Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe

Wow today is my anniversary and decided to come to downtown Sanford, highly recommend Hollerbachs you will not be dissapointed. Authentic German food will be back

First timers… very happy. Only 30 minutes away so I’m pretty sure we’ll be back. LOVE the heaven and earth potatoes, sauerbraten had good flavor, red cabbage was perfect (not over cooked). Too much food to have dessert, but they looked so good we had to get them to go. Looking forward to the bee sting cake :-)

Food is great! Lines and waiting is long but if your looking for authentic German food and beer, this is your place. Price is NOT cheap, be prepared to wait and pay!

What an awesome place — on my way to the Autotrain I stopped for lunch. Been a long time since I had German food. Had the lunch size pork schnitzel with a very good German dark beer. Everything was great, service efficient and friendly.
Looking forward to visit when I return to Florida.

Fun spot, good food and great location!

This was like a blast from the past. I use to live in Germany and we heard about this restaurant. It is the real deal. I was happy I was able to share some real German food with my kids. If you want great German beer and food this is a great place to go!

It had been a few years since my not-​so-​hot experience and I had the opportunity to try again with friends. I went for dinner a few weeks ago and my experience was quite a bit better. Overall, I’d give a 3.5 but that’s not an option so I will round up.
The food was good. I had jaeger schnitzel with potato pancake and red cabbage as my side. The schnitzel was delicious and a huge portion and the jaeger sauce, while just a little salty, was really good. The cabbage was perfectly sweet and tart and the right texture (not too mushy). The potato pancakes were nothing special and we’re just okay.
The service was just okay too. Our waitress was hesitant to come over until all of our party was there so we waited a while to order. We also had to ask for drinks and to-​go boxes a few times before they actually came.
I’m glad I went back as my perspective on the food changed. I’m sure I’ll go back again.

Had the pork schnitzel? here and it was amazing. Pounded and breaded pork with two sides and that tasty and yummy gravy on top.
Quite the selection of German food, and of course their beers. I had some wonderfully tasting iced tea.
The ambiance was OK, was kind hoping for a more German feel. There were signs and such but really didn’t fell German, though the food was great!
Next time an in area will make it a point to come back here. Very happy!

So unique and so fun. I haven’t been to another place in town quite like Hollerbach’s. I’ve dined at the Willow Tree twice. Both times for a birthday. And both times were an incredibly good time.
Hollerbach’s is authentically German, from the food to the atmosphere. On any given night the lederhosen-​clas band spins a variety of tunes. OK, not all the jams are German. But they are all catchy fun songs. Mostly drinking or dancing songs. There is a dance floor in the middle of the restaurant and there always seems to be at least a few people out there showing off their moves while the surrounding tables watch on, generally passing around Das Boot.
The food is great as well. Great Schnitzel. I was also a big fan of the quiche. Yes, I ordered one of the only non-​German items on the menu. But it was still delish!
Hollerbach’s Willow Tree isn’t just a place to go for a meal, it’s a place to go for a genuinely good time with friends. Don’t expect to do much talking, though. The place is quite loud.

A solid German restaurant experience.
I recently checked out Hollerbach’s as part of a fantastic UYE experience (which gets 5 stars). Located in the heart of Downtown Sanford, Hollerbach’s is, aside from the Epcot restaurants, one of best German-​themed restaurants in Orlando.
When i first arrived, I wasn’t sure if I had come to the right location because the full name Hollerbach’s Willow Tree isn’t really obviously shown outside of the venue. I went up to the hostess (who was located at a little stand outside the restaurant) and had her direct me inside. I went up to the bar, met with Pam, one of the other people there for the event, and asked the barkeep what I should order. After a few questions about my preferences, he recommended a solid German beer (no idea how to pronounce the name). It was very smooth and surprisingly inexpensive.
Once everyone arrived, we headed over to our table. Since the restaurant seems to often get large groups, they have a section that specifically has long tables. On the wall above our table were the words «Where (German word) happens,» which we Googled and found out means «Where good things happen.» We sat down and found a fun little newspaper that also serves as a menu! The newspaper menu tells you all about the food (they mainly offer schnitzels and sausages, but they also have random fun german dishes), as well as various parts of Germany. Soon after sitting down, the waitress came over and took our drink order. All of the service staff was dressed up in funky little outfits (one guy was wearing a wizard hat for some reason), so that made the experience even more fun.
After reviewing the menu for a little while, we looked to place our orders. However, since our whole party hadn’t arrived yet, the waitress did hold off on taking our orders for a while, which seemed to annoy some of the other people in the party. Once she finally started taking orders, I got the Kassler Lende since I wanted to try the Heaven and Earth potatoes. I originally planned on ordering a sausage combo with it, but it turns out I received plenty of food! The Kassler Lende was great. The pork loin went well with the tasty potatoes and sauerkraut. My meal, combined with my inpronouncable beer, a friend letting me try some potato cakes with applesauce and sour cream, and an amazing piece of Black Forest Cake, made for a solid eating experience for a fairly decent price.
Overall, Hollerback’s provides a solid German dining experience. While it doesn’t quite measure up to the wonderful world of Disney’s Epcot, this is a great place to check out if you are ever in Downtown Sanford.

I’m between 3 and 4 here but I think that it’s due to the fact that I don’t eat half the food they offer so I don’t feel like I’m the best person to offer a review. Everyone else I was with loved their food so I’m giving them a 4 because I anticipate my meal was not especially representative of their product.
So I’ve never really had German food before. I wasn’t especially excited about it since I don’t eat beef or pork and their German side items only sounded sort of ok on paper. I opted for the salad, mixed veggies, kase spätzle, and potato pancakes. It should be known that 1) I didn’t know they had a full menu of Sanford food (sandwiches and salads) until long after I ordered and 2) I didn’t know you could get chicken schnitzel — I assumed it was only pork. Oh well.
The salad came with bread that was tasty. All the dressings are made in house. I tried the raspberry and the honey mustard pecan and both were delicious. The salad itself was crisp and fresh and the croutons are homemade and delicious.
They ended up putting all my sides on the same plate which was nice. The veggies were good. The spätzle was cold but had good flavor. The potato pancakes were ok — Polonia beats every other place in town on potato pancakes — these weren’t bad, just not my favorite. My meal was filling and satisfying but overall maybe a ³⁄₅.
My friend had ordered chicken schnitzel and it was HUGE. It was something with a creamy sauce and white asparagus. She gave me a few bites and it was really very good. I wish I knew about chicken schnitzel because I would have gone that route instead of my side item plate.
We also ordered German Chocolate Cake, Coconut Rum Pie, and Black Forest Cake to share. They were all good, the German Chocolate was my favorite and the Black Forest was tasty but I don’t like cherries. The coconut rum was good but I think not exactly what I felt like eating.
As far as service, it was ok. Things came out slowly. Sometimes we ordered drinks and had to order them again because the server didn’t bring them.
I’d like to go back on a night that I’m not exhausted, there’s live music, and when I’m in the mood for chicken schnitzel since now I’ve discovered that. I think I might appreciate it more.
Overall not bad. Like I said, I’m jumping it up a star because of everyone else’s positive experiences.

This place is super awesome. It has a a German theme to it and the vibe is that everybody drinks and talk to each other. Some of the tables are long for sharing, perfect to get to know new people. Our host was super nice, her name is Hurdi.

Potato pancakes. Seriously missed these while we were away. Get them as an app or a side, but you must have them.
We’ve been here several times and haven’t ever been let down. The wait for a seat, even on weeknights, tells you it’s a locals spot for good eats.
I suggest the two sausage meal with two sides. It’s a good mid price option that allows you to sample a couple of items from the menu in one meal. For sides I’d go for the heaven & earth mashed potatoes and spatzle with gravy. German chocolate cake is a must in a German restaurant.
Overall: A
Make reservations in advance. Order potato pancakes.

Great authentic German food. Definitely a bit of a trek from where we live, but they have great schnitzel and yummy wurts and beer! They told me reservations are 4 – 6 weeks in advance and the wait time on a weekend night can be anywhere from 30 mins to 1.5 hrs. But the food is really good and it’s a good place to do people watching.

Yet another rock solid visit! I haven’t met a person working here that wasn’t awesome to me. The bar staff rocks. The wait staff rocks. Even the host/​hostess staff are really nice.
I grew up in a part of the country with a strong German heritage (SW Ohio) and have been eating German food most of my life. This is excellent. When I had the chance to go to Germany, I was worried that it would spoil what I’d come to know of German food. Wrong.
The Willow Tree is a great experience. The beer is stunning. The food is flavorful and plentiful. The band will have you dancing (the beer helps) and partying.
I highly recommend it. We gone as a couple and in groups of almost 20 people. The best part was the service was consistent no matter how many people we brought.
Get a giant pretzel.

This place is good. Really really really good.
Let me make this simple.
Good beer, good food, good service, good prices, good atmosphere.
Do you want to feel like you’re eating something authentic? Do you like beer that doesn’t suck? You’ll love this place. Go check it out.

I’ve been looking for a good German beer garden and I found one here. The staff knows a little German and the owners can speak it fluently. The bartender knows his German beer and can pair it well with the food you order. I had the Wiener schnitzel and sauerkraut and potatoes pancakes. The schnitzel was made with veal. The sauerkraut was fresh and tasted delicious. I love the décor in the restaurant, even the people that was in the restaurant was terrific, very friendly and accommodating. If you love German food, this is a must-​eat at restaurant. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend this restaurant.

I have been here about a hundred times. I have never left hungry or disappointed. This past weekend we went for a birthday dinner. We had 20 people to be seated, although we had a wait (understandable with so many people and how busy they were) the hostess seated us sooner than what she originally told us. Our server (I wish I could remember his name) was amazing despite out half drunk crazy table. Our food came out quick and hot, and it was YUMMY. The German band sung happy birthday to the birthday not and it was great! And lastly we got a das boot and the waiter made us stand and he sang the song, it was such a good time!
Edit: our waiter had a transformer pin on his vest!

This place is so good and unlike any other restaurant in the area because of its commitment to being authentic German food. It has a cool ambiance with a quaint bar, tons of long family style tables and a few smaller tables as well.
The food is awesome! I had the Jäger Schnitzel which has an amazing gravy, we choose the veal as our protein which was very tender. I would definitely recommend this one! We had the potato pancakes as an appetizer which were heavenly and the red cabbage as a side is addicting. I loved everything we had and would definitely come again. Our waitress was so sweet, too!

I have been to Willowtree a couple of times. My first time was with a small group found the service exceptionally well. The food is about as authentic German as you can get. We went on a weeknight and the place was packed full of people, and live entertainment going on. I was so pleased during my first visit, that I booked a party of 30 for my second visit. We were celebrating my wife’s birthday, and they did a splendid job.
Just order anything on the menu, it’s going to be good. Don’t forget to try their different German beers. You have to try the gigantic pretzel that they have as an appetizer.
Definitely worth a repeat visit.

So sehen uns also die Amerikaner, ein Folk mit Lederhosen und den Schuplattler ausübend. Das Restaurant wird aber tatsächlich von einem Deutschen geführt, ist aber bei den Amerikanern dort der letzte Schrei. Allein auf amerikanischen Bewertungsseiten verfügt es über 108 durchweg sehr gute Bewertungen.
Als wir dort waren spielten 2 junge Herren auf und verwöhnten das größtenteils aus Amerikanern bestehende Publikum mit bayrischen Volksweisen. Die Stimmung war ausgelassen und man merkte, dass die amerikanische Bevölkerung doch viel Spass an dem Brauchtum unseres Freistaates hatte.
Nebenbei ist Hollerbach’s auch noch der Treffpunkt der in Sanford lebenden Deutschen.