Bodensee Restaurant
64 Munich Strasse, Helen, GA, 30545
Bodensee Restaurant Menu
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Address :
64 Munich Strasse
Helen, GA, 30545 - Phone (706) 878-1026
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Russ U.
The biggest problem I had was with the service, or should I say lack of service. All the food we had was excellent. I realize that this is one of the Oktoberfest weekends but that's no excuse for bad service. It took almost an hour for us to get our food while the other waitresses in the same room were serving their tables long before us. The table across the way got their food and was almost done by the time we got ours, even though we were seated at the exact same time. Our waitress blamed it on the kitchen and on the crowds. I will say she offered us a piece of cake to share between us but by that time we were just ready to leave. But let me say I will go back. The food was very good and I'll give them another chance. But only one more chance.
(2)Cassandra P.
Me & my husband were very pleased with our dinning experience here. It was during Octoberfest, so we did have to wait a little longer on somethings, but we knew that going into it. Our food was so good. I got the Jeager Schnitzel (mushroom gravy on top) with Spaetzel.....it was AMAZING! My husband got the worst special & he liked the sauerkraut. I would recommend this place to anyone who is in the area.
(4)Shodie M.
Food was good, waitress was nice but entered our orders wrong so I didn't get my food at the same time my table did. entire service was incredibly slow. It was lunchtime and they weren't even very busy. Got my food 15 mins after the rest of my table got theirs. Took forever to get our check. Manager was mad about being asked for compensation on my meal since it came out so much later then everyone's. Get the check back and then see that she took off a whole $1 off my dinner. Wow. Horrible customer service. Don't come here. The manager acted like it was such a hassle for her to field a complaint.
(1)Don B.
Let me start off by saying I love German food, even though it's extremely hard to find. I was rather impressed with the food. It's by far not the best German food that I have had, but pretty dang good. Especially for the area, this is the best I have had in Helen so far. Service was also pretty good, very friendly and on top of things
(4)Nicole C.
We had a wonderful meal and great service! Can't wait to come back to this restaurant when we are in Helen again!
(5)Taylor S.
Amazing amazing food. Great service. I ordered the cod salad. Tastes exactly like german food. The beer is great!!! (Ordered the Hefe) I love this place, definitely recommend it and I'd love to come again!!
(5)Tom G.
Nothing to complain about. Everything was great and the locals I talked to agree that it's the best German food in the city. I thought the beers were pricey until they arrived and noticed how large they were. Homemade butter and bread, and homemade salad dressing.
(5)Nathan M.
Good food adequate service. The two wurst plate is terrific. The beer list is not very extensive but the food makes up for it. The dunkel (dark) heif is terrific and not too cold.
(5)Lavinia A.
Absolutely loved this place and service was outstanding! Our daughter ordered the Spaetzle and she loved it! Will be back here for sure!
(5)Kurt S.
Seems like there is a tale of two Bodensee's on this site. My visit was in early November, around Noon on a Saturday. We had a GREAT experience with exceptional service and the best German food I have had in a really long time. I would recommend with high marks but take caution that the kitchen may not be able to keep up when in volume. Chef is going to have to figure that out... but it's great food. Loved it.
(5)Steven A.
My family and I came here based on both Yelp and Trip Advisor reviews. I have eaten German food my whole life, dated a German girl, and studied in Germany. I know German food. There were 5 in our group and we all ordered something different and I sampled everything. Unfortunately, most of the dishes were bland and lacked the proper seasoning. The Sauerbraten was devoid of flavor. The meat was tender and the gravy was overly watery. The meat had no distinctive taste. Too bad. The schnitzel, both wiener and chicken, had absolutely no seasoning. Not even salt. So bland... I thought it was a joke. The rinderolouden... Or beef roll.,. Was good, although not great. It was dry, but seasoned well. The wurst was good. Red cabbage was very good. The dumpling was excellent. The spaetzle was okay. The service was rushed. 2 minutes after the waitress took our drink order, she showed back up and said "ready to order?" No explanation of how they make their own sausages or specials or a menu tour... Just "ready to order?" What a joke. The portion sizes were small and the German potato salad is served cold... As opposed to warm as most places in Germany. Live German music was a plus. For these prices, I expect seasoned food, not bland one-size-fits-all bland food.
(2)Bill G.
The best Authentic German food this side of Bavaria . And better than many places I've eaten in Germany. I had a Wursts platter. My wife had Goulash. Both were fantastic. Speatzles with onion gravy, red cabbage, sauerkraut German potatoes all were great. The service was impeccable I'd drive 340 miles again, just to eat here.
(5)John A.
We were very pleased with our experience here. The goulash was very good as was the schnitzel. The bartender didn't know how to make an Irish Coffee?!? but was able to follow instructions at least. There was a line about 15 deep when we went in, however the bar had empty seats. There's also a small table in the corner that you can sit at if you have a party of 2 - with full menu service, saving quite a bit of time on a busy day.
(4)Raji V.
This was my first time at a German Restaurant. I ordered the mixed grill which included pork chops, sausage, steak, and chicken with two sides potato pancakes and spetzea. The meats were all very good and had three different sauces the gypsy which is good with the pork chops, garlic butter good with the steak and the jaeger gravy with the potato pancakes. I enjoyed my experience here and would definitely recommend it.
(5)Greg S.
We had a wonderful experience here. Great authentic German food. I had the chefs schnitzel with pan fried potatoes. Good price for their lunches and the waitress was awesome.
(4)Heather W.
We arrived at 4 when they opened on New Year's Day. Most of the tables were empty but by 4:30 they were all full. I would have thought that being their a half hour before the rush we would have a leg up but alas, service was slow and we had to request things several times. Took a long time to come take our order, wasn't even sure who our server was for he first ten minutes as three people came for drinks. Were told the bread was in the oven, had to ask for it when dinner was almost over. The kids chicken fingers were bad, frozen, dense patties. They wanted ketchup and we had to ask twice and wait. Fries were ok. Husband got the salmon in foil on top of potatoes. Salmon was a nice portion but overdone, whiter than the chicken. They did not ask how he likes it prepared, but he enjoys salmon anywhere from raw sushi to just under rubber. This was rubber. I got chicken schnitzel which was bland and tough. My side was the potato pancakes which were heavier than I like mine, too greasy, and came with nothing. After waiting for someone to acknowledge us I asked if they had sour cream. He said they had sour cream, apple sauce, and a special gravy. Well wonderful, may I have something to put on these greasy, dry potatoes to cut some of this meal of also greasy dry chicken schnitzel? Had to ask again for sour cream. Potatoes were luke warm by the time I ate them. Our server was overheard at the table next to us: Patron: What's good here? Server: Everything. Let me tell you what is bad. (Flips through menu, gestures to an item) Don't get that, it's gross. Patron: Oh I wouldn't have ordered that anyway. Maybe not admitting your fine established serves anything you find 'gross' would be a good tip for you. When someone asks what is good, don't say everything, make a few solid suggestions in the categories of meat and politely and back up those suggestions with details about how it's prepared. Server asked if we would like a to-go coke. Thanks for proactively offering, I'd love one! Mistake. Waited and waited. Three of us used the restroom in shifts (one person bathroom). No coke. Left. As we are half out the door he runs by and asks that we wait just one second more and he'll get us that coke... I say 'forget it I don't want it.' He says 'No, no it's right here... (gestures to the bar). Why am I waiting longer for something you suggested in the first place? Time is the most valuable commodity and you have wasted that of our party and your own. Pluses: They decided to open for New Year's Day when some restaurants in the area were closed. I commend the employees who have to work a holiday, been there, but that's no excuse for not doing a good job. If you decided to close and let your staff enjoy the day then we would have been perfectly fine eating at home like we do every day, but since we checked and you were open we showed up. They take restaurants.con gift cards, which are annoying to use and hard to find places that accept them, and they had no roiled using it on a holiday. I like the female serves cheesy German outfit, but the male serves get to wear normal clothes. Hmmm... Won't be going back unless I have more restaurants.con gift cards and there are only three places in Helen that take them.
(2)Michael N.
Had the Bavarian Schnitzel with pan potatoes while my wife had a chicken salad. They were both very good and the house dressing on the salad is very good as is their Hefeweizen beer. The place is small and popular so get there early.
(5)Wendi U.
The food was delicious... It just took over an hour to get it!!!! We are thinking that we just had a bad server, because the people sitting in other sections, who came in way after us got their meals in a timely fashion. Since they have received other bad reviews on their service, I don't think I will risk giving it another chance! It was good, but wasn't that good!
(2)Mia G.
This IS the German food you are looking for! Really good flavor in their dishes, no complaints.. Had the Haus platter & pork plate (can't spell it) and they were fabulous! I'd go back. The only concern were the outdoor cats when seated outside...
(4)Peggy Z.
Food was excellent, i had veal cordon blue, friends had veal snitzel, trout, & wurst, all were great! My only complaint was they need nicers bartenders. I stood at the bar and they never acknowledged me. Male bartender smoking cigarette & serving food! GROSS!!!
(4)Theresa A.
Excellent German food. If you are Helen GA it is a stop for lunch you must make. The food is authentic and the service is great.
(5)Geevi P.
We decided to try Bodensee to eat at decent restaurant in Helen, since so many of them seemed like tourist traps. Unfortunately, we struck out at Bodensee. There were lots of families coming in the entire time we were there, and since it's a bit off of the Main Street, I thought the positive Yelp reviews were bringing them in (that's how we ended up there). The food was ok, not a lot of variety for the lunch menu. On the bright side, the kids enjoyed their chicken fingers, but honestly, it's kind of hard to mess up chicken fingers. The curry sausage I had was drenched in ketchup with curry powder. It was really just a giant hot dog, nothing more, nothing less. The chef's schnitzel was greasy and salty. One last thing, the service was slow and inattentive. I wouldn't know for sure since it was our first time in Helen, but I think you can do better than Bodensee while in this cute little town.
(2)Natalie H.
Great German restaurant. My husband and I went for lunch and really enjoyed it. Staff was very friendly and attentive. The food was excellent. The only "hiccup" was that my husband's sandwich was suppose to come with tomato. When we asked the waitress about it her response was, "oh we don't use tomatoes anymore, they go bad really quickly. We just haven't taken them off the menu yet." Really? I just find that absurd. I guess my tip to you is if you like tomato on your sandwich, better bring your own. That is the only reason I'm giving this place a 4 rather than a 5 star rating. Will definitely go back!
(4)Olivia S.
Our service was awful and the food was uninspired and incredibly bland. I don't think my partner and I are terribly picky but these two things combined made for a very poor experience. We will never go here again. The only good thing was the live music.
(1)David L.
No trip to Helen, GA is complete without going to an authentic German restaurant. Bodensee restaurant, in the center of Helen, fits the bill. Bodensee serves the usual German fare including homemade garlic wurst, spaetzle and schnitzel. I found it pleasantly surprising that the entire menu was priced under $10. I ordered the smoked pork chop with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut for $9.50. Lunch also includes a salad with a yogurt dressing, a great way to cleanse the ol' palate before your meal. The portions were generous, and the food was generally good. A few critiques from around the table were that the homemade egg noodles were a tad under seasoned, and there seemed to be excessive amounts of butter and grease. In addition, the pork chop was more reminiscent of a slice of Ham. The service was fast and our server was friendly, although she could have been more knowledgeable and descriptive of the menu items. The inside decor wasn't overtly fancy, but it was simple and clean. Bodensee is definitely better for a lunch meal versus dining at nighttime. All in all, this quaint restaurant is a good way to top off your Helen trip before you leave!
(3)Todd M.
Easily the best meal we had during our vacation in Helen. Super cute and attentive waitress that gets high marks. We started out with potato pancakes and salads and all were excellent. We ordered some kids meals, some of the chef's specials and I had the gypsy schnitzel, which was out of this world. Our whole table loved everything and we will be back again next year. Definitely stop here when you are in Helen.
(5)Laura B.
Best food in Helen, my sevond favorite German restaurant anywhere. Fresh, good food, excellent service, wonderful relaxing ambience, playing German folk music. My husband loved the wurst and potato pancakes.
(5)David P.
This is. Great little Bavarian place just off the main drag in Helen. Less crowded and far better than the boisterous joints on Main Street, and no wait for a table on a busy October day. The ghoulash is sumptuous and beefy with just the right dose of Paprika. Both the chef's schnitzel (chicken) and the Bavarian schnitzel (pork) are excellent with different accompaniments. The chef's schnitzel comes with potato ties and fried onion and has cheese and mushrooms. The Bavarian has a cream sauce and spaetzel on the side, which is a funky noodle similar to macaroni that goes great with the cream sauce that is cheesy. If you walk about half a block off Main you can avoid a wait and eat like a grand duke and duchess of old Deutsch royalty. Guten tag!!!
(4)Justin F.
While some say that the food has too much oil, I think it is important to remember that it is a German Restaurant, meaning sausage and potatoes and lots of garlic butter. I have traveled all over Germany and Austria and the food at Bodensee is truly authentic. Great to know I don't have to spend so much money flying over to Europe in order to taste a bit of Germany here in Georgia.
(4)Anne P.
We expected a lot more, given the great reviews on yelp. However, the ambience (inside near the entrance/party room) was less than desirable , and the waitstaff was distracting. We planned for a birthday celebration for our son, and 2 other tables also were celebrating birthdays next to us. I had expected something special, because they asked us up-front if it was a special occasion when I made the reservations. But, no candles, and they forgot to offer the cake when we were done. We didn't insist, because the birthday boy was stuffed,(food was not bad). I think there are better places in Helen. I'd try someplace else next time.
(3)The Black Rabbit O.
I hate to give places bad reviews, but the food here was meh. The salad had a couple of rotting leaves. The almond trout dish and pork dish were bland and uninspired. I was expecting flavorful food. I hope they improve the quality and taste of the food.
(2)Bill C.
We ate lunch here during a recent trip to Helen. Everything we had (Rueben, Chef's Schnitzel, kid' s spaetzle) tasted great! The service was good and all the staff were very kid friendly!
(5)Arezou T.
Very friendly and great service! Gave us extra salad and a different soup. We will be back!
(5)Kim N.
Short review: everything tasted mediocre; the service's pretty odd; the prices are ridiculous. Long review: our group of 6 walked into Bodensee and waited for about 10-15 awkward minutes before anyone even acknowledged us. We finally got to our table after 10 more minutes. Our server came by quickly to get our drink order but disappeared for a good 10-15 minutes afterwards. The restaurant wasn't even that busy... Anyways, fast forward to our food. Most of us ordered from the chef's selections including Bavarian schnitzel and sausage sampler platter. Entrees were all $15 and up, which we didn't mind until the food came out. Bavarian schnitzel was clearly a better choice because my sausage sampler platter (~$19) came with 3 different sausages over a bed of sauerkraut & potato salad. I didn't enjoy any part of my meal... everything is either too bland or too sour. Since I didn't eat much of my food, I ordered German chocolate cake for dessert. To my surprise, it was the only good part of my dinner here. I guess this place is convenient if you're spending a couple of days in Helen since there aren't too many dining choices around the area. There is a small private parking lot for Bodensee.
(2)Holly M.
Great food, decent service! Only complaint is the price, but everywhere in Helen is priced a little high. The spaetzle is amazing and we love trying new dishes here!
(4)Robert H.
Bodensee wasn't on my radar from a web search until I checked out the Yelp reviews. I wanted German cuisine that tasted good and they fit the bill. The service was average and pricing was too. So why 4-stars you ask? The food was better than expected, even with more grease than I prefer. - Inexpensive flavor packed food - Can be a bit greasy - Slightly enthusiastic staff - Not really German themed - Easy parking - Indoor and outdoor seating - Nice, comfortable chairs For only $8-15 per person, they have reasonable lunch specials. You can choose plates, sandwiches or salads. Beer is $6.50 for a 20oz so I skipped that. Most anything off the lunch menu seemed like a great choice but I went with some previously reviewed classic dishes. Everything at Bodensee is made from scratch, including their sausage. Both the entrees ordered came with a side salad where you can pick your dressing. We went with the dill but I would recommend getting dressing on the side or your salad will come smothered. I started with the smoked pork chop ($9.50) with onion glaze, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. The pork chop was a little greasy but very tender and full of flavor. I cut the fat off with the sharp knife they provided and never looked back. The German potatoes were seasoned perfectly and completed the dish. I immediately made a note to look up a recipe for Bratkartoffeln. The sauerkraut was a bit too sour for the rest of the dish but still good. The chef's schnitzel ($9.80) was a chicken schnitzel with fried onions, mushrooms, strips of bacon and smothered in cheese (oven baked). It came with a side of German potatoes that make your mouth water and just like the pork chop the meat was very tender with flavor in every bite. A little less grease and it would be much better. The onions and mushrooms must have absorbed greasy goodness from the cheese because they added so much to the dish. I would recommend stopping at Bodensee before you start your day of shopping, walking and hiking.
(4)Richard T.
Not crowded, The food is very good and reasonably priced for a tourist town.
(4)Ryan S.
Great authentic German lebensmittel. Garlic wurst with kraut and homemade mustard was delicious after a great salad with dill dressing. If you're looking for an authentic German experience this is the place.
(4)Edward H.
The food was good but service was very slow. They seem to not be able to handle large crowds well.
(3)Lisa K.
Best Authentic German Food in town. Away from busy tourist streets and very friendly staff. Was my husband my 3 y/o son and myself. We got the sampler dinner all 3 of us ate for total of 45$. Amazing! We will be back! Rec the smoked pork chop!
(5)Carlos S.
Deviated a family trip from Gatlinburg to Atlanta to visit this beautiful town, came to this restaurant to eat traditional German food, they were out of Wiener Schnitzel, PORK HOCKS, and no Apple strudel! I think I had very bad luck but it's not everyday you ask for three different plates and they are out of it. Hungarian Goulash was lame, service was great, I don't think I can recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Jeremy H.
A group of friends and I were staying in Helen for a few days, and wanted to try a place known for being German but without the overly tourist feel. Bodensee is that place. Pronounced "BOH-din-zee," the staff/waitresses were wearing 'traditional' German clothes and were extremely friendly. We were a group of about 9 and they had plenty of space for us around 1pm. I had the Spaetzle and the Hefeweizen Dunkel beer. A few of my friends tried the Pork Schnitzel, the Curry Wurst. and the Steak Gyro. Though a few of them are picky eaters and I was worried they wouldn't enjoy the food, everyone came away saying the food way delicious. The place is definitely a little less touristy, but I find that to be a plus. It's a place you'd take your family to try some German food when you don't want to deal with pedestrians and other people walking around downtown. While it does have German food, the menu wasn't too extensive and if you're looking for anything really unique and exotic, you probably won't find it here. But it's still a good restaurant, especially for those older relatives with specific (read: picky) tastes.
(4)Paul S.
This was the best/authentic german food we had during our week in Helen. The staff was very friendly and service was great. We would definitely return!
(5)Alex C.
This seems to be one of the few German restaurants in town. The price's aren't cheap, but you get pretty hearty portions. The schnitzel and the sauce it comes with is delicious! The noodle-like stuff that came with it was pretty buttered up, but, it made it delicious.
(4)Rebecca O.
If you want a more authentic German restaurant while in Helen, this is your place! Prices are going to range $10-15 for an entree, and the food is pretty good. Our server was very friendly. Make sure you grab a 20 oz hefeweizen and enjoy the whole experience!
(4)Dan P.
