This palce was pretty cool. Really good beer and really good pretzels! The place is decent in size and looks pretty traditional, in an Americany kind of way lol. The staff is really nice and accomodating, it doesnt hurt that the servers are in cute little outfits.
We went on a Friday night and there was a guy playing live music. Mostly light rock and some country stuff. It was nice to have this ambience while you try to tackle Das Boot! I recommend you get the huge pretazel to share with your friends and by friends I mean yourself! This thing is pretty much a meal so be careful.
Prices are a bit steep, but fair for the area. It was clean and well put together and not really crowded. This place is certainly worthy of your patriange. Come here for beer, brats, pretzels, and the ambiance!
I used to love the Hofbrau house. I first went to one in Vegas. it was the most not Vegas thing in Vegas. I've been about a dozen times, so when I saw one in this horrific mall, I thought this would be my savior while the women went shopping.
I was wrong.
I know it was the middle of the day during the week, but this place was terrible. There were only two other groups in the place and the service was bad. I don't mean kinda not good, but really bad. I sat with empty beers for 10 minutes at a time. Maybe the San Diegan in me is a bit snobby, but all the beers I tasted were meh at best. The food, like most other things in Panama City, was bland and bad. It was much worse than the other Hofbrau's I've been to.
I feel like an ass writing a review that's totally negative, but I have to say that was my experience. Â :/
I will preface this review by stating that I have been here several times over the course of three years. Â Unfortunately, the Hofbrau Beer Garden has been on a slow downward slide towards mediocrity.
I have always had an affinity with all things German: their culture, food, beer, wine, cars, etc. Â I enjoy the authentic biergarten feel that Hofbrau has successfully cultivated here at Pier Park. Â Their beer - whether you choose the original, dunkel, hefeweizen, or seasonal - is absolutely top-notch. Â
That said, the food is far from authentic. Â They've taken German cuisine and Americanized it. Â Their menu is laden with fried snack foods and sausages. Â Don't get me wrong though, even if something isn't authentic it doesn't necessarily mean that it's not good. Â I don't mind eating these Americanized interpretations and washing it down with one of their quality brews. Â Â
The service at Hofbrau has been getting worse. Â Though the waitresses, dressed in their Bavarian attire (short dirndl's and knee-highs) are mostly pleasing to look at, I have often had poor service from them. Â Please do not take that to mean that I am objectifying these employees in any way. Â Errors include: forgetting parts of our order, forgetting that we were even there in the first place, bringing out incorrect food items, and bringing out food that had gotten cold.
Also, the food and beer is a bit on the pricey side. Â I suppose that is what you can expect from the tourist traps in the area.
On Friday and Saturday nights, Hofbrau will feature live entertainment - anything from oom-pah bands (polka) to your typical local musicians. Â Obviously, some are better than others. Â These bands are often so loud that you have to shout at the person sitting right next to you just to be heard.
All in all, Hofbrau is okay, but I would like to see them get back to where they were a couple years ago. Â Until then, I have mostly lost interest in coming here.
Pretty simple: if you don't like German food/music/culture, don't eat a German restaurant. I can't imagine not loving this place though. Great food, atmosphere, service and of course... beer. Nothing negative to say about this place. Of course it's a bit pricey but what place isn't in pier park? Der-da-der.
Review Source:Let's be honest, if you're looking for authentic german food, this is not the place. Â However, if you're looking for tasty americanized german food with some entertainment, this place can be a lot of fun.
We went for lunch, so there was no band. Â It was easy to imagine the place hopping to some good german music on a friday or saturday night. Â There is a good selection of beer, and the community tables that are often used. Â The food was a bit hit and miss, the pretzel was excellent, where as the schnitzel was good but lacked seasoning. Â They have fenced off outdoor seating if you want to watch people go by but not be bumped into. Â There's a back patio that looks like it might be good for medium sized parties.
The Hofbrau House is a fun casual place for dinner. This one is in the newly built Pier Park and is thus surrounded by plenty of shopping and attractions to visit before or after your meal!
If you love German food you are gonna love this place. If you've never tried it then it's a great place to take your first foray! The waitress was extremely knowledgable and happy to help! You can't really go wrong! (They have fantastic Fried Green Tomatoes, many in the party tried them skeptically but were drawn in after the first bite!) The big pretzel appetizer is simply the best pretzel you'll ever have, ever!
I sat here at my keyboard for a while trying to come up with something that I didnt like about Hofbrau... all I could come up with is the fact that they close kinda early for my likings. Ive tried just about all of the beers and they are fantastic!
I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, That's as good as they're going to feel all day.
Stopped by for dinner on a warm weekday evening. Business was moderate and we chose to sit inside to view some NCAA Â football replays. Our server was attentive and helpful. We had been to the original Hofbrau in Munich..but didn't have high expectations here. However, it was a pleasant experience. Â We shared a large sausage/kraut plate, and enjoyed the seasonal bock beer. I would return.
Review Source:Terrible service! Kids eat free ad misleading since only two of the five kid meals offered are actually free and they charged us anyway and had to subtract it (happened to another reviewer, too). Jaegerschnitzel did not taste authentic and overpriced. Â Kids hated the kids meals. Terrible experience. Would not EVER go back!
Review Source:Overpriced food is right! Â
First of all, we saw the sign on the outside that said kids eat free with the purchase of an entree Sun-Thurs. I looked at the menu on the board outside and decided on jaegerschnitzel . It said it was $15.95. When the bill came it was $17.50 and they only comped $4.99 of the kid's meal that cost $5.99. I thought that maybe I read the menu wrong. When leaving, I looked at the menu outside again, and I was correct in seeing it for $15.95. I went back in and asked our waitress and she said it was an old menu and proceeded to rip it off the billboardand walk back inside. I said that if they have it on there for $15.95, I should get it for $15.95 old menu or not. She said "well, you're not going to". She also said we got $4.00 off the kids meal when it should have only been $2.00 because it was chicken. According to the sign, it should have been free! I was so taken aback, I just walked out. I wish I had brought it up before I left her a tip because attitude like that doesn't deserve a dime. Won't be back!!
Food was a pale shadow of what good German food can be. Was disappointed that our sausage platter was served with overcooked spiral pasta topped with what tasted like Italian dressing. Guess they were out of potato salad. Beer was average. Better than budweiser, but not nearly as good as a quality import like Paulaner. Service was good.
Review Source:I was pretty skeptical of the reviews from people that hate German food or don't know what a beer garden is like and I'm glad I was. The service was excellent (quick, knowledgeable about the products, happy to explain things in non-German terms for the one in our group who didn't know German food. The food was pretty authentic and quite tasty. The portion size was massive. I think we have have enough leftovers for another meal and a half, each. I like the beer garden bench seating and that makes it more German, not cheaper.
The beer was great, but everyone already said that. The waitresses' German outfits were also quite enjoyable.
All in all, worth the drive and my favorite place I've had all week (during my trip here.)
The "Eek! Â Methinks not." one-star rating should say it all. Â The food here was the worst I have ever eaten. Â Literally! Â Bland and blah. Â It was so bad that I took my leftovers in a to-go box so that I could have my sister taste it...
On the up-side, our server was friendly and patient, even with the drunk lady that kept trying to touch his butt at the next table.
Bottom Line: Â You wont find me eating here again.
We went to Hofbrau while on family vacation. This was the first experience I had with German food. We were seated farily quick and was provided great service. The place is unique and there is nothing like it from my neck of the woods. There is great music played, food served, and service provided. The only thing regretible is they didnt have any tshirts for sale at the time. I guess next time i go i will buy a stein if no shirts are there. I loved the place and can not wait to go back this summer!
Review Source:This place always seems to be hit or miss. Some times the food is great, others mediocre, but the family is a big fan of all things German. So we continue to go when in PCB. Â For those who love the entertainment of polka and the chicken dance, this place is for you, if you don't like these things, don't go to a German restaurant!
Review Source:After being stationed in Germany for over 6 years, the Hofbrau Beer Garden in Panama City was a sight for sore eyes. Â Is it exactly like the Hofbrau House in Munich? Unfortunately, not even close, but for the states it's really not bad. Â The beer and food are never the same out of Germany but this place is as close as it gets. Â The decor and atmosphere quickly get you in the Deutchland mood. Â The servers are a lot friendly than they are in Germany and a lot quicker! Â I was very satisfied with my experience and look forward to going back in the future! Â If you enjoy German food and beer this place is worth visiting.
