, although I don’t read, write or speak the language, I have had much German food over the years at a multitude of places, including our own kitchen where I am a very accomplished cook. My spouse is not in the least German and she has only dabbled around the edges of some German food I have prepared. I have seldom, if ever had authentic German food like we were served at this fine establishment. I am already looking forward to my next trip and my spouse is asking to go back soon. The restaurant infrastructure is nothing to write home about. Parking is limited, the lot is in rather poor shape and access to the sidewalk that runs in front of the restaurant is rugged and steep, although only a few feet long. I mention this because I am handicapped and use a wheelchair and getting to and on the sidewalk can be a challenge without some caretaker assistance. Once in the restaurant, the wheelchair accessibility is fantastic. It is a small restaurant with seating for maybe 60 but there are at least two separate banquet/events rooms/areas that can hold many more. That being said, even though smallish in size it is not crowded; the tables are widely spaced out and I had no problem wheeling around the room to check out the beer stein collections and other interesting pieces of décor. The atmosphere is warm and comforting with a lot of nice décor pieces, old style stamped metal ceilings and a long wood bar that is easily accessible and can be dined at if desired. Tables are roomy with plenty of room for full meals, side, drinks, etc. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and very helpful in explaining dishes, working with special requests, etc. The owners are a husband/wife team and she was in the front of the house several times while we were there. The husband does much of the food preparation while she does quite a bit of the cooking. The husband is a German butcher by trade and he makes the bratwurst that is on the menu in-house, himself. Frankly, both my spouse and I thought it was the best bratwurst we have ever had. The bratwurst is also available for sale in bulk freezer packs to take home (10 to a pack) and we sure availed ourselves of that opportunity. Enough of the background and now onto the food: WE ordered a pair of brats for starters and asked to swap out the sauerkraut for a warm Brezel w/ “to die for” mustard. For my dinner I ordered a full breaded pork schnitzel with a heavenly creamy mushroom gravy that includes Porcinis and Chanterelles (the restaurant calls this the Jäger) and my spouse ordered the breaded pan-fried pork loin stuffed with ham and a mix of cheeses labeled by the restaurant the Cordon Bleu. Please be aware, these meat dishes are huge, each has two full pork loin slices and the amount of ham and cheese could be a meal by itself. Each dinner came with two sides and the side were rather hefty potions as well/ We ordered the Red cabbage, the Sauerkrat, the Noodles and the German potato salad for our 4 combined sides. Every side was good, although the potato salad and Red cabbage were milder than I usually encounter or make myself. My spouse really like both of these sides. I had planned on asking to taste the other gravies in little tasting sample sizes but got so tied up in how good the meals were that I forgot to ask. After we packed up our “to go boxes”, and there was plenty of leftovers to fill two boxes, and got an extra side of the mushroom gravy to take home for the leftover Jäger, we bit the bullet, even though we were very full, and split a warm Apple-strudel. Are we ever glad we did that. The strudel was excellent and begged for some ice cream so we added that as well.

Our compliments to the owner’s and...

Complete disappointment! ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! How this restaurant is rated No. 6 in the US for German food is beyond me. My guess is they chose 6 to rate and this one came in last. If I could give this restaurant a MINUS rating, I would. My husband and I were staying at the Marina Bay Resort and decided to walk over for a late lunch, early dinner around 3 pm only to learn that they close between 2 and 5 everyday. Because we had our heart set on German food, we wasted some time and went back at 5. My husband and I usually share our orders between us, so I ordered the meatball with sauerkraut, and my husband ordered the pork cordon bleu with the schnitzel and German potato salad. It took over an hour to get our food; and the whole time we waited after ordering, the waitress never came back to check on us or give us any updates or asked if we wanted to refill our beverages. When she finally did come back and bring our food about 1 1/4 hours later, she apologized and said that she would give us a free desert. I asked her if we could have some rye bread instead, as we're not much for desert after eating a big meal, and she said for sure. The cordon bleu was so tough that you couldn't even cut it with a table knife. My expectation for it was for it to be moist and tender, and that was hardly the case. The potato salad was lacking flavor and cold. The schnitzel portion was small and tasteless. My meatball was so overdone and dry that you had to wash it down with water. The sauerkraut was my favorite part of the meal, but my Grandmother's is far superior. The rye bread she brought to the table was store bought, thin sliced, and nothing special at all. Then to top it all off, the waitress charged us for the bread after she said she'd give it to us as a complimentary item for our wait time. When we expressed our concerns regarding our meal, the waitress became very defensive and even antagonistic and cantankerous. We overheard several of the staff on the floor making excuses to several nearby guests blaming the management for overbooking and understaffing. The whole experience was extremely uncomfortable. We paid the entire bill, including the complimentary bread and an extra item that appeared on the bill that we didn't order. By that time, almost 2 hours after our arrival and this dreadful experience, we couldn't wait to leave. Needless to say, we will...

As the day of our wedding rehearsal dinner approached, we wanted to ensure that every aspect of the event was perfect. After much deliberation, we decided to host it at The Bavarian's Wirtshaus, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made for the wedding weekend.

From the moment we stepped through the door, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality. The ambiance of the Wirtshaus transported us to a cozy corner of Bavaria, with its rustic decor and charming atmosphere. It set the perfect tone for a celebratory evening.

Now, let's talk about the food. Oh, the food! It was nothing short of exceptional. The Bavarian-inspired cuisine was a true feast for the senses. From the hearty pretzels served with tangy mustard to the savory schnitzels and traditional sausages, every dish was bursting with flavor and authenticity. As I savored each bite of the Bavarian delicacies, I couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia wash over me. Having lived in Bavaria for a time, the flavors and atmosphere of the Wirtshaus instantly transported me back to the quaint beer gardens and cozy taverns I frequented during my stay. The attention to detail in each recipe was evident, and it truly felt like we were experiencing a taste of Bavaria right here in Fort Walton Beach.

What truly set The Bavarian's Wirtshaus apart, however, was the impeccable service. The staff went above and beyond to ensure that every guest felt welcome and attended to. They accommodated special dietary requests with grace and efficiency, and their professionalism added an extra layer of sophistication to the evening.

Throughout the dinner, we couldn't help but notice the smiles on the faces of our guests as they indulged in the delicious food and enjoyed the convivial atmosphere. It was clear that everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves, and we knew that we had chosen the perfect venue for our rehearsal dinner.

Our experience at The Bavarian's Wirtshaus exceeded all expectations. The combination of outstanding food, warm hospitality, and charming ambiance made it a truly memorable evening for us and our guests. If you're looking for a venue that offers authentic Bavarian cuisine and top-notch service, look no further than The Bavarian's Wirtshaus. We can't recommend it...