The Latest | the disney food blog

Have You Ever Been to the Sunset Room?

You’ve probably walked past the grand old Sunset Room restaurant many times, but you’ve never stayed for dinner. Too bad, as they have a delicious-looking menu… from October 31, 1939.

You see, the Sunset Room is a chic restaurant in the Hollywood Tower Hotel — a place to see and be seen.

Hollywood Tower of Terror

Hollywood Tower of Terror's Sunset Room Restaurant

At least…it was a chic restaurant. Today, there’s not much left but dust, locked doors, and that menu, still posted with the specials of the day, which you can read yourself on the way to the hotel’s gift shop. I wonder whatever happened to that old place…

Sunset Room Menu

Avocado Margarita at the Epcot Tequila Bar!

By AJ 8 Comments

You remember from my first Food and Wine Festival post that I had the lucky opportunity to sample an Avocado Margarita in Epcot’s La Cava del Tequila, right?

No?

Here’s a reminder — Cast Member, Rafael, kindly posing with the sample shot!:

Thanks, Rafael!

I really enjoyed the sample, and I was looking forward all week to trying a whole margarita. I thought I’d virtually take you with me on my trip to enjoy one!

La Cava del Tequila
But before we order, I wanted to show you around the Cava a little bit. It’s truly an amazing addition to World Showcase. Warm, cozy, and comfortable, I could easily spend a couple of hours here chatting with friends and sampling many of the different Margarita flavors. Of course, the popularity of the place will have to die down before I can do that! Every time I returned to the Cava during my trip, the place was mobbed. Hopefully in the months “post-Festival,” there will be more available seats…or at least enough room to move around in there!

When you head into the Cava, you’re greeted by the bar to your left and a cozy little seating area to your right. There are bar tables in the middle of the room, as well. It seems to be “every man for himself” as far as seating goes here — from what I can tell, nobody’s actually controlling where and when folks sit.

Epcot's La Cava del Tequila

Bar Area

Seating Area

Also on your right hand side (as you know from the Tequila Tasting Seminar blog) there’s a brilliant mural depicting the life cycle of Tequila processing.

A Section of the Cava del Tequila Mural

All in all, a wonderful place to spend an evening in Epcot. I really think you’ll enjoy it!

Avocado Margarita
So, back to the drink! When I finally found a day when the Tequila Bar was slightly less crowded than it had been all week, I perused the drink menu but decided on that Avocado Margarita that I’d sampled previously.

It’s called the Aguacate; here are the details (it’s the second one listed on the menu photo):
El Mayor Blanco Tequila, Midori melon liquor, fresh avocado mixed with fresh lime juice and agave nectar syrup, served frozen with a hibiscus Himalayan salt rim: $12.50

Avocado Margarita Recipe

I watched with anticipation as the bartender actually peeled and added two sections of an avocado to the blender in front of me! Is this thing actually going to taste as good as the sample?!?

Blender with Ingredients...Including Ripe Avocado!

While it was blending, I snapped a photo of some of the salt rimming stations. Apologies for the blurry photo! La Cava del Tequila has loads of salt flavors to add accents to the tequila drinks.

Salt Rimming Stations

Finally, my drink was ready! It was very smooth, which I don’t always expect from blender mixing. The only “chunks” in the drink were of avocado; these were tiny — you can see them in the photo below — and actually added texture to the drink, which was interesting. The margarita was very tart, which wasn’t something I expected in an avocado-based drink but was very welcome. As you know, I’m a big fan of sour drinks. And this margarita was the perfect antidote to the scorching day outside — very refreshing and flavorful. In my opinion, this is a great way to escape the Florida heat or just take a break and slow down for a while.

Aguacate

Again, I have nothing but high marks for La Cava del Tequila. The staff are knowledgeable and accommodating, and the atmosphere is very inviting.

I really look forward to hearing about your trips out to the Cava!