Food was very good. Service, the waitress was running around like a mad woman, I related it to the restaurant being busy, but when it was all cleared out she was still running around like a lunatic, forgot all the utensils, I didn't even want to ask her for a glass of water. Made us feel uncomfortable.
(4)Andrea S.
My husband and I were day-tripping to Helen and I knew that the first thing we needed to do when we arrived was eat (what can I say, it's what matters most). I picked Bodensee because of the ratings. We took a look at the menu posted outside the door before committing and everything looked good, I had plenty of options even though I don't eat pork. When we walked in, the place was empty. Few things bother me as much as an empty restaurant. The hostess/server seated us right away and gave us lunch menus, a noticeably smaller selection from the main menu. And with the smaller menu my options have shrunk down to just a chicken schnitzel sandwich. Fine, whatever. The garlic-dill salad dressing was alright, the potatoes were good (probably because the only thing I could taste was butter), but the sandwich was such a waste. Store bought bun and store bought breaded chicken breast. It was clear that the only preparation happening in the kitchen was reheating. At least I enjoyed the German music?
(2)John AndLaura C.
My wife and l dinner here this evening. We had the Haus Sampler with Hungarian Goulash as an appetizer. The goulash was delicious, the rest was slightly better than average. The rouladen was very dry and rather tasteless, even the gravy did not help.
(3)Kevin H.
Good food. We've been there twice over the past several months when visiting Helen. Always try something new since we don't eat German food that often. The platter for two is a lot if food! My wife and I split a regular dish on our last visit (wurst sampler). I recommend trying this place when in the area but wouldn't drive here just for the experience.
(4)Valkyrie R.
I think that the German fare here is BY FAR the best and most authentic in all of Helen. The staff was good; portions were great. Is a little pricey, but well worth it. If you like kitties, try the patio, where there's a family of sweet cats that greet you. (And, if you don't like cats, the staff will gladly move them!) The only downside was the beer & wine menu. Not as much selection as most places. Will definitely make Bodensee our place for dinner every time we return to Helen.
(5)Starry r.
My husband and I both had pork dishes and we enjoyed them very much! Delicious german beer, delicious german food! I would definitely recommend it.
(4)Keri V.
C'mon guys, you're in Helen, it's time to try some German food and this will NOT disappoint! IF you go, look for a sweet lady named Debbie. She talks just enough, smiles greatly and is a great server. We had the Schnitzel and a special. Both were great. The salad was nice and light with the chef's special homemade dressing and the bread was quite tasty. The atmosphere is fun and inviting. There is a small smoking bar off to the side and the guys in there were great as well. Treat yourself and try something new!
(4)Luanne S.
German food is completely new to me. I have had sauerkraut covered hot dogs, but that is about it. As a result, I can't really say whether it was authentic or what not. All I can tell you is that it was good. My boyfriend and I split a sampler plate which had beef stuffed with pickles, pork schnitzel, pork chops, and pork chop and beef fillets. There was also red cabbage, my old friend sauerkraut, potato salad, and a pasta dish. The meats were all cooked to perfection. My favorites were the pickle stuffed beef and the pork schnitzel. The beef and pickle has a very different flavor, and the schnitzel was fried perfectly with a crispy, flaky crust. Of the sides, my favorite was the potato salad. I didn't care for the red cabbage much at first, but it grew on me. I'm not used to things that are so pickled haha. The pasta was very bland, and the sauerkraut was, well, sauerkraut. We also ordered a couple dark German beers that I can't remember the names of, and they were great. Our server Debbie was amazingly sweet and answered all our questions about the menu and the German beers. The sampler plate was around $50 with our drinks around $7 each. It is a bit pricey, but it is worth it for the German food experience. Definitely check it out!
(4)Melinda B.
This restaurant is located in Helen, GA. Helen is the cutest little German town surrounded by beautiful mountains. The food was amazing. They brought out the usual bread and butter but they brought out two different butters, garlic and honey. The bread alone was worth going back. I wasn't sure to expect from a German restaurant but my first impression was really good. I'm not very adventurous when I comes to food so this was a little new for me. I went the safe route and ordered Chicken Breast Grilled with Mushroom Cream Sauce or "Hahnchenbrust Gegrillt mit Champignon Sosse" my husband ordered the Chicken Schnitzel Breaded and Fried or "Hahnchen Schnitzel Paniert". The food was delicious. The flavors were savory and the chicken was tender. The server did a great job to taking all our orders with minimal slip ups ( we were a group of 11). The staff was friendly, the bathrooms were clean and the restaurant was also clean. I would definitely return on my next trip to Helen.
(4)Andrew W.
My last review of Bodensee Restaurant, which I wrote last year, gave mild praise for providing a bit of respite from the faux-Oktoberfest that Helen, GA has become known for. This is no longer the case. The large volume of customers has overwhelmed the restaurant. Neither the wait staff or the kitchen could keep up. The food took forever to come out. Most egregious of all: from our table, we could see right into the kitchen only to discover that meals were being MICROWAVED. No full service restaurant should be using a microwave. No self-respecting chef would allow for that. My Hungarian Goulash was rendered completely inedible from being grossly over-salted. The spaetzle was flavored only by the pool of melted butter that it rested on. The only saving grace was that the jagerschnitzel that my wife ordered turned out alright and that they still mix an awesome radler (beer and lemon-lime soda). Never again.
(2)John H.
This was a cool spot for a mid-summer evening to eat outside after tubing. No, it's not on the river, but that means it must be a good spot to draw people off the beaten path. There was a cool little patio outside that we enjoyed a quiet Sunday evening. And Kaylee was very accommodating in providing excellent service. Beer was fine. I had the Wurst Plate which was decent. My wife ordered salmon - not too good. Recommend sticking with the German food. The food was worthy of a 3 star - but the service and atmosphere warranted higher which is why I gave it a 4 star. I'm betting it's the best spot in Helen to dine.
(4)Fred B.
Great restaurant, food and service was excellent. I would recommend the Pork hanks for two. Not sure why a few people rated 1 star for service and food. We found the food exceptional and the service was great. The people were friendly, helpful, and very nice.
(5)C M.
Went for lunch. The decor and the food was good, but the service has to be the worst I have ever experienced. When the check came, we found several discrepancy between the menu and the final price, and a particular item is even 50% more. When confronted, our waiter, Matt, calmly told us that the one we ordered is from lunch menu, but since we are very hungry, he decided to bring the dinner portion: I didn't know the waiter can decide what the customer should eat! I don't know if this is this restaurant's standard practice or just this waiter. Anyway, will never repeat.
(2)Dew T.
