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Category: Table-Service

Tables in Wonderland: February 2012 Special Event

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Tables in Wonderland

has announced a special event for February!

The Wave Discovery Dinner

Location:

Disney’s Contemporary Resort; Meet at The Wave Main Podium
Date and Time: Thursday, February 16, 2012
6:30 p.m. Reception; 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Dress Code: Casual Evening Attire
Cost: $110.00 per person. Tax and gratuity included.

click image for larger version

Thomas Gaines has been in the wine industry almost 20 years. He currently overseas sales and marketing for Southern Starz Imports in 13 markets across America and the Caribbean and is a key component to their success in bringing amazing wines from Southern Hemisphere to the US markets. Many items are from producers ranging in size of 3,000 cases up to 50,000 cases in production and were not [Read more…]

Raglan Road News! St. Patrick’s Day, Gluten Free Food, and More…

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Learn About:Raglan Road Irish Pub
Disney Springs
Disney World Restaurants

Downtown Disney’s Raglan Road has announced Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day events. There also new gluten-free items on the menu and a fun, professional photo opportunity!

Gluten Free Eats

Raglan Road has added gluten-free dishes to their menu including Scallops, Fish & Chips, and Calamari & Pasta. To create a light and crisp batter that is also delicious, the culinary team devised a gluten fee batter mix made with Champagne and garbanzo flour!

Gluten Free Fish and Chips

Raglan Road invites all guests with a special diet to talk to a server about menu items that are available for modification to meet various nutritional needs.

Valentine’s Day

Head over to Raglan Road’s Facebook page (I’m a fan!!) and become a fan to be entered to win a [Read more…]

Disney Food for Families: Fun Without Characters

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When first-time families think of dining at Walt Disney World, the main thing that comes to mind for fun is character meals. After that, they’re at a loss about ideas for amusing places to eat. What to do?

No worries; even if character experiences aren’t on your agenda, there’s still plenty of fun to be had dining at Disney. These spots are particularly good if you have children of different ages in your party. The younger kids will be having a great time, even if their older siblings are “too cool” for characters.

Here’s the primer on getting the fun…without the fur ;-)! We have focused on restaurants that have entertainment and shows, spots that have entertaining waitstaff and themes, and places that have great kid-friendly (and interesting!) “views.”

Restaurants with Entertainment

These spots have a live show, movie, or something else that will hold your kids’ attention while they eat. Most of them are interestingly themed as well.

Dinner at the Dine-In

Sci-Fi Dine-In, Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Sit in a car-shaped table, facing a movie screen, just like you’re at an old-time Drive-In movie. The movies playing are campy clips from 1950s and 60s science fiction gems like Plan 9 From Outer Space and Attack of the 50 Foot Woman.

Along with film snippets, you see drive-in promo pieces such as a dancing hot dog advertising the refreshment stand. The movie reel is totally silly, and for many kids, this is the only way they’ll get to experience this classic slice of Americana.

The best part? Your kids can order the Picnic Burger — a hamburger AND hot dog in one! See a recent Disney Food Blog Sci-Fi Dine-In review here.

Raglan Road, Disney Springs
Visit in the evenings and be treated to Irish bands and step dancers on the center stage.

It’s the best of all possible pub experiences, with great food and a gargantuan [Read more…]

Super Bowl Eats in Disney World

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Lines to get in on Game Day

While you may immediately think of chicken wings (hubba hubba!) at ESPN Club on the Boardwalk for Sunday’s big game, there are plenty of other things going on in Disney World this coming Sunday!

If you’re lucky enough to be in Disney World this weekend, check out your options, my friends…

ESPN Club

The ESPN Club at the Boardwalk is adding outdoor bleacher seating and some big screen TVs for the folks who don’t make it inside the restaurant (the line is always around the block on this one!).

ESPN Wide World of Sports

The mecca for sports in Disney World will be ready for an influx this weekend! The ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill will be open throughout the evening. And over at the Welcome Center, Disney World guests can watch the game on the Jumbotron and dine on wings, nachos, and drinks from two different bars. Watching is free, eating/drinking is not.

Disney Resort Restaurant Menus

But if you’re like me and you can’t be talked out of chicken wings and nachos, a few of the Disney Resort dining locations are adding some of your favorite game-day snacks to their menus on Sunday!!