More Epcot Food & Wine Festival Food Photos

By AJ 1 Comment

I posted a bunch of new food photos yesterday, but I hope you won’t mind one more round — this time they’re 2009 Epcot Food and Wine Festival food pics! Once you’re done looking at these, be sure to check out the links at the bottom of the page that lead to other Food and Wine Festival photos and info! You still have until November 8th to check out the Festival…

We begin over at the Hops and Barley Marketplace, right in front of the Sam Adams Beer Seminar spot in the America pavilion. Here, we sampled a lobster roll and a crab cake — New England, here we come!

Hops and Barley Booth in the American Pavilion

New England Lobster Roll

Boston-Style Crab Cake with Cabbage Slaw and Remoulade

Then it’s off to the Munich Marketplace for some Spaetzle Gratin with Ham and Cheese and a Nuernberger Sausage on a Pretzel Roll. High marks for both dishes!

Munich Marketplace

Ham and Cheese Spaetzle

Nuernberger Sausage on a Pretzel Roll

Now, we’re on our way back to the good old U.S.A. for some Spicy Cajun Crawfish and Vegetable Stew!

New Orleans Marketplace

Spicy Cajun Crawfish and Vegetable Stew

And, finally, we head waaaaay over to Australia to sample the Seared Barramundi with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Arugula, and Lemon Oil.

Melbourne Marketplace

Seared Barramundi

And there are more where these came from; just click on any of these links to see even more food and marketplace/booth photos from the Food and Wine Festival this year:

For more information, photos, and details about the 2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, visit our Food and Wine Festival Details page!

New Menu Items at Disney World Restaurants

By AJ 20 Comments

While I’ll always have my favorite Disney World restaurant menu items, I always like to hear about new things to try. And while this is by no means an exhaustive list (menus are changing all the time), I wanted to share with you a few changes I heard about and experienced during my recent WDW trip.

If you’ve heard about or experienced other menu changes, let me know! You can contact me via twitter, facebook, or email!

Liberty Tree Tavern
You might have read the Liberty Tree Tavern menu changes blog when I posted it a couple of weeks ago, but I figured I’d get all the info in one place!

There are two brand new dishes at LTT: Chicken and Dumplings and Salmon Cakes!

New Liberty Tree Tavern Menu Items

The chicken and dumplings was not what we expected, and almost tasted like a very hearty, VERY peppery chicken soup. A bit too homogeneous a taste for an entree (we like some sides with our meals), but not a bad dish.

Liberty Tree Tavern Chicken and Dumplings

Unfortunately, the pasta dish has been taken off the menu.

Le Cellier
There have been a few changes over at Le Cellier as well, but one that we tried and loved was the Poutine. Although I grew up very close to Canada, I’d never heard of this French Canadian delicacy! Luckily, our server explained it perfectly. Fries. Cheese. Gravy. Sounds good to us! I asked for the gravy on the side (sorry, Canada!), so that’s what you get in the photo.

Le Cellier Poutine, with gravy on the side

Now, let me pay homage to all of the twitter-ers who commented on my Poutine twitpic that it didn’t do justice to real Canadian poutine. For example, in most Canadian poutine, the cheese is not usually yellow, and it is always in curd form — not melted. (Our server DID mention that he considered this Le Cellier version to be “American” poutine, but it doesn’t make it any less delicious!)

We also tried a few new desserts over at Le Cellier: the Le Cellier Mont Blanc Semifreddo with chilled fruit soup, the Chocolate-on-Chocolate Whiskey Cake, and the Warm Apple Tart with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Maple Syrup.

Le Cellier Semifreddo

Le Cellier Semifreddo Inside

Le Cellier Warm Apple Tart

Le Cellier Chocolate on Chocolate Whiskey Cake

While none of these desserts wowed us, the chocolate cake would have been the best of the three. Our suggestion: forget dessert and head over for a Kaki Gori! 😉

Rose and Crown Dining Room
The Cottage Pie makes a re-appearance on Rose and Crown’s menu! I can recall Cottage Pie on the menu years and years ago, but it’s back again for all of you Anglophiles (including me…).

Rose and Crown updated menu

Rose and Crown Cottage Pie

Rose and Crown Cottage Pie Inside

We also sampled the brand new Lemon Pie at Rose and Crown. It’s pretty much your standard lemon meringue pie, so if you love it, order it. Otherwise, stick with something else.

