Our waiter was amazeballs, I'm sorry I don't remember his name... he was a skinny dude. Anyway, I called ahead to be sure we knew where the heck to park. Maybe that's my only sort of complaint. The parking lot was closed off with some Mercedes parked out front. Meh. Open the lot! You'll get more business! The food was great. I ordered the kids the enormous pretzels and some random sausages and kraut. Of course we all had beer and it was great. My hubs and nephew split some weird giant pig leg thing and devoured it. So we definitely recommend taking a trip here for lunch. Don't let the divey front room entry way confused you and spook you off. There's an enclosed bar right by the entry so it may smell like smoke for a moment but the dining area is beyond that room. Lol read more

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Wonderful, authentic, yummy German food. Great portions, good service, and the family that owns it are very friendly and accommodating. It was pretty crowded when we were there, but we got our drinks and food pretty quickly. Not sure what the other reviews are expecting re "ambiance": this is a beer garden atmosphere (just like most of the other places in the town) and looks just like the exact same kind of establishment in Germany. Best real German cuisine in Helen. read more

My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday. Unfortunately the meal was nothing to celebrate. My husband enjoyed his Homemade Garlicwurst, but did not particularly care for the Sauerkraut or Potato Salad. I ordered the Pork Schnitzel with Onion Cream Gravy and Pan-Fried Potatoes. Where do I begin? The potatoes were bland and the schnitzel was NOT good. It was not fried well and didn't appear to be cooked throughly. It saddens me to admit that I have had pork using schnitzel crispy coating from a box that was better than what I experienced at Bodensee. To add insult to injury, two small glasses of diet coke cost $9.00 and the only way we were able to get 1 refill the ENTIRE time we dined was to search for our server who was in deep conversation in the back with another server. The bright spot? The Onion Cream Gravy. read more

Bodensee is quite the place. Very good german food. Stacy was our waitress and she was fun to talk with right from the start. Started off with a dunkel beer. 20 oz beer. A nice dark beer but not the thickness of a stout. Candyce had a white zin and it was a big glass too. Appetizer was the potato pancakes. There are number of appetizers but the only one candyce would try was that. I know broaden the horizons...... cocktail shrimp, escargot you name it ... anyway, the potato pancakes came with sour cream and apple sauce for dipping. Quite tasty. Main course was hauspfannle for me. This is a grilled pork loin with cream mushroom sauce. Spaetzle for on the side. Oh my God was it good. Big slices of meat, lots of mushrooms. You, reading this review, you have to try it. Candyce had the chicken schnitzel with spaetzle for the side. I tried hers, very good. Good service, thank you stacy! Great food. Everything was done for a wonderful dining experience. read more

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Stopped during the food tour and had an abundant amount of food to sample. Our server was very good and attentive explaining everything we tried. Would recommend as a definite try while in Helen. read more

Very good German food. The spaetzles were delicious and the red cabbage was some of the best I've had.

Stopped by this restaurant since it had the most reviews in Helen for German food, but wished we hadn't. When we came in, it seemed gloomy and unappetizing already. We couldn't order regular free water, the only water they served were bottled, but it was fine we got over that quickly. We ordered the giant pretzel and a sausage sampler platter. The pretzel was fine, nothing extraordinary. The sausage sampler was below average. My boyfriend and I couldn't even finish it even though we were hungry when we entered. Honestly, we should have stopped to get a funnel cake or something else instead. read more

Bodensee Restaurant - pretzel - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

Not very good. Food was average to poor. Ordered the pretzel and received cheese wiz. Did not have any beer cheese or good Bavarian mustard. Also had the garlic sausage plate and lunch Spatzle. The sausage was OK but would not recommend the German Potatoe salad or Spatzle. The Spatzle had large slices of bacon and was covered in cheese. Not very appetizing. read more

We ate after it was recommended by the desk guy at our hotel. To be honest, we weren't really impressed. We ordered the Sampler platter for 2. Food was served in a timely manner and was hit and fresh. Nothing stood out, just average. read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Sampler platter for 2. Not bad, but nothing special. - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

