food IS a theme park
Downtown Disney has been getting quite a bit of an overhaul, including getting MANY new restaurants (oh, yeah, you know we’re excited).
Paseo
Most recently, three of those new restaurants opened: Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita, with all three restaurants having menus created by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán. Okay, so that has us even MORE stoked. Well, we’ve had a chance to eat at Centrico and Tiendita, but we’re now getting a chance to dine at Paseo.
Are those sleigh bells we hear? That must mean that the Festival of Holidays is BACK at Disney California Adventure in Disneyland Resort!
Festival of Holidays
This year’s festival officially kicked off on November 11th (and it runs through January 8th, 2023), so we’re trying out all the eats to let you know which you should prioritize during your next trip. Come with us to the Brews and Bites booth now! [Read more…]
San Angel Inn is one of those restaurants where the MAIN draw is the atmosphere. It’s all about location, baby, and this restaurant is INSIDE the big pyramid in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion where it feels like you’re actually dining alongside a lazy river on the bank of a river with a volcano in the distance!
San Angel Inn
This isn’t your typical tex-mex chain style food. It’s going for a more authentic take on Mexican cuisine and the result can be….hit or miss. Some things are REALLY good, while others haven’t wowed us. The inconsistency of the food has turned us off from this spot for a while, but the lure of a Disney water scented restaurant (if you know, you KNOW) called us back. How does the food compare now to the last time we were here? We decided to revisit San Angel Inn and see what’s up.
What’s not to love about some hot, melty cheese??
Pulled Pork Fries with Cheese at Flame Tree Barbecue
If there was a hall of fame for food, queso would be a shoo-in! Need to know where you can find some cheesy goodness on your next trip to Disney World? We’ve got you covered! Here’s where you need to go when you’re in a state of QUESO-EMERGENCY!
Recently, I met some friends for a cozy dinner at La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion.
My last visit to La Hacienda proved to be just about the best yet. While my earliest visits to the dinner-only restaurant were largely hit and miss, my experiences during the last couple of years have been very positive.
But you never know when things can shift and change. After all, this is Disney World — not exactly known for being consistent when it comes to dining quality. And La Hacienda is pricey. Does it continue to be worth it?
Let’s head in for dinner and you can see for yourself.
We arrived on time for our 6:30 advance dining reservation and checked in. We requested a window side table, and they were happy to accommodate us. It only took a little longer to be seated.
La Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion
If you haven’t been inside La Hacienda before, be sure to take a look around during your visit, and review the back story. In a nutshell, the restaurant is supposed to be the rambling home of an artistic family, and they’ve opened it up to guests. Seating is a mixture of booths and table/chair combos, all of which are comfortable and inviting. [Read more…]
is the latest Table Service addition to the Disney Springs dining scene!
Frontera Cocina is headed by Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless. It’s located in the Town Center of Disney Springs, which still has a few eateries on the way throughout the summer; among them, Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine and Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza.
Chef Bayless may be best known as the host of the PBS show “Mexico—One Plate at a Time” (though he has received numerous accolades throughout his career), and Frontera Cocina likewise showcases authentic Mexican cuisine.
You’ll find Frontera Cocina right across from Sprinkles (though, since Sprinkles is still new itself, more familiar landmarks are seen just across the walking bridge — spots like Raglan Road and Morimoto Asia).
Frontera Cocina
Now that we know where it is, let’s step inside… [Read more…]
Editor’s Note: The opening of Frontera Cocina has been pushed back. It is anticipated that walk-ups will be received beginning June 27, but Open Table is accepting reservations starting July 21 at the time of this update.
Okay, Rick Bayless fans… this is a good day for you!
Because Frontera Cocina by Rick Bayless (host of “Mexico — One Plate at a Time” among numerous other achievements) will open on June 26, 2016! Well, at least according to Open Table — the online reservation booking engine. Tables are available to book at 6:00 pm daily for dates beginning Sunday, June 26th. [Read more…]
I’m gonna be honest. On my last few trips to La Hacienda de San Angel, the cost just wasn’t worth the experience.
But on this visit, things were a bit different. Maybe it’s because I ordered the things I was confident in, or maybe it’s because I had a killer window table and view of IllumiNations. Or maybe it was just the margaritas. (But I’m pretty sure it was the soup. More to come on that.)
But no matter how it happened, this was a night to remember! An expensive night to remember, but a night to remember nonetheless.
Wanna hear about it??
Start your adventure by heading into Epcot’s World Showcase and swing by the Mexico pavilion. Step up to the archway bearing this sign at the entrance, and you’ll have found the check-in podium. It’s hard to miss.