I would eat here again tomorrow. I got the roasted vegetarian dish and it was delicious!!! Truly. It's like having roasted vegetables w/ cheese and no crust pizza. And I stopped after they were done serving for the night and they still let me in and have a seat. Love it here. Btw I'm traveling through Helen, GA so the chances are highly unlikely that I'll never be here again, but I'd return in a heartbeat.
(5)Austin B.
I was very excited to try bodensee with my girlfriend today! I was quickly reminded that I was in a tourist spot and couldn't expect anything special. Our server was incredibly aloof, offering no real introduction to the restaurant, the cuisine, or accurate description of the food. The pace of our service was very slow, inattentive, and entertainingly improper, which could be completely forgiven if the food had been cooked by a person taking pride in their work. I had the Jaeger schnitzel, which if I were going to try to recreate( I wouldn't use this recipe) at home starts with a few pieces of pounded, breaded and fried pork cutlet, and ends covered with a mixture of mushrooms sauteed in margarine ( I'm pretty sure this was not butter)and commercial brown gravy(starchy sheen on top) with a swirl of butter. admittedly, I ate half of this before giving up and tried the side of spaetzle which was tossed in a pan with more of the melted butter and garlic salt. After we stopped eating we were brought cold bread and asked if we wanted anything else. My beer was also cold and I finished that one with the quickness. I feel dehydrated. Thanks bodensee!
(2)Alex M.
Very good place to eat in Helan. I had the knockwurst with fresh horseradish and mustard. Everyone else had stuff off the menu. Everyone else enjoyed their meal. I would come back again. The staff was very friendly and nice.
(5)Tanya O.
With my husband being a chef for the last 16 years you can only imagine how hard it is to find a premium restaurant. The food is immaculate and delightful. It is fresh and prepared in house right down to the dressing. Everything we tried was infused with flavor. If you are near this restaurant you must try!!!!
(5)Rachel B.
My hotel recommended this stop as the best German restaurant in town. After my visit, I'm a little sad for Helen, GA. As some reviews have stated, if you want authentic don't even come here. Coming in, I had low expectations but I lowered them even further once I saw the menu. Considered getting the wurst platter but they don't have sweet Bavarian mustard, so I knew it wouldn't be good (to my tastes and because if they don't have a standard condiment, how authentic can it be?) I ordered something that seemed kind of American so as to not hate my meal. I got the horseradish sauced beef dish with vegetables. It was light on horseradish and thankfully the waiter gave me extra raw horseradish. The house salad came with a homemade dill dressing which was good but about 3 times too much dressing to lettuce. Overall my meal was 3 stars but not for being German just for being edible. Worth noting is that my meal came out pretty quick after ordering which always makes you worry about how fresh it is and if it was just microwaved.
(3)Rachel R.
We were told that this place has the most authentic German food around. Came here with a party of seven for a birthday. Everything was okay, nothing to rave about but not bad either. The decor is nice and our server was very on point, friendly, smiling, all the things you would want in a pleasurable experience. We ordered the escargot, shrimp in garlic butter and two Hungarian Goulash soups. The Bavarian inn had a way better Hungarian goulash in my opinion. Didn't try the escargot, not my thing, but everyone else loves them. The shrimp were ok but I am from Fl so yeah. I really liked the house salads you get with your meal, there's this creamy dill yogurt dressing that's awesome! A very nice change. For the entrees I ordered the jäger schnitzel, nice flavor but not hot at all. Two others shared a sample platter for two, a very large amount of food and everything was good. My boyfriend ordered these smoked pork chops with a bacon, mushroom cream sauce. By far the best thing of the night. This place is good but nothing to go out of your way just to visit for. Everything is pricey too but I suppose it's because of the touristy area.
(3)Deanna T.
We ate at this restaurant tonight after having a terrible experience at the Old Heidleberg restaurant. My family has ate at this restaurant multiple times since they opened. So far they have been the best place to get true German food. The waitstaff can be hit or miss sometimes, especially if they are really busy. The food however, is always on point. My mother had talked to our waitress about our experience at the other restaurant, and she was very sympathetic and took very good care of us tonight. The owner is very friendly as well. It is also one of the cheaper German restaurants in Helen. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Helen to enjoy a meal at this restaurant.
(5)Loren B.
The pictures do not do this place justice. Wow. This place is amazing. My boyfriend got the bratwurst sampler (my favorite was the beef out of the chicken and veal). We also got the curry sauce on the side because I really wanted the curry bratwurst....my my my....DELICIOUS. I ordered the chicken schnitzel (skip the bacon...it was hard like a rock) and that was covered in cheese. I'm not even into cheese like that, but it was YUMMY!. I got the hot chocolate....it came out all pretty with whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Glorious. We were also given a house salad with a dill dressing.....we at every piece of lettuce and I'm not even into salads like that. I would go back AGAIN AND AGAIN. Enjoy!
(5)Lucas J.
Chicken cordon Bleu with spaetzle! Best ever. Coming back next time we are in Atlanta it is well worth the drive up there.
(4)Ralph I.
So I knew it was tourist place when the waitress in traditional German barmaid dress asked me what wanted to drink in a very heavy southern accent. Never the less - my party and I pushed forward. The short of it is the food was great and arrived quickly despite being packed. I tried the chicken schnitzel, I wanted veal but one of party feels very strongly about how veal calf's are treated. I was very surprised. it was done very well. All the food was very good. the only complaints I have are as follows: Our server had a very hard time getting our order correct and even after spending a very long time getting it correct items were still missed. We ( party of 6) were packed in the side room and a table really meant for 4 and the wait staff kept complaining they could not get by. My chair was backed up to the party sitting behind us. our chairs were touching. If you are going to pack us in and then can't get by - sorry it's not my problem. As it was I had to sit sideways because I could not get both my legs under the table. Great food - but I I think I know what a veal calf feels like after being packed in around a small table in a small side room.
(3)Greg C.
As mentioned by the previous reviews. Food is not freshly prepared. We had the sampler plater for two. Lots of food but meat was dry and rubbery and most of the dishes were lukewarm. Bread was stale and salad was swimming in dressing. Although dressing was good and salad was fresh. Salad was the only thing we enjoyed
(2)Melanie T.
Another small, cosy place to eat, so I understand the wait. However, the staff ignored the 8-10 people in line (including us), without so much as saying, "We'll be with you in a moment." or something to that effect. The food was good. We ordered the garlic wurst and the schnitzel. The waitress was nice and apologetic when I noticed lipstick (not mine) on my beer mug. She replaced my mug and my beer.
