It’s my job to eat a LOT of food in Disney World.
Pizzafari Spread
Over the years of going to the parks, I’ve tried dozens and dozens of restaurants, reviewing new snacks and full menus and writing about my experience afterward. But on a recent visit to Animal Kingdom, I tried a new food item that was so bizarre, that I BEGGED my editor to let me tell you about it in full, eccentric detail.
A few weeks back, I visited Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom to do a full review of the restaurant (coming soon to the blog!). During that visit, I concluded that I enjoyed several of the restaurant’s NON-pizza offerings. So when Pizzafari added a new non-pizza item shortly after that visit, I knew I had to try it.
Pizzafari
What’s this new dish? The menu dubs it a Gnocchi Primavera — made with potato gnocchi in primavera tomato sauce and served with sliced garlic bread for $12.99. I love their Chicken Parmesan Sandwich here, and their Antipasto Salad was pretty good, so what could go wrong?
Color me intrigued!
Apparently? Nearly everything. When I walked up to the counter to pick up my Mobile Order, my jaw physically dropped as they handed me what I could only assume was a TV dinner picked straight from the frozen foods aisle at Walmart.
YUP.
Served in a little plastic tray that was still scalding hot on the bottom and topped with a piece of garlic bread, I was suddenly very wary of my choices and increasingly nervous about the dish in front of me. And lo and behold, it was EXACTLY as underwhelming as my eyes expected.
Pasta….??
The sauce was incredibly sweet and tasted mostly like sugared tomato paste. There were some undercooked chunks of tomato, pepper, and onion throughout that required vigorous chewing. The gnocchi itself was actually my favorite part, but it was overcooked and a smidge too soft. The cheese on top was chewy and bland and didn’t do much to tie it all together.
This poor, sad little pasta.
The garlic bread wasn’t bad at all though, and I actually wouldn’t mind if they started serving this as a side to some of the pizzas here. It was basically the same as a pre-made Texas Toast…again, from the freezer section at Walmart.
Garlic Bread
When I first sent in the menu photo of the gnocchi, I was optimistic. My editor told me that there was no way it could be good, and I let my newly acquired hope for Pizzafari blind me. In the end, I was left eating my words, and my pasta, in shame.
Pictures can be deceiving.
Ultimately, I don’t recommend this dish unless frozen pasta TV dinners are your jam. If that’s the case, by all means, go to town! But I promise you, there are more enticing and intriguing foods nearby in Animal Kingdom — ones that won’t leave you questioning why you spent 2.5x the price on something you can get at the grocery store.
Pizzafari, you still have a place in my heart. I’ll be back for my beloved Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, but for now, I’ve learned my lesson about trusting your menu photos.
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With everything available at Animal Kingdom, Pizzafari is generally the lowest of the low. Flame Tree is way better and near to this “restaurant” specializing in microwaved dishes. If you have a picky eater, get their frozen meal here and walk over to Flame Tree. I also enjoy the cheese burger puffs in Pandora.
I appreciate your taking the but for this awful meal so we won’t! Also, I’m pretty sure I would have returned it for something else, not sure AK handles, but Disneyland is awesome about it. As long someone is nice and respectful when making the request. Thanks again for your good courage!
Normally, I would recommend Nomad Lounge for lunch. But since it’s already way too hard to get in, I recommend you stay away from Nomad Lounge.
I’m so glad you reviewed this. I’m an Annual Pass Floridian and this was going to be my choice next time we go. Thanks for taking one for the team and saving my money.
I had always heard RAVE reviews about the Roast Beef sandwich at Beaches & Cream. My husband and I went there (my first visit) for lunch and I ordered the sandwich (he ordered something else). When it arrived at our table, I took one look and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I ignored by eyes and took a bite. To my horror, the “roast beef” turned out to be Steak-Ums!!!! My husband didn’t believe me until he took a bite (he loves Steak-Ums)! Needless to say, I didn’t eat my sandwich! I got the feeling that there may have been a “supply issue” and Steak-Ums was a back-up and hope that no one noticed! I hate them, so I knew just looking at it! I get it if you didn’t get the supplies, but at least be honest and tell people!!!!