I was able to check out the new pretzel place in Oktoberfest, Beste Brezeln und Bier (Best Pretzels and Beer), is part of the new renovations going on at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (BGW). The new pretzel shop sits in what will be MachTower’s shadow once it is completed. For my family, the announcement last year about the pretzel shop was met with as much excitement as Mach Tower, and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint.
Two entry ways lead you to the now typical food service, non-restaurant facility in BGW. Under the menu board, is the food preparation and presentation area where you order and pick up your pretzel creations. I’ll get to those creations in a moment. This area is bookended by a bank of frozen drink machines to the right and fountain drink machines on the left. On the left hand wall, is a bank of drink coolers containing bottle drinks and an ice cream cooler.
When I arrived a cue had formed for the food preparation area. However, after a quick glance around, I noticed another quick serve line that housed a “show” area for “building” some of the pretzel goodies. This area was framed by the two entry ways and the cash registers. This is also where you can choose your favorite brew and there are several to choose from. Unfortunately, as I was with the family, I took a pass on the brew this trip.
The pretzel offerings are plentiful and interesting. If you’ve been to a pretzel purveyor in a local mall, then you kind of know what’s on the menu already. Of course there are the standard salted ones and you’ll find the same dips that you’d find at the local mall joints. They also serve some nice looking pretzel dogs. I’m looking forward to trying the pizza pretzel on the next visit.
What’s different from the mall joints, are the sandwiches that are served on a pretzel roll. As it wasn’t lunchtime when we dropped in, I can only say that the sandwiches I saw looked delicious. I’m trying to figure out how to get one of those AND a sandwich. Ham and cheese on a pretzel roll sounds good and it’s a different offering from the standard park fare at BGW.
We enjoyed the traditional salted pretzel. It was served hot, golden brown. The soft pretzel wasn’t chewy or tough like some of the standard park pretzels found in other parks (and at stands in other areas of BGW – what’s up with that? Shouldn’t they be serving the home brew, so to speak?). We also got the cheese sauce dip, which provided cheese flavor and nothing else. We also picked up the cinnamon sugar pretzel nuggets and cream cheese icing. The nuggets by themselves were not too exciting, but dipped in the icing they become incredible. Move over funnel cakes, I have a new favorite sweet treat at BGW.
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Overall we were impressed with the product they’re pumping out of Beste Brezeln und Bier. I’m looking forward to experiencing the other offerings as the season moves on. If this is any indication on where the revitalization of the Oktoberfest area is going, I have to say I like the direction. Now, let’s get that Tower built!
