Editor’s Note: New entrees and side items were recently added to the menu.

Alrighty, all — it’s time to take a little field trip to Deutschland!! We’re headed to Sommerfest!

This place is as simple and what-you-see-is-what-you-get as possible, but sometimes simple and easy is exactly what you need on a long Epcot touring day. When you don’t have an advance dining reservation and you’re headed toward Epcot’s Germany Pavilion, you might consider stopping at this little counter service spot!

Sausage. Pretzel. Beer. Cake. What more do you need? Let’s check it out!

Atmosphere

Atmosphere is kind of limited, since this is basically in the giant stone waiting area of Biergarten, the pavilion’s table service restaurant. That said, the waiting area itself is very well themed and has a fun old world feel to it. That’s really something I love about the whole Germany Pavilion.

Sommerfest is located at the back of the Pavilion. Head through the “town square,” past the counter selling beer and Jägermeister on your right, to the awning that reads “Sommerfest Snacks”.

Turn the corner to the left, and you’re there! It really isn’t much more than a serving counter. You’ll head back out to the sunshine to find a seat in the square by the fountain once you get your food.

Speaking of seating — there’s not much of it. There are a few tables scattered inside the big covered area, and a couple of them outside as well. But if you’re visiting during prime meal hours or a busy Disney season, those WILL all be taken when you get your food. Many folks perch on the edge of the fountain, or even sit on the ground to eat up.

And one other thing — there’s almost always a line here. But your patience will be rewarded.

Cast Members here, who are from Germany of course, know a thing or two about how to pull from a tap!

We were starved after a morning of Epcot touring. Time to see what’s available!

Eats

The menu here at Sommerfest is small. There are really only two entrees, which are both sausages. There are some desserts as well. And this is another place to get an authentic (and delicious!) Hand-Twisted Pretzel!

The drink menu features soda, water, coffee, tea, and cocoa. There are also some of Germany’s finest alcoholic beverages in which you can indulge! Even though the selection is small, it’s nicely varied. You can choose from Schnapps and Shots, as well as Beer and Wine.

One of these days, I’m going to have that Berentzen Apple again! I hear it’s a great addition to your apple cider in the Fall. 🙂

You can also purchase your beer in a Souvenir Mug here.

Since we were limited on luggage room, we opted to have our Beer — the Oktoberfest — in the standard plastic cup. This was a great addition to the meal; not too hoppy, with a caramel-y flavor.

While the menu is small, it’s exactly what you’d want at a German counter service location. I went for the Bratwurst, served on a house-made roll with a side of sauerkraut. (Interestingly, this bratwurst does NOT look like the one I got a couple of years ago. New supplier?)

The Frankfurter is served in similar fashion. These are fantastic! I know they don’t seem fancy, but they are perfect in their simplicity! All they needed was a little mustard to be one of the best quick meals you can get at Epcot. I think the fact that they use those amazing split-top rolls is what really makes the difference here.

Super fun and simple meal. After our sausages, we decided dessert was in order as well. I had tried the Black Forest Roulade last year, and was interested to see that the cake as well took a different shape on this visit, even though the menu still had the roulade listed.

I was very excited to see that the cake in this version is much darker, with a more pronounced chocolate flavor, than the previous version. And held together with thick ribbons of whipped cream ensures that it isn’t dry. The chocolate curls are still there to boost the chocolate flavor and provide a little texture. There’s a smattering of cherry filling, which is good — but there could always be more. 🙂

The Cheesecake is unlike any other I’ve tasted. It almost looks like a two-layered napoleon, with a crust both on top and bottom.

It’s not crisp like puff pastry, though, or graham crackery like you’d expect on an American cheesecake. It’s more like a flour-based cake crust.

The cheese filling was lightly sweet and creamy, but felt a little bit gelatinous to me. Not the best “cheesecake” I’ve had, and definitely not what you’re expecting if you’re thinking of a New York Style cheesecake. This one is more of a European version, obviously.

Overall

Sommerfest is exactly what you want it to be. You have all of your German favorites here. (If they added potato pancakes, it would be awesome.) And personally, I think that it’s a pretty good bargain by Disney standards. That sausage and sauerkraut certainly makes for a filling meal. Add a beer and/or dessert, and you’re good to go.

Be sure to pencil in some time to check out this great little counter service stop on your next stop through World Showcase.

Have you been to Sommerfest recently? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!