Rose and Crown Lemon Pie

California Grill
California Grill, as always, is playing around with the “market-inspired” menu as it should, but the dessert menu has really been changed up this time around.

California Grill dessert menu 10-1-09

We sampled the Valrhona Chocolate Cake, which used to be paired with cherries and is now coupled with salted caramel ice cream and roasted pineapple. They’re riding the salted caramel train down at The Wave as well, so I think it’s a “Contemporary” thing. Either way, we loved it.

California Grill Valrhona Chocolate Cake

We also tried their “Sweet Celebration” item, which is a Fall Apple Cobbler, with Walnut-Oatmeal Streusel, Calvados Ice Cream, and Apple Caramel Drizzle. Our waiter kindly let us know that the cobbler wasn’t a standard “gooey” item, but instead was more of a dry dish, with the apples well-formed and not mushy. We’re BIG cobbler fans, so ordered it anyway. We loved the dish, but were glad for his warning as we would have expected something different without it.

California Grill Apple Cobbler

Yachtsman Steakhouse
Yachtsman Steakhouse is doing all kinds of fun things with its menu — a couple of raviolis to try (including Potato and Leek Ravioli!), escargot, and a Cowboy Steak (my favorite!).

But what I’ve got to rave about here is the new Mushroom Risotto side dish. I really dislike mushrooms, but because I was so taken with Le Cellier’s Mushroom Risotto I knew I had to try the new Yachtsman version. And as a result, I have two comments: 1.) They are completely different dishes, and 2.) Yachtsman’s mushroom risotto is unbelievable.

Yachtsman Steakhouse Mushroom Risotto

I couldn’t stop eating it, and probably would have ordered a whole bowl if I could. It’s just that good.

Sanaa
Finally, although I didn’t get a chance to dine there this trip, Sanaa, one of Disney World’s newest restaurants, has changed up a few menu items as well (thanks to Amanda Tinney for the tip).

While many things on the menu remain, the Dum Biryani has been removed as an entree (replaced with a Lamb Kefta, at least at lunch), and the “Slow-Cooked in Gravy” section has been divided into a meat section and a vegetarian section (no more mixing!). Stewed Lentils and Spicy Cauliflower, Onions, Tomatoes, and Mint have been added as options on the vegetarian list, along with the old Paneer Cheese and Spinach.

Be sure to keep me updated on the new things you sample on your next trip! Bon Appetit!

Disney Food Post Weekly Round-Up: October 11, 2009

By AJ 1 Comment

Hi all! The top story in Disney dining this week is that Disney World is trying out a new seating system at four Magic Kingdom counter-service restaurants.

Disney has been restricting seating to groups who have already received their food, hoping to cut down on the amount of people “saving tables” while the rest of their group is still ordering food. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be. In the meantime, Robert Niles at Theme Park Insider has discussed the issue in his blog post: Pecos Bill and the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

But while that debate rages on, there’s still plenty of other great Disney food writing going on. The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival continues, brand new hotels have opened (which means brand new eating establishments!), there’s a new food spot for the Alaska cruises, and more! Here we go!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival News
Attractions Magazine takes a look at Epcot’s Party for the Senses, including photos and a video! Haven’t had enough? Laughing Place adds their Party for the Senses photos as well! This is one event I would LOVE to attend someday.

Etckt stopped by the Food and Wine Festival to sample some dishes from the International Marketplaces. He’s an incredible photographer, so be sure to check this one out!

And the Disney Parks Blog posted some great videos and recipes from celebrity chef team The Deen Brothers and Food Network’s Dinner Impossible Chef Robert Irvine. The blog also posted their highlights from the Wine chat with Gary Vaynerchuk.

Other Disney Dining News and Web Posts
Orlando Sentinel’s The Dish columnist Heather Mcpherson reports on honors received by Central Florida’s authentic Mexican restaurants, including two in Disney World!

Disney and More reports and comments on an expansion at the Last Chance Cafe in Disneyland Paris’ Frontierland.

Mouseplanet contributor Chris Barry discusses his Top Five Dining Moments in Disney World.

Main Street Gazette highlights some great themeing by Magic Kingdom imagineers via the Popcorn Kiosks in the park.

Scott Joseph Orlando gives us a first look at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando bars and restaurants.

Stuff From the Park shares a Golden Horseshoe menu circa the late 1970’s — back when there were waiters here! Hmm… that’s the first time I’ve seen Pepsi listed on a Disney Park menu…

Stitch Kingdom shares some photos of the construction of the Outlook Cafe on the Disney Wonder. The Cafe is being built in preparation for the upcoming Alaska cruises.

Thanks for all the great dining news and updates this week, all! We’re grateful for all the great writing you do!

A Candy-Lover’s Guide to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

By AJ 16 Comments

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party entrance sign

As you saw with the pumpkins on main street, Disney World hasn’t left the foodies out of the Halloween plans. There’s plenty more where that came from, and I can’t wait to share with you more Halloween food items at Disney World.

But today I want to focus on the real reason why we spend all that money on tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP): the candy.

MNSSHP Trick or Treat bag

The Basics
For those who haven’t yet attended, this year’s party is much like those of past years. Simply request your Trick or Treat bag from the CMs at the front of the park, get your MNSSHP brochure with the candy spots marked, and you’re off. Look for the Goofy’s Candy Company balloons throughout the park and follow the lines to the candy.

MNSSHP Brochure With Map and Showtimes Inside

These Balloons Will Mark Candy Spots

Once you see the balloons, just find the entrance sign for the candy line and follow the crowd.

Trick or Treat Spot Entrance Sign

The actual candy tub will look like this, once you approach. The line will usually split into two lines, each going to one of the two CMs manning candy tubs at each location. Note: Occasionally you’ll see a third candy tub behind the initial two. This one has only raisins, so choose accordingly.

Candy Tub and CMs

The candy haul is pretty good this year — Buttefingers, Dots, Twizzlers, Mike and Ike, Snickers, Now and Later, Sugar Babies, and other name brands are mixed in with the smarties and suckers — and if you’re diligent, you can really fill that bag up! Granted, for the amount you’re paying for the Party tickets you could probably buy a whole shelf of candy at the Walgreen’s, but the experience has always been worth the money for us, even when we go without kids.

Also, this year there are more “indoor” candy spots than in prior years. Be sure to head over to Pirates of the Caribbean — there’s a Trick or Treat location in the Pirates’ League. Of course, the CMs handing out candy are pirates, so be on guard!

Tip to Maximize Your Haul
As has been the case for the last few years, the highest concentration of candy goodness is in Mickey’s Toontown Fair and the subsequent Alice and Mad Hatter’s Treat Party, which is located on the path between Toontown and Tomorrowland.

Toontown Fair

MNSSHP Alice and Mad Hatter Treat Party

Decorated with images from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (the animated version — not the upcoming Depp-ified, Burton-ified version due in March), this little walkway is rarely crowded, and happens to hold about 3 or 4 trick or treat spots in close proximity. This is also where you might catch a glimpse of the White Rabbit during the evening!

CM Manning the Treat Party

Speaking of characters, in between your Trick or Treating, keep your eyes open for some rarely seen characters at MNSSHP. Lots of Villains abound, and you might catch a glimpse of Tarzan and Jane, or even Snow White, accompanied by ALL SEVEN of her dwarf friends.

Snow White and the Seven (ALL Seven!) Dwarfs

And be sure to catch one of the two showings of the Halloween Boo to You Parade, which is by far one of the best parades on Disney property. Of course, it highlights Goofy and his famous Candy Company!

Goofy's Candy Company Parade Float

MNSSHP has always been one of my favorite Fall activities at Disney World. Trick or Treating is done by ALL, not just the kiddos, so get out there shamelessly with your bag, my friends! And costumes are optional; you’ll blend in with one or without one. The only rule? Have fun!

Still don’t have your tickets to MNSSHP? There are plenty more dates available (even though Halloween is now sold out). Just call 407-WDisney to purchase tickets, or visit DisneyWorld.com’s MNSSHP page!

2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: Marrakesh, Morocco, Food and Wine Pairing

By AJ 4 Comments

Here’s one I was really looking forward to — the Marrakesh Food and Wine pairing! This was the most expensive event we signed up for, at around ~$60 per person.

Marrakesh Sign

Marrakesh Tables and Pink? Lighting

There were about 30 people there for the event, and we were seated in an upper corner of the restaurant at about four large tables. Each place setting had a wine-tasting placemat printed with the names of the three wines we would be trying: Les Trois Domaines, Guerrouane Rouge, from Meknes, Morocco; Now & Zen, Alsace White, Alsace, France; and Chateau Trois Moulins, Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France.

Trio of Wines for Tasting

Once we were all seated, the event began with the Marrakesh chef introducing us to the restaurant, which was fully decorated with top-to-bottom mosaic art by the Moroccan King’s own artisans (as was the Morocco pavilion itself). It’s truly a stunning location for a meal.

The chef has been at the restaurant since its opening, and touched on a few of the differences between the American and Morrocan cultures and foods. He then announced the wine expert and presenter for the afternoon, who proceeded to lead us through the tasting.

Marrakesh Food and Wine Pairing Cast Members and Moderators

Most of the afternoon was about the wines — their origins, geography, and taste profiles. The food, mostly in tapas-sized portions, was largely not discussed. I wasn’t expecting this, and really was quite disappointed that we weren’t talking about the food flavors, preparations, and choices very much. So although I was very interested in hearing about the wine choices, this was a “con” of the afternoon for me.

The Wines
Our first wine, Guerrouane Rouge les Trois Domaines, paired with a delicious, spicy lamb sausage, was from the Guerrouane growing region of Morocco and resembles a Rhone style blend. The primary grapes in this blend are Cinsault, Grenache, and Carignan.

And this wine carries with it a fascinating fact: while the first two grapes are fermented traditionally, the Carignan grapes are fermented through something called “carbonic maceration” fermentation. If you’re a wine gourmet, you’ll probably know what that means, but I was utterly impressed! Carbonic maceration means that fermentation takes place within the grape, and actually makes the grape explode! The result is a light, fruity wine, and the process can increase the alcohol level of the grape’s fermented juice.

This wine’s fruity aromas paired well with the spicy sausage; it was probably my favorite pairing of the day.

Lamb Sausage with Lamb Stock and Tomato Sauce

Our second wine, the Alsatian Now & Zen, is made from a blend of Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer grapes, and hails from the long-contested segment of sometimes-France sometimes-Germany, Alsace, located between the Vosges mountains and the Rhine River. The cool climate of this area means the grapes ripen slowly, and, according to our wine moderator, this gave the the wine a wider array of aromas, including citrus and spice (coriander, nutmeg, cumin).

This was the only white that we tried (therefore, it was my favorite wine of the afternoon — I’m a white wine fan), and it was paired with Marrakesh’s delicious lemon chicken and couscous. The dryness of the wine paired nicely with the sweet and tangy lemon flavors of the dish. Overall, this was a more mellow pairing than the first.

Lemon Chicken and Couscous

Our final wine, Chateau Trois Moulins of the Haut-Medoc appellation of Bordeaux, is a Cru Bourgeois wine, which essentially means that it’s not classed as highly as some “bigger name” wines, but it is very highly regarded nonetheless. (This is the case for most Haut-Medoc wines, as I understand.) Made mostly from Merlot grapes, with some Cabernet and Petit Verdot as well, this wine has a deep color and flavor, with aromas of dark red fruits and deep tastes, like cassis, blackberry, cigar, and chocolate.

This wine was paired with the darkest meat we were served — a beef shish kabob, which included roasted mushroom. I think the pairing would have gone much more smoothly had the meat not been so badly overdone. The wine alone, though heavy, was tasty.

