It’s amazing how many changes we’re seeing at Disney World, but our favorite changes are when restaurant menus get some new food because, hey, that’s MORE NEW FOOD for us to try!
The Plaza Restaurant
So when we noticed a menu change at The Plaza Restaurant, we headed back there so we could do an ALL-NEW REVIEW to try the new items! And yes, we were literally JUST THERE last month, but new food means we need to try it out so we can let you know if it’s any good!
Atmosphere
The Plaza Restaurant is a sit-down restaurant at Magic Kingdom on Main Street, U.S.A. with a LOT going on for it. The food here is straight-up comfort food favorites, and the ice cream sundaes are a huge draw (especially with The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor next door still being closed).
So here we are, checking in again at the front — just like we did a month ago.
Plaza Inn Check In
You can check out the menu outside before you go in.
There’s a new menu here!
Inside, there are two seating sections — the main dining room and the rotunda. It’s so very retro and Victorian and fits RIGHT in with the rest of Main Street, U.S.A.. One thing to note here is this restaurant is TINY. Like, she real small, guys. This spot is actually becoming trickier to score a reservation due to the small size! If you want to eat here, we recommend scoring a reservation before your trip.
Tables are spread out according to Disney World’s social distancing guidelines. The cozy dining room features tons of windows on one wall and mirrors on the other.
So cozy
Well, the view of Cinderella Castle is pretty awesome, too. So we’re already starting our meal with a fabulous view!
What a view!
The restaurant is using both QR code and paper menus. We used a paper menu to check out the beverage situation.
Beverages
But what we’re here for is the NEW food! So let’s get started!
We’re trying the new menu at The Plaza Restaurant in Magic Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/rgmJ3hqO6Z
— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) May 6, 2021
©Disney
For entrees, the Plaza Burger is now the Main Street Burger, with some notable changes. A chili-topped Impossible burger also made the menu. The Cheesesteak is gone, replaced with a similar-but-different Roast Beef Au Jus. And finally, a Fried Chicken Sandwich made the menu!
Entrees! ©Disney
For starters, we decided to try out the Seared Crab Cakes, which are served with an Apple Slaw for $10.50.
Seared Crab Cakes with Apple Slaw
The crab cakes have a nice little spicy kick and were more meat than breading (and we’re not complaining!). There was also a nice creamy sauce mixed in that added a ton of flavor! They were a little small, but for the price they were enjoyable.
Crabby!
We thought the apple slaw might be kind of a weird flavor on a crab cake, but in the end, the bit of sour apple flavor worked well with the crab cakes. And it added a nice crunch to the overall texture. Wondering what those floppy pink things are on top? They’re watermelon radish slices. They just have a nice crunch and color — they don’t add much otherwise.
This one just worked!
Then we tried the Chili, which is a Plant-based Pinto Bean Chili served with Cashew Cream and a Lime Wedge. We were actually surprised that it packed a little heat! Then when we added in the cashew cream, it was even better!
It’s a hidden Mickey….sort of.
The lime, though, seemed unnecessary and didn’t add much to the flavor. We’d rather do without it.
Chili
The chili was also VERY filling and could have been its own meal. For being a plant-based food where the “meat” is typically the star, this succeeded incredibly well! We were very satisfied with the pinto beans and other hearty chili ingredients.
So hearty!
Now on to the entrees! The Fried Chicken Sandwich is brand new, so we gave it a taste! It’s Fried Chicken Breast, Pickled Onion, Cabbage, and Spicy Mayonnaise served on a Focaccia Bun. Of the two sandwiches we got (we’ll get to that other later…), this was our favorite — and several Cast Members told us they liked it, too!
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Okay, so this sandwich is HUGE and the chicken stays crispy with each bite (no soggy chicken at the end of the meal here). The bread is nice and sturdy and the spicy mayo gives it a nice kick. Our ONLY complaint is that we would have preferred regular onions over the pickled onions. But overall, at $21, it’s a great addition to the menu.
Yum!
Finally, we dived into the Roast Beef Au Jus, which is House-cooked Roast Beef, Caramelized Onions and Peppers, Horseradish Sauce on a Toasted Sub Roll, and served with Au Jus for Dipping. For our side we went with mashed potatoes.Â
Roast Beef Au Jus
This is similar to the Cheesesteak on the menu prior. Now, we’re always in the mood for a good French Dip, but in this case, the sandwich WITHOUT the jus was kind of bland. But after dipping it, it was pretty great.
Jus
We would also totally recommend asking for an extra side of the horseradish sauce because it was SO good. Overall, this sandwich is an improvement over the Cheesesteak we’ve had here before (and is no longer on the menu). The mashed potatoes here are really nice and creamy. We’ve had them on past visits and enjoyed them again here!
That horseradish sauce is FIRE.
If you’re not a fan of French Dip sandwiches, this might not be the best pick for you (a lot of the flavor is hiding in that Au Gus). But if you’re down with a dippable sammie, you’ll likely enjoy this. The Roast Beef Au Jus is $19.Â
Nosh or Not
Hop on into this restaurant if:
- You want straightforward comfort food.
- You want that pristine Magic Kingdom dining experience — this spot FEELS like Main Street and the Castle views are killer.
- You’re looking for a cheaper sit-down meal. The prices here are on the lower end of sit-down options in this park, especially compared to the likes of Be Our Guest Restuarant or Cinderella’s Royal Table.
Skip this restaurant if:
- You want a more unique dining experience. Even with the new menu, the food here is pretty basic.
- You want a more unique atmosphere. Although the views are good, this place is pretty small and the vintage decor is more basic than other restaurants at Magic Kingdom like the much more “out there” vibes over at Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd., Skipper Canteen.
Overall
The Plaza Restaurant is one of those classics that you’ll want to dine in at least once. The nostalgic vibes here and reliable service and food keep us coming back. And if you can dine with a view of Cinderella Castle, really, what’s not to love? The vintage decor is always charming.
The food is not always outstanding, but it’s often quite good. This spot, like most, saw big menu cuts when the parks reopened last year. The new menu items have elevated it back up a notch, and we recommend trying them if you get a chance. The fried chicken sandwich is the stand-out here, but you can’t go wrong with either of the new sandwiches or the new appetizers. We’ll keep returning to Plaza for that quintessential “OMG, I’m in Disney World!” dining vibe it provides. Having some fun new menu items to nosh on certainly is a plus too!
Read Our Previous Review Of The Plaza Restaurant here!
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The food doesn’t look that good and the prices are outlandish!! Is Disney trying to make up lost revenue in one season??? Shameful! Get Chapek out of there. He’s a menace. This is quite unbelievable !
What was that ( ice cream looking item) next to your French dip? Potato salad ?