Restaurants near Cole Park

I first ate at the Bavarian Inn in spring 1980 while on a 1-day field trip with my high school German class. I' didn't make it back again until 2012, but this is now my 4th time back since then, and first time since 2019. I can't manage an all-you-can-eat chicken dinner anymore, so I ordered the sauerbraten dinner. Started with white/fruit bread, 4 salads (chicken, carrot, cranberry-apple, and cole slaw), and chicken noodle soup. The dozen slices of sauerbraten came on a large metal platter with 3 potato puffs and 3 sides (sauerkraut, noodles with breadcrumbs, and squash). Dessert was a dish of vanilla soft-serve ice cream. I also got a 22 oz mug of homemade root beer. Everything was excellent, as usual. I sat in the Bavarian Room, which has murals of Grimm's fairy tale scenes painted on every wall (I have the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves corner). Service was great, I had plenty of time to eat everything. A family with 2 small kids was at a nearby booth and their waitress was doing a great job. I made reservations for 4:15 PM on a weekday to beat the rush. The Bavarian Inn is one of the 3 reasons to come to Frankenmuth (the other 2 are Zehnder's and the fudge), and has never disappointed. Between the Bavarian Inn and Zehnder's, I prefer the Bavarian Inn, mostly because they have many more German dishes on their menu. $32 meal, $7 root beer, excellent value. Will eat here at least once more before my vacation is over.

I purposely made reservations for a 4 PM weekday to beat the rush (have eaten here multiple times in the last 13 years). Five minutes from check-in to being seated. I got the all-you-can-eat chicken dinner, which has breads/salads/chicken noodle soup as appetizers, and mashed potatoes/gravy/stuffing/boiled carrots and onions/egg noodles with breadcrumbs as sides. Even though I had not eaten for 24 hours, I still could not finish the last of the 3 pieces of chicken. I did eat the dish of chocolate ice cream for dessert :-) They still put a plastic animal on the ice cream, even though I am a grown-up. The blue camel will join the giraffe and others collected over the years. Service was great, waitress was personable, answered questions about the town. Zehnder's is justly famous, one of the three things to come to Frankenmuth for (the Bavarian Inn and the fudge are the other two). I am here for a week of vacation, no doubt will eat there again at least once.

Thad was a great server. Very attentive and knowledgeable. He needs a raise in his salary.

great service, friendly and efficient. we had the schnitzel and the Austrian goulash, both were excellent.

Build your own charcuterie board was great. Highly recommend the brie, smoked gouda, bread and butter pickles, prosciutto, and fig jam. Cocktails and wine were outstanding.