(3)Robert S.
we live locally and eat here all the time. Today for lunch they were busy with one waiter and MATT did a fantastic job!! He had to fly but he was getting everyone waited on really fast and even had customers on the patio. We ate in the diningroom and everything was great. I had stuffed red pepper and sliced potatoes. Tasted like baked potato and a tomato sauce on this. It was WONDERFUL. My husband had chicken schnitzel and fried potatoes and we both had their wonderful salad with a dill type dressing. We eat here often and love it............Highly recommend. The only complaint was that MATT needed at least one more helper. Someone to clean off tables would have helped him...............
(5)Michael D.
Food was good but not outstanding. Our first impression was the hostess/co-owner who was rude. We were told we could dine in the bar, but the bartender initially told us we would have to wait until he cleaned the bar. Our server was very pleasant and attentive but the food took an hour to be prepared. Our smoked trout appetizer was served with our dinner. I realize this town is slammed with Octoberfest visitors, but tourists to this out-of-the-way hamlet should be treated as welcome guests, not as a nuisance. It is this town's source of survival.
(2)Danny W.
I liked this place. It's busy because it's good. I had the house platter and enjoyed it. Great authentic German food and drink experience.
(4)Kate R.
My boyfriend and I went in for a late lunch/early dinner. We had read lots of great reviews, and he was really excited to try some stuff off the dinner menu--which they did let us order from at 3pm. I ordered the beef stroganoff, and was expecting a pasta dish with beef (which may be just the Americanized version of the meal). What I got was pieces of salty beef, with chopped up pickles swimming in a sauce loaded with garlic salt. He described it as "strong". I got the fresh vegetables as a side, which were soggy pieces of broccoli, canned green beans, and other wet vegetables with a huge scoop of foamy margarine on top. Not appetizing. He ordered the jaeger schnitzel, which I personally did not try...but he said the sauce tasted like packaged gravy with butter poured on top. Not what we would expect from an authentic, homemade German restaurant. He got spaetzle as a side, which was not terrible but again, lots of garlic salt. The service was slow, and she seemed scattered...we had to ask for napkins. She was pleasant but pretty uninterested in the quality of her work. Hoping for a better experience elsewhere, this town is too cute for sucky restaurants!
(1)Heather B.
The waiter was polite but trying to work too many tables at once which meant I got neglected more often than not. The salad was tasty but had way too much dressing. I got the sausage platter with German potato salad and sauerkraut. The sausages were homemade and tasty. The potato salad is not at all what I would call German potato salad. Maybe it's a regional difference? But it's nothing like I have tasted in or outside of Germany. The apple strudel was very tasty but also not what I'm used to. When it was time to go it took forever to get my check. All in all it was good but not what I expected and took much longer than it should have.
(2)Chris D.
Are here last night with the family. The family style salad was great with a garlic and dill dressing that my picky 9 year old loved. The owners were present and made sure my 1year old son had free speatzle. The wife and I had Jägerschnitzel and it was great. Will definitely eat here again when back in this cool little town.
(5)Ingrid H.
There were very mixed reviews for this place. I found it to be good, not great. It seemed folks loved or hated it. It was a nice place where I enjoyed a chicken mozzarella sandwich and a glass of german wine. The staff was friendly and attentive.
(3)Rob M.
This was the most authentic German restaurant in Helen. I would recommend this highly. The service was fantastic the food all very fresh tender and homemade. Obviously the Chef is German. I was born and raised in Germany, and this restaurant has the menu and flavors I grew up with in Germany. The best in Helen!
(5)Mike T.
While traveling through the Georgia Mountains we stopped at the Bavarian town of Helen. After asking a local where to get a great braut the Bodensee is the direction we were pointed. Wow what a great choice! We ended up getting two Brauts to go and they were delicious. They are hand made at the restaurant, and on an amazing bun with just the right amount of Kraut. A great place to grab some German fare while In the Bavarian Mountain town of Helen Ga.
(4)Paul M.
Never got to try the food. We we're so put off by the waiter we had no desire to eat at this place. Waiter was seriously rude and insulting. Told us to go to Wendy's as we left.
(1)Tara G.
I would like to review this place, but, alas, we walked out because it took so long for our server to even come by and ask what we would like to drink. The dining room was only about half full, but we only saw one server in the place. The lack of parking is also horrific. We got "lucky", and I'm making huge air quotes when I say that, to get the last spot in the parking lot. I wish it had been full so we hadn't wasted all that time. By the time she finally came to take our drink order, we were just standing up to leave. Never going back.
(1)Antoien J.
The best food & beer you'll ever have in Helen Georgia I really enjoyed it and definitely I'll eat there again
(5)Amy K.
The food was AMAZING!! Matt was our server and he was awesome, friendly and knowledgable about the food and menu. Some of the best German food I've ever had. I can't wait to return! The salad dressing and bread was amazing.
(5)Clint G.
Highlight of helen! Had lunch with escargot app, schnitzel, and wurst....wife and I had a unbelievable time with great food and got to know the owners and waitstaff that treated us like family...will return as soon as possible...love this place
(5)Carli B.
The food was excellent and our waitress was very friendly. The DJ in the front had some great dancing jams. We had a great experience here.
(4)Linda C.
Great German food. Loved the wurst platter. Daughter ordered steak and it was cooked perfectly. Schnitzel is great. Will be coming back. Very friendly service.
(5)Doug G.
This was our first restaurant to try. One of the few open at the time. As a former German exchange student I was excited to experience it. I enjoyed the Weiner Schnitzel but the recommended Jaeger mushroom sauce on the side wasn't my fave but my son enjoyed. Sadly 5 feet of wurst was sold out but my mom enjoyed the wurst sampler. Service ok. One server stretched thin.
(4)Mike D.
Was ok. Wife enjoyed her food that she had which was the Jagerschnitzel and I had the pork cordon blue which I wasn't impressed with. Service was very good, but atmosphere was very bland.
(3)Patrick P.
Great service, very friendly, vegetarian options were great for me. We went with a large group of 12 and they accommodated us (we did make a reservation.). Good kid options and dessert options.
(4)M B.
Very good!!! I love the spaetzle on the kid's menu and I also loved the Pasta Gratin. The servers are nice and the food is awesome! This is a great place to bring your kids! The Apple Strudel is not the best, though. - Katherinia Garcia
(5)Josef H.
We had another great experience at Bodensee. All things considered I think they are the best German restaurant in Helen. I ordered the pork schnitzel sandwich. The meat was cooked and seasoned properly, which meant it was juicy and flavorful with a hint of salt and pepper. Other folks in our party ordered the garlic wurst and said that it was one of the best sausages they'd ever had. We also ordered a shrimp salad. It was a little buttery, but still delicious. I wanted to point out our waitress' attention to detail. We went on my birthday. She overheard us toasting the occasion and brought out a surprise piece of cake at the end of our meal! It was delicious. We will continue to regularly eat here, and recommend you do the same!