All-Star Resorts

The All-Stars will add chicken wings and nachos to their [Read more…]

Guest Review: Grand Floridian’s Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Lounge

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We’re welcoming back guest author Melissa Sue as she shares a review of the Grand Floridian’s afternoon tea!

My husband, Rob, and I headed to the Grand Floridian for an afternoon tea experience in December.

Grand Floridian

Atmosphere

After hopping off the monorail we found the waiting area for the Garden View Lounge, which is located on the bottom floor of the Main Building lobby. The waiting area is extremely charming — though too small — and has Beauty and the Beast characters Chip and Mrs. Potts inlaid into the tile floor. How cute!

Mrs. Potts is the perfect Disney touch outside the tea room!

This Chip won’t blow bubbles in your tea!

The check-in podium was easy to locate and well-appointed. Unfortunately, there were only two seats in the waiting area, so we were mostly standing while we waited.

The check-in podium, on the south east side of the Main Building at Grand Floridian.

And, boy, did we wait. I should preface this by saying that the Tea Room was obviously either overbooked or understaffed the day of our tea. Our party of two waited for [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: January 29, 2012

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Breakfast Bread Pudding at Cinderella's Royal Table

Hey there, hi there, ho there!! It’s time to start up another great week of Disney food by taking a look at the awesomeness that happened last week!

As always, let’s start with the latest news in the food-related dis-o-sphere!

Disney Food News

Serious fun and deliciousness on the docket this week!!

  • Tables in Wonderland has announced an awesome event for February 25th! And, by the by, we’re hearing reports that DVC members can now get Tables in Wonderland cards!! Woo!
  • A new Breakfast Bread Pudding has been introduced at Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom
  • Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney Orlando is undergoing some refurb of the lounge and external areas. It’s still open during construction.

DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book!

It’s been a while since we mentioned our Disney Food Blog Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, so I wanted to share the details for our newer readers!

Our inaugural edition of this instantly downloadable e-Book is packed with over 250 pages of must-know tips, tricks, secrets, and details for first-timers and veteran visitors to Disney World! And don’t forget the photos! There are over 200 photos in this book alone!

Now’s the time to grab your copy (updated in December 2011 with the latest info!). Head over to DFBGuide.com to see sample pages, reviews from top media outlets like the Orlando Sentinel, and more! You could be reading it in minutes! And don’t forget to use Code DFBA11 to get your discount. 🙂 Thanks for supporting the Disney Food Blog!

On to the Round-Up

DisZine

takes a look at the new canine treats wagon that’s been barking up trees all over Disney World property! (Bad pun? Sorry about that.)

Walt Disney World for Grown-Ups takes us to the cozy Ale & Compass Lounge at the Yacht Club Resort.

All Ears Net blogger Laura G. has a rockin’ report on food during the WDW Marathon weekend! Carb-loaders rejoice!

Main St. Gazette shares another addition to the ice-cream-sundaes-bigger-than-your-head contingent in Disney World. We now have the Kitchen Sink, the Sand Pail Sundae, and this behemoth.

Disney Hipsters heads to favorite counter-service spot Columbia Harbour House for some yummy eats!

All’s Fare Food Blog visits Tony’s Town Square restaurant in the Magic Kingdom with not-so-impressive results (surprised?).

Mouse on the Mind shares a fun mini-review of Wilderness Lodge’s Artist Point.

Reminder:

The Disney Food Blog Newsletter is coming out this week!! If you’re not on the list, jump on here!

Guest Review: Aulani Eats and Off-Site Treats

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in front of the Lava Shack

Join us in welcoming guest author Beth Osborn with a tour of Eats at Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa in Oahu. We’ve also got some great tips about eating at non-Disney spots around the resort! Brace yourselves — there’s Dole Whip, Shave Ice, Plate Lunch, and more — ahead! Don’t forget to check out Aulani restaurant info and menus here.

Arriving to Aulani on October 15, my husband Kev and I selected familiar WDW items — refillable mugs! We purchased purple and blue refillable mugs, which have an Aulani design that matches the beige wallpaper in the halls of the hotel. Red and green options were also available.

Even though the mugs are more expensive at Aulani, we felt we got our money’s worth at $18.99 each over the week we were there.

‘Ama ‘Ama Restaurant at Aulani

We had dinner at Ama Ama — Kev’s salt crusted fish was like nothing we’d ever seen before, with a completely removable crust. He said it was very moist.

Salt Encrusted Fish from Ama Ama

I had the French Maui onion soup and a tomato and cheese salad (two appetizers instead of an entree). Both were excellent.

