Table-Service | the disney food blog

Review: Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel

Huzzah! I’ve finally made it to the newest restaurant in Walt Disney World — La Hacienda de San Angel! This Mexican restaurant focuses on Southern Mexican cuisine — fresh staples with a new flair. Home made corn tortillas, incredible margaritas, and a view coveted by every other restaurant in the World Showcase are the major players here.

Atmosphere
Located in Epcot’s Mexico in Walt Disney World, the restaurant was built this year as an add-on to an existing counter-service restaurant (La Cantina de San Angel), and now juts out into World Showcase Lagoon.

Externally, the bright yellow building and bright blue tiled cupola look a bit out of place with the muted colors around World Showcase, but they do bring a lively look to [Read more…]

Tips for Picky Eaters in Disney Parks

By AJ 14 Comments

Let’s face it. Everyone’s got a picky eater. Whether it’s your kid, your Mom, your husband, or YOU, someone in the group doesn’t eat salad, stays away from seafood, or has a thing about not eating anything that isn’t peanut butter.

The great news is, Disney parks are destinations where none of that has to matter. There are enough choices (whether they’re on the menu or not) that everyone can find something to fill their tummies.

There's More to Life Than Burgers and Fries

Here are a few tips I’ve gleaned from my personal experience and from readers about navigating the parks with a picky eater. These are highlighted (and even illustrated) with some great comments from Disney Food Blog Facebook Fans!:

Contact Disney Ahead of Time
If the situation is dire and you liken the picky eating behavior to a special dietary need, you can always call Disney ahead of time to be sure that your needs will be taken care of at any table service restaurant where you’ll be dining. Check our Special Diets at Disney resources to learn more.

From Linds P: If you have something you know they’ll like, you can email [email protected] with your pre-made reservations info. You can make sure the foods you like will be there.

Christina W. says: My best friend is a vegetarian who also needs [Read more…]

Two New Menu Items at Disney World’s Liberty Tree Tavern

By AJ 11 Comments

After being a burger devotee at Liberty Tree Tavern‘s lunch rush for years, I decided to change it up this week and order two of the newest items on the menu!

First up — the Freedom Pasta: chicken, sauteed with tomatoes, mushrooms, and fresh basil join fusilli pasta in a cream sauce. The verdict? Delicious. I needed to add salt (as per usual with me and cream sauces), but the chicken was crispy and not overdone, and the sauce was thick vs. watery (WHY do chefs let watery cream sauces exist? Why?).

Freedom Pasta at Liberty Tree Tavern

For dessert, I went with the brand new gluten-free dessert — Decadent Chocolate Terrine. This is like taking a slab of the richest brownie dough you can imagine out of the refrigerator and eating it raw. Some of you (like me) will [Read more…]

Guest Review: Wine Country Trattoria World of Color Dining Package

By AJ 7 Comments

Today, guest blogger Shayne Newell, author of Shayne’s Project 365, is back with a review (and some gorgeous photos) from her recent Wine Country Trattoria World of Color (WOC) Dining Package meal! Take it away, Shayne!

Like the previously reviewed World of Color Dining Package meal at Ariel’s Grotto, the Wine Country Trattoria package meal is a fixed-price, limited menu that can be reserved up to 30 days in advance.

Atmosphere and Menu
It was pretty hot the day we went (Saturday, 9/4/10), so we were happy to be seated in the upstairs portion of the restaurant, where it was under cover and cool; we still had a nice view of the park. Everyone on the upper level seemed to be ordering from the WOC menu, so perhaps they segregated the WOC diners from those ordering off of the regular menu? On both the adult and kids’ menu, the appetizer/salad course and the dessert course were pre-determined, but each diner could choose their entree from [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: September 19, 2010

By AJ 3 Comments

Ladies and Gents, my next round-up will be coming to you from Walt Disney World! Very exciting, but right now, let’s talk about the great — and not-so-great — Disney food news from this week:

A price increase is anticipated on Disney World buffets starting October 3rd.
La Hacienda de San Angel is open for walk-up guests, as is La Cantina de San Angel. See a report from the Grand Opening this week, and check out the La Hacienda de San Angel menu and La Cantina de San Angel menu. Reservations are being taken for dates after October 15th.
Disney has made it easier to make dining reservations on your smartphone!
Disney Online is teaming up Cat Cora and the Muppets for some online shows about food and recipes!

Also, we got word from DFB reader Lori Kiehl that ‘Ohana might be closed during breakfast from 17-20 of January. No official word on that, but FYI.

And now, on to the round-up!

Studios Central shows a detailed look at where you can find elements of Star Tours in Disney Hollywood Studios’ Sci-Fi Dine-In.

Main St Gazette reviews the Zebra Cupcake in Animal Kingdom (agreed that the cake was the best part on this one, Ryan!)

OC Register reports as Disney California Adventure says goodbye Pizza Oom Mow Mow and hello Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta.

Disney Geek shows off the new Halloween popcorn bucket for the Disney parks!

etckt reviews Via Napoli!

WDW Magic reports that Bongos Cuban Cafe has been added to the Disney Dining Reservations System.

The Givens Chronicles is counting down to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival by making recipes from the 2009 festival! Here’s her rendition of New Zealand’s Lamb Sliders!

Disney Dispatch is also counting down to the Festival with a look at Argentina.

WDW Info reports that Chef Mickey is no longer table-side at Chef Mickey’s in WDW’s Contemporary Resort. According to user reports, he’s up front taking pics now rather than visiting table-side.

Finally, I wanted to share with you a few other perspectives on the La Hacienda de San Angel opening in Epcot this past week. Scott Joseph, Orlando’s premier food critic, has a fantastic video from his experience at the Grand Opening:

And here are some write-ups from around the Disney-sphere about the Grand Opening event:
Zannaland (Margarita menu!!!), Disney Everyday, Scott Joseph Orlando, Theme Park Mom, Daily Disney from Orlando Sentinel, WDW Radio, Lauging Place, Inside the Magic, WDW News Today

Price Increase Possible on Disney World Buffets

By AJ 16 Comments

UPDATE:

DFB contributor Sarah Holodick recently received confirmation on the price increase from an in-the-know cast member friend. Here are the details she received: “The higher pricing will affect ALL buffets property-wide for dinner only. Cinderella’s Royal Table will have price increases for breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Thanks Sarah!
_________

We’ve been chatting a lot about prices around here lately, and here’s another piece of info to toss around.

We’ve got a credible rumor that as of October 3, the regular price of Disney’s dinner buffets will bump up to $36.99, and the seasonal pricing (usually in effect during high traffic times like Summer, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and Christmas) will be raised to $40.99.

No details on which restaurants will be included and excluded, and those of you on free dining and the Disney Dining Plan don’t have to worry a lick, but this could make a difference for large groups traveling without the Dining Plan.

Still rumor status until it’s announced by Disney, as always. Hopefully more info later.

Thanks to TouringPlans for the info.

Review: Disneyland’s Napa Rose

By AJ 11 Comments

As promised in the August Disney Food Blog Newsletter, here’s our review of premier Disneyland restaurant, Napa Rose!

Napa Rose is the top brass when it comes to dining in Disneyland. The restaurant, presided over by decorated Chef Andrew Sutton, is located in the woodsy Grand California Resort located in the middle of Disneyland’s Downtown Disney district.

Napa Rose

Atmosphere
The style of the restaurant is similar to that of the Grand Californian — warm, muted tones fill out the craftsman style, with light woods and an open floor plan. The massive windows look out onto a lovely patio and wooded area, so the feeling of seclusion compliments the openness of the restaurant itself.

View of Open Kitchen From Restaurant

Patio

Pass by a “few select” wines in the restaurant’s wine cellar — showcasing a few special Lasseter vintages, of course — on your way to the dining room, where the focal point is [Read more…]

La Hacienda de San Angel Grand Opening and Food Pictures

By AJ 14 Comments

Living in Texas, I don’t have the opportunity to attend the openings of Disney’s restaurants; but boy did I get lucky on this one! Thank you to the WDW Today Podcast for allowing me to publish pics from their coverage. Check out their twitter stream to see more great pics from the Grand Opening at Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel!

Restaurant Info
The backstory behind La Hacienda de San Angel is that a Mexican family restored an old hacienda and wanted to open it to guests and serve food. The beautiful artwork and pottery throughout the hacienda are meant to be created by the house’s artistic owner. La Cantina de San Angel, the counter-service restaurant outside of the Hacienda, is part of the story as well — it was supposedly created to serve the overflow from the hacienda!

La Hacienda will be serving dinner from 4pm each night and will offer an incredible view of the Illuminations fireworks. During the day, it will serve as indoor seating for La Cantina de San Angel, which will serve lunch and dinner daily.

Main dining room

Just a reminder, La Hacienda de San Angel is now open for business for walk-in guests. You can also make reservations for dates after October 15th via Disney’s reservations system! You can see the the La Hacienda de San Angel Menu here. You can see La Cantina de San Angel’s menu here!

Grand Opening Celebration
Here are some incredible pictures from the Grand Opening Celebration:

Mickey and Donald Helped with the Ribbon Cutting

Margarita Bar

Tequila Scorpion

Shrimp Taco

More photos after the jump! [Read more…]

La Hacienda de San Angel Menu

By AJ 13 Comments

Epcot’s newest restaurant has an equally new — and incredible looking — menu!

Featuring classics like queso fundido and churros coupled with market-fresh entrees like the Parrillada Del Mar — Mixed grill of mahi mahi, shrimp, and scallops — and the Arrachera — a 6 oz flank steak — guests will find a new and different concept of Mexican dining than has been seen in Epcot before.

One thing I do notice about the menu is that prices are quite high as a general rule. With entrees starting at $21, you might be better off getting two appetizers if you’re budget dining.

To see the full La Hacienda de San Angel menu, click here. See La Hacienda de San Angel food photos here.

The restaurant will be open for walk-ins from September 16th through October 15th. Guests can now make La Hacienda de San Angel reservations for dates after October 15th via Disneyworld.com’s dining reservations website and 407-WDW-DINE.

For more details about La Hacienda de San Angel, see our La Hacienda de San Angel info page.

La Hacienda de San Angel Reservations Now Open

By AJ 5 Comments

Reservations are now available for Epcot’s La Hacienda de San Angel restaurant in the Mexico pavilion.

The restaurant will be walk-up only through October 15th, so reservations are only available after that date.

To see more information about the restaurant, including food photos, menus, and more, see our La Hacienda de San Angel info page.

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