La Hacienda Sign
Once inside, you’ll receive a pager and take a seat in the waiting area if there’s one available. We were dining on a steamy day and would have appreciated a larger place to hang out. Our table wasn’t quite ready when we arrived, but that was probably due to the fact that we asked for a spot by the window.
We weren’t in a hurry, however. So taking a load off was kind of nice. We’d made a 7:30 reservation with the hopes of seeing the 9:00 fireworks, so we knew we had some time to kill. And we were seated soon enough.
One thing that La Hacienda got right straight from the beginning is the ambiance. Simply put, this is a gorgeous restaurant.
Inside the Restaurant
The soaring ceilings, heavy furniture, and warm-colored tile floors give a homey feeling to the spot, which totally makes sense. This is La Hacienda, after all. You’re dining in a residence-turned-restaurant. (For more of the backstory, you can see one of my earlier reviews.)
The whimsical hanging lights — both the punched metal star sconces and the paper lanterns — are just beautiful! As the light wanes, they become even more breathtaking, lighting the space with a candlelight-like glow.
Another View of the One of the Dining Rooms
Seating is a combination of booths and tables with chairs.
Seating
Booths line the center of the room, as you can see from an earlier pic. But some of my favorite booth seating is elevated and along the back wall. This is a cozy way to enjoy the view of World Showcase.
Booth Seating
And speaking of the view…here it is! As I mentioned, we waiting for a little while to get this window-side table. And it was totally worth it. Check out our stellar [Read more…]
It’s an out-of-the-way restaurant that you might have overlooked, so join guest author Rebecca Dolan with a review of Maya Grill at the Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World!
Maya Grill has never been high on my priority list. Even after all these years of Disney trips, I always figured why go to Maya Grill when I can get my Mexican fix at Epcot’s San Angel Inn? Well, I finally broke down and took the plunge, and San Angel is still the way to go.
As the signature restaurant of the Spanish-colonial inspired Coronado Springs Resort, Maya Grill evokes the cities of the ancient Maya. You’ll find it towards the back of the main building – just head left off the entryway and continue past the Pepper Market.
The restaurant is centered on a stylized Maya pyramid, under which bubbles a fountain.
Tables around Pyramid
The walls are decorated with artistic representations of Maya life. Try to get a table near one of the large windows overlooking the hotel’s central lagoon.
Dining Area
Wall Art
Tables by the window could offer a view
I was surprised to encounter a wait when I arrived at the hostess desk, as Maya Grill isn’t exactly one of Disney World’s most in-demand restaurants. Luckily, I’d made a reservation, despite assuming I wouldn’t need one. So, you might find it worthwhile to make one just in case.
Once seated, my companions and I found the restaurant too loud for our taste. The live entertainment, a gentleman singing and playing the guitar with other canned instruments, was deafening and we strained to hear our conversation. So, this is not the place to go for a quiet evening.
As was expected, the meal started with a basket of chips and salsa. The chips were thick and sturdy, perfect for getting a big scoop of dip without any breakage.
Chips and salsa while you peruse the menu
The menu consists of pretty typical Mexican fare, like nachos, tacos, chimichangas, and fajitas. There’s a small but clearly marked vegetarian section, and the abundant gluten free options were interspersed but highlighted throughout the whole menu. My non-spicy-food-eating grandmother appreciated the “North of the Border” section of the menu, which offered simpler fare.
Menu
First up was the queso fundido appetizer, served with flour tortillas for scooping. Unlike the liquid-y chile con queso you’re probably used to, queso fundido is more like the middle of a mozzarella stick: stringy, gooey and most easily eaten with a fork or plucked with a bit of tortilla. Though a bit salty, it’s hard to go wrong with a big bowl of cheese.
Queso fundito and accompanying tortillas for scooping
Next were orders of [Read more…]
We’ve got new eats over at Disney California Adventure! Two new dishes have arrived at Carthay Circle Lounge & 1901, and we’re very excited to share them with you here on the blog.
Carthay Circle Lounge can be found at the entrance to Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure
Although the shared menu at Carthay Circle Lounge/1901 is limited, the items available are pretty amazing.
1901 Lounge Menu Cover
Carthay Circle Lounge is open to all Disney guests, and can be found at the entrance to Carthay Circle restaurant. You don’t need a reservation to dine here! However, 1901 Lounge is an exclusive lounge open only to Club 33 Members and their guests.
Carthay Circle Lounge
Sharing a menu, these two fabulous lounges serve up Bites & Snacks, Rolls, Small Plates, and Carthay Signature Desserts
. The menu has barely changed from its opening almost exactly one year ago, but now we’ve got some updates!
Since opening, they’ve ditched the [Read more…]
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
