Best Appetizers/Smaller Portions

[VancouverIslandDisney]

I am a tiny eater due to some health issues but still a major foodie and am currently planning a long overdue trip for March, and a Solo trip in September.

For my birthday I plan to do Narcoossee’s (likely just the lobster bisque, or shrimp and grits), but wondering what other appetizers/small portions people prefer. Fortunately my fiancé is willing to order an entree that I can have a bite or two from if nothing on the smaller side appeals to me, but would like to have my own experience if at all possible.

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated, and if pics available for serving size, that would be tremendous!!

 

[leebee]

Hi, welcome to The DIS! I don't have pictures so can't help you there, but I did have bariatric surgery and therefore can only eat very small portions. Disney servings are usually generous, so I usually have a lot of leftovers. People will say "order a kids meal" but honestly? They are better than they used to be but I am not living on nuggets or "plain" chicken drumsticks or fish. Here are a few suggestions to maximize your dining experiences without resorting to kid meals:

1. If you are going to Disney when there is a festival at Epcot, buy a park hopper and go to the festival for dinner. Yeah, the PH add-on isn't cheap but for me, it's worth it to be able to experience a variety of wonderfully prepared, small serving foods. I figure, what would a sit-down meal each night for 4 nights, let's say, cost, vs. the price of a PH add-on and then $7 servings from a few food booths. I find it balances out. I would be miserable if I tried to survive on kids meals while on vacation; what kind of a vacation is it, if I'm not eating wonderful food?

2. If you enjoy adult beverages, go into any of the lounges and eat there. Many are associated with the nicer restaurants and you can order apps to go with your drinks. Sometimes I feel guilty, taking up a TS spot and only ordering an appetizer and beverage; I feel badly that the server is going to be tipped on $20 instead of $42 for the same amount of work and time (let's not get into the "but you should tip more" discussion, please). I personally enjoy an adult bev so eating at a lounge bar isn't an issue for me. (I like Nomad Lounge in AK and Polite Pig at DisneySprings for this... also Jock Lindsays. Taphouse at DS is OK, but mostly charcuterie and I get tired of charcuterie as sliced cheese/deli meat is kind-of a staple for me.)

3. Ziplock bags and ice packs. Sometimes I want a meal, a real grown-up meal with entree and 2 sides, even though I know I can't and won't eat much of it. I have a box of those chemical ice packs, the kind in first aid kits, that activate when you crunch them. I carry ziplocks and a pack in my backpack, so if I do lose my mind and order like a grownup, I can put leftover entree in a baggie, activate the ice pack, and put them in another baggie in my backpack, and take it back to the room for another time, or a snack for DH. You'd be surprised how many filet mignon breakfasts I eat in my room!

Good luck... and enjoy your vacations!!

 

[loves to dive]

I'm going to respectfully go against most of what PP said on the kid's meals. If I eat QS, which I do maybe 2 times in the course of a trip, I get a kids meal. Been going to WDW for over 40 years and in all that time have never, not once had a chicken nugget or drumstick. If I've had fish, it's been an entre at a TS restaurant. Sometimes the kid's meals are just smaller portions of the adult meals.

I agree with going to lounges but you don't need to enjoy a refreshing adult beverage, you can order a soft drink or tea or coffee, they don't really care. Like PP I love Nomad Lounge (try the Lobster Mac & Cheese) and HBD outside lounge. You can order from TS menu as well at both places. Heck, I even make guac. and queso a meal at La Cava at the Mexico pavilion.

I agree with the food booths at Epcot, if you don't want PHs just use it for one of your park days worth of foods.

I often just order an appetizer or two at TS restaurants instead of a meal. Given Disney prices, they can come pretty close to getting an entre and you aren't too stuffed afterwards. I'm a generous tipper any way so it all comes out in the wash tip wise. Spice Road Tables at Morocco at Epcot has small plates on it's menu and just about everything there is good.

Don't just stick to the parks either, some of the resorts have great food and as long as you stay away from the buffets, you can either eat at a lounge in most of them or order appetizers.

Won't work on the solo trip but the TS restaurants are all pretty good about letting you share meals and will even split them up for you.

 

[hertamaniac]

I found these appetizers to be very good to excellent (the menus change so I am not sure if these are available):

Bacon and eggs - Steakhouse 71
Rolls with onion jam/jelly - Banana Cabana at Caribbean Beach Resort
Parker House rolls with spreads (Bacon Jam, Pub Cheese, and Citrus Butter) - Ale & Compass Lounge at the Yacht Club
Naan bread service with spreads - Sanaa at Kidani Village
French Onion soup - Boatwright's at Port Orleans Riverside

 

[gmi3804]

Best thing to do is to check menus at places you think you'd like to visit. What I like might not be what you like, so my recommendations are all but worthless.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm going to respectfully go against most of what PP said on the kid's meals. If I eat QS, which I do maybe 2 times in the course of a trip, I get a kids meal. Been going to WDW for over 40 years and in all that time have never, not once had a chicken nugget or drumstick. If I've had fish, it's been an entre at a TS restaurant. Sometimes the kid's meals are just smaller portions of the adult meals.

