Please welcome back DFB Guest Author Joey Beyer with a review of lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom. Home to fried cheese, delicious burgers, and memorable desserts!
On my latest visit to Walt Disney World, I had the opportunity to return to the Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch. I first visited here back in March, after reading the DFB’s Best Burger’s post, and saw that Liberty Tree was on the list.
The restaurant is very unassuming, and is located in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom. It fits in perfectly with the theme of the land. The Liberty Tree itself has a fascinating story, which I encourage any interested parties to seek out!
Atmosphere
The restaurant is organized into multiple different rooms, each of which is themed to a different American historical figure (e.g. Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross, George Washington, Ben Franklin, etc).
George Washington Room
Benjamin Franklin Room
All of the rooms are cozy, and are filled with random pictures, books, and anything else that is prudent to the person being represented, and consistent with the overall colonial theme.
Liberty Tree Tavern Tables
Kite in Ben Franklin Room
Eats
We chose to begin our meal with the Tavern Fried Cheese, which is code for mozzarella sticks. I mention this because there are some restaurants that I have been to that actually serve a large piece of cheese that is fried, and also call it fried cheese. That is what I was expecting the first time I ordered this appetizer.
That being said, the fried cheese is delicious. So delicious, in fact, that I completely forgot to snap a picture before it was expeditiously gobbled up by my dining partners and me.
Tavern Fried Cheese was once the larger portion size that is pictured
The order includes five mozzarella sticks, total (Editor’s Note: the photo above is from before the serving was cut down and they still offered the fried cheese curds as well. The cheese sticks are still the same.). The breading on them is thin and crisp, and they are filled with an abundant amount of delicious cheese.
In my opinion they are a little pricey, but there is no arguing the fact that the fried cheese is delicious.
When we finished the cheese, it was time for entrees! First up was the Colony Salad, which is a grilled chicken salad with dried cranberries, apples, pecans, and applewood smoked cheddar cheese. The salad is served with honey shallot vinaigrette.
Colony Salad
This salad has a lot going on, but it really blends well together. I love the different textures, especially the crunch of the pecans and crispiness of the apples. The grilled chicken is fairly standard and not overly seasoned one way or another. The dressing does add a nice sweetness to the salad. I would not call it subtle, but it is definitely not overpowering either. It ends up mixing perfectly with the panoply of flavors that are present here.
Although it is hard to tell in the picture, you really do get a generous portion of chicken. I would almost argue that you do not get enough lettuce to adequately mix all of the toppings.
I chose to partake in The Liberty Boys BLT. When I ordered this, our server proceeded to warn me that the bacon aspect was thick sliced, pork belly-like, bacon. That is what I assumed from the description, but I could see how people might not infer that and be very surprised when this sandwich shows up!
The Liberty Boys BLT
Look at how thick and fatty that “bacon” is! This sandwich was very tasty, but it was hard not to feel guilty eating it, because it was quite fatty. The mushroom mayonnaise spread adds creaminess, and compliments the hint of sweetness that is present in the bread. The caramelized shallots also add to this sweetness.
I did not find the sandwich to be too sweet, but I could see that being a complaint some people might have. One other tip would be to leave the toothpicks in as long as you can. This sandwich falls apart very easily, and I found that out the hard way.
The Liberty Boys BLT Close Up
I opted for the fruit cup instead of fries since I knew I would already feel guilty enough eating the thick slices of bacon. I was very pleased with the fruit cup. It was a nice compliment to the BLT, and the fruit was very fresh. Although I must admit, I could have used a little more!
One of my other dining companions decided to go with the Angus Chuck Cheeseburger, which is pictured here with bacon and cheddar cheese. This burger is also offered with mushrooms and provolone.
I actually first went to the Liberty Tree Tavern lunch for this burger back in March, since it was featured in a DFB best burgers post.
Angus Chuck Cheeseburger
I do love a tasty burger, but I often do not get them at Disney because there are so many other options unless they are highly recommended. This burger is definitely outstanding. The flavor is robust, and while I have not had it plain, I think it would be delicious that way (I do not normally order my burgers with cheese).
The fries are crispy, and quite tasty. They are akin to steak fries, but not quite the same. I am not going to say a whole lot about the topping choices for the burger, because they are pretty standard and true to form. Provolone and mushrooms are my preferred choice, and I felt those toppings were nothing out of the ordinary. They are still tasty though!