Shish Kabob with Mushroom

Tips on Wine Pairings
We were able to ask questions throughout the pairing, and we received a couple of great “pointers” for pairing food and wine:

Make decisions based on body and weight, not on colors, necessarily. Full-bodied and heavy foods and sauces pair well with full-bodied and heavy wines. Wines that feel lighter in your mouth will pair better with lighter foods/proteins. Wines that have deeper, heavier flavors will pair better with heavier foods/proteins.
Wines that are higher in acidity will turn up the flavors of other foods. For example, Chianti can be used, essentially, as a condiment to peak the flavors of the foods with which it’s paired.

Hopefully those are helpful to some of you. As I’m a wine novice, I found it extremely useful!

But Was it Worth the Money?
Now, a lot of folks have asked me if the more expensive events at the Food and Wine Festival are “worth it,” and while I can’t speak for every event, I’m not sure I’d do the Marrakesh food and wine pairing again. The food was consistently overdone, the portions were small for the price, and I didn’t find that it was a good representation of the dining opportunities available at the restaurant. Unless you’re a true wine-lover, consider spending the money to have a meal in the restaurant instead.

That’s just my two cents though, folks! I look forward to hearing about your positive AND negative experiences at Food and Wine Festival events.

WDW Main Street Food Spots Celebrate Halloween

By AJ 5 Comments

While I’ve got so many Epcot Food and Wine Festival blogs rattling around in my drafts folder, I came across these photos from the recent trip and had to share them with you, too!

I thought it was great that the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor, Confectionery, and Casey’s Corner have all decorated with pumpkin art befitting their trade…

Casey’s Corner

Casey's Corner

Casey's Hot Dog Pumpkin

Casey's French Fries Pumpkin

Casey's Peanuts Pumpkin

Casey's Coke Pumpkin

Ice Cream Parlor

Ice Cream Pumpkin at the Ice Cream Parlor

Confectionery

Confectionery Windows

Close-up on Candy Pumpkin

Close up on Candy Cane Pumpkin

Stay tuned for more Halloween in Disney World posts on the Food Blog. There’s just too much to pack into one!

“You Won’t Believe This!” Snack — Butterfinger Cupcake

By AJ 35 Comments

UPDATE!: See our 2012 re-review of this iconic cupcake here!

Guys, you know how much I love food. And you know by now that I can pack away some serious meals. But I think I’ve finally found a snack in Disney World that I wasn’t able to conquer. In fact, I bought it simply because I wasn’t sure it was even real!

A few months ago, someone posted a photo of a “butterfinger muffin” on the forum at WDWforGrownups.com. The photo looked like the “muffin” was a chocolate cupcake covered in icing, then dipped in chocolate and topped off with butterfinger crumbs. Being a HUGE frosting fan, I couldn’t wait to find out more about this thing. So we headed over to Starring Rolls bakery one early morning last week…

Starring Rolls Cafe

…and, sure enough, I find this:

Cupcake and Butterfinger Muffin

So, guiltily, I buy one. In the name of research, of course. I head outside, fully aware that this thing is simply monstrous, and grab a couple of forks and knives. (There’s no way one little plastic utensil is going to suffice for this thing.) And I cut into the mountain of toppings on the cupcake.

Butterfinger Muffin

First Incision

The frosting is magnificent, as we knew it would be. There’s nothing like a bunch of lard and sugar to start your day right, I always say. From there, I decided to cut the thing in half, just to get a good cross-section for those of you who might be curious, but unwilling to actually dig in yourselves:

Butterfinger Muffin Bisected

And what did I find?!? Chocolate Frosting! Chocolate Frosting in the middle of the cupcake! Oh my heavens! I’m pretty sure I died and went to heaven. Whoever invented this cupcake/muffin took all of my guilty pleasures and wrapped them into one ginormous mountain of happiness.

A Yummy Chocolate Frosting-y Center

Now, my friends, we had lunch reservations in a few hours, so I wasn’t able to finish off this muffin. In fact, I barely made a dent. But it feels good and right to know that the Butterfinger Muffin is there — waiting for me with all of its chocolate-y and frosting-topped goodness — when I need it.

Let me know if you try it — and if you are able to eat the whole thing!

WDW Moms Panelists Consider: What Are Some Underrated Disney World Restaurants?