Unfortunately, my experience with kids' meals has been too much like the PP. I wish that I could find more kids' meals that were smaller portions of adult meals. Anyways, I was wondering if the Small Plates that are offered at Spice Road Table would be an option. I've never eaten there, since it seems as if there is always a festival going on when I'm at Epcot, so I end up at one of the booths. However, it might be a good option for you.

 

[erinch]

I grazed apps on our trip in November.
I particularly remember the coconut shrimp and the salad at coral reef. The poutine at Le Cellier. The chicken tortilla soup and a masa with beans and toppings at San Angel. (Looks like the soup has changed to corn right now.) the Cobb salad and prosciutto croquettes at Brown Derby. The sliders at Nomad Lounge. The bread service and lobster Mac n cheese at Tiffins. The duck confit flat bread, the wild boar tenderloin, and the Jiko salad at Jiko (ate there a couple of times), at Spice road table the Chicken Bastilla , hummus fries, Moroccan carrots, lamb Kefta, lemon vegetable tagine(shared with a group), at Pepe in DS the chicken croquettes, boathouse wedge salad, firecracker shrimp, filet mignon sliders. Lots of options at Wine Bar George and Jock Lindsey’s.

 

[VancouverIslandDisney]

I grazed apps on our trip in November.
I particularly remember the coconut shrimp and the salad at coral reef. The poutine at Le Cellier. The chicken tortilla soup and a masa with beans and toppings at San Angel. (Looks like the soup has changed to corn right now.) the Cobb salad and prosciutto croquettes at Brown Derby. The sliders at Nomad Lounge. The bread service and lobster Mac n cheese at Tiffins. The duck confit flat bread, the wild boar tenderloin, and the Jiko salad at Jiko (ate there a couple of times), at Spice road table the Chicken Bastilla , hummus fries, Moroccan carrots, lamb Kefta, lemon vegetable tagine(shared with a group), at Pepe in DS the chicken croquettes, boathouse wedge salad, firecracker shrimp, filet mignon sliders. Lots of options at Wine Bar George and Jock Lindsey’s.

This is perfect! Thank you so much.... I have seen some of these on the menus so good to hear reviews!

 

[erinch]

In MK, not much. The cachapas and falafel at Skipper Canteen. The Han and Gruyère tart at Gaston’s tavern. Cooks at the Poly has some nice choices.

 

[gmi3804]

Every small dish at WDW will be mentioned in this thread.

 

[erinch]

Every small dish at WDW will be mentioned in this thread.

Which is a great thing. To have a running list.

 

[VancouverIslandDisney]

Every small dish at WDW will be mentioned in this thread.

That’s what I was hoping for…..I haven’t been in ages and you can’t tell by the price if it’s a small portion or not. I don’t care about price I just hate to waste food.

 

[writersblock]

I had similar concerns before my last trip this December but it was mostly fine. I’m on Mounjaro so my appetite varies across the week, and sometimes it’s non-existent. The star of my trip was Tiffins where two of us shared the octopus and pork belly apps and one entree (steak). It was incredible. Best meal of the trip by a long shot (and we also did Jiko which previously had my top spot across multiple trips but wasn’t that great this time, Le Cellier, the Yachtsman etc.). It hit the right foodie notes without being too much food, and the service was outstanding.

 

[DisneyHardin]

It was super hot during our last trip and we wanted a break from the heat and to get a snack/drink, so we booked an ADR at Tony's. DH and I shared the mozzarella sticks and a Caesar salad. It was really good and hit the spot.

 

[jimmymc]

Bacon and eggs from Steakhouse 71:


Scallops at Flying Fish:


Saganaki on Fire, Wine Bar George:


I think any of the Wine Bar George small plates would be fine for portion size. Another recommendation would be any of the kid's meals at Satuli Canteen.

 

[VancouverIslandDisney]

Bacon and eggs from Steakhouse 71:
View attachment 925954

Scallops at Flying Fish:
View attachment 925956

Saganaki on Fire, Wine Bar George:
View attachment 925957

I think any of the Wine Bar George small plates would be fine for portion size. Another recommendation would be any of the kid's meals at Satuli Canteen.

Thank you for the picture of the Flying Fish Scallops.... I've been looking at that for a while and was curious of the sizing.

 

[jimmymc]

Thank you for the picture of the Flying Fish Scallops.... I've been looking at that for a while and was curious of the sizing.

You're welcome. The scallops are a good size, while the corn and grits are smaller portions.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Another recommendation would be any of the kid's meals at Satuli Canteen.

Just a caution about kids meals at Saturn Canteen, specifically the bowls. The kids bowls don't come with a sauce. I've heard that you can request a sauce, but I just took my kids meal and didn't even notice until I sat down. Without a sauce, the kids meal is very plain. However I did get the kids' cheeseburger pod one time, and that was fine.

 

[jimmymc]

Just a caution about kids meals at Saturn Canteen, specifically the bowls. The kids bowls don't come with a sauce. I've heard that you can request a sauce, but I just took my kids meal and didn't even notice until I sat down. Without a sauce, the kids meal is very plain. However I did get the kids' cheeseburger pod one time, and that was fine.

Very interesting! I've only done the pod and adult bowls before.

 

[erinch]

They gave me a free sauce with my kids cheeseburger pod