Review Source:Great beer, great time. Got a wristband, not sure what it was for anymore, as HB beer is notoriously pretty strong; friends & I decided it could be enjoyed like the average 5% alcohol beer. Bad move, as we all ended up separated. None of this is the fault of the beer garden, which were strict about pouring and other things, but pretty accommodating considering the BAL of their guests. Most importantly, heed my warning: do not let middle-aged men buy shots for your friends which they proceed to take off their sunburnt skin on the bar.
Review Source:Hofbrau is officially on notice. Â Stopped by for a few drinks after dinner and it seemed like no one knew what was going on. Â Someone finally stopped by after a good fifteen minutes and asked if anyone was helping us. Â I wonder what clued them in? Â Could it be six people sitting at a table without a single beer amongst them? Â Bingo!
Anyway, I wasn't super impressed the first few times I visited this place, and they need to step it up next time to get out of this two star funk.
Hofbrau, you are ON NOTICE!
If you are a hardcore beer drinker,  you will love the fact that there are only a few VERY German beers to choose from at the Panama City Hofbrau Garden.  If you're like me, someone who aspires to like beer but  can't seem to acquire the taste and I just can't get over how I feel twice my size when I drink a dark lager, there are still options for you.  Like the Weiss mixed with lemon lime soda, creating a sweet almost fruity beer.  Not like a Smirnoff Ice, not like a blueberry beer.  It's definitely a treat to be tried.  Beers come offered in three sizes - .3L, .5 L, and the might 1L.  There were various sizes of various drinks set upon our table.  Think about it - 1L of beer, and it can't be unheard of to drink several of these.  I would float away.
The food... I can hardly move after indulging in a full range of Hofbrau snacks and treats. Â We ordered a giant pretzel, a must-have, that was served with the "beer dip" - a heavy, fatty combination of butter, brie cheese, cream cheese, and most importantly Hofbrau's signature Dunkel Lager. Â It's one of the tastes you can imagine. Â How could it not be? Â Don't eat it everyday. Â Just eat it at the Hofbrau Garden.
We tried the fried pickles, which were spears battered in a thick and almost spicy batter. Â We ordered the Schweinbraten, a pork stew served with sauerkraut AND red cabbage (You can go there if you'd like. Â We certainly did), and a giant, meaty bread dumpling. Â Also on our table were the fried chicken sliders. Â Think Krystal.. but the real thing, pickles, mayonnaise, and et al. Â
It was heavy, it was GERMAN! Â It was really good. Â But how could we exit our Hofbrau experience without ordering German Chocolate Cake and the Hofbrau's homemade Apple Streudel with ice cream? Â We couldn't. Â And didn't. Â It takes a good 10+ minutes for the Apple Streudel to be prepared, and it took a little extra long tonight. Â So naturally, to make up for lost time the chef made our desserts extra big. Â As if after all we had eaten and had to drink, we really needed it. Â The cake was chocolatey and good, however, noticeably not a homemade baked good as was the streudel. Â If you've gotta pick one dessert (but really, why limit yourself?), go for the streudel.
A big treat and a one of a kind experience, if you have the opportunity to go here or in Las Vegas, or anywhere else. Â It's easy to spend a lengthy amount of time at the Hofbrau. Â It's a plus that their service is constant and very, very good.
To whom it may concern,
This was one of the first places I went to when I moved here from the land of $8-9 pints. Â
You can imagine that I would be quite pleased when when purchasing a any of their beers in concert with a military ID allowed me to buy a 9 dollar LITER'A'DUNKEL. Â
Naturally, you are probably going to get a slew of military there for that, and it's almost impossible to sit in there on a Friday/Saturday night as they will more than likely have a band playing really loud polka music. Â In lederhosen.
No joke.
XOXO,
That Guy
Th
I didnt eat here...I came here for a friends going away, much to my dismay....they busted out in the CHICKEN DANCE! They have a live band and huge beers. Â If you can work with that...then by all means have at it. Â It's most certainly not my idea of a good time on a Saturday night. Â
END OF STORY....
Admittedly I was surprised at the quality of food here. Beer's good, that's a no-brain-er. Bavarian pretzel and prime rib dinner are both phenomenal. German style potato salad is quite nice. Schnitzels are dandy, if that's your thing. Live polka music will have you singing and dancing like a fool once you hit your second liter of beer. And shots of Killepitsch will cause you to pass out on the faux-beach out the door and ten steps to the right.
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