This place has lost its beauty. I couldn't wait to eat here, it has been on of my favorites every time I visited Helen. However, this time, it was terrible. We got there on Friday night about 8pm. We asked to sit in the restaurant. There was a table of six people and a table of two people in there. It took our waitress about ten minutes to come and get our drink order. Then we were told she would be right back. After another ten minutes she came and took our order. I didn't complain, because I knew she was trying to clear out those other tables. After placing the order (I ordered the Goulash and my husband ordered the wurst platter). To begin paying what we did for the food was terrible. The Goulash was no more than about a cup of stew, it was mostly a liquid gravy. The meat was tender, but it was tasteless and barely warm. I assumed I got the bottom of stew pot, since it was later in the evening. It came with spätzle and red cabbage. The spätzle was cold and chewy. You could tell it had been made several hours earlier. The red cabbage was just okay. However, it has never been my favorite here (see other reviews). My husband's meal consisted of bratwurst, garlic wurst and weisswurst, saurkraut and he picked the fried potatoes, instead of the potato salad. The brat and garlic were okay, the brat being the best, it was actually hot, but the other two were barely warm. The weisswurst, had been cooked so long or it was cooked days earlier and they just reheated it, that the meat inside kind of disintegrate with you started to chew it. It kind of turned powdery when you chewed it. We have had this at other places and it does not typically do that. His potatoes were warm, but not hot. They were not fresh. They had been sitting in oil and under a heat lamp. His saurkraut was the best part of his meal. Now should I have complained to the owners or manager, more than likely yes. But I didn't want to have wait or keep them waiting any longer. It felt like they were wanting us to hurry up and leave. They were cleaning everything around us and cashing out tips, etc. It was not a pleasant evening for us. I will say that from the first time I have ever eaten here to this time, it has gone really down hill. It seems like they are more focused on their biergarten more than the beauty of their restaurant. I miss the way it was back many years ago, when it was a just a small quaint restaurant that focused on the quality of the food and service. I am not sure if it is the same owners, if they have hired new cooks, if their focus has gone away from their food quality or what? I am not sure. I would say it was from 2020, but I was there in 2024 and the food was some what better than it was this time. So you cannot blame it on that. I will say that we were told that the owners now work with the community to employ residents of the local rehabilitation shelters. Okay, that is great that they are trying to help people, but that still should not impact your food quality and service (unless they are the ones cooking the food and managing service, then this might explain it). As of today, my husband and I were so disappointed with it, that we do not plan to revisit, seeing as there are other places in the area that offer better quality food and service. read more

Food is super yummy! The sausages were really good! The pretzel is one of the best we had! Tons of beer choices! read more

We went here on advice from a woman at the welcome center, and were extremely happy. We lived in Germany for a few years back in the 90s, and I don't often seek it out as a cuisine, but this place took me back to the delicious food, music and feels like the time we had spent in Bavaria. My wife had bratwurst and kraut while the rest of us had the chef schnitzel, and we were all very happy. The spaetzel was OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD. The waitress was an absolute sweetheart. The whole town of Helen was cute and a nice walk back memory lane, and ending it with lunch at Bodensee made it echt wunderbar! read more

We went with our one year old during oktoberfest and this place accommodated us so well. The waitresses worked so hard to please everyone. The environment was unmatched with a pleasant outside seating area. Even better, the German food was delicious. We decided to visit Helen so we could explore the different foods and drinks and this place did it for us! We got the pretzel as an app and the chefs schnitzel with spaetzel as our meals. Would definitely recommend. read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Pretzel, beer - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

The food was the best I have had in a long time !! What stands out the most was the outstanding service provided to us by our waitress (Kristi). She went above and beyond to make our experience totally worth the wait. The atmosphere was light and friendly. We did have to wait a bit to be seated but again was totally worth it!!! read more

Definitely recommend the potato cakes! Not a huge fan of the Hawaiian pork chop special.

Food was good (nothing fantastic), service was slower than expected during the slack time we were there. We expected the higher price for the food based on the tourist area and season. Patio had several patrons who had dogs with them, and the servers promptly got them a bowl of water, which was nice given it was a very warm day. Parking is scarce, expect to park in a pay parking lot nearby and walk to the restaurant. read more

The potato pancakes had no flavor, the people that sat us were rude the French onion soup had almost no broth so the bread was crunchy the whole time. The goulash was good. If you want water they only have bottled no tap. I gave it 3 stars because the atmosphere is ok but I wouldn't eat here again. read more

Stopped by and ordered to go on a pit stop in this cute little town. Ordered a salad with chicken, Chicken Schnitzel, and an extra side of fries. My husband's schnitzel looked amazing. Tons of cheese *drool* My salad was good. Everything looked well flavored but the chicken was pretty bland. The cucumbers were basically pickled, but had good flavor. The fries were basically flavorless. We sat outside the restaurant even though we got to go, and the waitress (Tara, I think?) brought us out water and checked on us a few times even though we ordered to-go. She was super sweet. I made sure to tip extra well and I hope you do too!! read more

Bodensee Restaurant - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

What horrible food. We couldn't eat more than one bite of a sausage that looked like it was cooking for a week and potato pancakes that needed to be wrung to get the oil out. We saw the server talking to the manager after we told her but if she did it was for nothing. They didn't take anything off a $44 bill so this review is their reward. Don't come here under any circumstances. read more

Most authentic German restaurant in Helen, IMO. My family is from Germany and this restaurant is Omi and Opa approved. The sampler dinner for 2 is enough to feed 4- just get a few extra sides. Do yourself a favor and order the cheese spaetzle - read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Cheese pull from cheese Spaetzle - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

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I enjoyed the home made garlic wurst potato salad, sauerkraut on lunch menu; baby back ribs accompany fries , order ice coffee with vanilla ice cream, service was quick and friendly. Refilled ice tea as you need it. Playing German music all the way, casual vibe and comfort seating , you come to Helen, GA for local food read more

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We visited this places on October 2020. Parking: Free street parking. Service: The waiter was friendly and attentive, but the reception at the door is a bit slow. Food quality: It is a German Restaurant. The food is very good and fresh and the portions are large. We ordered one appetizer- Brie Cheese in Foil with Vegetables. It is a soft and creamy cow's-milk ball of cheese mixed with vegetables (carrot, mushroom and green beans) - it was warm and delicious. I never had something like that before. It was incredible. We also ordered one German specials- House Platter (one grilled knock sausage, one homemade garlic sausage & one piece of smoke pork chop served with sauerkraut & German potato salad), and one House Special- Wurst Sampler Platter (knockwurst, homemade garlicwurst & weisswurst served with sauerkraut & German potato salad). To be honest, I didn't like sauerkraut because it's a bit sour. Price: We paid around $68 +tips on one appetizer, two entrees, and one beer. I think the prices are reasonable for the quality of the place and food. Atmosphere: The restaurant is a bit cramped inside. The tables are very close to each other and you can't really social distance here, but they take your temperature before you go in and require you to use a hand sanitizer. They also have a outdoor tented seating area. They also have a live German music performance which is one of the best things about this restaurant. Recommendation: Arrive early for lunch or dinner time because it's usually busy and they don't take reservation. If you don't eat a lot, try to share a plate because as I said before, the portions are big. I couldn't finish my plate and we had to box it. Follow me on social media Instagram & Facebook: @hoppincities www.hoppincities.com read more

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If you are in Helen, Georgia don't miss this one! The food is great and the service is better! You may have to wait a little for a table, but it is worth the wait! read more

The sampler platter we ordered at the Bodensee Restaurant fed us for days, and each meal was absolutely delicious.

My husband and I had sampler platter for 2 Nice variety and able to try different things. My husband is a potato salad addict and he said it was pretty good which says a lot from him read more

Food was phenomenal - we had the potato pancakes, pretzel with beer cheese, and pork Schnitzel with spaetzle. My fiancée had never had potato pancakes and loved them. The schnitzel was amazing!! And the service!!! Lilith was our server and she was exceptional!! Highly recommend this place, right around the corner from the Helendorf!! read more

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We came in for lunch, and the beers were wonderful. Our appetizer didn't arrive, but the lunch schnitzel did. We reminded our server about the appetizer, and she quickly fixed the problem. We'll try it again for dinner sometime, but the lunch portion and missing appetizer weren't the best experience. read more

Tried this place in Helen. Our first time to Helen. The reviews prompted me to choose this place over others. However.. food was mediocre at best. I could be boast.. we lived in Bavaria for 3 yrs. The schnitzel was super dry, and very tough.. the spatez was good, but the mushroom gray was not good. My husband got the bratwurst, with fresh potato salad and sauerkraut.. his was good. Beer was good! Service was good. read more

Delicious & plentiful food. Sampler for 2 could feed three! Attentive service. Souvenirs could only be purchased with cash. read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Delicious pretzels - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