French Onion Soup and the Tomato Salad from Ama Ama

Makahiki Restaurant and Rip Swirl at Aulani

We had a character breakfast at Makahiki with Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. I wasn’t as excited about the buffet as some at Disney World, but I did enjoy the [Read more…]

Dining in Disneyland: Breakfast at Carnation Cafe…and Scoop on Refurb!

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Knowing that Carnation Cafe was going to be closing for renovation starting January 5th, I wanted to squeeze in one more meal to hold me over for the next 6 months or so.

Carnation Cafe

My family and I decided to brave the park (with a dining reservation of course) on New Year’s Eve day for Carnation Cafe breakfast, which surprisingly we had never experienced there before. It’s hard for me to believe that we’d never had breakfast at one of our favorite table service restaurants, but then again, we are rarely at the park in the morning.

Right after checking in, I noticed that Chef Oscar was working, which made my morning. His 55 Years of Service Party was just the day before, so I wasn’t sure if he’d be in or not. I couldn’t wait to talk to him about his big day, but first, time to be seated and order!

Carnation Cafe Seating

Eats

I’d heard for a long time that the Cafe Cinnamon Roll French Toast is a must have.  The description alone had me sold on it. Cream Cheese Icing? Yes please.

However, knowing that this was probably way too rich for me to finish alone along with the fact that three out of the four of us wanted to try it, my family decided to order it as a “fifth” meal to [Read more…]

Best Disney Fried Chicken

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I can’t believe I haven’t done a best fried chicken post, yet, but maybe that’s because I was subconsciously waiting until I got the chance to try the fried chicken wonderfulness at The Plaza Inn in Disneyland!

Whatever the reason, it’s time to jump into a big vat of fatty, greasy flavor today on the DFB!!!! Let’s talk chicken-that-is-fried!!! Here are three of my very favorite Disney fried chicken versions. Let me know your favorites in the comments section so I can try ’em!

The Best Fried Chicken at Walt Disney World

50’s Prime Time Cafe Fried Chicken, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney World

Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken

at 50’s Prime Time Cafe has always been one of my favorite meals in Disney World.

It’s served with mashed potatoes, gravy, and southern greens, but if you’re like me and know you won’t eat the greens, it’s best to substitute beans or something else you will eat. Don’t want to end up standing in the corner for not eating your veggies, do you? 😉

Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried chicken

A large portion, this one, so don’t forget to come prepared with an empty stomach! And if you’d rather try a bit of this along with some of the restaurant’s other two signature dishes — pot roast and meatloaf — get the 50’s Prime Time Cafe sampler platter!

Plaza Inn Fried Chicken, Disneyland Park

Yep, I’ve been told that the Plaza Inn Fried Chicken is wonderful and indeed it is! The Plaza Inn has been touting this chicken as its specialty for years, and there’s good reason.

Plaza Inn Fried Chicken

Plaza Inn is a table-service character restaurant for breakfast, but turns into a counter-service “cafeteria” spot for lunch and dinner. Just walk in and find the fried chicken station, then [Read more…]

Review: Disney World’s Flying Fish Cafe

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Learn About:Flying Fish
Boardwalk Restaurants
Disney World Restaurants

Ah, yes — I get to write about one of my very favorite restaurants in Disney World today!! Flying Fish Cafe is located on Disney’s Boardwalk in Walt Disney World, right next to the back entrance of the Boardwalk Inn.

The entrance is adorned with a giant neon sign complete with flying fish! You can’t miss it. 😉 And once inside, you’ll be treated to whimsical decor, an incredible seasonal menu, and an awesome view of Chef Tim Keating’s open kitchen.

Atmosphere

I think this restaurant is the perfect mix of Disney magic and star-quality food. Plus, the place is just fun to look at. There are shiny things and smooth things and fun things and colorful things all around you when you walk in. Don’t miss the jumping fire at the grills in the open kitchen!

Flying Fish Chef's Counter

From the parachuting fish on the ceiling to the colorful circus-themed mural on the walls there’s always something you missed the last time you were there. And let’s not even start talking about the draped “circus-tent” room in the back of the restaurant where you get to eat if you’re really, really lucky!

Flying Fish Cafe Tables and Murals

Parachutes and Flying Fish

Can you see the hidden Mickey in this mural? I know, I know — I point it out all the time, but I [Read more…]

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