By AJ 14 Comments

Here’s our third post in the Walt Disney World Moms Panel mini-series! You’ve met some of the moms and heard about their most magical Disney dining moments and their thoughts about the best dining values in Disney World. Today we get to hear what restaurants the moms think might not grab the spotlight as much as they should…

From Mom Erin F.

The Wave Trio of Desserts

The Wave – really nice stuff and good wine flights. Good tasting desserts, and they have really lovely food.

Another one that I tried – Raglan Road – had really delicious food. And I was very pleasantly surprised by the food on the plate (I had shepherd’s pie). The Strawberry Salad was poppin’ in your mouth delicious. If they can make a basic green salad so tasty, they’ve got something good going on.

From Mom Amber V.

The two places that come to mind are the Grand Floridian Cafe and Maya Grill. I think they both get lost in the shuffle, especially if you aren’t staying at the Grand Floridian or Coronado Springs. When we ate at Maya Grill, we were able to walk up and get a table without an ADR, which was a surprise. We found the menu, service and atmosphere to be really wonderful. The Grand Floridian Cafe is a great choice for a refreshing, light lunch and is also a nice respite from the parks.

From Mom Anna S.

It seems to me that the one restaurant I can ALWAYS get a reservation for is Restaurant Marrakesh at EPCOT, and I love it there. We have had some of the best, most attentive servers of our Disney dining experiences there, and there is never the feeling that you are being rushed so they can turn the tables over. The kids enjoy the music and dancing, and the food is delicious. We eat here at least every other visit.

From Mom Jennifer W.

Flying Fish Cafe! I rarely hear anyone talking about makings ADRs here, and it is one of the best restaurants at WDW! It is a bit on the pricey side but worth every dime. The chef will even come to your table to personally discuss your order if you like. The atmosphere is a calming change from the hustle and bustle of many restaurants and the food is top notch. I highly recommend The Flying Fish to all my friends who are looking for something different at WDW.

From Mom Kara B.

Walt Disney On-Screen at Sci-Fi Dine In

Disney provides a chance to experience something new and exciting around every corner, so often for us a magical Disney experience may be more about the experience rather than the actual food. For example, Sci-Fi is an absolute must see for us every trip, regardless of the constant criticism regarding the food. Stick with hamburgers and milkshakes and all is good (I’ll gladly share that their tofu entree is de-lic-ious!). However for us, it is clearly the atmosphere that makes this restaurant a must-do. In the middle of a hot trip (we visit in June), escaping into the cool “night” air is so relaxing. The kids sit in the front seat; my husband and I sit in the back. We feel like we are on a date because the kids are shockingly silent watching those campy movies. In fact, the entire restaurant is eerily quiet. Again, total relaxation. And of course, we all get those silly drinks with light-up ice cubes and use them at home for a fun souvenir.

From Mom Joanne M.

1. Fulton’s Crab House, Downtown Disney. Awesome view, fantastic food, and great selection. We love going there for lunch before heading to DisneyQuest. It’s not on the Disney Dining Plan, so we’ve never had a problem getting a table.

2. Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian Resort. The food is great, and where else can you simply turn your head and watch Wishes?

3. Kona Cafe – I have to say I’m not sure that this one is underrated, but I was so pleasantly surprised by the dining experience I have to mention it. The service was fabulous and attentive, menu varied, and great food! And the Kona Kone is the coolest dessert on Disney property!

From Mom Heather R.

In the Magic Kingdom I think the Plaza Restaurant is a real hidden gem. The location is quite convenient, and while the menu is somewhat limited, the food is excellent and the portions are quite large. My Chicken Strawberry Salad was not only delicious, but HUGE – easily shared between two people.

At the Fort Wilderness Resort, the Trail’s End Restaurant serves up home cooking style food at a very reasonable price, and since it’s a buffet (and a reasonably priced one at that!) it offers a good bang for your buck.

The Grand Floridian Cafe (guess where?) is also a real hidden gem. I can’t recommend any one particular standout menu item, but I know that every meal I’ve had there has been very good, service was attentive, and I leave intending to visit again. In a way I like it when that happens, because if I eat somewhere and have a particularly fantastic dish, I’m very likely to never try anything else! It’s good to branch out. 🙂

From Mom Whitney P.

