Went by today. First off, it's behind the Gator Motel in about the sketchiest stretch of 192. I know the area, still took three tries to find the entrance. Website says to look for the giant waterfall, which used to run at the front of the (abandoned) zoo building but that has been turned off, so you feel like you're trespassing walking in. It took a lot of pleading just to convince my fiancee to get out of the car.
Once in, it's a bunch of non-decorated cargo containers that have been transformed into quick-serve windows, and a tiny gift shop with a lot of picnic tables under a tent in the middle. Oh. Wait. There's also motion-activated audio-animatronic animals all around the perimeter. Not cutesy, fairly realistic lion, elephant, bear, etc. With no context, they are just there.
If this sounds surreal, just know I'm not doing it justice. It's somehow even weirder.
But ... very nice selection of authentic German beers. Only three on draft, but not like Becks or anything you'd typically find at Publix. Much larger selection than EPCOT. Also some White Claw and a very limited liquor selection. Small German food menu in the next shipping container over--I had a brat that was very good. There was a classical music horn quartet and a house band doing pop Christmas carols--both were a lot of fun. The latter brought out a giant Alpine horn for one song (think "Ri....colllllla") which is just not something you see every day. Prices are not cheap, but in line with a food truck, as opposed to a theme park.
It's only the second day of operation, and it was only afternoon, but staff outnumbered guests. Workers were all incredibly friendly, tho. The owner clearly has faith, the shop is packed with branded merch. It's such an off-beat place I'm pulling for him to succeed.
www.orlandomagazine.com