(5)Nancy B.
Just finished lunch here and so glad we did! We had the orange beef sandwich and chef schnitzel. Both were DELICIOUS! Definitely not a tourist trap. Great meal, good prices and great service!
(4)Chris M.
Great food!!! Some parts of restaurant needs a little work. Little pricey but worth it.
(5)Ashley F.
If you want real authentic German food this is the place!! There are many options for German food in Helen but this by far is the best quality. It is a little pricey but the amount of food and the quality of food that you get is worth it. Great customer service. We got the sampler platter for two because we could not decide what to get and it was perfect!
(5)Travis B.
perhaps the only place we found in helen this weekend (oktoberfest) that wasn't overrun with the wild and drunk revelery. all we wanted was a few beers. we were seated right away on the patio. our waitress, poor thing...was the only server for the patio. why on earth this restaurant decided to offer only 1 server during Helen's biggest party fest is beyond me, but i have to give it to her...she was extremely pleasant the whole time we were there. of course the service was slow because she was the only one there, but we were able to get our 4 beers in without too much of a wait. we didn't eat, but damn, the food that was brought to the other patrons smelled amazing! and it must have been good, because we saw many an empty plate on the surrounding tables. it's a meat lovers paradise. a bit pricey though.
(4)Danielle G.
First of all, I'll agree with previous poster about the weirdness of walking up and no one acknowledging you. They should be friendlier. The food: ate here twice on our trip. The first trip was the schweinshaxe for two - not the best I've had but passable and the sides were all good. Dumplings were good as was the German potato salad. Waitress was friendly but busy and kept forgetting things, borrowed salt pepper from neighbors, no knives etc. On second stop agAin very busy but this time we just seated ourselves outside. Waitress was swamped but she never went inside with empty hands and had a great handle on her station. Food: weiner schnitzel - sadly I think they precook and then nuke it.....it tasted ok but was NOT crispy and freshly fried. If I'd had this the first night we wouldn't have come back. Dh had sausage platter which was good.
(3)Missi H.
Food is tasty and authentic, good menu selection, generous portions. Service was prompt and friendly.
(4)Chris G.
Stopped in as we were leaving Helen. First off the entire place was very clean. The staff was extremely professional and courteous. We had the Chef's Schnitzel and it was delicious. Schnitzel was to perfection, potatoes were also very good. Paulaner & Erdinger on tap. Beer temp was perfect, and served in their respective glasses. Overall my favorite German restaurant I've visited in the states. Great experience and we will be coming back soon. You won't be disappointed here.
(5)Robin L.
Brought the parents for a day visit to Helen. We lived in Germany for a while so we looked forward to some good German food. This place was it! Had the jagerschnitzel, Bavarian schnitzel, Hungarian goulash, and the schnitzel sandwich - all were delicious! German owners and chefs. Go and enjoy!
(5)Stacie G.
This place is amazing. Simple ingredients and maximum flavor. All of the dishes that I tried were delicious. The staff is enthusiastic, attentive, and eager to talk to you about the food. HIGHLY reccomend!
(5)Meg C.
Aww, I feel bad for little Bodensee! Only two reviews and both bad! My experience was a good one. We got seated right away. Our waitress was hilarious. Her name is Stacy and she reminded me of a brunette Amy Poehler. We asked for suggestions since most of us weren't super familiar with German food and each tried one of her suggestions. I had the Hungarian Goulash, which was good, but the think Spätzle is what I raved about. Two friends had the Beef Stroganoff and raved about it. The bar was on the other side of the wall we sat by and my friend was sneaking peeks through the curtain to watch her football game. Well, you will NEVER believe who was DJing on the other side. THE SAME DJ FROM THE CAFE INTERNATIONAL! What are the odds of running into him? He kept us entertained as he probably thought we were peeping in on him singing/dj-ing and running the karaoke, while we were actually trying to see if the Gamecocks were going to pull off a win. I won't forget his smiling beardy face. We got to meet the chef at the end of the night and he was very nice. This place is kind of off the beaten path off the Helen restaurants but give it a go! Also, a newsflash to anyone who complains about the price at a restaurant. Y'all do realize you're in a touristy town that has modeled itself after Germany, right? These prices were moderate, IMO.
(4)Felix F.
This place is terrible from a food quality point of view. Very few of the dishes are actually German food (I grew up there), and all food is bland. The closest thing to anything German in this restaurant is the beer, the food is far away from real (e.g. A Schnitzel with gravy, really?).
(2)Clinton B.
Supposedly the best German food in Helen, but still isn't worth a recommendation. The food was overly greasy. The chicken schnitzel was thin and not well breaded. The interior decor was random and lackluster. Overall I was displeased with the experience and still haven't found a German restaurant worth or eating in this faux German town.
(2)Yvonne K.
this is a nice place with outdoor dining option, we had the Sampler for two which was average on flavor but the portion was enough for 3 and the extra stray cats hanging around!! Service was good and location is convenient but hidden if you don't know what you're looking for.
(3)Dena D.
I am giving the Service a 2-star rating, the food was good though. My husband & I were celebrating our 10 year anniversary & heard this place was one of the best in Helen for authentic German, not the most romantic spots but good food & service. we must have got a bad night for service. We asked for a quite spot & told them we were celebrating our 10 yr anniversary. They sat us not only by the kitchen but had a group of 8 celebrating a birthday, how romantic. Our waitress was not very personable & made our special night not so memorable. It just felt like any other ordinary dining out. We had a better romantic lunch at HB which the food was awesome, the service was awesome & made a special shout out, and the view & building was awesome!
(2)John A.
This is an excellent and authentic German restaurant. Had dinner there twice. Excellent service.
(5)Mary S.
A local recommended this place to us and our experience was part good, part not so good. For the good, the mushroom appetizer was amazing. The menu says they are sautéed in butter but it was more like a cream sauce with herbs and was great to dip bread in after the mushrooms had been devoured. The beer prices were also very reasonable which was surprising. Now for the not so good. First, the waitress we had was very curt and abrupt and she actually made us uncomfortable. She also never checked to see how our food was, if we wanted more drinks, or even if we wanted dessert. In essence, she did nothing more than take our order and bring us our food and our check and that was it. And when she did those things she almost seemed bothered by the fact that she had to do her job. I'd give her 1/10 of a star if I had that option. It was one of the only times in my life I wanted to snub someone on their tip but didn't. The other not so good part were our salads and main courses. My husband's salad was drenched in Ranch dressing to the point that he couldn't even eat it. My house salad was only so so which was disappointing considering it's the dressing they recommended. For our entrees, the Chicken Cordon Blue looked good but it was dry and didn't have much flavor. I had the pork schnitzel and it too was bland to the point that I couldn't even eat half of one of the two cutlets. If this place makes it, when I'm in town again I may go back for the appetizers but that's it. Such a shame.