Where do I begin? The Boardwalk Pizza take-out window is one of the best values, with a pepperoni pizza slice at $3.99! Its crust is like no other pizza on property! My indulgence is opening packet after packet of parmesan cheese and topping it off. I like to eat it outside at one of the nearby tables and people-watch. That, with a view of the water, is a great dining experience whether you’re alone or with your family.

If you’re looking for night-life, I recommend Kimono’s at the Swan. I’m a fan of karaoke and can sing with the best of them–from the comfort of my seat! It has the most extensive sushi menu on property, in my opinion, and if no one has the guts to get on the small stage and belt something out, you can sing along with the evening’s hostess.

From Mom Jo Y.

My family love Kona Cafe at the Poly, last trip I had the most delicious steak there, I much preferred it to Le Cellier and recommend it to everyone. I love how they have sample desserts on show as you enter the restaurant and if you time it right you can wander down to the beach afterwards to watch Wishes!

From Mom Kim L.

The Paint Room at Backlot Express

My family loves to eat at the Backlot Express at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when we are looking for a counter service meal. There’s always a quiet corner with fascinating props to view.

Also, Olivia’s Cafe at Old Key West serves wonderful dishes in a relaxing atmosphere. This is a hidden gem.

From Mom Kay B.

I think one of the most underrated food spots is Citricos. This is an unbelievable restaurant that is constantly being overshadowed by Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian. It is family friendly yet can still be a romantic spot with a table in the inner room by the windows. The food is excellent from appetizers through desserts and the service has always been outstanding. They also have a nice wine room that can be reserved for a little more intimate dinner opportunity.

Another table service restaurant that is often forgotten and shouldn’t be is Artist Point in the Wilderness Lodge. This is another outstanding location for food, service and ambiance.

In the counter service category I would say that Flametree in the Animal Kingdom park is not remembered and this is the one place we will go and not try to get dining reservations because we would all rather just eat at this counter service location. The barbecue is excellent, served in large portions, and then the area to sit in is quiet and relaxing. We take the path down to the lake and sit under the cool trees to catch a breeze on a hot day.

From Dad Doug I.

I think that Biergarten does not get it’s due as a fun dinner venue. While I can think of a few German classics that should be added to the menu, the buffet combines a lot of great choices, as well as some americanized selections for choosy kids. And the entertainment value is a nice plus. Finally, I love that you can meet people in their long table seating arrangements.

I also like San Angel Inn more than most. Having grown up in Mexico City, I think that some of the selections there are more authentic Mexican than you can typically find in the U.S., but it seems to get panned for cuisine, often by guests looking for more Tex-Mex style choices (which I love too!).

From Mom Jodi G.

I think sometimes the resort restaurants are overlooked, and the restaurants at Animal Kingdom Lodge are top-notch. Jiko, in particular, is my favorite restaurant on property.

Sleepy Hollow's Homemade Ice Cream Sandwich

From Mom Beth C.

The Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom is a great spot to grab a treat. They have homemade chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches. You can watch them bake the cookies right there! Sleepy Hollow is located right over the bridge as you cross into Liberty Square. It is a great place to get a snack before the parade or fireworks or if you are walking to the other attractions in this area.

From Mom Margaret F.

One location that our family really loves and I think misses some of the spotlight is Mama Melrose at Hollywood Studios. While it is often crowded, I think it often does not get the attention it deserves. We love the feel of the restaurant, with the warehouse setting and open kitchen. It is very family friendly and comfortable. The menu slection is top notch. The flatbread choices are delicious, and the bruschetta is superb. The pasta choices have a perfect blend of herbs and spices. My favorite here is the sirloin with grilled asparagus and red wine sauce. Mouth-watering for sure!

Thanks again to all the “moms” who are participating in the interviews!

Don’t forget, if you’d like to share your “most magical Disney Dining moment,” send me an email! I’m collecting stories and will post them in the next post of “Chicken Soup for the Disney Foodie soul!”

Looking for something?

STAY CONNECTED