Specialising in authentic German cuisine, the recently opened Bavarian Garden at Waters Edge is an ideal location to enjoy recipes that have been carefully selected by a team of chefs to ensure that guests get the true taste, presentation and experience of Bavarian cuisine coupled with a range of chilled beverages. Set in an outdoor atmosphere, it’s an ideal place to enjoy and relax with your family and friends. 

Ambience 4/5 

 On our visit to Bavarian Garden, we were greeted by Chef Kumara who offered us a delicious welcome drink which was a citrus mocktail called Smooth Walker. The stewards wore an interesting uniform that was quite German. The typical colourful table layout against the backdrop of lake and trees was casual yet inviting. The menus were digital and on the display you could see a picture of what your dish would look like and all the ingredients that go into it. I was told that soon, at the press of a button you would be able to see the dish of your choice being prepared. 

Food and Value For Money - 4/5 

We tasted some of the frequently ordered dishes starting with some appetisers. The fresh pretzels which is a typical German bread (100/- per portion) was served to us accompanied by a bowl of Obatzda (Rs 450/-  portion). This tantalizing cheese dip made with camembert cheese, chopped onion, chives, beer, paprika and roasted caraway was out of this world. Then came the appetizers. 

The German Appetizer Platter which is for two had four items of substantial quantity. Bavarian sausage salad, potato salad, cabbage salad and slices of ham and roast pork. If you were to go for a light meal and relaxation, even this dish without a main is super. The tanginess in the salads made you want more and more of it. 

Of the mains, we tried out three. The succulent pork knuckle with sauerkraut and mash potato was a huge portion. It was crispy and golden on the outside and juicy inside. The beer marinating was really effective. It was served with cooked cabbage, mash potato, bacon and onion sauce (Rs 1800/-per portion).

We also tried the half roast chicken with cabbage salad and French fries (Rs 990/-per portion) which was mouth-watering and the Weisswurst sausage was very flavourful inspite of the fact that it was only boiled, and it was served with sweet mustard and raddish salad (Rs 650/- per portion). As is the case in German cuisine, all the mains were very large portions. 

For dessert we tried out the homemade apple strudel with vanilla ice cream and wildberry strussel with vanilla ice cream both of which were priced at Rs. 350 per portion. Both desserts were absolutely not too sweet, very fluffy and ideally light to complement the heavy main. 

Apart from these dishes the choice on the menu is vast and prices are very reasonable.  It’s easy to pick something to fit your budget. 

Hospitality and Friendliness of Staff - 4.5/5 

Chef Kumara who explained to us the intricate details of the process of preparation of authentic German cuisine sat with us during the tasting and made the whole experience more meaningful by sharing with us the history of Bavarian dishes, the specialty of the ingredients used and how carefully it is prepared. Chef Skanda was also scuffling around and chatting to us, making us feel very welcome. 

Parking and Other Facilities - 4/5 

There’s ample parking space available. If you want to dine indoors you could always sit at the Boardwalk and enjoy your Bavarian cuisine or if you are in an outdoor mood and want the cool breeze playing on your face, then you can choose to sit in the garden. 
This is definitely a place you don’t want to miss visiting when you are craving for that evening of relaxation and yummy food. 

By Niro Waidyaratne 
Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja