The Willow Tree Cafe in Cherwell

Probably my favorite all round restaurant! The one place that I would chose if I could only choose one.

Always a favorite place of mine for a great meal, comfortable environment, and friendly faces! I always recommend this place to friends!!

Reasonable prices, great German food and atmosphere

Everyone was very nice and relaxed. Food was great deserts were even better. Definitely worh our 1 hour drive each way. Going back for his birthday

Great place for German food with many German beers on tap.

My mom and aunt made reservations for my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Invitations went out and dozens of people were planning on going to the party. The restaurant emailed and cancelled the reservation due to an “internal conflict”. We know there was no “internal conflict” but rather scummy people running the restaurant. The restaurant said they could move the reservation to 7pm. It’s a 90 year olds birthday party, 7pm isn’t going to work. You should move your “internal conflict” to 7pm. Shame on you. I grew up in Sanford and have never been to this place. After this, I don’t plan on ever going.

My family booked to have my grandmother's 90th birthday at the restaurant months in advanced. We have just been told that they are cancelling our reservation because they double booked us with an "internal event". . Invitations have been sent, people have rsvp'ed and have even made travel arrangements. Very disappointed by their customer service.

Hidden gem! I’m in town for work and heard from 4 different people I had to eat here. They were not wrong. The food was unique and incredible. Service was fast and friendly. I would go out of my way to eat here again. Great job!!

Went with 7 family members and had a great time, our server was so knowledgeable about the origins of the restaurant and the food. Everyone got a different dish and shared a bite with everyone. Several had different beers that were hits. The children had house made root beer and peach iced tea. After dinner we walked their shop around the corner where we picked up various desserts and German candies. Fun time in historic Sanford, Fl.

I sit here in this caricature of Bavaria, separating from reality into this little bubble of peace, with a soundtrack of alphorns and accordions. Tomorrow life resumes but for tonight, right now, God is in his heaven and all is right with the world.

My wife is German and she thinks the food is great and like hime

After reserving with Sebastian, the event manager at Hollerbach’s German Restaurant, we secured with a credit card, a day and time for our mother’s 90th birthday party upstairs in their Biergarten Room. Many weeks later, after invitations were sent and invitees made flight and hotel reservations, Sebastian emailed that Hollerbach’s was cancelling their reservation with us due to an “internally planned event.” Apparently, their commitment to their patrons is not a priority.

We recently hosted our son's rehearsal dinner and were absolutely thrilled with the experience! The venue was perfect for our large group, the food was outstanding. We definitely had a great time - the room decor and style was fantastic, the food was amazing and the service was great. Our guests raved about the environment and delicious food, and how special the evening felt; we couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate this momentous occasion. To All who worked so hard to make it happen (Chef Pat, Sebastian, Rosanna and Megan), thank you!

Nice place but the food was so salty not sure if I would go again.

The food is good and don’t pass up on the bee sting cake! Get dessert!

Harley was so kind and helpful. we loved her

Totally fun place for great food and drinks

Authentic German experience! This restaurant has been a local favorite of Sanford forever because it's just that good! Over the years they've expanded to include a market, a couple of lounges, and retail, and they are all fantastic! Plus the outside location is perfect on a beautiful day! Traditional long hall style tables, staff in authentic clothing, cultural decor and media, and often live music. Last night we saw a table do the shotski!! The time before a table did the boot! It's just so much fun! Prost!

I and a few family members decided to dine here for the first time and overall we enjoyed it. We were placed at a table with another group which wasn't the best because things were somewhat crowded. I ordered the schnitzel, with the red cabbage and potato pancakes and i thought everything was pretty good overall. The potato pancakes were my favorite part of the meal since they were well seasoned and tasted really good. The red cabbage was good but I probably wouldn't order it again because it was a little overwhelming in taste. The schnitzel wasn't bad, it wasn't seasoned however honey mustard was provided so that definitely helped.

Food was delicious but it’s definitely overpriced! Their deserts are good. Their servers are not nice, our server was so rude, and I was not even finished with my food when she handed me the check also, she came back 2 seconds later asking for my card, she was rushing me out. It was not pleasant at all. I do not recommend.

The atmosphere, staff were Wonderful, and The Food was Amazing!! Prost!!🍻

I would bet that at least 25% of the patrons that dine there are veterans that more than likely were stationed in 🇩🇪 Germany. I think that Hollerbachs should honor and show their appreciation for those eating there by offering a veteran's discount. That said, I'll still go there.

All things Bavarian/German style here, the food, beer, live entertainment, and all are great. A true staple and must visit place when in the Sanford area.

Excellent service and the food is outstanding worth the stop !!

Got there just before the dinner rush on a Saturday. We were 6, got seated immediately, service was quick. Food was amazing,

Fantastic place to Celebrate early New Year's! ( Germany time) Not crazy about the abbreviated menu on days like this especially because they ran out of chicken. But food is exceptional and best atmosphere of any German restaurant in Central Florida. Fantastic selection of German beer.

Fantastic food! Awesome service!

Miggey is the BEST! We had several delays (thank you Allegiant). She entertained us for hours, service was fast and incredible. Can’t thank her enough! Gooooo Miggey GO!!

Limited uninspired menu offerings. Quality reminiscent of hospital fare.

All I can say is Oy,Oy,Oy! It will make sense when you go.

Authentic German food, great atmosphere, friendly service, good beer. So happy with this place. Definitely want to come back again and again. I've come here time and time again, amazing every time.

Always a great meal and Amazing service!

Excellent lunch! Goulash was amazing

It is an authentic German restaurant. There was a queue at their main location, but the adjacent one offers the same menu and operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. The waiter kindly directed me there. I loved how the menu was designed like a newspaper, featuring the history of the food and German traditions. I started with potato pancakes and Cajun. The potato pancakes, served with apple sauce and sour cream, had an interesting twist. Choosing a dessert was tough, but I went with the bee sting cake. Absolutely loved the ambience and the overall vibe! 🇩🇪

Always a great experience here with delicious food. We had the pretzel, many beers, the jagerschnitzel and pork knuckle. Anything on the menu is always a good choice

I love this restaurant. Authentic German food, drink and music. Prost!. Servers are friendly and helpful. Thanks, Jason! Best Weiner Schnitzel on the planet ( ok, maybe just on this continent) but I love it! 6 years in Germany so I know.

casuual with late entertainment live

The pork 'wings ' were a total disappointment. The texture was nice and crispy but the pork had been over boiled before being fried. Absolutely tasteless. The brat was no different from a store bought one. Bread was highly satisfactory. I'd go back to just order bread and maybe bean soup, nothing else!

Fun place to eat. It's an experience!

If you are looking for German food with a German atmosphere, this is the place. This place is usually busy, mostly crowded and sometimes packed with a waiting line. Today it was just busy and we got a table right away. Our waitress came to the table quickly and got our drink orders. The drinks came quickly. We ordered a Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, a pork Schnitzel Sandwich, The Reubenstein and 2 of The Famous Willow Tree Chicken Salad Croissants. All came out prepared, cooked and presented nicely. All were tasty and were good portions. After the meal we ordered a Coconut Raspberry Cake as a birthday treat and they included a candle. The bill did not suggest any tip so you calculate a tip however you want. (Which is how it should be done). There was entertainment this afternoon as well, a small German duo (Gemütlichkeit mit Nick und Eckhard) singing typical German festive songs and of course ending with Zicke Zacke Hoi Hoi Hoi.

I will be back every chance I get.

Never had a had meal. The german chocolet is devine.

One of my favorite restaurants! A wonderful way to celebrate one another and German food and music.

Excellent and authentic German food. Highly recommend.

Love this place! We've been many many times. 10/10 recommend

This was probably our 10th visit and usually it's a great experience. However last night we visited the upstairs patio for the first time. Most of what they offer to eat up there was not available and what they did serve was not what the menu advertised. So, to spend 80.00 on a few pieces of meat and bread, a couple of small pretzels with a little dollop of cheese was not worth it. Very disappointing after having such great food there in the past.

When you can’t go to Germany for Sunday dinner, there’s only one choice in Central Florida: Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe in Sanford. It’s about as close as one could get to being in Deutschland, and, to be frank, a heck of a lot warmer this time of year. I started off with a pint of the Erdinger Dunkel, a delightfully drinkable dark beer straight from the Mother Land. My wife and my step daughter devoured an appetizer of potato pancakes and applesauce. By then, our mains had arrived, and it was time to get serious. My wife ordered the Chicken Schnitzel Sandwich, my step daughter chose the Kleines Schnitzel, and I went with the Wegan Teller, their vegan version of a bratwurst plate. It included two Beyond sausages, red cabbage, and fries. Two thumbs up from each of us The first beer went down so easily that it was time for another, but this time I ordered the Köstritze Schwarzbier in the one liter stein. It too was light and refreshing, and nowhere near as heavy as its appearance might suggest. Two musicians provided an air of authenticity, while wait staff in Bavarian fashion completed the “eatertainment” atmosphere. I don’t know if Germans would find this all to be the real deal, or an Americanized interpretation. I say that only because I live near the Big Texan in Amarillo, which does much the same but with an old west theme. It’s all good, though, and based on the crowd, no one cared. We didn’t either. This is a treat for us, and we will be back many times, as we have before.

Emily at this establishment is excellent server, we greeted with big welcoming smile and we got excellent service. Thank You

They have never disappointed in the 15+ years I have been going there

Great authentic German food in the beautiful downtown of Sanford. Very good service.

It was a fantastic experience and atmosphere. The food is good too!

Coming back to the US after living in Germany, i have to say that this was the closest that i felt like being home. The food was really decent and the atmosphere was amazing! Will come back for sure!

I've been coming here for years and though I come for the great food, The service has gone all way down. I reserved a table for 2 at 6-630....They don't know where we are. Telling me every 10 mins (Were still trying to figure it out) Not once but this has happened twice. Hollerbachs....Figure out a better reservation. Needless to say I walked away steaming. Great job guys.

This place is always top! Go wearing your lederhosen for a great time!

Amazing food! Wonderful staff! Best German food I've had in the Southeast United States. If the place is crowded; trust me it's worth the wait.

Great German restaurant with live(?) music. Played through a TV but I think it was live. Service was quality and the food is amazing. The flatbread is my favorite. Beer selection is more diverse than typical restaurants

Love this place. The staff is fun and helpful with the menu

The best (maybe the only) authentic German restaurant around Orlando.

Good ambience, drinks are good.

We had a great time and the food was delicious.

I'm sure it applies to most but not to me, nothing wrong just not my type of food ....enjoy

Great food and experience as usual!

Great food , service , beer and definitely try the Gluwein

Attended a work lunch, food came out quickly and was good, service was great.

Wife, son, and me for dinner on a Sunday evening. She had Sauerbraten, son a sausage dish and me Jager Schnitzel. She thought hers to salty, the others excellent. Sat at bar cause actual restaurant had long wait. Had large pretzel appetizer, excellent. Each had two medium beers, think half liter at $9.00 each. Have been before and will return. Cannot speak to non German food on menu. Recommend without reservation if you like German food served in German atmosphere.

It was ok, not the best food but good workers with smiles on their faces. For me that's a plus

Great food! Amazing and fast service. The staff is so friendly and helpful. Be sure to check out the lunch menu

The food and service was outstanding as always

We live in Virginia, and every time we go down to Florida we stop there. It's the best German restaurant outside of Germany!

Awesome food and service; worth the 2 hour drive from Jacksonville! The Kings Feast is Da Bomb! And my wife can't leave without a piece of Black Forest chocolate cake (I'm diabetic so none for me 8^( Consistently amazing food over a span of years is a rare pleasure and we find it here at Hollerbach's!

The food here is too delicious! Tastes like home - makes us miss Germany a little less since the food is so authentic. My favorite dish so far has been the Goulash or the Jager Schnitzel with the mashed potatoes vs the fries. If you're unsure of the mashed potatoes bc it has apples, bacon, and more (trust me - it will be the best mash you've ever tasted.) The mash doesn't even need sauce it's so good. If you want something simple for an appetizer you have to get the potato cakes with applesauce - so yummy!! It's like a great crunchy/soft hasbrown with a beautiful fresh applesauce. Yum! The drinks and desserts are amazing I honestly could not pick a favorite. This place needs to be on your "want to visit" list if you enjoy simple yet tasty meals.

We were not able to order due to them not having what we wanted. We had coffee and a drink and left. Go early when they have what's on the menu.

Food tasted authentic. Service was great

My favorite restaurant outside of Germany.

I have been wanting to try this place for some time however it's like 1.5 hrs away. I decided to make the trip as they were having a special Krampus celebration. So happy I did! I arrived for the lunch menu which is served until 5 and there was plenty of seating. Later that night they were packed and a line outside the door! I had the Kleins Weiner Schnitzel for $14.99. It comes with a Lightly-breaded, pan-fried pork or chicken - with Pommes Frites and Gasthaus Salat (Add any Schnitzel topping for $4. I chose the pork and it was delicious. I'm not sure if the portion size was for lunch. A bit small yet delicious! As for the salat, not my thing! The dressing was good however sparse only on the cucumbers. The salad itself reminded me of eating weeds! In addition I ordered a Weisswurst Lightly-seasoned, finely-ground grilled veal sausage with parsley. A Bavarian Spezialität! You can add ANY wurst to a meal for $5 and this one intrigued me! Although tasty I'd say the parsley was a bit too much. In addition I tried two different beers. I have never had a Dopplebock and they had 2 to choose from. I asked the server which was most popular of the two and requested the Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock Paulaner Salvator Doppelbock beer from Munich is being served on draft for the first time ever in Florida! Doppelbock (double-Bock) is a full-bodied, extra-strong beer style originally made by monks in Munich. Paulaner has been brewing Salvator "The Father of all double-bocks" for over 375 years. PROST!! I don't think I was served the correct beer however it was good and I didn't say anything. I may have asked but of all the servers mine was clearly the busiest working the entire dining area. I had to rate the service a little lower however when the server was available she was friendly and helpful. She just sermed to be working more of the dining room than other servers! All in all a great experience especially with the addition of the Krampus event! I've included a picture of one of the bartenders. Please note this is NOT their normal look but several of the staff dressed appropriately for the event. Oh and BTW the special Krampus Bier was AMAZING! Ask if it's still available. All in all I enjoyed it and will be back!

Sauerbraten, pickled cabbage, and potatoes. The most legit German spot in the southeast!

Always a wunderbar experience We truly love this place.

It's simply a fun place to go, and the food is amazing.

Great Authentic German experience

Superior service and authentic German dishes! It’s worth the drive for us to spend an enjoyable lunch or dinner at this special restaurant in Sanford, Florida.

I love this resturant, everytime I come to town, I stop in to eat here and grab a few bottles of wine. I had the pork shank and fries and German chocolate cake for desert

The atmosphere is amazing, we always have such a wonderful time every time we visit. Whenever we have company, we love to come here.

We ate in the bar area and the atmosphere was great! Amazing selection of German beers. The Helles was delish! Of course we had to try their potato pancakes, which i highly recommend. We also had their vegetable spaetzle and the cheese one, both were great. If you like German food it is a must stop.

Authentic food and atmosphere. We go there often.

My husband and I took a day trip to Sanford and Winter Park. Our first stop was a long awaited return visit to Hollerbach's German Restaurant. We started with beers. Each of us had a litre of Köstritzer Schwarzbier. The couple next to us inquired about the beer. We explained the taste to them upon which our waiter, Christian, offered them a sample. They enjoyed it as well. My husband ordered the pork Jägerschnitzel with red cabbage and Spätzle. He said that it was so flavorful and reminded him of the time he spent in Germany while in the army. Though it's hard to pass up the Jägerschnitzel, I chose to go with the three wurst platter. My choices were German bratwurst, knockwurst, and nuremberger sausage. My sides were red cabbage, Spätzle, and Hollerbach's famous heaven and earth potatoes. Everything was absolutely delicious. We have never been disappointed with Hollerbach's. Our waiter, Christian, was terrific! He was very kind and came back often to check on us. It goes without saying, but we will definitely be back. Now that we live in Florida, we won't have to wait so long to return.

My Son got Married that afternoon at Chess park in DeLand in an amazing ceremony, the Reception was afterwards at Hollerbach's and it was a wonderful finish to a very Blessed Day!! 🥰

We went there the other day. We had sauerbraten, red cabbage, and spetzle. The gravy and taste and tenderness of the meat were excellent. We also had potato pancakes. They were tasty as well. Not the best I've had but okay.

I've been here multiple times and plan on going back everytime I go through Sanford

Food was great. Great experience

We went to the bar they had on the side and loved it. Paul was our waiter/bartender, and he was a delight. He answered any questions we had, chatted with us, and made us feel welcomed. They have a TV in the bar for when the musical acts perform next door. If you think their main hall is busy, then I would recommend this area or try a spot on their 2nd floor. The food is also great, with plenty of options. The desserts are the best, though. My wife goes out of her way to get dessert here, and the Bee Sting and German Chocolate are always a hit. I'm definitely coming back and recommend it to anyone on the fence about it.

Great time, especially their Oktoberfest! Fair prices...yes a little expensive, but cheaper than a trip to Germany. And the food and beer are authentic. Also a great stop at the side bar for a quick beer after Jury duty.

Very disappointed with the food and drink this visit. Beer was flat, food was very bland. Service was only OK. I had the eisbein which was cooked to perfection but had no seasoning and was tasteless. My wife had a Jager Schnitzel and that was also very bland.

We have been to this restaurant several times. The food is delicious and the service is great.

Sat at the bar. Great service. Helpful fun bartender had the Bierkuchen for dessert . Best dessert ever,especially if your a fan of Terramisu!!! Love this place !

We had such a great experience this Sunday afternoon. Our server, Heinz, was fantastic!! My daughter has been learning German over the last few months and Heinz made it so special by speaking to her in German! The music was so fun and really made the atmosphere A+!! To top it off the food was so delicious! Service was prompt and everything about our experience made us want to return.

I've been here a couple of times and always had great service and great food.

Fun accross generations. Great food and music. Check for times and reserve 24 hours in advance.

Delicious authentic German food and drinks. Great atmosphere and amazing, friendly service.

I never had sausage that was as greasy and tasteless as the German sausage here. I expected a lot more for the price.

Sometimes I wish I was German! Weisswurst should be on all American grocery store fridges!!!