The next dish we tried was the Freedom Pasta. This was my second time sampling this dish, and it is very rich. I enjoy it, but when they say cream sauce, they mean cream sauce.
The chunks of chicken are very tender, and not seasoned in any particular way. Or, if they are, the cream sauce drowns it out. The mushrooms and vegetables have been very fresh in my experiences with the dish.
Freedom Pasta at Liberty Tree Tavern
My only qualm with this entrée is that the pasta is not what I would call al dente. I find it to be a bit on the overcooked side. I do tend to prefer my pasta to be a little on the stiff side, but I do not think I am being overtly biased here. However, I do believe this is how they intend to serve it and not poor preparation. This probably is not a problem for most, but if you enjoy your pasta truly al dente, I would request it that way.
For dessert, I would be remiss in my duties as a Disney food fan if I did not order the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. If nothing else, Liberty Tree Tavern lunch is all worth it just for this dessert.
It is a piece of vanilla cake full of toffee chips, and has a caramel sauce drizzled on top of it. Naturally it comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, which is a perfect compliment to the warm and indeed gooey cake.
Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom
One of the many great things about this dessert is that the toffee and the cake itself share the flavor evenly, while the caramel drizzle adds a nice subtle contrast. It is hard to describe the texture as anything but ooey gooey.
Also, one member of our party chose to order a Patriot’s Punch to drink. On my initial visit, our server offered to include a scoop of vanilla ice cream into the beverage. This is the only way I have experienced this beverage, and it essentially tastes like you are drinking an orange dreamsicle, which I am a huge fan of.
The drink does not come with the ice cream though, so you will have to be sure to ask for it. You also get one of the awesome Liberty Tree Tavern mugs to take home with you! Note that flavors may change for various holidays.
Patriot's Punch
Overall
After having two consecutive great meals at the Liberty Tree Tavern, I highly recommend visiting here for lunch. The menu is diverse, with something for all tastes — and it certainly does not hurt that the price point is also pretty reasonable for a table service restaurant.
Liberty Tree is also thematically very immersive, which is really the icing on the cake for what has proven to be a consistently great dining experience.
Joey Beyer is a full time medical student in Illinois, and avid fan of all things Disney and food related. His first visit to Walt Disney World was at the age of two, and he hopes to eventually move to central Florida to be closer to the magic.
What’s your favorite lunch item at Liberty Tree Tavern? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to check out our Liberty Tree Tavern dinner review here!
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Great article, can’t wait to try on my next trip.
Has anyway seen or tried the veg burger at LTT?
The blt looks horrible. Where is the tomato and they use shredded lettuce? The bread is all wrong. In my opinion, this is not a blt but a pork belly sandwich, and should be labelled as such. Can you imagine being a wait person there and having to explain this mess to every person who orders a blt?
Thanks to my hometown of St. Louis for introducing the world to gooey butter cake! ….which led to Disney’s Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake!
Tip: if you remove the chocolate chips & tofffee pieces in the topping and mix in a can of pumpkin with a large dash of cinnamon instead….it makes a wonderful fall dessert!
I love the Colony salad at Liberty Tree, I’ve had it a couple of times now an it never disappoints and it always fills me up. As noted by the reviewer there is a lot going on there but the mix works, I can’t wait to try it again. My daughter always has the Pilgrim’s Platter at lunch (which always looks to me like it could do with an extra veggie side but since she’s not keen on veggies it suits her fine.) Have to admit that having seen it, the BLT would be a long way down my list of dishes to order. =S
To be honest we were a bit disappointed with the ooey gooey cake, it was pretty dry and tasteless but maybe we just got a bad batch … Guess that means we *have* to order it again to see, huh? =)
I love the pot roast. It is tender and flavorful and, at least as of last time I had it, served with real mashed potatoes that are very good. I’m not a big fan of the cake, I think it is just OK. I’ve had some fabulous ooey gooey butter cake and I just don’t think the LTT version stands up.
May I please have clarification on the difference between fried mozzarella sticks and cheese that is fried? Do you mean how most restaurants usually heat up pre-packaged fried mozzarella sticks as opposed to frying cheese to order?
I love LTT for dinner – I may have to try lunch now!
Kevin M – I think he’s referring to the fried cheese at 50s PrimeTime, which is a small round of soft cheese that is fried whole then eaten spread on crackers or fruit. Man, I need some fried cheese now…;)
Thanks so much for all the comments everyone! It really means the world to me to get feedback and hear your stories.
Eeyore – I do not really know why they call it a BLT either. The description is pretty clear on the menu that it is different, but I could see people just assuming it is a standard BLT. The bread was really very good though.
Rune and Diane: I’m sorry to hear you did not like the Ooey Gooey Cake! 🙁 It has never been dry when I have had it, but I may have just gotten lucky.
Kevin – I was referring to how some restaurants, usually italian (none that I can think of offhand in Disney) will offer fried cheese and it is a large slab of cheese. Probably about a 6″x9″ rectangle of fried cheesy goodness. It may just be my own bias of not thinking of mozzarella sticks as “fried cheese” even though that is really what they are. I assume the cheese at LTT is fried to order, but I did not ask. I hope that helps! If not feel free to contact me. 🙂
Janna – You definitely should try lunch! If nothing else, they have a traditional Thanksgiving meal platter that you can get at lunch in case nothing else sounds appetizing. Or if there are some family members that do not want that, it gives them other less hearty options. I am always a fan of the late lunch ADR for cheaper prices and a break from heat and crowds at their peak.
Thank you so much. We always wanted to try it but kept avoiding. Next time we get a chance we will go. It looks like a good option in mk
LLT is one of my favorite restaurants. I always get the Pilgrim’s Feast. The one thing that I don’t get about it is that it doesn’t include cranberry sauce. You can get cranberry sauce if you ask for it. In my opinion it should come with the dish.
This is one of the only (public) places on Disney property I have never set foot. Your review made the food appealing but I still don’t feel like this is a place where I must eat. The setting is like me of the many inn/resteraunts where I live. The menu seems just a little boring. Maybe I’ll eat here one day, but its a “not yet” for me.
Thanks for the review.
I’m very disappointed that the tavern fried cheese has shrunk and that the fried cheese curds have been removed. It was something kind of special, and now it is just the same appetizer you can get in almost every sports bar in North America.
The salad looks delish, though!
We have been EXTREME fans of the fried cheese at LTT since 1997. Our last visit was this past October and we ordered two servings (1 per person) expecting what we craved for. The waiter did not mention that the order had eliminated the fried cheese curds and would only included the Mozzarella sticks. Applebees serves better fried cheese stick, if you catch my disappointment. We were sorely disappointed in the menu change and asked to speak to the chef. When he arrived, he acted as though this menu item was all he had ever known. He seemed unaware of the fried cheese curds which had been fabulous!
He claimed to have been the chef for the past year and had never heard of the little cheese balls of greatness.
No offer of “I’m sorry you were not happy with your meal” nor even an offer to reduce the bill.
We once dreamed of a walk up window where you could order the fried cheese as a snack…
With this menu change, we find no reason to eat lunch at LTT again.
🙁
Haley – Joe tried the veg burger back in April 2012. He says it was ok, but a little mushy.
I had the pot roast and really, really liked it. I thought it might be a bit much for lunch, but the beef was soooo tender and the mashed potatoes were super creamy.
Pardonmyfrench – Let us know what you think when you try it!
JoAnn – I totally agree! Cranberry sauce should be a “no brainer”.
GallopingGourmand – It definitely is nothing fancy like Artist Point or Citricos; nor is LTT exotic like what you might find at Sanaa. It is definitely a solid choice if you have a craving for well prepared American fare. I can definitely see where you are coming from.
Fefsofdl – I am so sorry to hear about that experience! I agree that the fried cheese is unfortunate, especially since the menu is somewhat lacking in terms of other appetizers. I do enjoy a lot of the entrees, but it would be great to see something a bit more inventive than a cheese stick on the menu as “fried cheese”.
The vegetable pot pie they used to have at lunch was my favorite dish on property – I was so bummed when they took it off the menu last year. I really enjoyed the Johnny Appleseed cake I had this year, though (white cake with Craisins and apples).
The LTT’s glass mugs are one of the best souvenir values at WDW; a steal at $5.00 and very sturdy. I use them for my everyday glasses at home.
Melissa – Great point! I really should have played up the value of the mugs more. It is such a great souvenir, and the picture on the other side is awesome!
thanks for the review..added it to my MUST DO’s this coming sept!
I worked at the LTT back in Summer 2000, and then seasonally for a couple of years. I miss it SO much!! I’m sad to see that the menu has changed as much as it has. I especially miss the Benedict Arnold Sandwich and the Fried Poundcake!!