(3)Maz W.
Really some of the best German food I have ever had, and I've had it in Germany many times.
(5)Glenn M.
Great German food! Give them a try, we did and went back twice in the same weekend!
(5)Claudio A.
Ate at this place while on a 3 day visit in Helen, GA. The food here is awesome!!! Drove back from Brasstown, GA to eat at this place again. You will not be disappointed, highly recommended!
(5)Marc W.
Ugh. The service was super slow, food was cold, and the "sausage with curry ketchup" was a wiener with regular ketchup and curry powder sprinkled on top.
(1)Mary F.
We've been coming to Helen for several years and have eaten just about everywhere. Our favorite place until now was actually the Mexican restaurant only because everywhere else disappointed with crappy knockoff German food. This place is awesome. Also check out the higher ground coffee shop- the owner provided three recommendations: Bodensee, spice 55, and nacochee grill. He was very knowledgeable about the local food scene, great coffee, and super friendly.
(5)Dan S.
The food was outstanding. I highly recommend the brie cheese in foil. The chicken cordon bleu was delicious. They had much better food than most of the places along the river or the main strip. It's too bad they are set away from the main street, some people may miss out on this place.
(5)Craig D.
Great homemade authentic German good!
(5)Brenda D.
We had the Rueben and a prime rib sandwich at the bar. The food was just ok. The service was good but he was very busy washing all the drink glasses which was a bit annoying. Being local residents it is always strange when the staff and owners don't seem to appreciate your business. We can always go south for date nite and maybe we will next time.
(3)Jo P.
My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner at Bodensee tonight. We were staying over in Helen just for one night on our sightseeing trip from Orlando to Gatlinburg, and we wanted to eat at a good German place. I feel we made the right decision! I had the Two Homemade Wursts platter, and he had the special with a pork chop and two sausages. Everything tasted great--especially the potato salad! My single complaint is that it took about 10 minutes for anyone to greet us at the door. Otherwise it was a lovely experience!
(4)Ed D.
Mediocre. Not bad, but not particularly good. Waitress a bit overbearing and knew little about German food. Pork and veal were of good quality but spaetzle and most items too greasy.
(2)Jaimi A.
We shared the German sampler. The sauerbraten and schweinbraten (sp?) we're not my favorites. They reminded me of dry pot roast/pork roast and gravy. The sauerkraut was fantastic as well as the wursts. The rolled beef was interesting as it is rolled around a dill pickle. Their garlic house dressing was fantastic and packed some heat. Unfortunately we were there at the end of the weekend so they were out of all steaks. The server was a little too "familiar" with us at times, but I did appreciate when the owner brought a toy for our 15 month old to play with, even though it was a loud musical toy. I also appreciate that they have extra baby wipes and a nice changing table in the bathroom which was immaculate.
(3)ME S.
We stopped in their parking lot around 5pm to get our bearings and try to find a place for dinner. Looking at Yelp on our phones we saw the one other review for Bodensee and decided to try the place out. We thought it was a ripoff. We got the pork schnitzel ($15.80) and the Holzfaellersteak ($18.90) 20oz beers were $6.50 which is actually pretty good for Helen. All of the entrees were pretty pricey, upwards of $14. I understand that everything is going to be inflated in the Magical Disneyland that is Helen, GA but, really? $16 Schnitzel? The service was fine. Food was tasty but not Michelin quality or anything. I really can't justify the prices for the fare. We found more reasonable places to eat as the weekend went on. Even if you are looking for authentic Bavarian food, there are other places around Helen that are more reasonably priced. Bonus Tip: For lunch get a sandwich made at the deli counter of Betty's grocery store.
(2)Martin P.
Great food and decent prices. It is away from all the tourist. You should give the place a try.
(4)Birgit H.
This was by far the worst dining experience I have ever had. I was with a party of 4 of us and after 5 minutes with still be drinks the hostess made us change our table. 2 of the ladies were elderly and its hard for them to move around. After moving tables we sat for another 10 minutes with still no drinks. After a change of waitress we finally got our drinks. My father had the ribs which were very fatty and chewy, after a few bites he couldn't eat anymore due to the amount of fat. Another entree was the chicken which was chewy and tough. The waitress never cleared our table so we piled the plates at the end of the table while waiting for our apple strudel. When the waitress brought the strudel she never took the pile of plates! Unacceptable in my book, my mother had a pile in from of her. The strudel was dark brown,stringy and crunchy with a wierd taste. I will never go back again.
(1)Hal W.
Stopped in at 6:30 on saturday during oktoberfest in helen. Packed with long wait. But we found seats at the Bar. Good service there. We ordered a platter for 2 that had a smoked porkchop and some wurst. It took 40 minutes to get to us but was very good. We thought it was a little small for the $20 we paid. (C'mon its sausage for heaven's sake! Just 2 was a little stingy.) But the quality was good and the atmosphere of this place was great.
(4)Glenn M.
We were looking for an authentic German dinner in Helen, Ga., and followed good ratings to the Bodensee Restaurant. As we were considering it, we had trouble pronouncing the name. It is bo-den-SEE'- pronouncehow.com/english… . The name comes from the German name for the third-largest lake in Europe, part of which is in Germany: Lake Constance - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo… . As it turned out, we ordered main courses that were not altogether German, but were nonetheless quite good. Bread and salad were good, although there was too much dressing for Carol's taste, but just right for me. Carol had beef Stoganoff, which was a full plate's worth, thick with meat and a lesser creme sauce - great tasting and filling - and not like American versions. It came with a dish of spaetzle. I had Hungarian goulash, which filled about two-thirds of the plate, the rest of which contained spaetzle. The goulash had a bit of spice, but not overly so - I don't favor heavily spiced dishes. It contained lots of flavorful cubes and strips of meat. It came with a dish of red cabbage, which was served warm. It was tangy-and-tasteful. We had apple strudel. It was served hot, with four small scoops of vanilla ice creme, garnished with carmel sauce. It looked and tasted great. The chef came out and visited with several of us. He was friendly, with a likewise friendly German accent.
(4)Stephanie P.
We visited this past weekend and were very hesitant about trying this restaurant as we are always disappointed when we try a new restaurant in the area. I'm speaking for a total of 4 people when I say that Bodensee is in the top 3 of the best restaurants to eat in Helen and it's surrounding areas! My husband and I ordered the Fish Platter for Two, it was amazing to say the least and our server, she was so much fun, we had a blast dining here! We will be back!
(5)