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The absolute best German food in Helen, possibly in America! The service was fantastic, and the live music was incredible! I give it all the stars read more

Cute little spot. You have the option of dining in, under a tent or under an umbrella. They take your temperature and give you hand sanitizer prior to being seated. The menu has authentic German food, and they also have live entertainment walking around playing music. The food was good. A little bland and could use more seasoning. Everyone in our party felt the same. We ordered potato pancakes, pork schnitzel with a mushroom sauce, a meat sauce, pretzel and chicken cordon bleu. I don't remember the other items names. They have a nice beer selection. read more

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If you're looking for some Bavarian experience, this is a great German restaurant. Authentic in my book as I'm half-German. Great service, food and ambiance. Don't forget a cold Warsteiner Dunkel or Pilsner to wash down huge pretzels... read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Sausage Fest - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

Authentic German food. The best in town. The garlicwurst was amazing as was the German potato salad. Add a smooth dark beer and you're set! read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Garlicwurst - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

Really rude to us. We stood at the sign at the door which said to wait there as several employees walked past and looked at us. After a while I went inside to look for someone and told her we were standing out by the sign. She rudely implied we didn't wait long enough and brought us out to some lady that was theoretically in charge of the outside seats, who was also one of the employees watching us stand around getting a tan. Very unfriendly and brought us to our seats. We had enough and got up and left. Maybe it was because my wife is Asian or because I had my retired military hat on, but they really didn't want our business. read more

Bodensee restaurant serves German food in the city of Helen, GA. FOOD (3.5/5): The food at Bodensee is varied and covers many traditional German dishes. Lunch specials are offered at an affordable price point ($10-13) however I would recommend splitting a dinner platter to fully enjoy the best Bodensee has to offer. The lunch wurst plates were tasty but the portions were small. As a side, the cheese spaetzle is very good and was probably my favorite item at Bodensee. BEER (4/5): Multiple domestic and imported options. Large pours just like a traditional German beer garden. SERVICE (5/5): Fast, friendly, and helpful. ATMOSPHERE (4/5): Large seating areas inside and outside. Not up-scale. read more

Bodensee Restaurant - Spaetzle - German Near Me - Helen, Georgia

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We returned to Bondensee for dinner. The experience was better than our lunch two days ago. We tried different dishes. Everything was delicious. I would recommend the goulash and the escargot. This is definitely a restaurant that you need to try. read more

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A little bit off the main street in Helen this place has a great menu with a good offering of what looks like German dishes (I've been to Germany only twice so I don't think I am qualified to judge authenticity), but regardless of how German the dishes are we tried the two sampler plates in the menu, one with meats and the other with sausages and we were quite pleased. Plus my glass of Sauvignon Blanc (don't hate) was massive. The atmosphere was cozy and the service was great! read more

We were excited to try out there food and got there around 2:45. We stood inside, right in front of their sign indicating to wait to be seated, and we waited. And we waited. And we waited. Staff and servers busily going past the growing line to serve tables outdoors. A person bringing in dishes after busing the tables outside. At least 2 dozens diners walked past us after, presumably, finishing their dining experience. In that entire time, not one single staff person addressed anybody in the line. Nobody taking names for a seating list. Nobody taking 5 seconds to let people know of a wait time. Nobody to let the dozen or so people know if they were actually on this plane of existence. Unfortunate but maybe we will try again next time we are in town. read more

Service started out slow, but it really picked up. Food was amazing. Definitely will be a go to place when in Helen

So my older brother lives in Georgia, and he's always recommended us to come visit him. That Helen has many things to offer, especially their historic area with cute shops for all ages, restaurants, bars, and beautiful mountains with tubing nearby. When it comes to food, he knows some of the best spots. He mentioned Bodensee restaurant that is conveniently located right near where we are staying. We didn't have to wait that long to be seated, which was nice considering how busy it was and packed. I can see now why it was so packed! The food was scrumptious! Very big portions that we all shared. I was very happy to see that they had a few chicken options for my family and I, since we don't eat beef or pork. My brothers had the grilled chicken with mushrooms and Schnitzel. My mom had rainbow trout with veggies. I had another yummy chicken dish with Schnitzel. It was my first time trying these noodles. They were so good! You could eat them even by themselves! If you are visiting Helen, I highly suggest you to come here for a meal! read more

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